Which Microphones Do I Actually Use After All Those Reviews?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
- We’ve done a bunch of microphone reviews over the last few years. One question I get is, “So which microphones do you use these days?” That’s what we’ll look at in this episode!
If you’d like to learn how to record and post process your sound, be sure to have a look at my sound for video courses at school.learnlightandsound.com My Dialogue Sound Post Processing with Adobe Audition course will launch in the next few days, so be sure to create a free account at the school now to be notified when it is released and to receive a discount code!
Visit us at learnlightandsound.com for more updates on how to improve your lighting and sound for video. Also be sure to subscribe to get new weekly episodes!
Gear mentioned in or used to record this episode:
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RODE VideoMic Pro (my favorite camera-top Shotgun Microphone)
Amazon: geni.us/xfsn
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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RODE NTG4+ Shotgun Microphone
Amazon: geni.us/1dmrXBU
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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RODE NTG2 (favorite sub $400 USD XLR shotgun microphone)
Amazon: geni.us/zNu1
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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Audio Technica AT4053b Hyper-cardioid (My favorite microphone for indoor dialogue)
Amazon: geni.us/Y6SyL
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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RODE NT5 (good, less expensive mic for indoor dialogue)
Amazon: geni.us/CSGp
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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RODE smartLav+ (Most convenient lavalier for recording to phone)
Amazon: geni.us/2tfcCFB
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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Aputure A.lav (Best sounding budget lavalier for phone or audio recorder)
Amazon: geni.us/RaazGg
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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JK MicJ 044 (Very good budget lavalier for recording to camera or audio recorder)
Amazon: geni.us/l3uhf
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Sanken COS-11D (My favorite lavalier microphone)
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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ElectroVoice RE20 Dynamic (My favorite voice-over microphone)
Amazon: geni.us/pE8N8iv
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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Audio Technica AT2005 (Good budget dynamic mic for voice-over. XLR and USB output)
Amazon: geni.us/Me9iIqf
B&H: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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Shure SM58 Dynamic (Legendary dynamic microphone which sounds rich and works well for voice over)
Amazon: geni.us/dwRL
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Copyright 2016 by Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.
Time to get that Audio Technica AT4053b! :-) Thank you for the great reviews Curtis!!
You're welcome Jordy! I hope it works well for you!
Thanks Curtis, it's coming in today so I'm very exited to test it against my Rode NTG-2. I had much trouble with indoor dialogue.
Hi; have you had a chance to use the Audio Technica AT4053B? How does it compare to the NTG2? cheers
I assume you're asking Cinecom.net. :) I very much prefer the AT for indoor dialogue.
Yes I'm using it a lot. Great for indoor use! The sound quality is also a lot better. When I do screencasts however, I still use the NTG-2 as I sometimes move away from the mic a little bit while explaining things with my arms (even though nobody sees that :D)
Thanks so much, very useful and I hope you can keep repeating this video every year or so
Thanks for the feedback!
Super helpful and great idea for video. My older brother (musician) has a Shure SM-58 from 40+ years ago and amazingly enough it still works. :)
Thanks! I think when those mics get to that age, and they've been used to hammer in nails on stage that are coming out, they sound even better. :) They take on a smoky, sultry sound.
These video with multiple devices with your opinion after long term use are so appreciated and useful. And it is great that you are clear on why you like the particular products!
+randomgeocacher thanks!
I found this type of video a really useful guide,
Thanks Curtis, alway putting great stuff out here !
Thanks for the feedback!
Excellent job, can't wait for your faves from your recorders. Thanks.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your comments on the different gear you have been using for some time. Good to get feedback after you been using it for a while.
+Simple Audio Tips thanks Gary!
Thank you Curtis
With all the products you review it is very good to see what your kept and used preferences are.
Cheers, Pete
Thanks Pete!
Love this type of video. This and your videos about why Pros use the more expensive gear are super helpful and I feel like no one else covers gear this way. Keep 'em coming! (and agree with previous posters, a video like this on field recorders would be great)
+BiteSite Inc. thanks, definitely planning to do the same for field recorders!
Thank you. Another fantastic and informative review. You are truly one of the best on UA-cam for video and sound production!
+Shaka thanks much! Shaka!
Great review! Thank you! And greetings from Japan!
Thank you and greetings from the Rocky Mountains in the western USA!
Really enjoy this type of recap video. Super helpful, thanks!!
Thanks!
Thanks for this review. I think what I enjoy the most is the fact that you show several options that cover different price points.
I was sure you were going to throw the AT4053b in there, but was really happy to see you talk about the less expensive option, especially as your recommendation was the Røde NT5, which I have been considering.
