Good to see another review Curtis. I've had both the HC-15 and HC-22 for a couple of months now, and the things that impress me most are the off-axis sound (low colouration for a shotgun mic: very different than, say, the MKH416); the low self-noise; and how well the two mics match (not surprising since the only difference is the length of the interference tube), meaning how easy it is to intercut. I'm not surprised - given their reputation for windjammers, suspensions etc. - that Rycote's first mics are so good and it'll be interesting to see over the months/years how popular they become.
My only question is about the RF test you did. It's possible that the RF was coming from the cable or connector and not the microphone itself. The thin Nanoshield cable may not isolate as much as heavier cables. Have you run into any RF using other cables like the Sound Speeds special?
Haven't tried since when on the Nano-shield shock mount, I need the flexibility to put the cover on when going outdoors. But you ask a perfectly valid question - it could very well be the cable that is the issue there. In fact, it seems likely.
Wow, I thought rycote was primarily in the shock mount business, didn't know they made actual mics! Similar analogy is DJI the gimbal company coming out with an actual camera recently.
The 416 still is the best sounding mic in that class. It is as silent and clean as the Rycote's but it offers more substance and base. It seems like the two brit's are great mic's.
Same. The more shotgun mic comparisons to the 416 that I hear, the more I want a 416. Sennheiser really deserves massive props for a design that has remained basically unchanged since the mid-'70s, yet is still considered by many to be the reference standard by which all others are judged.
@@edclevel402 Yes. It really looks like there is no real progress possible in the microphone technology! There are a lot of examples for mic's that exists since decades and still are the best in their class. The only progress happened in recording technology - we are now able to get extrem low noise with high dynamic range and in high definition for just a few bucks! I don't know if there will be a groundbreaking new technology with materials that are used in microphones to open a new era. Let's see.
@@nosecondlost Devil's advocate perspective (not meant as a criticism, just a perspective to consider): I own a 416 and rarely use it except on voices which are rather dark, i.e., don't have a lot of higher frequency energy. In those cases, it adds some nice energy and brightness which would otherwise be missing. But I find the 416 to be a bit too bright for voices with a lot of sibilance. Don't get me wrong, it is a great microphone, but I find my DPA 4017b (approaching twice the price of the 416) is a better all-rounder and works well with a broader range of voices. So I'd say that if you're buying a mic for YOUR voice and the 416 fits well with your voice, then the 416 is a great, reliable, sturdy mic that'll serve well for decades.
@@curtisjudd I'm sure you're right. I wanted to tell that for me in this comparison the 416 is the better sounding mic. I hear more substance (or body) and it offers a more balanced sound to my ears than the Rycote. There are for sure "better" sounding mic's out there than the 416 but till now for me it is still the "King in the ring" in the area up to r.a. 1000 €/$.
Hi, Curtis Thank you so much for your Excellent reviews Always. I love it. I am looking some suggestions to build my Boom Setup. I just Bought HC-22 Mic, I also bought Gitzo Carbon Fiber Microphone Boom, Series 4, 4-Section, 9.1 Feet. and Rycote InVision On-Camera Shockmount. Please can you recommend the XLR Cable and Rycote Nano Shield Windshield Kit that fit with this setup? and Zoom F3 2-input Field Recorder is good with this mic?
Hi NEXT TV, I would recommend Canara star quad cabling with Neutrik connectors. You can usually get these custom made at local pro audio shops. Details on Nano shield here: ua-cam.com/video/8O1R8hQlQxw/v-deo.html F3 should work well with the HC22, yes.
The HC-15 is on sale on B&H for $480USD thought I would see how they sound on a review and look who did a review on them. Still love my MKH416 and MKH50 for my workload. Seems like pretty good offering for their first toe in the shotgun pool though
Another gem of a video Curtis. I watched it through although they are just out of my reach. I have an overhead shotgun mic by Sennheiser - MKE600 - and it does great for my needs. I have it set just out of shot. A quick question please. If I mounted another one sat next to it either both aiming straight at me OR an XY config, would there be any significant benefit? Cheers. Ps - Can you get your hands on the new Tascam X8 handheld recorder for review? - Peter.
2 роки тому+1
Im also interested in such setup, mainly I draw do i need mic for overhead camera, but then i have my head and mouth towards the table. Would i then need one mic just out of a headshot and another for when im with my face towards table?
For dialogue, especially when you want a clean recording, I find it best to stick with a single mic. Note that when you add a second mic, you get twice the room tone. And unless you have an extraordinarily interesting sounding room, recording a stereo version of you talking adds little to nothing in terms of intelligibility. Also, I have a pre-order for the Tascam X8 in at B&H and plan to do a review.
They sound wonderful, idk how much better the 888 is making the mic sound compared to the mixpre , however I thought it sounded better than the 416 in this room
@@curtisjudd I noticed a giant sound quality difference between the room and outdoors but there’s other factors of course. You don’t sound nearly as (powerful? ) outdoors to my ears. But There’s obviously other factors for that as well. Thanks ever so much for your videos
I note from the sound samples that you had the gain set to +46dB. Was that a typo as it seems very high for a mic of this type? Are they particularly low sensitivity for a shotgun SDC? Their website suggests an output of 45 / 48mv/Pa for the HC-15 and 22 respectively so I thought they were hotter than your gain requirement suggests.
Quick question Curtis. If I’m looking to capture audio that’s 10-40 ft far away and I don’t have a boom pole option to get closer, what kind of microphone would you recommend?
