This is quite a microphone. It sounds great with your voice. While all of the settings sound good, to my ears the depth setting is slightly better than the flat setting and better than the punch setting. I typically prefer a flat frequency curve (eg, Eathworks Ethos), but the upper end of this mic is smooth even with it's slight boost. Excellent review as always.
Thank you so much Stephen! I always value your opinion on these reviews. I am in love with the 540 S! It is on a level that I really haven't had the privilege of owning before. I do feel like I will add more higher end mics to my collection in the future. I'd love to try the Ethos. It's been on my radar for a long time as well. Thanks again!
So, you finally got it. Congrats. As for the cons, on button presses, you should *not* be doing that while actually recording. I wouldn't count that pop-filter against it, either. Most proper applications - i.e., recording music - this isn't even an issue. For spoken word, you should be slightly off axis so it doesn't become an issue. This is a mic that's right there with the C414 or the Austrian Audio mics. And it fits your voice nicely. You really don't need any effects. Just run some very light compression, like 2.5:1, to smooth out the dynamics and you're ready to go.
Thank you, my friend! I'm so glad you watched this particular video because I was certainly curious what you'd say. Thank you for the kind complement on how it fits my voice. I absolutely LOVE how it sounds. Some have said it's a bit neutral but I tend to gravitate towards mics that are smooth throughout the frequencies and don't try to overpower the voice. I agree with you on the light compression. Thanks again!
Congrats, Hank! It's a beautiful instrument. I have my dream microphone and it's the Earthworks Ethos, so I know how you feel. After spending a few months with it I feel a bit liberated from my microphone addiction... a bit.
Thank you! I love that you put in the caveat about the microphone addiction. LOL! You are the 3rd or 4th person to mention the excellence of the Earthworks Ethos in the past year. I'm going to have to add it to my wish list. I love that the Ethos is an end-address microphone and that finish looks exquisite!
@@FreePodcastToolsYeah, it’s a thing of beauty that also sounds great. I know that Tom Buck and Mike Newman are also big fans, as is Mark the Microphone Assassin. That Lewitt is something special, though. I really enjoyed the video.
@@djtoman6875 thank you for the encouragement and the recommendation. I've since added the Ethos to my wish list. I just hope it doesn't take 4 years for me to try it like it did for the 540S. 😁
I'll be honest that I wasn't thinking about the buttons when I wanted the microphone. It was one of those "oh it has buttons" moments for me. They could have easily omitted that functionality and I still would have wanted the microphone. Thank you for the comment.
I kinda like the sound of Shure SM58 better myself (for vocals). Why re-invent the wheel? This Lewitt sounds very un-dynamic to me. Aside from that, I'm pretty sure the AT-4040 would blow the doors off the Lewitt (AT-4060 for multi-pattern flexibility). But that would take a serious test.
Thank you for the comment. I'd love to try some of the higher end AT mics. I use a lot of their budget stuff. The SM58 is a great microphone! Some of my audience suggests that I can sound a bit muddy when working the SM58 too close. That's merely a preference thing though. I'd venture to guess that there isn't a mic on earth more durable than the SM58.
Hi there; it’s been a while since I’ve commented, but I’m a sucker for a good mic review. I’ve never heard of this mic before now, but it sounds like a perfect studio mic. Love the clipping functionality on the mic itself. Congratulations on reaching your long-saved-for microphone goal! Off subject, I’ve recently become interested in the Antelope Edge, small and large diaphragm condenser modeling microphones. And while your low-self noise dream mic could serve my future voiceover needs, right now I need a high-quality shotgun-style of mic for use on my camera and boom, preferably in the size area of 5 inches or thereabouts for portability, and one that won’t require a petty-cash loan. The Antelope Edge modeling mics seem like they might fit the bill. I’d love it if you contacted Antelope Edge and reviewed their modeling mic lineup. Tell them your audience sent you! Well, here’s hoping you’ll consider it. Take care!
