My Favorite Audio Gear of 2023 | Curtis Judd

[@freddiealonsonido]

Agreed about the MKH50! I bought a second one for double boom'ing in film in 2021 and do not regret it. Looking to add to my arsenal of exterior mics but for now the MKH50 feels like the only one I need for interiors. Works great, sounds great. I really like the shock mount it came with even though already had to replace several of the rubber bands.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, that MKH50 is a keeper!

[@curtisjudd]

@@SovetInvestorov I'd suggest doing a recording with each and let your ears decide. 👍

[@SoundSpeeding]

Nice! I want to get a second MKH50 too one day, just got to wait and see the right good deal.

[@kevinbatts2804]

Never miss a video. Thanks for all the great content over this year.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks so much, Kevin!

[@Dracomies]

Son of a gun. You almost have me convinced in buying the MKH 50. Just the way you said it, it practically sold me. It's definitely on my radar. Thanks for the heads-up! :D

[@zeitakulobusta]

Not just this mic but most studio (and outdoor gear too)....generally 'buy once, cry once' is solid advice as it takes you off that costly, false economy upgrade wheel plus importantly gives you better results longer and saves a heap of time (as long as you have the necessary skill to back it up).

[@curtisjudd]

You bet! Learn from my hamster wheel experience 👍

[@benjhaisch]

Honestly that MKH50 pep talk is the one I needed. Saving up now.

[@curtisjudd]

👍💵

[@elchin9748]

Thank you Curtis for your valuable reviews and professional opinion. They helped to shape my setup. My 2023 audio wrapup: 1. I was considering Mackie DLZ Creator after your review, but due to its large size leaned towards Rodecaster Pro 2, and eventually sticked to my Yamaha MG10XU mixer. Very good mixer, using it already for the 4th year. It has decent preamps (but a booster is needed for gain-hungry ones) and very good sound quality (except when using too much compression) and what was important for me, has instant boot time. Turn it on and instantly ready, versus Rodecaster longer boot time (tested with my neighbour streamer's Rodecaster pro 2). I do not think it is a big issue after all, considering its many other benefits, and most probably I will get one soon. 2. Acquainted with a board member of JZ microphones. As you may know it is a Latvian company (I am also located in Latvia). Will talk to arrange 2 Vintages for quite famous guitar player I know well. Stereo recording with those should be great. 3. Got Rode Wireless Go 2 for my Insta X3 360 camera (amazing piece of gear for outdoor 360 videos). But realised that it is somehow bulky and heavy for longer (3 meter) sticks. And got cheap (50 euro) and much lighter Movo Wireless Mini Duo. And (surprise!) It has very good sound and range quality for its price and is much compact and lighter. I ended up buying 3 sets: with 3.5 mm jack, USB-C and iPhone compatible, and paid 150 euros for all. Now it is goto gear also for our smartphone inteviews (plug and ready). Well, I understand it is not and easy match to Rode WG2 sound quality and functionality wise, but for certain use cases like mine, and considering its price, it has advantiges. 4. Bought Senheiser MKE 600 shotgun, for my talking head vids and streams. But it is obviously not the right one (echoes in rooms, definetly created for outdoors) Now use it for guitar recording (~30 cm proximity) and definetly considering getting one or a pair of MKH50s. Thank you for sharing your experience with them. 5. Upgraded my mic boom arm from Rode PSA1 to Rode PSA1+ Pro, definetly worth upgrading, more stable and nicer look (I know Curtis did not like the big Rode logo :D) 6. Compared BlueYeti mics with some others. We liked HyperX QuadCast better and got 3 of them for our team members, who also stream. They are both USB plug and play mics, but we liked the look and sound quality of QuadCast. Btw, BlueYeti was also engineered by a Latvian engineer. (Blue stands for Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics) and is now owned by Logitech. 7. Took with me on several trips my Elgato Wave 3 mic and definitely disliked it. Sound quality is not that great, and user experience (in my and some team members opinion) was inferior to other mics. 8. Bought Elgato low profile boom arm, well it is ok, but could be designed better. It does what it should, but again those magnetic cable covers... strange design. 9. Recommended your new online courses to some streamers I know, as they were interested in such content and started to build there home streaming studios. This is what I do remember from 2023 and I'm looking forward to 2024 upgrades and experiments 🙂

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks so much for sharing YOUR list! Happy 2024!

[@richardnault8066]

As one of the commenters who asked about the JZ V11 - thanks for allowing us to hear this mic! Sounds so great - hope to pick one up this year for podcast work!

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙

[@talisabolins9823]

In 2023 bought mkh8050 with the Cinela Minix 8000 shock mount. I'm quite happy about it, using it as my main int. boom, for ext. I use mkh8060. Maybe one day I will buy mkh50, but for now I'm good. Thanks for sharing, I wish you a good-sounding new year!

