How Do I Use the Shure Movemic Microphones?
The Shure Movemic ecosystem has brought us new features in super small format, while carry on the legacy of Shure quality, usability and robustness. They are as usable in live music recording, theatres, sports events, corporate events, journalism, pods, and beyond.
I will try to break down the constituent parts, their strengths, application and some limitations for you in this article.
The Movemic 88+ Stereo and the Movemic Lavalier Microphones
There are two different microphones available: The Movemic 88+ stereo microphone, and the clip-on lavalier (a.k.a. lapel) microphone. The stereo microphone can take high sound pressures (max 122dB SPL), like live concerts from the audience, but not extreme sounds like just in front of a Fender Twin Reverb guitar amp on max volume. But that is ok – that is not the purpose of the microphone. The microphone comes with two holders – one traditional that goes onto a microphone stand, and the other with a camera cold shoe mount. The lavalier microphone, on the other hand, is a mono microphone with a super small size that clips onto your shirt or dress very discretely, Both microphones deliver the sound quality you are familiar from the broad range of professional microphones from Shure. No surprises there.
The microphones are powered by built-in re-chargeable batteries that last more or less a full day in the studio or on the field. Charging is done directly by USB-C to the stereo microphone or through a charging case for two lavalier microphones. They also connect over Bluetooth to your phone, tablet or laptop. The Shure MOTIV applications (free of charge download) for audio and video take in the audio stream for further configuration when it comes to gain, limiter, EQ, compression, and noise reduction. However, the sound stays in these apps, and they are good for recording. All in all, the microphones are top-notch, but you need to understand when you can connect them directly and when you need the Shure Movemic Receiver unit.
The Movemic Reveiver
If you would like to steer the sound to another app, you will need the Shure Movemic Receiver device to bring in the sound conventionally into your device, whether it is a phone, tablet, laptop, camera, video switcher or audio mixer. The receiver has a 3,5mm stereo jack for analog audio and a USB-C connector for digital audio, making it very versatile. In addition to these outputs, there is also a 3,5mm stereo headphone monitor jack. Its small form factor makes it very easy to attach to a microphone stand or with the cold shoe adapter to camera rigs. The receiver operates in stereo (or two channels, in other words), and it takes either one or two lavalier microphones, or the 88+ stereo microphone – you cannot mix.
Conclusions
The Shure Movemic components are high quality products and if you stay in the Shure MOTIV apps, you can connect the microphones wirelessly direct without the Movemic Receiver and keeping the setup very small and simple. If you, however, need the audio go to other apps, or hardware (e.g. a video switcher, a camera, an audio mixer), you’ll need the sleek Movemic Receiver to do the wireless translation into analog or digital audio. It would be tempting to use Movemics at scale – for example at corporate events, panels with many speakers, but we haven’t tried how it scales beyond a few Receivers (which worked great).
Shure Movemic Components for Rent at EdgeBlocks Rental
- Shure Movemic 88+ Wireless Stereo Microphone
- Shure Movemic Lavalier Wireless Microphones (pair)
- Shure Movemic Receiver