What's that hiss? Mostly the fan in my light - Aputure C300DmkII - and self-noise from the PICOMIC system. I had the noise reduction setting turned off on the PICOMIC. Please use the "Audio Sample" portion of the video to assess how this sounds without any processing. In the rest of the video, I applied EQ, de-breath, and compression plugins and then loudness normalized to -17 LUFS.
i Like your yt channel very much. learned a lot. thanks. I often need to record two persons at the same time in my videos. this seems a very nice solution. At the momenti i use two Rode-link and a tiny little mixer preamp (go it on amazon) to record one mic on left channel and the other to the right directly in my canon 1dx m2 with very good result after editing the tracks on the computer.
5:48 Using the parking spaces as reference is genius, Curtis. I was going to leave this 20 minute video for later to watch. Read your instant PROs/CONs summary (I love that you do that!), and was going to head off. Listened on for a few minutes... and here I am now already done with the review. You hooked me in. Lol. Having your daughter as the interviewee is great. I like the question you asked.
Good Idea mutting the out of focus mic durying the interview. Increased the overall audio quality a lot. When in a hurry, sometimes we forget such a little tricks. I appreciated that 👍🏻
Thanks Curtis - comprehensive and helpful. I am growing to like the inbuilt batteries on the Rode Go. I was shooting an opera whereby the TX was placed in an inaccessible place for hours. With a usb cable and power pack attached to the Go TX it was a fire and forget solution and still not bigger than a "normal" TX belt pack. For run and gun shooting having the small form factor is a real plus - I can place the TX in the midst of the action without being obvious. The quicker rig and de-rig is a real plus. For interviews the Go TX clip is just too big - and I nearly always add a lavalier. I love the design of the Picomic and would consider it at the top of my list next time, despite no lavalier option. I had a dual channel receiver (Saramonic) and after 6 months of use I traded it in - unreliable and klunky interface and it ate batteries.
Very nice review. Keep it up! :) One thing regarding wifi in office buildings: Finding many "networks" on your phone does not mean that the 2.4Ghz band is saturated with mulitiple wifi networks. Often enterprise level access points used in office buildings can broadcast multiple SSIDs using the same frequensies. Your phone only displays the different SSIDs. In order to tell if an area has a saturated 2.4Ghz band you need a WiFi scanner (most networkcards in laptops and android phones can do this with the right software). It is often easier to get a highly saturated 2.4GHz band in appartment complexes where everyone is using thier own wireless router. That being said it looks like you can see two ceiling mounted APs in the office you're testing in and they would have to operate on different bands in order not to interffere so it's not that bad of an example :)
I had to watch it again. Always of the highest quality, thank you Curtis ! And discovered (through another YT channel) this little French company sold most of their production to the USA. And ran out of stock several times... good for them ! They seem to be working on some new stuff (but don't know anything else as of now).
Finally got one, and it sounds very good - I've used it on DSLR, iPad, and iPhone. Very good user interface...the ease of use sets this apart from other brands.
I'm glad I'm watching this video just few hours after the upload. Thanks @Curtis Judd! I'm really enjoying this tech reviews! ++Such calm, composed person you are.
I love it, got 2 pairs. In the beginning it would go through firmware updates in the middle of a project. The only problem I have now is it is so small and light that the talent would actually walk out the door not realizing they are wearing it. If you are a one man show that happened. Other then that, I love it!
Thanks for this review! You're the first to address the microphone bleed. I thought because two mics were going to one receiver it would get rid of the microphone bleed, guess not. So glad you mentioned this because I was very close to buying this. BTW I got a new youtube channel, check it out. I remember asking you 5 years ago for sound advice lol.
I'm super impressed with that system and this thorough review. I think you got your style of reviewing wireless mics from my Channel because I've been doing extreme long range tests also LOL. The transmitters are so small that is what amazes me but still have power to reach far, good job
We were looking for a simpler way to record two-person interviews than our current setup using 2 Rode Filmmaker kits into a Zoom H1. The Rodes are great, but getting the lavaliers and transmitters sorted can be fiddly and we generally only have a few minutes prior to the interview to set up and only one shot at the interview. I bought the Pico system off the back of this excellent (as always Curtis) review. Not only is the Pico system just what we needed in terms of format (2 mics into 1 receiver) but it is one of the best-designed bits of kit I've come across. It's really easy to set up and use and the sound quality is more than good enough for our purposes. I was thinking that I'd like to see an accessory that turns a clip-on mic into a handheld mic, for really on-the-fly interviews but it's almost as easy to just click a 2nd mic onto the interviewee. The only downside so far was actually getting hold of a set as they were sold out since the date of this review.
I believe, this mic will be very useful, when you doing “vox pop” interviews, and you can’t use handheld or boom mic. It is just easier to use. Waiting for availability. Definitely this in my list.
Interesting. Side note. In the captions mode of the video everytime you said "GH5" captions displayed "GH4". Weird, huh? Another well thought out video. Your videos are always great. :)
My favorite sound quality and no drop out wireless Lav set up is Audio Technica ATW-1701/L System 10. 24 bit, sound quality sounds like a condenser microphone sitting on your desk, tight round lows extended to 20hz and cut to taste in post and a top shelf eq boost +5 at 1.5ghz and sounds very nice. But it's only one transmitter per receiver and can get costly if you want two. This Picomic sounds great for the price getting to lavs simultaneously at 2.4. and no clip on transmitter body's to deal with. Zepeto doesn't have that tinny or narrow frequency response like other lav systeks. I can hear the flat frequency response of this mic leaves room for post-production Eqing to taste, which is a good thing. Going to have to check this out when available again. Thanks for detailed review.
Ordered one. And import cost to EU was staggering €88. But the tiny things deliver for run and shoot interviews! We now keep the G3s for corporate. And deploy picochius for simple and quick setup. I hope the battery hold up for the 1 year warranty. 20hrs... That's a bag of batteries for the G3s. :)
I do get hooked into your videos, love the pros and cons at the beginning, great for a quick getaway, but still sat through the next 20 minutes. I wish others had your approach to reviews. Seems Picomic have no plans to ship to the UK, which is a shame.
Was hoping you'd review these mics. Glad to see a low noise floor, and also impressed by both range tests. Agree with your comparisons between this and the other systems. Deity Connect seems to be the "best" in terms of quality and reliability, but I think the convenience of these Picomics more than compensates for my situation.
Thanks Alan. I'm not sure I would call the noise floor low on these, more like "acceptable for non critical situations." But the convenience is the main selling factor here.
Seems good for one man band interview setups. Run a two person interview straight to camera without an external mixer if you don't want. Could be decent for low end weddings also for the same reason perhaps. Well Done!
Excellent review of a game changing, ingenious new product. I love the form factor of both the RX and TX’s. I love the display, controls, and dual mic nature of the system. It’s a shame the sound quality is not that great. But from what I heard it is still usable for many applications. I’m thinking corporate interviews, or host and guest shoots, or do you think the audio quality would not cut it? Probably OK for use on YT or embedded web spots. Maybe they will make audio improvements over time. I don’t see too much of an issue with the TX unit placement options on talent. The range was amazing and way more than I need. I rarely have talent more than 30 ft from camera.
Thanks Allen! Agreed that the audio quality is not top-notch. But nice first offer from this company. Interesting set of features. Simple, yet enough control for those who know how to operate sound equipment.
If I didn’t already have the Wireless Go then I’d really look into this. I don’t necessarily need two mics but I do want a second so maybe another WG is my best option. I have a way different setup than most and it’s very simplistic and the Go has done wonders for us.. We don’t do audio editing at all. We just line it into my camera and I wear headphones to monitor live. I’m part of a paranormal team so yeah, we don’t need complicated systems. This seems like it would of been great for us but since I already have one that I know and trust to do the job, my best option is to just buy another. My buddy was wearing the mic upstairs in an old building, I was downstairs floor level. He forgot it was on and went to take a pee break. I could hear it.. I didn’t want to but it was great knowing that it transmitted through walls and floors like it did. Gotta stick with what I know and get another Wireless Go. If I didn’t have one I’d really consider this though. Great review!
Nice unit, great review gotta ask a few questions though. 1.) In all honesty, how often do you need to lapel someone at 50 to 100 yards away? This seems like an application for shooting sports, such as mic on a coach or something, and 2.) 2.4 gHz freq, in the US, what do you recommend. Are the 5ghz a no-no? Not sure in 2019 what the laws are, nor what freq would work best. Thanks!!
I shoot a lot of sketch stuff, and it would help because sometimes the actors can get far. Though not 100 yards far! i don't have lenses that long! Love your channel btw!
