Hi Mike. I think it's important to emphasise that shotgun mics should NOT be used in untreated spaces. While tighter polar patterns are ideal for reducing reverb, shotgun mics have interference tubes that can cause lots of problems in reverberant spaces. A supercardioid pencil mic will sound better in an untreated room than a shotgun mic will, as the interference tube will cause lots of phase issues with the reflections. If the room is treated, a shotgun mic is a great choice -- but any reflections in the room can cause a shotgun mic to sound very unnatural.
If you are referring specifically to Voiceover I totally agree. Not just Shotgun mics, but all microphones shouldn't be used in an untreated space. However, shotgun microphones are really made specifically for use in non-treated space. Not as a VO microphone, but for recording in general. Their whole function is around recording at a distance out in the open.
@@LetsTalkJF Sure, in a perfect world, all recording would be done in treated spaces. Unfortunately most of us live in the real world where indoor recording spaces tend to have some amount of reverb. In these spaces, shotgun mics should be the last choice. Untreated or poorly treated areas need microphones with tight polar patterns but NOT interference tubes. Outdoors is not an "untreated space". Acoustic treatment refers to the elimination or reduction of reflections from hard surfaces... of which there are none outdoors. An open field without wind is an ideal recording space, where I agree shotgun mics should be used. The presence of reverb immediately disqualifies shotguns from use.
@@MrBCook17 ALL microphones suffer in untreated rooms. Condenser mics like a tlm 103 are at least as bad as shotguns in untreated spaces because of their hyper sensitivity picking up reflections from all directions.
@@NoLefTurnUnStoned. The idea that condensers are somehow more susceptible to reflections than other types of mics is a myth unsupported by the laws of physics.
@@MrBCook17 A condenser shotgun like a mk416 picks up less reflections than a large diaphragm condenser precisely because of the laws of physics - ie the polar pattern restricts the amount of peripheral sound being picked up. An SM58 dynamic also picks up less peripheral, that’s why they’re used on stage with loud instruments around them. But surely you already know all that?
Mike, I remember seeing your Sennheiser 416 and Synco D2 comparison video from a couple year back. You convinced me to try out the Synco and I love it!! I’ve recorded dozens of audiobooks and Commercial spots on that puppy and it sounds amazing! Just a minor correction; the Synco is actually a “Hyper Cardioid,” which is even MORE focused than a Super Cardioid. Which I know you mentioned in your previous video. Keep up the great work Booth Junkie!!
@@StarWarsinMinuten That is correct! I honestly don't do much EQ on my end, other than maybe using a High Pass Filter, rolling off the lower frequencies -12db at 80 Hz. For auditions, I can just normalize everything to -1db and the self-noise of the mic is so low, my noise floor is still below -60db. It's a seriously great microphone; especially if you're on a budget.
Hey Mike. First, thanks for presenting high value information to the both the VO and TH-cam creator communities. I’ve been on the fence about the Synco but this video has me sold. Secondly, I can appreciate the effort put into increasing the production value of your videos. Thanks again!
I have always found it funny that they call them "shotgun microphones". Shot guns spray a wide pattern but these mics cover a tight precision area. Maybe the should have been named "sniper microphones" ? 😊
Inform yourself a bit more before you claim knowledge you don't have. At typical home defense situations with a normal modern shotgun you will not have any spread bigger than a fist. and that's at the far end of engagement ranges.
Mike, thanks again for the coaching session a few weeks ago. I got so much out of it! Second, great use of B+W to make points about 'mics out of frame'. Keep doing what you do, you're an asset to all of us trying to be you.
Thanks Mike! Great stuff. For my VO work I usually use a Sennheiser MK4 I’ve had for years. I also often pull out my CAD e100 that I actually got from you several years ago in a mic swap for the CAD 300. That being said, a friend recently cleared out his studio as he was retiring and gifted me an AT875r he found that he’d never opened. This short shotgun mic sounds amazing. I was shocked at the sound it gives my voice. I’ve used it a couple of times for clients with no complaints. Just thought I’d let some of your fans know of this. The mic retails for around $175. Great little mic!
I purchased the Mic D2 after watching your initial review - I live in downtown Shanghai, so traffic noise is an issue, but the Synco helps significantly!
Once again... nicely done. I have been considering a new mic. Although I have leaned toward a non-shotgun, this video has put the Synco back on my preferred option list. Thanks for all of your great work, Mike. And nice use of that second angle/shot. AND thanks for not jump-cutting the heck out of the video.
I have one of these. Of course, you're very right about them not eliminating background noise. After doing a bit of VO work in my apartment; I've had to concede to the fact that my neighborhood is just too loud. I've done so much to improve the noise isolation (including hefty window blockers); to do anymore would be impractical. I live in a studio; building a good whisper room would take half the space... I just hate that money and my life circumstances have become a barrier in yet another performance based industry. But that's the biz.
If you have a car, you can rig it for recording and go somewhere quiet. I did that before I moved to somewhere amazingly quiet. It worked I got the idea from Mike, he covered the idea a few years ago.
Hi Mike awesome and very useful tips with Synco D2, you actually inspired me to start reviewing mics on my channel. When I saw your first video on the Synco-D2 I bought one straight away (thanks you saved me over £1000 at the time). Highly inspired by you just missing those vocal chords you have. Thanks for being my inspiration.
Great video Mike. A lot of good information there. By the way your video skills are superior. The way that you worked the lighting to demonstrate the sound patterns for the microphone was top shelf.
I'm sorry, Mike, but you have the voice of God on EVERY mic, even when it's completely unprocessed. You can make the worst mics soun like great miics without even trying. I swear, there isnt a mic that sounds anything but fantastic on your voice. Im so jealous. There I said it. Plus you have way more hair than I do.
