The D4 is quieter than the D3 and the NTG regarding the noise floor. Good rear rejection and RF rejection. Sibilance was good also. I like what I heard. Great mic review, thanks Curtis.
@@aldahirchanavila2777 Not the D3 Pro. Got one and the battery went dead from not being used and was unrecoverable. Don't waste money on mics with inbuilt batteries.
Thank you so much for the 20 seconds of coupling this mic with the DJI Mic setup. Exactly what I was looking for and am so surprised by the quality recorded! Instant sub, like and comment!
This was so helpful, especially using the DJI Mic instead of running long wires to the input recording source. Makes so much sense. Technology makes things so much easier once you know how to use it. Thanks so much Mr. CJ💪🏿
Looks interesting - I'm a big fan of the user-replaceable battery and the physical gain dial. Off topic, very cool to see that your considerable expertise is being passed on to the next generation. 🙂
I bought one of these several months ago but hadn't used it often until I bought a DJI Osmo Action 3 camera to use as a dash cam for a daily special project lasting 2 months. With the gain on the action 3 set to +15 and the Deity D-4 gain set to +10, while using the USB connection from mic to the camera, I get right at -16 LUFS for audio of me while talking at normal volume in the truck. The mic is mounted on a magic arm up near the visor. The resulting audio is quite good to my ears, and requires very little work in post. I will probably get a little longer usb to usb cable to allow more freedom to place the camera relative to the mic, but that is my only planned addition for now. Loving the little action camera combined with this mic so far.
Thanks for the review. The D4 is a replacement of D3 as the specs are almost identical with some improvements. Good for Deityp to have the same price as the initial price of D3.
Yay!!! Good to see the family included in the video. I’ve been thinking of ordering 20 of these for my classroom. Good to hear you confirm my takes on this mic. These will be replacing my Rode VideoMics, you know, the 9V battery version that people accidentally leave on and the battery drains. LOL!!!
Great review as always Curtis. I notice in this video that the Rode VideoMic NTG appeared to have much more self noise than both the Deity mics. But I just checked your review of the VideoMic NTG, in which your tests showed it had a lower noise floor than the Deity D3 Pro. Any idea why that could be?
There are a few possible variables. My samples do not include any sort of a-weighting which can make a difference between what one hears and what one technically measures. These are also real-world samples where there may have been a bit more noise in the space during different recordings. I usually check to make sure any high pass filters are off for these samples, but may have accidentally left it on for the RODE review. There may be other factors as well, but those are the few that come to mind.
Hey Curtis! 👋 thanks for all these handy informative videos. quick question. Is the Rode NT5 matched pair good for indoor dialogue booming? i have the zoom f6. i cant afford two (or even one lol) at 4053b mics. what you think? any other good options? also, the mics are so old, why no good new competitors for this purpose? thanks Phil
Yes, if you can boom close. Not as great for wide shots. The NT5s are good and that part of the market is pretty saturated so I suspect a lot of companies can’t really create a mic at the same price that is substantially better.
Perhaps you can help a mic rookie out: 1. Heard there is some lag when connected to a computer when monitoring audio. I’m not planning on doing that, but I do plan on using it as an improved mic for video calls and recording short vlogs/youtube videos. > Can I just use this via the usb c port of my macbook, while listening on via my headphones on the 3.5 mm jack? 2. Listened to your feedback on the sound levels on the mac. > Would it work ‘out of the box’ to a level where audio is good enough for calls or is it necessary to adjust the settings to get to a decent level? 3. I’m also planning to use this on my iPhone (13 pro). It should work via the 3.5 mm jack (via adapter), but… > is there a way to use it digitally via the lightning port (using the included cable) to increase the quality of the sound and ability to tweak? I’d be happy to go for the Rode Videomic Go II, however, after adding a (better) deadcat, usb-c to usb-c cable (macbook) and a usb-c to lightning cable (iPhone 13 Pro) (all Rode branded or they don’t work apparently ) you’re looking at roughly € 70/80 extra. This seems outrageous, especially since many competitors (and their own other products as well) add it in the box. Not the mention the actual production cost of next to nothing. Only major downside seems to be the lack of any software that I’d miss out on vs Deity. > Perhaps some thoughts on that from this perspective? Thanks in advance for your time. Understand if these are too many questions. Big props for your calm and clear approach either way. Very unique. Please keep it up 🙏🏻
1) depends on the app, but yes for many, though there will likely still be some lag 2) I'd recommend you adjust it. It isn't hard. Just go into the system settings, sound and adjust there. There's even a meter there to optimize your levels. Once set, it should default back to that each time you plug it in. (I'm speaking re: macOS). 3) Should work with iOS, yes.
@@curtisjudd Thanks. I decided to test it out and indeed the mic levels in MacOS (even with everything dialed up) seem still rather low. Gonna do a test drive with the Rode Wireless ME for now, see how that pans out.
Hi Curtis, I'm curious do you state the setting you have the mic at at the time of recording (I know it's dependent on the setting and other hardware), but it would be instructive to know if you run it at +10dB out the gate or whether you have it half cranked and boost in camera or what is best. Many thanks, love your videos!
GH5 input was set to -12 dB, its lowest setting. For the raw audio samples, we adjusted the gain on the mic between 0 and 3 dB so that the audio topped out at around -12 dB FS.
Nice review. One thing that would’ve been nice IMO: when you demonstrate the unprocessed sound, it would be really helpful to show what kind of room you’re in. The shot on that segment looks great, but I can’t tell the distance to the surrounding walls, nor the angle at which the mic is pointed, nor what kind of absorption you have in your room. So I can’t tell how the room influences the sound. I agree that the mic sounds mid-forward in this setup and I trust that you have enough experience to judge that, but without knowing much about your room, it could’ve just as well been the room that makes it sound that way.
We show a wider shot of the room at about 4 mins. Open basement with a sound blankets to the sides and on the table in front of me. Concrete floors and concrete wall behind me. You’re hearing mostly microphone and very little room.
@@curtisjudd Yep, I saw that, and I’m really glad you included it. :) Still, I think a less neat-looking shot, maybe actually panning across you could have been a nice little extra. Thanks for the extra information though! :) Appreciate it. I know it’s hard to keep up with comments, so even taking the time to write a response is greatly appreciated.
Hi Curtis, if I understand you correctly, you prefer the sound quality of the DEITY V-Mic D4 over the much more expensive NTG? I am looking for a USB shotgun for the iPhone mostly at home as a B-roll camera. For my main camera a GH5 and (as seen in your reviews) I lean towards an Earthworks Ethos with a Tascam US-2X2HR, to which I could also connect a 2nd XLR mic, like the MKH 600 (which unfortunately has no usb). But would that be a significant increase in quality? Or an other XLR mic? However, I couldn’t use it without an interface (on the rare occasion ”on the go”). What would you suggest? Thank you in advance for your expertise.
Awesome content as always, Curtis! How do you feel about using it indoors for home office considering a room that doesn't have much acoustic treatment? Also, do you know if the D4 works WITHOUT batteries over USB-C when connected to a computer? I can't find this information anywhere. PS: I'm still rocking my Audio-Technica AT2005 because of you!
On the last comparison the Rode NTG self noise could certainly be heard even on my cheap Bluetooth headset. I regret selling off the Sennheiser MKE600 and keeping the NTG. In fact even on the first recording comparison the D3 and the D4 have less hiss compared to the expensive NTG.
Nice video thanks- I don't think you mentioned the sound quality of the D4 vs the Rode videomic go II??- I presume they are fairly equal? Thanks again.
