Make Better Recordings with the ShurePlus™ MOTIV™ Mobile Recording App

Until recently, it wasn't possible to make quality mobile recordings without recruiting an expert to wrangle several pieces of gear. The advent of user-friendly digital devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets made it easier for content creators who are not recording engineers to unleash a tsunami of podcast and video content; however, one thing was still lacking: great sound.

Early in 2015, Shure responded with the introduction of three MOTIV™ digital condenser microphones and the MVi single-channel audio interface for mobile plug-and-play audio captured through direct connection to Apple iOS, PC and Android devices. At the same time, Shure debuted the ShurePlus™ MOTIV™ 24-bit/48 WAV recording app that allowed for file sharing through text, email, iTunes, AirDrop, Mail Drop and Dropbox. It also provided MOTIV hardware users with access to selectable DSP preset modes for gain, equalization and compression.

Now, a new version of the app is available with an expanded feature set to help you get even more out of your MOTIV hardware.
 

Introducing the ShurePlus MOTIV Mobile Recording App, Version 2.0

Through Apple App Store and Amazon reviews and at trade shows, we've received helpful feedback from users about what they'd like to be able to do with the MOTIV app. Users said they wanted basic editing tools, better playback features, the ability to sprint through the app, and more ways to share content. We had our own list of enhancements, too.

Here's where we landed with version 2.0.

New Editor

Version 2.0 offers a robust, easy-to-use editing tool, which is a giant step forward from the first generation MOTIV App.

• The Trim feature lets users redefine the beginning and end points of a recording. Linear and user-defined fades can be added at the same time for polished, professional recordings.
• The Split feature makes it easy to separate audio files into multiple tracks, which is especially useful when parsing individual sections of a long recording.
• Fade functionality allows users to add fades at the beginning of a track. The shape of the fade can be controlled with an easy-to-use slider.
• Timeline Markers define points in a recording where users may want to return to, playback from or define split points in the editing process.

Improved User Interface

The streamlined interface features fewer menu selections and pull-down options so that users can move through the MOTIV app more efficiently.

With fewer buttons to press, users have easier access to whatever they want to do, whether it's adjusting settings, recording, listening to a recording or jumping out to make a movie with a third-party app.

Now, three buttons on the bottom of the new screen layout offer one-touch navigation to anywhere in the app.

Additionally, the new version makes it easier for users to turn on or turn off the headphone jack. We moved the Headphone icon from its prior location in the Settings menu to a position right next to the Mic Gain bar.

 

Optimized Metering

Improved metering delivers a jitter-free visual experience. The clip indicator turns the entire metering bar red when clipping, making it easier for the user to identify and respond to the action.

We learned that most users who are recording music rely on the app's meter instead of listening with their ears, which makes the graphic interface really important. The metering in the first version of the MOTIV app was hyper-responsive to transients, so we smoothed out the meters and reworked the waveform to be less CPU-intensive but just as accurate.

Enhanced Playback Window

The MOTIV app's updated playback window creates a great listening environment for casual or critical listening to a recording. Playback controls include Play, Pause, Fast-forward and Rewind buttons. Users also have access to a looping feature for continued review of a track, plus the option to add graphics from the iOS Camera Roll to the recording and share the video file there. Like the earlier version, version 2.0 allows files to be shared via email, text, iTunes, AirDrop, Mail Drop and Dropbox.

Expert Advice

One of the attributes that sets Shure apart from most other audio companies is our allegiance to customers. It's one of several reasons why the company enjoys the kind of brand loyalty it does. That's why we created a conduit for customer feedback in version 2.0. The About screen in Settings offers users these options: Rate Our App (at the App Store), Report a Problem or Send General Feedback.

We received lots of comments in just the first few weeks following version 2.0's release and were able to provide step-by-step instructions for one customer who was live streaming. The personal touch that customers receive from a real person here in Niles is something they really appreciate. Plus, it gives us the opportunity to gauge the appeal of features in the current app while we prioritize our list of new features.

Get the MOTIV App

The ShurePlus MOTIV Mobile Recording App offers uncompressed 24-bit/48 WAV recording. While it was created for use with MOTIV microphones, it's a convenient stand-alone tool for enhanced recording and editing whether or not you're using a MOTIV microphone with it.

The MOTIV App, version 2.0, is available for free in the Apple App Store.