The Shure SM4 is Made for Pristine Music Capture At Home
Shure announced the SM4 Home Recording Microphone, a new large-diaphragm condenser that it can be used for a variety of audio capture purposes but is at its best for capturing vocals and instruments.
Shure’s last few new products have been focused on podcasting and broadcast audio. The MV7+ it announced earlier this year brought podcasting quality to the masses and its new the SM4 is made to bring recording studio quality into any space. It is described as a meticulously engineered dual-diaphragm capsule combined with a patent-pending RF shielding system to allow artists to record pro-quality music at home regardless of their space, recording setup, or experience level.
That shielding promises to reduce interference noise from wireless devices commonly found in at-home recording environments which includes smartphones, laptops, and Wi-Fi routers. The casing of the SM4 microphone has integrated plosive protection that reduces popping noises and, Shure says, keeps sound quality consistent with reduced proximity effect. This is a patent-pending design that Shure says is unique to this microphone at launch.
Plosives are further controlled with the included magnetic pop filter and the shock mount reduces “rumble.” Shure adds that the cardioid polar pattern provides a more forgiving “sweet spot” for vocalists, too, allowing them to move around the mic during a a recording without compromising sound quality.
The company adds that the controlled low-end response allows users to make EQ adjustments without introducing any unwanted sounds, allowing them to mimic the quality of what they might hear on high-definition radio.
“The SM4 is designed to reflect the modern workflows of musicians, engineers, and creators who are serious about their craft, helping them overcome the issues that make engineers cringe: plosives, harsh high-frequency response, undefined low-end, and RF interference,” Steve Marek, Associate Manager of Product Management at Shure, says.
“If you’re a musician, you want to stay in the creative flow, rather than chasing down problems in your audio setup. No matter what you are recording with the SM4, you need your tracks to be professional quality. If you’re an engineer receiving those tracks, you’ll appreciate how seamlessly they fit into a mix, and the time saved from not having to fix a variety of problems surgically.”
Shure’s new microphone connects with an XLR — and XLR only. Despite entry-level users included in Shure’s target for the SM4, it doesn’t take USB natively and users will need Shure’s MVX2U digital to audio converter in order to record through their computer or adjust it with the excellent Motiv Mix app. The target is still premium, so Shure assumes that those interested in the SM4 already have the necessary equipment to use it with.
Shure’s SM4 is available starting today for $199, which includes a swivel-mount microphone clamp and zippered carrying bag. A $269 kit option adds the aforementioned shock mount, magnetic pop filter, and nicer carrying case (seen above).