For standing in front of a camera then I use a cam shotgun mic (mke400). Sat at a table making video then a pencil mic (C02) instead as with a shotgun the reflections cut your voice up. For anything without video such as VO etc. then I use my Q2Us. Works for me.
Just started my VO journey. Watching all your Videos I like the idea of a Shotgun Mic. The biggest thing I dislike about my current setup is reading my copy.
Love this mic! I picked up the CAD E100s and then this D2 when it went on sale in Sept 2020. I use it for my tech classes boomed overhead and trainees and clients love the sound and when I step back to demo something to the side, say they are shocked they can still hear me.
I bought this mic based on your review video from a couple years ago. I simply love it for our podcast. I paired it with the scarlet i2 and really couldn't be happier with it. Oh.. Did i mention I have 7 aquariums in this room? No one ever could tell from our podcast recordings. Works like a charm!
I happen to have the same setup, but having issues. Do you have to have the gain super high in order to get any sort of usable recording level? Monitoring the D2 directly from the interface is super quiet unless the gain is nearly maxed out. Wondered if this was something you experienced.
I bought this mic after checking all these reviews. Its good but the low frequency noise is too much. I cut off at 80 Hz and its much better then. It works excellent outside when its dead quiet at late night, indoors its a different story. Bear in mind the sound treatment cost associated with using such a long microphone. Before that I got a samson c02 for 2 days. The audio tone was amazing for my voice when I placed it close to me. However it has lots of self noise. The synco d2 has less self noise but overall I regret returning the samson c02 cause the synco D2 is useless till I can treat my whole room. I'm still stuck with my old rode procaster which I want to avoid cause it comes in frame.
Love seeing the Synco in action. I picked one up after your first video reviewing it. I've used it a few times. More than once, I've had an engineer comment how much they "love the Sennheiser HK416" and I just chuckle to myself.
The Synco Mic D2 is so much better than it has any right to be at its price point. I picked one up last year on a whim and use it daily for video calls (doing exactly what you showed here of booming it just out of frame). I only do voice over work as a side hustle, but I've used the Synco in addition to other LDC's condensers with great success and happy clients.
Excellent explainer on the proper use of a shotgun, but with a curious twist. The audio produced outside the booth is much more pleasing than inside. Keep the beginner stuff coming, please. I’ve recently moved into an incurably noisy space and will take advantage of every tip I can get.
I've started using my shotgun mic for vocals too. It cuts through really well in songs. I believe Tony Visconti used one, alongside a condenser when recording Bowie
Thanks, lots of really good tips in the video. Oddly, I preferred the sound of the mic outside the booth. My go-to is a Sennheiser MKE 600. A fantastic mic for a very reasonable price.
Mike, great video with useful recommendations. The ceiling bar mount is an interesting idea, but do you get any foot traffic noises from above bleeding through?
I recently picked up the Synco Mic D2 ($168.00 Amazon lightening deal) and really like it, but there is something odd I've not come across before. When I connected the mic to my existing xlr cable, it didn't work. I tried 4 other known working xlr's and found the same thing. I then decided to try the included Synco pig tail and the mic worked fine. Testing further, I connected the Synco pig tail to my existing xlr cables and it works! Anyone else experience this? I did see a couple of comments saying something similar when I googled it.
Awesome video !!! Subscribed . . . Just recently purchased the black lion audio revolution 2x2 along w the mxl 990 condenser, sounds great but for some strange reason still seemed just a touch on the quiet end. Was wondering is there any affordable hardware that can help make condensers / dynamics sound even better ??? Was told the DBX 286s was a good buy . . .
I love your stuff and have been watch you for years. I was wondering if you could do a video sometime about using what mics are good to use in an untreated room with noise reflection for those that want to keep the mic out of frame. Curtis Judd has an older video about using Hypercardiod mics like the octova mk12 vs a standard shotgun mic. I thought with your expertise this would be a good topic for you. Anyway thanks for all the awesome content you create👍
Beautiful day or evening to you. Is your link for this mic to the newest version? If so how do I know the difference between the old version and the new version...is there a difference in build, sound etc? Your link takes me to Amazon and they cold be getting rid of the old versions. I appreciate and respect your time. Peace and Blessings
A different topic as I am setting up my first vocal booth now.... as I never built something like a wardrobe vocal booth before, or set up anything for treatment of a room, a question about what to do with the space behind oneself in an open wardrobe comes to mind right now as I am setting this up this week,.. If anyone got time to reply with some advice please write me back, I got a wardrobe where I can stick in my upper body in the upper-middle of the wardrobe where the hangers are.. but the bottom is full of pull-out-shelfs that cannot be removed.. so, how will this work out? the doors on my side I could add absorbers to as well of course, but straight behind me it will be open space to the room... shall I add some blankets covering the whole doors from up to down as well then? or will it be enough to just stick my head and upper body inte to wardrobe? the middl- upper "platform" of the wardrobe structure works well as a desk, so is kind of convenient to lean ones arms on that area while leaning the upper body into the wardrobe... -but yeah , is open space behind me.. not sure how to solve that!? any advice?! :)
Hey, Mike. I love seeing the levels behind you as you're using the mics. I was under the impression you want your mic to run as hot as it can without danger of clipping for whatever set distance you are for that particular session to try and capture as much quality of the sound as possible. Is this a bit misguided advice, or does it seem to be consistent with what you know? Thanks!
@Dracomies said it. It's the Hook Studios Octo 842s: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1181606-REG/the_hook_studios_thpf842s_front_address_pop_filter.html
when you first did the review on the Synco, alongside the Sennheiser, the quality was not as good as the Sennheiser. but here in this review, the quality surprisingly, is better. i hope its not the Sennheiser thats being used, to have thinking its the Synco. that wont be good for potential buyers
Mike, have you ever tried a Sennheiser ME66/K6 combo shotgun mic? I'm just wondering how it compares to the 416 or others in your opinion. That's the shotgun mic I have, I've had it for years. I'm just looking into voiceover after years of hosting a podcast, your videos are REALLY helpful!
Good day, sir, I watched all your reaper videos and they really helped a lot. I am new to the voice over acting scene. And I have a problem with reaper which I simply cannot figure out. It worked fine on my old laptop. I then purchased a new one and I followed all your instructions to set it up, but my voice in places sounds distorted, or muffled... I managed to somehow do away with that, but then I needed to wipe the laptop and reinstall reaper. The issue is back, and I have been battling for days to try get back to how it is supposed to sound, but I'm no closer to it than a week ago. I have no idea what I did last time. Do you have any ideas where I am going wrong?
I'm in Victoria, Australia & for years I've recorded in studios as the jobs came along, & now at my ripe old age I'm wanting to get with the times & set up a recording space at home.... but technology kills me!! Thanks for your great tutorials ! I was advised to get a Rode shotgun mic but I see in the comments that it isn't the best choice for rooms that aren't really well sound treated. Is there a better suggestion? What shock mount and pop filter works for the Rode [please? (It will just be mounted on my existing mic stand not a fancy-shmancy ceiling mount like you have!!!) Thanks
Hey Mike, in your first video comparing the Synco Mic D2 to the MKH-416 they sounded identical to me. It was really impressive. Then in another video you recommended another mic, the Deity S-mic 2, to someone who needed the sound of the 416 but on a budget... you bought 4 of those for that project. Which mic would you recommend that sounds the most like the MKH-416? If you had one MKH-416 and needed to add another mic but did not have the budget to buy another MKH-416 which microphone would you recommend? Would you recommend the Synco Mic D2, the deity S-mic 2 or something else? Thanks.
I guess the Audio Technica AT 875 R is a great choice too, no personal experience though 🙂 Some say that Synco D2 mic is a hit or miss as far as quality is concerned. Again, no personal experience :-)
Imo it's safer to have the expectation that none of these microphone sound like the MKH 416 but they are good microphones at their priceranges and in their own right. There's nothing that quite sounds like an MKH 416 (it's a very unique sound and it cuts through a mix) but the fact that the Synco doesn't sound like a 416 isn't necessarily a bad thing as the 416 can be very harsh and sibilant on some voices. It's best to think of the Deity and D2 as solid shotgun microphones but to remove outright the comparison to the 416. That's where you run into trouble and will be disappointed. Adding EQ to make it sound like another mic is pointless because you can do with other mics too. But out the box they sound nothing alike. (I have/had all these mics)
Hi Mike! First, I just want to say thank you so much for all of these incredible videos you do! I've been referencing your videos for about a year now as I began building my voicework portfolio as a freelancer. Your time and dedication to helping people just like me has been instrumental in helping me progress as much as I have been able to. I got a wild hair... somewhere.... and decided to look at some agencies for representation - ya know just checking what kind of requirements they have to be considered and what not. Anyways, they all say "Broadcast Quality Home Studio" I was curious if you could maybe explain what exactly Broadcast Quality means and what it takes to get your home studio to said level? Or perhaps link me to the video where you've already covered this topic?
I hope this helps. Record in a space with no reflections or echos or external sounds like traffic, dog barking or birds. If a sound is quietly in the recording by the time the audio engineer has compressed it that sound will be right up with your voice. Use a large diaphragm condenser like a Neuman TL 103 or equivalent. Be careful of reflections from your script laptop or tablet screen into the back of the mic. Use a pop filter and be 2-4 inches away from mic. Straight on. For proximity effect, the mic should be 45 deg into corner of mouth to get close without poping ie talk past the mic. Record at 48khz 24bit into most any Digial Audio Workstation Reaper is almost free, Adobe Audition, cubase le, audacity, pro tools, wavelab le, etc with most any reasonable professional audio interface such as a scarlet 2i2, UAD volt steinberg ur22 mkii, the last two come with recording software bundled. The interface should have direct moitoring capability for you to hear yourself without delay. Record at an average of -18 to -12 db this allows headroom for peaks. Basic edit, send in 48 kHz 24bit wav to audio engineer. Your done. Reasonable professional closed back headphone should in the booth so you can hear clearly without bleed from the head phones into the mic. Traditionally sennheiser HD280pro, Beyerdynamic DT 770, Sony MDR 7506, Audio Technica M50x. These are not the best sounding headphones but do the job very well. Master the art of audio drop in's in your Daw. Ask an audio guy how to do it on your Daw. Enjoy
I left out the acoustic treatment. There are a few things to consider. If air gets in so will sound so seal your booth with regular calking. on the doors and windows just use those foam strips you buy on a roll. For the bottom of the door just put a strip of wood on the floor with the foam strip for the door to close against. Acoustic foam tiles are both expensive and inefficient, rather just use ferly dense fiber insulation from your local hardware store if in north America if anywhere else use 50kg/m3 density fiber insulation or rockwool on the walls and cover with cloth, the cloth is not important just that you can blow through it. I know its quit a checklist. enjoy
@@julesc8054 I appreciate it 😎 I'm in an acoustically treated, dedicated recording space, noise floor is -60dbs. I've been extremely fortunate while freelancing and have completed 1500+ projects - my learning curve was through the roof and I was able to invest pretty deeply pretty quickly - referencing Mike's videos all the way through. It sounds to me like I've probably hit the bare minimum requirements of "broadcast quality home studio" I'm sure with slight modifications and upgrades I could attempt to take my journey farther.
