You did a very good job. I can listen to the difference between the two microphones, I think the rode is the more panoramic of the two so it’s more useful in various situations... but if you need a microphone for interview, the sennheiser its better..
@Marvin Rocco thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im trying it out now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
This is a great review. Thanks for the work it took to produce it. The only additional thing I'd like to see is an example with a bit of post processing on the Rode. The Rode, with its XY configuration, gives a true stereo sound capture. With the Sennheiser, that information is lost forever, and is mostly mono forward with a bit of off angle stereo mixed in. It should be possible to get the same thing with the Rode if you just don't pan the channel controls all the way for full left right separation. As long as the phase is correct (and if it isn't, you can dial that in in post as well) you should be able to set the L/R pan controls to the same 45 degrees or so that the Sennheiser captured and get that forward subject boost with a bit of stereo on the sides. That's why I think I'll go with the Rode, because it gives you the flexibility of true stereo to mono to anything in between while with the Sennheiser, you're stuck with what it csptured and can never get the separation of an XY configuration.
The Rode microphone may seem more precise, because it has more emphasis on higher midrange frequencies. Sennheiser is more useful because it gives a more natural sound (you can see it during the dancers' performance).
I agree- I tend to like the sound of Sennheiser mics in general a bit more than the Rode to be honest (not that Rode mics are bad by any means), and this is definitely true here as well :)
Thanks for this comparison! I am getting the Rode, because I found it on the used market for £70, considering the difference of price, the Sennheiser is definitely a more premium option. I just need an external microphone, because the microphone built in to my camera captures a lot of lens noise, and noise from my clothing (like a zip) occasionally rubbing against the camera which is truely irritating! The Rode is overkill for my usecase, but I just wanted a stereo external microphone, because I felt that a mono microphone would detract from the viewing experience.
Excellent work, thank you. It makes things clear, for all to hear. Clear as the sound "image" the Sennheiser creates. Yes the Rode makes a sound "landscape", but this is not what a stereophonic microphone is supposed to create. For this, we have ambiphonic devices... Zoom has some, Rode too, when Schoeps make the best, with Sony having had some great ones with their M/S models (notably ECM-969), that Shure tries to copy (named VP88). Rode has a huge power in R&D, but prefers to produce items that don't stick to their actual stickers (!). A stereo sound must create a clear L/R separation, this is why such techniques as A/B or X/Y were invented. They are the ones used in ambiance music recordings, with two monophonic microphones assembled in patterns (side-by-side or superposed). Rode arrenged the capsules of their VideoMic Pro in such a X/Y pattern, but their use of cardoid ones (very good indeed) makes for this confused (and confusing) sound image. With hypercardioid capsules (such as Sennheiser do), the result would be perfect. And stereophonic. To understand and figure all this your tests have been crucial, good job. Bravo !
This video was helpful indeed. After doing countless research on mics to find ideal one for me. I end up purchasing rode and I'm not disappointed 😁 thank you.
hey! I recently got the Rode, but I noticed that the left and right signals are swapped for some reason, which is really annoying. Do you know how to fix this?
Between these 2, for that purpose, I might suggest the Sennheiser. The rode captures a bit too much and the focus of your recording might get lost in all of it a bit.
Hi thanks for the video, it is so hard to find a good mic for my needs. Which one you think is better with the wind noise? Any problems when you are walking?
I’ve tested the sennheiser with their furry windscreen and that really helps with wind, but haven’t tried anything like that on the Rode personally ...didn’t notice any other problems while walking on either of them (I guess you mean with the shock mount?)
Is the Sennheiser MKE440 in addition to record what's in front of the camera, can it record what's behind the camera too, and is it possible and good enough if not really good too to use to record singing voice only and with instruments too by placing the mic close to the mouth, can it sound as focused like how your studio mic sound in this video? I plan to get the Panasonic camcorder called HC-X1500 with 25-600mm and it has mic in and out and also an optional handle with 2 XLR ports and you can mount shotgun mic onto it that way with dials and so on to adjust the qualities, I still newbie in audio stuffs but is that handle necessary because I do like to use the camcorder as it is, the handle has LED light which will be nice to have for me but I can get dedicated LED light to attach on top of the camcorder with this mic too and overall will still flatter height compare with the handle but I not completely sure tho, I not sure how much differences it will make between the 3.5mm and XLR and if the 3.5 can record 24bits like the XLR can, I not sure I can use this senhenizer mic to record the singing voice and use the camcorder as audio recorder without need to buy recorder, or should I get the recorder like Sony PCM-A10? Is 32bits necessary? Also, would you recommend which camera to shoot mainly photo if I have that camcorder, I plan to use them to document lifes, travel, TH-cam and personal projects and works plus want to explore ultramacro if possible, I also not sure if compact camera that can't fit into your pocket make sense because they still need to carry in bag but doesn't have better grip, EVF and performance like the bigger size camera, hence, should I get RX100 VII/VA, Canon G5X II, LX100 II/D Lux 7, RX10 IV, GX9 or straight go for A7RV for the reasons I stated? Does Sony 70-200mm F4 OSS G MACRO II with 2X teleconverter able to capture macro details of feather of bird far away? But I also thought why so much effort into that specific type of photography like macro when I can just google the same thing done by other and not just get smaller camera to have fun and document lifes and works?
