Do you have any mic recommendation for recording your voice in the car? I'd like to practice my speaking voice and intonation while driving. A lavalier would pick up too much of the surrounding noise, but for obvious reasons I can't put a microphone arm in front of me. Would appreciate any ideas! And thanks for the excellent video!
It's funny you ask because I was just listening to a live stream yesterday where someone said they clip the Rode VideoMic Go to the sun visor in their car and run it into their phone. It'd probably pick up road noise, but it seems like a really nifty solution. I'm not 100% sure how they clipped it, but I think there are a bunch of different adapters out there that would make it pretty simple.
I'll be nice... you are generally right but missed a few things for example - when you use the Rode lav, it's going into a transmitter and compressed, converted, etc as opposed to being hardlined for the comparison. While that won't affect the quality of the lav, it may affect the quality a little due to the quality of the ADC and pres. Another thing is that while lavs are omnidirectional, they are on your chest thereby changing the polar pattern they were tested with to more of a boundary layer mic. That will pick up your chest resonance (more bass) and might even put the lav off axis to your mouth if it's underneath your mouth. Add to that clothing noise when the lav must be hidden or cable transfer, other sounds may be heard (heartbeats, for example). This is why us in the film industry spend years mastering the art of laving up people in various wardrobes. I've hidden lavs and transmitter packs on guys wearing skin tight shirts and girls wearing sports bras. Best of all, you never know when you hear it because we use much higher quality lavs and transmitters than the Rode. DPA 6060s with Core on a pro digital UHF transmitter like an Audio Limited, Wisycom, Zaxcom, Shure or Lectrosonics will sound far better when I place it than anyone using a 2.4GHz lav system. I could go on but I need to get back on set. Great video dude.
I definitely recommend checking out the captions in a few areas where I mention you specifically screaming to the heavens at a few points. 😉😁 My main angle here is that lavs are really great but also cause a lot of headaches to solo creators who don't necessarily have the time or experience to master them.
I have to agree with what Allen did not want to directly say, which is heavily slam the R0DE lav. It sounds terrible compared to your studio and shotgun mics...
We came at it from both sides and meet in the same place at the end... Lav's are great if your using great Lav SYSTEMS it not just the light mic at the end of the wire!
I know this is a video about mics, but god your background is so cool, and your shirt matches the style perfectly. Also, I noticed you have an interesting aspect ratio, I didn't know TH-cam took 2:1 so well. Anyway, love this video and your style :)
Thank you so much! I like to use 2:1 sometimes because I think it looks really good on newer phones (and I just like it 😁 ). But turns out TH-cam is pretty awesome at accepting all kinds of aspect ratios. I've experimented with some pretty wide/anamorphic files and it handles them flawlessly.
Great video as always Tom! One of my favourite uses for a lavalier microphone is to get some ambient noise on set, or even if I have a camera at the back of a hall, and can't get a line out from the mixer, I can just tape a lav mic near the stage, or on the talent, and get better audio than I could normally.
I shoot corporate video and I use a lavaliere mic for one reason and one reason only….redundancy. I boom an overhead shotgun because that is ultimately the sound quality That I want. The Lav is my backup in case of clipping, unintended ambient noise and/or an issue with no audio to my primary channel. I will have the Lav going to a different channel. It saved me on a job once where my Sennheiser MKE-416 picked up the ambient noise going on in the hallway. My lavaliere mic was the audio source that I was able to retrieve the cleanest sound from.
@@tombuck -You can never have too much insurance. Imagine a client paying you thousands of dollars for a production and then a day or two later asking them to shoot again because you have no audio of their interview. That is too terrifying a scenario for me to envision. I’d never hear from that client again. Keep up the excellent content. Good stuff.
Great video and some very good points. Comparing a $100 lav to a $500 studio mic/$1200 boom mic isn't that fair though. There are big differences between lavs and there are some great ones out there. You should test a DPA lav, like the 4060 I use or a 6060, and you'd be amazed at how close to a boom it sounds!!
It's not just you, Tom. I expressed my dislike for the tone and audio quality of lav mics in dozens of videos. For me it's, "Only when absolutely necessary, and IF you're willing to do moderate to heavy post." All lavs need a solid understandng of EQ. And to Allen's (Sound Speeds) point elsewhere in the comments, consumer grade lavs going into 2.4ghz transmitters are just a disaster. I'll never understand the love for these systems. They sound *terrible*
Glad it's not just me! I get the desire for a small mic that stays out of the way, but for the life of me as a prosumer-level enthusiast, I always make mistakes that lead to poor sound, so it's rarely my first choice. someone else mentioned that high end lavs (like the MKH50 equivalent) would deliver an entirely different experience, but I've never used one at that level.
I really appreciate the comedic relief of your videos. Today I learned that omnidirectional comes from the mic nom nom nom noming on the audio all around 👌🏻
We do an “itinerant” podcast where guests choose their own location. Could be a bar, a park, at their place… so we do need a very portable setup. We’ve been using lavs for everyone and a field mixer has been our way to go since the beginnings. The good thing of people forgetting their microphones is that after a bit they sound super natural, vs sitting in front of a boom pole. Another good thing is that convenience stores in Japan always sell aa batteries 😂
Hi Tom! I find myself coming back to this video as I evaluate the Shure CVL lavalier microphone in the context of a wireless microphone system. The reason I think this mic may work for me is that it has a cardioid pick up pattern. I'm using it with the Shure BXL14. Is it a compromise relative to a boom mic, yes. But as you mentioned, the lavalier microphone is great when you want to be able to move around. Thanks again for this video.
Glad it was helpful! I've been trying to learn so much about lav mics over the past year or so. Choosing between omnidirectional and cardioid is definitely a big factor!
yesterday I walked though someones setup while taking some foley of public spaces... my kids had no clue and were talking and talking, meanwhile I saw the techie get more and more frustrated.... I just smirked!
Pedantic, but I wish people would call these what they are: lapel mics. Actual lavalier mics (larger and hung around the neck) haven’t been used since the 1970s.
That's true, but for clarity (especially in videos) I usually default to whatever gets the point across easily (kind of like how saying "boom mic" is an easy way to refer to a mic mounted out of frame).
I've been watching you for a while now. Your broadcasts are very cool and help me make decisions. I have a small request. Could you please throw in a link to "Arm for Rodecaster Pro". At my place, in my country, the link you provided does not work.
