MOVO UM700 USB MICROPHONE REVIEW.
With the UM700, Movo is hoping to disrupt the marketplace when it comes to offering a great bang-for-your-buck USB microphone that is suitable for creators, recording music, livestreaming, vlogging, podcasting, conference calls, and more. However, with venerable players like the Blue Yeti dominating the space for over a decade, does Movo really have a shot at toppling the kings? This is the GameRevolution review.
Box of tricks
The Movo UM700 starts off strong with the unboxing. There’s the mic, pop filter, Micro USB cable, and instruction manual. The mic is surrounded by a thick foam that prevents it from moving during shipment. While the product box I received was a little roughed up on the outside, I was reassured by the thick foam on the inside.
Buy the Movo UM700 USB Microphone on Amazon.com
Setting up the UM700 is as easy as plugging it in using the provided Micro USB cable. While I’d prefer to see USB-C in 2021, I was at least satisfied by the long length of the cable. It’s around eight feet long, making it great for any desktop setup, even where the PC is hidden away under the table.
Once plugged in, the UM700 appears as a playback and recording device. Setting it as the default playback device allows headphones to be plugged straight into the microphone for desktop audio and live monitoring. Setting it as the recording device obviously prioritizes it for use with recording and chat software.
Everything you can do…
During my testing, I mostly kept the microphone in its cardioid pickup pattern mode. This lets it pick up audio from the front and rejects audio from anywhere else. It’s the ideal choice for a one-person setup. However, there’s also the stereo mode for clear left and right directionality, which is good for ASMR or music; bi-directional for front and back sensitivity, which is targeted at those in an interview situation; and, finally, omnidirectional that causes the mic to record from all directions.
On the microphone itself, there’s a volume knob for output to headphones, a mute button that lights up when active, a gain knob, and a switch for changing the pickup pattern. The mic can swivel around to be more compact for easier storage or traveling.
When it comes to specs, the Movo UM700 matches the Blue Yeti in many aspects. This includes the 48 kHz/16 bit recording which is the standard for those starting out in the world of professional audio.
UM700 demonstration
In the above sample, I’m recording straight from the microphone into OBS with no tweaking to the settings. This is totally raw with gain set to the point where my voice is loud but without peaking.
Ideally, users would be familiar with compression, EQ, and noise gates to get the best from this microphone. These are tools available in most editing software and also streaming apps like OBS.
Compression helps normalize the audio loudness, which would help balance out the levels in the sample above. EQ would cut the bass rumble and add more presence in the mid and “shine” in the highs.
With that said, the raw audio coming from the Movo UM700 sounds good enough to me. It’s inoffensive aside from slight sibilance that would benefit from a de-esser, though I’ve had this issue with the Blue Yeti, too.
Movo UM700 USB Microphone Review: The final verdict
While there are definitely better USB mics out there, which boast killer features like 24 bit that helps users avoid peaking entirely, Movo has delivered a budget-friendly mic that is suitable for everyone.
It’s easy to use, built well, and gets the job done. What’s more, with some knowledge of compression and EQ, you can really make the UM700 shine.
At $99.99, the Movo UM700 delivers quality audio and a generous number of features without breaking the bank. If price is a key concern for you — and it likely is as a budding audio creator — then this should be on your shortlist.
UM700 USB Microphone review unit was provided by Movo.