LangstoniusRex Yep. That’s what I am thinking. And thank you for the compliment. Makes me happy you are also subscribed to Curtis. You are subscribed, right??? 😁
You both produce quality content to help this guy who's filmmaking skills were a bit out of date and rusty get up to speed in the youtube / indy filmmaker world!.
Hi BFM: 1) very rare, but with wireless it is critical to know the limits of the system ahead of a shoot. 2) There are lots of engineering trade offs for different frequency ranges. Most pro audio wireless gear uses frequencies in the 400 - 600 MHz range depending on your country. These frequencies are generally more effective and working through barriers, walls, bodies, and such. 2.4GHz is mostly used in consumer and some prosumer wireless gear mainly for convenience and simplicity of use. 2.4 GHz is legal for unlicensed use in every country. It isn’t as useful for situations where you need reliable connectivity through barriers. 5GHz is also available for unlicensed use in the US but has an even harder time working through barriers. Great question, thanks!
Curtis Judd, thank you for finding time to respond to my comment. It played a major part in encouraging me to work harder. Your microphone videos helped me a great deal. I just want to share with you the good news that last evening, 8pm, I published a video titled 'Don't Go Underneath Glaciers' and it has been trending fast. I didn't do much promotion in my 39-days-old channel, I would be grateful if you could check it out
Even though the receiver is a bit large, and the kit is a little pricey, it has great functionality. Various reviews of it convince me of decent quality. Love the USB thumb drive size mic transmitter! My concern is availability...our main vendor doesn't carry it, and Amazon doesn't have it available in Oct 2019.
This PicoMic and Saramonic B2 is really great. PicoMic has outstanding battery life and the Saramonic only last 4 hours but Saramonic is a lot cheaper. I'm planning to use it for film production. I can't even choose which one i should buy.
One of the huge benefits of the Rode Wireless Go system is that, given the price, you can get two units and then using a Hosa YMM-261 3.5mm TRS(M) to Dual 3.5mm TS(F) Stereo Breakout Adaptor Cable, you can feed a signal from two transmitters into the camera's left and right channel (a Lav, a boom or on-camera mic), giving you a lot more audio control. And you can attach multiple wired Lavs to the transmitters (with long enough cables) so that multiple subjects can be on individual Lavs.
I'm somewhat of a cable fanatic and with my BMPCC4K everything is tucked away and barely noticeable (V-lock power cables to camera, monitor, Tilta Nano follow focus and then cables to and from monitor, SSD, Rode VideoMic Pro+/Wireless GO). The main advantage is that my rig is more or less permanently set up and not frequently reconfigured.
Great review Curtis, thank you very much! I had the opportunity a few months ago to demo this mic system, was very impressed, and have been trying to buy it ever since. However, its permanently unavailable on Amazon, the manufacturer's website or anywhere else, aka PERMANENTLY.. this kind of basically doesn't exit. I have an issue with companies that announce and ''release'' products that ultimately are almost nowhere to be seen and just about no one can buy. Anyway, thanks again for the review and would love, eventually, to get my hands on it myself.
Hi Android, PicoGear is a new company and are in the process of ramping up their manufacturing and distribution. I'm hopefuly they make it. I'm not here to defend or criticize them, but I hope they are able to scale here pretty quickly.
I like the shape of the transmitters. Easy to hide. If they make a version with internal recording in the transmitter I'd buy them. Hard to give that up after the Rode system.
Curtis, I got this unit and I love it. But I don't think you can leave the units on the base without the charging cable to charge them (at least I haven't been able to for some reason.) I was hoping to be able to switch between the mics and have them charge while recording but it won't charge on the base without the whole unit connected to the charge cable. So, the base charge is long but the rate limiting charge is the individual microphones don't have an 18hr charge or external batteries that can swap.
Correct, the mics only charge when the receiver is connected to power. The mics lasted nearly 19 hours in my test. They were about 15 feet from the receiver with periodic movement in and out of direct line of sight.
Curtis Judd thanks. That’s interesting. My unit was off for a few days after the first use and full charge and when I went back to it after a week or so to use it again and found the mics discharged fully but the base was full! I wasn’t sure how that happened. Please see if yours has a slow discharge while on the base after some time. Cheers!
Excellent review. Thank you. I have a question. If I place lavalier mic or this type of clipping mic under my TSHIRT near the chest, will the sound quality be reduced?
@@curtisjudd By the way, please create a full audio editing course on Udemy. It would be a great help for many. I really want to improve my skills on Audio, but didn't find quality courses on there.
Can't find this mic kit anywhere now. Website says it will be back in stock in September but its already October so I wonder what the story is here lol. Hope they are still going to make it!
Looks like they’re swamped with far more demand than anticipated. They’re also new at the manufacturing game. But an update to their site would be nice.
Thanks for the review. I thought the noise floor was way to high. Listening on my phone wasn’t as bad but with a headset it was very distracting to me. It was probably amplified because of the noise gate which also would make the noise floor appear much lower than it was when you tested it with silence. I do appreciate the review and maybe with a low music track in the background the noise gate wouldn’t be as noticeable.
This my favorite too. The only thing I would ask to be changed would be the power button. I would love it to be a slide switch with some resistance from one way to the other. Right now if you just tap the button it goes on and I’ve pulled my out for a project and battary was dead. So again the only change would be the power button
Fantastic! Really solid review. Humn, I think I may pick one of these up for interviews, etc. Or get two? Question, do you think that this is good enough to record directly into camera OR would you still want to record to a recorder such as Tascam DR-10L and then sync in post? I really do want a wireless system, theoretically, BUT I really love the sound quality I get out of the Tascam with no processing necessary... just sync and go... in which case... if I need more, why not just buy 1 or 2 more Tascams instead? Also, really interested in how this system would do in a crowded conference center, say a CES in Vegas... Lastly, can you do a quick video or discuss the post processing of two mics in an interview... Thanks!
Hi, Thanks! If you're happy with the Tascam, I'd stick with it. It avoids all the issues of wireless connectivity. That being said, this was all recorded directly to a GH5. I think the quality is limited mainly by the microphones in this case, not the camera.
Thanks for another great review! This system seems very similar to the Saramonic UWmic9, which I own. I've been pretty happy with the Saramonic except for an occasional low hum/ringing. It happened recently for about 60 seconds in the middle of a lengthy, studio-style interview. Any idea what would cause this?
Hi John, this is different in that it transmits the audio as an already digitized signal whereas the UWMic9 transmits an analogue audio signal. If I had to guess, you may have experienced some radio frequency interference.
Curtis, Thanks for linking me to this vid =] they do seem pretty decent overall. A question that came into my mind while watching though, would you be able to use 2 sets of these at the same time (in a group interview scenario as an example, not common I know) or would the crosstalk render one set disabled? I guess another con to add to your list with them being dual channel receivers, is that theres only a single 3.5mm output. So you could never record each microphone in its own channel separately into a recorder for example. Daniel
Hi Daniel, I talked to a guy who used two kits at the same time (4 channels) and said he experienced more drop-outs. These are definitely more consumer oriented than pro-level. You can configure the output so that one channel is sent out the left channel and the other out the right channel so you can keep them separate.
Great video and great channel @CurtisJudd. I've been following you for some times now and always enjoy the quality of your videos. I have a quick question about the PicoMic: One of the mike on my unit does not charge. Looking around I found a couple of users reporting the same. Have you experienced this issue? and would you have any recommendations? Many thanks.
Hi, thanks. I gave my set to another filmmaker who needed this more than I did. It was working fine when I gave it to them but will ask next time we talk again.
"This is how they edit/mix interview sound for TV and movies." MFW I realize I've already been doing this in all my stuff for years :O I'd always wondered if I was doing extra unnecessary work or if that was standard.
The hiss comes and goes in some segments of your speach (2:20 for instance), that cannot be the Aputure's fault, and since it stops when there's a silence I wonder if it's not related to the transmission more than to the noise floor (or could it be the debreath?), If the Aputure was not on when you did the backlighted test , then it also has a noise problem. It's obvious just comparing this with the videos recorded with your equipment, clean and detailed. The product idea is great, just need to be refined. Great video, as always. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Alejandro, I processed the audio for this episode except for the "Audio Sample" portion. That included a de-breath plugin. Highly recommended to stick with the "Audio Sample" sequence which was not processed to assess the audio quality of the PicoMic. This PicoMic is FAR from noise free. There's plenty of self-noise. I would consider it to be "usable for non-critical" work. Not a pro level tool.
@Brian B I usually assume I don't know much about audio, so I'm glad it wasn't just me hearing that. Maybe I'm starting to learn a bit from Curtis' videos!
