The home recording equipment market is booming right now. Everyone seems to be recording an album in their bedroom and it’s great to see so much musical creativity blossoming. All of this activity means there are plenty of new microphones aimed at creatives who want great audio quality at home without breaking the bank.

Shure is one of the most well-known microphone brands and the company produces some excellent models, including the SM58 and the SM7B. These two microphones are still very popular half a century after their release. The latest model from Shure is the SM4 Home Recording Microphone.

Looking remarkably similar to the Audio-Technica AT-2020, the Shure SM4 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with two brass capsules that can capture great sound right out of the box without having to mess around with low-pass filters or EQ switches.

Designed for recording vocals and instruments, the SM4 features a patent-pending RF shielding system that reduces the chance of the microphone picking up electrical noise from computers, smartphones, Wi-Fi routers, or even USB cables. Radiated noise can be a big problem in the home studio, as the computer recording the music is often right next to the microphone.

The SM4 is an XLR microphone and requires a USB audio interface to connect to a computer. It has been deliberately designed to streamline the recording process and has multiple layers of plosive protection to reduce annoying popping noises. The dual diaphragm capsule helps to prevent popping noises and ensures consistent sound quality with less proximity effect than many condenser microphones.

With its cardioid polar pattern, the SM4 has a wide “sweet spot” that allows the singer to move around a little more when singing. However, the wider sweet spot means that the SM4 has a little less off-axis rejection than some dynamic mics. As such, I would recommend using the SM4 in an acoustically treated room or vocal booth as the capsule is sensitive and can capture the acoustics of a room better than a dynamic mic.

The SM4 captures professional quality audio without the hassle and fine-tuning sometimes required with a professional microphone like the SM7B. You don’t have to be a sound engineer to get great sound, as bass response is well controlled and the equalizer can be changed without unintended impact on sound quality. What I liked about this microphone is how easily it can reproduce a great FM radio vocal and capture recordings of vocals that are big, deep and resonant.

Another welcome feature of the SM4 is Shure’s use of a magnetic pop filter that simply sticks to the SM4’s shock mount. The shock mount is a simplified design that works well and looks great on camera. In the age of video streaming, a good microphone without a large pop filter is welcome.

Unfortunately, the model I tested was the basic version of the SM4, which doesn’t come with a shock mount or pop filter. To get these two important accessories, you’ll need to buy the premium version of the SM4. Come on, Shure! It’s 2024 and this isn’t a cheap mic, so a shock mount and pop filter should be included as standard.

This is a great all-purpose condenser microphone for recording vocals and instruments. The fact that the SM4 has been optimized to capture everything from soft vocals to loud instruments like drums, thrash metal guitar, or even a trumpet is what makes it so versatile. The exceptionally high sound pressure level (SPL) of 140dB means the SM4 can handle sounds as loud as a jet engine.

One area that could be a problem is the self-noise, which is around 18dB. That’s not bad, but it’s not as quiet as some other microphones on the market. For most people, the self-noise won’t be a problem, but it could be a problem on quiet recordings with a lot of silent passages.

Verdict: The Shure SM4 is a super capsule condenser microphone that offers solid performance and fantastic recordings right out of the box. The SM4 is a very forgiving microphone that has a lot of uses. If you can only afford one microphone for your home studio, this all-round microphone is for you. I find the SM4 is a little expensive compared to something like the equivalent from Audio-Technical or something from Lewitt. I think Shure should include the shock mount and pop filter as standard, as the SM4 feels incomplete without them. If you’re looking for a good all-purpose microphone with Shure’s legendary build quality and durability, the SM4 could be for you.

Prices and availability: The Shure SM4 microphone is available now for $199/£195/€229 and comes with a pivoting mic clamp and zippered carrying case. The premium ‘Home Recording Kit’ option costs $269/£249/€289 and includes a shock mount, magnetic pop filter and a hard zippered carrying case.

Technical data:

• Type: True capacitor.
• Polar pattern: cardioid.
• Frequency response 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
• Output impedance: 150Ω.
• Sensitivity: -38dbV/Pa.
• Maximum sound pressure level (1 kHz at 1% THD) 1000 Ω load: 140 dB SPL / 2500 Ω load: 145 dB SPL.
• Connection: Three-pin XLR connector.
• Weight: 463g.
• Power requirement: 48 V DC phantom power (5.3 mA).