[@curtisjudd]

🙏 Thanks and happy great sounding year to you!

[@ogonzilla]

Added a Sennheiser MKH-50 to my KZbin channel a few months ago...audio isn't a problem anymore! lol....great list.

[@curtisjudd]

👍 congrats on the 50 - happy recording!

[@vincentpolisi]

Curtis, you are the absolute best at what you do.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Vincent!

[@Edwin--]

Thanks for another excellent video and have a wonderful Christmas!

[@curtisjudd]

You too, Edwin!

[@xdanielpatrick]

Hi Curtis, really enjoy your channel. Is there any particular reason you’ve been using the MKH50 lately over your MKH8050? Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

No, they’re both great. But if I’m hand booming, I’ll almost always choose the 50 for its better handling noise immunity.

[@markexploringnewstuff]

Curtis, great info as always. Thank you for your reviews, they help greatly.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@乾淨核能]

Man thank you for sharing your gears and insights!! Helpful as always

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@TheTechPreacher]

My top picks for 2023 thats i absolutely love is the Sennheiser mkh 416, rodecaster pro 2, zoom F8N pro, 2 rode NT1 5gen amd the warm audio 8000G limited edition. Lol i have a bunch more that i purchase but these are my best. Great video and great channel im a huge fan

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@jeffreyhackmedia]

Very insightful video Curtis! I enjoyed hearing your personal opinions on all of the audio gear you used and purchased in 2023. I too use the Sennheiser MKH50 and agree that it's a fantastic microphone!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@makatron]

The THEOS is on my radar for purchase in 2024 for sure.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@ctphotographx]

Hey great list. Thanks for that. I finally sold mkh50 after purchasing two 8050's, 8060, 8070 set. The 80xx series fit inside the rycote nanoshield and blimps a lot better, with far more choices in shock mounts. And two 8050's small enough for on camera stereo with Sony xlr-k3m. But I thank the 50 for sending me down the Sennheiser path. It's the only mic that tempted me away from the Rode ntg3. Happy holidays to you Curtis.

[@Gauthier_ops]

What do youthink about nanoshield with 8050? I just bought one 8050 for interior and the wind is problem. So i think to the nano even for inside..

[@curtisjudd]

Glad to hear the 8000 series are working well for you! Happy holidays!

[@ctphotographx]

@@Gauthier_ops Congrats on your 8050. In my experience, the 8050 is highly susceptible to low rumble wind noise, even with a naked Nanoshield. Must use the dead cat + Nanoshield for 8050, and then it's very excellent. The 8050 is bright enough that the dead cat doesn't hurt vocal hardly at all. 8060 with naked A/C basket Nanoshield is even better wind control than 8050 with deadcat A/A Nanoshield. Rycote recommends A/D or B /C baskets for 8060, but A/C baskets work perfectly and it sits vertically in the ThinkTank Logistics Manager 30 case, just like a lens. For 8050 interior boom (or even on camera) dialog, I prefer the 19mm Rycote Baseball with the tiny Sennheiser MZS600 shock mount. Two work great on a single bracket. Can even fit two full Nanoshield A/A's on a single bracket. The 8060 better for outdoor, but is incredible for interior boom too... Maybe even better than the 8050...?

[@dylanj8676]

I went straight for the 8050 because the more neutral sound paired well with my other location mics.

[@ctphotographx]

@dylanj8676 yeah the signature is pretty outstanding. Holds bass response very well at varying distances. Such an unimposing little mic with a full natural sound. The two I have are not matched, so one has a very slightly deeper bass than the other. I keep both to use for different vocal timbers. Works a dream indoors with ryote baseball.

[@markricker44]

@curtisjudd I'm right there with you on the JZ V11. I've been using it for my trivia show livestreams for a few years and I absolutely love it. You're correct - it slays the sibilance serpent while adding those rich NPR dark chocolate tones to my voice. My only gripe is the ineffective shock mount and lack of pop filter. hahaha deodorant stick!

[@curtisjudd]

Agreed on all points! Glad to hear it works well for you, too!

[@Dusheyad]

Thanks to you Curtis, I bought Sennheiser MKH50 and DEITY Theos Wireless this year and I think they are definitely my best investments of the year.

[@curtisjudd]

👍 happy recording! 🎙️🎧

[@richardsisk1770]

Good picks. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

[@curtisjudd]

And happy holidays to you, too, Richard!

