Shure MV7X vs Rode PodMic - With and Without Processing

The Rode PodMic has become one of the most popular entry level broadcast dynamic microphones, but Shure is ready to change that with their introduction of the MV7X. Which one is best for you? Is the Shure MV7X an upgrade vs the Rode PodMic? Is one better vs the other? This video is a detailed head to head comparison of the Shure MV7X and Rode PodMic.
I've included direct comparisons of the MV7X and PodMic using several preamps without processing and with plugins and hardware channel strip hardware processing. Find out how these microphones stack up when paired with some popular gear. Whether you want crisp clear sound or the warm saturation of tubes, let's see if the PodMic or MV7X are ready to deliver.
Links:
This is the swivel nut that I use to lock in the mic direction on the arm: amzn.to/3tXAnVE
Shure MV7X: links.askdrtk.com/shure-mv7x
Rode PodMic: links.askdrtk.com/rode-podmic
Focusrite Scarlett 8i6: links.askdrtk.com/scarlett8i6
DBX 286s: links.askdrtk.com/dbx286s
ART Voice Channel: links.askdrtk.com/art-vc
*Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
You may also like:
Shure MV7X Detailed Review: • Shure MV7X - Detailed ...
Rode PodMic 2021 Review: • Rode PodMic - Detailed...
Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 Review: • Focusrite Scarlett 8i6...
Audio Technica ATH --m40x Review: • Audio-Technica ATH M40...
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Do This First:
To get the most out of your recording or streaming space, I recommend sound treatment including acoustic absorption panels. This is the single biggest way to improve your audio before investing in other gear. You can make your own, or I highly recommend GIK Acoustics as they manufacture some of the best quality panels available at an excellent value.
Check out GIK Acoustics here: www.gikacoustics.com/ref/131/
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Book a One-on-One Zoom Appointment with me for assistance and recommendations to help you create or upgrade your home or project studio. I help musicians, producers, and content creators! Visit my website for more information: askdrtk.com/coaching/
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Timestamps:
00:00 The Shure MV7X & Rode PodMic Head to Head
02:29 Unprocessed Comparison of the MV7X & PodMic on the Scarlett 8i6
03:50 Unprocessed Comparison of the MV7X & PodMic on the ART Voice Channel Tube Preamp
05:32 Unprocessed Comparison of the MV7X & PodMic on the DBX 286s
06:59 Handling, Plosives, Proximity, and Background Rejection Comparing the MV7X & PodMic
10:33 Processed Audio Comparison of the MV7X vs the PodMic on the Scarlett 8i6 using an Izotope Neutron 3 Audio Chain
13:21 Processed Audio Comparison of the MV7X vs the PodMic on the ART Voice Channel Strip
17:24 Processed Audio Comparison of the MV7X vs the PodMic on the DBX 286s
20:22 Is the Shure MV7X an Upgrade vs the Rode PodMic?
(Some links are affiliate links that may provide a small commission to askdrtk without cost to you or influence of my content or opinions. Thanks for clicking! askdrtk is a member of amazon associates and other affiliate programs.) Disclaimer: askdrtk.com/disclaimer/

[@nabeelakbarofficial3433]

Podmic is sounding thin and tiny on my AKG K52 monitoring headphones but its sounding better on my Edifier speakers but Shure MV7x is sounding way superior sounding on all sorts of speakers and headphones. Shure mv7x has a full rounded sound very smooth sounding. So ill go for shure mv7x for sure :)

[@askdrtk]

The MV7X does have a full warm sound and is a great choice. Thanks for checking out my mic comparison!

[@user-vi6lw8dx5f]

Awesome video! Thank you for sharing this content.

[@askdrtk]

Thanks, I'm glad to help out!

[@Kats072307]

Thanks a lot. That's an interesting video. Shure seems to rule the mic field. Very warm sound. Enjoyed it

[@askdrtk]

Glad you enjoyed the comparison! Shure has built a great reputation for sound and quality. To my ears, the MV7X has a warm sound and also provides good clarity - a combination I really like.

[@thatzedpodcast]

Very helpful video. Thank you so much.

[@askdrtk]

Thanks, glad to help out!

[@nktpnkn]

Thanks. After your video i made final choice

[@askdrtk]

My pleasure, I'm glad to help out!

