Is Shure’s SM4 a perfect microphone for the home studio?£195 (standard)
£249 (Studio Kit)
shure.com
When it comes to microphones, commercial studios tend to have all bases covered, the shelves of their cupboards creaking under the weight of legendary models from the likes of Neumann, AKG and Shure. Unfortunately, home studios can rarely afford the luxury of an extensive mic collection, yet may still need to cater for the same diversity of tasks and instruments as a commercial studio.

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The solution is to seek an all-rounder mic whose frequency response and performance characteristics are suited to as wide a range of sound sources as possible. While many mics on the market fit this bill, Shure took a look at these and figured it could do better. To prove the point, it created the SM4 Home Recording Microphone.
Why is the Shure SM4 a good choice for home recording?
SM4 is a side-address condenser mic featuring a one-inch diaphragm. It has a smart, professional appearance that will satisfy those creating video content, and a compact size that ensures it is not too obtrusive.
Good looks are more than just skin deep, with the mic’s solid metal shell and foil grille conveying the solidity and robustness we’d expect from Shure. We’re confident the mic will come to no harm if thrown in a backpack for lugging to sessions, or even if used on stage.
The SM4 in a home recording environment. Image: Press
One problem Shure’s engineers identified with many home studio mics is a susceptibility to interference from the plethora of radio-frequency sources that surround us in our daily lives – wi-fi, Bluetooth, monitor screens, LED lights and so on. Such interferences can be particularly problematic when reading a script, lyrics or music from a phone held close to the mic, or when using ring lights for filming. To combat this, SM4’s capsule and circuitry are wrapped within a cylinder of ultra-fine mesh that acts as a Faraday cage, protecting the innards from interference.
This acoustically-transparent mesh also serves a secondary function as an integral pop shield, and this is not just a happy side effect of the interference screening. Shure also identified susceptibility to pops as a shortcoming of many mics aimed at the home studio market, and so designed-in as much plosive tolerance as possible.
Engineers also tested many different capsules for plosive tolerance before settling on a dual-diaphragm brass configuration. In addition, the low frequency response (flat from 1 kHz down to 200 Hz, with a gentle roll-off below that) was chosen to reduce boominess and lessen the impact of pops and bumps that do make it to the capsule.
Further plosive control is available if buying the Studio Kit bundle, as this comes with a wrap-around pop shield that clips conveniently via magnets to a shock mount (the mic-only package comes with a basic hard mount). The shock mount is solid, effective and well designed, and uses short rubber bands to limit the amount of stretching that will occur over time – it’s neat that replacement bands are also included. Studio Kit also comes with a padded case with cutouts for each part to nestle in.
The SM4 in use in a home recording environment. Image: Press
How well does the Shure SM4 perform?
SM4 has a cardioid polar pattern that remains impressively stable across the entire frequency range, thus ensuring accurate directionality and excellent off-axis rejection. These are particularly useful traits when recording in smaller rooms, reducing sensitivity to, and pick-up of, unpleasant resonances and echoes that may be bouncing around.
Somewhat unusual for a cardioid mic, though, is SM4’s modest proximity effect (this being an increase in low-end the closer a mic gets to a sound source). On the down side, this reduces the importance of mic placement and the control this gives over the timbre of the captured sound. But on the plus side, it creates a larger tonal ‘sweet spot’ and makes it easier for someone who is recording themself to maintain a consistent tone as they flit between playing takes and operating controls.
SM4 has the sensitivity you’d expect from a mid-priced condenser but it can also cope with extremely high sound pressure levels of up to 140 dB. So it does as good a job of capturing a whispered vocal as it does a guitar amp turned up to 11.
Another key to the mic’s versatility is a wide frequency response. We’ve already mentioned the lower-mid flatness and low-end roll off, and this, as well as controlling plosives, delivers warmth and weight without becoming boomy. The sensitivity starts to pick up above 1 kHz, with a small presence peak around 4 kHz that suits vocals and guitars, and a significantly stronger, wider peak in the highs, centred around 15 kHz.
The SM4 Studio Kit case. Image: Press
These peaks ensure the mic captures a lot of spectral detail in the all-important upper-mid and high frequency bands, but they can give the raw sound a harsh edge. This is exactly what EQ is designed to fix so it isn’t an issue, and of course it is preferable to be cutting frequencies that are too loud rather than boosting ones that are too weak.
All the above characteristics add up to a mic that is an exceptional all-round performer. It’s as happy in front of a guitar amp as it is a bass amp, as pleased to capture a snare drum as a kick, and all whilst sounding crisp and clear when being sung or spoken into.
While the ‘Jack of all trades’ approach may not be to everybody’s tastes, Shure SM4 will be an attractive prospect for those looking for an affordable, robust and professional mic that can turn its hand to any recording task with minimal fuss or complication.

Key features

Front-address condenser mic
Cardioid polar pattern
Designed to handle a wide range of sound sources
Incorporates Shure’s interference shielding technology

Mic-only package includes:

SM4 mic
Swivel mount
Mic stand thread adapter
Carry/storage pouch

Studio Kit includes:

SM4 mic
Shock mount with spare rubber bands
Mic stand thread adapter
Pop shield
Carry case with cutouts for all kit items

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