Extensive Testing Of The Deity S-Mic 2S Plus S-Mic 2 Comparison - Sound Speeds Reviews

With a release date of October 8, 2019, Deity welcomes the a new microphone to it's professional microphone line. The S-Mic 2S is a short interference tube version of the S-Mic 2 designed for low profile circumstances. If you're interested in a shotgun microphone less that 6 inches long that is resistant to RF, you'll be interested in the S-Mic 2S.
Please note: Shotgun microphones aren't ideal in sound reflective environments. The testing in this video may not be considered fair and that may be partially true but it represents a worse case scenario. If this mic works great here, they can work great anywhere.
Anyone can talk about microphones or test them in controlled environments but how will they function in extremely difficult circumstances? In this video I test the S-Mic 2S is some very tough places.
Buy an S-Mic 2S here: geni.us/S-Mic2S
To purchase a Deity S-Mic 2: geni.us/SMic2
You Can Also Get A Deity S-Mic 2 Location Package: geni.us/SMic2Kit
To make a donation: www.paypal.me/S...
To learn more about the Deity S-Mic 2:
www.deitymic.c...
Gear Commonly Used In My Videos:
Panasonic Lumix FZ-80: geni.us/SoundSp...
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7: geni.us/SoundSp...
Tascam DR-40: geni.us/TascamDR40
Sound Devices MixPre-6:
www.sounddevic...
Videos Mentioned In This Video:
Extensive Testing of the Deity S-Mic 2 + Review
• Extensive Testing of t...
Cinela Cosi Review:
• Cinela Cosi, Low Profi...
Poor Mans Vocal Booth For $100:
• Poor Mans Vocal Booth ...
How To Be Heard In A Noisy Room:
• How To Be Heard In A N...
Deity V-mic D3 Video Microphone Review:
• Deity V-mic D3 Video M...
Comparing the Deity V-Mic D3 and D3 Pro in Under 100 Seconds
• Comparing the Deity V-...
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links and if you purchase something using one of these links, you'll pay the same price that you'd find on Amazon if you looked it up yourself but Amazon will pay me a small referral fee for sending you there to make a purchase.
Deity did send me this S-Mic 2S in exchange for a fair review. I do get to keep it following the review but I'm not going to allow them to influence my review in any way so you can expect it to be an honest review.
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[@ThomasJohn1]

Hey - love your content. I’ve learned so much. Is there a mic you recommend over this one (perhaps the S-Mic 2) at or around this price point? Is there anything cheaper worth using?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. I'd get the S-Mic 2 over the 2S anyday unless you need a lower profile mic. As for another mic I like around the price point? Not really. You could watch my review on the Synco Mic D2 and see what you think but my next step up would be $500 (Rode NTG5)

[@ThomasJohn1]

Sound Speeds I just found a lightly used S-Mic 2 for $100 off MSRP on eBay based on your recommendation! Looking forward to using it on an upcoming docu project I have.

[@Diinzie]

not gonna lie, seeing the mics that high off the ground somehow gave me vertigo but brilliant review! I've become a really big fan of Deity products, so seeing them coming out with a mic like this is just stellar.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I was impressed especially that it was cheaper than the S-Mic 2. I'm such a huge fan of the S-Mic 2 that it's gonna be hard for another Deity mic to win me over from it but I'm willing to try.

[@Videditor1067]

Great video... only thought I have is using the highway to A/B the Mics. By the time the switch happens, the vehicles have passed. Maybe a constant high noise like an AC fan or air compressor would help us hear the rejection of the interference tube differences. Thanks for the video!

[@SoundSpeeds]

It was a great idea at the time and when I got into post, I said the same thing but I think you get enough of an idea from the video. Thanks for watching.

[@Videditor1067]

No worries... just an observation for future consideration.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thanks for mentioning this though.

[@erikgordon4804]

Very useful to hear the actual sound in different conditions rather than just wordy descriptions of the sound. Nice job.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. Yeah, anyone can talk about these mics and just use it 6 inches overhead but that's not good enough for me.

[@erikgordon4804]

@@SoundSpeeds Probably because you have had to get good sound out on real jobs, doing real booming.

[@ToddWhirley]

Woohoo! Thanks for the early review of the S-Mic2 S. As usual, very helpful. Keep them coming

[@SoundSpeeds]

This review took about 16 hours this weekend to shoot and edit. I hope it's helpful.