You'll most likely need to turn on the lower sensitivity and use that in combination with dialing the audio input on your camera down lower. Usually it's advised to aim for about -12dB or so on your camera's audio levels. Specific settings will depend on what camera you have, how loud the audio actually is and how far away you are. Hope that helps!
Looking to upgrade my pitiful Nikon ME-1 stereo mic. Would mostly be recording live bands indoor and outdoor and moving around while filming for different angles. Also might use for interviews while hiking mountains at the top of mountian. Seems like the Sennheiser would be a better fit for me. Thoughts?
Depending on the result you want, when filming bands indoors it might be better to get a recording from the mixing board or at least have a stationary mic recording separately that you can sync in post so the sound is consistent between angles and framing. For interviews while hiking, an on camera mic would be a good way to go and I do feel like the Sennheiser would be a great choice to focus on your subject while still taking in a bit of the environment.
@@ScottDumas Thats if I can get the sound guy to let me get a line from the mixing board lol. Definately would be better. I think most of the time, i would just be some random videos from the crowd perspective or near stage. I guess another option would be a Rode wireless with the external mic connected, to keep the mic in one spot while I move around. Wonder how that would sound. Thanks for the reply.
When you hear the video from a pair of hifi stereo speakers, the vocal/main sound should be in centre and the peripheral sound/ambience should be from the left and right speaker. This is the correct stereo imaging. Rode does it right. But Sennheiser makes the stereo imaging completely wrong. This only applies to still recording as I AM AN audiophile. For video with movement, this is another story
Scott...I am on my third MKE440....and it has the same problem of intermittent static noise on one channel. It is definitely not my camera as it does this on both my cameras, and I can change microphones and the problem stops. Sennheiser have replaced it twice and 6 months later it starts again. I want to like this microphone, as it is very good otherwise. Have you experienced this issue? I believe it is a problem with the capsules.
Hey, really sorry to hear that! And surprised to be honest. So not only does the problem persist on other cameras, but it also didn't exist for the first few months you used it? That's definitely something wrong then. I'd still like to say you've just been unlucky, since Sennheiser does have a very solid reputation, but I've not experienced that myself fortunately.
I'll be making videos of me playing acoustic guitar and singing in my living room. Seems like the Sennheiser might be the one since I wouldn't be moving around. Thoughts?
Between these two I'd definitely recommend the Sennheiser for that. Of course, a two mic setup with a pickup/acoustic mic placed in the guitar and a second vocal mic would get the best results, but in terms of a simple setup, the Rode stereo mic will definitely pick up too much of your surroundings.
Rode in the crowd was kinda like a hangover, just too much info. At the performance, ugh, it sounded unnatural. A few times though, I liked the sound better than the Sennheiser such as when you did the 360 about the camera and the “distance” shoot. In both of those cases the Rode sounded better, barring the speaking, which is usually the main focus in most recordings. For my needs post watching your excellent vid, the Sennheiser would be attached at least 98% of the time with the Rode maybe occasionally being taken out for some pattern breaking B roll. That crowd ambiance was a real jolt.
If youre looking for a true stereo sound, I think the Rode is better. Stereo is terrible for dialogue, so its only natural to prefer the sennheiser in most scenarios. But if you were to pair the Rode with a mono lav on-talent mic I think that would make more sense
Yep, the Sennheiser is still a much more focused sound, just with a stereo signal. I think that gives it a unique sound for sure, but I would say the applications for these 2 are definitely going to be different like you said. :)
I'd say the Stereo VMP would likely get the "fullness! of that ambient sound a bit better. The Sennheiser, while stereo, is more directional. But, for that setup I don't see any need for that.
Scott Dumas thank you so much.. I have watched vdo again with earphones vmp sounded bit noisier and distracting and little bit unpleasant to the ears...What you think?
