Dialogue Microphones Compared (Under $500) / RODE, Deity, Oktava, Samson, etc.

Comparing & sharing my experiences using a range of sub $500 microphones for indoor dialogue. RODE NT5 & VideoMic NTG, Oktava MK-012, Deity S-Mic 2S & D3 Pro, and Samson C02.
👍 Thanks for watching! Please like, comment, & subscribe.
🛒 Oktava MK-012 (Not Affiliated): bit.ly/2QRAZZq
🛒 RODE VideoMic NTG: geni.us/3uDNgt
🛒 RODE NT5: geni.us/R8VQN
🛒 Samson C02: geni.us/fYzqt
🛒 Deity V-Mic D3 Pro: geni.us/kzhGcpz
🛒 Deity S-Mic 2S: geni.us/CCbrt7
🛒 Gear I Use to Make Videos: kit.co/GeraldUndone/video-gear
🟣 Gerald Undone Merch: bit.ly/2ViBkcV
=============================
Table of Contents:
=============================
0:00 - Intro
1:03 - Oktava MK-012 Section Starts
1:43 - Testing/Recording Setup
2:25 - Unboxing & Mini Review of Oktava MK-012
2:57 - What I'm Looking for in a Microphone
5:03 - RODE NT5 Section Starts
5:29 - RODE NT5 vs Samson C02 (Noise & Pickup Pattern)
7:21 - Samson C02 Section Starts
9:10 - Deity S-Mic 2S Section Starts
10:26 - Deity V-Mic D3 Pro Section Starts
10:43 - Deity XLR Adapter
11:21 - Comparing the D3 Pro & Location Kit
13:08 - RODE VideoMic NTG Section Starts
13:59 - RODE vs Deity (Auto On/Off & Connectivity Concerns)
16:19 - RODE VideoMic NTG Features
17:10 - Ethical Question about RODE's Very Similar Design
18:13 - Sound Sample Comparison from All Microphones
19:11 - Bloopers
=============================
Relevant Videos:
=============================
Curtis Judd's Recent Roundup Video: • Which Boom Mics Do I U...
=============================
Best Deals for Camera Gear
=============================
Gear Focus Marketplace: geni.us/gearfocusGU
Amazon Top Deals: amzn.to/3d9tdT4
B&H Deal Zone: bhpho.to/2SCDrnj
=============================
Music:
=============================
I use Artlist for my background music needs. Use this link to get two extra months when signing up: bit.ly/2TV5sYT
=============================
Follow Me:
=============================
Twitter: / geraldundone
Instagram: / geraldundone
Discord: / discord
=============================
Patreon & PayPal:
=============================
If you wish to support the channel monetarily, you can use my Patreon page here: / geraldundone
Or directly via PayPal here: www.paypal.me/geraldundone
This is appreciated, but unnecessary, and no content will ever be behind a paywall.
=============================
Affiliate Links:
=============================
Some of the links in my video descriptions are affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, I will make a small commission if you click them and make a qualifying purchase. If you have a different purchase in mind, you can also use these storewide links below.
🛒 Amazon: geni.us/1m1G32
🛒 B&H Photo: bhpho.to/2MYRKBE
=============================
Recommended Channel Tools:
=============================
💬 Closed captioning provided by ONEXTRA: onextra.ca
🚩 If you're a fellow KZbinr, I highly recommend you try TubeBuddy. It's helped my channel immensely: www.tubebuddy.com/pricing?a=U...
=============================
#microphones #rode #deity

[@curtisjudd]

Brilliant episode, thanks so much for doing this! Love to hear your perspective. They all sound pretty good on your voice in that fancy acoustically treated space, though I wouldn't choose the CO2 unless you had a super tight (tm) budget.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Curtis! You're the best. 🤓🙏💜

​@@geraldundone, he realy is. Sorry Gerald. Actualy both are 👍. Thank you both for sharing your knowladge, I realy appreciate your work. I'm kind of trying the same in my country but speaking our language. I want to motivate people to share their knowladge.