[@kingsqueak2221]

This was a great job, I don't have any experience with a shotgun mic and this really illustrated how well they pull a spot source out.

[@SoundSpeeds]

That they do

[@kingsqueak2221]

@@SoundSpeeds I have a very noisy room with cooling fan noise and a few mics I play with. A dynamic Audix OM-2, excellent noise reduction but requires very close proximity and I don't love it on my voice, an MD-421 that does pretty nicely with some gating and moderate distance 4-6" or so and a large diaphragm budget CAD M177 studio condenser that will pick up a fly clearing its throat across the house and needs heavy gating and sounds pretty ragged with it engaged. The s mic 2 s arrives today so I'm curious how it will do. I mostly just like playing with audio gear, nothing commercial. Your demo makes me think this will be pretty sweet.

[@SoundSpeeds]

You have quite a few choices which is always great. Let me know what you decide is a good fit for you.

[@kingsqueak2221]

@@SoundSpeeds Time will tell but initial impressions are very good. My use is for video conferencing and for amateur radio (transmitting). For overall quality in the noisy room (amplifier cooling fans, close to a window A/C in volume about four feet from me), the MD-421 will win over all of them simply due to being a dynamic and working it just a few inches direct on center. The 421 with my voice requires rolling the low frequency ring three clicks from wide open or it is far too much bottom end, but it truly sounds like broadcast radio. I use a Symetrix 528e as well as an Aphex Channel here, the 528e is by far my favorite due to it's variable threshold for the downward expander and compressor. This allows me to use much lower input gain to reduce the captured background noise and still be capable of providing smooth sounding gating as well as heavy application of compression. The Aphex I use with an Audio Technical BPHS1 boomset headset as with the close talked element I can get proper compressor action and not have as much room noise. The S-Mic 2 S gives me nearly the intensity of the close talked 421 but allows me to work it 1-2 feet from the mic. This allows the mic to be farther out of frame for video conferencing and allows for a more relaxed posture, more head movement freedom vs the MD-421. There is still background noise, unless it was magic this will be true, but it is nearly as well suppressed as with the 421 which is impressive. This freedom of movement makes me wonder why more people doing broadcasts or podcasts don't use a shotgun or a cardioid or tighter pattern pencil condenser. I find it more relaxed than having to watch my head position. The frequency response works pretty well with my voice though I did add a wide Q presence bump (2-3db) centered at about 3-4kHz to add a bit of shine (The 421 has quite a bump built in already). I had to drop (3-5db) a pretty heavy 120Hz point as my voice had it ringing. Radio transmit is constrained to 0-3kHz frequency response much of the time with a max of about 5kHz. A flat response for a mic is desirable and generally the work I put in on it is to drop out 120-160Hz and sometimes the harmonic at 250-315Hz to crisp up the sound. The low frequency is nice for some foundation energy to the sound but clarity in the mid to upper mid is the game. The S-Mic 2 S sounds really nice of course recorded at full range at 48kHz+ sampling rate as well and is overkill but also very nice for video chat/conferencing. My background is live sound mixing, clubs and touring, which is why I play with this ridiculous collection as a hobby mostly. They perform very well but of course are ridiculous overkill. It's just fun to play with the hardware still. Sorry for the wall of text comment but I figured you may find it interesting as I have such an odd use for it.

[@SoundSpeeds]

That was a lot to absorb but I that you for taking the time. One thing that stands out... you said the 421 rings on your voice unless you drop 3-5dB at 120Hz. Is that a resonance within the mic? If so, something may not be seated properly or screwed in properly inside.

[@aboutrightmediagroup7962]

Dude I was literally shopping for short mics yesterday. Perfect timing for review! Question: If microsoft made delay plugins, do you think they’ll call it “Internet Explorer?” I’ll see myself out....

[@SoundSpeeds]

*Backs slowly away*

[@paulwells411]

Great and extensive review as always. Really had to listen for it, but you can certainly hear more bass and resonance on the S-Mic2 S - but I didn't catch it right off the back. Great mic and at a fraction of the size!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Agreed. I still favor the S-Mic 2 but the S-Mic 2S certainly holds it's own.

[@GodlogicProject]

Really great job! Very professional! I own the Deity S mic 2 and really like it. Keep teaching and I’ll keep learning. God Bless! 🙏

[@SoundSpeeds]

I really like the S-Mic 2. It's very natural and real sounding.

