Rycote Microphones, Extensive Testing & Review

[@cstar224]

Thank you thank you thank you for all the tireless work you do for the sound community!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching.

[@QuestionMan]

Whooooo! Leaning into that "old man yells at clouds" crustiness today. Well done! ("i'm not happy and I don't like everything now compared to the way it used to be")

[@QuestionMan]

PS I am older than you (a bit) and am a grumpy old man.

[@SoundSpeeds]

The only advantage to age is being tolerated for bitterness

[@GetSmartish]

@@SoundSpeeds Amen.

[@SoundSpeeds]

😎

[@QuestionMan]

Lovin all the cowbell and whistles on this vid.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm not sure what you mean

[@GetSmartish]

@@SoundSpeeds It's dum-dum wit, trying to combine "more cowbell" with "bells and whistles," when I could've just said that I liked how you put a little extra something into this episode with the split-screen effects and all.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you

[@reckerproduction9468]

1st to comment, an hour after upload, this is eye opening, that placement is key

[@SoundSpeeds]

Totally

[@imark7777777]

You can gain more vertical resolution if you rotate the camera on its side then punch in. Little tiff I picked up from a podcast wayback when. They had two cameras in a taxi cab rotated sideways to capture the backseat for two actors then stitched it back together to have a larger resolution frame it was an interesting technique.

[@Behnam_Moghaddam]

Wow, Thank you for the work you put in. Btw old enough to know the quote but watched all in german at that time 🤔

[@SoundSpeeds]

Awesome

[@youarieyellowmissile]

Your tests are so amazingly great! 😄 I have a maybe special question… an unprofessional question maybe also. 😅 I recently got a Sony FS5M2 camera, which has 2 XLR inputs. I also have a lovely old Zoom H2n microphone that I use in the T mic configuration, allowing me to control the stereo width. However, this microphone is only mounted but not connected to the camera because it records on its own SD card. Since the camera has the potential to record sound too, my question is: Is it a good idea to get the HC22 or HC35 on the small mic arm on the handle, or is it bad if I balance it in the middle of the tube? Also, is it bad if I squeeze the wind protection into the “mount” of the FS5M2 handle? Maybe I can use some other mounting ideas with the hot shoe (as a cold shoe), or is it better to use a Sennheiser 416T with a T-power to 48V adapter? This would make the mic also ridiculously long, but it has the legendary good sound of the 416. To summarize my idea: I already have pretty nice field and really good dialogue sound with the Zoom H2n because it has a really nice flat sound and is also stereo controllable. For example, it can go from 150° to effectively mono, but it has many problems when objects are far away. So, I am thinking about a shotgun mic that I can use for detailed sound, like wildlife or stuff that is 1m to 5m (3.2 feet to 16.4 feet) away. And yes, you are definitely right, a boom pole or a lav mic would be much better in these cases, but I want to film documentaries, so I am often in situations where I can’t prepare for recordings. When a wild animal comes along, I can’t go to it and put a lav on it. So, that’s why I dream of an all-on-camera setup. Do you have any recommendations? I also thought about the Sennheiser H600, but I hate the fact that it uses a battery, which also makes the mic longer. My camera has 48V phantom power, and I hate worrying about another battery in my gear. Lastly, my budget is €350. So, anything above that is too expensive. I have just started filming with this camera, so I want it as a new creative tool that I can also use for sound design in post-production. 😄 I would love to hear your ideas for mics for me! 😄 i love your videos specaly the shotguntests :D PS i am a Video Person, that is in Edit a Sound Person, so i love take care in camera ad composition and stuff by creating, but in the Edit i mostly work on the sound ;D and i a long tiime Violinplayer xD. i love good sound! but i has very less experienc in mics and rekording. only on my zoom h2n, bekaus that littte thing was my sound recorder over 8 jears now xD never use a other mic xD soooo... maby your tipp will bring me to my one and only shotgunmic, that i aso wil use untill it will fall to dust xD ok, maby i will get a xlr lav to soon ^-^

[@SoundSpeeds]

That... was... long... you can explain the situation but it won't answer the question of how it sounds. If I were in your situation I'd make a list of 3-5 of the most important things I want my setup to accomplish. Then prioritize them and go down the list examining your options and list those. Look at your potential solutions and see which one would resolve the maximum number of your concerns. Sometimes your top choice is a solution to one problem but your second choice resolves a few issues. Only you can make that choice. As for budget, I'm not ultra familiar with as many mics in your price range but one I recently heard and have used a bunch is the Deity S-Mic 3. I had great experiences with it.