[@JamesClark1991]

@ Love a good KZbin bromance

[@jayraman5609]

Get your stuff out quickly (lol) ethics Rode V Diety or is it Judd V Undone (all is fair in business). Thing with Judd, I' can listen to him at x1.5 and it still sounds normal. Try it, 40 mins goes way quckier and so clear.

[@johnny_blz]

I know they both did a great job...i mean i got a mixpre 10 II because of Judd and two oktavas because of Gerald 😆. Keep up the good work guys.

[@Storysium]

Very useful Gerald, thanks for the comparison

[@MaineMountainMedia]

Very helpful! Funny that youtube recommended this after watching Curtis Judd's video. Both definitely have merit and I appreciate that you followed through and made this one!

[@QCortes.]

“I’m Gerald Undone, and I’m Curtis Judd converted into Canadian.”

[@MrCameraJunkie]

Another great vid. really enjoying the outtake endings👍

[@ClassicalTechnology]

Great video, audio is so important and satisfying when it’s done right!

[@mahmud-ahsan]

One of the best. I love how you presented everything and specially the end session.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Gerald, just love your newer studio backdrop - sublime coolness! 💛😎

[@ShadeZahrai]

We've been using an NTG for over a year both for delivering webinars to corporate and our YT channel. My husband just switched us. to an NT5 today as we travel around and don't have the luxury of indoor sound treatment (thanks @ChrisJudd for suggesting the NT5 in your review) Can't get an Octave in Australia at this time. Although the NT5 picks up less reverb than the NTG (just cardioid pattern), the highs do sound harsh (particularly with my husband's voice). It added nice rich low tone to my voice that's not present in the NTG. We needed to go a little heavy on the de-esser plus EQ in post but at least reverb is noticeably less intrusive. The lesson learned is that mics just like perfume that smell different on different skin - after a certain quality threshold you need to subjectively match the right mic for your voice. Thanks for the review @GeraldUndone - and it was a nice surprise seeing you on Unbox Therapy's Lew Later. 😊

[@jtdiddy3160]

Great video as I have the Deity D3 pro and just got the Oktava MK-012 and was searching for a good comparisons between these two. Definitely agree the Oktava sounds great & best on ur voice

[@NE.STUDIOS]

Love the colors in your backdrop! Great video.

[@blazetechstudios]

Thank you for the video. I saw Curtis’ and I wanted a second opinion. As soon as you said “this is being recorded on Oktava”, I went straight to Amazon and bought it. Thanks so much for helping me make a choice!

[@grateful4068]

You and Camera Conspiracies sold me that Oktava. Thank you for featuring the Oktava first in this video. I watch the entire thing anyway, but I loved that you got to the meat of it right off the jump.

[@zoezzzarko1117]

Love Kasey. He's amazing

[@TheShipFortMyers]

Very helpful video. I've considered many of these mics as an extra B mic for indoor dialogue. This helped a lot.

[@peterfritzphoto]

Always value your videos, Gerald. Thank you.

[@savinthebees]

I was waiting for you to drop this video.

[@nunoviotti]

Always entertaining Gerald and the Rode noise was superb! the funny noise :D The Oktava was the greatest one in the test with my monitors and your voice but I'd a bit on the mid/low end :)

[@cameraconspiracies]

That did change my mind.

[@Nickporter17]

Stuffing it into a sock and giving it a twist is the oldest trick

[@peterlemke3468]

@@Nickporter17 And what about the mics lol?

[@timothylinn]

About what?

[@pandoraefretum]

This is a great overview... I enjoyed listening to you

[@yaatraphotography3693]

That Deity V-mic D3 Pro sounds great! Nice and balanced.

[@BenjiDWJ]

An awesome comparison + video Gerald. 😁 👌 I really appreciate both the thoroughness and high level of detail that you go into here. 😄 👍 👍 Cheers man! 🍻 P.S. I laughed out loud at the bloopers/outtakes. 😂

[@geraldundone]

Haha. Thanks! Appreciate it. 🤓🤣👊

[@michaelpoczynek]

On my wish list is the more expensive Sennheiser MKH416. The second choice Rode NTG-3. Thanks for making this video. The studio looks great!

