Movo LV-1 Lav Mic Review & Test (vs. MV-L, Lav Go)

[@Aevyn]

Holy cow Bandrew, you've thinned out so much since the last time i came across your videos a few years ago! You look great man.

[@Podcastage]

Thank you very much for that. I've been working on it for a few years.

[@enoraso]

I love these entry level videos because it is compered to mic or no mic and the changes are so very noticeable

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much for watching. Yeah it's cool seeing how this cheap gear might impact the quality of a recording compared to the internal mic on a camera.

[@caseyzx]

i miss when bandrew would take his anger issues out on hopeless stickers

[@Matthew_Raymond]

Curse you, anger management counselor!!!

[@Podcastage]

I'm at peace. Live and let live or something....or did Big Sticker finally get to me?

[@caseyzx]

@@Podcastage you must beat up defenseless stickers for us please

[@skilletfan932]

for $13-28, it's pretty decent! :D edit: that sounded amazing going into the Rode app on your phone, whoa!

[@Podcastage]

It functions and gets you audio and for $13-$28 that's pretty cool. The unreliability will likely be a let down for a lot of people though.

[@Mr_How_Well]

I really want to thank you for including the rode ai micro as part of your review. Might a full review of it as an interface be on the horizon? Would surely appreciate it

[@Podcastage]

I've been considering doing a full video on it. Wasn't sure if there was interest in it, but It has been useful as I try more lav mics. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@mokisan]

Thanks for the great video as usual! You should do more of these budget reviews! Could you try the wireless mic like super cheap "boya v10 or v20" its an usb c wireless mic.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely consider it.

[@mokisan]

@@Podcastage Thank you for the consideration :) More of the budget stuff would be awesome to see

[@rolofry]

Hey I'm impressed with the changes from month to month, will you do/are you doing any videos on your fitness journey? Keep up the good work.

[@Podcastage]

I haven't done any videos recently on it. I just cut out junk food. I eat chicken and vegetables and healthy stuff like that, don't drink sugary drinks, just water and coffee. And then walk and do pushups every day. Pretty simple regimen...I'm sure some fitness person would tell me how it's wrong but whatever.

[@JacopoGianfreda]

Greetings podcastage! I have a very important question for you. Which microphone do you recommend me most? -Lewitt lct 440 PURE -Warm audio WA47jr I do voiceovers, dubbing ecc, (vocals in general) i want a natural voice, that i can use in most situations, also, a good audio interface that i can use with these microphones? (under 200 euros) Someone said that with my voice, the lewitt suit more, but the warm audio seems for me to be..more...sensual.

[@Podcastage]

If you have someone suggesting the LCT440 for your voice that person may be on the right track. The 440 is a very popular mic, it's just not my personal favorite because I find it too bright on my voice which is a bit higher pitched and harsh. A lot of people swear by Lewitt for VO though. Interface, the Scarlett stuff, Audient stuff, SSL, or Motu stuff is all very good.

[@MoncefVortex]

The best part of your videos is the U87 comparison 😂

[@Podcastage]

Thank you so much.

[@TheRelaxingRide]

this has the vibe of an early Røde review circa 2006 ... in other words, MOVO is one to keep an eye on

[@Podcastage]

Interesting assessment. Thanks.

[@boonie3]

I remember the Sony ECM-CS3 was my first mic that I'd use for playing games online and back then people would always tell me how good my mic sounded. it picked up every background noise but sounded great

[@Podcastage]

Yeah for the super low price it cost, it sounded pretty darn good.

[@drakegostream]

It’s literally BOYA BY-M1 reskin with USB adapter 😂 Thanks for review tho!

[@theoutsiderjess1869]

I have the boya too I was like it looks familiar

[@Podcastage]

Yeah seems that way. Thanks for watching.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

"Man nips" is not something I thought I'd ever hear in a Podcastage video. You're full of surprises, Bandrew.

[@Podcastage]

My goal is to keep you on your toes.

[@JoshColletta]

I also noticed the Movo had a significant amount of self-noise. Not the WORST I've ever heard, mind you, but the airy hiss was there regardless of what you connected it to or how. The Earbuds were worse, and the MVL was about the same. Naturally, some of that comes down to sensitivity and frequency response, and the Earbuds were made for personal communication, not media production, but it's something you still have to consider, especially with lav mics where the whole point is close-up sound from a bit of distance. I will say this: I was impressed with the Deity mic. To my ears, it had the best response with the least amount of self-noise apart from the TL47. And for that price, with everything you get, the actual cost of the microphone itself is probably comparable, maybe a few bucks more than the LV-1. If I were looking for a budget lav, I'd just save up the money and buy the Deity. Then I'd have the mic AND a wireless setup for when I need it.

[@Podcastage]

Great insight Josh, I appreciate you sharing that. I need to get around to doing a test of the Deity wireless system, I just have been trying to switch stuff up.

[@mamad504]

For a budget of max $300 what condenser mic do you suggest for recording acoustic guitar and decent background noise rejection (as far as condensers go anyway). I like neutral and balanced sound profile. Thanks in advance!

[@Podcastage]

sE8 would probably be my go to acoustic guitar mic around that price.

[@TSGEnt]

I've got this mic. For me it works well as a vlog mic. Yeah lots of cable can be a tangly mess, but It works well for out door windy situations. I'm bummed though. I didn't get a sticker in my package. Sigh. And you didn't record a tune on this one. Please make my day and get a tune recorded. A "Hat" song version 2 would be good! ;)

[@Podcastage]

Glad the mic is working well for you. Thanks for sharing your experience with it. Haha. I don't know if a ton of people use this for music so I opted to save myself a few hours.

[@TSGEnt]

Actually, I've used it in a live show on an acoustic guitar that didn't have pick up in it. Just used a little bit of rubber tubing on the clip and clipped it to the sound hole. Voila! Did something similar with a violin. A little extra EQ, and pow! Thought you'd what to know.@@Podcastage

[@Lycanthony]

Wow. You are so thorough! Thank you so much! Liked, Subbed, and this here! You do an amazing job

[@Podcastage]

That's very kind of you Anthony. Thanks for watching!

[@pjlira]

Please do a test on all the newest Universal Audio Microphones and let us know if they are the same as Townsend Sprere L22.

[@Podcastage]

I just saw the fact that the SD1 now has modeling options. I'll be comparing the SD1 to the dynamics it's modeling to see how it works.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Is it better then the audio on a phone? Can good audio for a Podcast or voice over come from a half decent phone?

[@JoseOnTheAir]

Honestly there's a good chance using the phone as a handheld microphone with a recorder app directly would sound better

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

@@JoseOnTheAir I have several different mics however for videos where I record the audio straight from tablet it sounds fine. My head has to be right by the tablet however.

[@Podcastage]

I'd rather use the phone's internal mic. It's going to be a lot more reliable than something like this IMO.

[@cvs2fan]

GREAT REVIEW ! Its a shame that here in my local amazon shop they sell it for 28 dollars but its same story with most slectronics i buy

[@Podcastage]

Darn, that's a lot more money than $13. Sorry you have a higher price.

[@Nuds1223]

I was hearing a bassy hum on the Movo probably just the ac in the room but it cleared up on the first shure lav. I was listening on Bose QC 35s for ref.

[@Podcastage]

it could have been local AC units that I don't have control over. T

[@koolpep]

Question: the ai-micro has a DSP which allows a lot of processing, is there any on with yours? It somehow sounds a bit like it…..

[@Podcastage]

Nope. All DSP options were shut off. It sounds drastically different running through every single device.

[@koolpep]

​@Podcastage Haha thanks for clarifying. 😊

[@shingAMarie]

The TikTok position rivals higher end large diaphragm condenser mics!

[@Podcastage]

I don't really agree with that, but it definitely has a lot more high end compared to the standard position on the chest.

[@OlexanderZnaharenkoUA]

Be healthy! Watching now with good feelings. Thanks for content and your "annoying" rewiews. 🐱

[@Podcastage]

Thanks Olexander.

[@snraps8319]

Hey, what do you think about the Sony c80?

[@Podcastage]

I have not used the C80 so I don't have any thoughts on that mic. Sorry to not have any information to share.

[@danmagoo]

These are fine for recording spoken word directly into my Canon Rebel T7, which requires a mic with a battery.

[@Podcastage]

If it works for ya, that's all that you can really ask for. Glad you're getting some use out of it.

[@SethFrostV]

Hey Bandrew,, first time watching in awhile. Been staying away from hardware reviews so I wouldn't be tempted to buy anything lmao You're looking great, hope you're doing well :)

[@Podcastage]

I completely understand that. I frequently have to step back from a lot of the videos I watch to avoid temptation, so I get it. Thanks so much for stopping by again and checking out a video and thanks for the kind words. Hope you're doing well too.

[@SethFrostV]

Doing great, appreciate all the work you've put in over the years

[@ww1www]

It looks to be identical in looks to the Boya BY-BM1, except the USB dongle which the Boya kit does not contain. Not that bad for USD 13. That battery pack is weird though. All it does is changing between TRS and TRRS mode. If you use a TRS/TRRS adapter, it doesn't even need a battery.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah it may be the same mic. I couldn't find the BY-CM1 to compare it.

