Canon DM100 vs Rode SVM

I wanted to make a video comparison of these two mics, using loud source material.

The Canon DM100 is switchable to Shotgun MONO, 90 deg STEREO, and 120 deg STERO modes. I decided to try both modes for this test. The Rode SVM has a -10dB pad switch and a low cut switch. For this video, the pad switch is engaged and the low cut switch is not.

Camera is a Canon VIXIA HFS100. In the menus there's an option to attenuate the mic signal, in all three videos this feature is ON. With the attenuator turned off, the signal was slamming into compression and it sounded awful.

I like the Rode SVM the best. It's the most spacious and clear, while the DM100 seems to compress under the high volume. The DM100 is much smaller than the SVM, though, and mounts via Canon's "advanced hot shoe" thing on the camera, very handy. The SVM has a standard cold shoe mount and will not mount to the camera without an adapter... the SVM is also roughly the same size as the camcorder itself so doing so will be awkward indeed.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• canon
• DM100
• DM
• 100
• VIXIA
• HFS100
• HFS
• Rode
• SVM
• stereo video mic
• comparison

[mrwashur1991]

im sorry but the dm100 definitely owned the rode in this test..and I like rode...and I dont like proprietary equipment...

[mogwix]

@mrwashur1991 If you go through my uploads, the videos of "pappy johns band" are recorded with the DM-100. The videos of the "breeze band" are with the SVM. I think that's actually a better comparison.

[electrofunkednl]

@mogwux Cool, thanks buddy. That really clears it up for me. I understand that there can be some reberb from the room when using shotgun mics indoors, do you know if the VideoMic is suited for indoor situations? I have the HF S100 but really don't want to be stuck with the onboard mic, even though it is decent. Or any other 100-200 euro/dollar mics that are good for voice recording? Thanks again for the response!

[mogwix]

@electrofunkednl the videomic would work just fine indoors. It's tiny for a shotgun mic so don't expect it to pick up clear audio from a distance, your subject will need to be fairly close to the camera for great audio... a wide angle lens adapter helps. Since you're using it on the HFS100, keep in mind that you'll need to get a cold-shoe adapter for it, since the videomic won't mount directly to the tiny hot shoe on the canon. The canon DM100 does a good job with voice as well.

[electrofunkednl]

Have you tried the Rode VideoMic, I can't decide what to get.

[mogwix]

@electrofunkednl The VideoMic is a shotgun type microphone, whereas the Stereo VideoMic has two cardioid capsules inside that are positioned in XY format. The VideoMic works better where you'd want a quality on-camera solution for speech. I bought the SVM because I was planning to video tape concerts and the like, and wanted the stereo field of the SVM.

[sheogorath19]

on another note... good drummin :) i made my mind up and purchased a dm100 , thanks for the vid!

[1Icyman]

I agree, the DM-100 blew the Rode mic away. It just sounded clearer.

[kineticor]

Interesting vid, still not sure if the rode is worth the extra nugget, plus i got distracted by the awesome drum solo ><

[GabeAndJabba]

thank you , this is th only vid on youtube testing a mic with drums , thanks :)