I record and mix voice overs and have done for 3 decades now in my country. I've just gone down this jurny having had to build my own studio at home. I don't have a completely sealed space and neibhorhood dogs and pigions are still an issue some times although not lately. The worst is when I find a dog barking in the recording after the voice artist has left. Then i sit with iZotope RX manually removing these sounds from the spectrograph. I'm doing a fair amount of remote work for clients editing and treating voice people send me. Remember the difference between pro and semi pro once you in a treated room is less about gear and more delivery, both technically and tallent. That is are you using your gear well and are the edits levels, pops, mouth clicks breaths and sibelance well controlled or is your mic selection accentuating any one of these An is the tambre of your voice complimented with your mic.
hey I need help with something, I want to upgrade my microphone and I'm trying to decide between Synco D2 , RE 320 or the Azden 3500L, which one do you think has the best sound. I make videos on my baseman for my TH-cam channel and also for clients who come to my studio to record audio for videos on social media. I have currently been using the Deity D3 PRO for almost 3 years and I want to have something better. thanks
@@knowyourjoe8826 The @soundspeeds review of the synco that compares against the deity (and the sennheimer) is somewhat ambiguous. so much of his review is outside with the bundled windscreen, which he describes as poor / obstructive.
@@larrymarso4492 Soundspeeds is another great channel. I agree with your assessment of that comparison. I am currently setting up a YT studio in a room and am looking for the better option for that application, indoor, somewhat controlled environment...(we have 2 lovable furry occasionally noise making machines...lol) and plan on creating mostly talking head, narrative and maybe, if things go well, some interview style content. The thing about Mike is that he could use two solo cups connected by a string and it would sound so good it would make me want to buy it. LOL. It will be interesting to see what he recommends. (hope it is not the solo cups....)
Hey love the ceiling rig. What is it? I have been looking for something like this. Can you point me in the right direction for something like this? Thx!
Mike, I know that you didn’t cover this particular subject in this video but I would really appreciate getting your opinion on the impact of AI in this field. As someone who’s only recently started taking seriously and began investing chunks of time and money into the craft, I’m really worried about how AI will shape the field. Am I overreacting in your opinion?
@@mamandapanda185 Oh wow. I know this is an old comment so thanks for that info. I’ve seen a few articles on this but none coming from actual VA’s. I wanted to hear his input. Thanks!
I purchased this mic, after reading many good reviews about it, people were comparing it to the MKH416. This microphone is not even close to the Sennheiser, the differences are enormous, the sensitivity is not even comparable to that of 416, Synco D2 has no character, it sounded muddy, with no soul. I wasted 200$... Just a warning for whomever planning to invest their hard earned money on a microphone, this is not an alternative to the MKH 416, not even close to it, it sounded just like a 100$ microphone in a decent package. good luck!
@@mamandapanda185 EQ will never bring this toy to the level of the mkh 416, you can use a plugin chain to make this toy sound acceptable, but it will never get close to a decent 1000$ mic.
@@mamandapanda185 sorry bro I never meant to be rude, but what I hate most about youtube reviews, are false advertisements, or paid reviews that shows a product to be all perfect, and in fact it is less than mediocre.
@@craighoward5486 when I know what to look for and if I feel I have the slightest chance to make a positive impact........ plus it wasn't judging, it was "constructive" advice which I'm sure you can agree should be taken seriously, considering the probable consequences...
This is the tip that so many youtubers need. They all buy a yeti and don’t want to have it in frame. Keep up the great work my friend!
Mike, your videos have been so invaluable to me over the years as a narrative podcaster. I would love some vocal technique tips from you!
Hi Mike.
I think it's important to emphasise that shotgun mics should NOT be used in untreated spaces. While tighter polar patterns are ideal for reducing reverb, shotgun mics have interference tubes that can cause lots of problems in reverberant spaces. A supercardioid pencil mic will sound better in an untreated room than a shotgun mic will, as the interference tube will cause lots of phase issues with the reflections.
If the room is treated, a shotgun mic is a great choice -- but any reflections in the room can cause a shotgun mic to sound very unnatural.
If you are referring specifically to Voiceover I totally agree. Not just Shotgun mics, but all microphones shouldn't be used in an untreated space. However, shotgun microphones are really made specifically for use in non-treated space. Not as a VO microphone, but for recording in general. Their whole function is around recording at a distance out in the open.
@@LetsTalkJF Sure, in a perfect world, all recording would be done in treated spaces. Unfortunately most of us live in the real world where indoor recording spaces tend to have some amount of reverb. In these spaces, shotgun mics should be the last choice. Untreated or poorly treated areas need microphones with tight polar patterns but NOT interference tubes.
Outdoors is not an "untreated space". Acoustic treatment refers to the elimination or reduction of reflections from hard surfaces... of which there are none outdoors. An open field without wind is an ideal recording space, where I agree shotgun mics should be used. The presence of reverb immediately disqualifies shotguns from use.
@@MrBCook17
ALL microphones suffer in untreated rooms.
Condenser mics like a tlm 103 are at least as bad as shotguns in untreated spaces because of their hyper sensitivity picking up reflections from all directions.
@@NoLefTurnUnStoned. The idea that condensers are somehow more susceptible to reflections than other types of mics is a myth unsupported by the laws of physics.
@@MrBCook17
A condenser shotgun like a mk416 picks up less reflections than a large diaphragm condenser precisely because of the laws of physics - ie the polar pattern restricts the amount of peripheral sound being picked up.
An SM58 dynamic also picks up less peripheral, that’s why they’re used on stage with loud instruments around them.
But surely you already know all that?
Mike, I remember seeing your Sennheiser 416 and Synco D2 comparison video from a couple year back. You convinced me to try out the Synco and I love it!! I’ve recorded dozens of audiobooks and Commercial spots on that puppy and it sounds amazing! Just a minor correction; the Synco is actually a “Hyper Cardioid,” which is even MORE focused than a Super Cardioid. Which I know you mentioned in your previous video. Keep up the great work Booth Junkie!!
Is that correct that you used a d2 for voiceover work? What eq setting did used?
