Rode Video Mic & NT3 Samples

[Worley]

<File removed - don't bother clicking the first link!>

OK, here you are! Here's what the Rode Video Mic sounds like. It's a 1MB mp3, mono.

there are three mics being compared here: a cheap stereo lapel mic from Maplin, the Rode NT3, and the Rode Video Mic.

The recording were made on a MiniDisc and transferred to PC. No processing has been performed, other than to convert to MP3.

The sound was recorded in my bathroom (very small), with the bath running. This is a taxing environment as it is highly reflective (thanks to the ceramic tiles, and complete lack of fabric), and the running water produces low, mid and high frequency sounds that will mix with the voice. The bath was at 90 degrees to the microphones (off to one side), and mics were all about 8 inches from the speaker's mouth.

You should notice that the lapel mic rejects none of the sounds. It records voice, reflections, and water in equal measure, making for quite a busy recording.

The NT3 records much louder than the lapel mic thanks to a much higher sensitivity. However, although it manages to reject the low/mid frequencies from the water, the higher frequencies remain. Nevertheless, the separation of water from vocals is pronounced. There is much less reverberation, too.

The Video Mic is the best of the lot. Virtually no reverberation, good rejection of all but the low frequencies from the bath, and very good pickup of the vocals.

Not a scientific experiment, but a good guide to the performance of various mics.

I use the cheapo mic for interviews/backup sound; NT3 for voice-overs, and the VideoMic is always attached to the camcorder to catch the important stuff.

Worley

[Mal]

GREAT GREAT test; that's exactly what we need [more of...]!

I found the NT3 to be the nicest sounding (no surprise), but given the horrible environment (nice choice, by the way), the Videomic probably does perform best in this situation.

A little surprised the LAV mics were so bad...wait, they are only £19.99? Okay.
I bet a head-worn mic might have produced some good results.

Just keeping with your great post, here's another comparison of some mics.
I thought it was good because it shows all sorts of different mics:
http://homepage.mac.com/tyreeford/.P...al%20VIdeo.mp4

and some more, incl. the Videomic:

http://homepage.mac.com/WebObjects/F...eSharing5.html

[Goose]

really Good comparrison and very helpful

thank you

I think the NT3 sounds best though

[Worley]

Yes, the cheap mic was just £20, and I suppose for the price isn't not bad. It requires an AA battery. It's also available in the US, but not branded as Yoga.

I agree that the tonal quality of the NT3 is better, which is why I use it for voice overs. But the Video Mic's rejection of off-axis sound is very good considering how cheao it is (I got it from thomann.dehttp://www.thomann.de/gb/rode_videomic.htm cheaper than I could get it in the UK.

If I were out doing interviews, I would bring the NT3 with me to record onto MD, using the Video Mic as a backup directly onto the camera.

Anyway, glad it's been of use.

[Goose]

Worley

just interested in any obersavtions you may have about picking up motor noise with the Rhode video mic?

[Worley]

No problem at all with motor noise, but I'm not using a HV20 (yet - due on 7th June). Currently I'm using a Canon MVX40, which is nice and quiet. The Rode is an exceptional consumer-grade mic, and I've not had any problems with it.

It should reject the motor noise as the camcorder is off-axis. Shotgun mics reject higher frequency noise, so unless you have an exceptionally noisy mechanism, I can't foresee there being a problem.

[Magnus]

Worley, can you upload some clips with sound from the Røde NT3? It would really help me in choosing a microphone for on-camera sound.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

I think you'll find that the Røde NT3 will be better suited on a boom or stand near the talent.

It's a hyper-cardioid polar response mic and will pic up the motor noise from your cam.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

No problem at all with motor noise, but I'm not using a HV20 (yet - due on 7th June). Currently I'm using a Canon MVX40, which is nice and quiet. The Rode is an exceptional consumer-grade mic, and I've not had any problems with it.

It should reject the motor noise as the camcorder is off-axis. Shotgun mics reject higher frequency noise, so unless you have an exceptionally noisy mechanism, I can't foresee there being a problem.

Are you using the Video Mic or the NT3 on cam?

[Worley]

I use the Rode Video Mic on camera, and the NT3 for voice over.

My minidisc died last night; I have a Zoom H2 on order, so as soon as it has arrived I'll put up some audio files so you can compare the two.

In my opinion, the NT3 sounds warmer than the VM. Both have good rejection of unwanted sound.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

I use the Rode Video Mic on camera, and the NT3 for voice over.

My minidisc died last night; I have a Zoom H2 on order, so as soon as it has arrived I'll put up some audio files so you can compare the two.

In my opinion, the NT3 sounds warmer than the VM. Both have good rejection of unwanted sound.

Nice...

The NT3 is most definitely a voice over/ADR mic meant to be isolated on a stand and not a camera.

I am going with the VM for my 2 HV20s.

[Worley]

OK, samples recorded on the Zoom H2 using the Rode Video Mic, Rode NT3, Maplin lapel mic, and Zoom H2's front mics. Downlod here.

All recorded in my bathroom with bath running (so you can hear how good/bad the rejection of off-axis noise is).

