Ribbon Microphones for voice over? A Brief Intro to Ribbon Mics and Demo of the RODE NTR
In today’s episode, we have an informal look at ribbon microphones, their history, and demo a modern ribbon microphone: The RODE NTR.
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 newest course is Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, Pictureline or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- RODE NTR Ribbon Microphone - B&H, Sweetwater
- Sound Devices MixPre audio recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS II Lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H, Pictureline
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS ART Lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “For the Kids” by Utah. Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
RODE NT-USB Mini Microphone Review
In today’s episode we have a closer look at the RODE NT-USB Mini microphone. This affordable USB microphone records high quality sound for podcasts, livestreams, voice over, and even for vocals for music. The microphone is simple to use, works with Mac, PC, and tablets, and is probably my favorite USB microphone in the $100 price range.
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, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
Canon C200 Camera, This is my main camera - B&H
Panasonic GH5, this is my overhead camera for product demonstrations - B&H Amazon
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS II Lens - this lens is super versatile and stays on my camera almost all the time - B&H Amazon
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini, my switcher and capture card combined into one device. This can take up to 4 cameras and two microphones via inputs on the back and outputs via USB to your computer. It also has an HDMI output so you can connect a screen to show the program - B&H
D&O 180W LED Light Panel - see my review with links
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
RØDE NT-USB Mini Microphone - First Impressions
In this live session, we used the RODE NT-USB Mini - an affordable USB condensder microphone which is simple to use, is small and easy to transport, and has a clever mounting system for the included stand or mic stands and booms. But how does it sound? Let's find out. We'll have a full review in the next few weeks. Thanks to everyone who dropped in for the livestream!
The following link is an affiliate link. I earn from qualifying purchases:
RODE NT-USB Mini - B&H
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
RODE VideoMic NTG Review
In today’s episode, we put the new RODE VideoMic NTG through several tests to see how well it performs as an on-camera and off-camera shotgun boom microphone. This new mic moves the camera-top shotgun microphone market forward several steps by adding, for the first time, USB recording capabilities as well as a bunch of other very useful features. This is probably my favorite $250 or less shotgun microphone.
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, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode:
RODE VideoMic NTG - B&H Amazon
RODE VideoMic Pro+ - B&H Amazon
RODE VC1 Extension cable for booming the VideoMic NTG - B&H Amazon
Rycote Softie fur cover for VideoMic NTG - B&H
DEITY V-Mic D3 Pro - B&H Amazon
Aputure 300DII LED Light used as a key light - B&H Amazon
Aputure Light Dome II soft box on key light - B&H Amazon
Aputure 120DII LED Light used for slash of light on background - B&H Amazon
Aputure Barn Doors used to create the slash of light - B&H Amazon
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - B&H
Tilta Half Cage for BMPCC 4K/6K - B&H
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Micro 4/3 Lens - B&H Amazon
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - B&H Amazon
Sigma ART 24-70mm f/2.8 EF Mount Lens - B&H Amazon
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2020 by Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
RØDE NTG5 Shotgun Microphone Review
In today’s episode, we have a look at and a listen to the RODE NTG5 shotgun microphone. The NTG5 is an RF-bias short shotgun microphone that is incredibly light weight. It comes in a kit with a quality Rycote shock mount, a foam cover, a fur wind cover, a microphone stand clip, and a pleather pouch. Let’s put it through some tests and see how it sounds!
Index: 0:21 Intro 0:45 Indoor NTG5,NTG3, MKH 416, S-Mic 2S Samples 3:55 RF-bias advantages 5:01 Build quality & size 5:34 RF Immunity/wireless interference 6:01 Polar pattern 6:28 Outdoor samples 7:41 Polar pattern/isolation samples 9:34 Isolation analysis - how good is each mic and rejecting off-axis sound 12:26 Practical noise performance 13:35 Handling noise & Shockmount 14:45 Fur cover and wind 15:04 Accessories 15:21 Should I upgrade? 17:11 Cons 18:34 Summary
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, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode:
RODE NTG5 Short Shotgun Microphone - B&H
RODE NTG3 Shotgun Microphone - B&H
Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Microphone - B&H
DEITY S-Mic 2 Shotgun Microphone - B&H
DEITY S-Mic 2S Short Shotgun Microphone - B&H
Sound Devices 888 Audio Recorder/Mixer - B&H
minirig Bluetooth Speaker - Amazon
Aputure Light Dome II Soft Box - B&H
Aputure C300D key light- B&H
Aputure C120DII for slash of light on the back wall- B&H Amazon
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - B&H
Tilta Half Cage for BMPCC 4K/6K - B&H
Olymus 45mm f/1.8 Micro 4/3 Lens - B&H Amazon
Sigma ART 24-70mm f/2.8 EF Mount Lens - B&H Amazon
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
RODE Announces the New VideoMic NTG Camera-top Shotgun Microphone
Photo courtesy of B&H Photo
RODE just announced their newest member of the VideoMic series of microphones with the VideoMic NTG. This is a fairly substantial step forward for the series for a few reasons from my perspective:
Can be removed from shockmount, mounted on camera, or on a boom pole
USB microphone
TRRS cable auto detects and configures itself to the device to which it is connected
Uses the new annular tube design of the NTG5
The mic also carries forward many of the features of the VideoMic Pro+ such as safety track recording and auto on/off.
Some might say, “Hmm, looks a lot like a DEITY D3 Pro plus a USB mic feature…,” and I agree. Looking forward to getting my hands on this to see how well it compares to the D3 Pro. You can place a pre-order over at B&H Photo.
