Testing the Rode VideoMic Me in a Noisy Environment

The Rode VideoMic Me is a cardioid (directional) microphone intended for smart phones. How well does it work in a notably noisy environment, though? Can it work for my purposes when shooting video for this channel?
The VideoMic Me is still in the return window when I shot this video and I tried to answer the question: should I keep it or return it?
REFERENCED PRODUCT (Amazon Affiliate) LINKS:
Rode VideoMic Me: granworks.com/...
Rode SC3 3.5mm TRRS to TRS Adaptor: granworks.com/...
TAKSTAR SGC-598: granworks.com/...
Zoom H1: granworks.com/...
SONG:
"Marauder" CC 3.0 by audionautix.com
audionautix.com
MORE PROJECTS AND POSTS:
granworks.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
/ granworks

[@realzero557]

This is a really in-depth video, thanks for having this level of dedication it really gives me something to compare the audio quality to!

[@senatoraz]

"I'm returning it." Dude! Thank you for making a call. So many youtubers are too chicken to come to a verdict. I like verdicts!

[@theadventurebiker]

Best mic comparison and test on KZbin!

[@rocknmetalultima]

I got this for my LG G5 and it sounds like it mainly amplifies the noise all around. While I do sound better there is still a shity hum or noise so I have a couple tests left. If they dont work then im gonna have to return it. The back ground noise using just my phone seems to be much more manageable.

[@craiglenhard-rvrguyd]

It's actually considered a 4 ring vs three ring and the internal wiring uses the two rings near the cord for the mic and ground and the two rings closest to the tip are for the ear phones.

[@granworks]

You are correct if by "ring", you are referring to "conductor". A TRRS plug, as used by smartphone, is a "Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve" (two rings) and has the four conductors you mention. Turns out there isn't a universal standard for which conductor means what specific thing. There was one standard for a few years and then a new CTIA backed standard since then.

[@videokropka]

С каким усилением в приложении вы снимаете на улице и в комнате? Мне кажется, что в помещении достаточно 50%

[@samsrilanka]

Thanks for the video! Very useful!

[@sebastianguardia2163]

Nice video dude! Does the microphone eliminates that “white noise”? That classic hsssssssss

[@granworks]

White noise is typically a result of either electronic interference, a high noise floor on the mic itself, or an attempt to add a huge amount of gain (maybe the mic is too far away). I did get anomalous recordings through this mic until I turned on "airplane mode" on my phone -- that would be the electronic interference. This mic has a very low noise floor based on my tests, so I don't see a problem there. If you do end up getting a hiss from this mic, then it would almost surely be the result of having the mic be too far from the audio source and having to boost the gain more than prudent. In that case, you'd need either a more localized mic (like a lavalier) or get a much more expensive mic that can pick up sound at a farther distance.

[@sebastianguardia2163]

Granworks Workshop Thanks for taking the time to explain this to me, and for making the video. You are awesome!

[@zivanaf]

How would it work in a concert? do you think it can handle the sound without "breaking"?

[@granworks]

The short answer is that I don't know -- I was testing from the perspective of selectively excluding loud noises, not trying to record them. That said, the VideoMic Me is rated with a max SPL of 140DB and claims to handle 100Hz-22Khz so _in theory_ it should be able to handle all but the most egregious noise from a concert. If that's true, then the limiting factor won't be the mic but rather what you are using to record the concert with. If you are filming the concert, then I'd use something like Filmic Pro; turn off automatic gain correction; and lower the gain a LOT -- maybe even as far down as it goes. You do run the risk of missing some of the quietest moments but it will help ensure that your loudest moments aren't clipped.

[@CoachBill315]

Great view... I still might get it... unless you have another suggestion for a mic directly mounted to a phone.

[@sebastianguardia2163]

Hey, did you buy the microphone? And ¿Did it deleted that “white noise”? That hsssss

[@CoachBill315]

@@sebastianguardia2163 I did buy it. Had to return it because a few trips I filmed with it... there was no audio. So basically the footage was trash and lost the whole trip.

[@cheloronaldo]

Nice video! What I can notice is that there's not a big difference using the built in camera and the rode mic, it only helps to reduce background noise, not to make the sound better and clear. Would it be the same with the rode videomicro ? As far as I know there's not another option to use as an external mic with a small size such as the rode mic me.