Thanks again Curtis and please keep the reviews coming.
Thanks and will do!
Thank you for the video! I am looking at upgrading my Zoom H1 this Christmas, and these are some good options for me to choose from.
By the way, love your reviews, they're the most comprehensive and thorough; very detailed and professionally filmed.
+Musique Decor Multimedia Design thanks!
Super helpful, and I've wondered about this topic for a while. Thanks.
Thanks Pat.
Thanks so much Curtis, this was great. You have such a big library of reviews that it is nice to have these as a reference. Excellent job, especially including the links to your individual product reviews with the thumbnail videos throughout. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it!
As always an amazing and instructional video, keep with the good work...
Thanks!
LOVE your videos. This is all so new to me but I'm really enjoying the range that you're covering. Let's me know there's plenty of room to grow and helps me feel more confident in buying intro level gear when money is tight.
+Jont Noneya thanks Jont! Enjoy your sound journey!
These vids are fantastic, don't stop making them. It's so refreshing to see a review/comparison with zero brand biased, great sound, proper lighting and comprehensible dialogue. Not that I don't like "YO dis mic is like AMAZING cuz it's got this shiny thing and says Shnenhisinger on da side..." videos, I just prefer the level of professionalism displayed in yours. Well done.
+Patrick Thompson thanks Patrick, much appreciated.
Really good & helpful, thanks for the Tips Curtis!
+Jakob S. Films thanks for the feedback!
gret video, I like the summary across different types, price ranges and usage
Thanks for the feedback.
Another great video Curtis as always!
Thanks!
Love it. Keep doing update videos like this!
Thanks Mitchell, will do!
Great help this video. I wanted to know the best in Lavs and podcast mics. As always you come through. Thanks for the helpful recommendations.
+Vincent Chen thanks Vincent!
Hey Curtis. I've stumbled across your videos off and on for the last year. You almost always seem to have a video for what I'm looking for. Finally subscribed today. This video was excellent. I studied audio engineering in college but never did a lot of work with lav mics so great to hear someone who's in the industry share which ones they use and why. I'm also glad you didn't come on here and talk about how much you love your $1000k+ gear. Thanks for what you do :)
Thanks Thom, I appreciate your feedback!
love this type of comparison video!
Thanks.
appreciate your thorough reviews and professional approach.
Thanks Phil!
Liked this a lot, Curtis. Looking forward to your class.
Thanks Ken!
Excellent review! Thanks!
Thank you!
Best mic video watched so far. Subbed! Hope to see outdoors type recording info too.
Thanks William, will do. In fact, we did this piece on shotgun microphones which are typically used outdoors: ua-cam.com/video/veD8BVXV3Ls/v-deo.html Best wishes
Very nice. On your recommendation, I bought and always use the Aputure A.lav mic on all my videos. I love it. Thanks for the recommendation months ago. :-)
+Communication Skills Training thanks and great to hear that the A.lav is working well for you!
Curtis, thank you so much for doing this video (and all the others)! I have a few questions if I may.
1. What are your thoughts on the DPA 4018? Have you used one? How would you compare the 4018 with the AT 4053b? If you hadn't used either, which one would you be drawn to on paper specs alone? If you have used the 4018 (or are very familiar with it) when would you 'not' use it over the 4053b or vice versa?
2. If you were capturing dialogue for film, which microphones would you use for exterior and interior (accounting for both minimal and substantial humidity) if the rental house didn't have any Schoeps or you couldn't afford to buy a couple that would cover both INT and EXT scenarios?
(If you could do a video that covers mics for film scenarios comparing highest end with prosumer level that would be 'really' interesting!)
3. I'm looking at the F8 as a stepping stone to the Sound devices 633. You mentioned in your review on the F8 that the downside was the lack of analogue condenser for sound going in and that for sudden loud noises you'd have problems. Couldn't that be solved if you split the audio to two channels and lowered the levels on the second channel to account for unexpected loudness? If you set up an unused channel in this way wouldn't that security blanket diminish the lack of analogue condenser?
4. If you do use a F8 on a film shoot and you were fairly skilled at mixing audio in post, couldn't the F8 deliver good enough sound so that what's missing from the Sound Devices 633 becomes somewhat irrelevant after you're done in post? (assuming time and speed isn't a major factor)
5. What are you thoughts on Lectrosonics in general and the SSM/E01 specifically? If money wasn't an issue, would anyone choose any other transmitter over the E01?
Thanks for any time you have to answer these questions!
Always appreciate your reviews. Watching in 2022 to see if there are any gems in the used mic category worth getting.
