Canon 5d Mark II: Røde Stereo and Mono VideoMic Indoor Audio Comparison

[NewAgeDirector]

Great video keep up the good work.

[ponderlicious]

Very helpful. Thanks for posting.

[kathyedwardslhz]

@TheAFROMUSIC i feel this distance concerning simply semi expert and expert is smaller now. d7000 is perhaps all we need. visit... freedslr . c0m change 0 with o and get the chance to bring home a new Nikon D7000

[31183production]

Hi, I bought a Rode StereoMic and I would like to know more about high pass switch, when to use it and why? The high pass filter is OFF when is in up (looking up) position right? and is ON when you put the switch in the down position? Is this correct??? Let me know, thanks!

[popcorny91]

i need a mike to pick up live music at weddings and gigs...which would be better for me?

[bobcranehomevids]

if you're going to buy one mic for your dslr or vid cam then it needs to be a mono shotgun the rode videomic is about the best under 200 buck, still terrible but useable, stereo never required, unless you want some ambience BUT every single artist in your itunes collection recorded their albums vocals and with the exception of maybe some accoustic guitars and possibly drums every track is recorded MONO using mono mics, every film you've ever seen captured the dialogue with mono the ADR was mono

[genobambino]

@bobcranehomevids @bobcranehomevids Individual tracks of music are recorded in mono but are mastered for a stereo final product. Please let me repeat: This comparison is for amateur owners of video DSLRs who want better sound than the built-in mic with no fuss. If I were shooting my kid reciting a poem I'd use the mono mic. If I were shooting my kid's band I'd use the stereo mic. If I were shooting Springsteen's band I'd use non-Rode mono mics and master them in post to two- and five-channels.

[EminentlyConvivial]

@bobcranehomevids Why are you using a video camera mic to record vocals and instrumentals... These mics are not designed for that in mind. Get a studio mic is you want to do that... fairly obvious.

[bobcranehomevids]

@EminentlyConvivial I'm not using a video camera mic to record vocals and instrumentals and that's to sarcastically quote you "fairly obvious" and would be very obvious if you read what I wrote which you didn't so troll along forrest gump.

[KevinIrwinFilms]

Excellent comparison :)

[therealkickers]

Thanks very much for your comparison. The stereo mic sounds strange with the high pass on. Not much of my style.I think I'll stick with the mono one.

Thanks again!

[matteorovella]

Thank you so much.

Oh... just something... do you wanna look like Steven Spielberg? :D ;)

[genobambino]

@matteorovella Yeah, but I have to settle for Brad Pitt.

(You're welcome!)

[powermichiel]

@matteorovella No man, its Eric Clapton from the 60's !

[genobambino]

@powermichiel Gee, thanks!

[PhotographyForNoobs]

i just got the rode stereo mic =) . its awsome. but batteries are not included. makes me kinda mad.

[genobambino]

@PhotographyForNoobs Gives you a chance to pick up some Sanyo Eneloop rechargeables with charger included. Way better than disposable.

[natg900]

Hey Geno,

if I wanted to shoot a short film with a similar mic, which would you recommend? Wouldn't be too much ambient noise, more dialogue based... I was thinking of going the mono Videomic... would you suggest otherwise?

[genobambino]

@natg900 Hi Nat, The mono VideoMic would be great for what you describe. If you think of it could you send a link to the final film so I can see/hear how it turned out? Good luck! g'o

[MrKeithF]

Thanks for making this video. The information was very helpful

[akadragon08]

Have you seen or ever tried the azden smx-10 stereo microphone? It's like having both of these mics in one. I don't know much about audio yet, but I am learning with my new 7D. I am thinking about getting the Zoom H4N. Thanks for posting it. It really helped me decided on which Rode to get along with my Zoom. If you know anything about the Azden please let me know.

[genobambino]

@akadragon08 I haven't seen the Azden but looked it up. Seems like a nice option for the price. Reviews say in spite of the appearance it's not a shotgun and doesn't have a real shockmount, which is important if you use IS (noisy!).

The thing to keep in mind is that, contrary to popular opinion, the mic in the 7D or 5D is not a total piece of crap so the outboard mic you get should be an order of magnitude better to make it worth the hassle.

The Zoom looks great. I have an Edirol and like it.