What sort of audio are you trying to capture ? 40ft is too far for dialogue - closer than 10ft for speech I would say, whatever the shotgun. Can you get a mic closer to your sound source eg a shotgun into a radio transmitter ?
If you're capturing dialogue that's that far away from the microphone, there's no real way to avoid it sounding like it's about 10-40 feet away. The fix is usually always to just buy a boom pole, but if you're recording a person and can't use a boom operator, maybe you can plant a lav mic on the talent. If you're recording birds or something like that, tbh all birds I've ever heard in my life were a pretty decent distance away, so maybe it's acceptable to use a long shotgun mic to record that audio from a distance. It's also true that nature documentaries do most of their animal sounds as foley in post. It's hard to make a good recommendation though without knowing what you're recording.
@@thatcherfreeman Thanks for the help. I'm trying to record other people at sea from 10-40 feet away. Are Parabolic microphones good for that? It's mostly trying to decipher language and words someone is speaking
@@whitetiger0802 Yes, a parabolic is probably a much better choice and at 40 feet, you'll need a larger one with a 24" or preferably larger diameter. The bigger the parabolic, the more "reach".
Hello Curtis and everyone is else, hope you're well. I'm a fellow sound person and have a quick question. I use a zoom f8 and have recently noticed somewhat loud mic hiss from one of my lavs. I use sony uwp d11's. Is this a common issue? Not sure if it's my machine's inputs, possibly bad XLR-3.5mm cables, or something with the settings, but I've never had that problem. Do you have any experience with this? I'd appreciate any help, thanks.
Hi Eddie, I don't have the Sony UWP D system so I haven't specifically tested this scenario. Might be best to get in touch with ZOOM or Sony support. Best wishes!
Enjoyed the real world outdoor test. In the first test, the 2+2, how far away were the mics from the speaker and were they overhead? Thanks from Colorado.
I wonder if shotgun microphone would help in my situation. I got small room - 3x3meters (10x10feet) for recording my videos and I have to use: - Camera (with noisy AF lens), - Light (quite noisy fan) (Godox SW60) - Laptop - it's on the desk close to camera (fan becomes a bit noisy after some time) - ATEM Mini pro (does not seem to be noisy at all) - Ninja V (recordind standing on the desk) it's a bit noisy over time. - There is also a computer under the desk which I can turn off in most cases, but I would prefer to have it on :). Atm I'm using lav mics connected to Zoom F2 to record my main audio (+ scratch track from the small mic on the camera). But all the devices generate quite annoying white noise, and when treated by basic noise removal in Davinci my voice sounds really lame (I do not use any other filters apart of "normalization"). *I wonder if Zoom F6 with shotgun or pencil condenser would help in that scenario. I can boom the mic above me.* The light is to my right (totally sideways), rest of the devices in front of me (or front left) and computer under the desk is to my left. My guess was shotgun mic, but after watching your videos about different types of mirophones I'm not sure anymore. Do not have budget to but both (shotgun and pencil condenser) :(. Maybe I should use some other treatment of the audio track in Davinci (like compressor and low/high pass filters) too or instead of buying Zoom F6 and new mic?
Those pencil and shotgun microphones are pretty good if you need the mic to be out of the frame, but if eliminating that background noise is really the biggest priority, you might be best served if you get one of those condenser podcast microphones. By virtue of it being in the shot and a couple inches from your mouth, the signal to noise ratio should be substantially better than most of the alternatives.
I agree with @T Freeman. A boom mic will still pick up all of that fan noise. If you can close mic, especially with a dynamic microphone like the SHURE MV7 or something similar, that'll help the most with rejecting ambient noise: ua-cam.com/video/fhFCsL7bq6Q/v-deo.html
@@curtisjudd @T Freeman Thx both for the answer. I'm getting Zoom F6 anyway. So I guess I would also rent 3 mics to check how they sound in my room (it would be ~100$ to have them for 2-3 days for testing). Atm I got only cheap Rode Lav Go and 20$ Rode VideoMicro knockoff so plenty of room to get better sound. I'm not a big fan of podcasting mic in the shot. I wonder if Shure SM58 would do the job? It would be more universal for me.
OK. Seen some reviews and tests of SM58 and seems that SM58 is also a good fit and is 4 times cheaper than SM7B and less problematic (preamp hungry). I can even get it with my Zoom F6, I can swallow additional 100$. I would test shotgun mics anyway just for fun and maybe create some YT video with the results. Thx.
Hi guyzmaille, good question. I haven't specifically tried as my COS-11s haven't been re-terminated for my A10 kits. What I generally find is that most quality mics don't have any major deficiencies and with RX in post can be matched quite nicely.
Which would be better to record bird and animal sounds outdoors and indoor foley, the hc 22 or the neumann kmr 81? Someone is selling a neumann here in Montreal for really cheap. It's 25 years old and looks really beaten up but it works perfectly! Not too sure which mic would suit my purposes the best, I can't test the hc -22.
I have question regarding the windscreen, my current mic is the Diety smic2s and I’m using the Rode blimp, would I get better results with the smaller Rycoat screen to get closer to the subject?