@@StarWarsinMinuten That is correct! I honestly don't do much EQ on my end, other than maybe using a High Pass Filter, rolling off the lower frequencies -12db at 80 Hz. For auditions, I can just normalize everything to -1db and the self-noise of the mic is so low, my noise floor is still below -60db. It's a seriously great microphone; especially if you're on a budget.
@@prestongeer3211 did you uploaded some
example auditions ?
Hey Mike. First, thanks for presenting high value information to the both the VO and TH-cam creator communities. I’ve been on the fence about the Synco but this video has me sold. Secondly, I can appreciate the effort put into increasing the production value of your videos. Thanks again!
I have always found it funny that they call them "shotgun microphones". Shot guns spray a wide pattern but these mics cover a tight precision area. Maybe the should have been named "sniper microphones" ? 😊
Would that make the Sennheiser MKH416 a “high capacity assault sniper microphoone?” 😂
Inform yourself a bit more before you claim knowledge you don't have. At typical home defense situations with a normal modern shotgun you will not have any spread bigger than a fist. and that's at the far end of engagement ranges.
Rifle microphone is legitimately another name for a shotgun mic, but somehow less frequently used.
Mike sounds good on anything. the exception proves the rule.
Mike, thanks again for the coaching session a few weeks ago. I got so much out of it! Second, great use of B+W to make points about 'mics out of frame'. Keep doing what you do, you're an asset to all of us trying to be you.
Thanks!
Thanks Mike! Great stuff. For my VO work I usually use a Sennheiser MK4 I’ve had for years. I also often pull out my CAD e100 that I actually got from you several years ago in a mic swap for the CAD 300. That being said, a friend recently cleared out his studio as he was retiring and gifted me an AT875r he found that he’d never opened. This short shotgun mic sounds amazing. I was shocked at the sound it gives my voice. I’ve used it a couple of times for clients with no complaints. Just thought I’d let some of your fans know of this. The mic retails for around $175. Great little mic!
I purchased the Mic D2 after watching your initial review - I live in downtown Shanghai, so traffic noise is an issue, but the Synco helps significantly!
Once again... nicely done. I have been considering a new mic. Although I have leaned toward a non-shotgun, this video has put the Synco back on my preferred option list. Thanks for all of your great work, Mike. And nice use of that second angle/shot. AND thanks for not jump-cutting the heck out of the video.
I have one of these. Of course, you're very right about them not eliminating background noise. After doing a bit of VO work in my apartment; I've had to concede to the fact that my neighborhood is just too loud. I've done so much to improve the noise isolation (including hefty window blockers); to do anymore would be impractical. I live in a studio; building a good whisper room would take half the space...
I just hate that money and my life circumstances have become a barrier in yet another performance based industry. But that's the biz.
If you have a car, you can rig it for recording and go somewhere quiet. I did that before I moved to somewhere amazingly quiet. It worked
I got the idea from Mike, he covered the idea a few years ago.
Why don't you use a dynamic microphone for your voice-overs? They are much less sensitive and will help you a lot at eliminating background noise.
Hi Mike awesome and very useful tips with Synco D2, you actually inspired me to start reviewing mics on my channel.
When I saw your first video on the Synco-D2 I bought one straight away (thanks you saved me over £1000 at the time).
Highly inspired by you just missing those vocal chords you have.
Thanks for being my inspiration.
The production on this really assists in demonstrating what you're talking about and pulling attention to what you want it to. Great job!
I keep reading how the Synco is hit or miss as to quality. Love to see you compare the Synco to the AT 875R.
No one has made a video about shotgun mics and podcasting, Ive looked, good job!
Great video Mike. A lot of good information there. By the way your video skills are superior. The way that you worked the lighting to demonstrate the sound patterns for the microphone was top shelf.
Thanks!
Thanks Mike… I really love your help with all things recorded!
The D2 was my big step up before my TLM 103.
It's a great piece of hardware!
I'm sorry, Mike, but you have the voice of God on EVERY mic, even when it's completely unprocessed. You can make the worst mics soun like great miics without even trying. I swear, there isnt a mic that sounds anything but fantastic on your voice. Im so jealous. There I said it. Plus you have way more hair than I do.
Pointing the mic down is exactly what I need to do! I have nose whistles and extraneous mouth noise. I never thought to do this, TY Mike!
This man is the BEST!
For standing in front of a camera then I use a cam shotgun mic (mke400). Sat at a table making video then a pencil mic (C02) instead as with a shotgun the reflections cut your voice up. For anything without video such as VO etc. then I use my Q2Us. Works for me.
Just started my VO journey. Watching all your Videos I like the idea of a Shotgun Mic. The biggest thing I dislike about my current setup is reading my copy.
You are giving efficient advices. I am learning a lot evry time I watch one of your great video. Thank you for the quality of your content !
Very useful and practical. Thank you.
Love your voice. You are my go to guy since 2020. And I am a sound nut ! Thank you so much for sharing your talent !
Love this mic! I picked up the CAD E100s and then this D2 when it went on sale in Sept 2020. I use it for my tech classes boomed overhead and trainees and clients love the sound and when I step back to demo something to the side, say they are shocked they can still hear me.
I bought this mic based on your review video from a couple years ago. I simply love it for our podcast. I paired it with the scarlet i2 and really couldn't be happier with it. Oh.. Did i mention I have 7 aquariums in this room? No one ever could tell from our podcast recordings. Works like a charm!
I happen to have the same setup, but having issues. Do you have to have the gain super high in order to get any sort of usable recording level? Monitoring the D2 directly from the interface is super quiet unless the gain is nearly maxed out. Wondered if this was something you experienced.
Using the MKH-416 in my home: the same model I used with Chuck Duran!