Thank you for the kind words! If the link doesn't work in your area, you can search for any VESA arm. Since the RCP2 has a built in VESA mount, it'll work with any monitor arm. The one I have really isn't anything special, just something I found on Amazon.
Do you have any true budget wireless transmitter recs? Your budget options were around $200, I'm referring to under $100, ideally under $50. I completely understand the need to spend money when it comes to audio, but if I just want to be understood and sound "fine" (maybe not *good*), I feel like there must be some decent options?
Honestly, no. Even the $200 systems have quite a few weak points, so I think anything less than that is just going to cause you frustration (in my experience, truly reliable wireless systems start at around the $700 range like the Sennheiser G4, which I haven't owned personally but have use many times through work). You could always browse Amazon and read reviews to see if you can find a hidden gem, but I don't know of any that I would give a solid recommendation to off the top of my head. So depending on how you want to use it, getting a lav with a looooooong cable and running that into your camera/recorder might be the best way to go.
Yep, it just depends on the mic! My Sennheiser MKH50 has a very narrow pickup pattern (although I have used it with my wife on stream before and it works fine as long as we're squished together). But a mic with a wider pickup pattern, maybe like the Sennheiser MKH416 or something similar, could get the job done. You'll likely have a lot more room tone/reverb, but you can process that out with software (or use the new voice isolation feature in Final Cut Pro, which works wonders).
The Lavalier sounds good...and then you hear the studio one, which is sooo much better. Is there any particular reason you wear your watch on your right wrist?
I don't have a specific video on that because there are so many variable with mics/equipment, but my video on the Sennheiser MKH50 vs 416 might gives some examples/ideas of how I've learned to do things. th-cam.com/video/8vebYbOdksQ/w-d-xo.html
Any opinion/feedback/recommendations on DJI lavalier mike vs Rode Go2, backed up by Movo Double Mike/Deity D4 Duo camera shotgun mikes? Interested in starting my own YT channel & need input info/preferences on camera shotgun mikes and/or wireless lav mikes....
They're all great with a few key differences. I haven't used the DJI mic system, but I've only heard good things about it. I like Rode more as a company, so I prefer their mics over DJI (but that's wildly personal). I haven't used the Movo, but my wife has the Deity D4 Duo. For the price the Deity is REALLY tough to beat. It's not the same as having a mic physically on your subject but it's amazing for vlogging and the ability to capture audio from every direction when needed is super helpful.
@@tombuck....Good to know, gotta keep that in mind. One last thing...How does Deity D4 handle outdoor situations, as far as noise cancellation/interference rejection. Here in Hawaii, don't plan on staying indoors any, if at all...Pandemic took care of That!-lol...Aloha/Mahalo
I really like this! As a podcaster, I think it's smart! You can record a high quality separate MP3 for Soundcloud with your Icon microphone ;and, someone could record a video podcast with your shotgun or Lavalier (or both) for TH-cam (or where ever! ). I kinda hate having to download the the audio mp3 from anchor or converting in VLC, but for now its the only way I can move my files around. Just having them ready and available would make my life so much easier. Thank you for providing some solid insight! The puns make the morning coffee so much better lol ! GJ thumbs up!
Tom, I have a camera without a mic input. I want to wear a headpiece mic (no headphones just the mic stationed near my mouth like singers/preachers use) while I sit at a desk across from my camera but allowing me to get up and move around off camera if I need to. I plan to synch up the audio with my video after I've recorded. So basically I need a headpiece mic wrapped around my ears plugged into a recorder of some sort attached to my hip that I can later plug into my iMac mini to synch the audio with the video. Where would I purchase this headpiece mic and recorder? Oh...and I have a flip phone so recording to a smart phone is not possible...lol Can you help lead me 'cause I can't seem to find what I need. Thanks!
I 100% recommend the Zoom F2 as your recorder. I posted a video about lav mics last week where I talk about it. It’s amazing! As for the headset itself, I’m not too sure. I know Samson makes one thats pretty affordable, but that’s about the limit of my knowledge.
I haven't! It's a great camera but it's been so tough to find in stock. They're more widely available now, but I don't really need one (other than to use for tutorials and stuff) and I feel bad getting one of limited stock if there are other people searching for it. It really is a great camera though, and it's been my #1 recommendation for someone looking at diving into the world of "real" cameras.
I have used £7 lav mic from Amazon with 3m extension cable connected directly to my Canon M50 mic socket. Does it sound fantastic, no, but it is OK. Nobody complained so far. If I had a dedicated studio space, I would use better mic, but since I record most of my videos in my kitchen, quick set up is the main advantage. Tom, I agree with all your points. It is also good to remember that if your audio is just Ok that's good enough, the content is more important. I saw many TH-cam creators with bad equipment and lot's of following.
"Just ok" audio is still probably better than the vast majority of audio out there. I always recommend people upgrade their audio before anything else, but the law of diminishing returns hits quick. a cheap lav vs. nothing is going to sound WORLDS better. But a $100 lav vs a cheap lav isn't going to have the same leap in quality. I'm glad you have something that' easy and works well!
That's a tough one. All things being equal, I think the SM7B is a little more well-rounded and has the amazing built in yoke/shock mount. But I do love the crisp condenser sound of the Icon, and since it's a condenser, it never needs booster or anything like that. I don't know if I could pick one, but if I absolutely HAD to, I think it'd be SM7B (as long as I had either a booster or interface with enough gain for it).
It really depends, and almost any mic can be used for anything in the right circumstance. Speaking VERY generally, dynamic mics are often used for instruments and condenser mics are often used for vocals (but of course that's not a rule and each kind is used for each thing very often). If you want to make music and you can just have one mic, a decent condenser (even if it's just a USB mic) will probably be the most versatile.
Lavs are dope! What I did once for a seminar is put two lavs on my client and it came out great. One Comica wireless mic and a H4n pro. Both we in his suit pockets and the lavs were clipped to his tie
Yep - backup. A few years ago doing live network news, the anchors' lav died on-air (lost battery volts / phantom), and everyone went to doubling up after that embarrassment.
What other gear do you use? As I understand THE MICROPGONE IS JUST ONE PART OF THE SYSTEM: BASE noise if you connect directly to the computer without mixer or other devices would be interesting to know
@@tombuck look into the PicoGear PicoMic. It is the ideal size and form factor. Tiny and barely visible + 20 hour battery per use. I hope Røde takes notes on the PicoGear PicoMic and DJI Mics.