Pull up this review and my VideoMic GO II review in different tabs and you can hear them side by side: VideoMic GO II review - th-cam.com/video/sjJ5C0DKkgU/w-d-xo.html
Hello Curtis, fantastic video! Is there a low-battery warning light on the D4? How can I tell when my battery is running low? I don't want to run out of battery in the middle of a shoot 😀
I just purchased a Diety D4 and a Panasonic S5IIX, planning to use the camera's 3.5mm mic input. I also have a Comica, and a Sennheiser MKH600. The Deity has a self powered built in preamp, as does the Sennheiser. The Comica has no amplifier. The Sennheiser can also be phantom powered, where on my Canon camera I used a small Saramonic Smartrig 2+ for power and additional pre-amplification. All end up with final output through an unbalanced 3.5mm cable. The S5 has three settings for the 3.5mm Mic Socket input. 1) for mics that need no power [like a low impedence line in?]; 2) for mics that need power [NOT phantom, but apparently low voltage condenser mic power]; 3) line in. For the S5IIX, I'm guessing I should use the low impedance first setting for the self powered mic options, the low impedance but powered second for the Comica, and the high impedance line in when using the Saramonic preamp. I'm favoring the Diety because it's small and has amplification which will hopefully reduce the noise common to camera preamps. I also want the Diety to be able to use the built in auto on/off sensing when turning the camera on and off, which MIGHT need the #2 powered option to engage. But I'm unsure, and I don't want to damage the camera or mics trying to find out. Panasonic had no suggestions. Do you think you might be able to help me understand the three S5IIX 3.5mm Mic Socket settings for the above microphone scenarios? Either way, thanks for your posts!
Thanks so much! Do you think the Deity D4 will auto on/off from the first, unpowered S5IIX mic setting? BTW, love and truly appreciate your helpful posts. I can relate. I'm retired, but worked as a Hollywood first team IMDB credited mic boom operator for decades. Let's just say I swung Sennheiser, Neumann, and Schoeps mics over big names for thousands of pages of dialog, and hid wireless mics in countless costumes. But alas, trying to figure out how to manage low noise in camera sound for a one man run-and-gun, hobby oriented video production effort on the retirement cheap, is definitely different.@@curtisjudd
Followup for anyone interested. The Deity Vmic D4 arrived and worked fine with the Panasonic S5IIX. Using the included TRRS cable, it turns on/off with the camera. It also DISABLED the S5IIX Mic [socket] menu selection altogether, offering two options: stereo and shotgun. Strange. The stereo selection says it activates an omnidirectional pattern, although I doubt it really overrides the physical cardioid of the mic itself. The shotgun selection basically had NO gain, forcing me to turn up the camera amplitude which intensified system noise. So I went with the stereo option, which offered better floor noise, tested the mic for its patterning, and it seems to cancel fine. Still some system noise though, even with the mic gain up to +10db and the camera at -12, about the lowest I could set it and still have practical level peaking. @@curtisjudd
Thanks for this excellent review. You mentioned that it has a slight mid-forward voicing but that it EQs nicely. Would you mind recommending (in general terms) how one might correct that voicing in Premiere?
Use the EQ plugin, set one of the EQ points with a 9dB boost. Sweep that up and down the frequency spectrum until you find a spot that sound particularly bad and then cut 2-4dB at that frequency. For my voice, that was around 1kHz to 2kHz.
Hi Curtis. To me, one of the benefits of this microphone is that it turns on when you power up the camera and shuts down when you turn the camera off. It works fine with my Sony A7Siii, but unfortunately it will NOT turn on with my Sony A7iv. I'm hoping Diety will address this somehow.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Chris. I’ll definitely contact them. But like I said, the cable works on the A7Siii, but not the A7iv. So it’s a bit of a head scratcher. Anyway, thanks for your reply.
Hi Curtis, Mackie has released similar mics and will be great if you eventually review and compare them. D4 is currently on my list but as wind noise is high on my list it will add about $40 to purchase a very good fur thus making it a $140 product. Thanks for the great review.
Hey Curtis! Question: Just got my D4 and I love it (previously used the D3). But like you said in your vid, the deadcat windscreen it comes with is not good. Any recommendations for a replacement? In fact oddly enough, I tested the D3 and my current deadcat and discovered that that combo was actually better than when I used that same deadcat and the D4 (the deadcat fits both). It was really odd because otherwise the D4 is better in every way. Thanks
This looks very perfect in every way except for the special cable to connect to the camera. I would rather get a smaller less bulky cable that also isn't bright yellow. And then to worry about losing the cable on top of that when I can get a 3.5mm cable anywhere. Sounds good and I love the size of it and the gain dial on the back is very very nice. The smart cable/auto detect feature always leaves me a little nervous though.
Agree. It looks like a very nice mic, with replaceable battery and everything, but that USB smart port connection is just stupid. Give me a standard 3.5mm output. I don’t really want usb functionality at all. Every camera microphone with USB functionality I’ve seen have serious issues with output and clipping and compatibility with cameras.
Thanks, good info as always. One q: Can you charge the battery in-microphone (if it it rechargeable)? And winter seems to have come there as well, white Xmas coming?
Thanks for your review. To iPhone shooters: If you are planning to use the D4 with an iPhone then be aware that you will need an audio mixer as the D4 doesn't have a headphone port. The battery compartment is poorly designed and is made of really cheap plastic which can easily break. I think AAA or AA batteries for microphones are rather primitive. I prefer built in batteries and would rather send a mic to its manufacturer for battery replacement after , say, two years, than have to keep buying AAA or AA batteries regularly and removing old batteries and putting new batteries every week if I use the mic frequently on the top of carrying lots of batteries in my already over packed backpack. Moreover, I can't throw AAA batteries in the bin at home. I had to take them to my local library where they have a collection system for batteries. I bought this mic only because I have the Pocket wireless and the interview kit and wanted to keep things 'in the family'. I used the Pocket wireless to shoot a news story with my JVC 850 a few days ago. It was all good. But I would not use the D4 with a broadcast camera seeing that I have better shotguns for that . I bought it to use with my iPhone but the battery compartment (its door got stuck in the first time I tried to use the mic) was a disappointment on the top of the many other disadvantages of external batteries so I didn't keep the D4 and ordered a Mackie EM 98 MS which has a headphone port and uses built in batteries.
Great video as always. Quick question : How would you say the sound quality compares to the Deity s-mic 2S and S-mic 2? I'm curious to know if the sound quality is as good and if they would match if used together in a scene. Thank you :)
Really looking forward to a Zoom M4 (and M2 and M3) video from you when those become available. I'm specifically interested in their timecode capabilities and how they might play with a Zoom F3+Blue Tooth or Zoom F2 for multi-device audio recording.
@@curtisjudd The Zoom MicTrak series was announced a few days ago, the M2, M3, and M4. There is a post from B and H, and the FreeToUse sounds youtube channel has a video showing the M2 (they are in Japan so they could get one already)
@@JosephElsherbini Hello, Joseph! We almost got the M4 today, but the company messaged us while we were on the Shinkansen to Tokyo, saying that the online store had not been updated. What a bummer but we have another company, the same one from which we purchased the Earthworks QTC 50. They let us know tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions Yes, and I think the M4 might be the successor to the H4. The write up on BandH mentioned that the M4 might have timecode out, which would be new in that class from zoom.
Hey Curtis, any suggestions for a cheap (max 200-300€) indoor shotgun mic that would pair with my Sennheir MKE600? Or do I just buy another Sennheiser MKE600 and chop it shorter? ;D
This appears to be a great mic! Only concern is the low gain when connected to the Mac. It almost seems like the Rode Video Mic Go 2 is a slightly better option. Maybe you can review the Behringer B5. There aren't many reviews on that one.
I have the V-mic D4 Duo is this a good upgrade for walk around videos vlog style . can you also use this for voice over in a studio or do you have another recommendation for this ?