Every time anyone claims that a certain microphone sounds as good as the Sennheiser MKH 416 and I listen their sound samples, I find this not to be the case. Some are pretty close, but not even Sennheiser’s own 8060 is quite there, even though it’s even more expensive. These Rycote mics are obviously good, but to my ears they sound quite different from the 416. By the way, I just ordered the 416 - it should be arriving in a day or two, and this video has only convinced me even more that I made the right choice. Asking which microphone is the best in the world is like asking which composer is the greatest ever. The answer is that’s it depends and it’s also a matter of taste. But … well …. it really IS Johann Sebastian Bach! And the 416.
I also ordered a Rycote blimp to fit my Sennheiser ME67 + K6. …and it’s even more money than the microphone! By the way, do you have any idea why the whole K6 system has been discontinued? It’s a big surprise to me.
Hi Curtis, thank you for this video (and also your others vidios...). Question: I must record 4 musicians in a church (violin, cello...), Can use my shotgun MKE600 or can you advise another one (i can use one or two overheads), best regards, Marc
Great review! Very helpful. I am in the market for a shotgun mic but these two are outside my price range. I tend to buy used gear and I was thinking about Rode NTG-3. Comparing to the Rycotes, would you cross the Rode NTG-3 out based on its sel-noise specs? It seem much worse on NTG-3. How about the polar off-axis rejection in Rode NTG-3 compared to these? And would how the HC-15 compare to Rode NTG-5? It harder to find used so it will be more costly than NTG-5. But maybe it will be a better choice as a first shotgun for a prosumer?
I do have a review of the NTG-5 where we also compare it to the NTG3 so you might find that helpful. You might also cue up this video in one tab and the NTG5 video in another tab so you can A/B listen to them for comparison. I haven't found the self-noise on the NTG3 to be an issue. NTG5 review: ua-cam.com/video/bv1xUShuUY0/v-deo.html
Here some shotgun/hypercardoid mics with different prices (and performances): the Audio-Technica AT875R, Audio-Technica AT4053b, Audio-Technica AT897, AKG Blue Line Series, Shure VP89S, Sennheiser MKE600... There are some which excel especially as a camera mic or if they are relatively close to the "mouth". Otherwise finding a used Semnheiser MKH416 or even a Rode NTG3 can be a good choice.
@@curtisjudd Yes, and it might be effective if they were priced lower. But they're just 20% less than the gold-standard product they're trying to directly compete against, the Sennheiser 416. And these being Rycote's first-ever microphones, must say the Rycote's price and lack of add-ons is surprising. Even Sennheiser includes a shock mount with some of their mics, and Sennhesier is not a shock mount company like Rycote. Suspect that most looking for a high-end shotgun mic will be able to reach the extra 20% for the Sennhesier. Believe Rycote should seek to add more value, at least initially. Anecdotally, just purchased the Sennhesier, but would have strongly considered the Rycote had it included a shock mount.
@@curtisjudd You're right. I should have been more clear. The Sennheiser MKH 50, MKH 30, and perhaps others include a shock mount. Rycote do have a blimp bundle for these new mics, but not a shock mount bundle. Seems a missed opportunity.
@@curtisjudd Thanks, Curtis. Here’s a strange follow up: I tend to speak in sudden bursts that cause distortion at times at a mic level. This happens on my NTG Videomic (with the -20dB pad it is much better controlled) but it even happens on my Rode NTG3. The levels on the recorder never peak, it just peaks at the mic. Would you have a recommendation for a shotgun mic that might be able to handle sudden louder bursts ?
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis Ah, I'm guessing you need to gain down with the NTG and then manage those transients in post. You might also benefit from a recorder with a limiter or 32-bit float recording. I'd opt for a MixPre.
@@curtisjudd Thanks, Curtis. But if I clip at the mic, I’m assuming the 32 bit float will still have the distortion recorded, would it not? I should probably just learn to speak better 🤣
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis The RODE NTG3 is able to handle a maximum sound pressure level of 130dB SPL. That's really, really loud like a fighter jet's engine at a few meters distance. I cannot imagine that you can produce SPLs that loud with your voice. Or perhaps there's something wrong with that copy of the NTG3? Lesser microphones will be much more likely to clip and distort.
Hi Curtis, as always every video is awesome ! I have a basic question and may be you have answered it before. Whats the best way to monitor via headphones? I use sony MDR Z1R to monitor and I keep hearing the headphone amp hiss ( not the recording amp ) also, the voice I hear in the headphones is also polluted by what I speak ( so it sounds more muddy as it gets mixed by the speech which I speak ) but when I hear it back after recording it sounds just right. So any guidance on head phone levels, etc.
Two things to consider: 1) headphone amp quality and 2) Headphones. Are you monitoring just yourself? That’s always a tricky thing to do and there aren’t any magic techniques. Also headphone amps and the headphones all make at least a little self noise (hiss), but if it is an overwhelming amount, there may be something wrong with the headphones or amp.
Hi Curtis! I understand that this is not a Sennheiser video but regardless, I'm looking for a quality mic for indoor interviews. Essentially with a "mic for the rest of my career" attitude. As I'm not a "sound guy" I've come to ask a wiser person. What would you recommend? I've been looking at the Sennheiser 8050 and the MKH 50. Good options or should I look at something else? It will be paired with a 416 for outdoors.
Curtis ... have you ever stumbled upon Shure VP89? Some shure mics are legendary, but I've never even seen independent review of VP89. It actually seems interesting (modular design), but there are only shure promo videos, nothing like a review. Does it even exist? :)
Really liking the look of the HC-15. Reminds me of the AT875R but if that one were a top notch mic. Any plans to compare the HC-15 to other short shotgun mics or super/hyper cardioids like the Deity S-Mic 2S and MKH 8050 or AT4053b respectively?