When vlogging with a wireless mic, would you recommend using a wired lav plugged into the wireless unit, or not? Would that just provide more opportunity for things to go wrong (like the mic getting disconnected, and rubbing against clothes)?
I could have definitely used this video a couple months ago, when I was testing all these different types of mics for my channel. lol I think I'll stick with the boom mic for now (Oktava MK-012). I value not having a mic arm in the frame, and it's got way better audio than any of the lav mics I've tried.
I have seen but had no clue about lavalier microphones, now I know something about not only lavalier, but studio and boom mics, thank you for the fun watch @tombuck
Great video, thank you, Tom! 100% agree with your thoughts on lavalier microphones. I have a used a lavalier microphone, and I just get better sound from other microphones. When I want to have a microphone that stays with my mouth, I use either the Shure SM35 or Audio Technica BPHS1 headset. Of course, these will be more visible than a lavalier microphone, but the sound is also so much better. This is my go-to when I'm running a half day workshop, for example, or when I need to whiteboard on my iPad in a meeting. Whether I'm looking down at my iPad or at my widescreen display, I know that my mic stays with my mouth. My big take away from this video is to try putting my RODECaster Pro II on a boom arm to reclaim a bit of desk real estate! Now to go look at which boom arm you have it on in this video! :) Again, thank you, as always!
How come you're using all Sonys but the color doesn't seem to match between your angles? Is it just because the exposures are different? Seems like the white balance is slightly different as well?
hello, currently what do you think is the best lavalier to connect to the tascam h1n (which from what i understand is the best at that price) under 100 dollars? thank you!
I have three desk/suspension mics and none of them sound or perform like my pop voice Lavalier microphones that only cost me 17 bucks per mic. Studio microphones are good if they are nearly in your mouth which is what I don't care for.
I wish people would keep the lavs on their body because when you hand hold them they tend to be more tinny sounding. By keeping it on your chest you get more resonance and most lavs are already on the tinny side so the resonance really helps. I don't know if you do much field work but the WirelessGO2's internal recording feature saved my butt during an interview I was shooting and the cameras kept overheating. I was able to record clean audio and rebuild the interview with b-roll. It's the best feature of the G2.
It definitely irks me when I see a lav being handheld, but in the end, it's helping to give better audio than without it, so I'm happy people want decent audio. It's just so inconvenient to hold!
@Tom Buck nice!! Tom do you think that lavalier mics could work well if I need to have calls in the same room with another person doing another call, the external voice would be recorded too?
Why do I like your lavaliere mic more than the studio mic? The Sennheiser sounds absolutely great, but not relative to its additional cost. Personally, I love my EV RE-20 for narrations (used it for 43 years), but the Røde Lavaliere 2 I bought for our DJI mic kit sounds really, really good. With a little EQ and compression, it is more than fine for interviews and budget film dialog. It does present concealment challenges, but a hole punch and some URSA Soft Circles usually fixes the issue with the front-facing capsule.
I've really been trying to work on my lav mic positioning and EQ since making this video, and I've definitely learned a lot. I'm currently using Sennheiser's new EW-DP wireless system and really love it.
WOW, you were pouring on the PUNs this week. You need to clarify that most Lav Mic's need power. Wireless Mic transmitters generally supply that power. If you want to use a Lav as a Wired Mic you have to supply power to it Rode sells a thing (Rode VXLR Pro) and then you would turn phantom power on and it will reduce the power to somewhere around 5 volts. The Rode Lav isn't that great of a mic, to be honest. I use Shure TL48's but hey there $450 dollars. The new DJI Wireless kit is the best of the consumer one I think. Being a Church sound guy for over 50 years I used more wireless mics than wired mics. You need things that most TH-camrs (except Curtis Judd/and the like) know very little about. The normal signal chain for a Law is from the receiver it goes into a Compressor/De-esser/etc (DBX 286s) and then into an EQ before it is even recorded. Now it is true My Shure TL48 can't totally compete (it would be much closer than you would think) with an excellent Mic like the EarthWorks Icon and MKH50. It can beat a Rode Pod Mic or others in that class. When recording out of a studio it's good to have everything double Mic! So you would use a Shotgun Mic and a Lav.
I think this is why it's tough for lav mics in situations like mine. It feels like they require a lot of knowledge/effort/gear that a typical "solo creator" isn't going to have or want to invest the time into. Probably being a bit general there, but it just seems like there are so many other options that are so much easier to hit the ground running with.
I had been considering a lavalier mic for some time--mostly because I tend to use my hands a lot when talking and often end up hitting my microphone! However, I don't have the best environment for an omnidirectional mic and your video helped me to save some money! (This is a first... I'm usually throwing money around after watching one of your reviews) So I'll be sticking with my Podmic for now. Thank you!
Although generally omnidirectional, a lavalier underneath clothing works really well in a hard surface environment, arguably better than cardioid shotguns in my experience.
I've been using the Rode Lav for two years for remote podcasting, before moving to the Rode USB and Riverside for remote podcasting. But still if you ask me, for starting a podcast, the Rode Lav is the best quality/price mic on the market the start with. I even want to use it to quick record a podcast when I don't have my ultra podcast studio available for me. So you want to start podcasting on a budget, go for the Rode Lav mic!
So, The one thing that I’ve been having trouble with these lavalier is a very long cable. Sometimes when I try to keep it in a pocket, It’s just becomes a mess, entangled and it’s very annoying. (Especially when I don’t even use with a wireless mic) and I still have to keep my best to organize these. But I do have one and I’ve reviewed it 1 or 2 months ago. The only good thing about these is they’re cheaper than an expensive external mics like Røde, 7RYMS and etc. But I only trust my wireless mic with a lavalier mic though, The sounds is like nothing compared to when *NOT* using the wireless mic setup. (Except for a bit of a *bass* in the audio, But the audio stills sounds clear)
I have different types of mic. And sadly, I only used one so far out of two years. But at the same time. I only done IG interviews/conversations. So I use the studio mic with the arm on the desk. I wanna move onward and upward to more. But equipment is crazy expensive. My biggest problem is space. I have no room to expand or create my craft.
Space is definitely the enemy when it comes to anything audio/video related 😁 For what it's worth, finding solutions in small spaces can be a REALLY good creative exercise. You might be surprised at some of the cool stuff you can come up with!
