Comica VM40 Review: Worlds First 32bit Wireless Shotgun Mic!

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Wore my Dodgers hat in honor of World Series Champs 🏆🤘Let’s Go Dodgers!!!

[@AaronOverEverything]

Great review! I have been on the fence about purchasing / upgrading from my current VM20 I use in "studio". Might order just to review, and if it's nothing special, just send it back LOL

[@Comica.America]

Thanks for your professional video. At the end of your video you mentioned that the issue with our accessory shock mounts has been improved with the latest batch, we have added anti-slip pads to the mounts, which has nicely improved the issue you raised. Welcome to the purchase Comica VM40.

[@REMY.C.]

Did you enhance the mounts before the mic goes public or is it gonna be a lottery when one's buy it (some versions with pads and others without)?

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

Let me know if you would like a review from me. 👍🏻

[@Comica.America]

@@REMY.C. Thank you for your interest! Our subsequent products have been improved. If you have any quality issues that need to be addressed, please reach out to our customer service team. We are committed to continuously improving product quality to ensure a better experience for you!

[@Comica.America]

@@JohnPaulMusicUK Thank you for your enthusiastic support of our products! I will convey your proposal to our team, and we will continue to pay attention and welcome your suggestions, thank you for your understanding and support!

[@IamShopping]

Integrated battery? Dead on arrival. It's disgusting that other brands follow Rode and make disposable gadgets that become obsolete when internal battery degrades. And it'll happen fast if the mic is used daily. Not to mention producing the e-waste by literally needing to throw away the whole set just because the cheapest component degrades. BTW, what to do when you are in a field and the battery depletes? No option to just swap the battery in the mic and continue? Then, it literally becomes useless. Mics should serve for a decade, not a year or two like its cheapest component.

[@AutoJourney]

I've been considering switching to a shotgun mic instead of the DJI mics we currently use. I hadn't heard of Comica before, but this wireless mic seems like a really intriguing option. Thanks for the outdoor test and for highlighting the denoise features!

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Its a great budget options as far as wireless shotgun mics go! $249 USD is such a deal! Thanks for watching! 👍

[@FrederickHagan]

Nice work Ben. Finally someone reviewing this mic system... with an actual hands on review vs reading the spec sheet with b-roll and elevator music. Good job... thumbs up.... and subscribed. Thank you.

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Thanks man! 👏 this is the place for solid gear reviews and vibey elevator music! 😆

[@MommasBoyCooking]

Great video, loved when you did the 180 test with the mic ❤

[@southernguy35]

I just got this set up the other day and so far, it's really great. As you mentioned, it come in a soft body case that holds everything that comes with it and it comes with a lot. I'm not getting it to work at the moment and not sure why. I think it may be a computer issue of not using the co MEEK AH versus the regular built in mic on the laptop. Comes with a foam muff, wind muff, two short coiled cables to attach to a camera or whatever. There is a fantastic USB cable that has a substantial feel to the actual cable (not thin) and the ability to switch attachments on the cable from one size to another. I have a decent set of speakers on this computer. The one on the lower level I have hooked to a soundbar and small subwoofer which would make a bigger difference. I noticed a slight difference for the better on the 32 bit raw. The mixed sounded really good. I'll have to look at the instruction manual (which has small text by the way) but I didn't catch that you need to press both buttons on the mic to enter a mode to access the stored files. It may be in there but not sure. I'm going to have to run the batteries down on both and recharge putting them on the meter to check for capacity. When I got this set, I charged both but the receiver seems to now be at 75-80% while the mic is closer to full charge. Not sure why. I would have thought it'd be the other way around. One thing to think about: The receiver does 24 bit. That's only going to help you if your camera can record at 24 bit or higher. I'm sure most can these days but it might be worth checking. I'm not sure why anyone would want to use the receiver at 24 bit when the mic is 32? Perhaps redundancy if you can record and transmit? You do have the gain function on the receiver and one on the mic. There's also the ability to use it wired, if I understand correctly.

[@mikelo303]

What times to be alive. Such great small thing just 250 bucks!? Amazing!

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Its a really hard price to beat!