Two things there: Fan in the light I used - Aputure C300DmkII and also self noise in the wireless system. There is a built-in noise reduction setting on the PICOMIC but it was a bit too aggressive for my taste.
I was second guessing whether I was hearing it or not, given I'm on the laptop, sitting in front of an open window and have a noisy pedestal fan blowing at me.. but yea it's definitely there, and bad if it's cutting through all that background noise and still detectable by my no-longer-great after too many years spent in loud environments ears. I guess if you didn't have any options.. and just need _something_ to get away from the camera, it's better than nothing, but not by much. Maybe if run through iZotope or SoundSoap or something it'd be usable, but ... the tests I've heard of the Rode Go sound like a much better option to me.
And on listening more, the microphone is mid-range focused which also results in some mid-range distortion even though it is not clipping. Not a great fit for my voice.
I've recently purchased the Rode Wireless Go after your review, if they had offered a dual-transmitter single-receiver system I'd have definitely gone for it. I bet they could easily make a dual-receiver without doubling the size.
@@curtisjudd The Samson Go Mic Mobile has been offering this capability for ages. I got one of those early on, and it's still a good quick and dirty mic setup for interviews (lav on one person, handheld or another lav on the other.) Option to Lightning both mics straight into iPhone video as well, if you're doing that sort of capture.
Thanks very much for another comprehensive review of a very useful system. When you were editing the interview segment, did you notice any AGC kicking in for the portions you were not speaking.? I there an option to disable automatic gain in the PicoMic?
Wonderful review as always Curtis. You mentioned that the display is a bit difficult to see outside. Is it matte or glossy? Standard LED or OLED? Thank you!
Hi Allan, it is semi-glossy, definitely not matte. Their specs don't say whether it is LED OR OLED but it appears to be OLED. It is better than many low-end camera monitors (e.g., the budget 7" monitors with super glossy finish and 350 nit LED backlights)
Nice review on this. I re-watched or watched for the first time some other episodes where you either talked about bleed or mixing two people. I only use lavs for my show. Especially when I travel and do interviews. It seems like you've confirmed that omni lavs are the preferred ones to use unless you're in a noisy environment. At least for a single source. Would you also suggest to use cardioid lavs when doing 2+ person interviews? It seems like that has helped, but it also seems like any difference is minor. I've also seen how mic placement for the lav can be crucial when a head turns to face someone. I'm trying to be more conscious of this and making sure the cardioid lav is on the side of the person where their head will mostly be turned. Any additional thoughts on this? Wireless systems like this intrigue me, but I don't know that they will be any better than what I already do concerning bleed and phasing.
Bleed and phase is always an issue when two people are close to each other. Automix on ZOOM F series or MixAssist on MixPre series recorders seems to help quite a lot.
@@curtisjudd Thanks. I'm guessing that type of processing is going on with more professional tv setups with multiple hosts? High-end lavs and audio equipment. I'm using a Zoom H6 for mine. Very happy with it's quality for my purposes, but yeah, sometimes that tinny/less robust sound occurs. I appreciate all the videos you do. Keep up the great work!
Amazing video. This is probably the system I have been looking for. But in your opinion, how does the Picomic compare to the UHF Sony URX-P03D when it comes to signal strength and reliability? And would you use the Picomic for a professional gig if given the option?
Curtis, great video - thanks! Do you know if it's possible to have multiple dual-channel units running at the same time? For example three of them (=6 mics) at an event? Thanks again.
I didn’t see anything in their marketing materials about how many of these could run at the same time. Might be best to contact their support to see what they say.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis. How would you say the PicoMic compares in sound quality to the Tascam DR-10L? I am using that now but size of the PicoMic with not having to deal with wires seems really attractive to me. I create videos of myself doing yoga so I need something with good sound and if I didi not have to deal with a transmitter and wires that would be great.
@@swaha55 Unfortunately, the sound quality is the biggest downside of the PicoMic system from my perspective. Although I will say it really depends on the voice of the person you're recording. Some sound fine on the PicoMic, others not so great. For my voice I preferred the sound of the Tascam. If you do decide to buy the PicoMic, I would buy it from a place which will accept returns if you're not happy with it. Best wishes!
The concept of the device is very nice, but apart from the fan noise you mentioned, I can also hear some digital type of noise, like quantization noise or jitter and very slight non-linear distortion on the voice (even when the signal is full). I don't know if this is related to the transmitters themselves (the limiter processing maybe?) or the recording device (GH5, I presume?). I am not a fan of recording audio into cameras since their audio recording quality is often subpar (haven't used the GH5 though). Have you tried recording the signal into a separate high-quality audio recorder? It would have been great if they included an inbuilt recorder to an SD card on the receiver part, since it wouldn't have been difficult to implement, once you have everything else done.
Thanks for the insights Ognjan. Interesting idea to add a recorder. I didn't try recording to a high quality audio recorder since this seems aimed at recording directly to camera, but it would be worth a try.
Hi Curtis. Thank you for great review. I heard some background noice during whole video. Is it noice from the mic or from the preamp of GH5? I am considering to buy this mic, and was waiting your review, but now i am little bit disappointed. Thank you!
Great review. You hooked me in! Could you do a video on the basics of sound pre-production for narrative audio. Like what steps you go thru, when you start to clean up an audio signal.
@@AlexDerrick_DP No worries, just wanted to make sure I understood the question. Yes. We do more of that over on my second TH-cam channel: Curtis Judd Audio. Lots of tutorial over the years there as well as the courses over at School.LearnLightAndSound.com Best wishes!
Pardon me --if my question is naive (I don't have a lot of experience with wireless mic systems) My question is: When you download the audio from this PicoMic system--will it appear as TWO audio tracks in iMovie? (One track from speaker #1, One track from speaker #2?) OR will all the audio be on ONE audio track for both speakers. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW!
Interesting review and microphone system indeed. Quick non related question though: What program do you use to do your titling and graphic on your videos ? Looks very nice.
Thanks for the very thorough review Curtis! I’m thinking this might be great for my Blackmagic Pocket 4K for some interviews. Would I get cleaner audio if I use a 3.5mm to XLR cable instead of using a standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm headphone cable?
Hi Diego, it might be slightly cleaner. I think the PicoMic is going to be the limiting factor so the XLR input may not make much difference. But it is worth a try - the XLR adapter should be relatively affordable.
“This is how they edit/mix interview sound for TV and movies...” Curtis, this process you describe seems laborious in post, but the second audio quality between the two tests demands it if you want quality audio. I’ve always wondered about this bleed back issue; is there a simple and quick solution to do this fix in Final Cut Pro X? I can’t imagine how long this would take if you had to cut out the other microphones channel every time you switched between speakers.
If each mic is on one stereo channel Left or Right, it's not _that_ big of an issue.. and if you care about a quality end product, things take the time they take to do right :)
Will Vincent Thanks for the explanation and I understand now what you have to do; and you are correct that it would not be that big of a deal. But it certainly makes a huge difference in the quality of the audio if you do it this way. Thanks again!
Hi Roy, I do not know of a way to automate this in FCPX. In digital audio workstation apps, you can use an expander to do this though it can be a rather touchy process to get it set right and doesn't always work. For some digital mixing boards and high-end recorders/mixers (like the Sound Devices 633, 688) they have an automix feature which automates this to some extent.
@@curtisjudd This seems like a lot of work in post, but maybe that is because I'm not understanding the step-by-step process of exactly what is required to do this. Will Vincent, in his reply, seems to suggest it is not that hard to do, but your answer seems to suggest it is more complicated than I think. Would it be better to simply have two separate mic's, one of each person, instead of this new dual channel wireless system? Or is "bleed" a problem no matter what system you use when using two or more microphones?
@@adobemastr Hi Roy, good questions. This is an issue whenever you have two microphones relatively close like in an interview. The post processing is not hard, but can be tedious. Here's an example: th-cam.com/video/1u7kEfmdkIc/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the review. Battery life, range and general usability looks great. And I think it’s very interesting that so many manufacturers are coming out with dual mic systems. I hope sooner or later one of them will get it right, and at an affordable price too. But to me this isn’t it. I don’t know what to think of the lack of a lavalier option - it could be okay for me, maybe. And I guess I could live with the batteries not being interchangeable, although it certainly isn’t ideal. But I find the sound quality a little underwhelming.
Daniel Ockeloen has what strikes me as a simple and worthwhile workaround for hiding this new breed of lavalier/transmitter, he just puts it on a piece of wire or string and wears it like a necklace under the shirt, blouse, etc.