Surprised you didn't bring up the perfect reason for having a lavalier mic (other than auto-correct forever changing the word)… Undercover work. When we first started, back when the department budget was being cut, we had to wire up our operative using a studio mic. As you can guess, it was the very definition of awkward. Especially when you consider the long cable dragging across the floor from one of his trouser legs. It gave him a strange limp. Anyway, it was an international arms deal we were trying to record, and fortunately, the criminals we were dealing with were complete idiots, so we didn't think they would catch on. What almost gave us away, though, was that our operative kept having to lean forward in the direction of whoever was speaking at the time, because, as you pointed out, studio mics are directional. It wasn't long before the criminal element became suspicious, though with the quick thinking of our operative, it was explained away as a bad case of strained back muscles, which the operative pulled off beautifully because he was, in fact, having back spasms from carrying around that heavy studio mic and all the cable duct taped to his chest. In the end, it was the boom mic operator standing behind him that brought the entire scene to an unfortunate end. We thought that having the backup audio was worth the chance, but in hindsight, maybe not. Anyway, that's a good reason for using a…calvary…cavalier…"LAVALIER" mic. Again, surprised you didn't bring it up. It was a tough lesson for us to learn.
Ahh, yes, you're right. My approach was mainly aimed at solo-creators like me, so I know I missed A LOT of the different ways that lav mics can be used. I love the entire picture you've painted of this undercover scenario. When I was in high school the local news had me go "undercover" to try and buy illegal fireworks and it was a very similar thing of awkwardly leaning towards the person working at the little fireworks booth 😁
Again, great vid! I too have the same Rode wireless II setup and use that for outdoor recordings. Then using post processing software cleans things right up nicely to get rid of background noise like traffic and wind. Using a boom mic or studio mic is the better way to go for better sound quality. Thanks again for doing this mic demo! 😎
@@tombuck Yup! The iZotope RX 9 works “automatic” wonders! I just use the “Dialogue Isolate” in their menu and hit the render button and I’m done. This app so many features! Known to be the best out there for autocorrection apps for VO. Hope that helps.
I have a Tasman dr10l lav which sounds pretty good, but I typically will only use it for shooting weddings. My go to in my studio will forever be a shotgun!
Came for the lesson, stayed for the jokes 😌
Do you have any mic recommendation for recording your voice in the car? I'd like to practice my speaking voice and intonation while driving. A lavalier would pick up too much of the surrounding noise, but for obvious reasons I can't put a microphone arm in front of me. Would appreciate any ideas!
And thanks for the excellent video!
It's funny you ask because I was just listening to a live stream yesterday where someone said they clip the Rode VideoMic Go to the sun visor in their car and run it into their phone. It'd probably pick up road noise, but it seems like a really nifty solution.
I'm not 100% sure how they clipped it, but I think there are a bunch of different adapters out there that would make it pretty simple.
@@tombuck That actually sounds like a pretty good way to do it. I'll give it a shot! Thanks a lot!
8:42 What about doing equalization of the lav in post, how close can you make it sound to the others?
I've had amazingly difficult time finding a decent lavalier mic lol
I'll be nice... you are generally right but missed a few things for example - when you use the Rode lav, it's going into a transmitter and compressed, converted, etc as opposed to being hardlined for the comparison. While that won't affect the quality of the lav, it may affect the quality a little due to the quality of the ADC and pres. Another thing is that while lavs are omnidirectional, they are on your chest thereby changing the polar pattern they were tested with to more of a boundary layer mic. That will pick up your chest resonance (more bass) and might even put the lav off axis to your mouth if it's underneath your mouth. Add to that clothing noise when the lav must be hidden or cable transfer, other sounds may be heard (heartbeats, for example). This is why us in the film industry spend years mastering the art of laving up people in various wardrobes. I've hidden lavs and transmitter packs on guys wearing skin tight shirts and girls wearing sports bras. Best of all, you never know when you hear it because we use much higher quality lavs and transmitters than the Rode. DPA 6060s with Core on a pro digital UHF transmitter like an Audio Limited, Wisycom, Zaxcom, Shure or Lectrosonics will sound far better when I place it than anyone using a 2.4GHz lav system. I could go on but I need to get back on set. Great video dude.
I definitely recommend checking out the captions in a few areas where I mention you specifically screaming to the heavens at a few points. 😉😁
My main angle here is that lavs are really great but also cause a lot of headaches to solo creators who don't necessarily have the time or experience to master them.
@@tombuck Achievement Unlocked.
I have to agree with what Allen did not want to directly say, which is heavily slam the R0DE lav. It sounds terrible compared to your studio and shotgun mics...
We came at it from both sides and meet in the same place at the end... Lav's are great if your using great Lav SYSTEMS it not just the light mic at the end of the wire!
Hi, i just wondering what is the name of feature that shows text “say adios to bad audio” under the title near tags?
great content btw
Oh shoot, haha. I think TH-cam is starting to put playlist names above video titles- now all my dumb playlist names are going to haunt me 😱
I know this is a video about mics, but god your background is so cool, and your shirt matches the style perfectly. Also, I noticed you have an interesting aspect ratio, I didn't know TH-cam took 2:1 so well. Anyway, love this video and your style :)
Thank you so much! I like to use 2:1 sometimes because I think it looks really good on newer phones (and I just like it 😁 ). But turns out TH-cam is pretty awesome at accepting all kinds of aspect ratios. I've experimented with some pretty wide/anamorphic files and it handles them flawlessly.
Is that a monitor arm, you are using to elevate your Rodecaster?
Yep, any VESA mount will work 👍
Great video as always Tom! One of my favourite uses for a lavalier microphone is to get some ambient noise on set, or even if I have a camera at the back of a hall, and can't get a line out from the mixer, I can just tape a lav mic near the stage, or on the talent, and get better audio than I could normally.
I like that- super smart!
Would U S Believe?
I shoot corporate video and I use a lavaliere mic for one reason and one reason only….redundancy. I boom an overhead shotgun because that is ultimately the sound quality That I want. The Lav is my backup in case of clipping, unintended ambient noise and/or an issue with no audio to my primary channel. I will have the Lav going to a different channel. It saved me on a job once where my Sennheiser MKE-416 picked up the ambient noise going on in the hallway. My lavaliere mic was the audio source that I was able to retrieve the cleanest sound from.
Absolutely brilliant. I'm sure your clients are super happy (even if they don't actually know what you're doing 😁).