[@granworks]

Yeah, I was expecting better audio quality, too. Maybe it's just not possible with such a tiny microphone and operating at that kind of distance? The Rode VideoMicro looks like the mic part is the same size and that suggests to me that the audio quality could be similar. I'm thinking that the only real way to get excellent audio with just a smartphone and without a tripod is to get one of those smartphone camera rigs like the BeastGrip (or similar) that hold both your phone and allow you to attach any typical camera attachment, including microphones and lights and the like.

[@jussivalter]

Well, biggest advantage of external on camera mics is directional sound capture / ambient sound reduct. And Rode does that. And sound is definetly clearer because ambient noise is reduced. If you wanna really good sound quality in distance, you wont use any on camera mics. Instead you must use boomed shotgun mics (mic gets close as possible) or lavalier mic, not never ever on camera mics like shotgun (even good expencive one) top of the camera. You wont get good sound quality ever.

[@WisLockman]

You might want to look at the iOgragher for your smart phone and get the wireless Rode Filmmaker Kit or buy yourself the Zoom H4n Pro for recording your audio and then sync the audio and video together. Just a suggestion.

[@UdoKrawallo]

Hm, I thought about buying this mc for my Panasonic camera with 3,5mm input, as it might sit well on the side, but also thought about getting this together with the new DJI Osmo Pocket(where it might sit good at the bottom). Now I´m not sure because of the 3,5mm jack thing as it wouldn´t be that handy to have it it bouncing on the side...have you or anybody else tested it on a camera with 3,5mm input, no matter if foto camera or camcorder?

[@im_rajanluthra]

From where do I get that cable for mic

[@granworks]

It's the Rode SC3 3.5mm TRRS to TRS Adaptor. I added a link in the video description pointing to Amazon, where I got it from.

[@jelwinpaculanang7401]

A problem is, my headset is near in my camera

[@dylanpickersgill2088]

Hi I am looking for a good reliable mic to record the aussie kiss tour with and also have to work with the entertainment centres a4 size bag limit. Not a big mic head here so if anyone can suggest a good mic that can Handle KISS reply please thankyou

[@artjohnson01]

How odd that you would compare the Takstar/ZoomH1 to the iPhone 6S/Rode combination. How is that a proper comparison? The H1 is a preamp/recorder and the iPhone does not even pretend to have the preamp circuitry of the H1. The honest comparison would be to use the Rode/6S vs. Takstar/6S combination and/or the Rode/ZoomH1 vs the Takstar/H1.

[@granworks]

I'll admit to it being not a very obvious combination to compare. It's why I didn't include the comparison directly in the video, too. This video was focused primarily on doing a somewhat deep dive on what it was like to use the Rode in a very noisy environment. I only got the Takstar and Zoom after it became clear that the Rode wasn't going to work out for me. I had wanted the Rode to work mostly because it's a trivial solution -- just pop in on and go! The audio is even part of the video. Going the Takstar/Zoom route means having to always do audio completely separately, which definitely requires a lot more work. But the extremely noticeable bump in audio quality made it worth it to me. So really, I didn't mean to compare the products in the video and I only mentioned them to hopefully explain _why_ I was going to be returning the Rode.

[@artjohnson01]

granworks Fair enough. It’s a good video. BTW, if you don’t want to sync the sound from your H1 to the video in post. Here’s a link to a KZbin video that shows a good workaround mic to H1 to Camera. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWSpYYGtYrqreKs

[@iodiconobretella]

I get a very low level from this mic. What would yoy suggest? Should I return it?

[@granworks]

I heard very low boost in my own tests, which necessitated post-processing in most cases. Using Filmic Pro with manual gain helped a little.

[@claytonmenezes8840]

You can attach the Zoom to the phone using a converter.

[@flash8854]

Which microphone is the best on samsung note 3?

[@granworks]

Sorry, I don't have access to any Android devices so I have no way of testing.

[@lemonjooz2351]

is it just for iphone?

[@granworks]

No, it should work with Android smartphones as well. I'm guessing that it's targeted at iPhones (6s and older) because of the known location of the microphone with relation to the lens. With SOME Android phones, the microphone/headphone jack and camera lens are on the same size, and so the Rode will block the camera. But if your phone has a headphone jack and it's on the opposite side of the camera lens, then it should be fine.

[@michaelfigueroa.]

What is that processing?

[@granworks]

I just did a "normalize" setting to -3dB using either Audacity or iMovie. I don't remember for certain which it was. I use Audacity for all of my audio processing at this very moment but don't remember when I started.

[@T.Rose_official]

I have an Android and this mic only works on Instagram app. Not for my camera or any other app. Gonna return it.