When comparing to Rode VideoMic Go II, you didn't mention how the Go II when connected via USB acts as an audio interface that allows you to monitor with headphones out of the 3.5mm jack, while recording a voiceover with the mic. You also didn't compare their sound quality? Sound samples only compared the VideoMic NTG.
@@curtisjudd Thank you! I am trying to extend the distance of the mic plugged into the camera Sony ZV-E10 and have and tried a usb -c to Trrs but it will not turn the mic on.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for your reply. I received it yesterday, Monday, much to my surprise because I've ordered it on Friday from Amazon US ! I didn't test it yet but do know one thing: This mic is supposed to be very similar to the Deity D4 in terms of target public. I don't know about the sound quality yet but like two things ty but the Deity doesn't: A headphone port and built in battery . I explained the many reasons why I prefer built in batteries in my previous comment. I might do a review myself, maybe, but it won't be any near as good as your reviews.
Great Review as always Curtis. You are the man if someone is looking for an audio device on the internet. So anyways, I own a couple of good shotgun mics including the legendary mkh416. I LOVE this mic when I do big projects and commercials but…mounting it on a run and gun camera setup is weird and inconvenient, sometimes annoying especially on shoots inside a car or a small space. So my question is: Can I have the same TOP sound quality with a shorter version of shotgun mic for these kinds of shoots? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Greetings from Greece. ❤
"You are the man if someone is looking for an audio device on the internet." I second that. Curtis Judd is my audio guru even if I don't agree with all his views.
Hello Mr. Judd..... could you also make a video about review on deity vo-7u as Mark Wiemels did. I got your name from his channel and also wondered your opinion while comparing with sm7b. thanks !
Hi Curtis, it being reported and demonstrated on TH-cam that this microphone has RF interference with the wireless Rode Mic II + Comica wireless Mic. Maybe DJI didn’t have an issue in your case.
@@curtisjudd please help me! I have been using DJI MIC for a month and connected Rode videomicro to it, today I received a long-awaited package with Deity D4 and it does not work with the DJI radio system((( When connecting to the camera, it automatically turns on and everything is super, but when I connect it to DJI or Zoom or Tascam recorders, nothing happens, Tell me how you we were able to connect it to DJI, I planned to use it with the radio system. Thank you very much!
@@curtisjudd I think I found what the problem is, on the wire with the inscription UP, it works fine with the Sony camera and connected to the recorder through an extension cord, I studied the second wire type c - mini jack more closely and noticed that the contacts are broken, it seems to me this marriage is the reason for this cable not working, I am very upset and now I don't even know where to find such a cable, I'll think about how to get out of it! Thanks again!
Curtis, what is your ultimate choice for a camera-top microphone, price notwithstanding? I really struggle with this. I'm looking for something that isn't overly long, that has a natural sound, good powering options, and comes with a shock-mount and covers. Is there one that really sticks out as a great all-arounder?
None that impress me to the point of gushing but that’s because they’re on-camera. The D4 is a pretty nice option which isn’t too long, sounds ok, and uses a user replaceable battery. Just sort of a good, no-fuss camera mic.
Curtis thanks for review! Help please, will it work if it is connected to Zoom H1 via an extension cord, will it be possible to use it as a boom mic? The same question about Deity D3 PRO...
Yes, should work, but keep the extension cable as short as possible. That's a good way to pick up interference, especially from power adapters and power supplies.
Curtis, I'm curious about something: why do you always use that particular quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? It's a great quote, to be sure, but why that particular one? Is there a special meaning it has for you?
Exactly. My dad worked as a voice trainer for many years, and he always let his clients read aloud from the same short (1 page) H.C.Andersen fairytale. That way he could easily avoid listening to the story and concentrate on listening to the voice. And here, because we've heard that Sherlock Holmes quote so often, we can forget it and listen to the sound of the microphone instead.
@@curtisjudd thanks for replying, Curtis. I understood why you use the same text over and over again as pointed out by the other people who commented, but I thought maybe it had some special significance for you. I guess not…😜
I may have missed it on your video, but how is the overall construction of mic? Is it all metal construction? Do you think it can take a little bit of abuse vs an all plastic mic? Thanks
@@curtisjudd Thanks dude, placed an order for one through one of your links. Looking to use it for CES next week, hopefully it arrives before then *crossing fingers*. Happy New Year.
@@curtisjudd Hey Curtis I have been enjoying the mic so far so im (finally) gonna start booming it. I'm getting the amazon basics stand and the 1/4' Male to 5/8' Female Mic Screw Adapter, and some sandbags. Is there anything I'm missing? Thanks.
Hi Curtis! I have a following problem: I sometimes use battery powered Rode NT-4 stereo mic as an on-top camera mic for simple music recording. I used it with Sony ZV-1 and Panasonic GH5S without any issue with a DIY 5-pin-XLR cable that has resistors removed instead of stock dampened cable that reduces signal strength by 12dB with some 1kOhm resistors. Thanks to that I get stronger signal and better noise performance. However, when I recently plugged that mic with that cable into the GH6, camera started to give overheat warning after several minutes and shut off despite being clold to touch. After a while I realised that the mic preamp must have overheated due to I/O impedance mismatch. Before it shut off the audio signal was clean, and when I used dampened cable there was inacceptable amount of noise. How can I manage this problem. Can I use some device that would increase impedance somewhere without introducing too much noise?
Hi, I can't decide between the D3 Pro and this D4, I've been looking in depth comparisons but I haven't found any good video besides this one. Can you please help me. I wan the best quality to shoot on exteriors. Help.
I've the following scenario: Twocameras, Alpha 7s2 and Alpha 7s3, mounted on ronins rs2 with nano lockits attached on a Y breakout cable. Will this microphone power on and record scratch audio to one channel while I record audio TC to the other?
The D4 sounds notably better for self-noise than the D3, and in turn the NTG (listening on AirPods) which is a bit of a surprise given the cost difference (were these recordings all made with the GH5 preamp as low as possible and the mics as high as possible?)
@@PeterAlanJohnson and I’d keep on getting good results with that NTG if I were in your shoes. The differences are pretty small from the perspective of most audiences.
Thanks for your reply! I actually found that putting the transmitter on the microphone side of the cold shoe mount, instead of the backside (near the volume knob), solved the issue. This is with the standard short Dji supplied cable
Any notice of this mic becoming g a stereo mic instead of a normal shock gun mic? In my bs1h it registers as a stereo mic and I can set it to be a stereo pick up pattern or shotgun but then no audio comes in. It works fine but the stereo setting makes the sensitive all the way around. I’ll test on other cameras
@@curtisjudd I mean in the Panasonic menu, it plugs in as a “special” mic where I can decide if it’s stereo or shotgun or super shotgun. I quit using the rode video mic ntg because sometimes when I hit record the audio would make a pop sound and no audio is recorded. Couldn’t trust it since it burned me so many times
@@ChrisFlores22 Ok, sorry. I'm not familiar with what the camera does with those settings so I'd suggest you do test recordings with each setting and see what you get.
I broke my whole head with one moment. tell me how you can connect Deity d4 with two radio lavalier microphones at the same time and so that it all works at the same time, is there such a device or transmission that supports connection to a sony a7iii camera?
@@curtisjudd Hmm, I have a Godox movelink M2 but I rarely use it in combination with my main mic. So I think wireless interference is not a problem since I will connect it direct to my camera. My only concern is the self noise.. if the D4 at least has the same amount of self noise with NT5 then I can simplify my gear (now : NT5 to XLR cable to Smartrig+ to my camera)
@@adimology Sorry, replied to the wrong question. I don't know which has less self-noise. I'd start by checking the specs for each. If you use low cost audio adapters, that can also add to the noise floor.
@@curtisjudd I ordered it and it does not. The Ninja is not able to wake the microphone from hibernation. Just like the D3. So I now use a wireless solution to connect the mics to the Ninja if needed.