@@tombuck -You can never have too much insurance. Imagine a client paying you thousands of dollars for a production and then a day or two later asking them to shoot again because you have no audio of their interview. That is too terrifying a scenario for me to envision. I’d never hear from that client again.
Keep up the excellent content. Good stuff.
Great video and some very good points. Comparing a $100 lav to a $500 studio mic/$1200 boom mic isn't that fair though. There are big differences between lavs and there are some great ones out there. You should test a DPA lav, like the 4060 I use or a 6060, and you'd be amazed at how close to a boom it sounds!!
I'd definitely be interested to see the quality boost of a super high end lav 👍
1:54 I've watched this part 10 times and I'm still not sure if you're standing or on your knees
Chopped off my shins like Cotton from King of the Hill 👍
Ok, you were kneeling when you looked at the guitars... I KNOW IT!
I was standing in the basement!
Now I know the origin of "omnidirectional" thanks Tom, thanks 🙏
Very scientific and very accurate.
It's not just you, Tom. I expressed my dislike for the tone and audio quality of lav mics in dozens of videos. For me it's, "Only when absolutely necessary, and IF you're willing to do moderate to heavy post." All lavs need a solid understandng of EQ.
And to Allen's (Sound Speeds) point elsewhere in the comments, consumer grade lavs going into 2.4ghz transmitters are just a disaster.
I'll never understand the love for these systems. They sound *terrible*
Glad it's not just me! I get the desire for a small mic that stays out of the way, but for the life of me as a prosumer-level enthusiast, I always make mistakes that lead to poor sound, so it's rarely my first choice.
someone else mentioned that high end lavs (like the MKH50 equivalent) would deliver an entirely different experience, but I've never used one at that level.
I really appreciate the comedic relief of your videos. Today I learned that omnidirectional comes from the mic nom nom nom noming on the audio all around 👌🏻
I mean, that's just a scientific fact. 🧪
Great video, than You. Best regards from Germany, Kai the bee filmer :)
Thank you so much Kai! I couldn't bee more appreciative of the kind words!
@@tombuck 🤣😉👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
We do an “itinerant” podcast where guests choose their own location. Could be a bar, a park, at their place… so we do need a very portable setup. We’ve been using lavs for everyone and a field mixer has been our way to go since the beginnings. The good thing of people forgetting their microphones is that after a bit they sound super natural, vs sitting in front of a boom pole.
Another good thing is that convenience stores in Japan always sell aa batteries 😂
Hold up. There are people who DON’T talk with their hands?! 😜
You were/are a teacher, correct? Hazard of the trade.
I just always needed a clear space in my classroom to protect the audience (kinda like a Gallagher show in the 80's 😁)
You come fore the tech reviews but you stay for the jokes.
Hi Tom! I find myself coming back to this video as I evaluate the Shure CVL lavalier microphone in the context of a wireless microphone system. The reason I think this mic may work for me is that it has a cardioid pick up pattern. I'm using it with the Shure BXL14. Is it a compromise relative to a boom mic, yes. But as you mentioned, the lavalier microphone is great when you want to be able to move around. Thanks again for this video.
Glad it was helpful! I've been trying to learn so much about lav mics over the past year or so. Choosing between omnidirectional and cardioid is definitely a big factor!
Really good points Tom, thank you for the video!
Glad it was helpful!
Do either of the Rode Wireless Gos work with the Rodecaster Pro 2? If yes, does it show up as one or two sources? Thanks!
Not via USB at the moment, but you can run them into one of the main inputs with a 3.5 to 1/4" or XLR adapter 👍
Saw someone filming on the street, their sound engineer used both lavs and a shotgun/boom and then later mixed the two audios together, great idea 💡
For anyone wanting to hear the ^ video example, it was from this: th-cam.com/video/TmBqowevoVA/w-d-xo.html
I’ve heard of that! I think it’s supposed to help give high quality sound without losing the feel of the environment.
Depends. It's not always a great solution. Tom, you and I should do another call. This is my world.
yesterday I walked though someones setup while taking some foley of public spaces... my kids had no clue and were talking and talking, meanwhile I saw the techie get more and more frustrated.... I just smirked!
Pedantic, but I wish people would call these what they are: lapel mics. Actual lavalier mics (larger and hung around the neck) haven’t been used since the 1970s.
That's true, but for clarity (especially in videos) I usually default to whatever gets the point across easily (kind of like how saying "boom mic" is an easy way to refer to a mic mounted out of frame).
I've been watching you for a while now. Your broadcasts are very cool and help me make decisions.
I have a small request.
Could you please throw in a link to "Arm for Rodecaster Pro".
At my place, in my country, the link you provided does not work.
Thank you for the kind words! If the link doesn't work in your area, you can search for any VESA arm. Since the RCP2 has a built in VESA mount, it'll work with any monitor arm. The one I have really isn't anything special, just something I found on Amazon.
Do you have any true budget wireless transmitter recs? Your budget options were around $200, I'm referring to under $100, ideally under $50. I completely understand the need to spend money when it comes to audio, but if I just want to be understood and sound "fine" (maybe not *good*), I feel like there must be some decent options?
Honestly, no. Even the $200 systems have quite a few weak points, so I think anything less than that is just going to cause you frustration (in my experience, truly reliable wireless systems start at around the $700 range like the Sennheiser G4, which I haven't owned personally but have use many times through work).
You could always browse Amazon and read reviews to see if you can find a hidden gem, but I don't know of any that I would give a solid recommendation to off the top of my head.
So depending on how you want to use it, getting a lav with a looooooong cable and running that into your camera/recorder might be the best way to go.
That mic what ever it's called sounds like crap lol. Just saying I get the use but... its horrible
I went with the DJI wireless and love it so far. Can I ask what the arm you have holding up your Rodecaster Pro II. I’ve been looking for one. Thanks.
I've heard great things about the DJI mic! The arm is just a generic VESA monitor mount from Amazon. Nothing crazy, but it works great!
Hi Tom! Good stuff! Would a microphone on a boom arm out of frame work for TH-cam talking heads video with 2 people?
Yep, it just depends on the mic! My Sennheiser MKH50 has a very narrow pickup pattern (although I have used it with my wife on stream before and it works fine as long as we're squished together). But a mic with a wider pickup pattern, maybe like the Sennheiser MKH416 or something similar, could get the job done.