@@dylanj8676 seemed like it on my copy but mine was given to me before they started manufacturing them for purchase so mine might have been a prototype.
I like the NTG5 a lot, but I've also heard a lot of people complaining about having technical issues with them so I'm hesitant to recommend them at this point. My copy works fine, but I've heard a lot of complaints from others.
@@asolidmindproductions The output of the mic creating squealing sounds. I don't have the issue on my copy so I'm not sure how to describe it beyond that.
Yes, but I had to manage the scope of the review or my wife would not be happy with all the time I spent nerding out in the basement and at rural intersections running tests.
How much would you charge for a consultation I need a mic that sounds great at a distance what settings should I use etc the mic is not in sight and I'm looking for a similar setup I'm doing live coding streams and I don't want a mic that obscures my sight
Unfortunately with my schedule I cannot do consultations, but I did make this video re: microphone options for streaming: ua-cam.com/video/arCe4UNwwYg/v-deo.html We include different types of mics and positions along with sound samples of each.
My wife said I had to come to dinner so I didn't have time. Just kidding! I hesitate to recommend the NTG5 at this point. While my copy is great, I've heard a LOT of complaints from others about reliability issues.
I cannot be the only one everytime my man drops a video I watch it all no matter what it is!!!! Mini Master classes!
I'm not sure I would have worded it that way but you're right. I can't help but sit down and pay attention when I watch one of these.
Me too
No. Your not the only one. Watching at work.
Thanks @First Sip Brew Box and other friends. 💜
great review Curtis. the only place i go to for microphone reviews
🙏
I always enjoy the "you're dismissed" line. 😊
Me too. It hopefully saves people time who are looking for something different.
Good to see another review Curtis. I've had both the HC-15 and HC-22 for a couple of months now, and the things that impress me most are the off-axis sound (low colouration for a shotgun mic: very different than, say, the MKH416); the low self-noise; and how well the two mics match (not surprising since the only difference is the length of the interference tube), meaning how easy it is to intercut. I'm not surprised - given their reputation for windjammers, suspensions etc. - that Rycote's first mics are so good and it'll be interesting to see over the months/years how popular they become.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I love the way they sound. I would buy both of these over one 416. And it sounds better than the NTG microphones I am really excited about these.
👍
My only question is about the RF test you did. It's possible that the RF was coming from the cable or connector and not the microphone itself. The thin Nanoshield cable may not isolate as much as heavier cables. Have you run into any RF using other cables like the Sound Speeds special?
Haven't tried since when on the Nano-shield shock mount, I need the flexibility to put the cover on when going outdoors. But you ask a perfectly valid question - it could very well be the cable that is the issue there. In fact, it seems likely.
Great looking and sounding video with well thought out info.
Thanks, Allen.
Wow, I thought rycote was primarily in the shock mount business, didn't know they made actual mics! Similar analogy is DJI the gimbal company coming out with an actual camera recently.
Yes.
Hi, Curtis! Excellent review (like always). Have you tried the Rycote SC-08 for indoor dialogue recording?
Not yet!
The 416 still is the best sounding mic in that class. It is as silent and clean as the Rycote's but it offers more substance and base.
It seems like the two brit's are great mic's.
Thanks for sharing!
Same. The more shotgun mic comparisons to the 416 that I hear, the more I want a 416. Sennheiser really deserves massive props for a design that has remained basically unchanged since the mid-'70s, yet is still considered by many to be the reference standard by which all others are judged.
@@edclevel402
Yes.
It really looks like there is no real progress possible in the microphone technology!
There are a lot of examples for mic's that exists since decades and still are the best in their class.
The only progress happened in recording technology - we are now able to get extrem low noise with high dynamic range and in high definition for just a few bucks!
I don't know if there will be a groundbreaking new technology with materials that are used in microphones to open a new era.
Let's see.
@@nosecondlost Devil's advocate perspective (not meant as a criticism, just a perspective to consider): I own a 416 and rarely use it except on voices which are rather dark, i.e., don't have a lot of higher frequency energy. In those cases, it adds some nice energy and brightness which would otherwise be missing. But I find the 416 to be a bit too bright for voices with a lot of sibilance. Don't get me wrong, it is a great microphone, but I find my DPA 4017b (approaching twice the price of the 416) is a better all-rounder and works well with a broader range of voices. So I'd say that if you're buying a mic for YOUR voice and the 416 fits well with your voice, then the 416 is a great, reliable, sturdy mic that'll serve well for decades.
@@curtisjudd
I'm sure you're right.
I wanted to tell that for me in this comparison the 416 is the better sounding mic. I hear more substance (or body) and it offers a more balanced sound to my ears than the Rycote.
There are for sure "better" sounding mic's out there than the 416 but till now for me it is still the "King in the ring" in the area up to r.a. 1000 €/$.
"Yes, highway patrol? There's a really tall guy standing on the side of the road who appears to be attempting communication with aliens..."
They took me down to the station to book me but couldn't find a law I violated.
Hi, Curtis Thank you so much for your Excellent reviews Always. I love it. I am looking some suggestions to build my Boom Setup. I just Bought HC-22 Mic, I also bought Gitzo Carbon Fiber Microphone Boom, Series 4, 4-Section, 9.1 Feet. and Rycote InVision On-Camera Shockmount.