My favorite for indoor dialogue is the Sennheiser MKH8050: ua-cam.com/video/RYWD5wI6B9k/v-deo.html
I loved these comparisons. I'd like more of this. Thanks
You got it, will do! Thanks!
Can you do a VO tutorial video? Step by step to make a simple demo or one final product. 1, pick/place mic/setup room 2: warm up 3:open audacity and set theses settings 4: record your copy and watch for this/that/etc 5: stop recording and go into audacity and change these settings, change the db to industry standards (stress industries standards and practices) 6: export rules 7: tips and tricks. Explain why for every step along the way. Insider stuff and standard practices are unparallelled information for amateurs. I would love to see a series of this kind of stuff for you. I already take your advise on gear very seriously but a tutorial done by you and your style would be so valuable to us because of your knowledge and perfect presentation.
+Adam C. Boyd thanks Adam! What I'd love to do is a one-day workshop to cover all of this. For now, my dialogue post processing course is as close as I have gotten. But I'll try to find a way to make that happen. Thanks again!
Great video. Thanks Chris.
You're welcome!
Very helpful. Thank you Curtis.
Thanks!
Very cool. I appreciate these "long term" tests. They give a higher and deeper perspective when choosing among several products. I hope you'll do more of these. Question/ comment - Curious why you didn't have the Sennheiser G3 (or G2) lav mic review in here. I thought that was sort of the gold standard for a lav mic.
Thanks Doug. I figured enough people had reviewed the G3 that I've never bought one. I've used them and they're great, but I don't own a set.
Love your videos, super helpful. Thank you
Thanks Anders.
Great video! More please! :D I'd love you to do more pro level equipment, and also talk more about pro wireless setups!
Thanks Sam, will do!
Great video, really enjoyed the short per category resume. Thanks again for all your videos, really enjoy your presentation.
Would love to see, if in time, you manage to get a hold of a Audio-Technica AT875R and Audix SCX1-HC to see how you like them compared to what you have tested and prefer.
Thanks Pabula. The AT875R is on my list to test and we tested the Audix SCX1-HC here: ua-cam.com/video/q-b_1gOYOEQ/v-deo.html
Very helpful, thank you!
Thanks!
I'm waiting for a 2019 equivalent of this video.
Me too! Definitely on the list before the year ends.
@@VernardLuz Thanks Vernard.
+1
@@curtisjudd Waiting on this 2019 Update vid aswell!
@@BushMasterThermal I have just one more item in my review queue. The updated mic meta-review will probably be early 2020 now. 😀
Just started the video, but I know I'm going to love it! Keep up the great work😄!
Will do, thanks for the encouragement!
+Curtis Judd you definitely deserve millions more subscribers! Your so awesome😄!
Great videos. Any chance for an updated video exactly like this, since a lot of new mics are out there?
We have several updates, but since there are so many microphones, I had to break it out into several videos: VO Mics ua-cam.com/video/YyjzH_x3_dI/v-deo.html
Podcast and streaming mics: ua-cam.com/video/RX3mgP09St8/v-deo.html
Pro lavalier mics: ua-cam.com/video/tXb7Ov-S6dc/v-deo.html
Boom mics: ua-cam.com/video/q7rfwCFjBDg/v-deo.html
Curtis, honestly love your videos mate. So detailed and you're a great speaker too! Thank you.
+Samar Ali Khan thanks Samar!
Awesome video, thanks!
Thank you!
I just bought the AT4053b per your video reviews. I intend to use it inside, for interviews and videos of myself for my channel. This, will feed into the new Zoom F4, and I am really excited! Thanks again so much for your expert help on this topic!
Thanks Travis, I hope they work well for you!
Just did a shoot with the new mic! It was an advice video for brides, on planning the wedding day. WOW, recording with the Zoom F4, I can see how this really make a nice, clean source! I was able to boom the mic just a few inches (maybe 10") away.. and it sounds great. However, I still think I need to learn more about tweaking the EQ sliders in FCP, to richen up my voice.
+Travis Harris Photography that's great news! We should cover EQ in an upcoming episode.
Thanks very much Chris. Your presentation is excellent and you have a natural air of assuredness which gives me confidence in your advice. If I can make one suggestion....would it be possible to caption each item to make clear the make and model? Thanks
Hi Tim, thanks! Yes, I can do that. Also, there is reference information in the description.
great video - thank you so much
Thanks!
I found this type of video very helpful, thanks.
Another thing is that in all the comparisons I've heard I prefer the sound of the SM57 to the SM58 for voice, even though it's the same capsule and marketed as an instrument mic. You do need a windscreen or pop filter for the SM57, though. I haven't been able to do a comparison myself yet, but it might be something to keep in mind.