[@AlissaAndJay]

I watched your JZ video at least twice! LOL! I love how your voice sounds using JZ! Too bad that it is not available in Thailand. I would like add it to my Rode NT1-Gen5.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@jayforcinema]

My top picks for the year have been... continuing with my existing kit, the Deity S Mic 2, the Zoom F4, the Rode Wireless Go II and the Rode Wireless Go Gen 1. Also a bit of a panicked realisation that no one wants to buy the Rode Filmmaker Kit in the used market, at all. But really, it's been a blessing to continue using my kit from earlier, and find that I don't really need an upgrade to get decent, usable sound and I can wait it out till 2025 to find a good used kit if I feel the need to upgrade things in my kit

[@curtisjudd]

Good call and glad they’re working well for you.

[@JohnDrewVoice]

I agree, the Sennheiser MKH-50 is a wonderful microphone. I'm familiar with it from years of on-camera spokesperson roles. For myself, I picked up an MKH-416 several years ago to use for Zoom-type conversations in my work, but with my C-12 currently in the shop, I'm now using the MKH-416 as the mic in my voice booth. It's not a C-12, but it nevertheless pristinely captures my voice.

[@JBoy340a]

We us the 416 for voice in our training courses in our closet/booth and are pretty happy. How would you compare the 50 to the 416?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, Sennheiser MKH series microphones are all quite impressive.

[@JohnDrewVoice]

@@JBoy340a I've never compared the two in a voice booth because I've only owned the 416. The 416 is not an ideal mic in the voice booth--my C-12 has the most crystalline, natural sound of any mic I've ever used in a booth, including a Neumann U-47 that owed, but the 416 had been excellent while the C-12 is in the shop.

[@JBoy340a]

@@JohnDrewVoice isn't the C-12 a $10K mic. If so, it should be better than the $1.5K 416. $1.5K is about my limit for a mic. I went back and forth putting it in on an order and taking it off.

[@JohnDrewVoice]

@@JBoy340a I think one would be hard-pressed to find a C-12 for only $10K. A 1950s Telefunken version will run at least twice that. The current AKG model runs just over $7K. Nevertheless, when you make your living with your voice, it's worth the investment.

[@petermcginty3636]

Thank you, Curtis and I wish you and your family a great Christmas. I really appreciate your channel, even though I am not on the audio upgrade hampster wheel! I just got off the video upgrade hampster wheel and I am still dizzy. Maybe, one day, I will upgrade my Sennheiser MK4 to the MKH50!! Many thanks.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Peter, and happy Christmas to you, too! Congrats on jumping off the hamster wheel!

[@nathanksimpson]

Mkh-50 is just that good. Even for voiceover. For the price it delivers. Lots of pros like DPA on set but the 50 is less expensive than similar mics with similar applications and is still on a lot of Hollywood sets.

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙️

[@LeonardoVarasGuerrero]

This videos you made work for me as a video for fun, even if I'm not willing to acquire any devise :)

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@AdamFunk]

Brave of Sennheiser to finally release the MKH50. I wonder if it'll catch on in the industry at all. I jest, of course. Phenomenal video as always!

[@curtisjudd]

LOL!

[@hamitcampos4989]

Thanks. Yes and expand what I already know thanks to Neal Ewers. For instance actually touch what an ORTF setup looks like.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@Ozpeter]

I bought an MKH30 / MKH40 MS stereo setup in 1986 (I think...) and used it as my main pair until I retired from classical music recording about 10 years ago as I could no longer trust my ears - but I could still trust my MKH mics! They are still in my kit bag, but sadly the bag doesn't go anywhere these days.. . Very good advice to buy the best as soon as you can afford it, and then leave it at that. Meanwhile, my favourite audio purchase of 2023 was almost embarrassing to admit to. It was... the Zoom M2. When it was first released, I thought it looked dreadful and early reviews slaughtered it due to RF breakthrough issues. Zoom then withdrew it (and refunded purchasers) and after a while, reissued it with the RF issue fixed. But I don't think it has really caught on, and I admit it is not particularly video-centric (unlike the M3 which I also have). Anyway, a local dealer marked it down 50% recently and threw in a 64Gb card, which broadly brought it into the price bracket of the humble H1N, so I succumbed to temptation. And I have been delighted! The whole concept of a dead simple stereo mic that records 32 bit float audio by turning it on and pressing the record button, end of setup, endears it to me, and I've got used to that weird shiny finish which is actually intended to reduce handling noise, fair enough. But apart from simply recording whatever you point it at with no level considerations, it also has onboard processing providing copies of the recorded files normalised, and/or in 24 or 16 bit copies, which is I think more than the related F3 can do. And it even has an option to replay recordings normalised on the fly as the sound leaves the headphone socket. And... it can be used as a USB-C mic in mono or stereo, with or without a range of low cut frequencies, at up to 32 bit float. Finally, the mic capsules are, to my retired ears, no disaster, partly because releasing a 32 bit float stereo mic with crap mics and no mic input would simply not make commercial sense. So - for anyone who can find one going cheap, or even full price, it's surprisingly good for the price.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks so much for the details on the M2. Sounds more interesting than I expected.