Sir how you get this no noise footge I shoot with sony a7siii but I never got like this footage how please? Sometimes I think that maybe my camera have issues
It's a big deal with this mic that you can use a AAA battery. My previous D3 Pro, being an internal battery, stopped working after less than two years of light use. I wrote up a whole review about my experience with Deity's customer service as a warning for anyone picking up their microphones. For the first year of owning it, the mic worked perfectly. The sound quality was great, it was portable, it charged quickly, all the features from its sales pitch worked as described. I used it maybe 8 times in total and put it away in its hardcase, proud of my purchase. After three months of sitting on my gear shelf, I brought out the mic to record some voiceover and found that it would not turn on. I attempted to charge it using my computer and it displayed a solid green light and would not turn on even when remaining plugged in. I plugged it into a wall socket, it did turn on when plugged in, but would not hold a charge if removed. While plugged into the wall, there was a present hiss as though the noise floor of the mic was raised. This made recording with it when tethered to a power source useless. The mic was now a $300 paperweight. Of course, with all of these problems I googled them to see if there was a solution. I found a few reddit threads detailing the same design faults as well as some one-star reviews on Amazon with similar complaints. Luckily, having ordered the mic through Deity’s website, I was eligible for their warranty. I soon discovered that this warranty is very limited, it requires you to have bought directly from them and not through a reseller like Amazon, Henry’s, or B&H. It also requires you to ship their product back to them at your expense, which would’ve cost me an additional $101 CAD on top of the purchase price. Beyond even that, there is an inspection fee if they determine that it was not worth their technician’s time to look over the product, which adds an additional $52 CAD to the purchase price. In short, if I wanted to have this microphone repaired and they decided it wasn’t damaged in the first place, it would bring the total cost of the broken microphone to $453 CAD. I hope that the D4 will improve where the D3 Pro failed but I'll stick to sennheiser as I haven't had any problems with their mics.
I have this mic with the wireless Rode and the only way I got interference is when you put the transmitter touching the top of the shotgun mic which no one will ever do. Mounting the Rode GO on the shock mount under the microphone causes absolutely no problems for me.
@@curtisjudd ever since they did the update for the ntg software specifically for Panasonic cameras it was all down hilll from there, but Geralled undown & camera conspiracies mention the s5 audio inputs are unusable for vlogging, maybe it’s a quality control amongst the units
The D4 is quieter than the D3 and the NTG regarding the noise floor. Good rear rejection and RF rejection. Sibilance was good also. I like what I heard. Great mic review, thanks Curtis.
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Hi friend, in your opinion, what mic would you choose? D3Pro or D4?
@@aldahirchanavila2777 Not the D3 Pro. Got one and the battery went dead from not being used and was unrecoverable. Don't waste money on mics with inbuilt batteries.
Yes! The D4 has been Juddstified! It's officially on my wish list. Thanks Curtis!
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lol good one!
I don't care about buying a microscope I just watched this video to listen to Curtis relaxing voice and calm editing of this video!
Thank you so much for the 20 seconds of coupling this mic with the DJI Mic setup. Exactly what I was looking for and am so surprised by the quality recorded! Instant sub, like and comment!
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This was so helpful, especially using the DJI Mic instead of running long wires to the input recording source. Makes so much sense. Technology makes things so much easier once you know how to use it. Thanks so much Mr. CJ💪🏿
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Been following you for years and so appreciate your practical instantly applicable insight and advice. With respect and gratitude - Dan Knight
Thanks so much! 🙏
Looks interesting - I'm a big fan of the user-replaceable battery and the physical gain dial. Off topic, very cool to see that your considerable expertise is being passed on to the next generation. 🙂
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Happy to see this review.
I appreciate all the work you do on these videos. Thanks.
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I bought one of these several months ago but hadn't used it often until I bought a DJI Osmo Action 3 camera to use as a dash cam for a daily special project lasting 2 months. With the gain on the action 3 set to +15 and the Deity D-4 gain set to +10, while using the USB connection from mic to the camera, I get right at -16 LUFS for audio of me while talking at normal volume in the truck. The mic is mounted on a magic arm up near the visor. The resulting audio is quite good to my ears, and requires very little work in post. I will probably get a little longer usb to usb cable to allow more freedom to place the camera relative to the mic, but that is my only planned addition for now. Loving the little action camera combined with this mic so far.
Glad to hear it is working well for you, Joe 🎙
Thanks for the review. The D4 is a replacement of D3 as the specs are almost identical with some improvements. Good for Deityp to have the same price as the initial price of D3.
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THIS is what I was asking for on Twitter.
Fantastic review.
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Thank you so much for doing the dji mic test!
No worries!
Yay!!! Good to see the family included in the video. I’ve been thinking of ordering 20 of these for my classroom. Good to hear you confirm my takes on this mic. These will be replacing my Rode VideoMics, you know, the 9V battery version that people accidentally leave on and the battery drains. LOL!!!
And AAA batteries are cheaper than 9V 👍
thank you. i bought d4 after watching your review. keep up the good work
Thanks and happy recording!
Great review as always Curtis. I notice in this video that the Rode VideoMic NTG appeared to have much more self noise than both the Deity mics. But I just checked your review of the VideoMic NTG, in which your tests showed it had a lower noise floor than the Deity D3 Pro. Any idea why that could be?
There are a few possible variables. My samples do not include any sort of a-weighting which can make a difference between what one hears and what one technically measures. These are also real-world samples where there may have been a bit more noise in the space during different recordings. I usually check to make sure any high pass filters are off for these samples, but may have accidentally left it on for the RODE review. There may be other factors as well, but those are the few that come to mind.
I have the D3 Pro, should I get the D4?
If the D3 Pro is working well, I don’t see a big reason to go for the D4.
Didn't even hesitate to buy this one, for the price and the quality. Used your link as well :)
👍 Happy recording!
Hey Curtis! 👋 thanks for all these handy informative videos.
quick question. Is the Rode NT5 matched pair good for indoor dialogue booming? i have the zoom f6. i cant afford two (or even one lol) at 4053b mics.
what you think? any other good options? also, the mics are so old, why no good new competitors for this purpose?
thanks
Phil
Yes, if you can boom close. Not as great for wide shots. The NT5s are good and that part of the market is pretty saturated so I suspect a lot of companies can’t really create a mic at the same price that is substantially better.
Best video on this mic, you sealed the deal on the D4.
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Perhaps you can help a mic rookie out:
1. Heard there is some lag when connected to a computer when monitoring audio. I’m not planning on doing that, but I do plan on using it as an improved mic for video calls and recording short vlogs/youtube videos.
> Can I just use this via the usb c port of my macbook, while listening on via my headphones on the 3.5 mm jack?
2. Listened to your feedback on the sound levels on the mac.
> Would it work ‘out of the box’ to a level where audio is good enough for calls or is it necessary to adjust the settings to get to a decent level?
3. I’m also planning to use this on my iPhone (13 pro). It should work via the 3.5 mm jack (via adapter), but…
> is there a way to use it digitally via the lightning port (using the included cable) to increase the quality of the sound and ability to tweak?
I’d be happy to go for the Rode Videomic Go II, however, after adding a (better) deadcat, usb-c to usb-c cable (macbook) and a usb-c to lightning cable (iPhone 13 Pro) (all Rode branded or they don’t work apparently ) you’re looking at roughly € 70/80 extra. This seems outrageous, especially since many competitors (and their own other products as well) add it in the box. Not the mention the actual production cost of next to nothing.
Only major downside seems to be the lack of any software that I’d miss out on vs Deity.
> Perhaps some thoughts on that from this perspective?