+Karreth good idea, thanks!
Great stuff as usual Curtis. Which indoor boom stand do you recommend for use with the Audio-Techinca 4053b?
Thanks! If you're shooting a sit-down interview or talking head, just a basic boom stand like this works nicely. I've got a couple of them I've been using for years: amzn.to/2b8ZiNR
When I've got to set up for a wider shot, I use my graphite K-Tek boom pole on a century stand. That's a pricey setup but is very reliable.
Awesome. Appreciate the response.
Merry Christmas Chris and thanks for the great video, mate. Would you consider the RODE M5 a good boom mic for indoor dialogue?
Yes, from what I know about it.
A meta-review of headphones would be very interesting. Thanks for the great videos, Curtis.
Good idea, thanks Andrew
Cool Curtis! I have been promoting and using the AT4053b for years, and still love it. I have the NTG-2 and NTG-3 shotguns as well, and the NTG-3 is definitely my go to shotgun in every case. But recently I picked up a pair of Rode WS8 furry wind screens to use on my NT-55 matched pair outside, and I discovered that those furrys also fit the AT4053b (a little snugly). This is great because although the NTG-3 sounds amazing, it's long and heavy, and when mounted on my Sony FS5 camera, can feel clunky. So I tested the WS8 on the AT4053b outside in med-strong wind, and it did OK! In normal conditions and light breezes the WS8 is totally effective, and in stronger wind the rumble that gets through is very light, and totally removable. So that mic is my new on-camera mic most of the time. I used to keep my hyper indoor always, and my shotgun outdoors always, but now thanks to the WS8 I am enjoying the smaller size of the hyper. Check it out if you're interested. They are only 25.00 a pop. Cheers. As a side note I actually leave the low-cut in the AT4053b engaged all the time. I find it to be a slightly tubby mic, and the low cut does not result in any thinness in the voice. So that also helps with wind at no cost to the sound quality.
Thanks Chad, good to hear from you! Good to know about the WS8, I'll give that a try and good point on the low-cut on the 4053b!
Cool man! I get email notifications on all your vids, so I watch most of your stuff. Thanks for the work you do.
Great to hear that the NTG-3 and 4053b are the go to for you.
That same combination has been with me for about 3 years and I still love them. The ATs were from a sponsorship deal even though they wanted me to endorse something else, I felt I had to ask for the 4053b and surprisingly I was rewarded with one! Love them both!
Hi, could you tell me how much of a difference there is with the NTG-2 and AT4053b while recording indoors? I recently got the NTG-4, and was quite disappointed by how much of the reverb it picked up in my small room, so I was wondering if AT4053b is going to perform better in that case. Off axis pickup isn't an issue for me, as I'll always have the mic pointed towards the correct direction. I also watched Curtis' other video comparing the NTG 2 and AT 4053b, but that room had a very different characteristic than my room, it was bigger and less cubical.
Great video, as usual ☺
but you didn't mention the audio recorder
He uses the Sound Devices 633 recorder.
Thanks! Yes, I shot a longer piece discussing recorders and headphones in addition to microphones but it came out to almost 30 minutes so I had to cut it down. We'll be back with another episode covering audio recorders.
Very helpful (which comes as no surprise). A very interesting perspective.
Thanks John!
I'll record on a noisy convention floor for Computex soon. Was going to buy the Rode VideoMic Pro to use with my Zoom H4N but perhaps the NTG-2 would be better to isolate dialog? Can't use a boom or lav. Help! And thanks so much for your excellent content, super helpful!
Great round up and review. Keep making these. Everyone should do these because it's way more useful. Curious to hear you thoughts on the Sennheiser microphones k6 power and me66 mic and that whole system. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback! I've added the ME66 to my list. My brother has one and we shot a quick piece with it. Pretty solid little mic.
Ty for this detail info.
Will you be doing an updated video next year? Since this was posted in Aug 2016. Hint, maybe do one for Aug 2018 2 year anniversary. 👍🏼
Thanks for the reminder! Maybe sooner than August 2018!
Thanks Curtis for the info, it's appreciated especially when it cover equipment I own too. I haven't seen any reviews on large diaphragm mics like the AT 4040 or the AT 4050st. The AT 4040 is available in a package deal including the AT 4041. I was also wondering about the comparison of the AT 4041 vs AT 4053.
Hi and you're welcome! In film, I don't get opportunities to use large diaphragm condenser mics too often so I don't have nearly as much experience with them. I haven't used the 4041 but it looks like it is definitely worth a look, thanks for the tip on that!