Hi Curtis, Was this review done with the latest 2.0 firmware from PicoMic or an earlier version? Have you tried the different firmware versions and do you notice any difference in audio quality between them?
Hi Gayle, I believe I had one of the earlier firmware versions. Shortly after the review, I gave my PicoMic to someone who needed it more so I don't have it on hand to test at this point. Sorry about that.
My favorite is the Audio Ltd A10 but it is a very expensive pro system. In the $300 range, probably this. I just wish the microphones sounded nicer. That’s their biggest issue.
I’m assuming no onboard recording in the picostream itself? That would be a huge selling point for me. Otherwise, if my main cam goes down( full card or dead battery) then I lose all audio even though I may still be getting video from other cams. I can see plugging this into a digital recorder instead for that reason but obviously it would be better if it was built in. Thanks for the high quality review.
@@curtisjudd that would be awesome if they did so many TH-cam channels have two main people. Like our channel for example two people talk the whole time
On their website they said they will only ship to the USA, and soon to Europe but no schedule for shipping elsewhere right now. I really wish they will ship to Canada as well.
impressive explanation of this small wireless ones. if I dont use clip on setting, is it absorb voice as well. For example like reporter setting, I just hold the one of pico gears, then ask some people forth and back... like this situation, does this one work as well?
I don't know who told you that wireless signals are better indoors because it has more surfaces to reflect off of, but they were dead wrong. In your outdoor test, the only way you could have had a more ideal setup for maximum range would be to have the TX and RX units 10 to 20 feet off the ground, but at the range you were testing, that's not significant especially since there was literally nothing between the TX and RX (except of course when you were facing away from the camera). When it comes to signals reflecting off surfaces indoors, UHF frequencies do better than VHF, but those reflections can cause all kinds of issues with phasing in a similar way to how the audio phasing was causing issues with the 2 mics mixing during the interview. This is why wireless access points will sometimes have 2, 3 or more antennas, since at 2.4 ghz the wave length is very short, having 2 or more antennas separated by a short distance will allow the rx unit to pick the one with the least phasing interference and ignore the signal coming from the others.
These may cost less than a single set of Sennheiser ew100 G4, but to me they are utterly unusable. Between some weird auto gain riding /slash/ gating happening in the background, absolutely awfull self-noise to just plain bad sound - I would never buy these. Even for some low-end festival short these wouldn't cut it.... hell, even TH-cam has higher audio standards now.
There's nothing "awful" in here. It was stated clearly : this is an affordable "prosumer" product. What is striking though : price (for a dual-channel), display (nothing comes close), battery life (same), ease of use (it's all written), remote operability, frequency range scan (for such a low price)... (and some more). If you ever find that type of product, for that price or lower, elsewhere... buy it, or invest in the company ! Just to contribute : I have bought a dual-HF-mic Boya pack. Never used anything worse than this ! To begin with : never any single moment of silence. Just silence. Nope, never. Constant noise, same as when you try to listen to radio stations from Ukraine (random exemple)... like recording fish filet being fried. Totally unsable, had to send it back, sent it back after 4 days of "trying to"... time and energy lost. Got my money back though ! Never ever shall I buy another product from that brand. They were parading "Our pro system...", pretending "Hassle-free operation...", stating "High quality sound..." and all that bla-bla you don't care about. Questions are : does the stuff work, is the sound usable without 1 day of post-treatment, will the final creation reach a decent technical level ? When all answers are affirmative, just go. If not, buy Sony or Sennheiser digital systems... but get ready to spend 5000 USD and more for it.
How does the sound quality compare to the Rode WirelessGO? I bought 2x Go kits and a Boya passive mixer to handle dual channel - before this came out. PicoMic appeals because the integrated receiver is smaller than my kit (also less cabling) and the TRRS/TRS switch is very convenient. Love the integrated charging too.
This was bound to happen, new players disrupting the establishment with innovative products. Since you talked about FPGA and ASIC in a different video, I take you are hyper-technical so lookup I2S MEMS microphone and ESP32. A decent digital audio transmitter can be built on top of literally $10 of hardware with full concurrent WiFi (for 24-bit I2S audio data) and Bluetooth Low Energy (for command and control), and all this really for $10, plus a tiny battery and case. I’d not be surprised if the mics are exactly that :)
What's that hiss? Mostly the fan in my light - Aputure C300DmkII - and self-noise from the PICOMIC system. I had the noise reduction setting turned off on the PICOMIC. Please use the "Audio Sample" portion of the video to assess how this sounds without any processing. In the rest of the video, I applied EQ, de-breath, and compression plugins and then loudness normalized to -17 LUFS.
The production company I work for pretty often, picked up a few C300mkIIs recently - they certainly are noisy!
Is there any latency?
Yes, though very little. Seems not to be any sync issue here which was shot at 23.976 fps.
Cameras typically are.
i Like your yt channel very much. learned a lot. thanks. I often need to record two persons at the same time in my videos. this seems a very nice solution. At the momenti i use two Rode-link and a tiny little mixer preamp (go it on amazon) to record one mic on left channel and the other to the right directly in my canon 1dx m2 with very good result after editing the tracks on the computer.
Yes we love hearing one of the calmest person ever yell.
Hahaha! Pretty much the only times I yell are for audio gear reviews like this and when cheering on my daughter during a performance. :-D
Really calm person and soothing voice
5:48 Using the parking spaces as reference is genius, Curtis.
I was going to leave this 20 minute video for later to watch. Read your instant PROs/CONs summary (I love that you do that!), and was going to head off. Listened on for a few minutes... and here I am now already done with the review. You hooked me in. Lol.
Having your daughter as the interviewee is great. I like the question you asked.
Thanks! Glad the review was engaging enough to trick you into watching the entire thing! 🤓
How do you make a clickable 'time stamp' for the video 5.48 like the one you've did here?
@@JWS1968
You have to use a colon, not a period. And for times less than one minute, add a zero like this 0:23
@@huyked thanks
@@JWS1968
Anytime.
Love love love your format of throwing up your overall thoughts before the real review even starts
Thanks Jack!
No Logorrhea, Precise and precious info from the most trustworthy wiseman in TH-cam 🙏🙏🙏 Regards from 🇳🇵
Thanks!
Hands down one of the best channels when it comes to video production. Thanks so much for this!
Thanks jooched!
Good Idea mutting the out of focus mic durying the interview. Increased the overall audio quality a lot. When in a hurry, sometimes we forget such a little tricks. I appreciated that 👍🏻
👍
Thanks Curtis - comprehensive and helpful. I am growing to like the inbuilt batteries on the Rode Go. I was shooting an opera whereby the TX was placed in an inaccessible place for hours. With a usb cable and power pack attached to the Go TX it was a fire and forget solution and still not bigger than a "normal" TX belt pack. For run and gun shooting having the small form factor is a real plus - I can place the TX in the midst of the action without being obvious. The quicker rig and de-rig is a real plus. For interviews the Go TX clip is just too big - and I nearly always add a lavalier. I love the design of the Picomic and would consider it at the top of my list next time, despite no lavalier option. I had a dual channel receiver (Saramonic) and after 6 months of use I traded it in - unreliable and klunky interface and it ate batteries.
Hi Spinalman That all matches my experience as well. Thanks!
Very nice review. Keep it up! :) One thing regarding wifi in office buildings: Finding many "networks" on your phone does not mean that the 2.4Ghz band is saturated with mulitiple wifi networks. Often enterprise level access points used in office buildings can broadcast multiple SSIDs using the same frequensies. Your phone only displays the different SSIDs. In order to tell if an area has a saturated 2.4Ghz band you need a WiFi scanner (most networkcards in laptops and android phones can do this with the right software). It is often easier to get a highly saturated 2.4GHz band in appartment complexes where everyone is using thier own wireless router. That being said it looks like you can see two ceiling mounted APs in the office you're testing in and they would have to operate on different bands in order not to interffere so it's not that bad of an example :)
Thanks for the tip, Ivar!
I had to watch it again. Always of the highest quality, thank you Curtis !
And discovered (through another YT channel) this little French company sold most of their production to the USA. And ran out of stock several times... good for them !
They seem to be working on some new stuff (but don't know anything else as of now).
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Finally got one, and it sounds very good - I've used it on DSLR, iPad, and iPhone. Very good user interface...the ease of use sets this apart from other brands.
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I'm glad I'm watching this video just few hours after the upload. Thanks @Curtis Judd! I'm really enjoying this tech reviews!
++Such calm, composed person you are.
Thanks Venkat!
Just saw these are finally back in stock in February 2021!! Been waiting since 2019 to order this, Very happy for this to be back!!