Thanks in advance for your time. Understand if these are too many questions. Big props for your calm and clear approach either way. Very unique. Please keep it up 🙏🏻
1) depends on the app, but yes for many, though there will likely still be some lag
2) I'd recommend you adjust it. It isn't hard. Just go into the system settings, sound and adjust there. There's even a meter there to optimize your levels. Once set, it should default back to that each time you plug it in. (I'm speaking re: macOS).
3) Should work with iOS, yes.
@@curtisjudd Thanks. I decided to test it out and indeed the mic levels in MacOS (even with everything dialed up) seem still rather low. Gonna do a test drive with the Rode Wireless ME for now, see how that pans out.
@@roderickdeleeuw2101 Odd, on our copy, the audio would clip with the mic gain at the highest setting.
Hi Curtis, I'm curious do you state the setting you have the mic at at the time of recording (I know it's dependent on the setting and other hardware), but it would be instructive to know if you run it at +10dB out the gate or whether you have it half cranked and boost in camera or what is best. Many thanks, love your videos!
GH5 input was set to -12 dB, its lowest setting. For the raw audio samples, we adjusted the gain on the mic between 0 and 3 dB so that the audio topped out at around -12 dB FS.
moar young Judd)). I already wrote about it once, thank you master for listening to us))
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Nice review. One thing that would’ve been nice IMO: when you demonstrate the unprocessed sound, it would be really helpful to show what kind of room you’re in. The shot on that segment looks great, but I can’t tell the distance to the surrounding walls, nor the angle at which the mic is pointed, nor what kind of absorption you have in your room. So I can’t tell how the room influences the sound. I agree that the mic sounds mid-forward in this setup and I trust that you have enough experience to judge that, but without knowing much about your room, it could’ve just as well been the room that makes it sound that way.
We show a wider shot of the room at about 4 mins. Open basement with a sound blankets to the sides and on the table in front of me. Concrete floors and concrete wall behind me. You’re hearing mostly microphone and very little room.
@@curtisjudd Yep, I saw that, and I’m really glad you included it. :) Still, I think a less neat-looking shot, maybe actually panning across you could have been a nice little extra. Thanks for the extra information though! :) Appreciate it. I know it’s hard to keep up with comments, so even taking the time to write a response is greatly appreciated.
Hi Curtis, if I understand you correctly, you prefer the sound quality of the DEITY V-Mic D4 over the much more expensive NTG? I am looking for a USB shotgun for the iPhone mostly at home as a B-roll camera. For my main camera a GH5 and (as seen in your reviews) I lean towards an Earthworks Ethos with a Tascam US-2X2HR, to which I could also connect a 2nd XLR mic, like the MKH 600 (which unfortunately has no usb). But would that be a significant increase in quality? Or an other XLR mic? However, I couldn’t use it without an interface (on the rare occasion ”on the go”). What would you suggest? Thank you in advance for your expertise.
Another great thing about the lithium batteries is they are considerably less prone to leakage, and ruining your electronic devices.
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Thanks for the review. Can’t wait for a Rycote pencil condenser mic review.
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Awesome content as always, Curtis! How do you feel about using it indoors for home office considering a room that doesn't have much acoustic treatment? Also, do you know if the D4 works WITHOUT batteries over USB-C when connected to a computer? I can't find this information anywhere. PS: I'm still rocking my Audio-Technica AT2005 because of you!
Hi Leandro, yes, should work and yes, it works via USB without a battery.
Awesome video Curtis! love the depth but also the great summary. Subbed!
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I have profited from your videos for years. Thank you.
Thanks, Don. Happy recording!
On the last comparison the Rode NTG self noise could certainly be heard even on my cheap Bluetooth headset. I regret selling off the Sennheiser MKE600 and keeping the NTG. In fact even on the first recording comparison the D3 and the D4 have less hiss compared to the expensive NTG.
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Nice video thanks- I don't think you mentioned the sound quality of the D4 vs the Rode videomic go II??- I presume they are fairly equal? Thanks again.
Pull up this review and my VideoMic GO II review in different tabs and you can hear them side by side: VideoMic GO II review - th-cam.com/video/sjJ5C0DKkgU/w-d-xo.html
Hello Curtis, fantastic video! Is there a low-battery warning light on the D4? How can I tell when my battery is running low? I don't want to run out of battery in the middle of a shoot 😀
Yes, the LED turns red when the battery is low.
Hi Curtis, thanks for the review. If this mic is so well shielded against interference, then which be the point of using and XLR shotgun mic instead?
For longer cables (when you don’t have the mic on top of the camera).
@@curtisjudd understood 🙏🏽
Was the sound from the microphone processed?
Not in the raw sample section
Hey just wondering if you've heard of the Zoom M3 Mictrack that they just released. It looked very interesting.
Yes!
I just purchased a Diety D4 and a Panasonic S5IIX, planning to use the camera's 3.5mm mic input.
I also have a Comica, and a Sennheiser MKH600.
The Deity has a self powered built in preamp, as does the Sennheiser. The Comica has no amplifier. The Sennheiser can also be phantom powered, where on my Canon camera I used a small Saramonic Smartrig 2+ for power and additional pre-amplification. All end up with final output through an unbalanced 3.5mm cable.
The S5 has three settings for the 3.5mm Mic Socket input. 1) for mics that need no power [like a low impedence line in?]; 2) for mics that need power [NOT phantom, but apparently low voltage condenser mic power]; 3) line in.
For the S5IIX, I'm guessing I should use the low impedance first setting for the self powered mic options, the low impedance but powered second for the Comica, and the high impedance line in when using the Saramonic preamp. I'm favoring the Diety because it's small and has amplification which will hopefully reduce the noise common to camera preamps. I also want the Diety to be able to use the built in auto on/off sensing when turning the camera on and off, which MIGHT need the #2 powered option to engage. But I'm unsure, and I don't want to damage the camera or mics trying to find out. Panasonic had no suggestions.
Do you think you might be able to help me understand the three S5IIX 3.5mm Mic Socket settings for the above microphone scenarios?
Either way, thanks for your posts!
Right except for the last one. Line in is for mixers or recorders which can deliver an already amplified signal.
Thanks so much! Do you think the Deity D4 will auto on/off from the first, unpowered S5IIX mic setting?
BTW, love and truly appreciate your helpful posts. I can relate. I'm retired, but worked as a Hollywood first team IMDB credited mic boom operator for decades. Let's just say I swung Sennheiser, Neumann, and Schoeps mics over big names for thousands of pages of dialog, and hid wireless mics in countless costumes.
But alas, trying to figure out how to manage low noise in camera sound for a one man run-and-gun, hobby oriented video production effort on the retirement cheap, is definitely different.@@curtisjudd
@@SimpleRevelationMedia I would only be guessing since I don't have an S5IIX. Probably be best to contact DEITY to confirm. Best wishes!
Followup for anyone interested. The Deity Vmic D4 arrived and worked fine with the Panasonic S5IIX. Using the included TRRS cable, it turns on/off with the camera. It also DISABLED the S5IIX Mic [socket] menu selection altogether, offering two options: stereo and shotgun. Strange. The stereo selection says it activates an omnidirectional pattern, although I doubt it really overrides the physical cardioid of the mic itself. The shotgun selection basically had NO gain, forcing me to turn up the camera amplitude which intensified system noise. So I went with the stereo option, which offered better floor noise, tested the mic for its patterning, and it seems to cancel fine. Still some system noise though, even with the mic gain up to +10db and the camera at -12, about the lowest I could set it and still have practical level peaking. @@curtisjudd
First class review! I'm definitely buying this soon! Thank you!
👍
Thanks for this excellent review. You mentioned that it has a slight mid-forward voicing but that it EQs nicely. Would you mind recommending (in general terms) how one might correct that voicing in Premiere?
Use the EQ plugin, set one of the EQ points with a 9dB boost. Sweep that up and down the frequency spectrum until you find a spot that sound particularly bad and then cut 2-4dB at that frequency. For my voice, that was around 1kHz to 2kHz.
