Introduction
The Movo M1 USB is a compact, plug-and-play microphone that promises to elevate your audio game without breaking the bank.
Design and Build Quality
- Compact Design: The M1 USB boasts a sleek and compact design that fits snugly on any desk.
- Sturdy Build: Despite its small size, the microphone feels durable and well-built.
Performance
- Crystal-Clear Audio: The microphone captures clear and crisp audio, perfect for podcasts, voiceovers, and video calls.
- Plug-and-Play: Its hassle-free setup makes it ideal for beginners. Simply plug it in and start recording.
Compatibility
- Universal Compatibility: Works seamlessly with both Windows and macOS systems, eliminating compatibility issues.
- Versatile Use: Compatible with various recording and streaming software, offering flexibility in usage.
Pros:
- Affordable price point
- Portable and user-friendly design
- Excellent audio quality for its size
- Compatible with various operating systems and software
Cons:
- Lacks advanced features compared to higher-end microphones
- Limited range for professional use due to its compact size
Conclusion
The Movo M1 USB is an excellent choice for users seeking a budget-friendly, portable microphone without compromising on audio quality. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive options, its performance and ease of use make it a solid investment for beginners and casual users.
T. Catranis –
I compared three popular lavalier mics available from Amazon – this Move, Maono, and a DeWise. The DeWise has a 1/8″ plug so I used a Dukabel USB adapter. I do a podcast (two people with lavalier mics) and find that that lavaliers are a good choice for people like me who tend to move their head from side to side.
My computer is a MacBook Pro.
The Movo had a very strong signal – very strong. It will cause issues for many people. I had to turn down my input on the Midi and System Prefs to .143! The signal was a little muffled. Not a terrible signal, but a little lacking.
The Maono seemed to have an easier to control signal. I set the input to between .6 and .7 depending on the person. It was plenty strong enough for any application. The signal was fairly balanced and clear.
The DeWise seemed to work well with a similar setting to the Maono (.6 – .7). The signal is fairly clear and has a reasonable sound quality. It has a bit more on the treble end of the frequency curve. That may work for you if needed.
Another word on the DeWise – since it is a 1/8″ plug be very careful if you plan to use it with a mixer. They left out a very important explanation. When using that kind of condenser mic, you will need phantom power. But (and that’s a big But), you will need a transforming XLR adapter (Rode has a good one) that steps down the voltage to about 4 or 5 volts. If not, you may likely fry the mic.
I preferred the sound quality and ease of use of the Maono over the other two. But currently, we are using both the Maono and DeWise together and they work well as an Aggregate mic set up. The Movo is a back-up at best, and we might return it.
NC –
This is a very good usb microphone. Due to its usb connector, you can only use it with your PC or MAC computers. The microphone comes with a 20 ft cord. For most cases you would be close to your computer. So, instead of a 20 ft cord, it could have come with a shorter cord and an extension cord. The build quality is very good. I guess that there is an AD converter within this usb connector which does a very good job at the voice frequency range with a bit of a shortcoming in converting the higher frequency part of the voice. However, at this price point this is to be expected and it is more than adequate for voice recording.
I have bought this microphone for recording my lectures that will be delivered remotely this Fall. I have recorded several lecture sessions with this microphone and I am generally happy with the sound quality.
Amazon Customer –
It’s a good product for a beginner in vlogging.
Kerumbo –
I expect USB mics to have very low sound in Windows 10, but this one’s so loud I have to keep the gain down at about 50 — not a bad thing. Because this mic is sensitive, it picks up lots of ambient sound, including just the neutral “air” sounds of the room, but since I got it for my wife to use in Zoom teaching, that’s fine because Zoom (and some similar apps) has automatic noise cancellation that blocks all that “sound of the room,” keeping only the voice nice and clear. The super-long cord is way more than we need, but may be a plus for other users. The recording does pick up noise if anything rubs against or bumps the cord, but only for the couple of feet of cord near the microphone, so the issue is manageable. Great for the purpose I bought it for.
Gabby –
Used this for one of my first podcasts where I was a guest speaker.
Dave Millman –
This is a good quality microphone that I purchased to get the long cord and USB interface. It works exactly as expected. Plug it in, launch a recording application like Audacity, it appears as a microphone choice with no software or drivers to install.
You should understand what an Omnidirectional microphone is before ordering this product. Omnidirectional means it picks up sounds from all (omni-) directions. In general, you should eliminate external noise before recording audio, but that is especially important with an omnidirectional microphone like this one. It will pick up fan noises, refrigerator and air conditioner hum just as well as voices. Unidirectional (cardioid) microphones pick up sound primarily from one direction, so they are generally better for use as a talent mic. They are also more expensive.
Here are the ideal uses of this microphone:
1. Skype/conference calls on computers (not mobile devices)
2. Talent microphone, as long as you understand the limits of omnidirectional mics (above)
3. Emergency backup mic, hidden in the flowers between two interviewees, in case the primary microphones fail
I use it for use case #3. Two talents have wireless cardioid mics on their collars. The wireless receiver feeds audio into the camcorder. This microphone is hidden in the flowers on the table in between the two interviewees. It feeds audio into a laptop. The laptop audio is inferior to the camcorder audio because it is further from both talents, but inferior is better than nothing if the wireless signal fails. The flowers are visible in wide and medium shots but not close-ups.
I’m happy with the product, particularly with the long cord.
Avid reader –
Sound: I’m not a professional, but sound quality seemed decent enough on a Zoom recording.
Pro: Super long cord.
Con: Super long cord tangles easily. Spent the first ten minutes untangling it after removing the twisty-tie.
Pro: So simple to use, ships without any instructions.
Con: Ships without any instructions. Had trouble snapping the clip onto the mic. Finally held the clip firmly against my desk and pressed the mic down until it snapped in place.
Venclaire –
the microphone is super cheap along with great audio quality, ESPECIALLY for its price. this is my second time purchasing it. i will warn that the wire on it is not incredibly durable, so try your best to not roll over it. despite that, it still lasted 2 years before i bought another. absolutely incredible mic and I use it with my VR headset all the time
David –
Bought specifcally to monitor birdsong using a RaspberryPi and BirdPiNet. So can’t comment on it for the usual usage.
But I needed something with decent sensitivity, low self noise and decent S/N ratio. And that didn’t break the bank.
This is doing the job very nicely and is tolerating the weather very well so far, albeit with an additional wind guard added.
Jay –
Picked up to record some podcast work. Mic had my voice super cheap to the point of my max speakers crackling. Even on lower volume. If you’re gonna spend the money grab something else.
Tony S. –
The sound quality was fine for the price – perfect for low budget pod saying or streaming, but the cable is very long and very thin – which means it tangles easily and it is easily damaged. Within an hour of using it I managed to accidently close it in a desk draw and the mike stopped working… 🙁
Cam –
Easy to use. Plug and play. Brought for my mum to use over zoom during the pandemic. Well worth the money.