I bought this mic after checking all these reviews. Its good but the low frequency noise is too much. I cut off at 80 Hz and its much better then. It works excellent outside when its dead quiet at late night, indoors its a different story. Bear in mind the sound treatment cost associated with using such a long microphone. Before that I got a samson c02 for 2 days. The audio tone was amazing for my voice when I placed it close to me. However it has lots of self noise. The synco d2 has less self noise but overall I regret returning the samson c02 cause the synco D2 is useless till I can treat my whole room. I'm still stuck with my old rode procaster which I want to avoid cause it comes in frame.
What's the best shotgun mic for someone that has a semi treated living room?
Love seeing the Synco in action. I picked one up after your first video reviewing it. I've used it a few times. More than once, I've had an engineer comment how much they "love the Sennheiser HK416" and I just chuckle to myself.
;-)
The Synco D2 is amazing! Thanks Mike!
🏆Love the gold nugget of info suggesting the mic should be placed above to hear less breath sounds!
I bought one of these after seeing your last video on it, I didn't regret it.
Wow! Loving the production values in your new place (also great content as always).
The Synco Mic D2 is so much better than it has any right to be at its price point. I picked one up last year on a whim and use it daily for video calls (doing exactly what you showed here of booming it just out of frame). I only do voice over work as a side hustle, but I've used the Synco in addition to other LDC's condensers with great success and happy clients.
Excellent explainer on the proper use of a shotgun, but with a curious twist. The audio produced outside the booth is much more pleasing than inside. Keep the beginner stuff coming, please. I’ve recently moved into an incurably noisy space and will take advantage of every tip I can get.
Thank you for this, Mike! Another excellent video!
Thanks for such an awesome tutorial/tips! The new editing is really great. One of my favorite new videos, congrats Mike!
I've started using my shotgun mic for vocals too. It cuts through really well in songs. I believe Tony Visconti used one, alongside a condenser when recording Bowie
This is the one I bought after our talk a few months back. I'm moving soon so I'll be able to set up a space and hopefully do some more recording
Thanks, lots of really good tips in the video. Oddly, I preferred the sound of the mic outside the booth. My go-to is a Sennheiser MKE 600. A fantastic mic for a very reasonable price.
Thank you for this video 👍
I got a Rodecaster Pro 2 recently. Maybe you can do a video on your processing settings for voice over.
Mike as usual your information is the extremely helpful. thank you for your hard work!
Nice effects in this video. Also, this is a great mic for this application.
Mike, great video with useful recommendations. The ceiling bar mount is an interesting idea, but do you get any foot traffic noises from above bleeding through?
sir your videos are a god send
You are the Mike in the room 😂
After getting all these free shotgun mics sent you shall be known as "Shotgun Mike" henceforth lol thanks for sharing, appreciate it as always.
My dog snores....If I have an open mic.....people think it's me....Hahahhah.
;)
I recently picked up the Synco Mic D2 ($168.00 Amazon lightening deal) and really like it, but there is something odd I've not come across before. When I connected the mic to my existing xlr cable, it didn't work. I tried 4 other known working xlr's and found the same thing. I then decided to try the included Synco pig tail and the mic worked fine. Testing further, I connected the Synco pig tail to my existing xlr cables and it works! Anyone else experience this? I did see a couple of comments saying something similar when I googled it.
Awesome video !!! Subscribed . . . Just recently purchased the black lion audio revolution 2x2 along w the mxl 990 condenser, sounds great but for some strange reason still seemed just a touch on the quiet end. Was wondering is there any affordable hardware that can help make condensers / dynamics sound even better ??? Was told the DBX 286s was a good buy . . .
Very nice video! Would the Syncho D2 need a Fethead or cloudlifter to boost gain if going into a Tascam D60D. Thank you.
I love your stuff and have been watch you for years. I was wondering if you could do a video sometime about using what mics are good to use in an untreated room with noise reflection for those that want to keep the mic out of frame. Curtis Judd has an older video about using Hypercardiod mics like the octova mk12 vs a standard shotgun mic. I thought with your expertise this would be a good topic for you. Anyway thanks for all the awesome content you create👍
Beautiful day or evening to you.
Is your link for this mic to the newest version? If so how do I know the difference between the old version and the new version...is there a difference in build, sound etc?
Your link takes me to Amazon and they cold be getting rid of the old versions.
I appreciate and respect your time.
Peace and Blessings
I've read that phasing issues can happen in untreated rooms with these types of mics. Is this your experience and how do you deal with that?
Mike thank you for great review of Shotgun mic. Helpful for me as yt creator :)
Could you inform me what is the light hooked up on your ceiling ?
Love you videos Mike!!!!
A different topic as I am setting up my first vocal booth now....
as I never built something like a wardrobe vocal booth before, or set up anything for treatment of a room, a question about what to do with the space behind oneself in an open wardrobe comes to mind right now as I am setting this up this week,..
If anyone got time to reply with some advice please write me back,
I got a wardrobe where I can stick in my upper body in the upper-middle of the wardrobe where the hangers are.. but the bottom is full of pull-out-shelfs that cannot be removed..
so, how will this work out?
the doors on my side I could add absorbers to as well of course, but straight behind me it will be open space to the room...
shall I add some blankets covering the whole doors from up to down as well then?
or will it be enough to just stick my head and upper body inte to wardrobe?
the middl- upper "platform" of the wardrobe structure works well as a desk, so is kind of convenient to lean ones arms on that area while leaning the upper body into the wardrobe...
-but yeah , is open space behind me.. not sure how to solve that!? any advice?! :)
Great video...Love your work...
It seems to have a bit of sibilance. I know your not using effects. Is this to be expected without effects? Thanks.
Wow, what a helpful and informative channel!
Hey, Mike. I love seeing the levels behind you as you're using the mics. I was under the impression you want your mic to run as hot as it can without danger of clipping for whatever set distance you are for that particular session to try and capture as much quality of the sound as possible. Is this a bit misguided advice, or does it seem to be consistent with what you know? Thanks!