[@mariorivas7886]

Merry christmas 🎉and happy new year from Peru

[@curtisjudd]

Same to you, Mario!

[@GaryStockton]

Not sure if this is a top sound pick, but I really love the Tascam X8, which I splurged on and have had absolutely no sound issues since replacing a Tascam DR-60D MKII. I love that I can also play my guitar with it and enjoy a little reverb in my earphones.

[@curtisjudd]

So glad to hear the X8 works well for you! 👍

[@longwelsh]

Mackie have really shed the prosumer name past few years. I’ve found myself using loads of their stuff including IEMs. Theos I’m looking forward to getting. MKH50 is a beast and the best IMO companion to 416, particularly if you’re doing tight indoors where 416 can sound off.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@tycjanjakubczyk]

"Good for people who have sibilance problem" - all Polish creators now should buy this definitely haha. By the way great video as always. So proper podcast mics on a budget would be Rode NT1 (if headphone jack isn't that necessary)?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, such an incredible sounding mic for the price!

[@talisabolins9823]

Shoutout for using JZ mics, grretings from Riga, Latvia!

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙️

[@nordfilmcompany]

Great content as always Curtis! Have you tried Warm Audio mics? Just purchased the WA-84 and it is now my favourite! Merry Christmas and happy new year 🎉🎄

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for sharing! Haven't tried any of the WA mics yet, but more interested now!

[@nordfilmcompany]

@@curtisjuddFor reference, my previous favourite was the NTG3, but I feel the WA-84 keeps the overall warmth, but is more pronounced in the mid and top and less muddy in the lower end.

[@curtisjudd]

@@nordfilmcompany 👍

[@lpseem3770]

For me the best thing I rediscovered this year is a cheap soldering iron. I completely forgot about it. I made my first cables. They are 20 meters long and work great.

[@curtisjudd]

Nice 👍

[@chakerian]

As I get more and more into the minute details of production sound mixing, I've found no other mic that handles as well as the mkh-50 on a boom. It's not perfect, but it has the best combination of all aspects required for booming. This includes a good pattern with no hot spots, good sound, good dropoff from axis, good rejection, good signal, good self-noise, good handling noise, HPF, pad, etc. Even the stock shockmount is good. Combining all these important aspects, there just isn't another boom mic that performs as well. Anyone planning on mixing narratives should seriously consider this mic as their first choice, for all situations (even outdoors). It outperforms most SDCs and even most short shotguns. This mic is twice the mic of the 416. I also own some 8060s, and have been using the 50 for almost everything, with great results.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@yawningmarmot]

As for best gear of 2023 and upgrading, ever since I got a Rode NTG3 in 2020, I no longer have a reason to upgrade, at least in the small diaphragm shotgun department :D It would be nice to eventually get a dual-channel wireless set with decent lavaliers, but if I'm being honest, I don't really need it, and my original Rode Wireless Go with the Go lavalier still works fine :) P.S. Gonna watch that underrated vintage mic review! Great video as always! Happy holidays!

[@curtisjudd]

Happy holidays and happy recording with that NTG3!

[@aaronkeysorvoiceactor]

Totally agree about the MKH-50. I do production sound for film and its my absolute go to mic for indoor dialogue . @curtisjudd how do you feel the Theos stacks up to the Sennheiser G3/G4 ? Thank you for all the great content !

[@curtisjudd]

Full thoughts on THEOS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYrCi519d8msZtEfeature=shared THEOS has yet to have the years of field testing that G3 and G4 have but it looks promising and has many new, very useful features G4 doesn’t have.

[@peterlenardon46]

Hi Curtis, could you do a test and review of the Zoom R4? It’s looks like a great device for the money, and I can’t seem to find a rigorous review anywhere online. Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Peter, the R4 is designed for musicians and from what Ive read from the features and specs doesn’t looks like a great fit for recording dialogue for video so I wasn’t planning to review it, unfortunately.

[@loudandclearmedia]

I feel seen with the Rodecaster gain staging from the monitor outs, because that was my experience exactly. It's some strange voltage or impedance that clips mic level but doesn't drive line level. That product would be SO much more useful if it had a proper balanced pro level line out.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@michaelj.4187]

Curtis, Merry Xmas!

[@curtisjudd]

You too, Michael!

[@marclattoni1959]

I just received my Hollyland Lark Max the other day and have not had any real project experience (just testing). But the tests are great and the form factor with my C70 and recording options are most promising for interviews.

[@curtisjudd]

Glad the Lark Max is working well for you, Marc. Happy holidays!