*This link is an affiliate link. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sound for Video Session: RODE NTG5 & Q&A
In this week's live Sound for Video Session, we talk mostly about the new RODE NTG5 shotgun microphone, RF-bias and what that is, and we take a shot at answering your sound for video questions. You can submit them live, or for future sessions, just sign up for free over at the Learn Light and Sound School and I'll email you when its time to submit.
Gear discussed in this session:
RODE NTG5 Shotgun Microphone - B&H
RODE NTG3 Shotgun Microphone - B&H
Zoom F6 Audio Recorder - B&H
Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H
Sound Devices 833 Audio Recorder/Mixer - B&H
Sound Devices 888 Audio Recorder/Mixer - B&H
DPA 4018c Supercardioid Microphone - B&H
DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone - B&H
Deity S-Mic 2 - B&H
Deity S-Mic 2S - B&H
Sennheiser MKH 416 - B&H
Sennheiser MKH 50 - B&H
Sennheiser MKH 8050 - B&H
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
RODE WIRELESS GO - NAB 2019
On the show floor at NAB 2019, we met up with Ryan Burke of RODE Microphones to have a look at their new WIRELESS GO system - a small, very simple to use wireless microphone system.
The audio in this episode was recorded entirely with the WIRELESS GO into a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. The audio was loudness normalized to -23 LUFS and no other processing was applied.
This was a brutal test for a wireless system - on the show floor at NAB with a ton of RF activity. The handheld mic I use during this was for backup but since the WIRELESS GO did so well, we muted the handheld in post.
The WIRELESS GO kit used to record the audio for this episode was provided free of charge to us. We were not paid further to produce this video.
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 F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Links to gear used in this video:
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2017 by TVAC. Used with permission.
Sound for Video Session: Q&A - Timecode Generators, Sennheiser vs. RODE Wireless, and More
In this week’s sound for video session, we answer your questions!
00:20 Can I use the timecode generator in my recorder and then just buy generators for each camera (GH5 and GoPro)?
02:13 What is the difference between the Zoom F8n and Sound Devices MixPre-10T?
04:26 Can I use a Tentacle Sync connected to my computer with Screenflow?
05:43 Sennheiser G3/G4 vs RODELink for long interviews (4-8 hours)?
06:38 Connect audio recorder to an ATOMOS video recorder?
08:19 How do I power all of this stuff for 8 hours since I will not always have AC power?
10:20 Small Traveling light recommendation? (Aputure F7)
11:38 How do you transport your camera/audio recorder when flying?
13:44 Sennheiser 416 or RODE VideoMic Pro+ & Ursa Mini Pro?
17:09 How do you control the order that effects/plugins are applied in a DAW?
21:26 Is there such a thing as an acceptable amount of timecode drift?
Previous episodes referenced - Sound Devices MixPre Re-mix Demo:
ZOOM F8n First Impressions:
Sound Devices MixPre-10T Review:
Previous Sound for Video Session where we covered batteries:
Sound Bag Tour:
Please consider my sound for film classes available over at http://school.learnlightandsound.com
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Dummy Battery adapter for Panasonic GH cameras (D-Tap to GH camera) - power your Panasonic GH camera for hours with a cine style batter like the JuiceBox below.
JuiceBox V-Mount Battery - cine battery that can also power your recorder
Zacuto Zwiss Plate V2 to attach the cine battery to your camera rig (requires rods)
V-Mount Battery Plate to hold the battery to the cheese plate
Aputure COB120D LED Light
Sennheiser MKH-416 Shotgun Microphone
RODE VideoMic Pro+ - Camera shoe mount shotgun microphone
Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio recorder/mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio recorder/mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio recorder/mixer with timecode generator
D-Tap to Hirose Adapter Cable - to use a cine battery with your Zoom F4, F8, F8n or Sound Devices MixPre-10T
Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone - used to record this session
Sound Devices 633 Audio Recorder/Mixer - Used this as the preamp for the microphone and then fed the audio to the camera in this episode
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Sunday by Young Pixies - Amazing Journey. Artlist provides high quality music tracks for your film and video projects. You can receive two months off an Artlist account by using our link.
Sound for Video Session: Quality, iOS Mics, Limiters, Monitoring, G4, Lavaliers, Cameras Audio, & Quiet Voices
In this week’s Sound for Video Session, we answer your audio for video questions:
00:12 Quality Difference Between USB and SD
01:04 iOS Mics
05:37 Limiters and Quality
06:31 Getting Audio to Boom Op
09:20 Sennheiser G4
12:57 Lavalier microphones directly to Mixer
16:43 Camera Audio
21:51 Quiet Voices
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
DPA d:vice - dual lavalier interface for iOS, Mac, PC
Sennheiser Clip-Mic Digital (Lightning)
Sennheiser MKE2 Digital Microphone (Lightning)
Shure MOTIV MV88 Stereo Microphone (Lightning)
Zoom iQ6 Stereo XY Microphone (Lightning)
Zoom iQ7 Stereo Mid-Side Microphone (Lightning)
RODE iXY Stereo Microphone (Lightning)
Sending wireless audio from your mixer with the Sennheiser G3 system:
WAV.REPORT’s First Look at the Sennheiser G4 wireless system:
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Keep an Eye by Back to Dream. Artlist provides high quality music tracks for your film and video projects. You can receive two months off an Artlist account by using our link.
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
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