[@michaelbornman9313]

I watched for the mics but also this crispy new set. It's freaking beautiful

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Michael. 🤓💜🙏

[@peterlemke3468]

Room looks very nice Mr G. Only thing l would add is a lava lamp and a Pink Floyd poster. Keep on rockin' in the free world.

[@AlleiN]

I had NT5 and switched to OKTAVA. Best decision ever. NICE VIDEOS, I LOVE THEM!

[@joslinnick]

I've been told that Oktava is a good mic.

[@georgebirddrums]

KZbin compression doing some funky things background. V useful vid as always

[@RogerinFinland]

Great video! And when hearing the final tests, and the preference you mentioned towards "non-boomy" microphones, I liked the Rode NT5 the most, and the D3 Pro the least (which incidentally is the only one I own of all these...). Intro: "I'm Gerald Undone and overkill is underrated"

[@AZisk]

Thanks for this review. Curtis’s review was great, but my voice is closer to your than his, so I appreciate your review too. To me both Rode mics sound much better than the others. NT5 sounds really natural and makes the room sound really nice. Oktava is very boomy and will need extensive EQing.

[@jtdiddy3160]

Funny I reached the opposite conclusion and found the Rode too boomy and less flattering on Gerald's voice. I thought the Oktava sounded the best

[@dunnadidit]

I feel like a lot of what the deity mic is doing draws from the older rode stuff too. The videomic pro+ had the auto on/off feature for example. So it seems a bit like a back and forth. Although, rode seems to have borrowed things more directly and obviously. My prefs for your voice. 1.D3Pro 2.Oktava 3.Videomic NTG 4.SMic 2S 5.Nt5 6.CO2

[@geraldundone]

That's a good point. Thanks for chiming in! 💜👊

[@JojoDineros]

Great Info. Thanks.

[@hurricaneimagesmedia]

The Oktava's are lovely mics-- my go to for indoor recording-- and they're solidly built so you can buy them used, too. The hypercardioid (supercardioid) doesn't have very good off-axis rejection, and the pick up a lot of handling noise. The cardioid is great for indoor work.

[@rdpete]

What’s also nice about them, is that there are large diaphragm capsules you can buy, Lomo

[@PhotoGearFun]

You have (un)done it again. Great primer on getting good to great sound quality on a budget. As usual very detailed and chock full of info. I have the Samson C02 and for 2 mics for $100 it's a great deal for a good mic. Thanks so much.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate that. Great to hear.

[@qferst1]

Hey, what you refere to as self noise is usually called a mic‘s noise floor. With that you can say how high/low in db it is. Great Video its a pleasure like always. Keep it up!

[@deboucheaoreilles]

Nice review ! when an other one on specific microphones for outdoor ? Thank's a lot !

[@JAXTWIN]

Great video! The Oktava does captured your voice and sounds more lifelike.

[@JAXTWIN]

Agreed. It sounded much more full than the others.

[@comfycorner7509]

thank you for your review, it has helped me find the Oktava MK, I wish you took a short break from talking so I could hear the SNR, possibly in the comparison portion, and you could do worst to best (as you could measure it after recording). Its hard to compare it while you are talking non stop ;)

[@psworkshopdiy6222]

great info, thanks!

[@storyfrontier]

Great review. The thing is, all these reviews are done in perfect sound proofed rooms without any echo. Would be great to hear some real world examples in an echoey room.

[@zoezzzarko1117]

Agreed !!

[@canepamediasolutions2375]

I say that all the time! Real world test please!

[@alleechance]

IMHO you sound best with the NT5 - much less nasally. I appreciate your comment about getting a mic that matches your voice because that opened my thinking about different mics for different situations.

[@MelvinGarcia]

You sound great in all of them, but I liked how you sounded on the Deity Mics a bit better. They have a nice high end. Just bought the Oktava MK-012 and a Zoom F6 to step up my indoor sound game. Can't wait to test it out on my voice since I need that bass boost, lmao.

[@JonPais]

Your videos are looking killer lately.

