Verdict
The Shure SM4 is a competent XLR mike that ’s wanton to habituate and quick - to - go right out of the box . It provides blank and rich pickup truck with fantastic noise rejection that pushes toward more expensive options . The lack of any extra feature both in the boxful and in software system is a sore miss against competitors , though .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Shure SM4 represents the American business firm ’s latest addition to their SM lineup of microphone , which already includes legendary pro - grade kit as the SM58 andSM7B.
The new SM4 is one of the more affordable option in the SM catalog , offering a professional cardioid condenser microphone for £ 195 / $ 199 in its barebones form with a clamp , although if you pay £ 249 / $ 269 , you also get a charismatic pop filter and shock mount . By the clip you get there though , there ’s Shure ’s MV7 + to contend with , and theLogitech Blue Sona .
I ’ve been prove the SM4 for the last couple of week to see how it fare , and whether it ’s worth the asking price . Let ’s see out .
Design
The SM4 looks as a established mike should , with a cylindrical shape , hardy metallic element radiator grille and a glistening finish on the body . It ’s entirely made of metallic element , so feels especially insurance premium in hand , looking sharp when paired with a black godsend arm .
Without any additional pop filters or mount ironware in its base conformation , the SM4 looks unmistakably clean , with the only flair being the Shure logotype to denote which side of the microphone you should speak into . There ’s no on - display board control either , or a headphone jack for on - board monitoring , while the only port is an XLR one for plug the SM4 into an interface .
you may add a magnetised soda water filter and jounce mount with the SM4 , as it comes in its more expensive form , but you do n’t needs need the popping filter as the microphone contains one internally . This is becoming more common on more gamer - orient streamer microphone where the mic itself is on television camera a lot , and the SM4 is Shure ’s take to pop the question a microphone that bid fantastic performance while being well - placed for being on photographic camera .
A 463 thou weight stimulate this quite hefty for a canonic microphone , reinforcing its nature as a premium product . The fact it comes as just the microphone and being slightly miserable in system of weights than both the MV7 + and SM7B has the benefit of meaning the SM4 is portable too , hence the inclusion body of a carry sack in the box .
Performance
Coming as a part of Shure ’s SM lineup of mics meant I had in high spirits hopes for the SM4 , and I was suitably impressed in testing . Its cardioid pickup pattern meant only my voice was hear with reassuring heat and excellent lucidness . Its interior pop filter also did an splendid caper of removing any issues with plosive sounds .
The SM4 ’s dissonance rejection from anywhere else but the front was second - to - none too , with it fundamentally cancelling out any of my music from behind the mike when I spoke into it from around 6 - column inch aside . It also managed to heavily reduce the noise of my on purpose gaudy mechanical keyboard with ease .
As a condenser mike , Shure also recommend that the SM4 can be used with instruments as much as it can with voices , which I can see working well . Being stop up and play into an user interface pretend it easy to record into , and I had no issue using it with either Audacity or Adobe Audition on Windows and macOS . The microphone was instantly recognise when being plugged into my Elgato Wave XLR without any matter .
Features
Much like the SM7B , the SM4 is also clearly lack in the features department , with no software integration or on - plank controls . Those sort of feature such as reverb or reach control condition are deal either in the recording software package you ’re using or on the user interface you ’ve capture the SM4 tie to .
The interesting elements of the SM4 though are continue inside . This die for both its excellent internal pop filter , as well as a clever feature that prevents the mike ’s signal from being affected by wireless gimmick with an RF signal , such as a keyboard or shiner . This is a letters patent - pending engineering from Shure , and it ’s specially useful in house studios especially where your mic is likely to be tight to other devices that emit electric emission .
The raw girl for the base version of the SM4 though is both an outside pop filter and impact climb , which are found on the likes of the USB - poweredSteelSeries Aliasand XLR - powered Beyerdynamic M 70 Pro X. Those two mics also be less than the SM4 , so it is a shame they are n’t include here without spending supererogatory .
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Should you buy it?
The SM4 nonetheless impressment with its clear , productive pick-me-up and unbelievable disturbance rejection , as well as its cud and play convenient with an XLR interface .
Shure offer the choice of buying the SM4 with and without a pop filter and shock mount as a cost - saving option , but other similarly - price and less expensive competitor do come with them .
Final Thoughts
The Shure SM4 is a competent XLR microphone that ’s easy to use and ready - to - go right out of the box . It ply white and rich pickup with fantastic noise rejection that pushes toward more expensive pick . The want of any additional feature both in the box seat and in software program is a painful young lady against competitor including theSteelSeries Alias , though .
Trusted Score
How we test
During each mike review , we conduct a serial of transcription exam that include try audio frequency during ideal setting , with scope randomness applied and in an outdoor context ( where possible ) , to give you the good idea of how each equipment performs in real - world use .
FAQs
Yes , the Shure SM4 involve a stand or boom arm to do work , as one is n’t bring home the bacon with it .
