Creator Audio, Simplified

by Kristopher Sheehy

Hey there! Check out this article or just kick back and listen via my Shure MoveMic 88+ VoiceOver! And if you’re going for the VoiceOver, don’t forget to follow along so you can catch the cool sounds of a river nearby that I recorded (with the Shure MoveMic 88+) too.

The Review

About two months ago, I picked up a Shure MoveMic 88+ because it really caught my eye when it came out. In this review, I’m excited to share what I loved and what I wasn’t so into, so you can make a smart choice before you buy!

When I’m out recording, you’ll usually catch me using a Sennheiser MKH 416, and honestly, it’s for a good reason. It hasn’t let me down in the 11 years I’ve had it. It’s really the perfect mic… but let’s be real, times are shifting, and fast. For consumers, carrying around a sound mixer isn’t practical, and with all the independent influencers out there looking for an easy fix, shelling out big bucks and figuring out a field mixer isn’t the way to go. That’s where the Shure MoveMic 88+ comes in and totally steals the spotlight.

Disclaimer: Just so we’re on the same page, the Shure MoveMic 88+ isn’t going to match the quality of a Sennheiser MKH 416. However, that’s not what it intends to do, and it comes with some cool perks that other brands should take notes on. So, let’s dive into the stuff I really dig about it.

What I love

The top three reasons I enjoy this microphone are its bluetooth connectivity, the ability to switch up the polar pattern, and of course, the flashy MOTIV Audio/MOTIV Video app.

Ah… Let’s dive into the world of Bluetooth connectivity. You know what they say, modern problems need modern fixes. One of the biggest roadblocks I hit when I want to record is time… there’s just never enough of it! This totally kills your vibe and enthusiasm to get going, especially when inspiration strikes and you just wanna roll with it. That’s where Bluetooth connectivity really comes in clutch. I can grab my phone, fire up the MOTIV Audio app, and hit record in no time. Seriously, it takes less than 30 seconds to get started. That’s pretty game-changing!

The polar pattern switching is a phenomenal feature to have in this little gadget! Lately, I’ve been using Mono Cardioid for voiceovers and going for Stereo in “Flat Mode” to capture the vibes of the environment. The other day, I set it to 135 degrees and plopped it in the river behind my house on a tiny tripod. Check it out here!

Oh, and you’ve also got Mono Bidirectional, and Raw Mid-Side, which lets you blend two different signals later on when you’re editing. Having an option like Raw Mid-Side is admittedly mind-blowing.

The last thing I wanted to mention is how awesome the attention to detail is with the MOTIV Audio/MOTIV Video app. They’re super user-friendly and packed with tons of necessary features. Besides the polar patterns we talked about, I really liked being able to tweak my file formats and set things like gain, compression, and high-pass filters. These aren’t just toggle switches but adjustable parameters! When you get your microphone, it’s smart to do a firmware update right off the bat. This is done through the MOTIV app. It’s a breeze and only took me a few minutes after popping open the box.

What I dislike

While the list is pretty short, there are definitely a few things that could use some tweaking. Right now, 16 bit seems to be the only setting I can pick for the microphone when I’m recording in the MOTIV Audio/Video app. I’d really love to see that bump up to 32 bit, but honestly, I’d be super happy even with 24 bit. Maybe they figured the built-in compressor makes this a non-issue? And that brings me to my next point…

The compressor really messes with the sound and adds this weird digital vibe to your voice. Maybe it’s just me being picky, but I first caught it when I saw Shure use it in a demo, and then again during a quick VoiceOver session on myself. Not the best situation. You can dodge this by turning off the compressor, but then we gotta keep a closer eye on those levels. It brings us back to the original issue. Come on, it’s 2025—let’s figure out 32-bit!

Bluetooth was one of the things I loved about this mic, but it also ended up being a minor headache. I was super impressed when it connected to my iPhone without a hitch, but then it just wouldn’t play nice with my Mac mini or MacBook Pro. I mean, the tech is there, so it feels like they’re just putting up a paywall. To get it working with my computer (and DSLR cameras, too), I’d have to drop $219 on a receiver. I get needing it for a camera, but for my MacBook Pro? That just seems kinda silly.

Should you buy it?

Honestly, it all boils down to what you need. Personally, I wanted something super portable that could boost my audio quality and be a fun way to capture random moments that I usually wouldn’t. Carrying around a big shotgun mic and sound mixer is definitely not convenient and can be a hassle for influencers/consumers. If you’re on the hunt for a versatile mic that can deliver decent quality pretty quickly and wirelessly, this could be the perfect fit for you. But if you’re aiming for top-notch results, we’ll still need to stick with those XLR cables and shotgun mics along with a high-end mixer.

High-end recommendations

I’ll keep this short and sweet, but if you’re hunting for some top-notch gear, you gotta check out the Sennheiser MKH lineup and Sound Devices field mixers. They’re the real deal for getting amazing results. Oh, and by the way, Sennheiser just dropped the MKH 8018! If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a killer new stereo shotgun mic!

Happy recording!