Rode Stereo VideoMic, Canon ZM-100, Sony 908C, Sony ZM-157, Sennheiser MKE-300 Mics Compared

David Ruether - [More information added 10/11/09] Comparing 5 camcorder microphones, the Rode Stereo VideoMic, Canon ZM-100, Sony 908C, Sony ZM-157 (2 mono mics paired for stereo, pointed slightly apart), and Sennheiser MKE-300 mono short-shotgun. The Rode comes with a "Deadkitten" furry wind screen, the Canon has a home-made foam screen added, the Sony has a Radio Shack foam screen added, and the Sennheiser has a Rycote furry wind screen added. There was no significant wind on the day I compared these, but as equipped here, the Rode, Canon, and Sennheiser are more resistant to wind problems than the others (but the 908C is excellent with a Rode "Deadkitten" added). The Rode and Canon (and Sennheiser and Sony 908C with an isolator added) are more resistant to camera handling noises than the dual Sonys. When checked, on some playback systems some slight hum can be heard on the Canon track, and its gain is low. This may have been caused by a low battery in the custom external box I made to power the mic (the mic has two cords - one for signal, the other for power). I edited the video to try to make the playback levels from the various microphones match as nearly as possible, although this may have resulted in occasional clipping. I find that voice is a good check for general microphone "sound", especially if the voice is a familiar one and the playback system is good. All microphones are connected to a Canon HV20 HD camcorder (please ignore the visuals - I made no attempt to frame well or hold the camera steady...! ;-).

I originally intended to let people come to their own conclusions, but I've had requests to give mine. After experience with these mics (using my purdy good PSB Alphas as computer speakers and some good but equalized AudioDynamics speakers for the large HD TV sound), I couldn't hear much difference between the mics except that the Canon had some hum and the dual Sonys were a tad less good. In use, the Canon is a pain (it needs a separate battery box for power - and the mic died soon after the test), but its isolation and wind resistance were good. The dual Sonys picked up a lot of wind and camcorder handling noise, and were the least good sounding (by a bit) of the bunch. The Rode, even with its relatively high mass and rubber band suspension (and with its "Dead Kitten" installed), proved to be still sensitive to some camcorder body handling "thunks" and LF wind noise - and its occasional sibilance on voice bothered me (it's now for sale...;-). I like the Sennheiser MKE-300 in every way (when used on the pair of isolators "stolen" from the dual Sony mics) except that it is quite bulky and it is mono (the newer MKE-400 is much smaller, and stereo/mono - but I know nothing else about it...). Which leaves the rather nice-sounding Sony 908C (with the "Dead Kitten" added, and mounted on the same isolators as the Sennheiser - but it has been recently discontinued, of course...), and it is also relatively cheap and small.

--DR

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Omni
• microphone
• Cardioid
• Short
• shotgun
• Microphone
• comparison
• Canon
• zm-100
• Sony
• 908c
• and
• zm-157
• Sennheiser
• MKE-300
• Rode
• SVM
• Stereo
• VideoMic

[PhenomenalWorld]

" the 908C is excellent with a Rode "Deadkitten" added". is there a specific Rode Deadkitten that fits perfectly and snugly and well upon the 908C?

Thanks! Marc

[drbob3]

@PhenomenalWorld - I think there is only one "Dead Kitten", made for the Rode microphone (it is $25 plus shipping from B&H Photo, and excellent on the Sony 908C.

--DR

[gotehorn]

The problem with this type of video is most people have crap for their PC sound system. Also YouTube isn't known for sound quality. But valiant effort. It was apparant that the Rodes sounded best. The video clarity is good for streaming video. I'd be curious to know what your upload settings were. Also your opinion on the best mic.

[drbob3]

See the expanded comments with this video for the latter. As for the former, it was uploaded as 1280x720p, but I don't recall the format (HDV or AVCHD), sorry.

--DR

[zimontoro]

the something-dude rocked! great comparison btw!

[Tinuserviceline]

@KRAFTWERK2K6 "MOAAAAR" - "more" :3

[showreel2]

@larspallesen

really? depends. for recording audio straight ahead only i could hear the speach and not so much surrounding sound. like when the girls were talking this mike picked up their words from quite far away and i could hear what they were saying. I own this mic and the mke400 and have to say the senheisser when set up on boom is slightly better than the rode (or at least as good )

[larspallesen]

The Sennheisers performance was disappointing. Surprising.

[esopxe]

I think the Rode has the slight edge.

[moreeazy]

I choose the rode stereomike