@@lsdhillon02 I think it will definitely depend on the surroundings ...although generally speaking I do personally like the Sennheiser better for my use. I'd definitely be curious to try them recording ambience in nature, because I think they'd definitely perform very differently than the situations in this video.
Thanks! For that setup I'd probably use a more directional shotgun style boom mic or a broadcast mic depending on the setup. Recently I've been using a combination of the Deity S-Mic 2S and Shure SM7B in the studio
little over 7 weeks till I get the D500!got most videocamera gear for it now!tripod, rail system that holds the camera and only needs proper mic for it!I guess the røde gets the spot!!!
Awesome! I'm sure you'll love the D500, seems like a beast of a camera! I hope the Rode works out for you as well! I don't think you could go wrong with either of these :)
Scott, would you recommend the Sennheiser for recording a marching band on a football field from high up in the stands or in the press box overlooking the field? I feel like I need a wide frequency range and I'd like to cut down on crowd noise. I also do not have much time for post processing because the band director wants the video uploaded by the next morning to review with the band. I'll be using an a6300. Thanks.
Hi! That's a tough one. If you were closer to the action I'd say that it would be a good choice but a lot of shotgun microphones will suffer from longer distances and you'll likely have lots of the crowd noise mixed in with the band sounding distant. Ideally, having someone closer to the action recording the sound separately would be my recommendation (even on the side of the field with the Sennheiser mounted on a stand recording into an H4N or something would be a big help). I'm not sure if that's something you'd be able to do but it would be my recommendation. :)
Connor, if you see this, let me know if you ended up trying the Sennheiser for this purpose. I’m looking for the same thing. Recording marching bands on the field and concerts in an auditorium.
Hi! Quality wise they're both great. I found the Sennheiser is more directional though, so if you want to have it focused on what's in front of it while not taking in quite so much of the surrounding noise, that's the choice. If you want overall ambient room audio, the Rode is a good one. Hope that helps!
Hello! I’m doing a documentary with interviews and some parts where I’ll be in the harbor and in locations where I wanna pick up sound from the area. Are there any cheaper mics you recommend? I’m on summer vacation and don’t have access to equipment so I have to buy some myself
Hey man! I depends what exactly you're going for... for just picking up some ambient sounds something like the Zoom H1 could work... if you want a mic for the actual interviews you could use a Lav mic like the Aputure A.Lav, or some cheaper on camera mics are the Rode Video Micro or Videomic Go (or even the first version of the videomic pro). A combination of something like the videomic and H1 recorder attached to a pole could work like a boom mic too if you want to get it up and over the interviewee. Let me know what you think of those and/or if you have any other questions :)
Thanks for your effort. I am still torn between these two microphones as I want to improve my sound recording (I like shooting videos of concerts). Here's one video from my Canon 80D, to give you an idea: th-cam.com/video/XNVv1so9dn0/w-d-xo.html What mic would you prefer in such a situation? Or in an open air festival/concert (where I may be farther from the performers). Another possible use case: air shows, with lots of noise (propellers and jets)
I personally would go with the Sennheiser... it felt to me to have that stereo sound but still focus on what's in the frame which feels natural and appropriate when you have any sort of action or people in your video.
In my opinion, it is best not to use a microphone with an amplifier but to use only the amplification of the camera, it is of higher quality than a microphone made by some Chinese without sophisticated technical means, logically better 2 microphones to make it a stereo sound. and record "listening" to the sound with headphones connected to the camera,
do you mean not using the mic's built in pre-amp? It's absolutely going to be better than the camera in a lot of cases. It will of course depend on the camera and also the microphone... but not sure about that Chinese comment either- Rode is an Australian based company and Sennheiser is German. Companies like Deity also have fantastic quality microphones and just assuming that ANY camera is better than ANY mic's built in pre-amp seems a bit assuming.
Great video, and I vote for the Sennheiser, which sounds more authentic, plus can handle an interview. The Rode has a stereo feeling that certain animals probably have, or a fish like Dory. But not humans.