[@999slawter]

Hey Curtis and others, reading the comment section! I know it's not fair to ask something like this in a comment section but I am about to lose my mind, because the more review I watch/read the more hopeless I am... Long story short, I need a microphone (I am using a sony a7iv), I will mostly shooting indoors (short films, interviews with maximum 2 people/same time) and I have a 500-600EUR budget to get everything I need for "the job". And the big question is: what should I buy...

[@curtisjudd]

Maybe a Sennheiser MKE600? kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4nWXmSIbbF2nZIfeature=shared

[@stevegeorge7773]

Great video, thank you. Question: have you done any videos comparing streaming set ups for live KZbin, etc broadcasting?

[@curtisjudd]

We’ve covered the Streamer X, ATEM Minis, RODECaster Pro II and Mackie DLZ.

[@stevegeorge7773]

@@curtisjudd ok, I’ll do a search on your channel. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

[@GaryClement-sb8tm]

I currently have the Universal Audio X4, and I’m thinking about maybe more inputs in the future, my thoughts are to add the PreSonus StudioLive 16R 18x16 Digital Rack Mixer With 16 XMAX Preamps- what are your thoughts? Or should I just use another audio board?

[@ThatGuyRusty]

"Babe wake up, Curtis Judd dropped his favorite audio tech."

[@curtisjudd]

LOL!!🎙️🎧

[@billsmith5166]

Your wife is right!

[@curtisjudd]

Of course she is! 😉🎙️

[@GaryStockton]

Mine usually is too

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Mine too.

[@gillesmatheronpro]

Wives are always right. This advice should last your whole career, too... 😇

[@michelbarbagallo]

Greetings from Seattle. I see many new podcasts that are using the AKG C214 and the Aston Spirit, could you explain the reasons, thank you

[@curtisjudd]

The AKG is fairly affordable and has a bright (almost brittle) sound. It is probably just a case of word of mouth. It isn’t a horrible mic, but would be my first choice especially for voices with any amount of sibilance. Samples here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m16cgmqEa8uFmbMfeature=shared I haven’t used the Aston so can’t speak to that one.

[@JaredHoyman]

I appreciate all your time and effort you put into these reviews. I have been using the MKH416 for about a yr and a half. How would you compare the MKH416 to the MKH50? I do like that small form factor of the 50, but sound quality and ease of use trump small for me. Thanks Curtis!

[@curtisjudd]

They sound quite similar. The 416 was designed primarily for outdoor use, but if you’re getting good results, I’d stick with it.

[@JaredHoyman]

@@curtisjudd I shoot primarily indoors and I have noticed reverb when I’m speaking especially near walls. I obviously don’t have a room that is treated well for audio recording. Very tempted to add the 50 or just replace the 416. Thoughts?

[@xdanielpatrick]

@@JaredHoymanCurtis’s advice holds much more weight than my own (obviously) but I would say the MKH50 does a much better job in more reflective environments. As with any mic it isn’t going to be “perfect”. You still will get reflections in untreated environments, it just won’t be quite as noticeable. The average listener might not consciously notice a difference but speaking for myself, I can and do prefer the 50. I did a recent video comparing the two. The 50 has a solid low-end sound and not as much of the high-end clarity as the 416. Also, enjoy your channel as well!

[@JaredHoyman]

@@xdanielpatrick Thanks for watching! I appreciate it! I checked out your video. Excellent side by side of the two lenses. Audio is one of those things where you might have to just try it to see if you like it. The MKH416 audio before any EQ is amazing. If the 50 is just like that, but with less reverb in a room, then that might be the selling point.

[@curtisjudd]

@@JaredHoyman I would invest in a couple of sound blankets and find a way to rig them up to manage the reflections before buying a $1200 microphone. I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way. I just don't want you to be disappointed after spending that much money.

[@XIGuyIX]

Curtis, now that you own both the MKH50 and 8050 which do you prefer? Merry Christmas from Australia.

[@curtisjudd]

On a static boom: no difference. If on a boom pole I have to cue between actors: MKH50

[@ayams02]

Hi Curtis. What a great video! Do you have recommendation for sdc

[@curtisjudd]

I wish I did. The CO2 is a bit on the noisy side, but otherwise ok.

[@ayams02]

@@curtisjudd Have you tried AT2021 or AKG P170?

