Finally, a wireless microphone that effectively replaces my Shure shotgun when traveling

I record a lot of audio and video. For most of my audio needs, I turn to either Sony lav mics or a Shure shotgun microphone. However, there are times when I need a bit more flexibility. I could be on the go and need to record audio for an interview or voice-overs, but don’t have a lot of room or time to lug around more complicated or bulky equipment.

That’s when I turn to more portable options, such as the Shure MoveMic 88+ receiver kit, which contains everything you need to record audio to either your phone or camera.

Also: One of the best podcasting microphones I’ve tested is not made by Yeti or Rode

Before I continue, there are two things you need to know. 

First, the MoveMic 88+ receiver kit costs $449, but it does come with everything you need (mic, receiver, cold shoe mounts, and cables). Second, the Shure MoveMic 88+ records some pretty impressive audio, but it will not replace a $1,000 wireless lavalier mic or shotgun. That being said, the quality is still impressive, especially considering the receiver’s range.

Using the mic with the app

Instead of attaching the MoveMic 88+ receiver kit to my ZCAM E2 F6 cinema camera, I opted to pair it with my Pixel 9 Pro. Of course, to do that, you need to install the MOTIV app (Android/iOS). There’s no account required for the app, but you must pair the mic with the app (and not via your phone’s Bluetooth option).

Also: Everything you need to start a podcast

Once connected, you’re ready to record, which is also done via the MOTIV app. The MOTIV app is essential because it allows you to customize the following settings:

• Gain
• Mode (speech, music, flat, etc.)
• Pickup pattern (stereo, mono cardioid, mono bidirectional, or raw mid-side)
• Compression (off, light, medium, heavy)
• High pass filter (75Hz or 150Hz)
• Left-right swap
• EQ
• Noise reduction

At first, I left the default settings and recorded my voice. To my surprise, the recording was clean and clear. I did feel the need to bump the gain up a bit and try again. Nice.

Also: I’ve tested hundreds of microphones, but a special feature puts this one at the top for me

I then decided to test the reach of the mic, so I hit record on my phone, left it in my office, and walked around the house. My first attempt was to walk to the front of the house. After that, I came back to my office and then went on another trek to the second floor. To my surprise, the recording was as clear on the second floor of the house as it was in my office. Impressive.

After that, I decided to tweak the audio settings as follows:

• Gain – 36.0
• Mode – Speech
• Pickup pattern – Mono cardioid
• Compression – Light
• EQ – Custom
• Noise reduction – Enabled

Another test, and the audio was even better. Of course, your mileage may vary, depending on your environment. I was testing in a fairly silent space, and the results were very good. Audio is one of those things that is very finicky. Settings that work in one environment might not work well in another. The good news is that the MOTIV app is very user-friendly, so you can make those adjustments on the fly (and even save them as presets).

Pairing and connecting

To pair the mic with the included receiver, you should first ensure they are both charged 100%. After that, there’s a trick to getting them to pair. Hold down the mic’s power button until the blue and red lights are flashing. Once they are flashing, navigate to the My Devices menu on the receiver, and you can select the mic.

Once I connected the receiver and mic, I attached the receiver to my ZCAM and ran a quick test. The sound was distorted beyond usability since I had the gain bumped up so high. After lowering the gain to the default, the recording was surprisingly impressive.

Also: This wireless microphone can handle rainfall and up to 300 meters of range – and I’m genuinely excited

The only issue with this process is that the mic retains the settings from the app when you move from using it with your phone to using it with the receiver. That means if you switch it up between those two devices, you’ll have to remember to change the settings in the app before switching from using it with the phone to using it with the camera. 

For that, I recommend saving a configuration for your phone and another for your camera (so you don’t have to manually make the changes every time you switch). Or you can manually configure the gain on the receiver. You can’t, however, configure things like pickup pattern or EQ from the receiver.

One of the more impressive aspects of the MoveMic 88+ is its ability to reduce noise. 

Also: I always recommend this wireless microphone to creative professionals

I intentionally left my wife’s rock tumbler in the basement (where my video studio is). With the Mono Cardioid pickup pattern and the gain lowered to an acceptable level, the tumbler’s sound was barely there (and only audible when using headphones). I could probably have lowered the gain and moved the mic closer to avoid the noise altogether. 

ZDNET buying advice

The Shure MoveMic 88+ can be a very good addition to your audio kit, especially if you need something that can move between a phone and a camera. Because of the price point of this mic, it’s made for those serious about getting higher-quality recordings from devices notorious for bad sound (such as phones and cameras). If you’re fine with the audio and can record with your phone’s mic, save yourself the money.

Also: The camera accessory I recommend to most people is not a tripod or microphone

If, however, you’re looking to get a bit more serious with your interviews, live recordings, or video projects, the Shure MoveMic 88+ is a wonderful option. It’s portable, easy to use, and capable of recording some impressive sounds.

At $449, this mic probably has a niche (but passionate) audience. If you couple this mic with the Shure MoveMic Wireless Lavalier system, you could have a portable audio kit to handle most situations.

Specs

• Four polar patterns: stereo (adjustable from 60° to 135°), mono cardioid, mono bi-directional, or raw mid-side
• Adjust gain, compression, EQ, high-pass filter, L/R channel swap, and new noise reduction settings with intelligent onboard digital signal processing (DSP)
• Five fully customizable presets: speech, singing, flat, acoustic, loud
• Up to 8 hours of battery life
• Built-in headphone monitoring on the microphone and MoveMic Receiver
• 100-foot (30-meter) wireless range
• Ports: Microphone: 1 USB-C and 1 3.5mm plug; Receiver: 1 USB-C, 1 3.5mm line out, and 1 3.5mm headphone jack

Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.