Please can you recommend the XLR Cable and Rycote Nano Shield Windshield Kit that fit with this setup? and Zoom F3 2-input Field Recorder is good with this mic?
Hi NEXT TV, I would recommend Canara star quad cabling with Neutrik connectors. You can usually get these custom made at local pro audio shops. Details on Nano shield here: ua-cam.com/video/8O1R8hQlQxw/v-deo.html F3 should work well with the HC22, yes.
Very interesting and highly informative. Thank you!
Thanks!
@Curtis Judd Good to meet you too!
I didn't mean to be rude by not responding. I was AFK in the kitchen making some tea.
No worries at all! Enjoy your tea!
The HC-15 is on sale on B&H for $480USD thought I would see how they sound on a review and look who did a review on them.
Still love my MKH416 and MKH50 for my workload. Seems like pretty good offering for their first toe in the shotgun pool though
Agreed. Though if you already have a 416…not sure this is a worthy replacement. Perhaps a good backup.
Another gem of a video Curtis. I watched it through although they are just out of my reach. I have an overhead shotgun mic by Sennheiser - MKE600 - and it does great for my needs. I have it set just out of shot. A quick question please. If I mounted another one sat next to it either both aiming straight at me OR an XY config, would there be any significant benefit? Cheers. Ps - Can you get your hands on the new Tascam X8 handheld recorder for review? - Peter.
Im also interested in such setup, mainly I draw do i need mic for overhead camera, but then i have my head and mouth towards the table. Would i then need one mic just out of a headshot and another for when im with my face towards table?
@ I will let @Curtis Judd answer my friend.
For dialogue, especially when you want a clean recording, I find it best to stick with a single mic. Note that when you add a second mic, you get twice the room tone. And unless you have an extraordinarily interesting sounding room, recording a stereo version of you talking adds little to nothing in terms of intelligibility. Also, I have a pre-order for the Tascam X8 in at B&H and plan to do a review.
@ In this case, yes, it would make sense. However, you will need to cut back and forth between the two mics in post for optimal results.
@@curtisjudd Thank you for taking the time to reply to my question. It means a lot. I look forward to your review of the Tascam x8. Peter.
These mics seem to mirror the 416 and the 8060's capabilities (the 15 has the 8060's forgiving off axis roll off) - but at a lower price - nice.
👍
Curtis, I’d like a T-shirt that says, “…if not, you’re dismissed” in 3XLT. Thank you. :)
Brilliant idea!
They sound wonderful, idk how much better the 888 is making the mic sound compared to the mixpre , however I thought it sounded better than the 416 in this room
I should have noted: The outdoor samples were recorded with a MixPre-3 II. The difference is incredibly subtle.
@@curtisjudd I noticed a giant sound quality difference between the room and outdoors but there’s other factors of course. You don’t sound nearly as (powerful? ) outdoors to my ears. But There’s obviously other factors for that as well. Thanks ever so much for your videos
Today only those shotguns are on special at B&H for $499 instead of $799. I am going to buy one xD
👍 Happy recording!
If I need 1 mic I would probably go with 416, but if you going for the pair then the price difference makes more sense.
So you'd have a longer and shorter option?
excellent tests
Thanks.
Hi curtis did rycote improve rf noise issues?
Kind of ironic isn’t it that you can get Rycote mic accessories when you buy, say, a Rode shotgun but when you buy a Rycote mic, you only get the mic.
Perhaps, but for the market segment they're selling to, they usually want to choose exactly which wind protection and shock mount system they need.
I note from the sound samples that you had the gain set to +46dB. Was that a typo as it seems very high for a mic of this type? Are they particularly low sensitivity for a shotgun SDC? Their website suggests an output of 45 / 48mv/Pa for the HC-15 and 22 respectively so I thought they were hotter than your gain requirement suggests.
That is not a typo and also not unusual in my experience.
Quick question Curtis. If I’m looking to capture audio that’s 10-40 ft far away and I don’t have a boom pole option to get closer, what kind of microphone would you recommend?
What sort of audio are you trying to capture ? 40ft is too far for dialogue - closer than 10ft for speech I would say, whatever the shotgun. Can you get a mic closer to your sound source eg a shotgun into a radio transmitter ?
If you're capturing dialogue that's that far away from the microphone, there's no real way to avoid it sounding like it's about 10-40 feet away. The fix is usually always to just buy a boom pole, but if you're recording a person and can't use a boom operator, maybe you can plant a lav mic on the talent.
If you're recording birds or something like that, tbh all birds I've ever heard in my life were a pretty decent distance away, so maybe it's acceptable to use a long shotgun mic to record that audio from a distance. It's also true that nature documentaries do most of their animal sounds as foley in post. It's hard to make a good recommendation though without knowing what you're recording.
@@thatcherfreeman Thanks for the help. I'm trying to record other people at sea from 10-40 feet away. Are Parabolic microphones good for that? It's mostly trying to decipher language and words someone is speaking
@@whitetiger0802 Yes, a parabolic is probably a much better choice and at 40 feet, you'll need a larger one with a 24" or preferably larger diameter. The bigger the parabolic, the more "reach".
Hello Curtis and everyone is else, hope you're well. I'm a fellow sound person and have a quick question. I use a zoom f8 and have recently noticed somewhat loud mic hiss from one of my lavs. I use sony uwp d11's. Is this a common issue? Not sure if it's my machine's inputs, possibly bad XLR-3.5mm cables, or something with the settings, but I've never had that problem. Do you have any experience with this? I'd appreciate any help, thanks.
