Best on camera mic in 2022 for under $250.00

[@Brucelabvideos]

Nice review. I especially like the "real world" comparisons (because that is what I am currently looking for) rather than the typical sterile, acoustically treated studio, scenarios. Well done and Thanks!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks

[@oe6noa]

Wow, what a nice video. So refreshing to see someone out in action with those microphones where they belong instead of sitting in a studio for a whole 20 minute video. What I am also interested in would be noise and how they sound with quiet, ambient sounds; like the wind wooshing in the trees or birds chirping in the distance, not only with voice. I'm mainly searching for a suitable microphone for my outdoor activities; I think I like the Sennheiser most so far for my needs. Really enjoyed the video!

[@JakeSloan]

The deity is very quite as is the rode (as far as self noise goes) as far as recording ambient nature type sounds have you considered a stereo mic like the Sennheiser MKE 440? I have a video coming showing it and talking about the differences between mono and stereo

[@oe6noa]

@@JakeSloan Yes, I've seen the 440 too and am pretty impressed by it. Maybe I'll get it too. Really looking forward to your video on it!

[@pal54321]

Can you recommend a hotshoe mic for canon (preferably with no batteries and powered with cam 3.5mm jack) that eliminates background noise and focuses maybe in the direction the speaker is coming from. I did a conference a few weeks ago and so there were multiple speakers so lapelles were a no no. The mic used was just crap and people talking in the background while speaker was speaking didn't exactly help. I don't usually do video, I was doing mainly photos, but they wanted video coverage anyways. But I definitely don't want to present any videos like that again with crap 6dii sound. Thanks in advance. PS, I was about 25 foot away from podium, using 70-200. Thanks in advance.

[@gcprost]

I have an Rode NTG, two Rode Videomic Go II's, one Panasonic Shot Gun (DMW-MS2), one Audio Technica AT4073a Shotgun, one Rode NT4 and one Rode NT3. I shoot multicam live theatre, concerts and dance shows. My Rode NTG quit but it was replaced by Rode under warranty. I usually use two Rode Videomic Go II's and the Audio Technica AT4073a on my cameras. I seldom use the Rode NTG as it sounds very similar to the Rode Videomic Go II and I don't have to worry about batteries. The Panasonic shot gun doesn't require a battery. I use the Rode NT4 on the leading edge of the stage with the Sound Devices Mix Pre 3.

[@JakeSloan]

WOW thats quite the collection

[@videokropka]

Подскажите, что лучше для записи звука портативных колонок на улице и дома: RODE VideoMic GO II или Shure MV88+? . Также как запасной вариант рассматриваю еще Sennheiser MKE 200-400

[@shubham-studio-films]

i appreciate your efforts for giving us a real life comparison in strong weather

[@JakeSloan]

you're welcome

[@BushMasterThermal]

The only usable mic without a Furry Deadcat on for outdoors would be MKE 400 and in higher winds with the included Furry. All other mics are unusable and clipping even with their foam options.

[@JakeSloan]

Yep. Thats why I did that part of the test

[@umbertoaguiar]

Thanks for your review. It was easy to notice that the Deity did a worse job of rejecting the waterfall noise than both Rode and Sennheiser. Their performance in a windy environment was similar when using the deadcat but the Deity did clearly worse with no wind protection. It would be very useful if there was also a test with the low cut filter on. The handling noise seemed to be the same although it was difficult to hear as you were talking. The Rode, as you said yourself, has more ways to control the sound and has no interference problems, an issue that seems to be common with the Deity. I have the Sennheiser . I used it just a few times but had no interference issues and the mic was right on the top of my iPhone. Deity is the only one that doesn't have a headphone port. The Sennheiser has one and you can improvise one on the Rode. Based on your review I would choose the Rode or the Sennheiser . Definitely not the Deity. One thing is for sure: The Rode and the Sennheiser are much more suitable to use with iPhone than the Deity. They have a. headphone port and won't have interference issues (I am not sure about the Sennheiser as I haven't use it enough to be certain but had no problems with it in areas with lots of phones and radio frequency and I used it on the top of my phone).