For my initial purposes (incl. filming live music probably), I decided finally for the MKE 440, and for plans to stay in the mobile phone genre, I connected it to my Google Pixel 3 XL on a Movi Cinema Robot gimbal. Three remarks: (1) somehow it seems like I unwittingly took some risk with that pairing as it took forever to hone in on the necessary connecting cable. Because all else turned the stereo MKE 440 into a mono mic, I thought I would have to send it back and just "go mono". Bear in mind the Google Pixel 3 XL has a stereo mic to begin with. Nevertheless, entry via the USB C port calls for some trickery apparently. A TRS to TRRS adapter guaranteed mono, and per another YTer's recommendation, the $7 Sabrent USB Type C Stereo 3D Sound Adapter also yielded mono by input to its pink colored mic 3.5mm port. (The green port for headphones didn't recorded audio of course). WHAT WORKS IN STEREO IS THE €38 Boya 3.5mm TRS to Type-C Connector Audio Cable, BOYA Microphone Adapter plus a female-female 3.5mm (1/8th") adapter (and I aimed for a well-made one). The Boya has a coiled cable like the MKE 440, and together that provide good length for dodging the gimbal weights and the Boya's little box of electronics plus the f/f 3.5mm adapter to connect Boya to Sennheiser. (2) my second remark is that with the Boya clearly yielding stereo recording in the Google Pixel 3 XL, I find the MKE 440 to be the MILDEST KIND OF STEREO, meaning the 440 is truly a hybrid: focused forward but with some stereo. Thus, cars passing by definitely go from left to right, but I don't know if it's the Pixel phone set-up, but my walk arounds don't seem to have as dramatic a stereo effect as yours or other YT demos, except for maybe 20% of them. Figuring that what's been achieved with the Boya cable is stereo, and that there isn't such thing as reduced semi-stereo, I conclude that a room's natural reverb level is factoring in. Tests in the wet sounding garage had my voice coming in all around. Outside on the street it was better. The MKE 440 is a pair of shotgun mics facing predominantly forward, I kept reminding myself. Since my purposes nearly swayed me to a mono mic, I believe I've made the right choice with the MKE 440 given that I need room context achieved by stereo. (3) Last remark: I needed two washers to get the Movi gimbal's hoodle to screw tightly into the MKE 440. I also bought a SmallRig shoe, but that, too, was spinning loosely. The double washer solution from hoodie to MKE 440 is tight enough, if not exactly quick to take on and off. (4) A super final remark is that your comparison video was super helpful and decisive. The intensity of left / right ambiance walking down the street in Japan really demonstrated the good purpose of both mics. My purposes require focus usually, so the MKE 440 came first. Down the road, I'll surely end up with mono and a pure x/y mics. One day, I'll upload some demo videos of the above info. I have photos of the set-up, but a TH-cam reply isn't the place for those.
@@ImprovUnedited Hey, I really appreciate that and hope other readers do too, lots of interesting info there and glad you took the time to work through all the issues with the mobile setup. In any case, very glad to hear you found the right mic for you at the moment and happy that this video could play a part in it :) Enjoy!
Brilliant review. For me the Sennheiser is the better microphone. More depth and less distracting.
You did a very good job. I can listen to the difference between the two microphones, I think the rode is the more panoramic of the two so it’s more useful in various situations... but if you need a microphone for interview, the sennheiser its better..
@Marvin Rocco thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im trying it out now.
I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Marvin Rocco It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much, you saved my ass !
@Calvin Lyle You are welcome =)
Very valuable work here. Appreciate time involved assembling for benefit of all! Still shopping / comparing
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! :) I appreciate it!
Fishin2The Max ?
I trust my ears and my headphones.. The clear winner by far is the Sennheiser....Thanks for a great review and test. Well Done.
Thanks so much for watching! :)
This is a great review. Thanks for the work it took to produce it. The only additional thing I'd like to see is an example with a bit of post processing on the Rode. The Rode, with its XY configuration, gives a true stereo sound capture. With the Sennheiser, that information is lost forever, and is mostly mono forward with a bit of off angle stereo mixed in. It should be possible to get the same thing with the Rode if you just don't pan the channel controls all the way for full left right separation. As long as the phase is correct (and if it isn't, you can dial that in in post as well) you should be able to set the L/R pan controls to the same 45 degrees or so that the Sennheiser captured and get that forward subject boost with a bit of stereo on the sides. That's why I think I'll go with the Rode, because it gives you the flexibility of true stereo to mono to anything in between while with the Sennheiser, you're stuck with what it csptured and can never get the separation of an XY configuration.
Best and most practical test of these two Mics I have ever seen! Fantastic!
Sennheiser MKE 440 sounds more warm and professional…
The Rode microphone may seem more precise, because it has more emphasis on higher midrange frequencies. Sennheiser is more useful because it gives a more natural sound (you can see it during the dancers' performance).
I agree- I tend to like the sound of Sennheiser mics in general a bit more than the Rode to be honest (not that Rode mics are bad by any means), and this is definitely true here as well :)
Incredibly helpful comparison thank you 💚
Thanks for this comparison!