[@sacredknowledgetarot]

I'm sad to share that I bought the Comica VM-40 from Comica's Amazon store based on this review, and a few other reviews on youtube but when I opened my VM-40 box when arrived today, it had a used and damaged VM-30 and older (totally different) receiver along with a bunch of used accessories with obvious wear and tear. I purchased the mic because I have a performance to capture this weekend that needs the 32-bit float, and when I called Amazon they told me they can refund my money for a return, but there are no replacements available. So not only am I out my time and money ordering and dealing with their mistake, but I can't get a replacement and have to potentially give up the shoot (and $$$) this weekend because I couldn't get the mic I needed? I've never used Comica products before, but wanted to give them a chance (been using DJI and Hollyland), and I am appalled by this situation. Either someone scammed Amazon with a false return of older model product, which they didn't check, then resent out as new product, or Comica put the wrong product in the box from the factory (but it also has obvious damage, wear and tear, so I think it was used). Either way, not impressed that I have to deal with it unless Comica somehow steps up, cause Amazon sure isn't. And ironically, I would have likely given a good review to my 400k+ audience on KZbin but they didn't even send me the correct microphone! If Comica reads this, they can contact me via my business email on my KZbin channel.

[@TransplantHelper]

I love the 875, I had one years ago and sold it to “upgrade” I’ve never found a boom I liked better than the 875

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Such a solid microphone!! And the price just makes it that much better!

[@EzzenzDK]

Just ordered the combo 😀

[@scotthjohnson1558]

nice review... this looks great!

[@thesavagefilmmaker]

Glad you came to a logical conclusion, a mic with great features great convenience, but the audio quality definitely sounds mediocre compared to decent shotgun mics. And it definitely sounds very muddy even after your EQing.

[@BenGleasonMedia]

The more and more I listen back to my a-roll the more I'm noticing how muddy the sound is. My Audio Technica setup just sounds much better.

[@Comica.America]

Thank you for acknowledging the functionality of this microphone! We are pleased it meets your needs in terms of ease of use and versatility. We appreciate your honest feedback on sound quality, which we take very seriously. While this microphone is designed to deliver a balanced audio experience, we understand it may fall short in detail and sound quality compared to high-end shotgun microphones. We will continue to optimize sound performance, focusing on clarity and purity after equalization to enhance user experience. Your valuable feedback is integral to our product improvement plans.

[@pricklypickles]

Hi, great video. I was wondering, will this microphone work only on a particular camera, or any dslr/mirrorless camera. Thanks.

[@BenGleasonMedia]

It should work with any camera! 👍

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Awesome & Thanks :)

[@JROSS1998]

Hello, if I wanted to film wide angles using my iPhone would I need boom pole to capture audios for multiple people if so what boom pole would I need or would the mic as is be able to film wide angles I can just hold the mic? Any tips plz

[@skmkenny]

Bro PLEASE do a video on how to mix using this mic The raw vs mixed is a night and day difference

[@BenGleasonMedia]

I actually already have a video on how I mix on my channel!

[@shueibdahir]

You can really hear how limited the dynamic range is due to compression. It sounds super odd to my ears EDIT: Oh my god the comica sounds bad in comparison

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Yeah it doesn’t have nearly as much information to work with compared to the Zoom F3 that’s because the Comica is a 32-bit 48kHz and and the Zoom F3 is a 32-bit 192kHz

[@shueibdahir]

@@BenGleasonMedia I think it's more than that. You can hear how the other mic sounds fuller and not just processed in post, but the comica sounds like a mic that is unable to pick up mids and lows properly. Did you boost the mids and lows of the comica in post?

[@BenGleasonMedia]

I think you’re right. I actually had to bring down the mids in post a fair amount. I did boost the lows but just barley

[@Comica.America]

@@shueibdahir We understand that midrange and bass quality are crucial for audio experience. If you feel this microphone lacks performance in these frequencies, it could be due to design tuning or environmental factors. We prioritize accurate sound quality, especially in the mid-to-low frequencies, and we will incorporate your suggestions into our product optimization plans. We will further review the microphone’s frequency response characteristics to improve its midrange and bass pickup. If you have any additional suggestions, please feel free to share, as we are committed to providing you with an improved product and experience.