Hi Eddie, I don't have the Sony UWP D system so I haven't specifically tested this scenario. Might be best to get in touch with ZOOM or Sony support. Best wishes!
Enjoyed the real world outdoor test. In the first test, the 2+2, how far away were the mics from the speaker and were they overhead? Thanks from Colorado.
Hi Craig, yes, approximately 18 inches from my mouth.
Thanks Curtis, awesome video as always! I was wondering if you could recommend me a shotgun mic for recording SFX outside
My first choice would be a DPA 4017B. 😀
@@curtisjudd Awesome! Thanks a lot
I wonder if shotgun microphone would help in my situation.
I got small room - 3x3meters (10x10feet) for recording my videos and I have to use:
- Camera (with noisy AF lens),
- Light (quite noisy fan) (Godox SW60)
- Laptop - it's on the desk close to camera (fan becomes a bit noisy after some time)
- ATEM Mini pro (does not seem to be noisy at all)
- Ninja V (recordind standing on the desk) it's a bit noisy over time.
- There is also a computer under the desk which I can turn off in most cases, but I would prefer to have it on :).
Atm I'm using lav mics connected to Zoom F2 to record my main audio (+ scratch track from the small mic on the camera).
But all the devices generate quite annoying white noise, and when treated by basic noise removal in Davinci my voice sounds really lame (I do not use any other filters apart of "normalization").
*I wonder if Zoom F6 with shotgun or pencil condenser would help in that scenario. I can boom the mic above me.*
The light is to my right (totally sideways), rest of the devices in front of me (or front left) and computer under the desk is to my left.
My guess was shotgun mic, but after watching your videos about different types of mirophones I'm not sure anymore.
Do not have budget to but both (shotgun and pencil condenser) :(.
Maybe I should use some other treatment of the audio track in Davinci (like compressor and low/high pass filters) too or instead of buying Zoom F6 and new mic?
Those pencil and shotgun microphones are pretty good if you need the mic to be out of the frame, but if eliminating that background noise is really the biggest priority, you might be best served if you get one of those condenser podcast microphones. By virtue of it being in the shot and a couple inches from your mouth, the signal to noise ratio should be substantially better than most of the alternatives.
I agree with @T Freeman. A boom mic will still pick up all of that fan noise. If you can close mic, especially with a dynamic microphone like the SHURE MV7 or something similar, that'll help the most with rejecting ambient noise: ua-cam.com/video/fhFCsL7bq6Q/v-deo.html
@@curtisjudd @T Freeman Thx both for the answer. I'm getting Zoom F6 anyway. So I guess I would also rent 3 mics to check how they sound in my room (it would be ~100$ to have them for 2-3 days for testing). Atm I got only cheap Rode Lav Go and 20$ Rode VideoMicro knockoff so plenty of room to get better sound.
I'm not a big fan of podcasting mic in the shot. I wonder if Shure SM58 would do the job? It would be more universal for me.
OK. Seen some reviews and tests of SM58 and seems that SM58 is also a good fit and is 4 times cheaper than SM7B and less problematic (preamp hungry). I can even get it with my Zoom F6, I can swallow additional 100$. I would test shotgun mics anyway just for fun and maybe create some YT video with the results. Thx.
@@JoATTech Sure. Consider adding a foam cover as the SM58 seems quite prone to plosives without one.
Great review Curtis, i'll buy the HC-22 for sure. Do you know if they match well with sanken Cos-11 or DPA 4060 for the Dialogue ?
Thanks!
Hi guyzmaille, good question. I haven't specifically tried as my COS-11s haven't been re-terminated for my A10 kits. What I generally find is that most quality mics don't have any major deficiencies and with RX in post can be matched quite nicely.
Which would be better to record bird and animal sounds outdoors and indoor foley, the hc 22 or the neumann kmr 81? Someone is selling a neumann here in Montreal for really cheap. It's 25 years old and looks really beaten up but it works perfectly! Not too sure which mic would suit my purposes the best, I can't test the hc -22.
Not sure there's a definitive answer to that question. But I wish you all the best, whichever direction you decide to take. Happy recording!
NTG 5 comparison? I'm seriously considering it over MKH 416 because it just sounds more natural and less sharp to my ear.
Yes, NTG5 and MKH416 compared here: ua-cam.com/video/bv1xUShuUY0/v-deo.html
I have question regarding the windscreen, my current mic is the Diety smic2s and I’m using the Rode blimp, would I get better results with the smaller Rycoat screen to get closer to the subject?
You're be able to get a couple of inches closer. I'd recommend you do a test to see how much of a difference moving the mic 2 - 3 inches closer makes.
Every time anyone claims that a certain microphone sounds as good as the Sennheiser MKH 416 and I listen their sound samples, I find this not to be the case. Some are pretty close, but not even Sennheiser’s own 8060 is quite there, even though it’s even more expensive. These Rycote mics are obviously good, but to my ears they sound quite different from the 416.
By the way, I just ordered the 416 - it should be arriving in a day or two, and this video has only convinced me even more that I made the right choice.
Asking which microphone is the best in the world is like asking which composer is the greatest ever. The answer is that’s it depends and it’s also a matter of taste.
But … well …. it really IS Johann Sebastian Bach! And the 416.
I also ordered a Rycote blimp to fit my Sennheiser ME67 + K6.