I am getting the Rode, because I found it on the used market for £70, considering the difference of price, the Sennheiser is definitely a more premium option.
I just need an external microphone, because the microphone built in to my camera captures a lot of lens noise, and noise from my clothing (like a zip) occasionally rubbing against the camera which is truely irritating! The Rode is overkill for my usecase, but I just wanted a stereo external microphone, because I felt that a mono microphone would detract from the viewing experience.
Excellent work, thank you. It makes things clear, for all to hear.
Clear as the sound "image" the Sennheiser creates. Yes the Rode makes a sound "landscape", but this is not what a stereophonic microphone is supposed to create. For this, we have ambiphonic devices... Zoom has some, Rode too, when Schoeps make the best, with Sony having had some great ones with their M/S models (notably ECM-969), that Shure tries to copy (named VP88).
Rode has a huge power in R&D, but prefers to produce items that don't stick to their actual stickers (!). A stereo sound must create a clear L/R separation, this is why such techniques as A/B or X/Y were invented. They are the ones used in ambiance music recordings, with two monophonic microphones assembled in patterns (side-by-side or superposed). Rode arrenged the capsules of their VideoMic Pro in such a X/Y pattern, but their use of cardoid ones (very good indeed) makes for this confused (and confusing) sound image. With hypercardioid capsules (such as Sennheiser do), the result would be perfect. And stereophonic.
To understand and figure all this your tests have been crucial, good job. Bravo !
This video was helpful indeed. After doing countless research on mics to find ideal one for me. I end up purchasing rode and I'm not disappointed 😁 thank you.
Awesome! I'm glad it could help out :) Thank you for watching!
I'm currently modding a Rode Videomic X into a binaural audio setup, since the cardioid capsule are able to be taken off their shock mounts.
Amazing nice, Any updates on this mod since?
Interested to hear how it sounds!
Also isn't binaural need Omni-directional capsules?
thank you, it's clearly the Sennheiser I will need for recording my music gigs
Thanks for your work on this. It's helped me decide to get this Sennheiser microphone.
Thanks for watching! I don't think you'll regret it, it's a great mic :)
Great comparison with informative samples.
having watched this, i was pushed into buying my first sennheiser. thanks. i also liked the rode sound but it looks a bit bulky to handle.
Glad it could help! The Sennheiser is a great choice :)
It feels like sound on the Sennheiser is 2D (left-Right & Front-Back) while the Rode is linear between left and right
Very helpful, thank you Scott!
THANK YOU, SCOTT !!
Thank you for watching! :)
Good job, thank you!
Both are very good but for diferent activity
As I’m wanting to film objects passing by the camera from side to side the better stereo imaging of the rode seems the better option for my use
+InterCity-1-3-4 makes sense! :)
Thank you bro !
hey! I recently got the Rode, but I noticed that the left and right signals are swapped for some reason, which is really annoying. Do you know how to fix this?
Scott, which mic would you use for just capturing ambient sounds, rivers, streams, quaking aspens, nature not doing any interviews or capturing music
Between these 2, for that purpose, I might suggest the Sennheiser. The rode captures a bit too much and the focus of your recording might get lost in all of it a bit.
Hi thanks for the video, it is so hard to find a good mic for my needs. Which one you think is better with the wind noise? Any problems when you are walking?
I’ve tested the sennheiser with their furry windscreen and that really helps with wind, but haven’t tried anything like that on the Rode personally ...didn’t notice any other problems while walking on either of them (I guess you mean with the shock mount?)
@@ScottDumas Yes, thanks!
Is the Sennheiser MKE440 in addition to record what's in front of the camera, can it record what's behind the camera too, and is it possible and good enough if not really good too to use to record singing voice only and with instruments too by placing the mic close to the mouth, can it sound as focused like how your studio mic sound in this video?
I plan to get the Panasonic camcorder called HC-X1500 with 25-600mm and it has mic in and out and also an optional handle with 2 XLR ports and you can mount shotgun mic onto it that way with dials and so on to adjust the qualities, I still newbie in audio stuffs but is that handle necessary because I do like to use the camcorder as it is, the handle has LED light which will be nice to have for me but I can get dedicated LED light to attach on top of the camcorder with this mic too and overall will still flatter height compare with the handle but I not completely sure tho, I not sure how much differences it will make between the 3.5mm and XLR and if the 3.5 can record 24bits like the XLR can, I not sure I can use this senhenizer mic to record the singing voice and use the camcorder as audio recorder without need to buy recorder, or should I get the recorder like Sony PCM-A10? Is 32bits necessary?