[@vok2017]

For me, the RAW sound sounds nicer than the processed, too much lows is added

[@BenGleasonMedia]

That’s fair, tbh though I barely added any low end

[@schultzeworks]

What is the pickup pattern? Mikes like this are usually cardioid / super-cardioid, so you get some nice background suppression. Or, does the word ‘shotgun’ imply highly directional?

[@BenGleasonMedia]

It is a super cardioid pickup pattern!

[@schultzeworks]

@@BenGleasonMedia Thanks. I was hoping & assuming, but wasn't sure since I didn't catch any reference.

[@SmartVideoBE]

Do you think it can be used to record live music? a very loud one :D like a concert or loud orchestra? Or Zoom H6 or any other Rode stereo is more suitable

[@BenGleasonMedia]

I think there are definitely better options out there for live recording, but you definitely could use this if you wanted to! 👌

[@JayWalsh]

I do a lot of interviews while filming event videos. If I understand this correctly, I can hand the mic to whoever I'm interviewing, clip the receiver to my pocket and plug my headphones into it... and still pull the files from the mic, right?

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Yup 👍

[@7ajiA]

Great video! What gain do you set in camera? I have a Sony FX3 and the mic level is set to the maximum (10), but it is not that loud in camera, I have to set my camera gain to approximately 14, which introduces noise. This is for using the mic wired to camera and also to the wireless receiver (receiver is set to maximum +18).

[@JamieFurlong]

I think the general consensus is to set your camera's receiver as low as possible. This minimises noise and gives you plenty of headroom in post to increase gain. Historically, the receiver in the devices featured in the video are better than your camera's, so you should let them do the heavy lifting, not the camera, but I think 32bit float negates these issues. This is only my limited understanding, I'm no pro, so I'd be interested to hear from anyone who can confirm or correct me.

[@BenGleasonMedia]

In my testing I had the microphone gain always set to 6 in order to keep consistency. And as far as gain on the receiver I had that set to about +10. And when I had it connected to my camera, my camera gain was set to +8db. Typically you want to have your gain set to a point that when someone is speaking into the microphone your levels are hitting somewhere from -12db to -5db and for my specific scenario those were the settings that worked for me. This setup does make it more complicated with 3 different points to adjust your gain levels.

[@7ajiA]

​@JamieFurlong thanks for your reply, and from my limited knowledge you are right, camera gain levels should be set as low as possible to reduce noise. I had no issues with 32 bit internal recording since I can increase the levels in post which is a great feature in this mic. But only when recording directly to the camera with the mic rigged on camera where I faced the issue of low levels, where I had to increase the camera levels to 14. I will definitely try some different settings to reach the best results.

[@7ajiA]

​@@BenGleasonMedia thanks for your reply, and I agree with you, having to adjust 3 levels gets confusing sometimes. I will definitely try your gains setup and see what I get on the FX3. Maybe my levels were too low because I have the mic rigged up on my camera for general shooting and not boomed right out of frame for an interview setup or hand holding close to my mouth.

[@puertadlm163]

Just picked on up like 2 weeks ago.

[@Eyeofkamau]

@0:45 does it record the onboard 32bit automatically? Or did I need to activate 32bit with a button press?

[@BenGleasonMedia]

You have to activate it with the long button press

[@Eyeofkamau]

@ I don’t see how. On the receiver, long press on the right records, long press on the left controls noise reduction. Are you talking about turning the mic on? I’m wondering if the moc automatically records at 32bit float when recording onboard. Or is it at 24bit and 32bit needs to be turned on? If so, which button?

[@BenGleasonMedia]

@Eyeofkamau ohhhh sorry i misunderstood the question. It does record 32-bit automatically. No need to switch it. 32-bit is the only option for onboard recording! 👍

[@Eyeofkamau]

@ got it! Thank you so much Ben. Great video by the way ✅

[@masters_films]

Please do a video show how u do, audios postproducción

[@BenGleasonMedia]

I did! It’s on my channel. It’s for the rode wireless pro but the same process

[@masters_films]

@@BenGleasonMedia ok, going to Watch, thank u

[@PascalHoyer]

what about the Zoom m3 mictrack ?

[@BenGleasonMedia]

@@PascalHoyer that’s a solid option! Would be an interesting comparison

[@JROSS1998]

How good is this mic in the wind?