I use the large diaphragms for narrative VO in film but also for music performance videos. I've been thinking of getting a DJ mic to add to my kit and your info is a good inspiration. Keep up the great work.
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated!
The Rode NT1a's a good podcasting/voiceover mic for lower budgets, too. Picked one up a few years ago, and it's served me very well considering the cost.
That being said, I usually still end up just booming a Sennheiser K6/ME66 overhead and using that instead.
+John Aldred thanks John, I agree. The NT1a was the first XLR mic I bought and it is a fine option. Being a little more sensitive than dynamic mics, one might need to be a bit more careful about how the room sounds and how much it reflects, but yes, a great mic for VO.
I've been watching your video recently and I love them so much! Just a quick question. What lav mic would you recommend to use with my H1 Zoom?
I like the Voice Technologies VT-500: ua-cam.com/video/9c74PsslcOk/v-deo.html
Thank you Curtis. I know that this is an older video but I'm on a catch up!! One thing with all mics, let alone lavalier is the problem of self noise and how it's advertised with each microphone. The Aputure, as you say is low noise and yet if you believe the figures on the box, it should be higher noise than others which show a better performance on the box, but unfortunately don't when you use them!! The figures don't seem to match real life performance, so reviews like this are extremely useful. Another low noise one seems to be the Boya m1 which boasts >75dB for noise, yet the Aputure states >65dB. If only we could get these figures onto an even playing field. There is currently some great work going on in the field of headphone measurements in order to get more comparable FR graphs and what constitutes 'flat' and maybe we could use a similar idea one day with microphones in order to help us more informatively with our choices.
Hi Ian, thanks, and I agree! The way these things generally work, it seems, is that the industry changes when the end-users and independent engineers call for sanity. We could definitely use some of that in the microphone spec world.
Great. Thanks!
Thanks, Olaf.
Great video Chris, thx but a little surprised the diety v3 pro didnt make the list 🤔
Hi JT, thanks. This is an old video from 2016 before DEITY Microphones was in business. :) Here's a newer microphone meta-review I posted just a couple of weeks ago: ua-cam.com/video/q7rfwCFjBDg/v-deo.html
Great. Many thanks. A big help for me to decide. God bless you in return.
Thanks Yonnie.
About a year ago I was listening to shotgun comparisons on youtube--can't remember who did it--but among the microphones was the AT 4053b--and I fell in love with the sound. I thought the sound was the equal of the Sennheiser mkh-416---and less expensive. An amazing microphone.
Yes, still one of my favorites! The 416 still has more "reach" due to its more focused polar pattern so generally a better option for outdoor use and when you have to position the mic a little farther away. But the sound of the AT is really nice.
Curtis Great Review.. and I wish I could take your online course, which is exactly what I need... but I use FCPX. Can you make a video on optimizing sound for dialogue using FCPX? Capture to PP or just PP using FCPs native effects (compressor, limiter, etc.?) Thank you! BTW, your channel is the best no non-sense educational and review channel in this area. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. :)
+Real World Endo thanks! I use FCPX too, but edit my audio in Audition since it has a much fuller feature set. I usually avoid processing audio in NLEs because you don't get enough visibility of the waveforms and cannot apply effects except as real-time effects to a track. The problem with that is you cannot tell very well how to set the effects such as threshold on a compressor - there's no dB scale to see where to set that threshold. You bring up a good question though. Perhaps I need to demonstrate why processing audio in a video editing app (NLE) is so difficult. Thanks for the idea!
+Curtis Judd Thanks Cutis. Keep in mind, however, that the majority of FCPX users doing talking heads are not editing on an NLE for super duper professional sound, but rather sound that will get their point across without being too amateurish. Let's say that talking head videos are a different sound scale than an audiophile's music track. I think for those editing on an NLE the goal is practical advice to get the most out of what's already there without round-tripping to another software. The goal is efficiency in that case, not the maximum audio quality. Thanks!
+Real World Endo yes, good point. I'll need to learn how to do that 😀
In the upcoming year I'll need to make a couple outdoor/in a coffee shop interviews for school, what type of mic would you recommend if I want both our voices on the audio? It doesn't need to be super expensive since its not being reviewed for the audio quality but id rather have a decent one. Keep up the great work, I may not watch all the videos you make but I'm sure I'll be able to use them as reference later.
Thanks!
Hi Alfred. Hmm. It might make sense to use something like a Zoom H1 where you have stereo mics, each pointing opposite the other. You'll need to sit in pretty close to the recorder to manage the ambient sound since coffee shops have a tendency to have a lot of ambient sound and reflective surfaces. Good luck!
+Curtis Judd thanks!