[@curtisjudd]

@@ayams02 No, but here's the CO2 compared to some others (most are more expensive than $150) so you can at least get an idea of the difference. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p17FkGSdhL6Ce7M

[@compucorder64]

Got a JZ Vintage 67. Absolutely love it. Great for voice over. But I love it for singing and micing electric guitar amps too. Got a great price in the sale, about £500. Going to buy another later, as £1000 for a stereo pair of lovely vintage-sounding LDCs with great build quality is a bargain. The Sony C-80 and the Austrian Audio OC-16 are nice in this price bracket too, if you have a darker voice / prefer a brighter mic. Great for acoustic guitar, and female voice. Would like a pair of the Sennheiser MKHs, of one type or another. For now, I'm using a pair of Line Audio CM4s, also great, and a bargain. Handling noise, and maybe not the most extended upper treble, but the tone is so pleasant and neutral. And yeah, I think I will skip the intermediate price bracket and go for something in the upper price bracket like the MKH for field recording. Also got a stereo omni miniset from Earsight in France. So cheap and very nice for portable field recording with Zoom F3 (also a great purchase).

[@curtisjudd]

Wow, nice collection!

[@Shuttterbugg]

Dude that mic looks and is amazing ima buy the jz mic now lol

[@curtisjudd]

🎙️ it is a beauty!

[@Acebandet167]

Thanks Curtis, Questions though I have used the Deity Theos and it has created a high pitched whine on the receiver when I plugged in the usb plug for power. Even if in lowered gain it was the same intensity but as soon as I used AA it was fixed (with USB unplugged) Could this because of: 1. Dirty power from power battery brick 2. Wasn't designed to power for recording 3. Maybe faulty? 4. Low quality usb cable? How can I fix this? Thanks (I did message Deity but long wait for sure.)

[@curtisjudd]

Hi @acebandet167, I haven't specifically tested this, but I'd try various USB power sources to see if it universally picks up the whine or if it is only SOME USB sources. That should help narrow it down.

[@dannepedersen]

Sure my best buy are my new mixpre 10II and my brand new Ambient QPS5130 with a dipstick. You cant imagine what a different at set it’s makes. :)

[@curtisjudd]

Nice kit!

[@dannepedersen]

Really want to recommend Ambient Dipstick. Doesn’t see that in use so much before. But when I start to use it…. I can’t stop doing that :) This thanx to Allen (sound speeds) that also recommends that)

[@ULTRA7862]

Hello, I'm dreaming about the MKH 50 but it is so far out of my comfort zone price-wise that I can't see myself spending that much on a mic for my use case. My main use is spoken dialogue. Now that you have had some real-world experience with this mic, would you happen to have a recommendation for a well-priced alternative? I have been researching the Beyerdynamic M201TG but it looks to be about twice the weight. As I am not knowledgeable about viable alternatives and max budget is about US$600. Should I go for the AT4053B? I will just be running it into a Zoom F3.

[@curtisjudd]

The Audio Technica would be my recommendation for $600 USD.

[@dannypassion]

Hey guys ! for a prerecorded podcast, and I am using a Zoom f6 to record the audio. Do I still need an audio mixer?

[@curtisjudd]

Not if the F6 does what you need it to do.

[@primo8825]

another great video! Cant decide between mkh50 or dpa 2017

[@curtisjudd]

2017 sounds more natural. MKH50 sounds sort of like an action movie - very up front.

[@primo8825]

@@curtisjudd Thanks so much! I hear many say the mkh50 is best for indoor use rather than outdoor. How about the dpa 2017? I mostly do corporate indoor work. Cheers and happy new year!

[@curtisjudd]

@@primo88252017 is a shotgun mic so if I were mostly working indoors, I’d go for the 50.

[@primo8825]

@@curtisjudd Thanks so much, highly appreciated!

[@MrHamit64]

Oh cool you got the 5th Gen NT1. When did you get it?

[@curtisjudd]

Before it was released: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXXCfpyYoruIfc0feature=shared 👍

[@MrHamit64]

Verry cool. Hay BTW this spring I'll betaking audio production digital arts teck classes.@@curtisjudd

[@curtisjudd]

@@MrHamit64 That is awesome! Hope you enjoy and learn lots!

[@medinam82]

Hey curtis, I have the Audio Technica AT4053b for indoor dialogue and it has worked great for the most part but i wanted to upgrade to a better mic. Which is your main indoor dialogue microphone? MKH 50, MKH 8050 or 8060?

[@curtisjudd]

I use a combination of the 50 and 8050. But before you buy, I’m curious, what do you NOT like about the 4053b? It may not be a night and day difference.

[@medinam82]

I have a dark voice so I feel it does compliment as well as i was hoping. It is great compared to all shotgun mics indoors but i was looking for an upgrade to compliment my voice better. I have an F4. Now that you have answered, have you ever done an in-ear headphone. i bought the DT 900 Pro X and those are great but was looking to add an in-ear. This is for video editing. @@curtisjudd

[@curtisjudd]

@@medinam82 I have a set of Myna's from Trew Audio but I don't use them for post work, mainly for mixing on location or livestreams.

[@TheOneMonk]

What if you are on the hamster wheel but it is spinning too fast to get off ? Just kidding. Sort of. Happy holidays, Curtis, you are my goto channel for all things audio and lights!

