Shure MVX2U Gen 2 adds Auto-Level and a real-time denoiser

Shure has released a second generation of the MVX2U, its single-channel interface that turns an XLR microphone into a USB one. The company aims it at streamers, podcasters and content creators. The MVX2U Gen 2 costs $139 in the US and £139 including VAT in the UK, and it is available now.

Hardware

The interface is about the size of a normal XLR plug. Shure says it is the lightest single-channel interface on the market. It attaches directly to a microphone's XLR output or can be used in line on a cable. The main specifications are:

• up to 60 dB of gain;
• +48V phantom power for condenser microphones;
• a 3.5 mm headphone output for zero-latency monitoring;
• USB-C for both power and audio, with a cable in the box.

Shure also lists a lower noise floor and improvements to the headphone amplifier and the DAC.

New processing

The main change is the onboard DSP. Three new functions are included:

• Auto-Level Mode sets gain automatically for steady levels;
• Real-Time Denoiser cuts background noise;
• Digital Popper Stopper reduces plosives.

The device stores the last settings used. Through the MOTIV Mix desktop app and the MOTIV Audio and MOTIV Video mobile apps on iOS, Android and desktop, users can also adjust EQ, compression and limiting. Once set, the processing stays active when other recording software is used.

Eduardo Valdes, associate vice president of global marketing and product management at Shure, described it as "the simplest way to record an XLR microphone on any device." He gave the SM7B and SM58 as examples of microphones that can be connected directly to a phone.