Also, would you recommend which camera to shoot mainly photo if I have that camcorder, I plan to use them to document lifes, travel, TH-cam and personal projects and works plus want to explore ultramacro if possible, I also not sure if compact camera that can't fit into your pocket make sense because they still need to carry in bag but doesn't have better grip, EVF and performance like the bigger size camera, hence, should I get RX100 VII/VA, Canon G5X II, LX100 II/D Lux 7, RX10 IV, GX9 or straight go for A7RV for the reasons I stated? Does Sony 70-200mm F4 OSS G MACRO II with 2X teleconverter able to capture macro details of feather of bird far away? But I also thought why so much effort into that specific type of photography like macro when I can just google the same thing done by other and not just get smaller camera to have fun and document lifes and works?
Cheers mate !
Hi there. What should be the settings when filming musicians at a wedding with a strong sound? Thank you MKE 440
You'll most likely need to turn on the lower sensitivity and use that in combination with dialing the audio input on your camera down lower. Usually it's advised to aim for about -12dB or so on your camera's audio levels. Specific settings will depend on what camera you have, how loud the audio actually is and how far away you are. Hope that helps!
I'm looking to record a brass band music performance live which microphone should I get?
thank you so much
Looking to upgrade my pitiful Nikon ME-1 stereo mic. Would mostly be recording live bands indoor and outdoor and moving around while filming for different angles. Also might use for interviews while hiking mountains at the top of mountian. Seems like the Sennheiser would be a better fit for me. Thoughts?
Depending on the result you want, when filming bands indoors it might be better to get a recording from the mixing board or at least have a stationary mic recording separately that you can sync in post so the sound is consistent between angles and framing. For interviews while hiking, an on camera mic would be a good way to go and I do feel like the Sennheiser would be a great choice to focus on your subject while still taking in a bit of the environment.
@@ScottDumas Thats if I can get the sound guy to let me get a line from the mixing board lol. Definately would be better. I think most of the time, i would just be some random videos from the crowd perspective or near stage. I guess another option would be a Rode wireless with the external mic connected, to keep the mic in one spot while I move around. Wonder how that would sound. Thanks for the reply.
if i want to record nature sound, should i buy rode SVMP or MKE440? or rode SVM+?
When you hear the video from a pair of hifi stereo speakers, the vocal/main sound should be in centre and the peripheral sound/ambience should be from the left and right speaker. This is the correct stereo imaging. Rode does it right. But Sennheiser makes the stereo imaging completely wrong. This only applies to still recording as I AM AN audiophile. For video with movement, this is another story
Interesting insight, I appreciate it! I'm definitely not as much of an audiophile myself so comments like this definitely help :)
Scott...I am on my third MKE440....and it has the same problem of intermittent static noise on one channel. It is definitely not my camera as it does this on both my cameras, and I can change microphones and the problem stops. Sennheiser have replaced it twice and 6 months later it starts again. I want to like this microphone, as it is very good otherwise. Have you experienced this issue? I believe it is a problem with the capsules.
Hey, really sorry to hear that! And surprised to be honest. So not only does the problem persist on other cameras, but it also didn't exist for the first few months you used it? That's definitely something wrong then. I'd still like to say you've just been unlucky, since Sennheiser does have a very solid reputation, but I've not experienced that myself fortunately.
I'll be making videos of me playing acoustic guitar and singing in my living room. Seems like the Sennheiser might be the one since I wouldn't be moving around. Thoughts?
Between these two I'd definitely recommend the Sennheiser for that. Of course, a two mic setup with a pickup/acoustic mic placed in the guitar and a second vocal mic would get the best results, but in terms of a simple setup, the Rode stereo mic will definitely pick up too much of your surroundings.
Rode in the crowd was kinda like a hangover, just too much info. At the performance, ugh, it sounded unnatural. A few times though, I liked the sound better than the Sennheiser such as when you did the 360 about the camera and the “distance” shoot. In both of those cases the Rode sounded better, barring the speaking, which is usually the main focus in most recordings.
For my needs post watching your excellent vid, the Sennheiser would be attached at least 98% of the time with the Rode maybe occasionally being taken out for some pattern breaking B roll. That crowd ambiance was a real jolt.
Thank you!