You'll likely have a lot more room tone/reverb, but you can process that out with software (or use the new voice isolation feature in Final Cut Pro, which works wonders).
The Lavalier sounds good...and then you hear the studio one, which is sooo much better.
Is there any particular reason you wear your watch on your right wrist?
I'm a lefty 😬
How can I set my mic up on a boom from a distance without killing quality? Do you have a video on that?
I don't have a specific video on that because there are so many variable with mics/equipment, but my video on the Sennheiser MKH50 vs 416 might gives some examples/ideas of how I've learned to do things.
th-cam.com/video/8vebYbOdksQ/w-d-xo.html
So many dad jokes! keep them comming hahaah great video as always!
Thank you Juanse!
Great video. Top jokes. A bunch of new insights gained. ☀️
That's quite the win in my book!
Very timely for me. I'm traveling in October and have been considering grabbing the DJI Mic to take with me.
Ahh yes, a little portable wireless system is awesome.
This is helpful, thanks, Tom~ I'm thinking of this mic for ASMR.
A lav for ASMR could be super interesting!
Would a lav be best for area and rooms that are not sound treated and that hate a lot of reverb
That's a really great point and I think the answer is yes (or at least it's worth testing).
Hey, was that a Hobbit? ☺
Im here for the puns
Come for the tech but stay for the dad jokes! 😂😉❤️
Any opinion/feedback/recommendations on DJI lavalier mike vs Rode Go2, backed up by Movo Double Mike/Deity D4 Duo camera shotgun mikes? Interested in starting my own YT channel & need input info/preferences on camera shotgun mikes and/or wireless lav mikes....
They're all great with a few key differences. I haven't used the DJI mic system, but I've only heard good things about it. I like Rode more as a company, so I prefer their mics over DJI (but that's wildly personal).
I haven't used the Movo, but my wife has the Deity D4 Duo. For the price the Deity is REALLY tough to beat. It's not the same as having a mic physically on your subject but it's amazing for vlogging and the ability to capture audio from every direction when needed is super helpful.
@@tombuck....Good to know, gotta keep that in mind. One last thing...How does Deity D4 handle outdoor situations, as far as noise cancellation/interference rejection. Here in Hawaii, don't plan on staying indoors any, if at all...Pandemic took care of That!-lol...Aloha/Mahalo
Love your humor 😂
I really like this! As a podcaster, I think it's smart! You can record a high quality separate MP3 for Soundcloud with your Icon microphone ;and, someone could record a video podcast with your shotgun or Lavalier (or both) for TH-cam (or where ever! ).
I kinda hate having to download the the audio mp3 from anchor or converting in VLC, but for now its the only way I can move my files around. Just having them ready and available would make my life so much easier.
Thank you for providing some solid insight! The puns make the morning coffee so much better lol ! GJ thumbs up!
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
Tom, I have a camera without a mic input. I want to wear a headpiece mic (no headphones just the mic stationed near my mouth like singers/preachers use) while I sit at a desk across from my camera but allowing me to get up and move around off camera if I need to. I plan to synch up the audio with my video after I've recorded. So basically I need a headpiece mic wrapped around my ears plugged into a recorder of some sort attached to my hip that I can later plug into my iMac mini to synch the audio with the video. Where would I purchase this headpiece mic and recorder? Oh...and I have a flip phone so recording to a smart phone is not possible...lol Can you help lead me 'cause I can't seem to find what I need. Thanks!
I 100% recommend the Zoom F2 as your recorder. I posted a video about lav mics last week where I talk about it. It’s amazing! As for the headset itself, I’m not too sure. I know Samson makes one thats pretty affordable, but that’s about the limit of my knowledge.
@@tombuck Great- thanks for your help!
What's the mount you are using for the Rodecaster Pro 2? (bought a RODEcaster Pro 2 after watching your review..)
Any VESA arm will work, but this is the one I have: geni.us/aPPb
@@tombuck Thanks!!!!
Tom have you done a review of the Sony ZV E-10?
I haven't! It's a great camera but it's been so tough to find in stock. They're more widely available now, but I don't really need one (other than to use for tutorials and stuff) and I feel bad getting one of limited stock if there are other people searching for it.
It really is a great camera though, and it's been my #1 recommendation for someone looking at diving into the world of "real" cameras.
You are the best as always sir! 💯
Thank you! 🙏
I have used £7 lav mic from Amazon with 3m extension cable connected directly to my Canon M50 mic socket. Does it sound fantastic, no, but it is OK. Nobody complained so far. If I had a dedicated studio space, I would use better mic, but since I record most of my videos in my kitchen, quick set up is the main advantage. Tom, I agree with all your points. It is also good to remember that if your audio is just Ok that's good enough, the content is more important. I saw many TH-cam creators with bad equipment and lot's of following.
"Just ok" audio is still probably better than the vast majority of audio out there. I always recommend people upgrade their audio before anything else, but the law of diminishing returns hits quick. a cheap lav vs. nothing is going to sound WORLDS better. But a $100 lav vs a cheap lav isn't going to have the same leap in quality.
I'm glad you have something that' easy and works well!
Thanks for the video!
You're welcome!
Hey, which do you prefer more 7b vs icon pro?
That's a tough one. All things being equal, I think the SM7B is a little more well-rounded and has the amazing built in yoke/shock mount. But I do love the crisp condenser sound of the Icon, and since it's a condenser, it never needs booster or anything like that.
I don't know if I could pick one, but if I absolutely HAD to, I think it'd be SM7B (as long as I had either a booster or interface with enough gain for it).
0:20 cool shot! I have to catch up with your videos.
How dare you not stay caught up constantly?!
In music studio, like example, I'm going to record my song. What kind of mic they use? Haha
It really depends, and almost any mic can be used for anything in the right circumstance.
Speaking VERY generally, dynamic mics are often used for instruments and condenser mics are often used for vocals (but of course that's not a rule and each kind is used for each thing very often).
If you want to make music and you can just have one mic, a decent condenser (even if it's just a USB mic) will probably be the most versatile.
@@tombuck thank you. I only have the interview mic, it was very long wire, that will attach in t shirt.
Thank you Tom "Dad Jokes" Buck...
I live to serve.
Great video!! Super useful!!
Glad you think so!
I have learned so much from you over the last year. Thanks for creating such high quality content!