[@BenjiDWJ]

An awesome very thorough review & video 😁 Cheers! 🍻

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you.

[@digitten]

Love your reviews. Very thorough. I heard some time back that Deity was working on a multi-capsule interior mic. Have you heard anything about the progress of this?

[@SoundSpeeds]

The Unimic and I'm waiting for it too. No word as to when I'll get my hands on one but I already have the specs and I'm excited about it.

[@BogdanSorlea]

eagerly waiting for the highway patrol to stop and ask about the espionage you're putting up there :))

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm just glad the FAA hasn't contacted me yet.

[@d4fredffw]

you sir are amazing

[@SoundSpeeds]

😎

[@apparently_sonam]

Only sound crew that still has a great head of hair! Amazing boom op...

[@SoundSpeeds]

I know you can't mean me. I'm thinning up top in back.

[@apparently_sonam]

@@SoundSpeeds I set up the segway... You could have ran with it... but. I guess I was thinking of someone else ;-)

[@SoundSpeeds]

@@apparently_sonam Copy you sir.

[@aaronharper444]

You should see the directors without good sound guys, they all look like Moby

[@SoundSpeeds]

Headphones give us the best hair ever.

[@shershersher]

now that's a boom pole

[@SoundSpeeds]

😎

[@sparketech]

the 2s in the garage for sure had more "s". I prefer the 2, but outside test was very very hard to hear the difference despite the off axis rejection should be better on the longer tube.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Off axis rejecting is much better on the 2.

[@sparkestudio]

@@SoundSpeeds Do you happen to know how this compares to the Sennheiser MKE600? I found that the MKE600 had fairly high self noise for it's price point. The Audio Technica AT2035 showed much less self noise which is crazy given the price point.

[@sparketech]

@@sparkestudio I found out the answer the Deity S-Mic 2s has less self noise... CJ confirmed in a test. I heard some really good back to back testing the MKE 600 sounds better in a not well treated room.

[@SoundSpeeds]

😎

[@quiztasiarocks]

Hey man, great review, I'v only just found your channel but great stuff. What shotgun would you recommend for both camera mounted doc style and boomed for internal interview setup? I've looked at the CS-M1, Rycote HC-15, Deity S Mic 2S, MKE 600 and just cannot decide and need a pro like yourself to help me out. Thanks.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Knowing zero details... It's hard to go wrong with the MKH-416 when blind on the details.

[@quiztasiarocks]

@@SoundSpeeds Thanks for the rec of the 416. How do you feel about the Rycote HC-15, your review was pretty complimentary, but curious how you feel? The interviews would generally be in a studio, soundproofed setting, and outside would be more travel videos, a lot of recording general outside ambience, very doc usage.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm not normally a fan of very short shotgun microphones because they don't have the reach out referring of those slightly longer. The HC-15 does it's job but for the money, I'd prefer others.

[@MrAgrimkohli]

Nice comparison, if possible please compare it to Sennheiser MKH 416 or MKE 600 for side & back noise rejection.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Curtis Judd compared it to the 416. I would only compare it to another compact short shotgun like the MiniCMIT or CSM1

[@hoodaffairstv]

Listening in my headphones and the difference is so slight.. The 2s has more low-end and the Smic may reflect the noise better but you can barely tell unless you're just being picky..... as a creator I'm wondering will the 2s work in more situations because of its size 🤔

[@SoundSpeeds]

Great question. It's very rare that people are in a circumstance where you need a low profile shotgun microphone but maybe 1/10 of 1% it comes in handy. If you are in the market for one of the two and like the 2S better, by all means grab one. They do sound great for the price especially if you don't need the off axis rejection.

[@domenicmoen4854]

MKE 600 (tried and true) or NTG 5 (upgrade) for doc filmmaking? Interchangeable shotgun to overhead boom. Thanks!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Depends on what you're going for. The NTG5 comes with a lot of accessories when brand new. The MKE 600 is like a cheaper, not quite as good 416.

[@SlavGuns]

Brilliant!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you.

[@SlavGuns]

@@SoundSpeeds What I found most helpful is seeing the effects and how it performs in various environments. Definitely a value. And Your humor is pretty dang good too. =)

[@SoundSpeeds]

@@SlavGuns Very much appreciate the feedback. :-)

[@SlavGuns]

@@SoundSpeeds Btw, what do you recommend for a reasonably priced pole?

[@SoundSpeeds]

For what purpose? ENG? Indies? What length do you need? Price point?