[@ww1www]

@@Podcastage BY-M1 the name actually is, sorry for typo. I have one that I bought when our puppydog ate my lav's wire and I needed something quickly and for cheap. Actually, it is not bad, esp. for the money. There is a BY-M1 Pro variant, which I used to prefer, it was less boomy, more brittle sounding which actually sounded better to my ears and it also featured a headphone output so.that you could get sound from your smartphone when the mic occupied the TRRS port. My colleague uses that one for the.l company's KZbin channel and it is good enough for that purpose.

[@graysonpeddie]

Why not go for the Movo LV8-D microphone? It's got an XLR connector at the end and I like it the most. Any stationary microphones may not be an ideal choice for those who need to move their head and body around while doing commentary in video games.

[@Podcastage]

I didn't go for that one because when I bought this, I was looking for the cheapest gear to prove a point that even with cheap gear you can make content.

[@graysonpeddie]

@@Podcastage That makes sense. I was thinking about more of a sound quality difference between the Movo LV1-D and LV8-D microphones.

[@45KevinR]

I feel that perhaps you should have tied the Neumann on a ribbon around your neck to get a fair comparison. Although then the pickup pattern would have been pointing away from you, or into your chest. 🤣🤷‍♂️😎🧙‍♂️. As you say though, for one off use or to see if you want to spend big bucks on a pro model it's ideal. Slightly odd how much noise jogging the cable gave you. Maybe it's unshielded so 26 foot aerial, picking up stray EMR; I had rear speakers that used to tell me my mobile was about to ring!

[@Podcastage]

I probably should have tied the U87 around my neck for the test....you know...to be fair. haha.

[@45KevinR]

I can imagine the U87 goes everywhere with you. It's probably got it's own pillow and sleeps next to you in bed. 🤣😎🧙‍♂️. If I was good at drawing I'd do a cartoon of that.

[@bubexpress5435]

The Universal Audio SC-1 condenser microphone is out now

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for the heads up. I don't currently have one and haven't ordered one. But I'll definitely consider it when I have a few bucks to spend on more mics.

[@krzysztofmaska2215]

Hey Bandrew. If you plan to make this series bigger, or need some more really cheap lav mics - try Boya BY-M1. I have one, it costs around $12-15 IIRC, and IMO for this price it sounds very good - better than this Movo (I think at least). So maybe that's an option for you to check in this budget-lav shootout/series. I also used it for work purpose for few months, numerous times pulling the cable by mistake etc. and there was no issues, it still works - so probably the build quality is also better than this Movo.

[@Podcastage]

I think I covered the BY-M1 about 7 years ago. Thanks so much for the suggestion. I couldn't find it or I would have included a comparison.

[@virgogreg]

amazing how such a small condenser sounds

[@nr4052]

Seems like there were noticeable differences depending on what the mic was connected to.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah it definitely does seem like different sounds based on the input device.

[@FrederickGautier]

Love seeing all the physical movies. Criterion has a 50% off deal today!

[@Podcastage]

Thank you for the heads up. I just got the e-mail from Criterion today also, but I have been on a spending freeze for movies lately. I have too many and I have a stack that I still need to watch.

[@FrederickGautier]

@@Podcastage - Ahh understandable! I definitely understand that.

[@SixDegreesofJim]

Would you recommend a Zoom podtrak 4 with zoom zdm-1 mics for a brand spanky new and shinny podcaster?

[@Podcastage]

I'd probably go Podtrak P4 and XM8500 or sE V2 instead of the ZDM1.

[@SixDegreesofJim]

@@Podcastage thanks for the advice. Keep tossing boxes!!!!!

[@hydroponicgard]

I had a boya by-m1, which is the same thing as that (idk if you mentioned it in the video) DoA... So I am not trusting cheap lav mics anymore :V

[@Podcastage]

Yeah. After a few years I've learned how unreliable they are. They're cheap and fun to try out if you get one that works, but I wouldn't trust it in any critical applications.

[@Space_Potato8080]

I feel like you should have clipped the Neumann to your hoodie for a fair comparison.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah. I have failed everyone, especially sound speeds.

[@siontheodorus1501]

I wonder how good/bad it is compared to the sennheisser G3 which is a very popular wireless lav mic

[@Podcastage]

Hasn't the G3 been out of production for a while? I think I had the G3 guitar wireless back when I was playing in a band over a decade ago.