It really means a lot to hear this, thank you very much 🙏
Lavs are dope! What I did once for a seminar is put two lavs on my client and it came out great. One Comica wireless mic and a H4n pro. Both we in his suit pockets and the lavs were clipped to his tie
Two lavs sounds different? Awesome! 😍
I’ve seen people have two lavs at once but I never knew why. Always assumed it was a backup or something 🤷🏻♂️
Yep - backup. A few years ago doing live network news, the anchors' lav died on-air (lost battery volts / phantom), and everyone went to doubling up after that embarrassment.
@@xtraceex makes sense
Hello, I am using a mobile phone in my shootings and I would like to ask. Can we connect the boom microphone to the phone?
Omm, Nom, Nom, Nom....
Stupid or not, I LOVE your jokes!
Great Minds Think Alike
or, maybe
Fools Seldom Differ?
What other gear do you use? As I understand THE MICROPGONE IS JUST ONE PART OF THE SYSTEM: BASE noise if you connect directly to the computer without mixer or other devices would be interesting to know
I thought the the MKH 50 sounded the best.
It’s such a great mic.
Hey Tom! Can you review the Tascam US-42 MiniStudio? Wondering how it fairs out against the Zoom Podtrak🤷🏾♂️
I haven't heard of the US-42 until now, but it seems kind of nifty. Definitely a potential alternative to the P4. Might need to check it out!
Try the DJI Mic or PicoGear PicoMic (dream form factor size).
I've heard great things about the DJI mic, but am not familiar with the PicoMic.
@@tombuck look into the PicoGear PicoMic. It is the ideal size and form factor. Tiny and barely visible + 20 hour battery per use. I hope Røde takes notes on the PicoGear PicoMic and DJI Mics.
When vlogging with a wireless mic, would you recommend using a wired lav plugged into the wireless unit, or not? Would that just provide more opportunity for things to go wrong (like the mic getting disconnected, and rubbing against clothes)?
I could have definitely used this video a couple months ago, when I was testing all these different types of mics for my channel. lol I think I'll stick with the boom mic for now (Oktava MK-012). I value not having a mic arm in the frame, and it's got way better audio than any of the lav mics I've tried.
I’ve heard great things about the Oktava!
@@tombuck It can be hard to find, but the sound, at least on my voice, is fantastic for the price.
Hey! Love the channel! Can you do this through the pc software without usb? Say via vlr in an interface
I have seen but had no clue about lavalier microphones, now I know something about not only lavalier, but studio and boom mics, thank you for the fun watch @tombuck
Great video, thank you, Tom!
100% agree with your thoughts on lavalier microphones.
I have a used a lavalier microphone, and I just get better sound from other microphones.
When I want to have a microphone that stays with my mouth, I use either the Shure SM35 or Audio Technica BPHS1 headset. Of course, these will be more visible than a lavalier microphone, but the sound is also so much better. This is my go-to when I'm running a half day workshop, for example, or when I need to whiteboard on my iPad in a meeting. Whether I'm looking down at my iPad or at my widescreen display, I know that my mic stays with my mouth.
My big take away from this video is to try putting my RODECaster Pro II on a boom arm to reclaim a bit of desk real estate! Now to go look at which boom arm you have it on in this video! :)
Again, thank you, as always!
The RCP on an arm has been super nice! Any VESA monitor arm with work (mine is just a $25 one from Amazon, nothing crazy).
Appreciate this! Thank you:).
😂😂😂 the size change when you stand in the back, I'd love to see you play these giant guitars 😂😂😂
A video of how the audio is edited in the computer would be nice. Just a thought.
15 secs in and I'm already all bruised up from getting PUNched hard!
How come you're using all Sonys but the color doesn't seem to match between your angles? Is it just because the exposures are different? Seems like the white balance is slightly different as well?
hello, currently what do you think is the best lavalier to connect to the tascam h1n (which from what i understand is the best at that price) under 100 dollars? thank you!
I have three desk/suspension mics and none of them sound or perform like my pop voice Lavalier microphones that only cost me 17 bucks per mic. Studio microphones are good if they are nearly in your mouth which is what I don't care for.
I wish people would keep the lavs on their body because when you hand hold them they tend to be more tinny sounding. By keeping it on your chest you get more resonance and most lavs are already on the tinny side so the resonance really helps. I don't know if you do much field work but the WirelessGO2's internal recording feature saved my butt during an interview I was shooting and the cameras kept overheating. I was able to record clean audio and rebuild the interview with b-roll. It's the best feature of the G2.
It definitely irks me when I see a lav being handheld, but in the end, it's helping to give better audio than without it, so I'm happy people want decent audio. It's just so inconvenient to hold!
@Tom Buck nice!!
Tom do you think that lavalier mics could work well if I need to have calls in the same room with another person doing another call, the external voice would be recorded too?
Why do I like your lavaliere mic more than the studio mic? The Sennheiser sounds absolutely great, but not relative to its additional cost. Personally, I love my EV RE-20 for narrations (used it for 43 years), but the Røde Lavaliere 2 I bought for our DJI mic kit sounds really, really good. With a little EQ and compression, it is more than fine for interviews and budget film dialog. It does present concealment challenges, but a hole punch and some URSA Soft Circles usually fixes the issue with the front-facing capsule.
I've really been trying to work on my lav mic positioning and EQ since making this video, and I've definitely learned a lot. I'm currently using Sennheiser's new EW-DP wireless system and really love it.
WOW, you were pouring on the PUNs this week. You need to clarify that most Lav Mic's need power. Wireless Mic transmitters generally supply that power. If you want to use a Lav as a Wired Mic you have to supply power to it Rode sells a thing (Rode VXLR Pro) and then you would turn phantom power on and it will reduce the power to somewhere around 5 volts. The Rode Lav isn't that great of a mic, to be honest. I use Shure TL48's but hey there $450 dollars. The new DJI Wireless kit is the best of the consumer one I think. Being a Church sound guy for over 50 years I used more wireless mics than wired mics. You need things that most TH-camrs (except Curtis Judd/and the like) know very little about. The normal signal chain for a Law is from the receiver it goes into a Compressor/De-esser/etc (DBX 286s) and then into an EQ before it is even recorded. Now it is true My Shure TL48 can't totally compete (it would be much closer than you would think) with an excellent Mic like the EarthWorks Icon and MKH50. It can beat a Rode Pod Mic or others in that class. When recording out of a studio it's good to have everything double Mic! So you would use a Shotgun Mic and a Lav.