[@InfinitelyQurious]

10:15 Hahaha! Time to fire the boom operator if he's trying to mic from that far away. But seriously, great testing.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Not necessarily. Some mixers don't want to ever use lavs and if a shot is that wide, it would sound wide if you play high. Perspective sound.

[@MrSdbmgarcia]

I purchased s mic2s. Thank you. You mentioned in the video "one stop shop for wind protection for the mic. What's the name again? Or do you have a link for it? . I can't find that specific one. Thank you in advance

[@SoundSpeeds]

The Cinela Cosi? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpzFe6uDlKyVorc

[@MrSdbmgarcia]

@@SoundSpeeds I ordered one! Thanks

[@SoundSpeeds]

Cool! They are beautiful.

[@2musiclover534]

GREAT video. Liked. Thanks. Coming a bit late. Hope you are following. Quick question. For indoor webstreaming where the mic is JUST outsider of the video view pointing from the top down at the speaker, would the shorter 2S version be better? You seem to suggest so in your in room test. Thank you!

[@SoundSpeeds]

In that case, take your pick. The 2 will have more reach and rejection than the 2S but you may not need it.

[@2musiclover534]

@@SoundSpeeds Thanks. So I think I may have misunderstood you then. Now it sounds like both are equally viable for indoor webstreaming in a static placement. Thanks.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Correct. Happy streaming!

[@ideassharing]

I'm not familiar with microphones for indoor dialogue in conditions where echoes and reverberations are easy to arise. can 2s reduce that condition? God bless

[@SoundSpeeds]

Not really. What you need is a pencil condenser for film work.

[@ideassharing]

@@SoundSpeeds wow.....I didn't think of that before. I thought the pencil mic was only for capturing the sound of musical instruments at close range. Thank you for the ideas you provide. success for you. God bless

[@SoundSpeeds]

Glad to help

[@pw6954]

dear sir, can you plug this Deity short gun S-mic 2s directly into xlr port on Zoom H5 without connecting xlr cable please? thank you in advance .

[@SoundSpeeds]

Very likely. I was able to plug two S-Mic 2s into my Tascam DR-40 without issue.

[@lloydpdx]

Late to the party here, hoping you'll see this....wondering if you (or any other listener) have directly compared the 2s to the Sennheiser MKE600, in terms of pattern, rejection, and coloration, especially for doc or, in a pinch, on-camera work in less than quiet environments. I like the 600, but ready to upgrade if it makes sense. Thanks

[@SoundSpeeds]

I haven't compared them, no. I don't imagine I ever would either because they are two different styles of mic marketed to different uses. Perhaps someone else has them both though.

[@HilleCine]

I'm in the same boat, my 600 is good but just a little too long. Did you get the 2s?

[@lloydpdx]

@@HilleCineNo, at the time I was able to do a mic comparison, and I wasn’t impressed compared to my 600. Instead, I upgraded to a Sanken CS M1. Terrific for my needs, an overdue true upgrade.

[@photographer-at-large9795]

how will S-Mic 2s compare to forthcoming Deity Uni-Mic with interchangeable capsules...worth waiting for?

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm very excited about the Deity Unimic. Personally, if you own a S-Mic 2, I'd wait on the Unimic but if you don't... you'll have to make a decision as to which S-Mic you'd want for longer reach than the Unimic. I'm looking forward to listening to the Unimic!

[@photographer-at-large9795]

Thank you Sound Speeds . found a picture of Uni-Mic here: www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/new-product-alert/840631d1568414442-deity-s-mic-2s-shotgun-uni-mic-studio-microphones-hd-tx-transmitter-recorder-deity_uni-mic.jpg

[@dylanj8676]

Old video, but as a back up to an MKH 8050, think the S-Mic 2S would be a good option? I have a lot of Oktava film sets but they're not very boom friendly

[@SoundSpeeds]

Have they been modded? Modded Oktavas are much better than stock.

[@dylanj8676]

@@SoundSpeeds They haven't because they're really recent ones, which supposedly implemented some of the mods but also don't have the old soviet electronics that were prone to failure. I do have Rycote mounts for them, but I still think they're a bit susceptible to noise. Really I'd like something resistant to RF interference and durable enough that I can use it in Canadian weather (same reason I went with an MKH 8050 over a used Schoeps).

[@SoundSpeeds]

The 8050 is far better than the 2S but I've known pros that use the 2S when they've forgotten the 8050 or otherwise couldn't use it and said it worked well.