Good news! Happy recording!
@@curtisjudd AND they are fifty bucks cheaper now too! Even better 😎
New Judd offering surpasses 60 Minutes as the most anticipated Sunday night must watch program. We appreciate your thorough reviews and comments!
Hahaha! Thanks!
I love it, got 2 pairs. In the beginning it would go through firmware updates in the middle of a project. The only problem I have now is it is so small and light that the talent would actually walk out the door not realizing they are wearing it. If you are a one man show that happened. Other then that, I love it!
Hahaha! I have the same problem with all of my wireless mics - talent just walking off with them still wired up. :-D
@@curtisjudd And thetalent tells me, I'll drop it off next time I am in that neighborhood, I am already on the highway. Me.... Drop it off right NOW!
@@JohnPallottaStudio Or, "Ok, but I get to keep your car until you give me my transmitter and mic back..." 😁
Thanks for this review! You're the first to address the microphone bleed. I thought because two mics were going to one receiver it would get rid of the microphone bleed, guess not. So glad you mentioned this because I was very close to buying this. BTW I got a new youtube channel, check it out. I remember asking you 5 years ago for sound advice lol.
Hey! Congrats on launching the channel! Of course I remember our call. And let me say that your audio and lighting are great!
Excellent review per usual. Really appreciate the in depth content.
A great option for wedding ceremonies
Thanks Chris.
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I'm super impressed with that system and this thorough review. I think you got your style of reviewing wireless mics from my Channel because I've been doing extreme long range tests also LOL. The transmitters are so small that is what amazes me but still have power to reach far, good job
Thanks Raychristofer!
We were looking for a simpler way to record two-person interviews than our current setup using 2 Rode Filmmaker kits into a Zoom H1. The Rodes are great, but getting the lavaliers and transmitters sorted can be fiddly and we generally only have a few minutes prior to the interview to set up and only one shot at the interview. I bought the Pico system off the back of this excellent (as always Curtis) review. Not only is the Pico system just what we needed in terms of format (2 mics into 1 receiver) but it is one of the best-designed bits of kit I've come across. It's really easy to set up and use and the sound quality is more than good enough for our purposes. I was thinking that I'd like to see an accessory that turns a clip-on mic into a handheld mic, for really on-the-fly interviews but it's almost as easy to just click a 2nd mic onto the interviewee. The only downside so far was actually getting hold of a set as they were sold out since the date of this review.
Glad to hear its worked out well for you!
I can see this being brilliant for event work where I often have to record two people on the go with quick setups. Very tempted.
Definitely convenient for these types of situations.
Contacted customer service for a firmware update issue and they duck and Dodge the emails. TRASH. I still rock with you Judd.
Thanks for sharing, good information for everyone to know!
Your new motion graphic info is so much better.
Thanks Jamie.
I believe, this mic will be very useful, when you doing “vox pop” interviews, and you can’t use handheld or boom mic. It is just easier to use. Waiting for availability. Definitely this in my list.
👍 happy recording!
Interesting. Side note. In the captions mode of the video everytime you said "GH5" captions displayed "GH4". Weird, huh? Another well thought out video. Your videos are always great. :)
Haha, yes, maybe I need to work on my pronunciation. 😉
Now here's what I've been waiting for! Thank you!
Hope you liked it!
@@curtisjudd you kidding me? I loved it. Haha now I have to get me one of these. Ugh. 😂
My favorite sound quality and no drop out wireless Lav set up is Audio Technica ATW-1701/L System 10. 24 bit, sound quality sounds like a condenser microphone sitting on your desk, tight round lows extended to 20hz and cut to taste in post and a top shelf eq boost +5 at 1.5ghz and sounds very nice. But it's only one transmitter per receiver and can get costly if you want two. This Picomic sounds great for the price getting to lavs simultaneously at 2.4. and no clip on transmitter body's to deal with. Zepeto doesn't have that tinny or narrow frequency response like other lav systeks. I can hear the flat frequency response of this mic leaves room for post-production Eqing to taste, which is a good thing. Going to have to check this out when available again. Thanks for detailed review.
Thanks!
Ordered one. And import cost to EU was staggering €88. But the tiny things deliver for run and shoot interviews! We now keep the G3s for corporate. And deploy picochius for simple and quick setup. I hope the battery hold up for the 1 year warranty. 20hrs... That's a bag of batteries for the G3s. :)
Ouch on the import fees, but glad to hear it is working well for you!
I do get hooked into your videos, love the pros and cons at the beginning, great for a quick getaway, but still sat through the next 20 minutes. I wish others had your approach to reviews.
Seems Picomic have no plans to ship to the UK, which is a shame.
Thanks IVE595! I hope they can sort out their manufacturing scalability and start distributing to UK soon.
Another great review I can count on!! This is the product I’ve been waiting for...if I can get my hands on one!!
Thanks!
Was hoping you'd review these mics. Glad to see a low noise floor, and also impressed by both range tests. Agree with your comparisons between this and the other systems. Deity Connect seems to be the "best" in terms of quality and reliability, but I think the convenience of these Picomics more than compensates for my situation.
Thanks Alan. I'm not sure I would call the noise floor low on these, more like "acceptable for non critical situations." But the convenience is the main selling factor here.
Thanks Curtis - was looking forward to this.
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Very informative as always Curtis! Thank you for sharing.
You bet, Homer!
Seems good for one man band interview setups. Run a two person interview straight to camera without an external mixer if you don't want. Could be decent for low end weddings also for the same reason perhaps. Well Done!
Thanks Kreigh
Wow this is an amazing device , thank you for the review
You're welcome!
Excellent review of a game changing, ingenious new product. I love the form factor of both the RX and TX’s. I love the display, controls, and dual mic nature of the system. It’s a shame the sound quality is not that great. But from what I heard it is still usable for many applications. I’m thinking corporate interviews, or host and guest shoots, or do you think the audio quality would not cut it? Probably OK for use on YT or embedded web spots. Maybe they will make audio improvements over time. I don’t see too much of an issue with the TX unit placement options on talent. The range was amazing and way more than I need. I rarely have talent more than 30 ft from camera.
Thanks Allen! Agreed that the audio quality is not top-notch. But nice first offer from this company. Interesting set of features. Simple, yet enough control for those who know how to operate sound equipment.
love the new setup on the concrete wall
Thanks!
If I didn’t already have the Wireless Go then I’d really look into this. I don’t necessarily need two mics but I do want a second so maybe another WG is my best option. I have a way different setup than most and it’s very simplistic and the Go has done wonders for us.. We don’t do audio editing at all. We just line it into my camera and I wear headphones to monitor live. I’m part of a paranormal team so yeah, we don’t need complicated systems. This seems like it would of been great for us but since I already have one that I know and trust to do the job, my best option is to just buy another. My buddy was wearing the mic upstairs in an old building, I was downstairs floor level. He forgot it was on and went to take a pee break. I could hear it.. I didn’t want to but it was great knowing that it transmitted through walls and floors like it did. Gotta stick with what I know and get another Wireless Go. If I didn’t have one I’d really consider this though. Great review!
Makes sense!
Appreciate the review as usual, as I'm getting this for a company I'm working with that need 2 people on Instagram livestream!
I hope it works nicely!
Nice unit, great review gotta ask a few questions though. 1.) In all honesty, how often do you need to lapel someone at 50 to 100 yards away? This seems like an application for shooting sports, such as mic on a coach or something, and 2.) 2.4 gHz freq, in the US, what do you recommend. Are the 5ghz a no-no? Not sure in 2019 what the laws are, nor what freq would work best. Thanks!!
I shoot a lot of sketch stuff, and it would help because sometimes the actors can get far. Though not 100 yards far! i don't have lenses that long! Love your channel btw!
LangstoniusRex Yep. That’s what I am thinking. And thank you for the compliment. Makes me happy you are also subscribed to Curtis. You are subscribed, right??? 😁
@@BasicFilmmaker but of course my good man!
You both produce quality content to help this guy who's filmmaking skills were a bit out of date and rusty get up to speed in the youtube / indy filmmaker world!.
Hi BFM: 1) very rare, but with wireless it is critical to know the limits of the system ahead of a shoot. 2) There are lots of engineering trade offs for different frequency ranges. Most pro audio wireless gear uses frequencies in the 400 - 600 MHz range depending on your country. These frequencies are generally more effective and working through barriers, walls, bodies, and such. 2.4GHz is mostly used in consumer and some prosumer wireless gear mainly for convenience and simplicity of use. 2.4 GHz is legal for unlicensed use in every country. It isn’t as useful for situations where you need reliable connectivity through barriers. 5GHz is also available for unlicensed use in the US but has an even harder time working through barriers. Great question, thanks!