[@siontheodorus1501]

@@Podcastage oops, i didn't know that, well i'm interested with the lav mic, the MKE or ME2 (i forgot the name back then)

[@Gortmend]

These should be a part of every beginning field recording kit as a backup mic.

[@Podcastage]

A budget Lav mic would be good to backup but I wouldn't rely on it for any mission critical recordings...but as a backup I'm sure many people would be okay with it.

[@Gortmend]

@@Podcastage Ya know, reading through the other comments and your experience, I think there is a really good point about the lack of Quality Control on cheap gear. I've actually had one of these in my kit for a few years, and I've never had any of the problems you did, but apparently I just got lucky. I've definitely had other cheap gear that's been really inconsistent with build quality.

[@rickautry4822]

Bander, Please review these type of mics. There are so many of these its mind blowing. 3 in 1 Wireless Lavalier Microphones for iPhone, iPad, Android, Camera, USB-C Microphone, 7-Hour Battery, Mini Microphone with Noise Reduction for Video Recording, Vlog, KZbin, TikTok Thank you

[@COPiX]

You should create a Frankenstein's monster of adapters to run it through your tube preamp and through the UA x8

[@Podcastage]

I don't want to end up in hell for committing that sin.

[@teacherofteachers1239]

So here's a question for anyone. Suppose I have to buy 600 USB lav mics for office workers (to improve their sound on Teams etc.). Must be cheap, but the issue of this mic with reflective surfaces is worrisome. Recommendations under $30? (I imagine I can get a decent bulk discount.)

[@Podcastage]

Hopefully someone can chime in on a solution for you because I don't have enough experience with sub $30 lav mics.

[@wingedmechanism]

I got the BOYA BY-M1 (which is the same mic) for like $6 and there's a ton of noise plugging into my laptop. With some noise removal plugins, I got it to sound ok and much better than the inline microphone on my IEM. But next time I'm going to get an actual mic because I hate how my voice sounds with the Boya.

[@Podcastage]

For $6 that's not bad at all though.

[@Dizintegrator]

Neumann beats the hell out of all those lavs combined! Gotta grab it while they're still on the market XD

[@maxhammer4067]

What neumann mic

[@Podcastage]

I don't know...I think the Neumann paled in comparison to the Movo. 😂

[@jttech44]

I lol'd hard when you brought out the u87 Also, this lv1 really wasn't terrible for the price. Seems to be very sibilant in a bad way, little better with the foam on it, but overall, all of the things I hate about LAV's... well it has all that in spades.

[@Podcastage]

It's not a flattering mic, but it works and I think it's a fine entry point to playing around with lavalier mics.

[@Nuds1223]

I listen to a lot of actual play table top podcast, and i have always wondered what the cheapest way to get decent audio for 5 people in the same room could be. I stop listening to most of them because it is clearly a phone or a snowball omni mic in the middle of the table and the audio is awful. Something like this with local phone recordings or running into a discord bot like Craig might work. Or even a zoom multi input recorder. Might be a fun video idea sometime.

[@Podcastage]

That may be a good application for this as well. Some kind of automix feature would help reduce bleed too.

[@bluetech2809]

I thought the Shure MVL (as a standalone lav mic) sounded the best FWIW

[@Podcastage]

The MVL had the clearest top end right out of the box, that's for sure, and that's something I noticed as well.

[@VidMashUp]

MAN NIPS!!!! ROTFLMAO!!!! YOU DIDN'T EVEN CRACK A SMILE!!!!! edit "MOOBS!" Bandrew you are killing me!

[@Podcastage]

Glad it gave you a laugh> Thanks for watching. =)

[@maxhammer4067]

Iv just got the rode lav mic 2, 2 came with the rode wireless pro , there good for micing up guitar and voval on the go in mild wind, would be great if you explored mics that are good for vocal and guitar outside, I tried my km184's outside and one little gust of wind and the audio was toast, I think the mics survived lol but they are NEVER going outside again 😂

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for the suggestion, that's an interesting topic. I haven't really played with Lav mics for acoustic guitar or singing before.

[@maxhammer4067]

@@Podcastage the lavs ain't perfect for vocal and guitar but there small easy set up on the go and wind rejection with little dead cats on is very good,

[@gyrran]

a two pole adapter for the four pole jack plug? priceless!

[@gyrran]

nvm, i just realized how it made sense.

[@Podcastage]

I laughed when I first saw it too, then I realized it could be used for interface like I demoed.

[@AlexanderSuppermann]

Dude, are you OK?🙏 I hope you are, because you getting the way skinnier than you were before. Please, take care ❤️

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for your concern. I'm doing well, just eating healthy and exercising.

