Review sample provided by Movo
In the age of Twitch and Youtube, just about anyone gaming with a PC has at some point thought of the idea to try their hand at becoming famous on either platform. That doesn’t even include the fact that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has forced many folks into working from home, thus needing some equipment at their workstation just to get the job done. Luckily, Movo’s VSM-7 Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone is a great choice when you’re in need of something very versatile. As someone who’s tried many mics in their life, I can honestly say that you cannot go wrong with this piece of equipment.
What’s In The Box
Opening the box was a very comforting sight. The VSM-7 and all of its contents are safely packed between two thick pads of soft foam. This is the best packaged product I’ve seen in a long time and it’s fantastic to see Movo treating their products with such care and respect. Once you get past the foam, you’ll find the VSM-7 Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone, a pop filter, an attached shock mount, additional replacement bands for the shock mount, and a 10ft XLR cable.
The great thing that I noticed from the start was the fact that just about everything you’d need to get started with a stream, podcast, or recording session is included right out of the box. The only additional pieces you’ll need other than what’s included are some kind of stand for the mic, Phantom Power, and an additional XLR or XLR to 3.5mm cable depending on your intended use. Those only ran me about $40 on Amazon. Additionally, you could also use a mixer but that would set you back a bit depending on what you find.
Aesthetics and Build Quality
Getting a sense of the weight that this thing packs is pretty sweet. It feels very sturdy and as if it could take a beating or two. The mic itself makes use of clean and premium black metals throughout. I also really enjoy the size of it. It’s not too large and fits into a desk setup very easily. There are 3 different sets of sliding toggles and each one feels responsive and of great quality. In the past, I’ve used the Blue Yeti but found issues with the buttons and toggles. They would either feel too stiff to change or too weak and cheap. I think that Movo found a great medium of making them feel premium and easy to push.
The shock mount continues the look of black metals and too feels like it was made with the highest quality. The one item that seems to stick out for me though is the pop filter. While it doesn’t inherently feel cheap, it feels of lesser quality than the rest of the whole experience. It’s made of plastic which is most commonly used in pop filters but it’s the fact that it just feels ho-hum. It’s a little bit wiggly but does stay on with no issues, luckily. I’d also argue that the filter itself may be a bit too thin. Sometimes while doing my testing, I’d get a hard “S” sound coming through, which we all know can be a bit pesky.
Specs and Audio Quality
What the VSM-7 offers in terms of mic specs are better than other mics of this stature that you’d find on the market. The 3 different Polar Patterns gave me as a user a few different ways of being able to use it in any given situation. A lot of mics have these settings but there are also the added features of the Low-Pass and Pad switches that I personally haven’t seen on a mic. I found these as a great added benefit when I needed to make changes due to my environment.
I mostly tested the VSM-7 when I would play music and I also did some straight-up voice tests on my PC as well. When I used it in a music sense, I compared it to my regularly used Berringer mic. While the Berringer came out louder, the audio quality fared more pleasant in the VSM-7. Had I used a mixer, I don’t think that the Berringer would’ve even been louder at all and would’ve bottomed out completely.
When I used it at my desk, I did have to do some tweaking on my PC but that’s a standard thing that needs to be done when you aren’t using a PC specific mic. Recording with it and having my PC acknowledge it was a piece of cake. The sounds were crisp and clear, sounding vastly superior to my webcam mic or even my memory of the Blue Yeti I had once had. Sitting it on a desk-mounted stand just presented a studio-like ambiance to my desk setup and transformed it entirely.
What It Could Have Done Better
My one and only critique is directed at the lackluster pop filter. It’s awesome that one comes included and while it does its job, it just misses the mark. Especially when compared to the high quality of the rest of the included items. You could argue that what’s included for the price meant that corners had to be cut and this is the one thing that had to take the hit. I don’t hate the filter by any means but just came out a bit underwhelmed by it.
Verdict
I’ve had a chance to try more than a fair share of different mics in my life. With that being said, I’m extremely impressed by just how versatile the VSM-7 really is. It’s not just a one-trick pony that some gaming brand is going to stick their name onto. This is made for people that are serious about the work that they want to put out. Whether it’s leisure, work, or working towards a dream job as a Twitch streamer, this thing has you covered. Because of its sleek, premium design and included goodies, the price really can’t be beaten. If you’re serious about finding a great quality piece of recording equipment, you have to check Movo’s VSM-7 out.