If youre looking for a true stereo sound, I think the Rode is better. Stereo is terrible for dialogue, so its only natural to prefer the sennheiser in most scenarios. But if you were to pair the Rode with a mono lav on-talent mic I think that would make more sense
Yep, the Sennheiser is still a much more focused sound, just with a stereo signal. I think that gives it a unique sound for sure, but I would say the applications for these 2 are definitely going to be different like you said. :)
Which one you suggest for recording ambiance like rain thunder nature etc
I'd say the Stereo VMP would likely get the "fullness! of that ambient sound a bit better. The Sennheiser, while stereo, is more directional. But, for that setup I don't see any need for that.
Scott Dumas thank you so much..
I have watched vdo again with earphones vmp sounded bit noisier and distracting and little bit unpleasant to the ears...What you think?
@@lsdhillon02 I think it will definitely depend on the surroundings ...although generally speaking I do personally like the Sennheiser better for my use. I'd definitely be curious to try them recording ambience in nature, because I think they'd definitely perform very differently than the situations in this video.
Scott Dumas it would be great to know how they perform in nature ambiance...thanks man
Great vid, so for making youtube vids sitting in a room in front of the camera, would you use one of these stereo mics ore stereo mic?
Thanks! For that setup I'd probably use a more directional shotgun style boom mic or a broadcast mic depending on the setup. Recently I've been using a combination of the Deity S-Mic 2S and Shure SM7B in the studio
@@ScottDumas Which mic has lower internal noise?
Rode однозначно лучше и в плане захвата звука сбоку и сзади , а также у него лучше звук IMHO. Купил Rode, буду использовать для работы.
little over 7 weeks till I get the D500!got most videocamera gear for it now!tripod, rail system that holds the camera and only needs proper mic for it!I guess the røde gets the spot!!!
Awesome! I'm sure you'll love the D500, seems like a beast of a camera! I hope the Rode works out for you as well! I don't think you could go wrong with either of these :)
Scott, would you recommend the Sennheiser for recording a marching band on a football field from high up in the stands or in the press box overlooking the field? I feel like I need a wide frequency range and I'd like to cut down on crowd noise. I also do not have much time for post processing because the band director wants the video uploaded by the next morning to review with the band. I'll be using an a6300. Thanks.
Hi! That's a tough one. If you were closer to the action I'd say that it would be a good choice but a lot of shotgun microphones will suffer from longer distances and you'll likely have lots of the crowd noise mixed in with the band sounding distant. Ideally, having someone closer to the action recording the sound separately would be my recommendation (even on the side of the field with the Sennheiser mounted on a stand recording into an H4N or something would be a big help). I'm not sure if that's something you'd be able to do but it would be my recommendation. :)
Connor, if you see this, let me know if you ended up trying the Sennheiser for this purpose. I’m looking for the same thing. Recording marching bands on the field and concerts in an auditorium.
hi I wanna ask which Mic is better if I record with phone my live sound ,which one is better for you tube ?
Hi! Quality wise they're both great. I found the Sennheiser is more directional though, so if you want to have it focused on what's in front of it while not taking in quite so much of the surrounding noise, that's the choice. If you want overall ambient room audio, the Rode is a good one. Hope that helps!
Hello! I’m doing a documentary with interviews and some parts where I’ll be in the harbor and in locations where I wanna pick up sound from the area. Are there any cheaper mics you recommend? I’m on summer vacation and don’t have access to equipment so I have to buy some myself
Hey man!
I depends what exactly you're going for... for just picking up some ambient sounds something like the Zoom H1 could work... if you want a mic for the actual interviews you could use a Lav mic like the Aputure A.Lav, or some cheaper on camera mics are the Rode Video Micro or Videomic Go (or even the first version of the videomic pro). A combination of something like the videomic and H1 recorder attached to a pole could work like a boom mic too if you want to get it up and over the interviewee. Let me know what you think of those and/or if you have any other questions :)
Thanks for your effort. I am still torn between these two microphones as I want to improve my sound recording (I like shooting videos of concerts).
Here's one video from my Canon 80D, to give you an idea:
th-cam.com/video/XNVv1so9dn0/w-d-xo.html
What mic would you prefer in such a situation?
Or in an open air festival/concert (where I may be farther from the performers).
Another possible use case: air shows, with lots of noise (propellers and jets)
I hope my answer still helps, but Rode is the way to go. And a good tripod, too. Saludos!
@@germanosorio1 Got the Rode myself, a year ago, and I shot some samples so you can see for yourself
What do you think would be better for filming protests?
I personally would go with the Sennheiser... it felt to me to have that stereo sound but still focus on what's in the frame which feels natural and appropriate when you have any sort of action or people in your video.