[@curtisjudd]

There’s an entire community here to catch you, friend!

[@dcaudioyxe]

A couple of questions for you Curtis. 1. How many hours do you consider to be a day ( re: Day rate ) 2. when talent breaks your equipment who pays?

[@curtisjudd]

1. First, I’m not associated with a union, only because I don’t do that many freelance jobs. They vary from 6 hours to 12 hours. 2) depends on the agreement, but I usually bundle a fee for equipment which, over several jobs, covers the cost of maintaining equipment.

[@MrEmptyhead]

The JZ Vintage 11 is an incredible mic with an unusual frequency response at the low end giving that radio broadcast sound, it is also a fabulous room and piano mic, although it isn't for every application, it still doesn't get nearly enough attention by gear reviewers.

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙️

[@cameranerdsmedia]

Rode Podmic USB is my pick

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@steveperry4243]

Hi Curtis, new subscriber here and binge-watching your vids - incredible! I'm going to start a language teaching KZbin channel in 2024 and I will be working out of my apartment and some other spaces in my apartment building - the spaces are untreated, but often pretty quiet (random noise can still happen of course) So, I'm looking at the NT1 5th Gen or some sort of similarly priced Dynamic (like the SE Dynacaster). Do you think the NT1 5th Gen Condenser would be okay in that sort of environment (noise-wise?) or should I play it safe & get a Dynamic mic? (The only other mic I considered was Go Wireless Pro). Many thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

How close you speak to the mic is the biggest factor. The NT1 can work. 👍

[@steveperry4243]

Good to know! Going shopping this weekend. Happy holidays @@curtisjudd

[@RedFrameTech]

Thanks for this video Curtis. Completely missed your video about the JZ mic. Going to watch that right now. Have a wonderful holiday and looking forward to what you’re going to bring us in the new year!

[@curtisjudd]

@@RedFrameTech Thanks and happy holidays to you!

[@kwazar6725]

The word vintage does sell well.

[@curtisjudd]

In music production circles it does, in production sound for video, not so much.

[@nikolailantano8521]

You gonna do a sound bag tour any time soon?

[@curtisjudd]

Can do.

[@frankcoffey]

The one thing that's weird about all the podcast rigs is that they are fixed at one sample rate. You can't really use them as an audio interface for that reason because most production folks will need to work native at more than one sample rate depending on the project. Every USB audio interface automatically switches and supports every sample rate commonly used.

[@curtisjudd]

Understood. If the intent is to use it as a general purpose audio interface, none of them would be my first choice.

[@jannarkiewicz633]

Sibilance a new word for me.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@fiercesound2138]

Mkh50 brilliant microphone. I think the 8050 sounds better but even though I have some of the best mounts it struggles with handling noise.

[@curtisjudd]

Same here!

[@khoonchaii-businessonlines5467]

I am not sure if I remember it correctly that you used to say you prefer MKH 8050 over MKH50?

[@curtisjudd]

Until I tested them side by side, yes.

[@khoonchaii-businessonlines5467]

Would you mind sharing what changed your mind? Coz they both are almost the same price. Thank you.@@curtisjudd

[@curtisjudd]

@@khoonchaii-businessonlines5467 They sound nearly identical and the MKH50 is more immune to handling noise.

[@SteadyRolling]

Do you think that the MKH 50 has enough off-axis rejection that it could be used for video conferences without feedback from desktop monitors, or would headphones be required for listening? P.S. I've been using a BP40 dynamic mic, which works without a feedback problem.

[@curtisjudd]

Depends on positioning and volume levels coming from the speakers but I doubt it would reject all of the sound from the speakers.

[@SteadyRolling]

@@curtisjudd Thank you. That's what I figured, considering that condenser mics are pretty sensitive. I think that it looks better in video conferences not to have a big mic in the middle of the screen. But we can't have everything.

[@nscaledelights]

I'm surprised Sound Devices wasn't on your list maybe next year lol.

[@curtisjudd]

Nothing new from SD for me this year. I still use the MixPre and 888 all the time!

[@innercynic2784]

Isn't Rode in the process of acquiring Mackie? I wonder then what that means for the future of the DLZ.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, exactly what I'm wondering!

[@Nofamilly]

What’s the best dynamic microphone for u? I wanted shure sm7db but in my country it’s so expensive :(

[@curtisjudd]

The Shure SM58 is surprisingly similar in sound to the SM7B: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYGkfJ-hZrmnY6sfeature=shared

[@Nofamilly]

@@curtisjudd thanks but in my country also shure sm57 costs for 230$, for this price I got nt1 signature series 170$ and gonna think about making acoustic room 🥺unlucky my dream about getting shure is dead but I think sound quality would be same good as with nt1 if I figure out how to make good room isolation. Also I bought nt1 signature and saying goodbye for at2020, I don’t like at2020. I hope nt1 sounds quality is better than at2020 and as I know noise lvl is good, my room have only a problem with reverberation.