I think this is why it's tough for lav mics in situations like mine. It feels like they require a lot of knowledge/effort/gear that a typical "solo creator" isn't going to have or want to invest the time into. Probably being a bit general there, but it just seems like there are so many other options that are so much easier to hit the ground running with.
shoot a link to the stand you are using for the rodecaster pro 2!
It's just a generic VESA monitor mount (I think like $25 on Amazon). Any VESA mount should work just fine 👍
@@tombuck lovely! i was only asking for an affiliate link because I wanted to support. been loving the videos lately
5:09 If your phone has a headphone jack you can run it through that and I've done it loads of times and it works well.
I had been considering a lavalier mic for some time--mostly because I tend to use my hands a lot when talking and often end up hitting my microphone! However, I don't have the best environment for an omnidirectional mic and your video helped me to save some money! (This is a first... I'm usually throwing money around after watching one of your reviews) So I'll be sticking with my Podmic for now. Thank you!
Ahh yes, I too am guilty of smacking the mic because I move my hands too much. 🫠
Although generally omnidirectional, a lavalier underneath clothing works really well in a hard surface environment, arguably better than cardioid shotguns in my experience.
What are your opinions about the go xlr mini or normal one, if you have any I'm planning on getting a shure mv7 and a go xlr mini.
I've been using the Rode Lav for two years for remote podcasting, before moving to the Rode USB and Riverside for remote podcasting. But still if you ask me, for starting a podcast, the Rode Lav is the best quality/price mic on the market the start with. I even want to use it to quick record a podcast when I don't have my ultra podcast studio available for me.
So you want to start podcasting on a budget, go for the Rode Lav mic!
It's a really great lav! Definitely one of the easiest-to-get-good-results lavs I've used.
Do you think the Rode VideoMic Pro+ is good for Voiceover using on a Laptop
What do you think about NTG4+ ?
I haven’t used it, but it always sounds great when I hear others use it. 👍
@@tombuck thanks 🙏
Such a helpful video! Also big props for the seamless audio edit 👏
Thank you! It can definitely be jarring to keep cutting between different mics sometimes 😁
Unvaluable test. Totally helpfull. Thank you. 🙏
Thanks! Very helpful..!
So, The one thing that I’ve been having trouble with these lavalier is a very long cable.
Sometimes when I try to keep it in a pocket, It’s just becomes a mess, entangled and it’s very annoying. (Especially when I don’t even use with a wireless mic) and I still have to keep my best to organize these.
But I do have one and I’ve reviewed it 1 or 2 months ago.
The only good thing about these is they’re cheaper than an expensive external mics like Røde, 7RYMS and etc.
But I only trust my wireless mic with a lavalier mic though, The sounds is like nothing compared to when *NOT* using the wireless mic setup. (Except for a bit of a *bass* in the audio, But the audio stills sounds clear)
Oh yeah, the long cables are always a struggle. It seems like no matter what, they magically end up getting tangled in an instant 😁
I have different types of mic. And sadly, I only used one so far out of two years. But at the same time. I only done IG interviews/conversations. So I use the studio mic with the arm on the desk. I wanna move onward and upward to more. But equipment is crazy expensive. My biggest problem is space. I have no room to expand or create my craft.
Space is definitely the enemy when it comes to anything audio/video related 😁
For what it's worth, finding solutions in small spaces can be a REALLY good creative exercise. You might be surprised at some of the cool stuff you can come up with!
I'm a fan of studio mics too. The Earthworks Icon Pro microphone sounds great 👍
I love it. I was pretty late to discovering Earthworks, but they're absolutely fantastic.
Do you use time code devices for your multi cams?
Surprised you didn't bring up the perfect reason for having a lavalier mic (other than auto-correct forever changing the word)… Undercover work.
When we first started, back when the department budget was being cut, we had to wire up our operative using a studio mic. As you can guess, it was the very definition of awkward. Especially when you consider the long cable dragging across the floor from one of his trouser legs. It gave him a strange limp. Anyway, it was an international arms deal we were trying to record, and fortunately, the criminals we were dealing with were complete idiots, so we didn't think they would catch on.
What almost gave us away, though, was that our operative kept having to lean forward in the direction of whoever was speaking at the time, because, as you pointed out, studio mics are directional. It wasn't long before the criminal element became suspicious, though with the quick thinking of our operative, it was explained away as a bad case of strained back muscles, which the operative pulled off beautifully because he was, in fact, having back spasms from carrying around that heavy studio mic and all the cable duct taped to his chest.
In the end, it was the boom mic operator standing behind him that brought the entire scene to an unfortunate end. We thought that having the backup audio was worth the chance, but in hindsight, maybe not.
Anyway, that's a good reason for using a…calvary…cavalier…"LAVALIER" mic.
Again, surprised you didn't bring it up. It was a tough lesson for us to learn.
Ahh, yes, you're right. My approach was mainly aimed at solo-creators like me, so I know I missed A LOT of the different ways that lav mics can be used.
I love the entire picture you've painted of this undercover scenario. When I was in high school the local news had me go "undercover" to try and buy illegal fireworks and it was a very similar thing of awkwardly leaning towards the person working at the little fireworks booth 😁
I shouldn't encourage you, but I gotta admit some of your play -on- words still crack me up! Like this one at 2:05!
That was one of those delightfully unplanned puns 😁
Now the word microphone sounds weird to me and I’ll be thinking about it all day. Thanks for sharing.
I'm sorry that I broke your brain 🫠
At 8:48 the lavalier actually sounds best out of all the options you cut to.
Again, great vid! I too have the same Rode wireless II setup and use that for outdoor recordings. Then using post processing software cleans things right up nicely to get rid of background noise like traffic and wind. Using a boom mic or studio mic is the better way to go for better sound quality. Thanks again for doing this mic demo! 😎
Gotta love when software can help make things sound extra sweet 👌
@@tombuck Yup! The iZotope RX 9 works “automatic” wonders! I just use the “Dialogue Isolate” in their menu and hit the render button and I’m done. This app so many features! Known to be the best out there for autocorrection apps for VO. Hope that helps.
I have a Tasman dr10l lav which sounds pretty good, but I typically will only use it for shooting weddings. My go to in my studio will forever be a shotgun!
Love a good shotgun mic! Great sound AND the freedom to flail my arms as needed? Yes please.
@@tombuck I’ll drink to that!