[@BenGleasonMedia]

When I was using it outside as long as you have the dead cat on it did a great job handling it!

[@JROSS1998]

@@BenGleasonMedia thank you if I was filming a wide angle would I need any other adaptors to film multiple characters for the audio or can I put the receiver on the phone and the mic picks up a lot? Or would I use a boom pole?

[@cineffect]

World's first 32bit float shotgun mike was Zoom M3. And it's stereo too.

[@BenGleasonMedia]

you right

[@skmkenny]

@@BenGleasonMediawhich is better tho? M3 or vm40?

[@BenGleasonMedia]

I’d have to do a comparison of them side by side, I’ve never used the M3 but spec wise they are very similar!

[@bergasss]

Title says "Worlds First 32bit WIRELESS Shotgun Mic", but anyway, it would be nice to have a comparison...

[@Comica.America]

Hi, our VM40 and VM40 COMBO is a 32bit float wireless shotgun microphone.

[@Gonejack]

The reason why people purchase a micorphone must be audio quality or, why not a smartphone or lavalier. I wish they could make some improvements on this thought it's hard.

[@3DCharacterArt]

I think it comes down to Made in Japan vs Made in China for me... so I pick Mother Nippon!

[@timdanyo898]

I’d rather have a 32bit recorder/wireless transmitter that could fit any microphone. This mic seems way too fiddly. On set everything needs to be super streamlined and reliable. Plus this mic isn’t up to the sound that better mics produce. It’s great to see built in recording though!

[@BenGleasonMedia]

You said it brother! 👏

[@KRE8TVT]

How come the sound is not dampen? It sounds quite harsh.

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Are you referring to the mixed audio as harsh? I will say that listening back, the plosives are pretty noticeable. And while I was mixing the audio the mic favors the “mids” of my voice a lot more than other microphones I’ve used. Which may be why it sounds harsh.

[@Uncleprepper1]

I’m using bone conduction headphones and it sounds solid.

[@BenGleasonMedia]

@Uncleprepper1 💪

[@JROSS1998]

@@BenGleasonMedia what’s a good budget mic that sounds great for filmmaking ?

[@Comica.America]

The harsh sound you mentioned may indeed be related to the microphone's mid-frequency response characteristics. Due to the design of the microphone’s frequency response curve, which enhances the mid-range frequencies, certain tones may appear somewhat 'sharp.' We recommend trying the following methods to improve sound quality：1.Use the gain control knobs on the microphone's transmitter and receiver to lower the gain if needed, which can help prevent excessive amplification. 2. Slightly reduce the frequency range containing plosive sounds. This can soften the overall tone and reduce harshness. 3. Changing the microphone’s angle and distance from the sound source or adding a windscreen can effectively reduce harshness and plosive effects. We greatly appreciate your feedback, which will help us further improve the audio quality in future product designs. Thank you for your support!

[@southernguy35]

Checking into it further, you say ko-MEEH-kah. Others say KOMM-ick-eh. Which is it, one, the other or both? I'm not the expect but find that Japanese may accent words differently than Americans and maybe they would say ko-MEEH-kah. Perhaps that's true of Chinese? I'm not sure. I just have to wonder if both pronunciations are correct. My first inclination was to say COM-ick-ah as I've heard others say. Feel free to use your Comica mic to pronounce the word as you please.

[@downtherabbithole5206]

audio - technica raw was better 32 bit float is nice but in a lot of cases not needed.

[@jackweiss7441]

Great recording capabilities and features, unfortunately none of them matter because the mic itself sounds bad.

[@BenGleasonMedia]

That’s a good point 🤝

[@vahidamini1863]

✌...

[@ToddDolce]

Waaaaaay too many press options that are not intuitive and too many ways to screw up. The stress of dealing with that mic is a HUGE turnoff. No thanks!!! Hard pass!

[@BenGleasonMedia]

Yeah… not the most user intuitive system.

[@timdanyo898]

Yeah.. on set every minute counts. Dealing with mic/recorder batteries is no bueno. A wired mic straight into camera is the way to go for 95%. Dual channel recording in camera with a safety track is simple and fool proof. Plus no syncing in post.