[@matthew.datcher]

Great video. What is the device you use to attach your wireless transmitter to your boompole?

[@SoundSpeeds]

HD-TX in record mode

[@matthew.datcher]

@@SoundSpeeds Thanks. But, I was asking about the piece connecting the transmitter to your boompole, not the transmitter itself.

[@SoundSpeeds]

The shockmount? I was using the Deity ASM 2

[@matthew.datcher]

@@SoundSpeeds Oh, it's integrated I see. I was hoping for something I could use with my existing InVision shockmount. Thanks.

[@highlycreativedigital5472]

I love these microphones. I own the HC 15 and 22. I do have one big problem with them. They can not be used by polices stations. I find that the scanners create interference. But other then that 1 Thing I personally prefer the sound of these over the other brands.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Really?!?!?! That's so weird. Do topi have any audio samples you could email me?

[@kenyontech]

Hi great comparison. I have an NTG5 I was looking at one SC08 for indoor dialogue/ interview style . Now I'm wondering if the cardioid C08 would be a better companion? Also what transmitter (did I see correctly) are you using on your boom?

[@SoundSpeeds]

If you can routinely close mic overhead then the CA08 is a great choice. If you need a little more reach out want more rejection, look at an SC or HC. I was using the HD-TX as a recorder. Not transmitting.

[@kenyontech]

Thanks ​@@SoundSpeeds

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching

[@imark7777777]

OK I just spotted the thumbnail at the end of another video and what do flutes have to do with boom operating? edit: I guess I should say in case it isn't obvious great thumbnail!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yeah...

[@CalbDoesStuff]

Mate im in a bit of a bender, trying to find a good Shock Mount without spending too much money. I've been told about CInela but I'm not sure which one to get. Any advice?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Shockmounts aren't all the same not do they work for every mic. If looking for a shockmount for a standard sized mic, look into the Rycote Invision Lyre (Inv-6 and Inv-7 or Inv-Lite for low profile mics) or the Deity ASM 2 Pro.

[@youarieyellowmissile]

a other quetion: If I wrap a shotgun microphone with sound isolation, will it become more directional? Or will it just negate the cardioid effect? Has anyone tried this kind of idea? Why am I thinking of it? Because I think microphone makers never do one thing: use isolation. Most mics are simply a metal hull with some wind and dust shields, and that’s it. Maybe it’s because isolation often happens in a controlled environment. Also, isolation would make the mic bigger. But I can’t help noticing that all mics I hear, especially on the interstate or when you speak into them from the side, still pick up sound. Maybe that’s why the pop filter on some shotguns is wider at the mic capsule, because it works as a cheap isolation? But maybe you can make these mics really, really good directional with some improvised sound isolation ideas? 😄 Oh, Soundspeed, that would be a great video idea! :D You are the pro, you know best what really isolates sound aka non transparten it is. ok, maby it is redikules too xD

[@SoundSpeeds]

Isolation built into a mic wouldn't work. Sound is vibration and sound in a room bounces all over the environment shaping and warping the tone until it goes into the microphone where it's converted into an electrical signal. By then the damage is done and all isolation in the mic would do is control the bad sound as it enters the mic. This is why it's far more important to treat your recording environment. It prevents damage to the sound.

[@youarieyellowmissile]

​@@SoundSpeeds I understand! :D So, more isolation means more filtering and more manipulation of the natural sound. Microphones don’t have isolation so that all the sound coming from the side or back goes through once instead of bouncing multiple times inside the mic itself. That makes a lot of sense! 😄 Thanks, I think I understand it now. ^-^

[@SoundSpeeds]

👍

[@CalbDoesStuff]

What do you think about the Zoom f8n pro?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It's good for the price. Works fine if you know what you're doing.

[@CalbDoesStuff]

@SoundSpeeds thank you btw, love your videos, been super helpful for me.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. :-)

[@QuestionMan]

Maybe Rycote will also work out how to make time reverse! NOT!

[@SoundSpeeds]

🤷‍♂️