[@timothylinn]

Great comparison, Gerald. Much of how you feel about the SQ of these mics will depend on what you're listening to them on. That Rode VideoMic NTG is probably my favorite and I have no problem with them iterating on the Deity V3. I can't tell you how many times I've asked myself why the maker of my chosen camera body couldn't take the time to go down to the local Japanese version of Best Buy and just copy the features from other makers that the other makers have managed to implement better. :-)

[@huwjones5879]

I've had a matched pair of Oktava MK-012 with the Omni, Cardioid and Hyper-cardioid capsules for years. They are excellent mics. The only issue with mine is that they need to warm up and until they have been powered up for 10 - 15 mins they exhibit a "frying" noise. They have done this from new and the mic distributor did warn me about this when I bought them.

[@krisgee9553]

I saw Curtis Judd video but did not keep me from watching yours too. I value your opinion all the same. Keep up the great videos!

[@geraldundone]

Thanks for that! :)

[@timrober75]

Me too :)

[@InspiRAWtion]

I like that most of the time you had the name of the mic written in video, while Curtis just put the name of the mic for short period of time so it was harder for me to make notes with his video.

[@avisliberis]

"I'm Gerald Undone and I never get a hair cut. I get all of them cut"

[@VulcanworxSG]

Fully agree with u that Rode videomic NTG is the best on cam mic now! Loving it

[@CheeseOnEverything]

Been holding off on the rode video mic pros for so long cuz I didn't like that they didnt have a gain dial, they finally answered my prayers.

[@edclevel402]

The Oktava is a great mic for indoor dialog. The modular design is very cool as well - great versatility for the money. 👍

[@AlexKoro_CinematicTravel]

Thanks for helpful video! Like )

[@TomChamberlain]

Helpful and entertaining. =)

[@mindwatermedia6452]

rich review and nuanced - thanks for being more than a gear head

[@pauljohn5584]

Helpful AND entertaining. Oktava all the way. Not only because I have an older silver one but most important, you can slap it on anything and it'll sound great. And I've used it for dialogue, acoustic guitar, electric guitar on an amp, vocals... And I know they work great for overheads on drums. I just wish I had a matched pair. The MK-012 has proven itself over the years to be a workhorse. Beats out my Rode every time. (No offense to Rode- great microphone company).

[@finnillson4808]

So when is the “Gerald reads your favorite manuals” audiobook coming?

[@joslinnick]

The Oktava MK-012 is a highly acclaimed and affordable SDC. I've never used it, but I've heard a lot of people claim that it is on par with much more expensive Neumann KM-184s. I really want to rent a couple Oktavas the next time I record my acoustic piano.

[@SamanNiknezhad]

THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO

[@kamykasedu13]

Hi Gerlad ! Glad to see you've worked on this topic ! I've been looking at the Sennheiser ME 64 + K6, have you heard of this microphone ?

[@huwjones5879]

Classic combination for VO.

[@owlmuso]

I agree, I think the Oktava sounds best. Not only is its frequency response more natural but it really sounds like it handles transients the best (no horrible distortion in the peaks) and has less of that mid range harshness some cheaper mics have. My experience with Rode mics is not awesome. They not bad but, for instance, my Lav mic has a lo mid muffle that I really dislike. I have compared it to (an admittedly more expense) Sony lav and the difference in quality was palpable

[@conceptzone]

I usually put like before watching the video !

[@JWDigitalArchiving]

I use the NT-5 for my videos especially my latest video fantastic audio quality for interview style videos!

[@DAMON409]

Great video. I'm just getting into this. I'm wondering if I will get the same quality sound if I go direct to camera rather than use the zoom recorder?

[@loverevery8853]

I actually like the rode NTG more than I would have thought. Probably the second best sounding mic to my ear.

[@DanielKurganov]

So does the Rode Videomic NTG work normally with the XLR adapter? Would you recommend that diety adapter, or will others work?

[@cjpreyes]

Hi Sir Gerald! Glad you put this video up.. What if you wanted to use this mics for Livestreams especially with acoustic guitars? Leaning towards NT5 vs Videomic NTG with xlr adapter vs The new Rode NTG5? Which would be a better choice Thanks!

[@AlexanDer2007]

THX a lot for this comparison... the Rode M2 is a super cardioid condenser mic...I can boom with it to for 80 bucks...not bad at all!

[@lainol]

Does the Rode VideoMic NTG work with the rode wireless go system? Great video!