[@NE7X599AZ]

I have both the R0DE and MV7X connected to a Pro Channel-ART EQ. I use them connected to my Amateur Radio transmitters, ICOM IC-7610, Kenwood TS-890S, ICOM IC-9700 and Elecraft K4. I get excellent audio reports. For rag chews I add a little more base, however to cut through the QRM with DX, I set the EQ more on the high end. I love the look of both microphones, visitors to my radio shack are impressed, the mics make my shack look like a professional radio station. Being directional microphones, this is great in reducing keyboard and over background noise. As far as which mic to better, to be totally honest, the difference so minimal.

[@askdrtk]

Thanks for sharing, sounds like you have a great setup in the shack... Great use case for the Pro Channel strip! I agree both mics have a great look and "better" is such a subjective term. I think it comes down to whether one may suit a voice (emphasize fewer harsh frequencies) more than the other, and the look, seems to be gaining importance as time goes on with a broad range of users. Thanks again for sharing and I hope you enjoyed my comparison.

[@top_tech.500k]

*Thanks great informative review 👍 ✨ ✨ ✨*

[@askdrtk]

Thanks! I’m glad to help out.😀

[@marketweis]

What this really illustrates is how good the ART sounds. I have owned and liked the DBX, but IMO, the ART is just in a different league (and it should be, given all it's features), but just the preamp alone sounds so much nicer than the DBX.

[@askdrtk]

Thanks for sharing the difference you hear. I thought it important to add multiple preamps and unprocessed vs processed audio to my microphone reviews and comparisons as there is far more to tone and dynamics than the microphone alone. While there is no way to cover every combo off, I hope a few examples provide some context. Microphone, preamp / interface, room, voice, working distance, and I could go on... all have an impact. Knowing chapters and playback speed, are there for all to find what they are looking for (in a reasonable time), I plan to continue / augment the range of gear used in my reviews and tutorials. Thanks again for watching and letting me know the sound came across on YT and for reinforcing how preamps do make a difference.

[@ThijsYT1]

Which boom arm did you use for the mv7x

[@askdrtk]

I'm using the Warm Audio WA-MBA boom arm on the MV7X. I reviewed the arm in a previous video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imHEYmxugtCcqK8 and I have to say it continues to work very well with microphones across a broad weight range.

[@Kynetguy]

I think both sound thin at ~8” about 4” or even closer colorizes them both favorably. Processing set the same and gain set appropriately, I think they are very very close. The Shure might have a slights edge. I personally don’t believe the shure is enough better to spend the money on as an upgrade. I’m not even sure that it’s worth the price difference. Though the MV7 does have some color options. If you aren’t using USB, the MV7X is the option I would chose if going with Shure. But again, I would get a Podmic and Arm for the money.

[@askdrtk]

I agree. While a like the tone of the MV7X, the PodMic as an excellent microphone and comparing it to the MV7X shows how great a value the PodMic is. Still one of the best values in affordable dynamic mics, it is not a wonder the PodMic has continued to be so popular.

[@masterofreality230]

I think I am hearing a slight boxiness on the podmic I dont hear on the MV7, I have to try to hear it, but its there.

[@askdrtk]

Thanks for sharing your take on the tone comparison! I agree, to my ears the MV7X has more saturation and produces a thicker sound in the lower frequencies and the PodMic is a bit more open in the top end.

[@david02129]

Forgive me if i missed it, but was the winner of the giveaway ever announced?

[@askdrtk]

The giveaway is at 1k subs. I will announce it in a video and in the community tab at that point. Subs are picking up steadily…hopefully soon, as I want to get that gear into someone’s hands!

[@david02129]

@@askdrtk ah i had no idea! here's to a bright youtube future.

[@manuneagoe7990]

which one would you choose? The podmic or mv7x?

[@askdrtk]

For me I think the MV7X fits my voice better vs the PodMic. The PodMic would likely by better for those with a "darker" tone to help improve clarity. Tone is such a personal preference... I also find the greater low end frequency response of the MV7X provides more flexibility in processing. Thanks for the question and hope the comparison helped out!

