Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.
The Consumer Electronics Show ended last month in Las Vegas. Among the many announcements, Shure came out with the MV88+ Video Kit. This kit features a digital condenser microphone that provides content creators with an all-in-one solution for capturing professional-quality recordings on-the-go. The kit also includes a Manfrotto® PIXI tripod, phone clamp, and mount as well as iOS and USB-C cables for next-level compatibility and connectivity.
Shure built this kit on the success and classic design of the MV88 iOS Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone. This
This line is designed for podcasters, videographers, content creators, field recordists, and musicians looking for rich, high-quality audio wherever. The MV88+ accentuates the power of flexibility. It enables you to transform your smartphone into a professional-level mobile audio and video rig.
“The MV88+ Video Kit provides multiple configurations straight out of the box,” said Matt Engstrom, Senior Category Director, Global Product Management at Shure. “You shouldn’t have to buy half a dozen products to film a high-quality piece of video content one day, and then an audio interview or field recording the next. With the MV88+, you don’t have to. We listened to you and worked to develop a superior microphone with superior accessories. This package gives you everything you’ll need to film in your studio, on-the-go, at home—or wherever life takes you.”
The MV88+ Video Kit is compatible with iOS and other selected devices. It equips you with a variety of new and improved accessories. It arms you with the tools and versatility needed for recording on-the-go. You will still want to use headphones to ensure real-time audio assessment, and the built in headphone jack lets you do that with confidence.
The kit comes with a convenient phone clamp and tripod stand so that the environments you can record in multiplies. It doesn't matter if you are jamming in a studio, filming your next YouTube video, or live streaming an interview on a crowded trade show floor, you can easily thread your devices into a mounted platform for uninterrupted and stable recording. The MV88+ can even be used for standalone audio capture, replacing the need for a portable audio recorder.
“The MV88+ takes into account the little things, too,” noted Engstrom. “We understand the value of efficiency and improved the design to seamlessly record with or without a protective smartphone case. The included phone mount is also compatible with your existing setup, allowing you to connect to any tripod with a ¼” connector. This empowers you to use the setup that best suits your needs. You’ll also be able to tap into the capabilities of the free Shure MOTIV Video and Audio Recording applications to access our state-of-the-art audio quality in tandem with the microphone.”
What is it?
When it comes to using your iPhone as a mobile video rig, you’ll find a variety of products from stabilizers to lenses to external lighting. Few solutions, however, put a strong emphasis on audio. Microphone manufacturer Shure hopes to change the status quo with its new MV88+ Video Kit. It is a collection of accessories designed to help you create professional videos with great sounding audio.
The key component to the new video kit is the revised version of the MV88 microphone. The original mic interfaced with your iPhone through an integrated
This new video kit is equipped with a Manfrotto Pix mini tripod with a clamp for tabletop or handheld use of your iPhone during recording and a carrying case for cables and other accessories. The tripod doesn't offer any stabilization capabilities, but the legs do fold together to become a grip.
Shure has a series of MOTIV iOS apps that expand the capabilities of this video kit. With dedicated apps for video and audio recording, the number of customizations for your scene and granular control of the MV88 microphone's recording pattern, you will find that you can get some great quality video and audio from this kit.
Already Winning Awards
At CES, this new video kit from Shure picked up the award for Best Microphone from Videomaker.com. They found the kit to be amazingly easy to use and very versatile. The quality was excellent.
Serious About Quality
The price makes it obvious that Shure is targeting the class of users who are a little more serious about the audio quality of their mobile recordings. As previously mentioned, it is intended for video blogging, podcasts and all varieties of field recording.
The ergonomics of the new kit do look promising, with the Pixi tripod functioning either as a tabletop stabilizer or as a short handle to balance the phone and the microphone in an extended hand. It’s not quite a selfie stick’s length away, but it does look like a viable way to upgrade your selfie videos’ sound. In the end, it’ll all come down to the quality of the mic, and Shure’s history of making good ones makes this product an intriguing one to check out.
The only real downside as compared to DJI's Osmo Mobile 2 or Osmo Pocket is the lack of gimbal stabilization, but today's major smartphones offer decent electronic stabilization to help smooth out any movement. Also, neither of the gimbals have built-in audio options that are on the same level as the Shure condenser mic.
Condenser microphones generally have a higher sensitivity and more natural sound than dynamic mics, and can also be made much smaller without affecting performance, so they’re ideal for mobile vlogging setups.
Our Recommendation
We believe that anyone who is serious about their content creation who also creates videos is going to want this kit. It will take your handheld videos to a new level with production quality sound. Let's face it…one of the things about videos these days is that the sound quality often sucks.
Shure is staking its reputation by attempting to improve that issue. The condenser mic is amazing. It picks up sounds so clearly and crisply. The tripod does a great job. We feel that the design is ingenious. Having it mount to the top of the phone is another great innovation. I have a feeling that at some point either Shure or a third party will figure out a way to combine this with one of the gimbals currently on the market.
If you are sincerely interested in improving the audio quality on your videos, this is the kit for you. The price is very good at $249. It is cheaper than buying each of the items individually. So, what's keeping you from getting one right now?