Stereo Microphone Comparison - RODE Stereo VideoMic Pro vs Sennheiser MKE440
In my opinion, it is best not to use a microphone with an amplifier but to use only the amplification of the camera, it is of higher quality than a microphone made by some Chinese without sophisticated technical means, logically better 2 microphones to make it a stereo sound. and record "listening" to the sound with headphones connected to the camera,
do you mean not using the mic's built in pre-amp? It's absolutely going to be better than the camera in a lot of cases. It will of course depend on the camera and also the microphone... but not sure about that Chinese comment either- Rode is an Australian based company and Sennheiser is German. Companies like Deity also have fantastic quality microphones and just assuming that ANY camera is better than ANY mic's built in pre-amp seems a bit assuming.
This is completely the opposite of the truth. Camera built-in preamps are often very low quality.
Great video, and I vote for the Sennheiser, which sounds more authentic, plus can handle an interview. The Rode has a stereo feeling that certain animals probably have, or a fish like Dory. But not humans.
Agreed! The rode would make a great mic for catching the environment but when there's a clear subject the Sennheiser is amazing.
For my initial purposes (incl. filming live music probably), I decided finally for the MKE 440, and for plans to stay in the mobile phone genre, I connected it to my Google Pixel 3 XL on a Movi Cinema Robot gimbal. Three remarks: (1) somehow it seems like I unwittingly took some risk with that pairing as it took forever to hone in on the necessary connecting cable. Because all else turned the stereo MKE 440 into a mono mic, I thought I would have to send it back and just "go mono". Bear in mind the Google Pixel 3 XL has a stereo mic to begin with. Nevertheless, entry via the USB C port calls for some trickery apparently. A TRS to TRRS adapter guaranteed mono, and per another YTer's recommendation, the $7 Sabrent USB Type C Stereo 3D Sound Adapter also yielded mono by input to its pink colored mic 3.5mm port. (The green port for headphones didn't recorded audio of course). WHAT WORKS IN STEREO IS THE €38 Boya 3.5mm TRS to Type-C Connector Audio Cable, BOYA Microphone Adapter plus a female-female 3.5mm (1/8th") adapter (and I aimed for a well-made one). The Boya has a coiled cable like the MKE 440, and together that provide good length for dodging the gimbal weights and the Boya's little box of electronics plus the f/f 3.5mm adapter to connect Boya to Sennheiser. (2) my second remark is that with the Boya clearly yielding stereo recording in the Google Pixel 3 XL, I find the MKE 440 to be the MILDEST KIND OF STEREO, meaning the 440 is truly a hybrid: focused forward but with some stereo. Thus, cars passing by definitely go from left to right, but I don't know if it's the Pixel phone set-up, but my walk arounds don't seem to have as dramatic a stereo effect as yours or other YT demos, except for maybe 20% of them. Figuring that what's been achieved with the Boya cable is stereo, and that there isn't such thing as reduced semi-stereo, I conclude that a room's natural reverb level is factoring in. Tests in the wet sounding garage had my voice coming in all around. Outside on the street it was better. The MKE 440 is a pair of shotgun mics facing predominantly forward, I kept reminding myself. Since my purposes nearly swayed me to a mono mic, I believe I've made the right choice with the MKE 440 given that I need room context achieved by stereo. (3) Last remark: I needed two washers to get the Movi gimbal's hoodle to screw tightly into the MKE 440. I also bought a SmallRig shoe, but that, too, was spinning loosely. The double washer solution from hoodie to MKE 440 is tight enough, if not exactly quick to take on and off. (4) A super final remark is that your comparison video was super helpful and decisive. The intensity of left / right ambiance walking down the street in Japan really demonstrated the good purpose of both mics. My purposes require focus usually, so the MKE 440 came first. Down the road, I'll surely end up with mono and a pure x/y mics. One day, I'll upload some demo videos of the above info. I have photos of the set-up, but a TH-cam reply isn't the place for those.
@@ImprovUnedited Hey, I really appreciate that and hope other readers do too, lots of interesting info there and glad you took the time to work through all the issues with the mobile setup. In any case, very glad to hear you found the right mic for you at the moment and happy that this video could play a part in it :) Enjoy!
@3:47
I think Sennheiser is better by far. I like it so much
Also we must say that we have 10 years warranty with Rode.
Warranty can definitely be something worth considering! :)
really liek the rode. almost got a binaural feel. but the sennheiser sounded more professional
Super!
Rode is the winner!
Sehnheiser wins
The RODE sounds better for my needs.
Stop talking when video samples play
I did? Sorry, not sure which part you're talking about because I don't talk over any of the samples
that also made me go mad and downvote
Anger issues ?.