[@JakeSloan]

Great points!

[@TheThaiLife]

The on-camera Mic on the Sony is freaking beautiful, the waterfall sounded great. I realize background sounds aren't optimal but wow. I just hooked up my monitoring headphones to my Sony A7iv out of curiosity and holy cow. Wow.

[@JakeSloan]

Nice!!

[@Chasers2]

Thanks for posting, Jake! Nicely done. We have found that wind noise can be reduced by also shielding the connector and, sometimes, the cable.

[@JakeSloan]

interesting

[@runningoffinstinct]

Really thorough production with great info - much appreciated!

[@JakeSloan]

thank you

[@willradford4030]

Really nice reviews, Jake. My mic of choice for several years has been, and continues to be, the Rode Videomic NTG. I record inside only, myself speaking and being videotaped. I use it purely as a USB-C mic, going straight into my M1 iPad Pro 12.9, which obviously captures both audio and video simultaneously using it this way. The sound quality is fantastic. The mic is boomed in its shock mount, just out of frame, and the iPad is mounted on a tripod. It all sits atop a rectangular table, along with lights, so it’s always “good to go” with no set up needed each time I record. After recording, the iPad is removed and placed back in its Apple Magic Keyboard, where I edit the videos using iMovie. The advantage for me is, aside from possibly boosting the volume a bit in iMovie, there’s absolutely no post production needed - just trimming, etc. I don’t even use any of the settings on the NTG, as the USB connection seems to work perfectly for my needs. The sound quality is great for my voice - as you mentioned, each mic is a bit different on how it records, so what works for one may not work so well for another. The other nice thing I’ve found about Rode is, the NTG (as you mentioned) has a built-in battery which must be charged. But Rode guarantees each new mic for 10 full years when you register it. After having mine for almost 3 years, I began having some battery problems - but the techs at Rode had me send it to them to be checked out, and they replaced it with a brand new A-stock NTG, which is now guaranteed for the remaining balance of 7 years. The one thing we know, with any kind of tech, is that over time, products will come out which perform better (and often cost less) than whatever mic you buy. But I’ve been very impressed with the techs at Rode, which you can reach by phone five days a week. I can tell you from my own experience - both before you buy and afterwards - they are there to help. Let them know what your particular needs are, and they will advise which, if any of their products, will help you in your work. They’re also very familiar with how their products interact with Apple products, etc.

[@JakeSloan]

fantastic points and tips!

[@bertolbretch]

Thanks. Love your report. I do have a Sennheiser MKE-400. So far so good although I haven’t had the chance to use it as much as I’d have hope to. I love the compactness and sound quality though.

[@JakeSloan]

Same here!

[@PerformanceReviews]

Thanks for the good review!

[@JakeSloan]

You're welcome

[@JaimeAndresMedia]

Thank you for this video!!! I actually have had the Rode VidMic NTG for about two years and I've had to send it back to RODE twice already! The microphone goes dead after a few months of use and does not turn on automatically (as it is supposed to) when connected to the camera. It works great when it works, but today it really let me down in-front of a client and would not turn on at all even though it was fully charged. So I am sending it back to RODE one more time but I am buying the Sennheiser in the meantime, I am not dealing with RODE again.

[@JakeSloan]

oh dang I am so sorry to hear that but I am glad this video helped you!

[@Skillthrive]

Great video! Thanks for sharing and putting in the time to create this video.

[@JakeSloan]

You’re welcome!

[@OrionBurdick]

Best on-camera mic comparison I've seen, and I've watched a ton. I think I'm going with the Sennheiser MKE-400 because of the integrated wind/shock design making it more compact and nice looking, without seeming to sacrifice sound quality. Thanks!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you so much!

