In this article, we’ll explain how to connect and set up the Shure MV7 and Rodecaster Pro audio mixer for podcasting and live streaming. The Shure MV7 is a versatile USB/XLR hybrid mic, and the Rodecaster Pro is super popular for podcast recording, so we think they make a great combination.

Quick Answer: Connect the Shure MV7 to the Rodecaster Pro using an XLR cable and make sure all of the audio processing features are turned off. Set your level and then activate the features that compliment the voice you are recording. We normally start with the compressor, high-pass filter, and de-esser.

Rodecaster Pro Initial Set Up

If you want to follow along with this guide, you’ll need to make sure you’re starting with your Rodecaster Pro in the same state as ours.

Before the tutorial, we carried out a factory reset to make sure all settings were returned to their default options. Then we turned off all of the audio processing features. We think it’s better to set mic gain without these features activated.

Closed Vs. Open Headphones For Podcasting

People have different preferences when it comes to headphones and podcasting. Some people don’t like to use them at all, instead of relying on the Rodecaster’s level meters. Those who like to wear headphones have a further choice between open and closed-back headphones.

  • Closed-back headphones: Prevents the mic from hearing the headphone output.
  • Open-back headphones: More comfortable to wear for longer periods.

If you’d like to see which headphones and other equipment we recommend for podcasting, check out our linked buyer’s guide.

Shure MV7 Mic Positioning

Good microphone positioning is the foundation to getting a good sound and level for your recording.

  • Keep it within a fist of your mouth.
    This is a good balance between managing plosive protection and gain requirements.
  • Position off to one side
    Most of the air coming from your mouth will flow past the mic rather than into it, reducing breath noises.

Connect The Shure MV7 To The Rodecaster Pro

Shure MV7 > XLR cable > Rodecaster Pro

Simply plug one end of your XLR cable into the output on the end of the MV7, and connect the other end to the first XLR input on the back of the Rodecaster Pro.

We recommend Canare L-4E6S XLR cables as they are high-quality, star-quad studio cables that come in various colors. Click the link to read an in-depth review of these cables.

Rodecaster Pro Fader Setup

There’s no master fader on the Rodecaster Pro, so turning up the channel fader is the only thing we need to do before setting a mic level. Push the fader up to the thicker line at the fader track’s midpoint. Why?

This leaves you somewhere to go if you need to turn the mic up mid recording. Your guest might start off strong and get quieter as the show goes on. If you set your mic level with the fader already at the top, it leaves you with nowhere to go.

Shure MV7 & Rodecaster Pro Microphone Set Up

You’ll need to give the Rodecaster Pro some basic information about the microphone you’re using. Do this by pressing the channel button above the fader and cycling through the menus.

Channel button > Back arrow > Microphone > Dynamic

The Shure MV7 is a dynamic microphone, so the dynamic microphone setting is the correct choice on this menu. That said, there is one occasion where you may wish to change this to the condenser setting with the MV7. We’ll cover this a little later.

Shure MV7 & Rodecaster Pro Level Set Up

If you’re still on the microphone screen, you’ll need to navigate back through the menus to get to the level setting screen.

Back Arrow > Level

Your goal when setting the level is to get your microphone audio peaking in the level meter’s green area. That’s the section of the meter bordered by a green line above and below. You should aim to achieve this with a level setting of 40 or less. Why?

Beyond 40, the Rodecaster’s preamp produces noticeable hiss due to how hard it has to work. This hiss can be really distracting in any recording. We’ll cover what you can do about it in the next section.

When To Use A Cloudlifter

So when do you need to use a Cloudlifter with the Rodecaster Pro? If you can’t get into the green zone on the level meter without going over 40, we think it’s time to consider using an inline preamp.

Pushing beyond 40 gets really hissy and distracting, which are not qualities you want to be associated with your podcast. That said, we think 90% of people won’t need to push the Rodecaster this far when using the Shure MV7.

Shure MV7 & Rodecaster Pro Cloudlifter Set Up

If you or one of your guests is softly spoken and you can’t get a good level without going over 40, you’ll want to add a Cloudlifter to your podcasting setup. The Cloudlifter goes between your mic and mixer as with any inline preamp. You’ll need an extra XLR cable to integrate it with your setup.

Shure MV7 > XLR cable > Cloudlifter > XLR cable > Rodecatser Pro

The Cloudlifter gives you 25 dB of clean gain in exchange for phantom power. That means you’ll need to activate the phantom power setting on the Rodecaster Pro. There are 2 different ways to do this.