Hi Curtis. To me, one of the benefits of this microphone is that it turns on when you power up the camera and shuts down when you turn the camera off. It works fine with my Sony A7Siii, but unfortunately it will NOT turn on with my Sony A7iv. I'm hoping Diety will address this somehow.
Be sure to use the correct cable. Not all Sony cameras deliver the voltage normally expected for plugin/bias power. Contact DEITY support for details.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Chris. I’ll definitely contact them. But like I said, the cable works on the A7Siii, but not the A7iv. So it’s a bit of a head scratcher. Anyway, thanks for your reply.
@@quasiguy DEITY told me that Sony has changed the voltage supplied by some of the cameras which would line up with your experience. -Curtis
Thank you. 👍 Always great videos. I think D4 have best sound, D3 pro second best and Rode at third place. 😊
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Hi Curtis, Mackie has released similar mics and will be great if you eventually review and compare them. D4 is currently on my list but as wind noise is high on my list it will add about $40 to purchase a very good fur thus making it a $140 product. Thanks for the great review.
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Hey Curtis! Question: Just got my D4 and I love it (previously used the D3). But like you said in your vid, the deadcat windscreen it comes with is not good. Any recommendations for a replacement? In fact oddly enough, I tested the D3 and my current deadcat and discovered that that combo was actually better than when I used that same deadcat and the D4 (the deadcat fits both). It was really odd because otherwise the D4 is better in every way. Thanks
Thanks. I haven't found a good replacement, unfortunately.
This looks very perfect in every way except for the special cable to connect to the camera. I would rather get a smaller less bulky cable that also isn't bright yellow. And then to worry about losing the cable on top of that when I can get a 3.5mm cable anywhere. Sounds good and I love the size of it and the gain dial on the back is very very nice. The smart cable/auto detect feature always leaves me a little nervous though.
Fair points.
Agree. It looks like a very nice mic, with replaceable battery and everything, but that USB smart port connection is just stupid. Give me a standard 3.5mm output. I don’t really want usb functionality at all. Every camera microphone with USB functionality I’ve seen have serious issues with output and clipping and compatibility with cameras.
Brilliant video! Thanks Curtis :)
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Thank you for the video!
What's the difference between D4 and D3 Pro? I can't find that info anywhere 🤔😔
In built battery and larger size for the D3 Pro.
@@curtisjudd thank you! I guess about the same sound quality 🤔🤷♂️
@@cosmonaut1961 yes
@@curtisjudd thank you very much Curtis! For the answers and the video!
Thanks, good info as always. One q: Can you charge the battery in-microphone (if it it rechargeable)? And winter seems to have come there as well, white Xmas coming?
Yes, it uses standard AAA batteries. 👍
Thanks for your review.
To iPhone shooters: If you are planning to use the D4 with an iPhone then be aware that you will need an audio mixer as the D4 doesn't have a headphone port.
The battery compartment is poorly designed and is made of really cheap plastic which can easily break. I think AAA or AA batteries for microphones are rather primitive. I prefer built in batteries and would rather send a mic to its manufacturer for battery replacement after , say, two years, than have to keep buying AAA or AA batteries regularly and removing old batteries and putting new batteries every week if I use the mic frequently on the top of carrying lots of batteries in my already over packed backpack. Moreover, I can't throw AAA batteries in the bin at home. I had to take them to my local library where they have a collection system for batteries.
I bought this mic only because I have the Pocket wireless and the interview kit and wanted to keep things 'in the family'. I used the Pocket wireless to shoot a news story with my JVC 850 a few days ago. It was all good.
But I would not use the D4 with a broadcast camera seeing that I have better shotguns for that . I bought it to use with my iPhone but the battery compartment (its door got stuck in the first time I tried to use the mic) was a disappointment on the top of the many other disadvantages of external batteries so I didn't keep the D4 and ordered a Mackie EM 98 MS which has a headphone port and uses built in batteries.
I didn't have issues with the battery door on my copy.
The d4 comes with a Usb-C to TRRS cable but not a Usb-C to TRS cable. I don't think TRRS is compatible with mirrorless cameras? Is this correct?
The cable detects what you're plugging into and adapts itself, so yes, the cable should work with most mirrorless cameras.
Great video as always. Quick question : How would you say the sound quality compares to the Deity s-mic 2S and S-mic 2? I'm curious to know if the sound quality is as good and if they would match if used together in a scene. Thank you :)
The S-Mic 2 has a more balanced sound than the D4 to my ear. You could EQ the D4’s audio, but they’re not a perfect match.
What EQ adjustments you recommend for voice / podcast?
Really looking forward to a Zoom M4 (and M2 and M3) video from you when those become available. I'm specifically interested in their timecode capabilities and how they might play with a Zoom F3+Blue Tooth or Zoom F2 for multi-device audio recording.
What is the Zoom M4?
@@curtisjudd The Zoom MicTrak series was announced a few days ago, the M2, M3, and M4. There is a post from B and H, and the FreeToUse sounds youtube channel has a video showing the M2 (they are in Japan so they could get one already)
@@JosephElsherbini Ok, so basically the M2 is a reworked H2 with 32-bit float recording. Hmm.
@@JosephElsherbini Hello, Joseph! We almost got the M4 today, but the company messaged us while we were on the Shinkansen to Tokyo, saying that the online store had not been updated. What a bummer but we have another company, the same one from which we purchased the Earthworks QTC 50. They let us know tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions Yes, and I think the M4 might be the successor to the H4. The write up on BandH mentioned that the M4 might have timecode out, which would be new in that class from zoom.
Sounds like a good mic. But, what do you mean when you say the D4 has "mid forward voicing" characteristics?
It sounds like there’s a bit of emphasis of the mid-range, roughly around 1kHz.
Hey Curtis, any suggestions for a cheap (max 200-300€) indoor shotgun mic that would pair with my Sennheir MKE600? Or do I just buy another Sennheiser MKE600 and chop it shorter? ;D
I’d just buy a couple of sound blankets and keep using your MKE600.
This appears to be a great mic! Only concern is the low gain when connected to the Mac. It almost seems like the Rode Video Mic Go 2 is a slightly better option.
Maybe you can review the Behringer B5. There aren't many reviews on that one.
Thanks, Joe.
I have the V-mic D4 Duo is this a good upgrade for walk around videos vlog style . can you also use this for voice over in a studio or do you have another recommendation for this ?
Not sure that it is an upgrade if you need both ends of the D4 DUO. You can record voice over with the D4.
Fantastic review, thank you! Can you recommend a mini xlr cable for this mic to adapt to C70 or BMPCC? I feel lost in the plethora of choices...
The output on this mic is unbalanced. So I’d route it into the 3.5mm mic inputs on both.
@@curtisjudd Fantastic, many thanks!
When comparing to Rode VideoMic Go II, you didn't mention how the Go II when connected via USB acts as an audio interface that allows you to monitor with headphones out of the 3.5mm jack, while recording a voiceover with the mic. You also didn't compare their sound quality? Sound samples only compared the VideoMic NTG.
True. But you can open my GO II video in another browser tab and listen for comparison there.
Hello from New York City! At time cod 05:04, is the mic compatible with NiMH rechargeable batteries?. Thank you for your informative video.
Yes.
Nice video as always! What is your opinion of v-Mic 4 vs V-Mic 3 Pro - will the 3 Pro give you any advantages over the 4?
Not that I can hear or see.
@@curtisjudd I'm abut to purchase one of these two - so I should go for the D4?
@@sgeorgiev that’s what I would do. I don’t know all the details of what kind of filming you do, but given the choice for me, I’d choose the D4.
The battery suddenly failed on my D3 so hopefully they've improved on that!!
They did. The battery is now user replaceable - standard AAA batteries.