[@InvestwithAlen]

wrong choice, VIDEOmic NTG 10 TIMES BETTER

[@OrionBurdick]

@@InvestwithAlen Maybe for you but certainly not for me, so it’s a bit odd to call it a wrong choice when you don’t know what I’m looking for. I now own the MKE-400 and it’s definitely the best option available for me. It’s much more compact than the NTG, has integrated wind and shock protection that works amazingly well, and it looks much nicer IMHO.

[@JasonLorette]

Great comparison as always Jake, Deity is always my favourite (can’t beat that price, holy cow) the Sennheiser is intriguing, but I’m biased as I have the D3 Pro too. Awesome vid! 😎👍🏻

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks and I agree!!

[@jcap8391]

Would the deity be good for indoor voice recordings?

[@JasonLorette]

@@jcap8391 I have the D3 Pro, in any of my videos where you see me sitting at a desk (talking head) it is on a boom above me.

[@KipJackson]

Keep going man !!! 100k this year

[@JakeSloan]

Yesssssss!!!

[@prepalot]

very nice comparisons. thanks for this

[@JakeSloan]

thanks

[@we.visuals]

Thank you so much for trekking into the wilderness for this review.

[@JakeSloan]

you're welcome

[@michaelpoczynek]

Thank you, Jake. Well done, very interesting and informative as always. I hope you have a wonderful day!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you

[@acalvillo35]

I have own the Deity D3pro and live in California in a well populated area and I pick up radio frequencies. I’m currently searching to pick up a new mic because of this.

[@JakeSloan]

oh wow interesting, consider the rode NTG,

[@alansarpy]

great review Jake!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you

[@Buschwerker1]

Awesome, very well done and informativ.

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you

[@aaron_g213]

Hey i recently got a sony a7iii. Im scared to use it in light rain and snow. Are they weather sealed?

[@JakeSloan]

the A7III is pretty well weather sealed, I used mine in the rain and snow a lot. just make sure no rain or snow gets in the hot shoe as the little contacts in there will mess up if they get wet.

[@JennaCee]

Great comparison Jake thank you.

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you Jenna

[@nyrubin]

NTG isn’t compatible with the Panasonic cameras but the d3pro is. NTG sounds better to me but again not compatible. Also I think I picked up the d3 pro for 100 bucks where the ride ran me 250usd

[@JakeSloan]

oh interesting good to know

[@davidp158]

Thanks for the comparison review. I am hoping to find a replacement mic that has better shielding, and you state that some have experienced RF issues with the Diety. My original Video Mic Pro has served me well for many years. However, when used with my Hollyland 400S wireless transmitter, the VMP picks up RF "spray". I can minimize it by adjusting the direction of the 400S' antenna, but can not eliminate it entirely. BTW, I am using this with a Panasonic S1H, and have experimented with different gain settings on the VMP and input gain on the camera. Being an unbalanced audio path, the system is prone to RF spray.

[@JakeSloan]

for that I would consider the Rode NTG, it has some of the best shielding I have found on this kinds of mics

[@reelhighmedia916]

Great job on this video! Very thorough, thank you.

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks

[@FlyZoneFpv]

Nice Jake. I’m looking at the Deity👊🏻

[@JakeSloan]

Nice!!

[@AlexBunea]

Thanks for the real world review. I am trying to decide between sennheiser mke400 and rode videomic ntg. i whould like to use them on-camera for filming weddings and then for recording interviews, used on a boom stand. which one of them do you think it's best used on a boom stand for recording a staged interview?

[@JakeSloan]

I would definitely think about the rode NTG for that! I’ve used mine that way a few times and it works super well

[@TheThaiLife]

Great video and beautiful location. Thank you!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you

[@Atsf1976]

I commented before and I appreciated your response, but do you have any suggestions for a cardioid microphone that can handle winds up to 30 or 40mph? Thanks for the reviews and your time.