[@WheezyTech]

I know you used to use the Samson, but which mic have you settled with in the end? I mean before you switched to the MKH-50.

[@LeechTM]

I use the Deity and a Pocket 4k, and the problem with the mic not turning on actually happened to me. I then tried different audiocables, and the one from my old Rode Videomicro actually solved the problem. So i am not sure why the original Deity cable does not work with BM Cams, but rode one do. I also use a extension cable by rode for the Boompole, and this one works aswell. Weird Tech World.

[@PeachtreeGuitar]

Your intro song is awesome

[@mkp8176]

Hey Gerald, as always awesome video! Any chance you will do the same for more directed microphones? The 416 range kind of thingy? I am especially curious about the Synco Mic D2. In the comparisons I have listened to I would always prefer it to the S-Mic 2, maaaaybe even the 416 in some cases. The only downside for me is that the company is not very established and so build and durability is a great concern for me. Maybe you could throw it out of your window or go take a shower with it? :) Warm regards from Berlin!

[@Hindsight101]

For the Oktava Mk-12 is there a difference between the black and silver version they both state hyper-cardioid and same specs?

[@solvm1652]

Hell yeah Scooby Doo reference! Great vid.

[@tylonblas2581]

Thank you for this, man! A video that’s desperately needed is a USB mic video, like the Videomic NTG. Gain settings, processing, especially when it’s a direct PC input. I’m having such trouble getting good audio with my new Videomic NTG and every video thus far with this new mic kind of skips over using it as a USB mic. Tried to get Curtis’ settings, but he couldn’t recall much about it.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks for the kind words and suggestion.

[@michaeljimenez9345]

Tylon, there was a software update from rode for the NTG, make sure you update it, I hear it makes a big difference!

[@nathanreid5625]

Would love to see a video of all the Rode Shotgun Mics going head to head.

[@user-bi3wp1ct1q]

Great video thank you. Have you made a review of dialogue mics over $500?

[@skooterbob]

Over 500.00, always go with Sennheiser IMHO

[@PREEFLIX]

Hey question you mentioned the deity mic issue with the Bmpcc. Recently started encountering this issue. Is there away to fix this

[@andrewtregoning]

"I'm Gerald undone ..I'm *bleep*ing crazy" because that's what I hear in my head whenever your intro plays 🤷🏿‍♀️

[@353Studios]

I need help to pic an XLR shotgun mic, for filmmaking. Price is not the main factor , but I dont want to spend more than I need to have good sound on the movies, while we're still an independent film production group. Can you help us chose the right one? We'll be recording the sound on a Tascam Portacapture X8

[@mervynjack4108]

My fav for your voice is the Rode Videomic NTG

[@filminglifearound]

D3 pro and your voice sounds most pleasing to me on my Yamaha Hs7.

[@bite-my-shinny-metal-ass]

Rode videomic ntg is just amazing. Using it for zoom meetings and it just ROCKS. This is via usb-c

[@theCameraVille]

Nice Gerald!

[@pandoraefretum]

You're great... all the mics sound great too

[@dylanj8676]

So have you had any major phase issues indoors with the S-Mic 2S? I'm actually interested in a similar mic from Sanken (similar in that it's a super short shotgun microphone), but I'm worried it'll actually be worse than my MK-012s because of the interference tube.

[@matthijsdedeugd]

13:52 when is the next Gerald Undone jam session coming up? 😂 I'm for real though, play some guitar outro tunes for us!

[@brunofdgoncalves]

Would the Rode NTG be a good microphone to use in a 2 person interview? With a boom pole.

[@imark7777777]

Interesting on the auto power detection feature I thought that would cause some issues. I myself have had issues with plugging in TRRS things into phones and computers without power or auto detection. Just this week I tried to plug a line level signal into a microphone adapter Y cable into a laptop and it wasn't detecting it. I miss the days when we had separate mic and headphone jacks. adding a dedicated on switch is a big improvement, I think copying somebody's design is not that great but if they're going through the process of actually adding improvements to it then that makes it better for all of us. It's building up on the shoulders of others. There's so many times I've run into the little things that were like if they just did "this" it would be great.