Great review from the Judd family, as always. 😉
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Great video! Question: what cable to use when using it on a mic stand? I tried USB-C to TRRS and it did not work.
I used a USB-C to USB-C to my computer. 👍
@@curtisjudd Thank you! I am trying to extend the distance of the mic plugged into the camera Sony ZV-E10 and have and tried a usb -c to Trrs but it will not turn the mic on.
@@PremaLeeGurrei Ok, I see. I'd use something like the RODE VC-1 which is a 3.5mm TRS extension cable.
Hi Curtis, . One question: Do you have any plans to review the new Mackie Em 98 MS shotgun? Any thoughts on that mic?
I haven't heard of it until now. I don't usually use mid-side microphones since I'm mainly recording dialogue.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for your reply. I received it yesterday, Monday, much to my surprise because I've ordered it on Friday from Amazon US ! I didn't test it yet but do know one thing: This mic is supposed to be very similar to the Deity D4 in terms of target public.
I don't know about the sound quality yet but like two things ty but the Deity doesn't: A headphone port and built in battery . I explained the many reasons why I prefer built in batteries in my previous comment.
I might do a review myself, maybe, but it won't be any near as good as your reviews.
@@umbertoaguiar Looking forward to it. 👍
Those replaceable batteries are a major improvement.
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Would you recommend the D4 or the D3 Pro if the D3 Pro costs 79€ and the D4 around 90€?
I’d go for the D4, personally.
Great Review as always Curtis. You are the man if someone is looking for an audio device on the internet. So anyways, I own a couple of good shotgun mics including the legendary mkh416. I LOVE this mic when I do big projects and commercials but…mounting it on a run and gun camera setup is weird and inconvenient, sometimes annoying especially on shoots inside a car or a small space. So my question is: Can I have the same TOP sound quality with a shorter version of shotgun mic for these kinds of shoots? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Greetings from Greece. ❤
You might try a Sennheiser MKH50 or MKH 8050 for those indoor situations.
"You are the man if someone is looking for an audio device on the internet." I second that. Curtis Judd is my audio guru even if I don't agree with all his views.
Hello Mr. Judd..... could you also make a video about review on deity vo-7u as Mark Wiemels did. I got your name from his channel and also wondered your opinion while comparing with sm7b. thanks !
I'd like to, yes.
Hi Curtis, it being reported and demonstrated on TH-cam that this microphone has RF interference with the wireless Rode Mic II + Comica wireless Mic. Maybe DJI didn’t have an issue in your case.
Interesting, thanks. Wasn’t a problem with our DJI Mic.
@@curtisjudd please help me!
I have been using DJI MIC for a month and connected Rode videomicro to it, today I received a long-awaited package with Deity D4 and it does not work with the DJI radio system((( When connecting to the camera, it automatically turns on and everything is super, but when I connect it to DJI or Zoom or Tascam recorders, nothing happens, Tell me how you we were able to connect it to DJI, I planned to use it with the radio system. Thank you very much!
@@denkravcov1106 Might be best to contact DEITY support. We didn't run into this issue. Best wishes!
@@curtisjudd I think I found what the problem is, on the wire with the inscription UP, it works fine with the Sony camera and connected to the recorder through an extension cord, I studied the second wire type c - mini jack more closely and noticed that the contacts are broken, it seems to me this marriage is the reason for this cable not working, I am very upset and now I don't even know where to find such a cable, I'll think about how to get out of it! Thanks again!
@@denkravcov1106 Contact DEITY and hold them accountable to deliver a working cable.
Curtis, what is your ultimate choice for a camera-top microphone, price notwithstanding? I really struggle with this. I'm looking for something that isn't overly long, that has a natural sound, good powering options, and comes with a shock-mount and covers. Is there one that really sticks out as a great all-arounder?
None that impress me to the point of gushing but that’s because they’re on-camera. The D4 is a pretty nice option which isn’t too long, sounds ok, and uses a user replaceable battery. Just sort of a good, no-fuss camera mic.
@@curtisjudd Thanks, Curtis.
Curtis thanks for review! Help please, will it work if it is connected to Zoom H1 via an extension cord, will it be possible to use it as a boom mic? The same question about Deity D3 PRO...
Yes, should work, but keep the extension cable as short as possible. That's a good way to pick up interference, especially from power adapters and power supplies.
@@curtisjudd thanks!
Curtis, I'm curious about something: why do you always use that particular quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? It's a great quote, to be sure, but why that particular one? Is there a special meaning it has for you?
The fact that it's always the same one makes it extra useful to compare mics, across videos.
Exactly. My dad worked as a voice trainer for many years, and he always let his clients read aloud from the same short (1 page) H.C.Andersen fairytale. That way he could easily avoid listening to the story and concentrate on listening to the voice.
And here, because we've heard that Sherlock Holmes quote so often, we can forget it and listen to the sound of the microphone instead.
Exactly - out of copyright text, comparable to my other mic reviews. It doesn’t have any special meaning to me, just the benefits above.
@@curtisjudd thanks for replying, Curtis. I understood why you use the same text over and over again as pointed out by the other people who commented, but I thought maybe it had some special significance for you. I guess not…😜
@curtis_judd the above poster is not Curtis Judd but a scam artist. Beware!
I may have missed it on your video, but how is the overall construction of mic? Is it all metal construction? Do you think it can take a little bit of abuse vs an all plastic mic? Thanks
Mostly metal and seems well constructed, yes. Definitely sturdier than the older VideoMics from other companies.
@@curtisjudd Thanks dude, placed an order for one through one of your links. Looking to use it for CES next week, hopefully it arrives before then *crossing fingers*. Happy New Year.
@@peastv happy recording!
Does this mic have latency free monitoring when using in the USB mode?
My D3 Pro finally came in the mail as a replacement after Amazon lost the package then this thing comes out lol GG great video as always Curtis.
Glad you received the replacement. Happy recording!
@@curtisjudd Hey Curtis I have been enjoying the mic so far so im (finally) gonna start booming it. I'm getting the amazon basics stand and the 1/4' Male to 5/8' Female Mic Screw Adapter, and some sandbags. Is there anything I'm missing? Thanks.
@@LycanVisuals That should do it! 👍
@@curtisjudd thanks.
Replaceable battery a big plus
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Absolutely!
Hi Curtis! I have a following problem: I sometimes use battery powered Rode NT-4 stereo mic as an on-top camera mic for simple music recording. I used it with Sony ZV-1 and Panasonic GH5S without any issue with a DIY 5-pin-XLR cable that has resistors removed instead of stock dampened cable that reduces signal strength by 12dB with some 1kOhm resistors. Thanks to that I get stronger signal and better noise performance. However, when I recently plugged that mic with that cable into the GH6, camera started to give overheat warning after several minutes and shut off despite being clold to touch. After a while I realised that the mic preamp must have overheated due to I/O impedance mismatch. Before it shut off the audio signal was clean, and when I used dampened cable there was inacceptable amount of noise. How can I manage this problem. Can I use some device that would increase impedance somewhere without introducing too much noise?
I’d add a ZOOM F3 rather than remove resistors from an adapter cable. That’d be a fairly straightforward way to get the impedances worked out.
I have zoom f2-bt, will it be a perfect pair for a 32bit float recorder such as this?
Should work, but I don’t have an F2 to test it.
Wait, did you mean two cables as TRS and TRSS? Versus what you said by a specific Sony cable?
No, both are TRRS cables, one is specifically for Sony cameras which supply less than 3V plugin power.
Hi, I can't decide between the D3 Pro and this D4, I've been looking in depth comparisons but I haven't found any good video besides this one. Can you please help me. I wan the best quality to shoot on exteriors. Help.
I’d go D4.
How would you compare it soundwise to the Movo X3 II?