[@JakeSloan]

Really at those wind speeds you will need to put any shotgun mic into a blimp with a furrry cover to be any use at all. Alternatively a lapel under clothing on a small wireless system could probably handle it better

[@Atsf1976]

@@JakeSloan Thanks for the reply. Do you think that the Deity or Rode (since you have used both) can handle winds up to 20mph?

[@stefpix]

Do they all have a low battery warning light? Great review. The Sennheiser seems to produce the smoother sound with your voice.

[@JakeSloan]

The rode and Sennheiser do the deity does not.

[@stefpix]

@@JakeSloan Thanks. That is a really important aspect, as shooting with a low battery, without monitoring the audio is a recipe for disaster. I got the Sennh MKE200, which is smaller, no battery needed. I really like that it is compact and built-in shock mount. The MKE 400 sounds like a great option.

[@fliplandone]

Hello, Just wondering if those mic can handle cold weather up to -10C (I live in Canada). It’s seems not good to use mic in cold weather and manufacturer don’t show that info in the specs. Of course your video was taken in winter, but do you stay away when it’s getting cold around -10C. Thank’s

[@JakeSloan]

Yes they can! I have tested them all in very cold temps

[@fliplandone]

@@JakeSloan thank. you ….

[@JROSS1998]

Great video do you think MKE 400 is great mic for filmmaking?

[@JakeSloan]

for basic film making yes, for more in-depth and demanding filmmaking then a higher quality audio setup would be recommended

[@JROSS1998]

@ why wouldn’t it work for filming a movie? It’s not that good?

[@andrewg.2165]

I have the Rode and it’s awesome!

[@JakeSloan]

Yes it is

[@ruthlessrog1]

What would you recommend for recording live bands? On & front of stage, mostly heavy/loud bands so lots of distortion and low end.

[@JakeSloan]

probably the RODE Ntg

[@TuckerPearce]

Fantastic video, I’ve been debating the Rode for a while. Assuming it would make a good boom mic in the “studio” when filming vids?

[@JakeSloan]

Yes it does!

[@PaulFeinberg]

It’s very good…..I might have a video comparing the Videomic NTG to the rode NTG5 and it holds up well to the XLR mic!

[@bobcoco6047]

Great comp ! I now wonder how they'd compare to the Zoom M3, notably in term of audio quality, & practicality, considering the M3 - can output in 3 ways : Internal 32 bit on SD card, USB out, & hp out into a camera for sync & secure/backup REC - has the advantage of 32 bit REC, which would eliminate all issues of level & digital clipping, even though we'd still have to avoid for sure analog (mic) clip - has as only potential issue, the same as some other options, RF interferences pick-up, & plasticky build

[@JakeSloan]

would be nice to try it out for sure!

[@clevistam]

awesome detailed review

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@EmmasNatureEscapes]

Hi Jake, I watched your review because I'm looking for a device to record natural sounds like forest, waterfalls, rivers, birds... For video I use a Canon R7 mirrorless camera but for sound I haven't found any decent solution. Internal mics are not very good. Also tried a shoe mount mic (Deity D4 Mini) but I still get a lot of noise. Especially when I record birds I have so much background noise that I cannot use it. I've tried all kinds of settings on my camera but it seems it has bad preamps and the mic is not that great. I've also tried the DJI Mic2 TX to record separately, but the levels are so low that I cant use it. Seems only works with the RX so you can raise the volume and activate 32bit. So after watching many reviews for shoe mount mics I saw a recommendation to get a Zoom Recorder and mount it on my camera. To use it as a separate unit doesn't feel like a solution because every time I will have to match the video with the sound and I prefer to have it directly over the video for a more natural feeling. What do you think would be better, the Zoom H1 Essential recorder, the older version H1n or I would get better results with a shoe mount mic with battery power like Sennheiser MKE400 or Rode? Now my budget is maximum 200(looking also for SH options) but I'm planning to invest more in the future.