Thanks, really great and useful insight. I would love to hear what you have to say about the Zoom H6. I am seriously considering it for all of its uses and how much better it is than the previous Zooms which I have used very successfully on several productions.
I just listened to a podcast where they were using the Zoom h6 with the Rode NT1-A and it really sounded great, very rich and warm. Not sure how much of that was the room they were in, but it sounded really good to me, and it's a bit cheaper than the Lectro Voice.
astrologychick I just bought a H5 it’s great
Spend a little more and get a sound devices mixpre 3 or 6. Much better preamps and analog limiters
Great review!
I too use a various array of Microphones some not in the purpose they were meant for.
As a sound engineer many years ago I watched others use techniques to get the most.
Like creating boundariy microphones for a certain sound or use a Calrec soundfield mics.
I use Sony, short Shotguns and both Sennheiser and Marantz long rifle mics, they have their own sound. Also I use a Neumann TLM 102 for certain room sounds. I would not recommend it if you haven’t got the budget!
👍 If it sounds good, even if the microphone wasn't intended for the purpose, it is good.
You're a great teacher, Curtis. I have one question. So, I understand your lesson regarding the cardioid's being better for indoor sound to combat reverb, but how do you negotiate between a super cardioid shotgun vs. a lavalier?
Hi Amanda, thanks! My thinking, generally, is to use a lavalier when I must, but use a shotgun all the rest of the time. A shotgun microphone almost always sounds more natural to me. Cases where a lavalier is the only option for me: When I cannot practically boom because I'm operating camera, or there are several talent and they're both moving (relatively far apart from each other), etc. I hope that makes sense and thanks for the question!
this is true audio gear expert review. thanks a lot. great video
Thanks Frank, you're welcome.
I recently bought a Fender Hotrod Deluxe amp and of course the idea of an audio interface and a condenser mic came. However, I did try buying a Samson Q2U USB microphone plugged into a Novation Audiohub and I'm happily impressed with the recording quality
👍Glad to hear its working out!
Hi Curtis, even some years old, I learned a lot. Thank you.
👍
Hi Curtis, just stumbled onto your channel and you have a wealth of resources! Thank you for sharing! Just wondering on this: in a controlled shoot, would you elect to use a lav system or go with a shotgun/boom scenario? I'm debating a G3 or Sony UWD system over a proper shotgun (Sein. 413). Looking for the most versatile situation... Cheers from Dubai, Chris :)
Hi Chris, When I have the option, I record with both a boom and lav. In those situations, I almost always end up using just the boom recording because it sounds much better. Lavs are tricky: They often pick up the sound of clothing or hair brushing across them, even when expertly hidden. If you're using wireless, there's another league of challenges altogether. If versatility is your top priority, a lav may fit the bill, but be ready to do retakes when you get unwanted noise.
Sorry For The Copy and Paste.
hello Curtis, i have to say you have the best Audio Channel out here for Video recording.. i just subscribed after watching many of your videos.
Anyways i have a problem well sort of a problem... lol issue lets say, i recently bought The Tascam DR-60DmkII after watching some videos including yours.
The issue that i am fighting right now, its the hiss sound coming from the device it self, even if i don't have a microphone connected to the device if i hit record it has a base hiss sound that it won't go away, lowering levels -db and what not, seems like the hiss is coming from the pre amp of the tascam dr-60d mkii. i have tried many settings and it seems like i can't get rid of it,
The mic i have its the Rode NT1-A, i have also tested it with the Audio Technica Audio Pro 70 lav mic. i did notice that in this video you also had the hiss sound while testing it, but it was much lower then mine.... could you share your settings? and is this hiss sound normal? or i bought a defective product
See the other comment. :)
Hi Curtis The NT3 & NT4+ both look the closest and I like the conversion to 3.5mm jack for other cameras. Right now I am leaning toward the 4+ . What do you think?
Here in Brazil I always watch your videos. Congratulations. Which microphone and camera were used in this video. Thanks and Greetings from Brazil
Hi Osvaldo, I'm sorry, it has been so long that I don't remember! I think it was a Panasonic GH4 or GH5 and probably the Audio Technica AT4053B.
@@curtisjudd
I really have to thank your professionalism because for those who are starting out like me (I will teach live), yours classes are very clear, explain well and the quality is great. I'm going to the United States to buy equipment and now I know which ones to buy for my classes thanks to their teachings.
Boya NTG4 - Lapel Audio Technica - Sony AX 100 4K Camcorder.
Thank you.
I really like your style, you seem like that casual CEO who has a relaxed yet authoritative and trustworthy vibe about them, maybe it's also the white background? :P Great video.
Thanks Horacio!