[@dylanj8676]

@@SoundSpeeds If the Unimic or whatever they changed the name to were out I'd grab some of those, but I haven't heard much about it in a long time.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Me neither. It was shelved during the Covid shutdown to concentrate more on content creator related products like top of camera mics and the V.Lavs

[@rajarajeshwarimahitha1449]

Hi, do you think the sound picked up by the 2S would be good enough for podcasting?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It can be if used properly in a treated room.

[@Lakefilms]

How do you feel S mic 2s would perform for indoor dialogue scenes?

[@SoundSpeeds]

A bit more reflective than a supercardioid non shotgun but you could still get good results out of it.

[@tor2919]

Will the s-mic2s work well as an on camera mic for eng and documentary work? Mostly for environmental sound accompanied with lav mic or hand mic.

[@SoundSpeeds]

It will as long as the camera can supply it with phantom power.

[@film2375]

Which one will be allrounder go to mic with zoom f3 both indoor and outdoor?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Take your pick but I prefer the 2 over the 2S.

[@film2375]

@@SoundSpeeds Thank you for reply. Smic 2 looks good to me but only confused for indoor. Is it unusable in untreated indoor room?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Shotguns are less than ideal in untreated rooms but It will work about as well as most others especially at the price point.

[@film2375]

1. Rode nt5 will be better than s mic 2 when record from 2ft away? 2. S mic 2 or MKE 600 which one is best with zoom f3?

[@SoundSpeeds]

1) Take your pick. Both work. 2) There is best. It's preference.

[@chungdha]

There is a lot of popping sound not sure if that is cause by the mic switching or one of the mic pops or cables connection popping.

[@SoundSpeeds]

It's likely part of the switching and may even be part of the inverted phase of the mic. I wouldn't hold that against the mic though.

For talking head KZbin videos is it better the S2 than the S2s? I mean in a medium acustically treated room.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Between the two I'd always pick the 2 over the 2S. The only reason, in my opinion, to use a low profile mic is when you need a low profile mic because of a low ceiling or something.

@@SoundSpeeds and compared to the Synco D2?

[@SoundSpeeds]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYDXiIp9npWci68

@@SoundSpeeds thanx a lot! Deity s2 is the right choice for me.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Very good. Enjoy.

[@ClavinZKL]

Saw this on IG the sound is great but i wont need something like this tho.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thanks for watching!

[@RaghunathRajaram]

Hey there, thank you so much for the detailed review. So for indoor dialog for a shot where the mic is just off the frame above the subject, what would you say is the best position, directly above or a little in front and pointed down at the throat at like 45 degrees?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It should. Yes.

[@RaghunathRajaram]

@@SoundSpeeds Hey sorry I don't follow. So is the directly overhead position better or is the 45 degree one better? Also, I own a Rode NT5 and shoot in a large untreated room so would you recommend the Deity 2S or should I stick with this?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It's difficult to give accurate sound advice based on a few written sentences. There's a lot in play regarding acoustics. In a untreated room you'll have a lot of bounce off room itself along with any hard surface (like a table) in front of you. A less directional pattern like a cardioid would be better than a shotgun in most circumstances because it won't have the reach to hear deep off reflections. However any closer noises won't be rejected as well le clicking a keyboard or computer fans. This is where listening comes into play. If you have noises you want to reject out, hide those noises in the null part of a microphone pattern whenever possible while putting only desirable sounds in line with the microphone and that includes 10-15 feet in reflections off of hard surfaces (like a mirror would if you were looking with a camera).

[@RaghunathRajaram]

@@SoundSpeeds thanks that's really helpful. Looks like a SDC is a better choice than a shotgun for my current setup.

[@SoundSpeeds]

That is my suspicion too based on what I heard. I'd try it first.

[@MrAgrimkohli]

I think you are also confusing between feet and meter in distance.

[@SoundSpeeds]

How so?

[@SparkY0]

@@SoundSpeeds Maybe it's forced perspective or the lens, but the microphones appear to be much further away than you say they are.

[@SoundSpeeds]

It is approximate so you may be right. I do know that I'm within a few inches even at the highest levels because I know how long my booms are and how tall I am. Can't be far off.

[@nickr5213]

Snack pack :)

[@SoundSpeeds]

Deity tricked me.

[@voicehead]

bro dont eat that

[@SoundSpeeds]

Good advice