[@JakeSloan]

I think what you are trying to record will be challenging for anything that doesn't cost a LOT lol, BUT for what you describe I would get the Zoom unit and place it away from where you are to get the cleanest sound possible

[@EmmasNatureEscapes]

@@JakeSloan Thank you very much for taking the time to reply and explain :)

[@morefunnythenU]

Really great job u informed my decision

[@JakeSloan]

thanks!

[@juanojeda8813]

Did you switch out the 3.5mm cable supplied with the Rose NTG? If so, why? Ive been having connection issues with mine. I’ll charge it and go then use it and it’s completely dead or it won’t shut off after charging it, until I connect it to camera and unplug it. Any tips or hacks greatly appreciated!

[@JakeSloan]

I did but only because I liked this one better lol. No other reason

[@MOSHTUBE1]

Love your channel and thank you for all the information. Would you prefer a lapel mic or this kind of mic if you have to choose?

[@JakeSloan]

I prefer these mics whenever possible. However in noisier environments I prefer lapels to get as close to the source as possible and isolate from the noise. Also a lapel under a shirt or jacket will handle huge amounts of wind.

[@MOSHTUBE1]

@@JakeSloan thanks for replying. I guess I'll have to get them both. 🙏

[@underwaterHD]

I appreciate the extra effort to produce your video. How do you process your audio during post? Thank you

[@JakeSloan]

I just do a little bit of compression to bring the levels up to broadcast standards.

[@underwaterHD]

@@JakeSloan thank you

[@BushMasterThermal]

@@JakeSloan How much compression / ratio would you use for this broadcast level standards?

[@BushMasterThermal]

@@JakeSloan Sonds Solid

[@underwaterHD]

@@JakeSloan how can I do the same in DaVinci

[@underwaterHD]

Great video

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you

[@CookwithSultan]

Hello, I have a question if you could help me it will be very nice of you. I make outdoor cooking videos. I live very close to highway and there's lot of traffic noise. I bought rode video micro that doesn't help much since cars are driving by really fast. If you could suggest a microprocessor for my situation that would be very helpful.

[@JakeSloan]

Unfortunately it will be very difficult to deal with. You could try software noise reduction but it will only help a little bit. The best solution would be to use a lapel mic and keep it as close to your neck as possible to get as close to your sound source as possible. There will still be noise but it will not be as loud compared to your voice.

[@vinnikiniki]

Amazing! Thank you so much :)

[@JakeSloan]

You're very welcome!

[@MightyMike888]

great review dude , what would you recommend for my Samsung ultra 22 USB c, i am looking for something to plug directly in mobile without cable?

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you!! Unfortunately all of these mics would require a cable, but I would look at the Sennheiser for the smaller form factor

[@Atsf1976]

Good and informative as always. What are your thoughts on wireless microphones? Have you used the new wireless one from dji? Thanks

[@JakeSloan]

I haven’t used that one yet but it looks good. I have the rode wireless go, wireless go II and the deity pocket wireless. They all have their place. The deity is the one I take when I’m hiking etc because it’s the smallest. The Go II is one I use for interviews but I’m looking forward to trying the DJI one out.

[@sonicocr]

Deity has issues with RF and the cable something’s don’t recognize the camera or recorder…… my total favorite is the Sennheiser and replace my DEITY… specially about issues with the auto sensing camera.

[@JakeSloan]

the sennheiser is a great option for sure

[@LexFilm]

the NTG clipped on you quite a bit. I've had the same issue when voices get too high.

[@JakeSloan]

It’s a matter of getting the correct settings dialed in

[@thricaaa]

What size movo deadcat(s) did you use for each mic?

[@JakeSloan]

It’s the Ws-g120

[@DanielLiwanag]

if u don’t want any handling noise stick with the Deity or Rode…Sennheiser & Sony has the same internal shock mount that fails getting rid of handling noise.

[@JakeSloan]

They do a bit but not as bad as many people make it out to be

[@PaulFeinberg]

D4 Duo what?! Lol 😂 so many mic names easy to mix up. Love the Rode the best for sure! Deity sounds good but in my area RF noise is bad so I can’t trust it, but sound quality, features, and price is good! Great video!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks Paul and yeah too many to keep straight lol

[@harrymiram6621]

IMO.... Sennheiser was the most "outta the box" ready, just plug & play. Myself, have both Deity D4 Duo/Movo DoubleMic coz they were most "budget-friendly"-lol. Both are suitable for my Canon Vixia HF-G50. Always looking for something better tho....

[@JakeSloan]

it absolutely is

[@MariNate1016]

What’re some mics that will have the sound from behind? I want both

[@JakeSloan]

The deity D4 duo! Great little mic

[@JWS1968]

I had the Rode and the Sennheiser and returned both. Very boxy sounding. You could spend some time EQ-ing the mic then save the setting as a pre-set if you are a youtuber or podcaster and you are the only one going to be speaking into the mic. But if you're a filmmaker or similar weddings etc and lots of different people are going to be speaking into it then you're going to need to know what you're doing in the mix.

[@JakeSloan]

What did you end up with?

[@JWS1968]

@@JakeSloan I have a Sennheiser ME66 with K6 module. I've had it for 15 years and it's great but it's also in a full on blimp and I'm looking for a compact run and gun 'backpack' solution. I'm trying to put together a one bag solution. I have a Panasonic G9 with a pancake lens. A small wireless kit (Fulaim X5) and a monopod. I also have the DJI Mini Pro 3 and a 360 Theta camera. I need the mic for on camera audio when l need it. I'm waiting for the Comica CVM VM20 to try.

[@JWS1968]

UPDATE. I bought the COMICA VM20 and used it on several projects. The audio is crisp and nice. The battery life is nothing to worry about as it can go a few days on a full charge. It has pro features like 75 and 100 db cut. It's a really nice mike .... until .... you start getting loud. I was doing a narrative based film with this mic when one of the actors had to shout aggressively as part of his dialogue for that scene. It distorted badly and very very obviously. Note: IT DID NOT CLIP. And this was the problem. After some investigation I found the SPL on this mic was on 105db and it had distorted because the mic just couldn't handle the volume of the actors voice in that situation. I tried my Sennheiser ME66 and of course it passed my tests of me screaming down the mic at close range to try and get it to distort. The ME66 has an SPL of 130db. After some searching I discovered the DIETY D4 had the same SPL as my ME66 and so I purchased that. Problem solved. My Comica VM20 is now on eBay.

[@augustlundby8753]

what length deadcat should i get for the deity d3?

[@JakeSloan]

I have the correct one linked in the description

[@erickmondragon8653]

What about the MKE 600?

[@JakeSloan]

It’s over 250.00 but it’s a great mic

[@erickmondragon8653]

@@JakeSloan :) what do you think is the best mic for FX3 ?

[@TerraThink]

@Erick Mondragón I have the MKE 600 and it sounds amazing. But I found it to be too big to have on top of my camera (especially with a deadcat). So now I'm using it for studio sound, and I'm thinking about adding the MKE 400 for on-the-go content. I was also looking at the Sony ECM-B1M microphone (which seems like an awesome cableless solution for Sony users) but for some reason, the brightness of that mic seems to hurt my ears, so that's a no go.

[@hectorarroyoburgos848]

Don’t know, but NTG seems to be the one with the better rejection of noise…

[@JakeSloan]

Rode did a great job with that mic!

[@jeremydeacon1971]

Honestly all around I think the sennheiser is the best choice

[@JakeSloan]

It’s a fantastic mic!

[@simonhuegly]

Movo dead cat is impressive

[@JakeSloan]

Yes it is

[@mikehrenak1390]

First air2 s army out

[@JakeSloan]

LOL Mike you are too fast!!

[@israelc0605]

Your audio sounds too aggressive. Maybe too much highs on the audio spectrum.

[@JakeSloan]

Ok then