Good that u released post processing class 0:18
👍
Hey Curtis, thanks for always being super informative and helpful. I was wondering if you'd be able to form an opinion on something: I have a Tascam 701D with Sennheiser AVX systems and ME2 mics. Do you think you'd rather upgrade the 701D to the Mixpre-6M or upgrade to a pair of Sanken COS 11D mics?
Hi Andrew, my take is that microphones are usually a better long-term investment than recorders.
Great, thank you!
Curtis, I recommend that you try one more mic. The Oktava MK 012 with the Hypercardioid capsule to be used on a boom right out of the frame.
Hi, thanks Michael, it is on my list to try.
great video! love your vids! can you connect a dynamic microfone to a pc directly to a mic in? which microphones can be used there to get good audio recorded? can i use a laptop instead of buying an amplifier or zoom recorder generally with all mics? greetings from greece!
Hi John, yes, there are some good USB mics on the market. On the less expensive end, there is the Audio Technica AT2005 which can connect directly to a computer via USB, or when you're ready to invest in an audio interface to improve the sound, it can connect to that via an XLR cable. Here's a review we did a while back: ua-cam.com/video/EHgSC3C0pTw/v-deo.html Best wishes!
Thank you for sharing this ! Which pair of small diaphram condenser do you recommand for recording quiet ambiances, like birds, room tones, sound of nature in general (for less than 800$ the pair) ? Se electronic se8 ? Lewitt lct 040 ? rode nt 55 ?
Hi David. I haven't used any of the microphones you specifically listed, though I have used the RODE NT5 which I believe shares the same capsules as the NT55. My sense is that any of those could do the job and the important thing will be to invest in a good windshield for when you work outdoors. Best wishes!
Hope you can make a newer one of this, so many options these days!
Yes, it is in the to-do list.
I hope that you will someday do a video on best carioid unidirectional lavalier mics suitable for use while videoing on phones and cameras in noisy city or public park areas. The carioid unidirectional lav mics are said to cut back 50% on side noise, noise above from planes/helicopters and cut back even more on noise behind the speaker. Also maybe you could include those omnidirectional lav mics that pick up the least background noise.
Hi, I have not been happy with the cardioid lavalier microphones I have tested to date. They generally sound very thin and are difficult to position for optimal pickup and generally don't work well if hidden under clothes. I find myself preferring ear worn microphones in most cases where maximum noise rejection is required. That said, if you need a cardioid lavalier, I'd probably opt for the Countryman B2D or DPA 4080.
Countryman B2D: bhpho.to/2B6xSCb
DPA 4080: bhpho.to/2i0ooEF
I can't understand who downvotes these videos. Thank you Curtis for great content that comes straight to the point without all of the bombastic self-aggrandisement of other channels.
Thanks Neil!
Hello Curtis: The Rode Pro Mic in my opinion is the best one for out doors and just does a fantastic job for the price the only inconvenience is installing the battery but not a problem and I was looking for a good mic to use indoors and you answered that well in this video.
+john erwin thanks John.
Hi thanks this is very helpful. Im looking to record very quiet piano close miked and was thinking for the lowest self mic noise the Nt5s would be best? I like the sound of the oktava but concerned about self noise even through a good pre amp? Is there any other mics up to 5-6 hundred for a pair that are very sensitive yet little self noise?
NT5 are ok, in terms of self noise. I guess I'd choose those over the Oktavas.
Hi Curtis,
thanks for all your great reviews. I haven't seen them all, but the ones I've seen have no waiste.
There's a kind of mic you haven't taken into consideration: the headset lavaliers.
I do quite a bit of conferences and I'm sick and tired of holding my SM58 in my hand.
I've hear about a Samson Stage XPD1 which comes with a usb dongle to conect it to the computer.
I also use for conferencing and podcasting a RME Babyface Pro (superb audio interface!) and I'd like to know if this headset could be easily routed to the Babyface.
Thanks once again!
Actually I had seen your review on the Samsung XPD1 but I'm still in doubt if it will be too complicated to route it to may audio interface
Yes, I like ear worn microphones a lot in terms of sound response/quality. They sound much, much better than lavaliers worn on other parts of the body (usually the chest area). Unfortunately my work usually requires hidden microphones which is the only reason I do not own any.
That being said, they're a great choice for live presenting.
The Samson XPD1 is more of a low-cost option for those without an audio interface so I agree, not the best choice when you're routing through an audio interface.
Countryman's E6 is pricey but very good in terms of quality and comes in versions with just about every connector you might need. It might be tricky to find one which would work both for wireless on-stage use (which will have a mini connector for the various wireless systems) vs an audio interface (where you have full-size XLR connectors.