  1. Press the phantom power toggle switch on the level setting screen.
  2. Select the condenser microphone setting from the microphone menu.
Rodecaster Pro Audio Processing

Compressor Set Up

Turn compression on.

The compressor narrows the Shure MV7’s dynamic range. It kind of auto mixes your audio, making your quietest moments a little bit louder and your loudest moments a little bit quieter. This makes the overall volume of your microphone more predictable.

It can make the microphone sound a little robotic as it takes some of the emotion out of a voice, so you won’t want to use it for everybody. However, the benefits generally outweigh the downsides, so we typically turn compression on.  

High-pass Filter Set Up  

Turn the high-pass filter on.

The high passs filter rolls off low end frequencies, starting somewhere between 80-120 Hz. This is done with the intention of removing your microphone from your listener’s subwoofer. 

There isn’t really anything useful in the voice at those frequneices, so this helps to clean up your audio. We think this setting is useful for any vocal mic.

De-esser Set Up

Turn the de-esser on.

The de-esser does exactly what it sounds like; it manages S sounds and other sibilance. This makes your podcast a lot easier to listen to if you tend to overpronounce S’s or have a lisp. It works better on some voices than others, but we like to have it turned on.

Noise Gate Set Up

It depends…

The noise gate automatically mutes your microphone when you’re not speaking into it. We recommend using this feature if you’re running a group podcast with 3+ people. However, we suggest you leave it turned off if you’re recording a solo podcast. Why?

You can hear the noise gate clicking in and out, which is a distraction in its own right. These sounds are masked by other speakers in a multi-host recording, but they are far more obvious when it’s just one person.

If you’re recording on your own in a noisey environment, it could still be useful. We recommend testing it for your particular circumstances to see if it helps or hinders your audio quality.

Aural Exciter Set Up

Leave aural exciter off.

The aural exciter setting is good if you have a guest who has a dry, flat voice. It boosts the upper frequencies, livening their voice up a little bit. However, use it with the wrong person and it can sound really grating and irritating.

For that reason, we don’t recommend turning the aural exciter on by default. Only use it intentionally if you are trying to perk up an otherwise muddy sounding voice.

Big Bottom Set Up

Leave big bottom off.

The big bottom setting is the opposite of the aural exciter. It boost the lower frequencies, which is useful if you have a guest that is lacking presence in your podcast.

If you want to use big bottom for this reason, we recommend turning off the high-pass filter as they counteract one another. We would leave this feature turned off by default and only use it when required.

Voice Tone Set Up

Medium.

Think of the voice tone options as easy EQ settings. Choose the option that best describes your voice, and the Rodecaster will apply a generic EQ profile designed to complement it. We leave this set to medium unless we’re trying to achieve something specific.

Voice Strength Set Up

Medium.

Our understanding is that the voice strength setting you choose will dictate how the compressor behaves. Selecting the soft option for a quiet guest will encourage the compressor to boost their quiter moments more.

In contrast, use the strong setting for overpowering speakers who need more aggressive compressor settings to bring them on a level with the other guests in your podcast. We leave this set to medium for most people.

Additional Microphones

If you’ve followed all of the steps we’ve outlined above, you will have set up your first mic channel. Now you can repeat the process for any other microphones you want to connect.

You can’t simply use the same settings for everyone, you need to calibrate the level and other features to each individual’s voice and microphone type. It’s worth taking the time to work through this process with each guest.

Rodecaster Pro & Shure MV7 Pricing

Rodecaster Pro & Shure MV7 Topics

  • 0:00 – Introduction
  • 0:49 – Pricing & Specs
  • 1:02 – Rodecaster Pro Initial Setup
  • 1:30 – Lav Mic & MV7
  • 1:45 – Closed vs Open Headphones
  • 2:10 – Shure MV7 Mic Positioning
  • 2:33 – Connect Shure MV7 To Rodecaster Pro
  • 2:54 – Fader Setup
  • 3:40 – Microphone Setup
  • 4:02 – Level Setup
  • 5:20 – When To Use Cloudlifter / In-Line Preamp
  • 5:45 – Cloudlifter Setup
  • 8:10 – Audio Processing
  • 8:25 – Compressor Setup
  • 8:55 – High Pass Filter Setup
  • 9:37 – DeEsser Setup
  • 9:51 – Noise Gate Setup
  • 10:44 – Aural Exciter Setup
  • 11:30 – Big Bottom Setup
  • 12:18 – Voice Tone
  • 12:30 – Voice Strength
  • 13:05 – Additional Microphones
  • 13:47 – Final Thoughts