Thank you for commenting and for the kind words. Antelope makes some fantastic looking gear. I will reach out to them and see if they would allow me to review any, or all, of their lineup. Being a smaller channel sometimes companies like that will turn their nose up since the mics are somewhat pricey. I've said that before and been sent products so it never hurts to ask. I hope they respond as I'd love to try their stuff. Thank you for suggesting them. I've definitely run across their products before but haven't owned or used any of them. Thanks again.
@@FreePodcastTools Whoo-hoo! Tell them I went to your channel specifically to see if you had any reviews on them, and that I have one sitting in my shopping cart and two in my wish list on B&H, and I’m just waiting for that review that makes me bite. I’d really be thrilled if you could compare (video by video) the Antelope lineup, - esp. the Antelope Edge Note small diaphragm mic, which is the one I’ll probably get first - to the Zoom (ZDM-1?) mic you’ve liked so much and your dream mic, too. Anyway, thanks! Here’s hoping they sponsor your channel down the road!
@@blueridgestops3128 UPDATE: I have heard back from them that they like the proposal and they are going to discuss it as a "team" and then get back to me. What that means I don't know but we shall see.
@@blueridgestops3128 I wasn't sure which one to say if they only allow me to choose one. Would you say the Note over the Solo? The Note does look pretty appealing as many sound pros use pencil condensers for indoor conversations on movie sets.
@@FreePodcastTools I think the Note is their most recent mic, so possibly, you will get more mileage from that review, and if it’s successful for them, they will probably be happy to loan you the others, in my opinion. Congrats on getting this far! And that’s if they say only one mic to start. Pencil mics are excellent complements to shotgun mics for situations where shotgun mics would not be able to obtain the absolute best recording (such as in situations where there is little or no sound dampening, if I understand it correctly). And I REALLY want to know how the mic library thing works! Ten (? or however many) classic mics for the price of one! Go get ‘em! Love this channel.
This is quite a microphone. It sounds great with your voice. While all of the settings sound good, to my ears the depth setting is slightly better than the flat setting and better than the punch setting. I typically prefer a flat frequency curve (eg, Eathworks Ethos), but the upper end of this mic is smooth even with it's slight boost. Excellent review as always.
Thank you so much Stephen! I always value your opinion on these reviews. I am in love with the 540 S! It is on a level that I really haven't had the privilege of owning before. I do feel like I will add more higher end mics to my collection in the future. I'd love to try the Ethos. It's been on my radar for a long time as well.
Thanks again!
So, you finally got it. Congrats.
As for the cons, on button presses, you should *not* be doing that while actually recording. I wouldn't count that pop-filter against it, either. Most proper applications - i.e., recording music - this isn't even an issue. For spoken word, you should be slightly off axis so it doesn't become an issue.
This is a mic that's right there with the C414 or the Austrian Audio mics. And it fits your voice nicely. You really don't need any effects. Just run some very light compression, like 2.5:1, to smooth out the dynamics and you're ready to go.
Thank you, my friend! I'm so glad you watched this particular video because I was certainly curious what you'd say. Thank you for the kind complement on how it fits my voice. I absolutely LOVE how it sounds. Some have said it's a bit neutral but I tend to gravitate towards mics that are smooth throughout the frequencies and don't try to overpower the voice. I agree with you on the light compression. Thanks again!
CONGRATS Hank!
Thank you! I am so excited to have this microphone. I'm truly blown away by the sound. Thanks for the comment.
Nicely done Hank 🎉
Thank you! I try to put a lot of effort into my videos. I've come a LONG way from the early days where my videos were terrible. Thanks again!
Congrats, Hank! It's a beautiful instrument.
I have my dream microphone and it's the Earthworks Ethos, so I know how you feel. After spending a few months with it I feel a bit liberated from my microphone addiction... a bit.
Thank you! I love that you put in the caveat about the microphone addiction. LOL!
You are the 3rd or 4th person to mention the excellence of the Earthworks Ethos in the past year. I'm going to have to add it to my wish list. I love that the Ethos is an end-address microphone and that finish looks exquisite!