Curtis Judd, thank you for finding time to respond to my comment. It played a major part in encouraging me to work harder. Your microphone videos helped me a great deal. I just want to share with you the good news that last evening, 8pm, I published a video titled 'Don't Go Underneath Glaciers' and it has been trending fast. I didn't do much promotion in my 39-days-old channel, I would be grateful if you could check it out
Congrats!
@@curtisjudd, thank you ever so much. Without your videos my sound wouldn't have improved
ΠΟΛΥ ΚΑΛΗ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΣΗ ....ΟΠΩΣ ΠΑΝΤΑ.ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΩ
Σας ευχαριστώ και τις καλύτερες ευχές!
Looks and sounds great. Great review as always.
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Another great review this is a pretty compelling option for a dual mic setup. I may have to add this to my wish list on Amazon. Cheers.
Thanks for the feedback!
Even though the receiver is a bit large, and the kit is a little pricey, it has great functionality. Various reviews of it convince me of decent quality. Love the USB thumb drive size mic transmitter! My concern is availability...our main vendor doesn't carry it, and Amazon doesn't have it available in Oct 2019.
Yes, as a start-up and this being their first product, it seems the biggest issue is availability.
This PicoMic and Saramonic B2 is really great. PicoMic has outstanding battery life and the Saramonic only last 4 hours but Saramonic is a lot cheaper. I'm planning to use it for film production. I can't even choose which one i should buy.
Tough decision, indeed!
Thank you for the review Curtis!
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One of the huge benefits of the Rode Wireless Go system is that, given the price, you can get two units and then using a Hosa YMM-261 3.5mm TRS(M) to Dual 3.5mm TS(F) Stereo Breakout Adaptor Cable, you can feed a signal from two transmitters into the camera's left and right channel (a Lav, a boom or on-camera mic), giving you a lot more audio control. And you can attach multiple wired Lavs to the transmitters (with long enough cables) so that multiple subjects can be on individual Lavs.
Yes, definitely. Just need a good way to rig all that up without cables everywhere on the camera rig.
I'm somewhat of a cable fanatic and with my BMPCC4K everything is tucked away and barely noticeable (V-lock power cables to camera, monitor, Tilta Nano follow focus and then cables to and from monitor, SSD, Rode VideoMic Pro+/Wireless GO). The main advantage is that my rig is more or less permanently set up and not frequently reconfigured.
@@AustralianImage 👍
Great review Curtis, thank you very much! I had the opportunity a few months ago to demo this mic system, was very impressed, and have been trying to buy it ever since. However, its permanently unavailable on Amazon, the manufacturer's website or anywhere else, aka PERMANENTLY.. this kind of basically doesn't exit. I have an issue with companies that announce and ''release'' products that ultimately are almost nowhere to be seen and just about no one can buy. Anyway, thanks again for the review and would love, eventually, to get my hands on it myself.
Hi Android, PicoGear is a new company and are in the process of ramping up their manufacturing and distribution. I'm hopefuly they make it. I'm not here to defend or criticize them, but I hope they are able to scale here pretty quickly.
Love this and the review, got to say you have some cracking scenery there, I would be out with my camera every day :-)
👍The Rocky Mountains definitely impress and inspire!
232 feet on top of that parking garage! Wow!
-Will
That's some range for a 2.4GHz wireless system!
I like the shape of the transmitters. Easy to hide. If they make a version with internal recording in the transmitter I'd buy them. Hard to give that up after the Rode system.
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Curtis, I got this unit and I love it. But I don't think you can leave the units on the base without the charging cable to charge them (at least I haven't been able to for some reason.) I was hoping to be able to switch between the mics and have them charge while recording but it won't charge on the base without the whole unit connected to the charge cable. So, the base charge is long but the rate limiting charge is the individual microphones don't have an 18hr charge or external batteries that can swap.
Correct, the mics only charge when the receiver is connected to power. The mics lasted nearly 19 hours in my test. They were about 15 feet from the receiver with periodic movement in and out of direct line of sight.
Curtis Judd thanks. That’s interesting. My unit was off for a few days after the first use and full charge and when I went back to it after a week or so to use it again and found the mics discharged fully but the base was full! I wasn’t sure how that happened. Please see if yours has a slow discharge while on the base after some time. Cheers!
I'll check it out. Thanks!
Excellent review. Thank you. I have a question. If I place lavalier mic or this type of clipping mic under my TSHIRT near the chest, will the sound quality be reduced?
No, I think it may actually be better - will just need to experiment with the right placement.
@@curtisjudd Thank you very much. Keep up your good work. (Y)
@@curtisjudd By the way, please create a full audio editing course on Udemy. It would be a great help for many. I really want to improve my skills on Audio, but didn't find quality courses on there.
@@mahmud-ahsan I have several courses at School.LearnLightAndSound.com
Can't find this mic kit anywhere now. Website says it will be back in stock in September but its already October so I wonder what the story is here lol. Hope they are still going to make it!
Looks like they’re swamped with far more demand than anticipated. They’re also new at the manufacturing game. But an update to their site would be nice.
Thanks for the review. I thought the noise floor was way to high. Listening on my phone wasn’t as bad but with a headset it was very distracting to me. It was probably amplified because of the noise gate which also would make the noise floor appear much lower than it was when you tested it with silence.
I do appreciate the review and maybe with a low music track in the background the noise gate wouldn’t be as noticeable.
Yes, this is not a pro-level device, unfortunately. A music track could easily hide most of it.
This my favorite too. The only thing I would ask to be changed would be the power button. I would love it to be a slide switch with some resistance from one way to the other.
Right now if you just tap the button it goes on and I’ve pulled my out for a project and battary was dead. So again the only change would be the power button
Good input, thanks for that, Patrick.
Fantastic! Really solid review. Humn, I think I may pick one of these up for interviews, etc. Or get two? Question, do you think that this is good enough to record directly into camera OR would you still want to record to a recorder such as Tascam DR-10L and then sync in post? I really do want a wireless system, theoretically, BUT I really love the sound quality I get out of the Tascam with no processing necessary... just sync and go... in which case... if I need more, why not just buy 1 or 2 more Tascams instead? Also, really interested in how this system would do in a crowded conference center, say a CES in Vegas... Lastly, can you do a quick video or discuss the post processing of two mics in an interview... Thanks!
Hi, Thanks! If you're happy with the Tascam, I'd stick with it. It avoids all the issues of wireless connectivity. That being said, this was all recorded directly to a GH5. I think the quality is limited mainly by the microphones in this case, not the camera.
@@curtisjudd thanks. I appreciate it. Have not listened with headphones but sounded good over speakers.
A great system for interviews!
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Thanks for another great review! This system seems very similar to the Saramonic UWmic9, which I own. I've been pretty happy with the Saramonic except for an occasional low hum/ringing. It happened recently for about 60 seconds in the middle of a lengthy, studio-style interview. Any idea what would cause this?
Hi John, this is different in that it transmits the audio as an already digitized signal whereas the UWMic9 transmits an analogue audio signal. If I had to guess, you may have experienced some radio frequency interference.
Curtis,
Thanks for linking me to this vid =] they do seem pretty decent overall. A question that came into my mind while watching though, would you be able to use 2 sets of these at the same time (in a group interview scenario as an example, not common I know) or would the crosstalk render one set disabled?
I guess another con to add to your list with them being dual channel receivers, is that theres only a single 3.5mm output. So you could never record each microphone in its own channel separately into a recorder for example.
Daniel
Hi Daniel, I talked to a guy who used two kits at the same time (4 channels) and said he experienced more drop-outs. These are definitely more consumer oriented than pro-level. You can configure the output so that one channel is sent out the left channel and the other out the right channel so you can keep them separate.
Great video and great channel @CurtisJudd. I've been following you for some times now and always enjoy the quality of your videos.
I have a quick question about the PicoMic: One of the mike on my unit does not charge. Looking around I found a couple of users reporting the same. Have you experienced this issue? and would you have any recommendations?
Many thanks.
Hi, thanks. I gave my set to another filmmaker who needed this more than I did. It was working fine when I gave it to them but will ask next time we talk again.
That thing is COOL! Might have to pick one up!
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"This is how they edit/mix interview sound for TV and movies." MFW I realize I've already been doing this in all my stuff for years :O I'd always wondered if I was doing extra unnecessary work or if that was standard.
