Let’s connect and test the Shure MV7 microphone with the Yamaha MG10XU Audio Mixer and see how this combination works. In this video, we’ll use the XLR output from the microphone.
Why Use a Mixer?
When you’re recording a podcast or some other audio source that has multiple inputs, you need to use a mixer like the Yamaha MG10XU. This way, you can easily mix everything into a single stereo mix for your recording, podcast, or live stream.
Setting Up and Connecting Shure MV7
Microphone Positioning
Microphone positioning is very important because there is not a lot a mixer can do if you have poor positioning. We recommend keeping a dynamic microphone about four fingers away from your mouth. If you get closer, you’ll notice you can hear plosives, and a lot of air coming out of your mouth can rattle the diaphragm of the microphone. And if you get too far away, you have to turn up the gain, and it’ll also make the microphone sound like it’s really sensitive.
Connecting Shure MV7 to Yamaha MG10XU
Connect one end of an XLR cable to the back of the microphone and the other end to channel one of the audio mixer.
Stereo Output
Turn the stereo level knob all the way up to the triangle position, also called zero or unity. This will make sure that everything that we set up on this channel goes right through without being modified to our mix.
Channel Setup
Everything on an audio mixer works in vertical lines. Since we’ve connected our microphone in the first channel, we’ll only be dealing with the first vertical channel strip.
Level and Gain Setup
If you’re recording a podcast or doing a live stream, the first thing you’ll have to do is turn up the level knob all the way up to zero/unity position. This will make sure that whatever gain setting that we set up on this channel strip goes straight through unmodified to our stereo mix.
Next, turn up the gain knob until you see it hit zero on the meter on the right side of the mixer. This will increase the gain on the preamp to boost the tiny microphone level signal to the level that is more appropriate for recording.
If you open the meter in the software that comes with the Yamaha MG10XU mixer, you’ll see when it hits zero on the mixer, it’s actually coming in at -12 dB on the computer. This means there is a 12 dB offset, but when it is at -12, it leaves plenty of room for dynamics. For recording, we recommend a level of somewhere between -18 and -12. This will make sure that you don’t clip or peak.
26 dB Pad Setup
This pad is pretty useful for a situation where your gain is turned down, and you’re still peaking or clipping. However, you don’t need this button with the Shure MV7.
High Pass Filter (HPF)
When you turn on the HPF, it rolls off everything that is below 80 Hz and takes the microphone out of the subwoofer of the listener of your recording.
Compressor Setup
Yamaha MG10XU has a one knob compressor, which adds a little bit of gain and then have a dynamic compression ratio and threshold. This means it’ll reduce the threshold and compression ratio.
The compressor basically makes your quieter moments a little bit louder and the louder one more dynamic. However, over-compression will make you sound a little chunky, so use the compressor sparingly.
EQ Setup
Yamaha MG10XU has a 3 Band EQ. When you turn up the high, the sound gets sharper. If you want more clarity, you can turn up the mid to about 2.5 because the main clarity of your vocal is somewhere between 1.5 kHz and 3 kHz. You can also make a small low cut to make the vocal a little bit more clear.
FX Setup
If you’re doing singing or other such performance, you can turn up the FX Send knob and turn the effects on. You can also modify how the pitch change sounds.
Pan Setup
If you only have two microphones connected to the audio mixer and you want to record them separately, we recommend panning the first channel left and the second channel right. This way, both the channels will be sent to your audio mixer separately.
Shure MV7 and Cloudlifter
We don’t recommend using a Cloudlifter unless you’re pushing 90% or above on the gain. When we test the Shure MV7 with and without Cloudlifter, we didn’t notice much difference. So you don’t need a Cloudlifter with the Shure MV7.
Shure MV7 & Yamaha MG10XU Pricing
- Shure MV7 Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_mv7
- Yamaha MG10XU Audio Mixer: https://currentprice.io/mg10xu
- Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Headphones: https://currentprice.io/beyer_dt_990
- XLR Cable: https://currentprice.io/xlr_cable
- Mic Stand: https://currentprice.io/desk_stand
- Rode PSA1 Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/boom_arm
Shure MV7 & Yamaha MG10XU Topics
- 0:00 – Introduction
- 0:12 – USB Mode
- 0:22 – Why Use A Mixer?
- 0:42 – Pricing & Specs
- 1:40 – Microphone Position
- 2:43 – Connect MV7 to Yamaha MG10XU
- 3:18 – Setup Yamaha MG10XU Audio Mixer
- 3:40 – Stereo Level Setup
- 4:08 – Channel Strip Setup
- 7:02 – 26dB PAD Setup
- 7:37 – HPF / High Pass Filter Setup
- 8:12 – Compressor Setup
- 9:25 – EQ Setup
- 10:38 – FX Setup
- 11:05 – Pan Setup
- 11:31 – Level Knob
- 11:44 – Audio Mixer Workflow
- 11:57 – Shure MV7 & Cloudlifter
- 12:45 – Final Thoughts