Indeed the Countryman E6 is expensive, are there any alternatives that could fit my need? I use a RME Babyface as an audio interface. A wireless connection would be the ideal, but a wired one could be acceptable.
Thanks for your help and advices Curtis.
Hi Ernesto, I haven't personally used any other ear-worn mics so I don't have any recommendations from first-hand experience. But in terms of brands to consider, I would look at Audio Technica for something with a lower price than the Countryman. Other brands which will also be expensive include DPA, Sennheiser, Sony, and Shure. I think the question may come down to how sick of holding an SM58 you are: Are you willing to spend $600 to avoid holding a mic? How about $400? If you also need wireless, that will add to the cost and potential interference issues as well.
Here is a wired ear-worn mic from Audio Technica which you could feed into your RME interface via its XLR input: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/649067-REG/Audio_Technica_BP892_BP892_MicroSet_Subminiature.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/AUBP892/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAUBP892
Best wishes!
Curtis i'm on your sound production course and its very good i'm learning a lot. in terms of dynamic range and pre amp quality What is the better option out or the Tascam 60d mark 2 or the zoom h5 to go with the rode ntg2?
Hi Jermaine, those two are about the same so in that case it is really a matter of preference on other factors. The H5 has longer battery life but requires a little more work in the menu to get things set up. The Tascam has more physical buttons and switches making setup quick and easy but the battery life is not quite as strong. The Tascam can be powered by a USB battery while the H5 cannot. In terms of audio quality, they're virtually identical in my experience.
do we improve sound in a significant way when recording one of your 3 recommended cheap lav (alav, MicJ 044, smartlav+) on zoom h1 over recording in a phone ? thanks.
That depends on the phone. The Apple phones tend to be quite good. I'm told that some of the higher end Android phones as well, though some of the Android phones are not great. I'm not sure, but I've heard that on Android, you don't have the ability to control the gain level of a microphone (not sure on that, though).
I have lewitt lct 340s. Love them. And I have an audix scx-one.
Hadn't heard of the Lewitts before, thanks for that!
That’s funny, I asked you a question yesterday and now you’ve uploaded this video which does answer some of the questions I had.
I’m doing a podcast with a friend and we are not yet at a point where we can afford two RE20’s and all that goes with it.
I have an old Beyerdynamic called M700 (looks like the shure sm58) which frankly sounds unbelievable. Has almost no hiss to it at all. The sound is just insanely pleasant and warm and works great with my voice. It doesn’t pick up any echo or room noise (I imagine the proximity bubble is small… if that’s how you call it) but unfortunately they don’t make them anymore and my partner has some wonky Samson that sounds meh, picks up every room noise known to man and is very echoy.
Do you know of an affordable podcast like mic that will be good in echoy rooms and has a small proximity bubble and sounds good?
Removing hiss in post seems to be easy… I can’t seem to be able to do much with the echo in Audition and in general his mic just picks every noise in his house.
Any suggestions?
Haha! Thinking along the same lines! Depends on your budget. The Shure SM-58 is a solid option if you've got a good preamp with plenty of gain (you'll need around +60dB). I also like the Audio Technica AT2005 for tighter budgets: ua-cam.com/video/EHgSC3C0pTw/v-deo.html
Hey Curtis, few questions because I feel you are one of the best UA-camr's that actually get into detail. 1) What mic and recorder do you use when filming your UA-cam videos because you sound extremely clear (almost like an announcer). 2) What audio program do you use for audio, I have a huge issue with hearing me inhale and I have to do retakes lol. 3) What is the best distance to sit from a mic? Thank you Curtis so mic for your videos
Hi Dwayne, 1) I have a ton of microphones so it changes quite often, but my favorite pro level setup is a Sennheiser MKH 8050 and a Sound Devices 633. 2) for processing audio, I use Adobe Audition.
Note, however, that I've been trying to improve my audio for well over 10 years and have made a lot of mistakes and still have a ways to go. What I've found is that creating great recordings is 90% skill, 10% gear. I have several courses over at School.LearnLightAndSound.com on how to record and post process sound if you're interested. Best wishes!
Thanks for the quick reply :O AMAZING KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, LOVE YOUR CONTENT!!
I just watched your reviews of microphones and you encouraged asking you questions. Is the audio technica AT4041 suitable for a singing choir of 10-12 people?
Yes, you'll likely want to work with 2 of them in an XY configuration and position them to cover the entire choir.
Enjoyed this. I would throw in a recommendation for the Rode NT-USB as a low cost direct-to-computer voiceover mic. Cheers.
Thanks and thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to give that one a try.