Note 1: The Maplin Mic was very quiet and had to be recorded with medium gain. All other mics were set to low gain.

Note 2: All these mics (except the H2's internal mics) require power. This was provided by batteries inserted into the microphones.

[Terfyn]

On my system, the NT3 was definitely the clearest, the H2 mics were very quiet and the Maplin I could hardly hear. An interesting test and shows the Rode up very well.

[Michael Davis]

Great test, Worley, threads like this are rediculously helpful when you're planning what to buy.

How far away was your mouth from the mics in these tests? And were you holding them all in your hand, or had you mounted them somehow?

[Worley]

The Maplin mic was pinned to my lapel, about 8 inches / 20cm below my mouth.
The two Rodes are handheld about a foot / 30cm away.
The H2 was stand mounted, again 1 foot / 30cm away.

I was facing the bath, the Rodes were facing me, and the H2 was switched so it recorded only through the front mics which were directed towards me.

I am very impressed with the H2, but there is one improvement I would make to it. It picks up too much handling noise because it is made from lightweight plastic so it needs a wired remote to put into record mode without having to touch it. I suppose I could use Auto record, but a remote would be more useful to me.

[Terfyn]

I am very impressed with the H2, but there is one improvement I would make to it. It picks up too much handling noise because it is made from lightweight plastic so it needs a wired remote to put into record mode without having to touch it.

This is annoying and a good argument to use remote mics. The handling noise can be edited out (just like a film clip can be shortened) by using an editor. I use Audacity (free download) or Wavepad, two of the many on the market.
You can mark the "in" point and the "out" point of the recording you want to keep and use A-B Repeat to select the recordable bit.

[Worley]

I'm giving a talk on mics and audio editing next week...

For my principal purpose - recording my boys growing up - using an external mic isn't always practical and editing the audio afterwards isn't always going to be desirable.

Much like the HV20 has a remote control (that I NEVER use), the H2 would benefit from a remote (which I would use constantly).

It's a gripe, a very minor one. We always find fault with what we love...

[Terfyn]

I was suggesting that you cut off the handling noises at the start and end of the recording. For no handling noise stick the H2 on a monopod!

[Michael Davis]

I have to say, for being a foot from your mouth I'm not super impressed with the VideoMic.

[Worley]

What didn't you like?

I think it did quite well considering I was in a small, hard room where there would be sound bouncing around.

-------------
@Terfyn, even trimming the start and end isn't always practical for my needs. Even on its stand or a tripod/monopod you have to touch the H2 to start/stop recording.

I'm not greatly fussed. It's a lot easier than the Minidisc.

[Michael Davis]

I dunno, it just didn't sound that great. I've heard some other samples online I was kind of dissapointed with too.

I have a Sterling ST55 mic on my mixer at my computer that I use for ADR so maybe I've just gotten spoiled. Man, I wish I could use that as a boom mic. It drops off after two feet though.

I listened to these side-by-sides (http://dvestore.com/theatre/mics_guide.html) and I thought the VideoMic really was outclassed (obviously all those mics are more expensive, but the Rode NT3 and the Sennheiser ME-66 not by much, and I felt they were much better.)

In your tests as well I thought the NT3 blew the VideoMic out of the water. How far can you get from your NT3 before it doesn't pick up a usable signal for dialogue?

Basically I'm looking for a mic I can boom into the skits my buddies and I do and I ordered the VideoMic off Sam Ash and it should be here tomorrow, but the more I listen to the more I think I should have dropped another 50 bucks and went with a ME-66 or an NT3. Or an Audio-Technica AT835b. Or an Azden SGM-2X. All these mics are driving me crazy. I was so relieved when I bit the bullet and bought the HV20 (had been deliberating over the Canon vs the Sony and the JVC or should I try to save for an HVX for weeks.)

Hopefully the Rode VM will show up tomorrow and I'll love it and I can put this eternal comparison behind me. (And move on to obsessing over wide-angle lenses vs building a 35mm adapter. :P )

[Worley]

You can get quite a long way from the source, but you have to start increasing the record level/gain. And that means noise.

The NT3 is my favourite, but for practicality, the VM is a great mic. Perhaps I was just too close to it.

[Magnus]

Do you find the NT3 to be very unpractical for on-camera use? I still want it lol.
I'm also a bit interested in getting an M3 because I can get it for the same price I would be paying for a Videomic. However, the pattern may be too wide (especially for outdoors) and the mic itself is, like the NT3, very heavy and long.

[Worley]

If I wanted to look like a reporter, I would use the NT3. But otherwise I use the VM exclusively... but that will change now I have the Zoom H2.

I was testing the AGC on the H2 earlier today, and I am very impressed with it. It managed to do quite an intelligent job with AGC General. It kept my voice at a constant level without introducing an unacceptable levels of hiss. Very good indeed.

[Magnus]

Hmm. I will probably buy the videomic microphone and etymotic er-6 for monitoring sound. I think I can make my own Dead Cat.

I think the Videomic sounds very 'bassy' in some tests. Is this true in your experience?