[@Curtis-Randall]

"I'm Gerald Undone...alright I'm done" -then the video just dips to black with no explanation.

[@MIMCKMedia]

I bought the synco mic-d2 it's very good

[@GoapprStudios]

Wow Peter McKinnon did a video about the same type audio right after you today and his final audio is good but not great so what would Geraid do to correct the sound in his example so it great like yours?

[@GrMR3cords]

You should check out the line audio cm4. It's small, cheap and sounds fantastic!

[@AngeloPoulis22]

any suggestion of what xlr mic to get for the sony k3m audio system which comes with the sony fx3 but doesnt include a mic? the one they sell with the k3m xlr kit, is a 2011 old model. any better one 200-300$ price? thanks

[@devenacharya3736]

Yes about ethics you are absolutely right

[@HopeProphecy]

If I have the Deity D3 Pro connected directly to the camera, will it turn off when I turn the camera off, and then turn on when I turn the camera back on? (without me pushing any buttons?)

[@innercynic2784]

Deity forced Rode to step up their game and respond with an improved product. That's a win for everyone. Now Deity can respond in kind by further innovation. It should be noted that many people saw Deity developing their S-Mic2 as a sort of mkh416 clone. All is fair in love and war I guess.

[@dannybuoyuk]

I'm interested in the Oktava, currently £158 for the hyper cardioid and £144 for the cardioid at Thomann. Which is the better option for an overhead dialogue mic?

[@timrober75]

Straight forward, highest quality pickup is the Oktava. Has an 'air' around it like a Neuman would in a close mike situation. NT5 is close behind. All others are just a bit too 'coloured' in their pickup. But of course, it's all subject to talents voice and room. great test Gerald, thanks for all you do :)

[@geraldundone]

Yeah, I agree with you. 👍

[@KevinLe]

I saw that amazon sells a pair of them for $629 US the Octava MK-12. Do you think these would be ok for two-person, face to face interviews and podcasts?

[@timrober75]

@@KevinLe I'd say yes. Not sure whether you're asking me or Grald though. The best pickup for video and for any untreated room is the hyper cardioid capsule, so make sure you get this included. :)

[@TrueFoodTV]

I’m Gerald Undone and I - no, wait. No I’m not. I’m Nicole Jolly and I would dearly love to know what mic would best suit someone like me who doesn’t have the GU bass in my voice - but does have a kitchen with lots of reflective surfaces where I record my videos. I fear both of the Rodes may sound a bit too tinny for my voice. Should I just get the NTG3? Thanks!

[@xsympl9070]

I'm sorry for how late you are getting a response, and you might not need one, but if your kitchen is an issue GIK sells many 'artsy' sound panels, and I would highly recommend at least getting bass traps from a reputable brand (not sound foam off amazon, London Traps/Air Cavity would be best for cost-performance) If you already have a shotgun mic, and a kitchen set for filming, then only around 15%-20% treatment should be needed to greatly curb issues. I hope everything is going well for your channel at least, in nine months a lot of growth can happen! Best of luck, I'm also staging and sound proofing a kitchen for our own (eventual) show, and hopefully we can both see exponential growth! If you have any tips for diffusion lighting in a small kitchen that would be great too! It's a bit hard to put three studio lights, diffusers, bouncers, etc,. in our 'tiny kitchen' of about 12ftx12ft of usable space!

[@fantisfsd1611]

I'm in love.

[@DaCarnival]

Personally, on my headphones,I liked both the Deity mics the best, seemed to hit the right spot between clarity and boominess. The Rode videomic was also good, but the NTG5 sounded tinny. The samson just had too much noise and while the Oktava might be the most "premium" sounding, I thought it was too boomy on your voice. That said, I feel like the "sound" of similarly performing mics (regarding pick-up pattern and noise) is fairly unimportant when you can just EQ it to taste - similar to how the "color science" on most cameras that are capable of a robust codec is not a big deal when you have color correction (just my amateur opinion).

[@JSephH76]

This mirrored my thoughts almost exactly!

[@DesertCookie]

When looking for a microphone for boom movie recording from 1-2m away would you just look at the pickup pattern or also look for something long with a lot of slots?