…and it’s even more money than the microphone!
By the way, do you have any idea why the whole K6 system has been discontinued? It’s a big surprise to me.
@@skakdosmer No idea.
Enjoy your 416. 😀
Great review and reason(s) why you would choose the 15 over the 22. What boom poles are you using?
Those are both K-tek Avalon graphite poles. My main pole is the CC-150R
Interesting! Would you be reviewing the DJI MIC soon?
No plans at the moment, but lots of other good things coming.
Hi Curtis, thank you for this video (and also your others vidios...). Question: I must record 4 musicians in a church (violin, cello...), Can use my shotgun MKE600 or can you advise another one (i can use one or two overheads), best regards, Marc
Generally non-shotgun style pencil condenser microphones in a pair are used for recording small or large ensembles like this.
Great review! Very helpful. I am in the market for a shotgun mic but these two are outside my price range. I tend to buy used gear and I was thinking about Rode NTG-3. Comparing to the Rycotes, would you cross the Rode NTG-3 out based on its sel-noise specs? It seem much worse on NTG-3. How about the polar off-axis rejection in Rode NTG-3 compared to these? And would how the HC-15 compare to Rode NTG-5? It harder to find used so it will be more costly than NTG-5. But maybe it will be a better choice as a first shotgun for a prosumer?
I do have a review of the NTG-5 where we also compare it to the NTG3 so you might find that helpful. You might also cue up this video in one tab and the NTG5 video in another tab so you can A/B listen to them for comparison. I haven't found the self-noise on the NTG3 to be an issue. NTG5 review: ua-cam.com/video/bv1xUShuUY0/v-deo.html
Here some shotgun/hypercardoid mics with different prices (and performances): the Audio-Technica AT875R, Audio-Technica AT4053b, Audio-Technica AT897, AKG Blue Line Series, Shure VP89S, Sennheiser MKE600...
There are some which excel especially as a camera mic or if they are relatively close to the "mouth".
Otherwise finding a used Semnheiser MKH416 or even a Rode NTG3 can be a good choice.
Odd that they don't come with a shock mount, given that shock mounts are Rycote's specialty.
They're looking to keep the cost down and let you choose which one suits your needs best, if I had to guess.
@@curtisjudd Yes, and it might be effective if they were priced lower. But they're just 20% less than the gold-standard product they're trying to directly compete against, the Sennheiser 416. And these being Rycote's first-ever microphones, must say the Rycote's price and lack of add-ons is surprising.
Even Sennheiser includes a shock mount with some of their mics, and Sennhesier is not a shock mount company like Rycote.
Suspect that most looking for a high-end shotgun mic will be able to reach the extra 20% for the Sennhesier. Believe Rycote should seek to add more value, at least initially. Anecdotally, just purchased the Sennhesier, but would have strongly considered the Rycote had it included a shock mount.
@@Trevellian my MKH-416 came with no shockmount, just a mic clip and foam. Did your 416 come with a shockmount?
@@curtisjudd You're right. I should have been more clear. The Sennheiser MKH 50, MKH 30, and perhaps others include a shock mount.
Rycote do have a blimp bundle for these new mics, but not a shock mount bundle. Seems a missed opportunity.
@@Trevellian Could be. Maybe they can put together a bundle.
what about the audio technica shotguns or shure . isnt the mke 600 better
Depends on the voice, your budget, and probably other factors.
Hi Curtis, how do you feel about running xlr mics into an XLR adapter unit like the XLR1 or the Sony XLR-K3M vs a dedicated recorder like a Zoom H6
A fine choice if it suits your workflow. I haven't tested the Sony, but the XLR and H6 are decent.
@@curtisjudd Thanks, Curtis. Here’s a strange follow up: I tend to speak in sudden bursts that cause distortion at times at a mic level. This happens on my NTG Videomic (with the -20dB pad it is much better controlled) but it even happens on my Rode NTG3. The levels on the recorder never peak, it just peaks at the mic. Would you have a recommendation for a shotgun mic that might be able to handle sudden louder bursts ?
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis Ah, I'm guessing you need to gain down with the NTG and then manage those transients in post. You might also benefit from a recorder with a limiter or 32-bit float recording. I'd opt for a MixPre.
@@curtisjudd Thanks, Curtis. But if I clip at the mic, I’m assuming the 32 bit float will still have the distortion recorded, would it not? I should probably just learn to speak better 🤣
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis The RODE NTG3 is able to handle a maximum sound pressure level of 130dB SPL. That's really, really loud like a fighter jet's engine at a few meters distance. I cannot imagine that you can produce SPLs that loud with your voice. Or perhaps there's something wrong with that copy of the NTG3?
Lesser microphones will be much more likely to clip and distort.
Hi Curtis, as always every video is awesome ! I have a basic question and may be you have answered it before. Whats the best way to monitor via headphones? I use sony MDR Z1R to monitor and I keep hearing the headphone amp hiss ( not the recording amp ) also, the voice I hear in the headphones is also polluted by what I speak ( so it sounds more muddy as it gets mixed by the speech which I speak ) but when I hear it back after recording it sounds just right.
So any guidance on head phone levels, etc.
Two things to consider: 1) headphone amp quality and 2) Headphones. Are you monitoring just yourself? That’s always a tricky thing to do and there aren’t any magic techniques. Also headphone amps and the headphones all make at least a little self noise (hiss), but if it is an overwhelming amount, there may be something wrong with the headphones or amp.