Do you think that is a good microphone for TV Affiliate voice over or Radio Imaging, Promos etc?
7:45 - Where can I buy this shotgun type pop-filter? I've been looking for it for ages.
Hook Studios Octo
@Dracomies said it. It's the Hook Studios Octo 842s: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1181606-REG/the_hook_studios_thpf842s_front_address_pop_filter.html
I am in love with the sound of the LEWITT 540 Subzero. Do these mics each sit in their own category or is one significantly better?
when you first did the review on the Synco, alongside the Sennheiser, the quality was not as good as the Sennheiser. but here in this review, the quality surprisingly, is better. i hope its not the Sennheiser thats being used, to have thinking its the Synco. that wont be good for potential buyers
Loved the lavaliere usage clips. Have you ever done an infomercial?
mine is mega sensitive though, it picks up my breathing and mouth noise though.. what am I doing wrong?
Mike, have you ever tried a Sennheiser ME66/K6 combo shotgun mic? I'm just wondering how it compares to the 416 or others in your opinion. That's the shotgun mic I have, I've had it for years. I'm just looking into voiceover after years of hosting a podcast, your videos are REALLY helpful!
Dam I prefer the syncho d2 over the rode ntg3. :) like when your my opinion ;)
Nice
And how far are you from your camera ? (I also have a Sony a)
Great video! I have a sennheiser mke 600. I’ve heard it referred to as the “poor man’s 416.” It does a great job. Have you used it?
⭐️
Good day, sir, I watched all your reaper videos and they really helped a lot. I am new to the voice over acting scene. And I have a problem with reaper which I simply cannot figure out. It worked fine on my old laptop. I then purchased a new one and I followed all your instructions to set it up, but my voice in places sounds distorted, or muffled... I managed to somehow do away with that, but then I needed to wipe the laptop and reinstall reaper. The issue is back, and I have been battling for days to try get back to how it is supposed to sound, but I'm no closer to it than a week ago. I have no idea what I did last time. Do you have any ideas where I am going wrong?
I'm in Victoria, Australia & for years I've recorded in studios as the jobs came along, & now at my ripe old age I'm wanting to get with the times & set up a recording space at home.... but technology kills me!! Thanks for your great tutorials ! I was advised to get a Rode shotgun mic but I see in the comments that it isn't the best choice for rooms that aren't really well sound treated. Is there a better suggestion? What shock mount and pop filter works for the Rode [please? (It will just be mounted on my existing mic stand not a fancy-shmancy ceiling mount like you have!!!) Thanks
Hey Mike, in your first video comparing the Synco Mic D2 to the MKH-416 they sounded identical to me. It was really impressive. Then in another video you recommended another mic, the Deity S-mic 2, to someone who needed the sound of the 416 but on a budget... you bought 4 of those for that project. Which mic would you recommend that sounds the most like the MKH-416? If you had one MKH-416 and needed to add another mic but did not have the budget to buy another MKH-416 which microphone would you recommend? Would you recommend the Synco Mic D2, the deity S-mic 2 or something else? Thanks.
I guess the Audio Technica AT 875 R is a great choice too, no personal experience though 🙂 Some say that Synco D2 mic is a hit or miss as far as quality is concerned. Again, no personal experience :-)
@@LukasKarman Thanks!
Imo it's safer to have the expectation that none of these microphone sound like the MKH 416 but they are good microphones at their priceranges and in their own right. There's nothing that quite sounds like an MKH 416 (it's a very unique sound and it cuts through a mix) but the fact that the Synco doesn't sound like a 416 isn't necessarily a bad thing as the 416 can be very harsh and sibilant on some voices. It's best to think of the Deity and D2 as solid shotgun microphones but to remove outright the comparison to the 416. That's where you run into trouble and will be disappointed. Adding EQ to make it sound like another mic is pointless because you can do with other mics too. But out the box they sound nothing alike. (I have/had all these mics)
@@Dracomies Thanks for the info!
Hi Mike!
First, I just want to say thank you so much for all of these incredible videos you do! I've been referencing your videos for about a year now as I began building my voicework portfolio as a freelancer. Your time and dedication to helping people just like me has been instrumental in helping me progress as much as I have been able to.
I got a wild hair... somewhere.... and decided to look at some agencies for representation - ya know just checking what kind of requirements they have to be considered and what not.
Anyways, they all say "Broadcast Quality Home Studio" I was curious if you could maybe explain what exactly Broadcast Quality means and what it takes to get your home studio to said level? Or perhaps link me to the video where you've already covered this topic?
I hope this helps.
Record in a space with no reflections or echos or external sounds like traffic, dog barking or birds. If a sound is quietly in the recording by the time the audio engineer has compressed it that sound will be right up with your voice. Use a large diaphragm condenser like a Neuman TL 103 or equivalent. Be careful of reflections from your script laptop or tablet screen into the back of the mic. Use a pop filter and be 2-4 inches away from mic. Straight on. For proximity effect, the mic should be 45 deg into corner of mouth to get close without poping ie talk past the mic.
Record at 48khz 24bit into most any Digial Audio Workstation Reaper is almost free, Adobe Audition, cubase le, audacity, pro tools, wavelab le, etc with most any reasonable professional audio interface such as a scarlet 2i2, UAD volt steinberg ur22 mkii, the last two come with recording software bundled. The interface should have direct moitoring capability for you to hear yourself without delay.
Record at an average of -18 to -12 db this allows headroom for peaks. Basic edit, send in 48 kHz 24bit wav to audio engineer.
Your done.
Reasonable professional closed back headphone should in the booth so you can hear clearly without bleed from the head phones into the mic.
Traditionally sennheiser HD280pro, Beyerdynamic DT 770, Sony MDR 7506, Audio Technica M50x. These are not the best sounding headphones but do the job very well.