[@LearnLightAndSoundSessions]

@@Nofamilly I hope it works well for you - happy recording!

[@peterpeper4837]

I think JZ vintage 11 sounds really good on your voice and much better than the Rode NT1. I was close to get its bigger brother the vintage 67 that I liked even more than the 11, but eventually i got a great offer for the Blue Kiwi

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

how does the mke50 compare to cmit 5u? which is better ?

[@curtisjudd]

They’re not really comparable. One is a shotgun mic, the other a pencil condenser. They both are great mics.

[@noranoskyle4417]

i bought the sennheiser 8050 over the 50. Shouldn't the 8050 be on the same level if not better than the 50?

[@curtisjudd]

They sound VERY similar but there are tradeoffs. The main tradeoffs are that the MKH50 seems better at managing handling noise while the 8050 is way smaller and lighter.

[@hypnosecoachinghombach7517]

My favourite mike in 2023: Neumann KSM 104 plus. With this microphone my urge to upgrade disappeared.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@DevAcharya]

RIght time video

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@randomgeocacher]

Haha, that mike handling of the MKH50, I got scared :) am I’m just total wuss for being so careful with my mics, or is “real” production mics built to take more? I’m typically super careful and holding the mic body with my fingers when I insert the XLR, not touching the front grill of e.g. Rode M5.

[@Edwin--]

These MKH-50's are rock solid, I think you can drive a car over one and be just fine. They are made for hard use on the road. But being careful with your gear is only good, it ensures your precious investment will last!

[@curtisjudd]

Agreed with Edwin here, the MKH series are tough. Good to be careful, but when things get rough and tumble, they hold up.

[@larryvaughn5843]

How about the MKH 40?

[@Edwin--]

Same quality, just different pickup pattern (cardioid vs super cardioid in the MKH-50). The MKH-40 has been taken out of production though, MKH-50 is still produced today. Personally I prefer the MKH-40 for indoor recording in untreated rooms, as the cardioid pattern is a little better at rejecting reverb, which may be picked up by the rear lobe of the super cardioid pattern of the MKH-50. The MKH-50 is a little better at isolating a sound source and rejecting off-axis sounds, due to its narrower pick-up pattern. But those are just nuances and personal preferences. They are both top tier mics and you can't go wrong with either one of the two.

[@curtisjudd]

Looks like @Edwin- beat me to it! Agreed on all points.

[@Ozpeter]

I bought mine in about 1986, and never "upgraded" as, well, that didn't seem possible!

[@zachshoupnotshoop7374]

NT1 is better than U87? 😳 i want it to be true, but that’s a wild claim🤯

[@curtisjudd]

*On my voice, I prefer the sound of the NT1 over the U87ai without any EQ or other processing.

[@zachshoupnotshoop7374]

@@curtisjudd gotcha, yeah that makes sense! Different voices call for different Frequency Responses. I just love Neumann haha

[@curtisjudd]

@@zachshoupnotshoop7374 I understand, I do too.

[@ManuelParodiRamos]

Anyone has thoughts on sennheiser K6/M66 or on DPA 2011A?

[@curtisjudd]

I haven't used the DPA 2011A...

[@fangsoffuego]

dang that deodorant microphone sounds very nice on your voice.

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙️🎧

[@JeffBourke]

Wow rode purchased their competitor in the space of those weird gimmicky mixers in my opinion).

[@curtisjudd]

Yes.

[@ColinZiemer1]

Bought an MKH50 in 2023..buy once, cry once

[@curtisjudd]

I hope you had a good cry, because you're probably done crying over microphones with that purchase. 😉

[@sonyvegasprovideo5893]

🤔

[@curtisjudd]

❓

[@TimoSund]

Mackie DLZ is on my target as soon as can find customers paying enough

[@curtisjudd]

Good perspective 👍

[@TimoSund]

Making my art does sometimes pay out as real money. Looking for that mixer for replacement of Presonus 16ch rack version just for the sake of small footprint, faders and bt input.

[@hitf5]

Yup, I am blocked. That's strange. Guess I upset Curtis for some reason? Oh well...

[@curtisjudd]

No, not upset.

[@greccoox]

I think it's time to retire all this round big pop filters, is sooo 2010. Makes no sense we are in the peak of technology and some mics come with this rounded pop filter where it is not the shape of the mic, Lewitt, El Gato and other do it good when do the pop filter minimal or at least the same shape.

[@curtisjudd]

Good idea. 👍

[@hitf5]

Am I blocked?

[@curtisjudd]

No