@@FreePodcastToolsYeah, it’s a thing of beauty that also sounds great. I know that Tom Buck and Mike Newman are also big fans, as is Mark the Microphone Assassin.
That Lewitt is something special, though. I really enjoyed the video.
@@djtoman6875 thank you for the encouragement and the recommendation. I've since added the Ethos to my wish list. I just hope it doesn't take 4 years for me to try it like it did for the 540S. 😁
The 540S to complicated to use for me. I am glad it works for you.
I'll be honest that I wasn't thinking about the buttons when I wanted the microphone. It was one of those "oh it has buttons" moments for me. They could have easily omitted that functionality and I still would have wanted the microphone.
Thank you for the comment.
I kinda like the sound of Shure SM58 better myself (for vocals). Why re-invent the wheel? This Lewitt sounds very un-dynamic to me. Aside from that, I'm pretty sure the AT-4040 would blow the doors off the Lewitt (AT-4060 for multi-pattern flexibility). But that would take a serious test.
Thank you for the comment. I'd love to try some of the higher end AT mics. I use a lot of their budget stuff. The SM58 is a great microphone! Some of my audience suggests that I can sound a bit muddy when working the SM58 too close. That's merely a preference thing though. I'd venture to guess that there isn't a mic on earth more durable than the SM58.
Hi there; it’s been a while since I’ve commented, but I’m a sucker for a good mic review. I’ve never heard of this mic before now, but it sounds like a perfect studio mic. Love the clipping functionality on the mic itself. Congratulations on reaching your long-saved-for microphone goal!
Off subject, I’ve recently become interested in the Antelope Edge, small and large diaphragm condenser modeling microphones. And while your low-self noise dream mic could serve my future voiceover needs, right now I need a high-quality shotgun-style of mic for use on my camera and boom, preferably in the size area of 5 inches or thereabouts for portability, and one that won’t require a petty-cash loan. The Antelope Edge modeling mics seem like they might fit the bill. I’d love it if you contacted Antelope Edge and reviewed their modeling mic lineup. Tell them your audience sent you! Well, here’s hoping you’ll consider it. Take care!
Thank you for commenting and for the kind words. Antelope makes some fantastic looking gear. I will reach out to them and see if they would allow me to review any, or all, of their lineup. Being a smaller channel sometimes companies like that will turn their nose up since the mics are somewhat pricey. I've said that before and been sent products so it never hurts to ask. I hope they respond as I'd love to try their stuff. Thank you for suggesting them. I've definitely run across their products before but haven't owned or used any of them.
Thanks again.
@@FreePodcastTools Whoo-hoo! Tell them I went to your channel specifically to see if you had any reviews on them, and that I have one sitting in my shopping cart and two in my wish list on B&H, and I’m just waiting for that review that makes me bite. I’d really be thrilled if you could compare (video by video) the Antelope lineup, - esp. the Antelope Edge Note small diaphragm mic, which is the one I’ll probably get first - to the Zoom (ZDM-1?) mic you’ve liked so much and your dream mic, too. Anyway, thanks! Here’s hoping they sponsor your channel down the road!
@@blueridgestops3128 UPDATE: I have heard back from them that they like the proposal and they are going to discuss it as a "team" and then get back to me. What that means I don't know but we shall see.
@@blueridgestops3128 I wasn't sure which one to say if they only allow me to choose one. Would you say the Note over the Solo? The Note does look pretty appealing as many sound pros use pencil condensers for indoor conversations on movie sets.
@@FreePodcastTools I think the Note is their most recent mic, so possibly, you will get more mileage from that review, and if it’s successful for them, they will probably be happy to loan you the others, in my opinion. Congrats on getting this far! And that’s if they say only one mic to start. Pencil mics are excellent complements to shotgun mics for situations where shotgun mics would not be able to obtain the absolute best recording (such as in situations where there is little or no sound dampening, if I understand it correctly). And I REALLY want to know how the mic library thing works! Ten (? or however many) classic mics for the price of one! Go get ‘em! Love this channel.