Master the art of audio drop in's in your Daw. Ask an audio guy how to do it on your Daw.
Enjoy
@@julesc8054 Thank you for the information. According to that info, I check the boxes. 😎
I left out the acoustic treatment. There are a few things to consider. If air gets in so will sound so seal your booth with regular calking. on the doors and windows just use those foam strips you buy on a roll. For the bottom of the door just put a strip of wood on the floor with the foam strip for the door to close against. Acoustic foam tiles are both expensive and inefficient, rather just use ferly dense fiber insulation from your local hardware store if in north America if anywhere else use 50kg/m3 density fiber insulation or rockwool on the walls and cover with cloth, the cloth is not important just that you can blow through it.
I know its quit a checklist.
enjoy
@@julesc8054 I appreciate it 😎 I'm in an acoustically treated, dedicated recording space, noise floor is -60dbs. I've been extremely fortunate while freelancing and have completed 1500+ projects - my learning curve was through the roof and I was able to invest pretty deeply pretty quickly - referencing Mike's videos all the way through. It sounds to me like I've probably hit the bare minimum requirements of "broadcast quality home studio" I'm sure with slight modifications and upgrades I could attempt to take my journey farther.
I record and mix voice overs and have done for 3 decades now in my country. I've just gone down this jurny having had to build my own studio at home. I don't have a completely sealed space and neibhorhood dogs and pigions are still an issue some times although not lately. The worst is when I find a dog barking in the recording after the voice artist has left. Then i sit with iZotope RX manually removing these sounds from the spectrograph.
I'm doing a fair amount of remote work for clients editing and treating voice people send me.
Remember the difference between pro and semi pro once you in a treated room is less about gear and more delivery, both technically and tallent. That is are you using your gear well and are the edits levels, pops, mouth clicks breaths and sibelance well controlled or is your mic selection accentuating any one of these An is the tambre of your voice complimented with your mic.
Hi Mike, what software are you using for video editing? That was a nice visual vignette you put in to draw attention to one part of the image. Thanks.
DaVinci Resolve. I'm a filthy casual at it, but I'm getting the hang of it.
hey I need help with something, I want to upgrade my microphone and I'm trying to decide between Synco D2 , RE 320 or the Azden 3500L, which one do you think has the best sound.
I make videos on my baseman for my TH-cam channel and also for clients who come to my studio to record audio for videos on social media.
I have currently been using the Deity D3 PRO for almost 3 years and I want to have something better. thanks
I'm a voice artist and use the re320 with the isovox2. It's real good.
Hey Mike! What's the pop filter you had attached to the shotgun mic in your booth? Got an affiliate link?
Hook Studios Octo-842S
Synco or Deity?
I have the same question. Deity S-Mic 2 or this one?
I had the exact same question... I wish I had seen this comment before posting mine... 🙄.... I went into a lot more detail to ask it...
@@knowyourjoe8826 The @soundspeeds review of the synco that compares against the deity (and the sennheimer) is somewhat ambiguous. so much of his review is outside with the bundled windscreen, which he describes as poor / obstructive.
@@larrymarso4492 Soundspeeds is another great channel. I agree with your assessment of that comparison. I am currently setting up a YT studio in a room and am looking for the better option for that application, indoor, somewhat controlled environment...(we have 2 lovable furry occasionally noise making machines...lol) and plan on creating mostly talking head, narrative and maybe, if things go well, some interview style content. The thing about Mike is that he could use two solo cups connected by a string and it would sound so good it would make me want to buy it. LOL. It will be interesting to see what he recommends. (hope it is not the solo cups....)
Hey love the ceiling rig. What is it? I have been looking for something like this. Can you point me in the right direction for something like this? Thx!
While not entirely the same you can get the MY900 Ceiling Bar for Mics and Lights
Home-made using Electrical EMT pipe and Maker Pipe connections. Very inexpensive; makerpipe.com/
Mike, I know that you didn’t cover this particular subject in this video but I would really appreciate getting your opinion on the impact of AI in this field. As someone who’s only recently started taking seriously and began investing chunks of time and money into the craft, I’m really worried about how AI will shape the field. Am I overreacting in your opinion?
he talked about it 3 months ago on The VO Booth Camp channel
@@mamandapanda185 Oh wow. I know this is an old comment so thanks for that info. I’ve seen a few articles on this but none coming from actual VA’s. I wanted to hear his input. Thanks!
I purchased this mic, after reading many good reviews about it, people were comparing it to the MKH416.
This microphone is not even close to the Sennheiser, the differences are enormous, the sensitivity is not even comparable to that of 416, Synco D2 has no character, it sounded muddy, with no soul.
I wasted 200$... Just a warning for whomever planning to invest their hard earned money on a microphone, this is not an alternative to the MKH 416, not even close to it, it sounded just like a 100$ microphone in a decent package. good luck!
Mike did a comparison video where he discussed the slight need for EQ when using it
@@mamandapanda185 EQ will never bring this toy to the level of the mkh 416, you can use a plugin chain to make this toy sound acceptable, but it will never get close to a decent 1000$ mic.
@@BayanChacra Geez. Are you sticking your pinky out as you type this?
@@mamandapanda185 sorry bro I never meant to be rude, but what I hate most about youtube reviews, are false advertisements, or paid reviews that shows a product to be all perfect, and in fact it is less than mediocre.
Alot of mouth click noises in this vid.
Shotgun mics are not very good for indoor recording. And this mic is not good at all in terms of sensitivity and quality
You're slowly killing yourself Mike, you're going to need to make some foundational changes and exercise some conscious self control.
Judge much?
@@craighoward5486 when I know what to look for and if I feel I have the slightest chance to make a positive impact........ plus it wasn't judging, it was "constructive" advice which I'm sure you can agree should be taken seriously, considering the probable consequences...