More mid-range focused than the MOVO
I've the following scenario: Twocameras, Alpha 7s2 and Alpha 7s3, mounted on ronins rs2 with nano lockits attached on a Y breakout cable. Will this microphone power on and record scratch audio to one channel while I record audio TC to the other?
Not sure. Depends on whether the camera is still able to supply enough bias/plugin power through the Y cable to signal the D4 to power on.
If I put i recharcheable battery, can the mic itself charge it via usb c? I don’t want to keep on replacing my battery.
No. But these batteries will last many, many hours so it is t like you’ll be changing batteries every couple of hours.
Can I connect it to my Zoom using the long cable? some youtuber told that this mic doesn't turning ON with long cables and adapters.
Which long cable? I think you’ll need to try to confirm.
The D4 sounds notably better for self-noise than the D3, and in turn the NTG (listening on AirPods) which is a bit of a surprise given the cost difference (were these recordings all made with the GH5 preamp as low as possible and the mics as high as possible?)
Yes, GH5 input level was set to its lowest, -12 dB.
@@curtisjudd Thanks- that’s a surprise. Always very happy with the results from my NTG
@@PeterAlanJohnson and I’d keep on getting good results with that NTG if I were in your shoes. The differences are pretty small from the perspective of most audiences.
Please which of the cables should be used for Sony cameras? There doesn't seem to be a sony label on any of them.
Mine weren’t labeled either so I used the one which worked.
I want to buy a microphone to use as a wireless shotgun. DEITY V-Mic D4 - Comic CVM-VM20 - Godox VDS-M2. Which is the best?
I’d go with DEITY. I haven’t had good experiences with Godox and Comica mics.
I am getting a lot of static with the Dji mic and the D4. Any tips on how to prevent this?
Use a longer cable to get the transmitter farther away from the D4.
Thanks for your reply! I actually found that putting the transmitter on the microphone side of the cold shoe mount, instead of the backside (near the volume knob), solved the issue. This is with the standard short Dji supplied cable
@@orjan37 Nice job and thanks for sharing. Happy recording!
Any notice of this mic becoming g a stereo mic instead of a normal shock gun mic? In my bs1h it registers as a stereo mic and I can set it to be a stereo pick up pattern or shotgun but then no audio comes in. It works fine but the stereo setting makes the sensitive all the way around. I’ll test on other cameras
This is a mono only mic.
@@curtisjudd I mean in the Panasonic menu, it plugs in as a “special” mic where I can decide if it’s stereo or shotgun or super shotgun. I quit using the rode video mic ntg because sometimes when I hit record the audio would make a pop sound and no audio is recorded. Couldn’t trust it since it burned me so many times
@@ChrisFlores22 Ok, sorry. I'm not familiar with what the camera does with those settings so I'd suggest you do test recordings with each setting and see what you get.
@@curtisjudd in your video you used a gh5 so I was wondering if you knew what I was talking about or if it was just a Panasonic thing. Thanks 🙏🏻
@@ChrisFlores22 must be something new that isn't on the GH5 firmware I'm running.
I broke my whole head with one moment. tell me how you can connect Deity d4 with two radio lavalier microphones at the same time and so that it all works at the same time, is there such a device or transmission that supports connection to a sony a7iii camera?
A mixer, though there aren’t many of them made for mounting to cameras anymore. Maybe beachtek still has some?
@@curtisjudd um.. you can try. I looked at Comica ax1 with another eye
Can this mic work with recorder zoom h8 adapter Jack 6,3 ?
Don understand how work analog/digital output...
It will work into the H8's 3.5mm input, not the 6.3mm inputs.
Hi Curtis! I wonder if this mic has a same or maybe lower self noise than the Rode NT5? as always for my ASMR content purpose :D
Thanks in advance!
Have several already. Is there a particular wireless system you're considering?
@@curtisjudd Hmm, I have a Godox movelink M2 but I rarely use it in combination with my main mic. So I think wireless interference is not a problem since I will connect it direct to my camera.
My only concern is the self noise.. if the D4 at least has the same amount of self noise with NT5 then I can simplify my gear (now : NT5 to XLR cable to Smartrig+ to my camera)
@@adimology Sorry, replied to the wrong question. I don't know which has less self-noise. I'd start by checking the specs for each. If you use low cost audio adapters, that can also add to the noise floor.
Did you have digital audio interference with the d3 pro
None in our test.
Hi very good review - as allways! Does anyone know whether this mic works with the Atomos Ninja V? Thanks in advance!
It should work.
@@curtisjudd I ordered it and it does not. The Ninja is not able to wake the microphone from hibernation. Just like the D3. So I now use a wireless solution to connect the mics to the Ninja if needed.
@@carstenortlieb5040 Thanks for confirming 👍
Thanks!
🙏
Sir how you get this no noise footge I shoot with sony a7siii but I never got like this footage how please? Sometimes I think that maybe my camera have issues
Record in a quiet space, use sound blankets, boom the mic 35 cm from my mouth.
It's a big deal with this mic that you can use a AAA battery. My previous D3 Pro, being an internal battery, stopped working after less than two years of light use. I wrote up a whole review about my experience with Deity's customer service as a warning for anyone picking up their microphones.
For the first year of owning it, the mic worked perfectly. The sound quality was great, it was portable, it charged quickly, all the features from its sales pitch worked as described. I used it maybe 8 times in total and put it away in its hardcase, proud of my purchase.
After three months of sitting on my gear shelf, I brought out the mic to record some voiceover and found that it would not turn on. I attempted to charge it using my computer and it displayed a solid green light and would not turn on even when remaining plugged in. I plugged it into a wall socket, it did turn on when plugged in, but would not hold a charge if removed. While plugged into the wall, there was a present hiss as though the noise floor of the mic was raised. This made recording with it when tethered to a power source useless. The mic was now a $300 paperweight.
Of course, with all of these problems I googled them to see if there was a solution. I found a few reddit threads detailing the same design faults as well as some one-star reviews on Amazon with similar complaints.
Luckily, having ordered the mic through Deity’s website, I was eligible for their warranty. I soon discovered that this warranty is very limited, it requires you to have bought directly from them and not through a reseller like Amazon, Henry’s, or B&H. It also requires you to ship their product back to them at your expense, which would’ve cost me an additional $101 CAD on top of the purchase price. Beyond even that, there is an inspection fee if they determine that it was not worth their technician’s time to look over the product, which adds an additional $52 CAD to the purchase price. In short, if I wanted to have this microphone repaired and they decided it wasn’t damaged in the first place, it would bring the total cost of the broken microphone to $453 CAD.
I hope that the D4 will improve where the D3 Pro failed but I'll stick to sennheiser as I haven't had any problems with their mics.
Thanks for sharing.
$100 for a battery powered camera mic? Does anybody else offer that? I don't think so. This is a very interesting option, I think!
👍
Does anyone know what the sampling rate and bit depth are when recording via usb-c? Thanks in advance!
24-bit, 48kHz as I recall.
I've seen test of it connected to rode wireless go II and it was interfering with it, what do you say about it?
I have this mic with the wireless Rode and the only way I got interference is when you put the transmitter touching the top of the shotgun mic which no one will ever do. Mounting the Rode GO on the shock mount under the microphone causes absolutely no problems for me.
@@heroicvision thx for that info! I've ordered d4 and I already have wireless rode so that was my mainly concern
What Heroic Vison said - I haven’t had a problem with interference when mounted on the tail as designed.
My ntg mic doesn't work with my panasonic s5 it's either way too loud or only one side records lol
Sounds like a technical problem.
@@curtisjudd ever since they did the update for the ntg software specifically for Panasonic cameras it was all down hilll from there, but Geralled undown & camera conspiracies mention the s5 audio inputs are unusable for vlogging, maybe it’s a quality control amongst the units