REVIEW - SARAMONIC SR VRM1 XLR Audio Recorder - Lose Those Cables!

This is the part one video, where I look at the Saramonic SR VRM1 XLR on mic audio recorder. I saw this unit when I was interviewing Jade from Saramonic at NAB. With this unit, and the other one mentioned in the video (which will be part two), this gives video creators an all-around solution to shooting video without having to worry about recorders and cables. I found the unit of great build quality, simple to use, convenient, and a great way to record everything like dialogue scenes, sound effects, instructional videos and more, without having to deal with cable runs and electricity. If this would work for your videos, I highly recommend it.
Links mentioned in the video
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B and H:
SR VRM1 Recorder: bhpho.to/2Hzr8RY
TX-XLR9 Transmitter: bhpho.to/2H2kqCK
UWMIC9 Receiver,Transmitter: bhpho.to/2H137lM
AMAZON:
SR VRM1 Recorder: Amazon: geni.us/6OrBF
TX-XLR9 Trasmitter: Amazon: geni.us/6OrBF
UWMIC9 Receiver,Transmitter: amzn.to/2KjJCG7
NEW COURSE:
80% OFF: bit.ly/VideoHa...
UNIVERITY: bit.ly/BFM-UNI...
OTHER VIDEOS:
SARMONIC NAB INTERVIEW: • SARAMONIC SR-VRM1 - XL...
BASIC OF MICROPHONES: • BASICS OF MICROPHONES ...
BASICS OF SOUND AND AUDIO: • BASICS OF SOUND and AU...
What I shoot my episodes with:
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AMAZON:
Canon 5D: Amazon: geni.us/Lu9x
Canon 50mm: Amazon: geni.us/l6CU
Rode NTG-3: Amazon: geni.us/RodeNT...
Zoom H6: Amazon: geni.us/ZoomH6...
Aputure Tri-8 Kit: hAmazon: geni.us/Aputur...
B&H:
Canon 5D: bhpho.to/2GXbUoz
Canon 50mm: bhpho.to/2HzkoDE
Rode NTG-3: bhpho.to/2HxxL75
Zoom H6: bhpho.to/2Hz3nJx
Aputure Tri-8 Kit: bhpho.to/2H0IHJk
More gear at www.kit.co/bas...
Intro and Music Credits
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Intro by Kevin Anson: bit.ly/Emotico...
Music by Premium Beat: bit.ly/Premium...
Connect with me here:
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Copyright (c) 2018 by The Basic Filmmaker
Note that some of these links are affiliate links and help keep the channel going. Thanks for your support, as it really helps offset the costs! #basicfilmmaker #filmmaking #videos

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Don't forget to watch to the end to see the Pros, Cons, and all the specs. What's your opinion? Is this something that would work for you?

[@AANasseh]

Thanks for the review. This was very helpful. Is there 1/4" hole on one side for a mount option? Also, can one go from the headphone jack directly into a DSLR in this unit? Would it require a special attenuation cable?

[@BasicFilmmaker]

There is no 1/4" mounting, as that is not it's purpose. However, it would be easy to rig something up. As far as the headphone into the camera, that would defeat the purpose of having the recorder mic, although the other system I mention in the links does not have a recorder, is wireless, does have a 1/4" mount, and would be connected to the camera's input.

[@AANasseh]

Actually, wouldn't defeat the purpose, it would simply make it multipurpose. The point is to have it be on the camera when you need it for vlogging with an XLR mic and then take it off and do remove when the camera is far from the subject. It actually makes a lot of sense! I'm surprised the company didn't think of this. Two separate uses both of which is wired and you can use high quality mics vs. cheap 1/4" mics for this purpose.

[@simon_patterson]

Real World Endo it would not be as simple as Saramonic adding a 1/4" screw thread to the case somewhere. If they did, people would start to hold their microphone/recorder combination using only that thread, and then returning the recorder to Saramonic as "not fit for purpose" when the weight of the microphone and recorder snaps their 1/4" connection. The manufacturer avoids all this confusion and cost by designing the XLR adaptor strong enough to hold the weight of the recorder, and by ensuring that this is the only connection point to the unit. Then it is obvious to the end user that the microphone/recorder combo needs to be held via the microphone, not the recorder.

[@AANasseh]

Fair enough. But you have to agree that it would be great to mount this unit on the camera hot shoe in order to have it on the camera when needed. However, you're right that it may be better to mount it using the shotgun microphone on the hot shoe rather than the recorder. A better shock mount can be put on as well. I still wonder if the output from the headphone jack is fit for recording directly into the camera! (with the unit itself acting as an audio adaptor!)

[@garyking4032]

The ending reminds me of gigging in a band years ago when our vocalist decided to go for a piss half way through a song, but took his radiomic along for all to enjoy.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

LMAO!! That's just not right. :)

[@PostColorGear]

Those were great ideas about alternative uses for the mic! Much easier on a boom pole than running a long cable down it!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Totally! I can totally see using this for something like a car scene, where you don't have to worry about the darn cables bumping against the door. :)

[@FromClaphamJunction]

Thanks for a great review. You really sold me on this product. One question : can you connect it directly to the computer to download files or is removal of the SD card the only option

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Nope. It has no USB connection. You have to pull the card out.

