Curtis Judd 1/8/24 Curtis Judd 1/8/24

My Favorite Audio Gear of 2023

In this episode we briefly recap some of my favorite gear of 2023! My picks include several outstanding microphones, mixers, and a certain new wireless system… can you guess which devices really made our year? Leave some favorites of your own in the comments below!

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- RODE NT1 5th Generation Large Diaphragm Studio Condenser Mic — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Mackie DLZ Creator Adaptive Digital Mixer for Podcasting/Livestreaming — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- JZ Microphones Vintage 11 Large Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Mic — JZ Mics (not an affiliate link)

- Deity Theos Wireless Microphone System — B&H

- Sennheiser MKH50 Supercardioid Condenser Studio Mic — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

Some of my other gear:

- Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Condenser Mic — B&H, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre Series II Recoders — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices 888 Field Recorder/Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Aputure LS 600x Pro Bicolor LED Light — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Light Dome III Softbox — Aputure, B&H

- Amaran 300c RGBWW Single-Point LED Light — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Amaran Spotlight SE — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Curtis Judd 12/18/23 Curtis Judd 12/18/23

DEITY THEOS Wireless Microphone System Review

In this episode we finally get to take a look at DEITY’s long-awaited THEOS wireless microphone system! This brand-new prosumer wireless microphone system includes a well-rounded set of features to the market, including Global OneBand technology, simultaneous transmitting and 32-bit float recording (outside the USA, in the USA, you can record or transmit, but not both at the same time), and wireless timecode syncing when used with the DEITY TC-1 timecode generator or the DEITY SL-1 digital timecode slate. In this episode we go over the THEOS system’s most important features, compare it to its closest competitors, and answer your questions. Let’s take a closer look!

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

- Deity Theos Wireless Microphone System — B&H

- Deity W.Lav Pro Lavalier Microphone — B&H, Amazon

- Deity TC-1 Timecode Generator — B&H, Amazon

- DEITY SL-1 timecode slate — B&H, Amazon

Some of my other gear:

- Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Condenser Mic — B&H, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre Series II Recoders — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices 888 Field Recorder/Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Aputure LS 600x Pro Bicolor LED Light — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Light Dome III Softbox — Aputure, B&H

- Amaran 300c RGBWW Single-Point LED Light — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Amaran Spotlight SE — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

Curtis Judd 12/11/23 Curtis Judd 12/11/23

DEITY THEOS Wireless Microphone System & Q&A

In this week's session, we'll share my initial thoughts on the new DEITY THEOS wireless microphone system. This digital UHF system is a natural upgrade from systems like the RODE, DJI, Hollyland, and other consumer wireless systems. THEOS includes a wide UHF tuning range, timecode integration with the DEITY TC-1 and Slate, 32-bit float recording (though not at the same time as transmitting in the US), and a solid metal build. I'll share my first impressions, demo its audio quality, and work on some of the other tests for our final review. After that, we answer your sound for video questions.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini, Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio, and Mixing fundamentals in DaVinci Resolve Fairlight.

Gear I often use or that we mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Waves, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- DEITY THEOS wireless microphone system — B&H

- Mackie DLZ Creator — B&H, Amazon

- Earthworks ETHOS microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devies 888 field recorder/mixer — Trew, B&H, Sweetwater

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon

- Teleprompter Ikan 17" high bright — B&H

- Canon C200 Camera - B&H

- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 lens — B&H, Amazon

- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H

- Universal Audio 6176 channel strip pre-amp, EQ, compressor — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Curtis Judd 12/4/23 Curtis Judd 12/4/23

Premium Budget Mic for Podcasting: Earthworks SR117

In this episode we take a look at and listen to Earthworks’ SR117 vocal mic! This interesting handheld number is built for high-quality vocal performance just like the beloved SHURE SM58, but this one is a phantom-powered condenser mic rather than a dynamic mic, allowing you to use less gain for similar-sounding results. Its super-flat frequency response also allows you to shape it however you like with EQ in post. In this episode we cover the SR117’s key features, compare it to a few similar mics, and explore situations in which this might be your best choice for a vocal mic. Let’s take a closer look!

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

- Earthworks SR117 Supercardioid Vocal Condenser Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Earthworks SR314 Handheld Cardioid Vocal Condenser Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater

- SHURE SM58 Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre Series II Recoders — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices 888 Field Recorder/Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

Curtis Judd 11/20/23 Curtis Judd 11/20/23

Zoom F6: Is it time to upgrade your recorder?

In this episode we discuss whether or not you should upgrade to a new recorder from your ZOOM F6. We cover things to consider when choosing a potential new recorder– and when to pass on shiny new tech. In this episode we examine what’s available on the market in late 2023, show you how to determine whether recorder features will be useful to your workflow, and give you some opinions on and examples of when it’s best to upgrade versus not. Let’s take a closer look!