[@mexidraw]

No music test? :c

[@Podcastage]

Not this week with a lav mic.

[@mexidraw]

@@Podcastage alright 👍🏻

[@techmed-rainer]

Danke!

[@Podcastage]

Thank you so much Rainer, I truly appreciate your support of the channel on videos like this!

[@OlexanderZnaharenkoUA]

In comparison with other mics it is ok. Best position for recording, like you said, "a tictok position".

[@Podcastage]

TikTok position gives you best clarity, but is the least reasonable way to use it for most people who don't want to have to think about a mic.

[@SparkY0]

To me, this sounds significantly worse than the april fools microphone. It's basically a $2 aliexpress lav. But at least it has a long cable and a battery if somebody has a specific need for it. If you don't need the extras, the $2 lav is probably the better bet. I would have liked to hear it plugged into a phone to see if it picks up RF noise like other cheap lavs.

[@JoeCastellon]

I wonder if this is just a rebranded Boya BY-M1 😆

[@Podcastage]

It very well might be. I tried to find the Boya but I couldn't find it.

[@sloanNYC]

What a weird set of design decisions and accessories... but for $13??? Woah.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah for $13 it's wild.

[@MichaelVieiraAlencar-nj6fp]

It's crazy how can this microphone can sound okay on smartphone speaker

[@Podcastage]

As long as the audio is fairly direct and there's not an absurd amount of background noise, I'd say that most mics are decent through a smartphone speaker.

[@A-Mana]

Andrew, you look so good, I'm starting to think you're a spy. Did you lose weight to go undercover, or are you just trying to make me jealous?

[@Podcastage]

I'm just trying to be healthy and feel better.

[@CYGNIUS]

Honestly not too bad for the price.

[@Podcastage]

It functions and it's super cheap that's pretty good.

[@AverageBlud]

Week 1 of asking Podcastage to review boya by-bm 58

[@Podcastage]

$75? That's a lot!

[@pantherinemedia8678]

This is a carbon copy of the boya by-m1 mic and I've been using mine for the past 5 years, so there's that for longevity 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@Podcastage]

I was thinking it was a copy of that, but I couldn't find my Boya to compare it. That's great news about the longevity for you. I was quite disappointed with the crackling I encountered when moving the mic around. Maybe it's not apparent on every mic though.

[@Tarkov.]

I bought an older TRRS rode (videomic ME) because phones don't have 3.5mm jacks anymore they're super cheap on ebay.

[@Podcastage]

Great advice there.

[@edclevel402]

I DEMAND A VERY SMALL CLOWN NOSE HONK SFX.

[@Podcastage]

I have failed you!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Dude, come on. At least put the U87 on your chest like a lav mic. 😂

[@Podcastage]

I have failed you.

[@jallantan]

Looks like a Boya mic

[@medeuce]

“Moobs” lol

[@Podcastage]

The moobs are real.

[@nobodyhaslogin]

You can't compare U87 to a lav mic! The U87 is not between your moobs even! XD

[@Podcastage]

How did you know I carry the U87 between my m00bs every day while I walk around?

[@artysanmobile]

The sound is umm… the worst yet. It hurt my head.

[@Podcastage]

WOAH! The worst yet!? That means I missed a huge click bait opportunity "WORST SOUNDING MIC EVER!"

[@theglobalzrecordingproject]

Movo...movo...movo...movo... I just like saying movo.

[@Podcastage]

It's a fun word to say.

[@pingpongowo]

16 m- more...? 🦶

[@Podcastage]

NOOOO!!!!!!! 💀

[@larrymarso4492]

You look thinner without a microphone

[@Podcastage]

I only care about the audio and not how I look. Haha.

[@KarenBasset]

Sounds like a $10 mic.

[@Podcastage]

Ha! Lav mics certainly have a sound that's noticeable.

[@Whateverjosh129]

First

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Shocking, I thought I was.

[@Whateverjosh129]

not this timeeeeee@@HOLLASOUNDS

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

@@Whateverjosh129 I'll beat you next time Mr.😡

[@Whateverjosh129]

we'll see about that hehe@@HOLLASOUNDS

[@Podcastage]

Good job. We'll see who wins next time.

[@msnoob1901]

are you okay? you look like youve lost some weight

[@Podcastage]

To my knowledge I'm fine. I've been exercising and eating healthier.

[@mountainhobo]

Horrid.

[@Matthew_Raymond]

Actually, at that price point, it’s about average.

[@Podcastage]

Not the best, but it functions, and it's cheap (if you get one that works).