[@JohnAldred]

Thanks, Kevin, looks interesting and would definitely be less hassle than dealing with my DR-100 and XLR cables for getting environment sound recordings on location. -dB display (or at least a "Hey, you peaked this recording! Do it again" indicator) next to the VU meter would be nice, though, especially as it doesn't have a safety channel.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Yeah. Another oddness is the input level goes from 0-60. The default is something like 32, which seems to be perfect for my mic. A peak meter would also be nice, but frankly, I don't think you would see it. This thing is really small!

[@LearnLightAndSoundSessions]

Sounds nice! Thanks for the review and for turning off the mic before...

[@BasicFilmmaker]

LOL! Yeah, you and the world appreciate that! :)

[@LivingSpiritism]

Cool video. I own the Saramonic UWMIC10 Receiver/ Dual Transmitter kit and it's really awesome... being able to record two people with lav mics and split it on L/R channels right into my camera is really convenient. I can see how this plug in recorder could be extremely useful, perhaps a competitor for the Zoom H1n, which a lot of people like to slip in their pocket to capture audio from a lav mic. I love how you plugged it right into your boom pole. I wouldn't have thought of that. When I was watching the video I was wondering how do you set the input gain levels? But I see in the "specs" section at the end you said it's adjustable. I assume when you're on the main monitor/record screen you can just hit the +/- buttons. Overall a great review.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Hey thanks! And yes, it's just the +/- buttons, and I found, at least for the mic I was using, the default is 32, which is perfect. Oddly enough, the input level goes from 0 - 60. :)

[@SpawnIsSleepy]

Oh my god, thank you so much for this video. I was trying to find something like this but i didnt even know this existed! I got an sm58 and i wanted to get something like this so i can make interview tyow videos

[@BasicFilmmaker]

You're welcome!!

[@CameronGallagher96]

I’ve thought so many times about going wireless for my Shotgun Mic setup! This May finally be the time!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

This would work. I'm also doing one next on a wireless option, with the transmitter on the mic, and the receiver on the other end.

[@GeneWaddle]

I do like Saramonic stuff. Right up there with Aputure. Good quality that I can actually afford. I just got the Saramonic wireless lav setup. I don't have a need for this one right now but could think of some uses in the future.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Me too. I also met these guys at NAB and they are just nice folks - no B.S. and do care about their customers.

[@sebastiangabor8090]

Great video! I went out and bought 2 of them lol. I am planning to use them mainly with lav mics. Any good (and affordable) ones that you'd recommend? P.S. I've tried using it with my mate's NTG1 and NTG2 but all I get is a loud hiss. Pretty strange

[@BasicFilmmaker]

The NTG2 I believe is battery power, so make sure phantoms power if off. I’d test it but don’t have one. I use the NTG3.

[@PERIKLISTSINTZAS]

I have just received my saramonic and your review is very helpfull.Thanks for that!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Great! Let me know how it goes.

[@New_Zealand_Music]

Hi there, thank you the great review, Do you happen to know anything about Saramonic SR-Q2 please. Do you know if the are worth price, as they are quite cheap here. Have been thinking about the Tuscan revisions. Any heap would be really appreciated. Hope You are well. Ash

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Hey Ash! I know nothing about this recorder. Sorry.

[@hanapa]

Sounds interesting. I didn t notice a button on the xlr connector to secure the recorder to the mike. Is there one? If not, isn't there a risk to rely on friction only?

[@BasicFilmmaker]

There is a button on the unit to secure the mic. Some people have complained that the mic is friction only, and that's bad. The thing is, you have to really PUSH the thing on, hard, and get the thing to clip, which is actually a good thing.

[@hanapa]

Thanks !

[@BasicFilmmaker]

You bet!

[@FlorianFahrenberger]

Just a hint I found for my Zoom H4n: It takes forever to power up (and format) if you use a current and decently sized SD card. But if you use smaller cards, it actually speeds up the boot time by huge amounts. You'd be surprised. I now carry a few 4GB or even 2GB SD-cards in my Zoom bag and am soooo much happier with it. Seriously, try it! Plus, it feels a bit like good old DAT tape times to exchange cards once in a while. ;-)

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Great tip. Thanks!

