The market for home recording equipment is excelling at the moment. Everyone seems to be recording an album in their bedroom and it’s brilliant to see so much musical creativity flourishing. All this activity means there are plenty of new microphone aimed at creatives who want great audio quality at home without breaking the bank.
Shure is one of the best-known microphone brands and the company makes some excellent models including the SM58 and SM7B. Those two microphones are still going strong half a century after they were launched. The latest model from Shure is the SM4 Home Recording Microphone.
Looking remarkably like the Audio-Technica AT-2020, the Shure SM4 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with dual brass capsules that can record excellent sound straight out of the box without the need to mess around with low-pass filters or EQ switches.
Designed for recording both vocals and instruments, the SM4 has a patent-pending RF shielding system that reduces the chances of the mic picking up stray electrical emissions radiating from computers, smartphones, Wi-Fi routers or even USB cables. Emissions can be a big headache in the home studio where the computer that’s recording the music can often be right next to the microphone.
The SM4 is an XLR mic and needs a USB audio interface for connecting to a computer. It’s been deliberately designed to streamline the recording process and has multiple layers of plosive protection for reducing those annoying popping sounds. The dual-diaphragm capsule helps eliminate popping and keeps the sound quality consistent with less of a proximity effect that many condenser microphones.
With its cardioid polar pattern, the SM4 has a large “sweet spot” that enables a vocalist to move around a bit more when singing. However, the wider sweet spot means the SM4 has slightly less off-axis rejection than some dynamic mics, so I’d recommend using the SM4 in an acoustically treated room or a vocal booth because the capsule is sensitive and can pick a room’s acoustics more than a dynamic mic might.
The SM4 captures professional-quality audio without the faff and tweaking sometimes necessary with a professional mic like the SM7B. You don’t need to be a sound engineer to get excellent sound because the low-end response is well-controlled, enabling the EQ to be altered without unintended impacts on the sound quality. One thing I liked about this mic is how easily it can reproduce a great FM radio voice, making recordings of vocals that are big, deep and resonant.
Another welcome feature about the SM4 is Shure’s use of a magnetic pop filter that simply sticks on the SM4’s shock mount. The shock mount is a simplified design that works well and looks great on camera. In this age of video streaming, a good mic without a large pop filter is welcome.
Unfortunately, the sample I tested was the bare-bones version of the SM4 which doesn’t include shock mount and pop filter. To get those two essential accessories you need to buy the premium version of the SM4. Come on, Shure! It’s 2024 and this isn’t a bargain-basement mic so there should be a shock mount and pop filter included as standard.
This is a great all-purpose condenser mic for recording vocals and instruments. The fact that the SM4 has been optimized to capture everything from the quietest vocals to loud instruments like drums, thrash metal guitar or even a trumpet makes it so versatile. The exceptionally high sound pressure level (SPL) handling of 140dB means the SM4 can cope with sounds as loud as a jet engine.
One area that might be an issue is the amount of self-noise which is around 18dB. That’s not bad but not as quiet as some other mics on the market. For most people, the self-noise won’t be a problem but it might be an issue for quiet recordings with lots of silent passages.
Verdict: The Shure SM4 is a super condenser capsule microphone that is a solid performer that produces some fabulous recordings straight out of the box. The SM4 is a very forgiving microphone that can cover so many uses. If you can only afford one mic for your home studio, this all-rounder is the type you need. I think the SM4 is slightly expensive compared to something like the Audio-Technical equivalent or something from Lewitt. I think Shure should bundle the shock mount and pop filter as standard as the SM4 feels incomplete without them. If you’re looking for a good all-purpose mic with Shure’s legendary build quality and longevity, the SM4 could be the one for you.
Pricing & Availability: The Shure SM4 Microphone is available now and priced at $199 / £195 / €229 and comes with a swivel-mount microphone clamp and zippered carrying bag. The premium Home Recording Kit option costs $269 / £249 / €289 and includes a shock mount, magnetic pop filter and hard zippered carrying case.
Tech Specs:
- Type: True Condenser.
- Polar pattern: Cardioid.
- Frequency response 20Hz to 20kHz.
- Output Impedance: 150Ω.
- Sensitivity: -38dbV/Pa.
- Maximum SPL (1 kHz at 1% THD) 1000Ω load: 140dB SPL / 2500Ω load: 145 dB SPL.
- Connector: Three-pin XLR male.
- Weight: 463g.
- Power requirements: 48V DC Phantom Power (5.3 mA).