Right on! 👍
The hiss comes and goes in some segments of your speach (2:20 for instance), that cannot be the Aputure's fault, and since it stops when there's a silence I wonder if it's not related to the transmission more than to the noise floor (or could it be the debreath?), If the Aputure was not on when you did the backlighted test , then it also has a noise problem. It's obvious just comparing this with the videos recorded with your equipment, clean and detailed. The product idea is great, just need to be refined. Great video, as always. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Alejandro, I processed the audio for this episode except for the "Audio Sample" portion. That included a de-breath plugin. Highly recommended to stick with the "Audio Sample" sequence which was not processed to assess the audio quality of the PicoMic. This PicoMic is FAR from noise free. There's plenty of self-noise. I would consider it to be "usable for non-critical" work. Not a pro level tool.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis
I can hear the noise floor when you speak. Doesn’t sound too clean
@Brian B I usually assume I don't know much about audio, so I'm glad it wasn't just me hearing that. Maybe I'm starting to learn a bit from Curtis' videos!
Two things there: Fan in the light I used - Aputure C300DmkII and also self noise in the wireless system. There is a built-in noise reduction setting on the PICOMIC but it was a bit too aggressive for my taste.
I was second guessing whether I was hearing it or not, given I'm on the laptop, sitting in front of an open window and have a noisy pedestal fan blowing at me.. but yea it's definitely there, and bad if it's cutting through all that background noise and still detectable by my no-longer-great after too many years spent in loud environments ears.
I guess if you didn't have any options.. and just need _something_ to get away from the camera, it's better than nothing, but not by much. Maybe if run through iZotope or SoundSoap or something it'd be usable, but ... the tests I've heard of the Rode Go sound like a much better option to me.
that was really noticeable to me too. feels like a noise gate or something.
And on listening more, the microphone is mid-range focused which also results in some mid-range distortion even though it is not clipping. Not a great fit for my voice.
I've recently purchased the Rode Wireless Go after your review, if they had offered a dual-transmitter single-receiver system I'd have definitely gone for it. I bet they could easily make a dual-receiver without doubling the size.
Looks like PicoMic may push RODE to consider that possibility. :)
@@curtisjudd The Samson Go Mic Mobile has been offering this capability for ages. I got one of those early on, and it's still a good quick and dirty mic setup for interviews (lav on one person, handheld or another lav on the other.) Option to Lightning both mics straight into iPhone video as well, if you're doing that sort of capture.
@@blackfordoakes2291 Good to know - thanks blackford!
Thanks very much for another comprehensive review of a very useful system. When you were editing the interview segment, did you notice any AGC kicking in for the portions you were not speaking.? I there an option to disable automatic gain in the PicoMic?
Hi Rodney, no, I don't believe that PicoMic has an auto gain feature.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis! That's great news.
I came for the "check one two" limiter test, was not disappointed.
Hahahaha! Thanks for coming by!
Gotta have it 😎🙏… thanks for the video Mate
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Wonderful review as always Curtis. You mentioned that the display is a bit difficult to see outside. Is it matte or glossy? Standard LED or OLED? Thank you!
Hi Allan, it is semi-glossy, definitely not matte. Their specs don't say whether it is LED OR OLED but it appears to be OLED. It is better than many low-end camera monitors (e.g., the budget 7" monitors with super glossy finish and 350 nit LED backlights)
Nice review on this. I re-watched or watched for the first time some other episodes where you either talked about bleed or mixing two people. I only use lavs for my show. Especially when I travel and do interviews. It seems like you've confirmed that omni lavs are the preferred ones to use unless you're in a noisy environment. At least for a single source. Would you also suggest to use cardioid lavs when doing 2+ person interviews? It seems like that has helped, but it also seems like any difference is minor. I've also seen how mic placement for the lav can be crucial when a head turns to face someone. I'm trying to be more conscious of this and making sure the cardioid lav is on the side of the person where their head will mostly be turned. Any additional thoughts on this? Wireless systems like this intrigue me, but I don't know that they will be any better than what I already do concerning bleed and phasing.
Bleed and phase is always an issue when two people are close to each other. Automix on ZOOM F series or MixAssist on MixPre series recorders seems to help quite a lot.
@@curtisjudd Thanks. I'm guessing that type of processing is going on with more professional tv setups with multiple hosts? High-end lavs and audio equipment. I'm using a Zoom H6 for mine. Very happy with it's quality for my purposes, but yeah, sometimes that tinny/less robust sound occurs. I appreciate all the videos you do. Keep up the great work!
Amazing video. This is probably the system I have been looking for. But in your opinion, how does the Picomic compare to the UHF Sony URX-P03D when it comes to signal strength and reliability?
And would you use the Picomic for a professional gig if given the option?
If I were doing a pro gig, I would use the Sony, not the PicoMic. I *might* take the PicoMic along as a backup.
Curtis, great video - thanks! Do you know if it's possible to have multiple dual-channel units running at the same time? For example three of them (=6 mics) at an event? Thanks again.
I didn’t see anything in their marketing materials about how many of these could run at the same time. Might be best to contact their support to see what they say.
I would love to see a video comparing the Picomic to the Seinnheiser XSW-D mic.
I love your reviews. They are so informative and we'll done.
Hi Gayle, thanks. The Sennheiser XSW-D sounds quite a lot better but doesn’t have the dual receiver like the PicoMic. So overall, its a trade off.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis. How would you say the PicoMic compares in sound quality to the Tascam DR-10L?
I am using that now but size of the PicoMic with not having to deal with wires seems really attractive to me.
I create videos of myself doing yoga so I need something with good sound and if I didi not have to deal with a transmitter and wires that would be great.
@@swaha55 Unfortunately, the sound quality is the biggest downside of the PicoMic system from my perspective. Although I will say it really depends on the voice of the person you're recording. Some sound fine on the PicoMic, others not so great. For my voice I preferred the sound of the Tascam. If you do decide to buy the PicoMic, I would buy it from a place which will accept returns if you're not happy with it. Best wishes!
The concept of the device is very nice, but apart from the fan noise you mentioned, I can also hear some digital type of noise, like quantization noise or jitter and very slight non-linear distortion on the voice (even when the signal is full). I don't know if this is related to the transmitters themselves (the limiter processing maybe?) or the recording device (GH5, I presume?). I am not a fan of recording audio into cameras since their audio recording quality is often subpar (haven't used the GH5 though). Have you tried recording the signal into a separate high-quality audio recorder? It would have been great if they included an inbuilt recorder to an SD card on the receiver part, since it wouldn't have been difficult to implement, once you have everything else done.
Thanks for the insights Ognjan. Interesting idea to add a recorder. I didn't try recording to a high quality audio recorder since this seems aimed at recording directly to camera, but it would be worth a try.
Hi Curtis. Thank you for great review. I heard some background noice during whole video. Is it noice from the mic or from the preamp of GH5? I am considering to buy this mic, and was waiting your review, but now i am little bit disappointed. Thank you!
Hi Alexey, that was partly fan noise from the light and partly self noise generated by the PICOMIC. It isn’t the cleanest but I’d consider it usable.
Great review. You hooked me in! Could you do a video on the basics of sound pre-production for narrative audio. Like what steps you go thru, when you start to clean up an audio signal.
Thanks. Did you mean post production?
Curtis Judd yes sorry! Yes post production. Hope my question is clear. I’m not a sound guy ;-)
@@AlexDerrick_DP No worries, just wanted to make sure I understood the question. Yes. We do more of that over on my second TH-cam channel: Curtis Judd Audio. Lots of tutorial over the years there as well as the courses over at School.LearnLightAndSound.com Best wishes!
Curtis Judd Audio oh wow. I didn’t know you had another channel. I will check them both out. Thanks again for all of your quality work !
Pardon me --if my question is naive (I don't have a lot of experience with wireless mic systems) My question is: When you download the audio from this PicoMic system--will it appear as TWO audio tracks in iMovie? (One track from speaker #1, One track from speaker #2?) OR will all the audio be on ONE audio track for both speakers. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW!
You can set it to mix the two or keep them separate. One note: this is not a recorder, it just feeds the sound to your camera which records the sound.
Interesting review and microphone system indeed. Quick non related question though: What program do you use to do your titling and graphic on your videos ? Looks very nice.
Thanks! That's Final Cut Pro X.
Thanks for the very thorough review Curtis! I’m thinking this might be great for my Blackmagic Pocket 4K for some interviews. Would I get cleaner audio if I use a 3.5mm to XLR cable instead of using a standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm headphone cable?
Hi Diego, it might be slightly cleaner. I think the PicoMic is going to be the limiting factor so the XLR input may not make much difference. But it is worth a try - the XLR adapter should be relatively affordable.