[@BigEric42]

Enjoyable and informative as ever. Thankyou. Well-done. The end came as a considerable relief. No, that was what I meant. But maybe some odd audiophile has a tape compilation of Wireless Washroom Whizzes. Caught short off-cam. But even the mighty can get caught: the Prime Minister in an election campaign referring to a voter as an "old bigot" and a CEO singing "We're in the money" before his broadcast interview on a billion dollar merger. (What's a tape, Grandad?) All the watery FX at the end of your spiel inspired my visiting the Thinking Place. In olden days we would have been talking about frequency responses, wow, flutter, hum and S/N ratios. Now we tend to take fidelity for granted. Progress ? Hmm. Stereophony, hah! Gain adjustment, AGC "hunting". Huh? You like it - that's enough for me. I wonder how it compares with the Tascam DR-10X Plug-On Linear PCM Digital Recorder, which is a few dollars less and simultaneously records a lower-level "safety track". All the Best from Landing Strip #1

[@BasicFilmmaker]

LOL Eric. Yes, I remember those days. I also used the Tascam in my interview at NAB, and is seems to work fine. I don't have one so I couldn't really compare them.

[@NeonsStyleHD]

Could you do a video on USB Mic Mixers please? Many of us on KZbin use USB mics, and I'm having a lot of trouble working through the fluff to find which mixer for my Rode NT-USB. I need something that allows me to process the audio, tweak pitch for streaming. Be great if you know some. Thanks.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Thanks Neons. I'll check into this. I try and not use mixers as I assumed most don't. Apparently some do. :)

[@NeonsStyleHD]

Yeh just for live streaming I'd use it. The rest of the time, I process through audacity. Thank you.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

You bet!

[@leonarddai4998]

How to see the gain indicator to make sure the sound stay between -12 db to -6db?

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Tough one on this unit. See this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIDTg2SIgddoe8k

[@OMTEKNO]

I like it more than the same product from tascam as it has 48 V phantom power. With 24/48 recording quality, it worth for money. However there is serious issue on the material of SD card cover. I bought this recorder 2 times. All of them were come with broken covers. I think the material is not suitable for tropical countries with very high humidity.

[@3DThrills]

I thought that the mics had to be pushed on a little further than that, to engage that locking ring?

[@BasicFilmmaker]

True. Not sure I didn't as I haven't watched this in years, but if I didn't, wow, it still worked!

[@3DThrills]

I saw in another video, I think it was Booth Junkie, that his Neumann wouldn't allow him to slide it in far enough to engage that locking ring. He solved the problem by adding an xlr entending device. I'm just a noob. Thanks for the help. @@BasicFilmmaker

[@BasicFilmmaker]

@@3DThrills No problem. Yeah, I’ve had some of these are really hard to push down and engage the locking ring on. Having an XL are extending device is brilliant. Thanks for the tip!

[@3DThrills]

I'm still only researching the voice over world. I bought a Maono 422. I have Audition 1.0. I still have a LOT to learn before I can even try to compete on this stage. @@BasicFilmmaker

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Go for it. If it sounds good, that’s all anyone cares about.

[@JeffBourke]

are there any alternatives to this in the same form factor?

[@BasicFilmmaker]

In 2021, I would absolutely hands-down get the Deity HD-TX. You can see it and everything else here: kit.co/BasicFilmmaker/youtube-channel-kit

[@LeesRandomVids]

Lol, You joke about it not having a flip out screen but I think one would be quite useful for setting the recording levels when recording yourself.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

It would be cool, but, it's so tiny, I think it would break off to easy. Still like to see it though.

[@barneyelo]

What boompole do you use in this Video? :)

[@BasicFilmmaker]

I believe it's this model. Expensive, but there are cheaper that still have the XLR cable running down inside the pole. amzn.to/2wNAYhd

[@barneyelo]

Basic Filmmaker thanks 👍

[@BasicFilmmaker]

You bet!

[@tomastancredi7575]

I have this same unit. The main downside of it is that if you are using a phantom power mic you have to go back to menu every time you'll record a new clip.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

There's something wrong with yours. I use it on phantom power mics (Rode NTG-3) with no problem.

[@tomastancredi7575]

@@BasicFilmmaker no, they do work. And I like them. I meant that every time you turn it off It goes back to default with Phantom Power turned off. When i am shooting a documentary It annoys me to have to Go back to the menu every time I turn it on.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

That's not what happens to mine. It stay the way I set it.

[@DavidRFIT]

what happened to the thumb down guy? is he alright? I'm worried.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

LOL! I was wondering the same thing. Maybe he's on vacation in hell. :)

[@Gumikrukon]

Thank you Basic!! :)

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Hey! You bet!

[@zogun]

Saramonic SR-VRM1 VS Tascam Dr-10X?

[@scottlamp3097]

I have Tascam’s plug on recorder. I gotta say this unit looks much more useful.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Might be. I used the Tascam briefly at the NAB show.

[@genjii931]

I don't think there's any way in the world it's actually doing a format that quickly, not even a high-level one; that looks to me like a 'delete everything' function simply labeled as format, but only Saramonic would know for sure.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

It might be the difference between a low level format and a quick format, like a computer. Bu for sure, the darn thing seems to startup about 10x faster than my H4n and H4n Pro.

[@aight365]

Nice vape

[@BasicFilmmaker]

LOL!!

[@DL-lt5ly]

Shut up and take my money!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Check out Deity Mics new one. Way better.