@@curtisjudd I am using apogee symphony desktop as headphone amp. But I hear you, yes monitoring myself and its just not that fun 😅
Hi Curtis! I understand that this is not a Sennheiser video but regardless, I'm looking for a quality mic for indoor interviews. Essentially with a "mic for the rest of my career" attitude. As I'm not a "sound guy" I've come to ask a wiser person. What would you recommend? I've been looking at the Sennheiser 8050 and the MKH 50. Good options or should I look at something else? It will be paired with a 416 for outdoors.
The MKH 8050 is my main indoor boom mic. Love it. Not as fond of the MKH 50 on some voices where it is just too harsh.
@@curtisjudd Thank you for the response =)!
Curtis ... have you ever stumbled upon Shure VP89? Some shure mics are legendary, but I've never even seen independent review of VP89. It actually seems interesting (modular design), but there are only shure promo videos, nothing like a review. Does it even exist? :)
Hi JoAT Tech, I haven't, will look into it.
@@curtisjudd Would be great.
if you can have only one. hc-22 or ntg5?
Probably NTG5.
Really liking the look of the HC-15. Reminds me of the AT875R but if that one were a top notch mic. Any plans to compare the HC-15 to other short shotgun mics or super/hyper cardioids like the Deity S-Mic 2S and MKH 8050 or AT4053b respectively?
I’ll need to do another meta-review at some point, though I gave the S-Mic 2S away. The self-noise is pretty prominent.
@@curtisjudd Higher than the 15 dBA it's supposed to be?
@@dylanj8676 seemed like it on my copy but mine was given to me before they started manufacturing them for purchase so mine might have been a prototype.
@@curtisjudd Will you be looking at the Sanken CS-M1 at any point? That's what I was looking at before I got an MKH 8050.
@@dylanj8676 I don't have the budget to buy the CS-M1 at the moment and lots of other things in the queue, but certainly open to it in the future.
How do these compare to the NTG5? is it a big step up in terms of an upgrade?
I like the NTG5 a lot, but I've also heard a lot of people complaining about having technical issues with them so I'm hesitant to recommend them at this point. My copy works fine, but I've heard a lot of complaints from others.
@@curtisjudd What kind of technical issues?
@@asolidmindproductions The output of the mic creating squealing sounds. I don't have the issue on my copy so I'm not sure how to describe it beyond that.
@@curtisjudd good to know, thank you Curtis. Im looking into getting one so I’ll be sure to look out for that.
wow so cool counter before the starting video! did you made it by yourself?
it's a youtube generated thing when you premiere something. you schedule it, and they count it down for you.
Agreed - a UA-cam thing added for premieres.
If these are comparible to the 416 and NTG3, then I guess they're also comparable with the NTG5 ($500 USD)
Yes, but I had to manage the scope of the review or my wife would not be happy with all the time I spent nerding out in the basement and at rural intersections running tests.
@@curtisjudd 😂 fair enough
Any chance on you reviewing the Mirfak NP10?
I haven't heard of this. Is it a microphone?
How much would you charge for a consultation I need a mic that sounds great at a distance what settings should I use etc the mic is not in sight and I'm looking for a similar setup I'm doing live coding streams and I don't want a mic that obscures my sight
Unfortunately with my schedule I cannot do consultations, but I did make this video re: microphone options for streaming: ua-cam.com/video/arCe4UNwwYg/v-deo.html We include different types of mics and positions along with sound samples of each.
To my ear, the HC 22 sounds noticeably better than the '416.
Thanks for sharing!
Any suggestions for consumer, prosumer mics for using on bmpcc6k pro?
RODE VideoMic Pro+ or VideoMic NTG(?) ua-cam.com/video/c4Pu72J5BRE/v-deo.html
Could you please review Sound Devices A20-Mini?
Yes
@@curtisjudd Thanks. I can't wait. no body can explain like you.
Does a clear winner come to mind with the hc-15 vs a sanken ms-c1?
I haven't used the Sunken so I'm not sure. I think you're referring to the CS-M1.
@@curtisjudd ah yes, sorry dyslexia strikes again! I think you're referring to the Sanken ;)
Thoughts about a comparison to the NTG5?
My wife said I had to come to dinner so I didn't have time. Just kidding! I hesitate to recommend the NTG5 at this point. While my copy is great, I've heard a LOT of complaints from others about reliability issues.
🙏🏾
Thanks!
@4:20 what software are you using
I use several different apps, but that particular one is Izotope RX Advanced.
What kind of mic are you using now
This was recorded with the Rycote mics as noted at the start of the video.
@@curtisjudd in that case should I get that or the sennheiser mkh 416
@@uhbjoigyhbvr6796 I'm not sure, they're both fine options. My main shotgun microphone is the DPA 4017b, but that's an $1800 USD microphone.
Don't love the ultra-crispy, crackly top-end sound. Does the Sennheiser have the same high frequency crackling?
I would trust your ears. If you don't hear that in the 416 samples here...
another 416 clone ? strange - but they sound good
And are much smaller and lighter but without the same rejection capabilities.
Am I the only one that got dismissed from class... Yet didn't leave??
Good on you for sticking around! "You can't make me leave! I'm here to learn!"
thank you It's very helpful.
I'm waiting for Shure VP89M Modular Medium Shotgun Microphone review for the next
That'd be an interesting one as well. I don't have the money for it at the moment...