[SpeedFreakNO]

I was worried of the sound in the beginning :P The S-sound is aweful, and I'm planning on buying the Røde Stereo Videomic and this scared me :P

The Stereo Videomic sounds great. Better in the mid range IMO.

The high-pass filter made the stereo awful.

[genobambino]

@SpeedFreakNO It's a good mic—good sound. These audio tests I made are different in that they're recorded under horrible conditions, which for some reason I thought would be maybe more useful and definitely more entertaining. I should do quieter tests in future videos but I've been distracted by other arcana.

[fleetingdays]

I'm going to go with the Rode Stereo Mic. Thank you for posting this useful information!!

[andreasfurumo]

I just bought the Stereo Röde mic and when I hear the Röde mic it sounds like I bought the wrong one...

[genobambino]

andreasfurumo, It all comes down to your application and preference. The mono mic is popular and will work better in some situations and for some users.

[andreasfurumo]

@genobambino, I just ordered the mono one, so I got both of them... just in case!

Thanks for a great video!

[AILTVSHOW]

Are you talking to amatuers or what? If you go aout an buy a nice camera you again invest in a pfofessiobnal sound kit., record tgh sound separately and sync it to the video I am nocking rhode mikes They a are good I use them. Secondly Dialogue is always recorded in mono so please do not misslead people

[genobambino]

Ailtvshow, Yes I'm talking to amateurs. I doubt pros need a review like mine. The review is for people who want cool sound in an on-camera mic for the 5D II and don't have separate rigs for recording off-camera with dedicated mono dialogue mics and a boom operator. They want to stick a single solution on their camera's hotshoe and be done with it—dialogue and ambient sound. The Rode (not "Rhode") stereo mic does this well.

[TheunforgivingCam]

Do you have an external monitor? If yes what? Cause I'm thinking of buying the 7d so.

[genobambino]

Sorry for the delay. Nope, no external monitor as yet.

[sparkfun]

excellent work, thank you.

[chrisweaverstudio]

Thanks so much. Great info. I just purchased the stereo version. Looks like I'll be getting both eventually. Thanks again.

[genobambino]

Hi FoolsRushIn0,

If you have a boom for the walking scenes I'd suggest the StereoMic. If not, the VideoMic might be a tad better for isolating outdoor dialogue. But I'd favor the StereoMic if I could only buy one, as it's so versatile for other applications and sounds so darn good.

For a walking shot I'd also consider planting a digital recorder, like an Edirol or Olympus, on the actors or in boom proximity. You'd be happy with the StereoMic, though. The wind muff is great for outdoors.

[FoolsRushIn0]

This has been really helpful ive came back to it a few times. Me and my friends are just finalizing plans to film a short film in the holidays which includes a lot of classic walking dialogue and outdoor shots. Which or what mic would you suggest? Thanks a lot!

[genobambino]

Don't even get me started on my Edirol digital recorder or (get ready) my Rode Podcaster USB mic (talk about premium Aussie kit!).

[DaftWorld]

what would I use to shoot at a concert? Also what settings? thanks

[genobambino]

Daft: The StereoMic hands down. In my experience the VideoMic is only superior to the Stereo VideoMic when you need an isolating shotgun mic. In those cases, a clip-on lav is best anyway.

In almost all other cases the stereo version is more convincing. I once shot my kids dancing to the stereo and got as cd-like recording—like I laid on the mp3 track. And I recorded it lying on my back on a sofa in front of the right speaker, not even in the listening chair.

[DaftWorld]

great, thank you!

[DaftWorld]

thanks, I got the Rode Stereo Vid Mic today. I tested all settings out on my 5D mkII and I get this constant Hissing Noise in the background regardless if its quiet or loud. I tried all settings and connected it to the MIC IN terminal. any suggestions? thanks

[ploughstar27]

Thank you! This is so generous of you and so useful.

[genobambino]

Absent a lavalier, I'd probably use the mono mic for most interviews. But the stereo mic could work well enough for indoor interviews with the high pass filter engaged. Outdoors is trickier, but I'd like to try the stereo mic as its wind muff is way superior. I plan to shoot outdoor tests soon.

Both come with a wind muff. The mono version is just a foam sock. The stereo version is a cool dead-cat muff, as shown in the other video.

Good luck!

[Alaqsa21]

hey ! impressed by these tests. I would like to ask which one of the two microphones you would use for an indoor interview, outdoor interview...

Does it have some kind of coating to protect from wind noises ?

thanks