Curtis Judd thanks Curtis!
“This is how they edit/mix interview sound for TV and movies...” Curtis, this process you describe seems laborious in post, but the second audio quality between the two tests demands it if you want quality audio. I’ve always wondered about this bleed back issue; is there a simple and quick solution to do this fix in Final Cut Pro X? I can’t imagine how long this would take if you had to cut out the other microphones channel every time you switched between speakers.
If each mic is on one stereo channel Left or Right, it's not _that_ big of an issue.. and if you care about a quality end product, things take the time they take to do right :)
Will Vincent Thanks for the explanation and I understand now what you have to do; and you are correct that it would not be that big of a deal. But it certainly makes a huge difference in the quality of the audio if you do it this way. Thanks again!
Hi Roy, I do not know of a way to automate this in FCPX. In digital audio workstation apps, you can use an expander to do this though it can be a rather touchy process to get it set right and doesn't always work. For some digital mixing boards and high-end recorders/mixers (like the Sound Devices 633, 688) they have an automix feature which automates this to some extent.
@@curtisjudd This seems like a lot of work in post, but maybe that is because I'm not understanding the step-by-step process of exactly what is required to do this. Will Vincent, in his reply, seems to suggest it is not that hard to do, but your answer seems to suggest it is more complicated than I think. Would it be better to simply have two separate mic's, one of each person, instead of this new dual channel wireless system? Or is "bleed" a problem no matter what system you use when using two or more microphones?
@@adobemastr Hi Roy, good questions. This is an issue whenever you have two microphones relatively close like in an interview. The post processing is not hard, but can be tedious. Here's an example: th-cam.com/video/1u7kEfmdkIc/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the review.
Battery life, range and general usability looks great. And I think it’s very interesting that so many manufacturers are coming out with dual mic systems. I hope sooner or later one of them will get it right, and at an affordable price too. But to me this isn’t it. I don’t know what to think of the lack of a lavalier option - it could be okay for me, maybe. And I guess I could live with the batteries not being interchangeable, although it certainly isn’t ideal. But I find the sound quality a little underwhelming.
Agreed.
Daniel Ockeloen
has what strikes me as a simple and worthwhile workaround for hiding this new breed of lavalier/transmitter, he just puts it on a piece of wire or string and wears it like a necklace under the shirt, blouse, etc.
Good idea. May need to make sure it doesn’t run against the clothing as well, but could be a good solution.
Hi Curtis, Was this review done with the latest 2.0 firmware from PicoMic or an earlier version?
Have you tried the different firmware versions and do you notice any difference in audio quality between them?
Hi Gayle, I believe I had one of the earlier firmware versions. Shortly after the review, I gave my PicoMic to someone who needed it more so I don't have it on hand to test at this point. Sorry about that.
@@curtisjudd Thank you
What is your overall favorite dual wireless lav set-up? Also, what setup would you recommend for a budget of $300?
My favorite is the Audio Ltd A10 but it is a very expensive pro system. In the $300 range, probably this. I just wish the microphones sounded nicer. That’s their biggest issue.
will you review the PicoMic 2 ? it seems that they have made significant improvements in sound quality and allowed to use external microphones
I would like to do that but it appears they are not available.
@@curtisjudd actually, as of today, they are available
@@blaspayriWhere do I find them? I couldn't find their site and Amazon listed them as unavailable.
I’m assuming no onboard recording in the picostream itself? That would be a huge selling point for me. Otherwise, if my main cam goes down( full card or dead battery) then I lose all audio even though I may still be getting video from other cams. I can see plugging this into a digital recorder instead for that reason but obviously it would be better if it was built in. Thanks for the high quality review.
Correct, no on-board recording. Partly that is a patent issue in the US, though it is not in the rest of the world.
Do you think the road Wireless go is ever going to come out with a version with two transmitters and one receiver?
That would be cool but I haven’t heard anything from RODE about that.
@@curtisjudd that would be awesome if they did so many TH-cam channels have two main people. Like our channel for example two people talk the whole time
I love hearing you scream
Thanks. 😀
On their website they said they will only ship to the USA, and soon to Europe but no schedule for shipping elsewhere right now. I really wish they will ship to Canada as well.
Hopefully they can scale up their distribution once they get their manufacturing at scale under control.
impressive explanation of this small wireless ones.
if I dont use clip on setting, is it absorb voice as well. For example like reporter setting, I just hold the one of pico gears, then ask some people forth and back... like this situation, does this one work as well?
Yes, though you'll need to be careful to avoid handling noise.
I don't know who told you that wireless signals are better indoors because it has more surfaces to reflect off of, but they were dead wrong. In your outdoor test, the only way you could have had a more ideal setup for maximum range would be to have the TX and RX units 10 to 20 feet off the ground, but at the range you were testing, that's not significant especially since there was literally nothing between the TX and RX (except of course when you were facing away from the camera).
When it comes to signals reflecting off surfaces indoors, UHF frequencies do better than VHF, but those reflections can cause all kinds of issues with phasing in a similar way to how the audio phasing was causing issues with the 2 mics mixing during the interview. This is why wireless access points will sometimes have 2, 3 or more antennas, since at 2.4 ghz the wave length is very short, having 2 or more antennas separated by a short distance will allow the rx unit to pick the one with the least phasing interference and ignore the signal coming from the others.
Thanks Chris.
Thank you for this review!!
You are welcome!
Can you do a video on the differences between poly, mono, and stereo?
Yes. We touched on it here: th-cam.com/video/fPugsWw1G5M/w-d-xo.html
A more comprehensive video is a good suggestion.
I wish this was available
Me too.
These may cost less than a single set of Sennheiser ew100 G4, but to me they are utterly unusable. Between some weird auto gain riding /slash/ gating happening in the background, absolutely awfull self-noise to just plain bad sound - I would never buy these. Even for some low-end festival short these wouldn't cut it.... hell, even TH-cam has higher audio standards now.
Thanks for the feedback. Use the “Audio Test” to assess the audio quality straight out of the camera. The rest of it had some cleanup work.
What dual wireless lav set-up would you recommend??
There's nothing "awful" in here. It was stated clearly : this is an affordable "prosumer" product. What is striking though : price (for a dual-channel), display (nothing comes close), battery life (same), ease of use (it's all written), remote operability, frequency range scan (for such a low price)... (and some more).
If you ever find that type of product, for that price or lower, elsewhere... buy it, or invest in the company !
Just to contribute : I have bought a dual-HF-mic Boya pack. Never used anything worse than this ! To begin with : never any single moment of silence. Just silence. Nope, never. Constant noise, same as when you try to listen to radio stations from Ukraine (random exemple)... like recording fish filet being fried. Totally unsable, had to send it back, sent it back after 4 days of "trying to"... time and energy lost. Got my money back though !
Never ever shall I buy another product from that brand. They were parading "Our pro system...", pretending "Hassle-free operation...", stating "High quality sound..." and all that bla-bla you don't care about.
Questions are : does the stuff work, is the sound usable without 1 day of post-treatment, will the final creation reach a decent technical level ? When all answers are affirmative, just go. If not, buy Sony or Sennheiser digital systems... but get ready to spend 5000 USD and more for it.
How does the sound quality compare to the Rode WirelessGO?
I bought 2x Go kits and a Boya passive mixer to handle dual channel - before this came out. PicoMic appeals because the integrated receiver is smaller than my kit (also less cabling) and the TRRS/TRS switch is very convenient. Love the integrated charging too.
I prefer the sound of the in-built microphone on the Wireless GO on my voice. It has less mid-range focus.
Hey Curtis, awesome review, will probably pick this up when it comes in stock. Where did you mount the mic on that girl in the interview? Thanks.
It was on her t-shirt collar, hidden under her hair.
This was bound to happen, new players disrupting the establishment with innovative products. Since you talked about FPGA and ASIC in a different video, I take you are hyper-technical so lookup I2S MEMS microphone and ESP32. A decent digital audio transmitter can be built on top of literally $10 of hardware with full concurrent WiFi (for 24-bit I2S audio data) and Bluetooth Low Energy (for command and control), and all this really for $10, plus a tiny battery and case. I’d not be surprised if the mics are exactly that :)
Thanks Axel, will check it out!
What is the background noise I hear every time you talk? is that the self noise of the microphone?
Good concetion, but sound is shit...
Yes it is. This is not the cleanest wireless mic system available.
@@curtisjudd is there any way to clean it in post without wasting too much time on it?
@@POLARICED Izotope RX de-noise should reduce that by a few decibles.
@@curtisjudd Thank you, always a pleasure to learn something new from you