[@mylifeisbroken34]

Hi. My friend and I are planning to start recording podcasts together, but we can't agree on whether the quality difference between expensive and affordable microphones is really necessary. I suggest buying at least an RE20 or an SM7B, while my friend prefers microphones in the Podmic price range. Do you think the difference between these two microphones would be noticeable for listeners? Do you think we should go all out and choose established, high-end products, or would more budget-friendly microphones suffice? Thank you for your recommendations. Please help me, I've been sleepless for four days, researching only this topic. I admit that I am overly obsessed, but I want to do my job properly and cleanly. I am very talkative and warm-hearted, never hesitant to laugh, and I usually laugh a lot. I used to do Twitch streaming before, so I have knowledge about how to gain viewers. Now, I want to sleep, please tell me which microphone and sound card I should get..

[@askdrtk]

Congratulations on starting.a new podcast! Audio quality is generally most important is retaining an audience whether the content includes video or is audio only and podcasts are no exception. Fortunately, there are many affordable microphones like the PodMic that are capable of producing quality recordings and streams. I have always taken the approach that choosing the best microphone is more a matter of what fits one’s voice rather than price. Of course higher quality microphones can have an advantage in terms of frequency response, dynamic performance, and clarity, but again a microphone that fits the voice often makes the biggest difference. Very bight or sibilant voices are often best paired with darker microphones whereas deeper / rounder voices benefit from a brighter microphone with a presence boost. Your podcast audio can be processed with EQ, compression, and other effects, but starting with the microphone that fits your voice generally provides better results. Dynamic microphones are more forgiving in a less than ideal acoustic environment where condenser microphones generally deliver more detail and clarity, but only in a good acoustic environment. It is difficult to recommend a specific microphone for both you and your friend without hearing you both. If there is content that I can listen to both of you I could make some suggestions. I also do setup consultations including voiceover presets with voice actors where I can tailor the final sound specifically to your voice. Let me know if there is some content I can listen to and I will check it out.

[@alexyoung5233]

Looking at starting a podcast. I’ll be using an Arturia Minifuse 2. I was looking at using a sm57 with a widescreen. Is mv7x worth paying the difference?

[@askdrtk]

Great question. The SM57 with a windscreen will provide excellent audio quality for your podcast. The MV7X is a very good microphone, but vs the SM57 the difference is more about the "broadcast look" and factory "broadcast eq." The SM57 is slightly brighter vs the MV7X, but nothing a little EQ can't shape if you prefer a somewhat deeper broadcast sound (very small difference and the SM57 actually has superior clarity imo). Both pancake style and the Shure A2WS are good choices while some prefer the Shure A81WS for its appearance. Hope this helps out!

[@alexyoung5233]

@@askdrtk thanks. I was looking at using the a81ws if I get the sm57. I just thought for a few more bucks the mv7x might be better so I thought I’d ask.

[@askdrtk]

All good. If you would like to get an idea of the 57 for spoken word both with and without processing I did a comparison with the AKG P170 that includes both audio and physical tests on the 57. While the video also has amp tests, it has chapters so you could skip to what you are interested in. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHyloIx4jKyMra8 - Good luck with your podcast!

[@alexyoung5233]

@@askdrtk any thoughts on the Samson Q9U? Still trying to figure out a mic. I came across this one and watched a few reviews on it and tests. For 169 right now it didn’t seem like a bad one either.

[@askdrtk]

Of course the Q9U has both usb and XLR options built in, however since you have the Minifuse 2, I will set usb aside. The Q9U is generally a more mid-forward microphone vs the MV7X (the MV7 is another story, but again I am excluding usb and so I will consider only the MV7X). The MV7X tone has greater authority out of the box imo, and while EQ can be applied in either case, I would lean towards the one with a tone closer to your preference out of the box. If we were considering usb, we would look at the Q9U vs the MV7, and in that case the Q9U built in preamp produces more noise than the MV7's, however the MV7 XLR output leaves a bit to be desired - Shure made some changes with the MV7X (impedance, etc) that greatly improved XLR performance over the original MV7. I will be posting a review of the Q9U, however as a general observation for me the MV7X is closer to my preferred tone for voiceover / podcasts. If you prefer a brighter tone, the Q9U on XLR is a good choice, although I would still prefer the tone and clarity of the SM57 we have been discussing vs the Q9U.

[@E3KGaming]

me looking at the Rode 2 years later at double the price

[@truephantomsound]

Hi askdrtk Do you still want us to send you a device? We have a device with the Prema chip available. Kind regards Joost Kist

[@askdrtk]

Hello Joost, I certainly am interested in testing your phantom power system. Please contact me by email to make arrangements. My email is [e-mail] Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you.