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

- Zoom F6 Field Recorder/Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Zoom F8n Pro Field Recorder/Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices 888 Field Recorder/Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater

- Sennheiser MKH 50 Supercardioid Condenser Microphone— B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sennheiser MKH 416 Supercardioid Shotgun Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Condenser Microphone — B&H, Amazon

- Mogami XLR cables — B&H

- Canare XLR cables — B&H

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

Curtis Judd 11/13/23 Curtis Judd 11/13/23

Awesome 4017b/MKH-416 Alternative: DPA 2017 Shotgun Microphone!

In this episode we take a look at and listen to DPA’s new shotgun mic, the 2017. This sibling to the 4017b shares the classic and characteristic sound of DPA mics, but has a completely new design both in terms of feature set, capsule, and internal electronics. In this episode we listen to some raw sound samples from the 2017 as well as a variety of similar mics, walk through the 2017’s feature set, and rigorously compare it to the 4017b. Let’s take a closer look!

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

- DPA 2017 Supercardioid Condenser Shotgun Microphone — B&H

- DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sennheiser MKH416 Supercardioid Condenser Shotgun Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

Curtis Judd 11/7/23 Curtis Judd 11/7/23

RODE NT1 Signature Series?! Great sound, price (and colors, if you're into that)

In this episode we take a look at and listen to RODE’s latest studio condenser microphone, the NT1 Signature Series. This is the newest version of RODE’s large diaphragm condenser microphone with an XLR output for the ridiculously tiny price of $159 USD. It includes a shock mount, XLR cable, pop filter, and a dust cover as well as an industry leading 10 year warranty. Let’s take a closer look!

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

- RODE NT1 Signature Series microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- RODE NT1 5th Generation microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Neumann U87 Ai microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- On-stage stands desk stand (you will need to add extra weight to the base to avoid tip-over) — B&H, Amazon

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

Curtis Judd 11/6/23 Curtis Judd 11/6/23

Sound for Video Session: DPA 2017 & Q&A

In this week's session, we'll first have a listen to the new DPA 2017 shotgun microphone compared to a few others, including the DPA 4017b and Sennheiser MKH416. After that, we answer your sound for video questions.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini and just added Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio.

- DPA 2017 shotgun microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- DPA 4017b shotgun microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Mackie DLZ Creator — B&H, Amazon

- Earthworks ETHOS microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devies 888 field recorder/mixer — Trew, B&H, Sweetwater

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon

- Teleprompter Ikan 17" high bright — B&H

- Canon C200 Camera - B&H

- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 lens — B&H, Amazon

- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H

- Universal Audio 6176 channel strip pre-amp, EQ, compressor — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Curtis Judd 10/30/23 Curtis Judd 10/30/23

5 Easy Tips for Better Multi-Person Podcast and Livestream Audio

In this episode we teach you some easy ways to improve you podcast and livestream sound. These include recording techniques such as close-micing, post-production skills like railroading, and a quick demo of how an automixing system works. Implementing even just one of these tips can elevate your sound from mediocre to amazing! Let’s take a closer look.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

- SoundDevices MixPre Series Recorders — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ZOOM F6 audio recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ZOOM F8n Pro audio recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Mackie DLZ Adaptive Digital Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- SoundDevices 888 Audio Recorder/Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater

- RODE Podmic Dynamic Podcasting Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater

- ElectroVoice RE20 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ElectroVoice RE27 Broadcast Announcer Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater

- SHURE SM58 Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Mic — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- SHURE SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Instrument Mic — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- SHURE SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- SHURE KSM8 Dualdyne Vocal Mic — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- sE Electronics V7 Handheld Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

Curtis Judd 10/23/23 Curtis Judd 10/23/23

Hollyland Lark Max Review vs. RODE Wireless PRO & DJI Mic

In this episode we test out Hollyland’s new Lark Max wireless mic system. This new system is Hollyland’s answer to RODE’s Wireless PRO and to the DJI Mic, and includes active noise cancellation, onboard recording capability, the ever-popular charging case for recording on the go, and user-friendly interfaces and form factors. In this video we talk through the Lark Max’s feature set, demonstrate how to get the most out of the noise cancellation function, and listen to a variety of sound quality samples to help you determine if this system is right for you. Let’s take a closer look!

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

- Hollyland Lark Max Wireless Lavalier Microphone System — B&H, Amazon

- RODE Wireless PRO 2-Person Clip-On Wireless Mic System — RODE, B&H

- DJI Mic Wireless Microphone System for Smartphones, Laptops, Cameras — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon