Time Markers: 0:00 - Why Did I Buy the Cheapest Mic I Could Find? 2:13 - Unboxing 3:29 - Build Quality 4:08 - Dynamic vs. Condensor Mics 4:52 - Tabletop Mic Stands 6:20 - Mic Setup and Testing 6:57 - Neewer First Sound Test 7:30 - Comparison With PodMic 10:09 - Sound Test WITH Equalization 11:48 - Is This a Decent Microphone? 14:19 - Get the Best Mic You Can Afford 15:41 - International Feedback
Realistically, the smartphone in your pocket will blow this thing out of the water. I'd consider this a waste of money when microphones like the Samson C01 can be picked up for not much more, or the same price if you go used.
I didn't hear a difference worth 75 bucks. I own one of these Neewer mics, and I like it. They even work on the 15 volts power from a computer, but not as well as true phantom power. My ears are 65 years old now I admit.... so maybe the company motto should be, "works great for geezers." All joking aside, the beginner should worry more about room acoustics and soundproofing which, if not addressed, can make a 1000 dollar mic sound like junk.
@TheCountryBumpkin7 I'm pretty sure it's more that he doesn't think it's worth the extra 75$ if it's gonna do what he needs it to do. Yes there is a difference, but it's not really a huge deal for most people. 90% of people wouldn't care if you used the neewer in a podcast. Only people who really actually care or are paying attention will notice
@@cookie7993 i was thinking the same thing. i dont think i could listen to the neewer mic for extended periods. Its far too muffled/muddy for my tastes. However, for $25 i must say its not nearly as bad as i would have thought.
Given that the mic was supplied with an XLR to jack cable, I think the target market for this device is people plugging it directly into a computer and trying to record from it that way. I would be interested to see you try to test this mic in that context - I don't actually see how it would work properly without phantom power as the natural level is so low, but apparently some of these devices have space and connectors inside for a PP3 battery when the barrel body of the mic is unscrewed.
Im confused about that too. There’s definitely no battery compartment on this one. I do have a mixer that has combo XLR and 1/4 inch inputs, so maybe it’s for something like that? Maybe these are just the least expensive cables the suppliers can get?
@@tombuck Yeah, it's interesting, because I bought one like this a couple of years back from BangGood - I can't find the exact product I bought but the device I have is marked BM-800 and was marketed as a 'studio mic for computer' - my cable is XLR to 3.5mm TRS jack, but clearly needs to be powered - the best I ever got out of it was very faint, flat, buzzy recordings that would make the Apollo landing footage sound like a concert by comparison. At the time, there were people saying that you just have to open it and put in a battery, but it appears only some of them were even made that way. I mean, I should have been skeptical from the start, given the product description included the phrase 'dynamic condenser microphone'
Depending on your computer's sound card (built in or PCI ...) you either don't even get the 5v trickle of power and the mic doesn't work at all or you have to push the gain so far that the sound-card's self noise (and the self noise of the mic) makes it sound like utter garbage. I'd like to point out that I LIKE THIS MIC. I have 2 of them and have been using one for over 3 years but I have mine plugged into a Behringer UM2 (a cheap'ish usb interface ... around 60$ Canadian is what I paid for it). Something you could do is use a cheap tiny usb sound card adapter like a SABRENT USB (9$ Canadian) but some of these are even worse than the built in audio. Sabrent has wildly varying quality of USB adapters for example. I know Bandrew from Podcastage has a lot of old videos on using these adapters. Here is one where he compares a few of them. It;s an old video but gives you an idea: ruclips.net/video/DuLABU6tI7Q/видео.html
If everyone was honest instead of trying to prove their expertise, they'd admit that it sounds better than the $25.00 asking price and if you'd not done a side by side comparison, nobody would have even noticed!
True .. For 25$ it's excellent . But .. you get what you pay for .. It's just not well made . It may sound silly but yes .. Build quality is important . Microphones fall down .. I doubt this one would survive a nasty fall .. While the podmic looks and feels like you could run over it with a car and it will still work like a boss .
I'm not even close to an expert, hell I love me some cheap gear. Behringer, MXL, you name it. But this thing sounds boxy and dull and muddy. There are SO many better options for not even much more money.
@Dave LeBlanc I agree, I'm the market for a mic, and for the price it's high on my list. The difference between the two mics was not enough for me to warrant the higher price tag.
I mean i dont want to bash the 25$ mic you could record a podcast with it for sure. But if youre trying to tell me there is no or hardly a difference between these mics I have to disagree, they honestly dont even sound close, even with eqing to push the mic, the rode sounds way better and so much more natural/pleasing to the ear Also 100$ isnt really that much for a mic anyways and rode is actually a good brand, which means that you could a) pick one up used for propably 2/3 of the price no problem and it keeps some resale value. I own a sm7b and if this video has shown me anything its that the podmic is pretty amazing for 100$ lol
I got a Neewer 800 mic a couple years ago because I 'm poor, and needed a mic to record acoustic guitar and ukulele for online learning. I was able to buy a complete recording setup under $100. My gear is all kind of craptastic, but overall I've been happy with the mic for the price. I'd buy another one of these mics if mine stopped working. (Knock on wood, because I'm broke at the moment) I admit this mic sounds better with vocals than instruments but it does it's job to record guitar and ukulele, and i'm thankful to Neewer for making it possible at the time. The: "Neewer! Better than nothing!" Made me laugh, but I'd go for: " Neewer! Making really decent microphones for people who can't afford the mics they really want! " is a bit more accurate in my case lol. Overall the Neewer mic on your video was really close sounding at the end to your $100 podcast mic on my tablet speaker.
I just got one of this and a photography speedlight from neewer and the better than nothing applies to everything they make, they are always just above the no brand Chinese models. I think they do good thinks for the no budget kind of people who always say they'll start something when they got some equipment
I actually bought one of these four years ago for $15 to replace a broken yeti because it was all I could afford. Still kicking and especially for just occasional work. It's great
It actually fits pretty well within the Neewer brand line of audio-video products. They usually make affordable "decent quality Chinese" products. None of their stuff will blow proper products out of the market, but be it their flashes, LED lights, microphones, etc it's usually a safe entry point into a new territory without breaking the bank. Your results fall pretty much on par with my experience with the brand tbh and while you jokingly said "Neewer, better than nothing!" as their tagline, it's pretty much their target market soooo :D
I snagged that neewer mic for $5 shipped on sale. I bought it solely for the included shock mount and wasn't expecting the mic to be useful but was pleasantly surprised.
I bought a similar microphone about 4 years ago from the same brand and it came with a pop filter, wind shield, XLR-3.5mm cable, shock mount, swivel boom arm and obviously the microphone itself for only about £21. It's never stopped working and the sound quality is good enough for pretty much anything I could want to do so if you don't have a lot of money and you need decent-ish audio quality in a full package, that's the mic I'd go for. The model is the Neewer NW-700, although now I believe it's £45 rather than the £21 I paid in 2016. I'd still recommend it if you don't have the full budget for a proper mic and it comes as a complete package, all you'll need is phantom power to actually make it work. Here's the amazon link: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00XOXRTX6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Quick comment on this video: I use the Neewer NW-700, one version back from the NW-800. I can tell you that the NW-700 has out lasted the XLR cable it comes with, the phantom power I got to go with it, an entire PC, and a desk chair. I've been using this mic for the last 5 years with Voicemeeter as my mixer, and a few audio tweaks in Voicemeeter, makes it sound great for my voice. I spent $30 on it and got not only the mic, cable, and foam windscreen, but a suspension boom arm, and pop filter that attaches to the arm. Just because it has a few scratches from shipping doesn't mean it's not gonna last. I have fellow content creators that have gotten things like the Elgato mic, the Shure mic, Yeti mics... they all needed to spend more money than me, and spend more time tweaking audio settings on their fancy XLR mixers then I did to get the same sound quality. Sometimes, it all comes down to how you tweak your audio, not how much you spend on your equipment.
You have one of the visually nicest studio setups I've seen. I would really love to see what you are doing fir your lighting... It's very soft on you and your face and even all throughout your room. That's a sweet desk setup too.
Thank you! I’m planning to make a lighting setup video in the next few weeks. I’ve got 13 lights in there, and as of last month, they’re all dedicated video lights, which means no flickering or issues like that.
I buyed this mic at $17 I use this mic to talk with my friends and play games, compared to the $30 or more "PC Mics" this is really cheap and good quality sound I use the mic without phantom power and sounds perfect and clear on aorus b450 pc moherbard
I have one and it doesnt really sound lile that, the reason why its sounds decemt is cause he has pretty good audio card but having no audio card or generjc audio cards it doesnt really sound like that but its still pretty decent none the less
@@zroid5251 Sound cards have nothing to do with this microphone because it is an XLR microphone and if some idiot is trying to drive it without phantom power than yeah, that is on them for being stupid. I know they give you this stupid XLR to 3.5mm wire cable but honestly they should be spanked for that because this microphone, and all like it, only shines when you can give it phantom power. What I heard in this comparison was a USB microphone (with the ADC built in on the Rode vs an XLR microphone using the 3.5mm jack) vs a wrongly hooked up XLR microphone. Just because it can doesn't mean it should and this is where they failed. Try other comparisons where they actually use phantom power with it and it just POPS and the sound becomes very close to what he is getting with his Rode. Rode is a great brand and to be fair a USB microphone at about 100 USD vs a 45 dollar XLR that will require 48v Phantom power, an XLR to XLR cable, and a ADC the price jumps to well over 200 USD for anything worth it. I went with their 24bit/192khz podcast kit from Amazon for $33.99 and that compares with the Rode. Apples to apples comparison instead of this Tomato to Peach comparison. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081RLSPWB Still only $33.99 today (has an 8 USD instant coupon checkbox).
General Awareness I agree proper power delivery is important for these mics. But also just know that in the video he wasn’t really using the microphone correctly. He said the rode is clearer and better sounding and while that may be true it’s also because he doesn’t know how to use the condenser microphone correctly. The closer you get to a condenser mic the more full/bassy/muddy it can get, most singers will be anywhere from 6 inches to a foot away from these microphones as it sounds more crisp and airy if that’s what your going for as well as bringing in a bit more room tone/reverb. Usually singers only get that close to the mic for artistic reasons and well his lips might as well have been on the microphone. The rode can be pretty much used at any distance and it doesn’t matter too much as with many dynamic microphones. One of the reasons that they use dynamic microphones (of course there are many other reasons such as cost, phantom power, etc.) for shows and events is because basically anyone can use them and they’ll pretty much sound good no matter how they hold the mic as well as they excel in isolation which is better if you have a noisy background i.e. a concert. You’ll notice that many shows will not use condenser microphones and instead they’re reserved for studio environments because they excel in sensitivity and in a studio environment everything is already quiet and isolated as well as this allows for audio engineers to tweak things in post. If I compare it to photography I’d say it’s like using a kit lens that comes with the camera vs. say a prime lens with a wider aperture that has specific uses, but also allows you to be more creative. I mean we knew this guy wasn’t familiar with condenser mics as he admitted himself when he almost talked straight into the top rather than from the front side. Which is why I’d take this review with a grain of salt just knowing that theoretically the mic could sound better given proper usage. So summary, use phantom power and also don’t get to close for better vocals, also don’t buy the cheapest microphone, get the second cheapest microphone/something middle of the range. If you’re spending the money it’s best to dish out the money for something that you won’t regret buying a few months down the line bc then your initial investment in that first microphone is a waste. But that being said buy the best that you can afford, if that means skipping going out to eat for a few days and cooking your own food, do it. (Like if you skip going out to eat 5 or 6 times with each time spending $15 to $20, you can afford the rode or a better condenser mic. Those who complain about not having enough money and go out to eat all the time or buy the newest phone every year don’t really have my sympathy if they tell me they can’t afford a better mic. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and already are frugal then go with the cheaper mic to get started and then upgrade once you have the funds)
@@SwitchOnThaBeat Keep smoking that skunk weed. Facts are facts and a goddamn microphone as was used DEMANDS phantom power. Condenser mics need it and Dynamics ignore phantom power and ribbon mics blow up if used (blows out the foil instantly and need to be redone/fixed). Pre sets don't mean shit in the end for this.
I've had this mic for years, always get compliments on it when I talk to people for the first time. It's a really good mic and has been super reliable for me.
I got a few of these Neewer mics as we started our podcast, and I wish I had just gotten better mics to begin with... because we couldn't tune the cheap mics up enough to make them sound good (really, they sucked), and we ended up getting some ATR 2100s anyway. Good advice to just spend the money from the start.
I have this with a Behringer um2. Sounds quality is good enough for what I need but the advantage is I can just swap out the mic and nothing else very easily
I use the neewer NW-700 it cost me 60 on amazon and its held up really well it sounds amazing especially if you know how to change settings.. people who dont know or are new to audio.. more bass doesn’t make it better and dont go too close to the mic.. 🙃
Id love the Aureal exciter to be in the plug-ins for the BMDs ATEM Mini...theier software is great for shaping the sound...but the Aphex rack thing was great for giving you a commercial radio vibe...
Great ad for the Røde PodMic. You really need an end-addressable microphone to keep it low enough not be distracting if you're going to be reasonably close-mic'ed while talking direct to camera. If I were limited to spending $25 for this kind of application, I'd probably choose the Behringer BA 85A.
I've purchased this mic more recently off of amazon, and the packaging has improved substantially, with all parts held in well-formed foam. so the out-of-box scratching is no longer an issue.
Great review. I bought the BM-800 from Amazon, seems like it's probably the same mic. I think it's pretty good for the money, but I drop the mid way down so it doesn't sound like I'm talking on the phone. I spent $35.98, but it came with an arm (which actually is being used for my Video Mic NTG), a pop filter, and a useless analogue to USB converter in addition to what you received (but no scratches). I do want to upgrade to the Pod Mic at some point, but I needed something that would work for now. Normally I do just spend the money for the expensive thing. Wish I had a nice voice like you do though.
@@tombuck I thought so too. The Rode sounded better, but not 4 times better IMO. I also was hoping you would record a bit with your drums using the NW 800. Hopefully you will for a future video as I found it interesting that you found a way to take advantage of it being a cheaper mic.
This was my first mic I ever had. It works surprisingly well. The only thing that I highly recommend is getting a phantom power adapter. I used the Neewer 48V phantom power adapter as it also helped clean up some of the noise in the background. With the mic plus the power adapter it sounds just as good as my current audio technica mic that cost me $170. Kind of upsetting actually
I have two Neewer mics for $35 with swing arms from Amazon. I have had it for a couple of years and they were great. My version came with XLR cables into a Behringer mixer and they sound better. Been using it for about four years and my co-host - who uses it remotely - and it sounds like we're in the same room.
Thanks for the review! Thanks to YOU for reviewing the Rode PodMic vs the Shure SM7B I was able to confidently buy 2 Rode PodMics and feel WAAAYY more confident (and spend WAAAYY less money) then purchasing 2 Shure SM7B’s! Well done!
Nice! I love my two PodMics. Excited to see what you do with them!
4 года назад+3
If you are a careful user it could be a nice tool to have for many years. Might it stop working anyway? Maybe, but microphones are not really complex items, so if it works now, it'll work forever, if treated well. I have several mics here, a pair of Blue (Ember and enCore 100), Rode videomic me, Agptek lavalier, Vmoda BoomPro, and a pair of Neewer NW-410, which are BTW, awesome bang for the buck. Nothing fancy, as you can see, but they all work flawlessly for their intended purpose. I've worked with Shure, Sennheiser, AKG and many other in live performances, so I know what to expect. These last years there has been a plethora of really useable mics for next to nothing, and I find that awesome.
Excellent review, simple, clean, honest, and really talks to the price points and people who might just need something to get going. If i was 15 and wanted to start a podcast then it's perfect.
I got the Czech joke! 🤣🤣 I’m into clarity. Mics will always need tweaking. But listening to mics side by side is like looking at a wall of TVs. There’s always a better one at that moment. You just have to make the best of what you can until you can do better. 👍🏽
Why does everyone pronounce this company's name "newer" when the spelling is "nee-wer"? Did I miss the memo on this? I've never heard anyone pronounce it "newer"... Foam 'kinda makes a difference'... yeah, I thought it did a fair amount of reduction. The sound of the Neewer seems to have more bass, less mids and/or treble. Seems ok if you're on a budget. Biggest thing is audio editing. I hear so many vids that start out blasting you with intro music, then the vocals are too quiet, so you ramp them up and the music clips come in and blast you out again. THAT is the biggest problem with YTers editing their audio, NOT cheap mics. Good review, thanks!
Not very good it turns out, but listenable for several minutes, which is already a good proposition, and would improve a lot of channels if they manage to get the sound quality of the Neewer 800. But comparing a dynamic and a condensor microphone is very much apple to oranges. A better and fairer comparison would be a Rode NT1-A/SE X1S with the Neewer 800 or on the dynamic side the PodMic with a Behringer XM-8500 (both the better choice for anyone but VO artists, as they both remove background noise better than condensor mics and are more forgiving for a badly treated room).
Honestly that 25 dollar mic sounds better than a lot of the other channels I listen to. Which tells me that one, it’s punching above it’s price point. Two, other RUclipsrs need to learn a lot more about the equipment they are using. Thanks for the review, as I don’t have a mic at all I might just order one.
I'd recommend the Samson C01 over this. The Neewer NW700/800 are not good microphones. Spend the little bit extra on something that actually has a proper condenser capsule, and not this cheapy electret one.
Good and fair comparison! For guys starting out this could be a good inexpensive mic. Can always when they are doing better. You advice was sincere and honest. I like that you didn't try play favorites.
Yup. Spend a little more on a decent interface and save on the mic for now. You can easily change the mic later so the interface is a bit of a longer investment. It's like with cameras. You keep your lenses for decades but the bodies change far more often.
The Pod Mic sounded significantly better to me personally. However, for a person with a smaller budget, The Neewer NW-800 is pretty solid for $25! Thanks for the awesome video!
The NW-800 might sound better if you back off the mic a bit or EQ out the lows a bit more. it sounds really stuffy and boomy for what should be a flat mic
If I were to put it as an analogy, It's like you're out net fishing. The NW-800/BM-800, is a small net. Yes, you can catch fish with it, but it shows itself as a small net by not being able to handle the full frequency range as well as the Rode. The moment you try to catch bigger fish with it, it's likely to fail on you. Having to add compression to the mic to make it sound more even with the rode is not typically a good sign. You should not have to do a lot of frequency adjusting to make the mic sound more full. The Rode is a larger net you're working with because it captures the frequency range more evenly. You're not getting sudden spikes in volume at certain frequency points. It was very evident when you were talking. You should be able to converse at an average level of loudness without feeling like you might clip the mic if your voice goes high, medium, or low pitched. Yes there are moments where people put an emphasis on certain words in their sentence, but it's also about how well it catches you on words you're not emphasizing. Is it better than nothing? Yes. Will it get you jobs? Probably not. It's a mic to start practicing on. If you do get some small jobs with it, immediately invest in a higher quality mic. The more you turn your ears on to the smaller details of the mic, it becomes more evident how far back it is in comparison to others. The higher up in price you go, you're paying more for the frequency response. You're paying for something that catches a wide range smoothly and as even as possible.
7:35 - NO CONTEST! The Neewer sounds like you're speaking in the same room as me while the PodMic sounds like you're speaking from inside a trashcan. You have WAY too much bass in the PodMic. The only thing that would be good for is a Darth Vader impression. That's a very common "rookie" mistake. More bass is NOT better. The human voice is normally in the higher range, so working with the minimal amount of bass necessary makes voices sound more natural. Just so you know, I have a degree in Communications with broadcast production training, have worked as both a radio and a nightclub DJ, and also did some TV production, so I've heard and used some VERY expensive equipment in my time. 9:07 - AGAIN, the Neewer sounds WAY better. You're getting a LOT less "pop" on the cheap mic than you are on the PodMic. You just did the best commercial possible for the Neewer mic. The fact you can make a mic which costs 1/4 the price of the PodMic come THAT close says it all. I would say you were able to get over 95% equivalency to the PodMic, on your side by side "in the same room" test. The very SAME principle which has you buying the PodMic over the Shure SM7B (which costs four times as much) says you should buy the Neewer and NOT pay four times as much for the PodMic. The only other factors would be: 1) If you use a better/thicker windscreen on the Neewer, would it sound even better, or does it sound better without one at all (both of which depend on the acoustics of your room/studio)? And, 2) how long the Neewer would last in normal use.
I've been using a BM-700 for about 4 years now, and it's still working like a champ. It's not the best, but it sounds as good or better than some of the low/mid range mics.
I was surprised how good the Neewer sounded. The only difference that I could hear was the lack of low end, which can be easily fixed in post or with the real-time processing on the Rodecaster Pro. I do think the Podmic has too much bass dialed into it and sounds boomy. On radio, especially, this can cause speech to be harder to understand I prefer end-fire mics like the Pod-mic. For my ear and budget, the Heil PR40 or AudioTechnica BP40 are really good dynamics with a perfect articulation (boost on the highs without sounding crunchy). Lastly, I'm a HUGE fan of the Rodecaster Pro. My company produces 9 hours of weekend programming for several talk radio stations in the top 5 markets. We use the Rode mixer for recording clients remotely and it's amazing. The built -in phone hybrid, alone, is almost worth $700! I'm not a big fan of the "Big Bottom" (sounds fake to me) but overall it's a great mixer. We bought a second one just to have a back up. Glad to see you getting so much from it too. Keep up the outstanding work. I watch you, the Podcastage guy and Curtis Judd. All the others are unfocused and, at times, annoying. Be well. pete
I'd recommend the behringer over the nw800 easily... No phantom power needed, double duty as a stage mic, sounds good without having to fiddle with eq, less than $25
Thanks for the useful video. I have ordered Rode NT USB couple of days before for home recordings.. it's simply superb! Considering depth of your content and detailed information, you deserve more subscribers. Would like to see RUclips Silver button in the background soon 👍👍
Have you checked out Podcastage? Outstanding mic and other audio gear reviews going back a few years and includes Neewer mics and up to $10k or so price point mics. Great job though.
The M 800 along with a cheep interface and a new xlr cable and you got a good settup. I recommend throwing out the 3.5 to xlr or repurposing it in some way.
“A Czech one too” I watch your videos just for the comedic value! .. jk, great video. I was just about to pull the trigger on 2 SM7Bs to use with a $100 audio interface,, feeling a great deal of pain at the prospect of getting into an $800 debt just for 2 mics, until I saw your comparison with the podmic. For the same $800, I got 2 podmics and procaster mixer; a setup totally worth the money. Thank you!
My friends and I used NW-800s into a Mackie mixer for podcasting and they worked super well for us. There were 6 of us on the show and we wanted to keep costs down and we were pleasantly surprised with the quality. A cheap pop filter helps too.
I bought a few and found that for the best quality sound, it does need phantom and some tweaking on a board and some post production. But, for the price? Fantastic.
First of all, I subscribed because your entire room and general backdrop is freaking A. Secondly, I'm buying this mic, great overview, preview, review. Thank you!
Neewer 800 doesnt have that crystal clear sound but hey man it's a microphone, they are super good with pop filters and other neewer accessories like the phantom..
Maybe it's your headsett or earplugs, but the 25$ one lacks certain sounds. And I would say røde sounds a lot more present. However, I would buy the Amazon one, cause it was good enough
Amazon still takes returns right now no problem. You can return it or at least exchange it if the cosmetic damage bothers you. It would bother me and I’d swap it out if I wanted to actually keep it.
For starting mic? This neewer thing is the best bang for the buck. In any case, as a new player, you should be learning about audio. What better way to make a progress other than trying to make a $20 dollar mic to sound like $100? As for the pros, you just can't spend time to tinker and should start buying products that just work out of the box. $70 difference would be gained in 1-2 hours professionally.
Currently sitting with the Fine b669 and I'm very happy with it! I don't have a physical audio processor and I just plug the usb directly in to my pc but I do have voicemeeter installed and with some tweaking it really does make it sound like a mic worth 80 bucks and not 46!
I got a Neewer NW-7000 USB for my son's desk setup. It's far better than the webcam mic and he's happy with it. I've got a pretty decent mic closet with a variety of MXL, AT, Shure, Behringer XM8590s and even a Neumann TLM 102. However the one on my desk is a EV RE320 that I got used. I think it fits my voice well and I got it used for about $185. Add a decent audio interface and I think it's a good quality setup. Nice to see you doing some different reviews, and I'm tempted by the new Rode Podmic.
Honestly the neewer doesn't sound bad for 25 bucks. Definitely really muddy though, for the average person they probably wouldn't notice, but its night and day between the two through my monitors. EQ would help but I don't think you're going to get rid of the lack of clarity more than a mitigation. It would be really hard to mix vocals with this microphone imo. Mind you I'm also looking to upgrade to the LCT 540 subzero so I'm quite a ways out of that bracket.
I’ve been using an MXL 770 for close to 2 years. It was around 80 bucks new when I bought it. It works well for me tbh. I just set my gate in reaper, and if need be flip the -5dB switch, have me EQ set. After that I just record then touch it up after. I have a Shure sm58 too, but I use that mostly for music, not so much voice over. My interfaces preamps arent the best so dynamic mics have a lot of background white noise once I crank the gain. Been thinking of getting a fethead just so I can keep the gain down a bit, even with my MXL condenser mic. Hopefully I’ll be picking up a CAD E-100S soon. Honestly, just because I like the aesthetics. I dont actually need it lol I have an obsession with mics tbh. I’d own dozens if I was rolling in money.
Great video! 1) I just got the rode videomic pro plus, and LOVE IT! 2) l love Neweer products. I have ring lights, light box, mic stand, and more from them. 3) love your breakdown and the quality of every aspect with the video. 4) New sub here!
These are drop shipped and sold everywhere. I have the exact same mic, but labeled the "Excelvan BM-800". It also came with the same stuff as the Neweer branded one. I don't think it's bad at all for $25. I think it being phantom powered makes it a little pointless because even a cheap interface with phantom power isn't /that/ cheap. I think for someone on a budget would be better off with something like a Blue Snowball since it's USB powered, looks and sounds great, and is only about $30 more.
I’ve had my NW-800 for 4 years now and it’s never let me down for my streaming radio shows I do. So far I’ve only had to get a new mixer in the 4 years of broadcasting.
Had one for at least 2 years and still works great. Didn't get it through amazon though, bought it directly from China and it is called a BM-800. Came with identical paraphernalia but in a nicer and bigger box. The Mic was better protected and had no scratches on it. I paid $35 Canadian. Also that additional cable that comes with it allows you to plug it directly into a computer without phantom power though as mentioned it does sound better through a mixer WITH phantom power.
@@guitarstrunged That doesn;t always work. Your mic port has to provide at least 5v of plug in power. Some mic ports don;t and then your mic just doesn;t work at all and you need an interface of some type.
@@EricLefebvrePhotography Didn't know that. Just tried using the mic port for fun and on my computer it works. Generally I use a small mixing board with phantom power.
I just got mine today and its good for the price and EQ can fix the frequencies no biggie...the package deal is about 100 -150 (MIC, MIC STAND,SPIT FILTER, P'S AND S FILTER AND DONT FORGET NW-002 2 CHANNEL 48V PHANTOM POWER) You can't use a condenser mic without 48v phantom power
it really is and im kinda blown away by how many people are commenting that the neewer sounds of similar quality lol then again many people might just be watching on a laptop or something
@@schwanzkopf400 I used to think the sound wasn't too different, but now I'm listening to it with studio headphones, the Neewer sounds absolutely horrible. A modern smartphone will demolish that Neewer.
Thanks for doing this, you saved us all some time and money. Good to know what we are getting with that 25 dollar mic and showing us how great the pod mic sounds in comparison.
Time Markers:
0:00 - Why Did I Buy the Cheapest Mic I Could Find?
2:13 - Unboxing
3:29 - Build Quality
4:08 - Dynamic vs. Condensor Mics
4:52 - Tabletop Mic Stands
6:20 - Mic Setup and Testing
6:57 - Neewer First Sound Test
7:30 - Comparison With PodMic
10:09 - Sound Test WITH Equalization
11:48 - Is This a Decent Microphone?
14:19 - Get the Best Mic You Can Afford
15:41 - International Feedback
ok cool
In conclusion?
gtfgrtbihvofdvrehofrefrehuifhrehforefrehiofehohofrerehofrefrhfrehofeohfovreuhofreuhofrefrofrhofreofrehofeofreorefrhfreofrehovrejhorehoirfeofvrefrhofehfovreorfrjfreoiferfehofrejhoejuhfrrhodrfrhoreiuhofrrheiuhfvruhvfgivfdvrhfvfrihgvfrhiuhdfvrhgiufr 3
Can you use these with your phone to record a video?
epico!! m.ruclips.net/channel/UCcw_37ZB9hDg_MTJunMQ7Jw
Sound quality exceeds the $25 price in my book.
Realistically, the smartphone in your pocket will blow this thing out of the water. I'd consider this a waste of money when microphones like the Samson C01 can be picked up for not much more, or the same price if you go used.
Masøn TØØNE xbix lmao
But you need a good phantom power for that.
James Collins I use my gaming headsets microphone for my raps. My friend with a whole studio $5000+ said it sounded like I was using a condenser mic
Masøn TØØNE tried reading your xbix and it sounds so funny in my head 😂
I didn't hear a difference worth 75 bucks. I own one of these Neewer mics, and I like it. They even work on the 15 volts power from a computer, but not as well as true phantom power. My ears are 65 years old now I admit.... so maybe the company motto should be, "works great for geezers." All joking aside, the beginner should worry more about room acoustics and soundproofing which, if not addressed, can make a 1000 dollar mic sound like junk.
Dude, you have some really old ears there)
@TheCountryBumpkin7 I'm pretty sure it's more that he doesn't think it's worth the extra 75$ if it's gonna do what he needs it to do. Yes there is a difference, but it's not really a huge deal for most people. 90% of people wouldn't care if you used the neewer in a podcast. Only people who really actually care or are paying attention will notice
I think if you are using it for a podcast then it'll work fine, I wouldn't want to record a vocal or an acoustic guitar with it its pretty nasty.
I hear an obvious difference. Maybe I'm more of an audiophile, but whatever.
@@cookie7993 i was thinking the same thing. i dont think i could listen to the neewer mic for extended periods. Its far too muffled/muddy for my tastes. However, for $25 i must say its not nearly as bad as i would have thought.
Given that the mic was supplied with an XLR to jack cable, I think the target market for this device is people plugging it directly into a computer and trying to record from it that way. I would be interested to see you try to test this mic in that context - I don't actually see how it would work properly without phantom power as the natural level is so low, but apparently some of these devices have space and connectors inside for a PP3 battery when the barrel body of the mic is unscrewed.
Im confused about that too. There’s definitely no battery compartment on this one. I do have a mixer that has combo XLR and 1/4 inch inputs, so maybe it’s for something like that? Maybe these are just the least expensive cables the suppliers can get?
@@tombuck Yeah, it's interesting, because I bought one like this a couple of years back from BangGood - I can't find the exact product I bought but the device I have is marked BM-800 and was marketed as a 'studio mic for computer' - my cable is XLR to 3.5mm TRS jack, but clearly needs to be powered - the best I ever got out of it was very faint, flat, buzzy recordings that would make the Apollo landing footage sound like a concert by comparison.
At the time, there were people saying that you just have to open it and put in a battery, but it appears only some of them were even made that way.
I mean, I should have been skeptical from the start, given the product description included the phrase 'dynamic condenser microphone'
Haha, good point 🤔
Depending on your computer's sound card (built in or PCI ...) you either don't even get the 5v trickle of power and the mic doesn't work at all or you have to push the gain so far that the sound-card's self noise (and the self noise of the mic) makes it sound like utter garbage.
I'd like to point out that I LIKE THIS MIC. I have 2 of them and have been using one for over 3 years but I have mine plugged into a Behringer UM2 (a cheap'ish usb interface ... around 60$ Canadian is what I paid for it).
Something you could do is use a cheap tiny usb sound card adapter like a SABRENT USB (9$ Canadian) but some of these are even worse than the built in audio. Sabrent has wildly varying quality of USB adapters for example.
I know Bandrew from Podcastage has a lot of old videos on using these adapters. Here is one where he compares a few of them. It;s an old video but gives you an idea: ruclips.net/video/DuLABU6tI7Q/видео.html
Tom Buck just wanna day I’ve been using the newer 800 for almost a year now and it’s been working pretty well.
If everyone was honest instead of trying to prove their expertise, they'd admit that it sounds better than the $25.00 asking price and if you'd not done a side by side comparison, nobody would have even noticed!
True .. For 25$ it's excellent . But .. you get what you pay for .. It's just not well made . It may sound silly but yes .. Build quality is important . Microphones fall down .. I doubt this one would survive a nasty fall .. While the podmic looks and feels like you could run over it with a car and it will still work like a boss .
I'm not even close to an expert, hell I love me some cheap gear. Behringer, MXL, you name it. But this thing sounds boxy and dull and muddy. There are SO many better options for not even much more money.
@Dave LeBlanc I agree, I'm the market for a mic, and for the price it's high on my list. The difference between the two mics was not enough for me to warrant the higher price tag.
I agree, I think Neewer mic sounds amazing. Just may not last long.
I mean i dont want to bash the 25$ mic you could record a podcast with it for sure.
But if youre trying to tell me there is no or hardly a difference between these mics I have to disagree, they honestly dont even sound close, even with eqing to push the mic, the rode sounds way better and so much more natural/pleasing to the ear
Also 100$ isnt really that much for a mic anyways and rode is actually a good brand, which means that you could a) pick one up used for propably 2/3 of the price no problem and it keeps some resale value.
I own a sm7b and if this video has shown me anything its that the podmic is pretty amazing for 100$ lol
I got a Neewer 800 mic a couple years ago because I 'm poor, and needed a mic to record acoustic guitar and ukulele for online learning. I was able to buy a complete recording setup under $100. My gear is all kind of craptastic, but overall I've been happy with the mic for the price. I'd buy another one of these mics if mine stopped working. (Knock on wood, because I'm broke at the moment)
I admit this mic sounds better with vocals than instruments but it does it's job to record guitar and ukulele, and i'm thankful to Neewer for making it possible at the time. The: "Neewer! Better than nothing!" Made me laugh, but I'd go for: " Neewer! Making really decent microphones for people who can't afford the mics they really want! " is a bit more accurate in my case lol.
Overall the Neewer mic on your video was really close sounding at the end to your $100 podcast mic on my tablet speaker.
Great insight! And 10 bonus points for use of the term “craptastic” 😁
I just got one of this and a photography speedlight from neewer and the better than nothing applies to everything they make, they are always just above the no brand Chinese models. I think they do good thinks for the no budget kind of people who always say they'll start something when they got some equipment
The Neewer NW-800 sounds kind of like a radio microphone and is pretty good.
I actually bought one of these four years ago for $15 to replace a broken yeti because it was all I could afford. Still kicking and especially for just occasional work. It's great
It actually fits pretty well within the Neewer brand line of audio-video products. They usually make affordable "decent quality Chinese" products. None of their stuff will blow proper products out of the market, but be it their flashes, LED lights, microphones, etc it's usually a safe entry point into a new territory without breaking the bank. Your results fall pretty much on par with my experience with the brand tbh and while you jokingly said "Neewer, better than nothing!" as their tagline, it's pretty much their target market soooo :D
I snagged that neewer mic for $5 shipped on sale. I bought it solely for the included shock mount and wasn't expecting the mic to be useful but was pleasantly surprised.
I bought a similar microphone about 4 years ago from the same brand and it came with a pop filter, wind shield, XLR-3.5mm cable, shock mount, swivel boom arm and obviously the microphone itself for only about £21. It's never stopped working and the sound quality is good enough for pretty much anything I could want to do so if you don't have a lot of money and you need decent-ish audio quality in a full package, that's the mic I'd go for. The model is the Neewer NW-700, although now I believe it's £45 rather than the £21 I paid in 2016. I'd still recommend it if you don't have the full budget for a proper mic and it comes as a complete package, all you'll need is phantom power to actually make it work. Here's the amazon link: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00XOXRTX6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Quick comment on this video: I use the Neewer NW-700, one version back from the NW-800. I can tell you that the NW-700 has out lasted the XLR cable it comes with, the phantom power I got to go with it, an entire PC, and a desk chair. I've been using this mic for the last 5 years with Voicemeeter as my mixer, and a few audio tweaks in Voicemeeter, makes it sound great for my voice. I spent $30 on it and got not only the mic, cable, and foam windscreen, but a suspension boom arm, and pop filter that attaches to the arm. Just because it has a few scratches from shipping doesn't mean it's not gonna last. I have fellow content creators that have gotten things like the Elgato mic, the Shure mic, Yeti mics... they all needed to spend more money than me, and spend more time tweaking audio settings on their fancy XLR mixers then I did to get the same sound quality. Sometimes, it all comes down to how you tweak your audio, not how much you spend on your equipment.
I’ve heard really good things about the 700 but haven’t used it myself. Seems like a great mic. 👍
Your channel is amazing!
Thank you very much for your videos, they help me a lot.
You’re welcome, I’m really happy to hear it!
You have one of the visually nicest studio setups I've seen.
I would really love to see what you are doing fir your lighting... It's very soft on you and your face and even all throughout your room.
That's a sweet desk setup too.
Thank you! I’m planning to make a lighting setup video in the next few weeks. I’ve got 13 lights in there, and as of last month, they’re all dedicated video lights, which means no flickering or issues like that.
That is one of the best $25 mics I've ever heard!! Worth EVERY penny!
I buyed this mic at $17
I use this mic to talk with my friends and play games, compared to the $30 or more "PC Mics" this is really cheap and good quality sound
I use the mic without phantom power and sounds perfect and clear on aorus b450 pc moherbard
try andycine ac-m1, is good too
@@RuriGk i was thinking about getting it how do you mute it
for a cheap mic, still sounds pretty decent.
I have one and it doesnt really sound lile that, the reason why its sounds decemt is cause he has pretty good audio card but having no audio card or generjc audio cards it doesnt really sound like that but its still pretty decent none the less
@@zroid5251 Sound cards have nothing to do with this microphone because it is an XLR microphone and if some idiot is trying to drive it without phantom power than yeah, that is on them for being stupid. I know they give you this stupid XLR to 3.5mm wire cable but honestly they should be spanked for that because this microphone, and all like it, only shines when you can give it phantom power. What I heard in this comparison was a USB microphone (with the ADC built in on the Rode vs an XLR microphone using the 3.5mm jack) vs a wrongly hooked up XLR microphone. Just because it can doesn't mean it should and this is where they failed. Try other comparisons where they actually use phantom power with it and it just POPS and the sound becomes very close to what he is getting with his Rode. Rode is a great brand and to be fair a USB microphone at about 100 USD vs a 45 dollar XLR that will require 48v Phantom power, an XLR to XLR cable, and a ADC the price jumps to well over 200 USD for anything worth it. I went with their 24bit/192khz podcast kit from Amazon for $33.99 and that compares with the Rode. Apples to apples comparison instead of this Tomato to Peach comparison. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081RLSPWB Still only $33.99 today (has an 8 USD instant coupon checkbox).
General Awareness I agree proper power delivery is important for these mics. But also just know that in the video he wasn’t really using the microphone correctly. He said the rode is clearer and better sounding and while that may be true it’s also because he doesn’t know how to use the condenser microphone correctly. The closer you get to a condenser mic the more full/bassy/muddy it can get, most singers will be anywhere from 6 inches to a foot away from these microphones as it sounds more crisp and airy if that’s what your going for as well as bringing in a bit more room tone/reverb. Usually singers only get that close to the mic for artistic reasons and well his lips might as well have been on the microphone. The rode can be pretty much used at any distance and it doesn’t matter too much as with many dynamic microphones. One of the reasons that they use dynamic microphones (of course there are many other reasons such as cost, phantom power, etc.) for shows and events is because basically anyone can use them and they’ll pretty much sound good no matter how they hold the mic as well as they excel in isolation which is better if you have a noisy background i.e. a concert. You’ll notice that many shows will not use condenser microphones and instead they’re reserved for studio environments because they excel in sensitivity and in a studio environment everything is already quiet and isolated as well as this allows for audio engineers to tweak things in post. If I compare it to photography I’d say it’s like using a kit lens that comes with the camera vs. say a prime lens with a wider aperture that has specific uses, but also allows you to be more creative. I mean we knew this guy wasn’t familiar with condenser mics as he admitted himself when he almost talked straight into the top rather than from the front side. Which is why I’d take this review with a grain of salt just knowing that theoretically the mic could sound better given proper usage.
So summary, use phantom power and also don’t get to close for better vocals, also don’t buy the cheapest microphone, get the second cheapest microphone/something middle of the range. If you’re spending the money it’s best to dish out the money for something that you won’t regret buying a few months down the line bc then your initial investment in that first microphone is a waste. But that being said buy the best that you can afford, if that means skipping going out to eat for a few days and cooking your own food, do it. (Like if you skip going out to eat 5 or 6 times with each time spending $15 to $20, you can afford the rode or a better condenser mic. Those who complain about not having enough money and go out to eat all the time or buy the newest phone every year don’t really have my sympathy if they tell me they can’t afford a better mic. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and already are frugal then go with the cheaper mic to get started and then upgrade once you have the funds)
@@generalawareness101 most sound cards all have microphone pre sets built into them, he is even changing them in the video.
@@SwitchOnThaBeat Keep smoking that skunk weed. Facts are facts and a goddamn microphone as was used DEMANDS phantom power. Condenser mics need it and Dynamics ignore phantom power and ribbon mics blow up if used (blows out the foil instantly and need to be redone/fixed). Pre sets don't mean shit in the end for this.
i have that Neewer mic and have used it for several years. Just a little adjustment on bass and treble makes a huge difference and it sounds great.
New subscriber amigo!!!.. I've been watching your videos for a few hours and your content quality is pretty good.
Thanks and keep rocking.
Glad you're here! Thanks!
“Neewer, better than nothing” -
marketing team, “your hired!”
I haven’t laughed that hard from a mic reviewbefore 😂
Mission 100% accomplished!
I started my podcast 4 years ago with this mic. Served me well until I could afford to buy a better one. Great review Tom.
I'm glad to hear it worked well for so long! That's awesome.
I've had this mic for years, always get compliments on it when I talk to people for the first time. It's a really good mic and has been super reliable for me.
7:50 in a vacuum?..It might not sound so good :-)
Does he know that sound can't travel in vacuum?
Glad you decided "not" to return the microphone! 🙂
A sane thing to do, especially after you achieved everything you wanted to do with it ✅
I got a few of these Neewer mics as we started our podcast, and I wish I had just gotten better mics to begin with... because we couldn't tune the cheap mics up enough to make them sound good (really, they sucked), and we ended up getting some ATR 2100s anyway. Good advice to just spend the money from the start.
Great insight from someone who's been through the process. The ATR's are very nice.
It's pretty good for it's price. Thanks for reviewing it!!
You’re welcome!
I went from the Neewer NW-800 mic to the Rode Podmic recently and I'm happy with my decision to be honest
A pack of harmful if swallowed... actually got a laugh out of me XD
Mission accomplished!
I have this with a Behringer um2. Sounds quality is good enough for what I need but the advantage is I can just swap out the mic and nothing else very easily
I use the neewer NW-700 it cost me 60 on amazon and its held up really well it sounds amazing especially if you know how to change settings.. people who dont know or are new to audio.. more bass doesn’t make it better and dont go too close to the mic.. 🙃
Id love the Aureal exciter to be in the plug-ins for the BMDs ATEM Mini...theier software is great for shaping the sound...but the Aphex rack thing was great for giving you a commercial radio vibe...
I’ve never staned a microphone before , but the rode podmic is just amazing
Great ad for the Røde PodMic. You really need an end-addressable microphone to keep it low enough not be distracting if you're going to be reasonably close-mic'ed while talking direct to camera. If I were limited to spending $25 for this kind of application, I'd probably choose the Behringer BA 85A.
I've purchased this mic more recently off of amazon, and the packaging has improved substantially, with all parts held in well-formed foam. so the out-of-box scratching is no longer an issue.
That's GREAT to hear!
Great review. I bought the BM-800 from Amazon, seems like it's probably the same mic. I think it's pretty good for the money, but I drop the mid way down so it doesn't sound like I'm talking on the phone. I spent $35.98, but it came with an arm (which actually is being used for my Video Mic NTG), a pop filter, and a useless analogue to USB converter in addition to what you received (but no scratches). I do want to upgrade to the Pod Mic at some point, but I needed something that would work for now. Normally I do just spend the money for the expensive thing. Wish I had a nice voice like you do though.
Dang, that sounds like a pretty great deal 👍
@@tombuck I thought so too. The Rode sounded better, but not 4 times better IMO. I also was hoping you would record a bit with your drums using the NW 800. Hopefully you will for a future video as I found it interesting that you found a way to take advantage of it being a cheaper mic.
This was my first mic I ever had. It works surprisingly well. The only thing that I highly recommend is getting a phantom power adapter. I used the Neewer 48V phantom power adapter as it also helped clean up some of the noise in the background. With the mic plus the power adapter it sounds just as good as my current audio technica mic that cost me $170. Kind of upsetting actually
Great advice about the adapter!
I have two Neewer mics for $35 with swing arms from Amazon. I have had it for a couple of years and they were great. My version came with XLR cables into a Behringer mixer and they sound better. Been using it for about four years and my co-host - who uses it remotely - and it sounds like we're in the same room.
That’s awesome! Glad they’re working well 👍
great channel and clear communication style. i learned a lot in my journey for better sound and rodecaster pro. new sub
Awesome, thank you!
Thanks for the review! Thanks to YOU for reviewing the Rode PodMic vs the Shure SM7B I was able to confidently buy 2 Rode PodMics and feel WAAAYY more confident (and spend WAAAYY less money) then purchasing 2 Shure SM7B’s! Well done!
Nice! I love my two PodMics. Excited to see what you do with them!
If you are a careful user it could be a nice tool to have for many years. Might it stop working anyway? Maybe, but microphones are not really complex items, so if it works now, it'll work forever, if treated well.
I have several mics here, a pair of Blue (Ember and enCore 100), Rode videomic me, Agptek lavalier, Vmoda BoomPro, and a pair of Neewer NW-410, which are BTW, awesome bang for the buck. Nothing fancy, as you can see, but they all work flawlessly for their intended purpose.
I've worked with Shure, Sennheiser, AKG and many other in live performances, so I know what to expect. These last years there has been a plethora of really useable mics for next to nothing, and I find that awesome.
I've noticed that too- so many more great options lately. It's really awesome!
Excellent review, simple, clean, honest, and really talks to the price points and people who might just need something to get going. If i was 15 and wanted to start a podcast then it's perfect.
Thanks- and yes, there’s definitely a need for a usable mic at this price point 👍
10:16 ... And just like that, I was back at the eye doctor 😳
“A or b” 👓
I got the Czech joke! 🤣🤣 I’m into clarity. Mics will always need tweaking. But listening to mics side by side is like looking at a wall of TVs. There’s always a better one at that moment. You just have to make the best of what you can until you can do better. 👍🏽
Yes! That's the point I was trying to make, but you made it much more eloquently than me 😬
Why does everyone pronounce this company's name "newer" when the spelling is "nee-wer"? Did I miss the memo on this? I've never heard anyone pronounce it "newer"... Foam 'kinda makes a difference'... yeah, I thought it did a fair amount of reduction. The sound of the Neewer seems to have more bass, less mids and/or treble. Seems ok if you're on a budget. Biggest thing is audio editing. I hear so many vids that start out blasting you with intro music, then the vocals are too quiet, so you ramp them up and the music clips come in and blast you out again. THAT is the biggest problem with YTers editing their audio, NOT cheap mics.
Good review, thanks!
Glad you liked it! I got confused on pronunciation, and “Newer” ended up being easiest for me to say 😬
Not very good it turns out, but listenable for several minutes, which is already a good proposition, and would improve a lot of channels if they manage to get the sound quality of the Neewer 800. But comparing a dynamic and a condensor microphone is very much apple to oranges. A better and fairer comparison would be a Rode NT1-A/SE X1S with the Neewer 800 or on the dynamic side the PodMic with a Behringer XM-8500 (both the better choice for anyone but VO artists, as they both remove background noise better than condensor mics and are more forgiving for a badly treated room).
Honestly that 25 dollar mic sounds better than a lot of the other channels I listen to. Which tells me that one, it’s punching above it’s price point. Two, other RUclipsrs need to learn a lot more about the equipment they are using.
Thanks for the review, as I don’t have a mic at all I might just order one.
I want your mixer! Also you are comparing a Dynamic Mike to a Condenser Mike, condenser mikes naturally have a better high frequency response.
Hey Man That
Check 1 2 Line
Was Fire.
I'd recommend the Samson C01 over this. The Neewer NW700/800 are not good microphones. Spend the little bit extra on something that actually has a proper condenser capsule, and not this cheapy electret one.
I purchased this mic a few years ago. I got a lot of attention on my videos because of the "GOLD" mic.
The “gold” look is awesome!
It does have a really cool style and looks great in camera.
Good and fair comparison! For guys starting out this could be a good inexpensive mic. Can always when they are doing better. You advice was sincere and honest. I like that you didn't try play favorites.
Thank you!
Yup. Spend a little more on a decent interface and save on the mic for now. You can easily change the mic later so the interface is a bit of a longer investment.
It's like with cameras. You keep your lenses for decades but the bodies change far more often.
I find it very impressive you were able to speak so well while listening to yourself talk
The Pod Mic sounded significantly better to me personally. However, for a person with a smaller budget, The Neewer NW-800 is pretty solid for $25! Thanks for the awesome video!
Those are my thoughts too. 👍
The NW-800 might sound better if you back off the mic a bit or EQ out the lows a bit more. it sounds really stuffy and boomy for what should be a flat mic
Yup. Proximity effect. Don't chew the mic likenyou would a dynamic mic. ;)
Using the mic in person it is definitely best at a 3ft distance.
If I were to put it as an analogy, It's like you're out net fishing. The NW-800/BM-800, is a small net. Yes, you can catch fish with it, but it shows itself as a small net by not being able to handle the full frequency range as well as the Rode. The moment you try to catch bigger fish with it, it's likely to fail on you. Having to add compression to the mic to make it sound more even with the rode is not typically a good sign. You should not have to do a lot of frequency adjusting to make the mic sound more full.
The Rode is a larger net you're working with because it captures the frequency range more evenly. You're not getting sudden spikes in volume at certain frequency points. It was very evident when you were talking. You should be able to converse at an average level of loudness without feeling like you might clip the mic if your voice goes high, medium, or low pitched. Yes there are moments where people put an emphasis on certain words in their sentence, but it's also about how well it catches you on words you're not emphasizing.
Is it better than nothing? Yes. Will it get you jobs? Probably not. It's a mic to start practicing on. If you do get some small jobs with it, immediately invest in a higher quality mic. The more you turn your ears on to the smaller details of the mic, it becomes more evident how far back it is in comparison to others.
The higher up in price you go, you're paying more for the frequency response. You're paying for something that catches a wide range smoothly and as even as possible.
Great analogy, thanks for sharing!
7:35 - NO CONTEST! The Neewer sounds like you're speaking in the same room as me while the PodMic sounds like you're speaking from inside a trashcan. You have WAY too much bass in the PodMic. The only thing that would be good for is a Darth Vader impression. That's a very common "rookie" mistake. More bass is NOT better. The human voice is normally in the higher range, so working with the minimal amount of bass necessary makes voices sound more natural. Just so you know, I have a degree in Communications with broadcast production training, have worked as both a radio and a nightclub DJ, and also did some TV production, so I've heard and used some VERY expensive equipment in my time.
9:07 - AGAIN, the Neewer sounds WAY better. You're getting a LOT less "pop" on the cheap mic than you are on the PodMic.
You just did the best commercial possible for the Neewer mic. The fact you can make a mic which costs 1/4 the price of the PodMic come THAT close says it all. I would say you were able to get over 95% equivalency to the PodMic, on your side by side "in the same room" test. The very SAME principle which has you buying the PodMic over the Shure SM7B (which costs four times as much) says you should buy the Neewer and NOT pay four times as much for the PodMic. The only other factors would be: 1) If you use a better/thicker windscreen on the Neewer, would it sound even better, or does it sound better without one at all (both of which depend on the acoustics of your room/studio)? And, 2) how long the Neewer would last in normal use.
I did recently get a windscreen for the PodMic and really like how it sounds when using it. It immediately makes the sound more pleasant and balanced.
I completely disagree
I've been using a BM-700 for about 4 years now, and it's still working like a champ. It's not the best, but it sounds as good or better than some of the low/mid range mics.
I tried the Bm-800 looks like the newer Nw- 800. The more expensive one like the shure is better for most of us..
I use a neewer NW-3U for everything and I love it! I don't think you can find it now, but man what a mic for $20ish.
with fine equalization the neewer can sound daamn fine
I was surprised how good the Neewer sounded. The only difference that I could hear was the lack of low end, which can be easily fixed in post or with the real-time processing on the Rodecaster Pro. I do think the Podmic has too much bass dialed into it and sounds boomy. On radio, especially, this can cause speech to be harder to understand I prefer end-fire mics like the Pod-mic. For my ear and budget, the Heil PR40 or AudioTechnica BP40 are really good dynamics with a perfect articulation (boost on the highs without sounding crunchy). Lastly, I'm a HUGE fan of the Rodecaster Pro. My company produces 9 hours of weekend programming for several talk radio stations in the top 5 markets. We use the Rode mixer for recording clients remotely and it's amazing. The built -in phone hybrid, alone, is almost worth $700! I'm not a big fan of the "Big Bottom" (sounds fake to me) but overall it's a great mixer. We bought a second one just to have a back up. Glad to see you getting so much from it too. Keep up the outstanding work. I watch you, the Podcastage guy and Curtis Judd. All the others are unfocused and, at times, annoying. Be well. pete
Thanks Pete! Curtis is a wealth of in depth knowledge. 🤯
"how good is the cheapest microphone on Amazon"
Xm8500: are you challenging me?!
I'd recommend the behringer over the nw800 easily... No phantom power needed, double duty as a stage mic, sounds good without having to fiddle with eq, less than $25
I have one of those and it's actually pretty nice lol
I have the xm8500 and I love it. The only issue is I needed a gain booster. Got the SZ-MB1 for £20. Sorted.
Y’all are all wrong you gotta get the best gamer girl mix but not on amazon but wish
I got this for 10 bucks with metalic arm stand soooooooo
Thanks for the useful video.
I have ordered Rode NT USB couple of days before for home recordings.. it's simply superb!
Considering depth of your content and detailed information, you deserve more subscribers. Would like to see RUclips Silver button in the background soon 👍👍
I actually like how the microphone sounds. It's very interesting.
reminds me of like listening to a talk show on AM radio from a car speaker
Trying to start my own podcast and doing a lot of research into mics. One of the most informative videos I’ve watched so far. Thanks
Glad it helped! If you can swing the $100 price range, you’ll open up so many incredible mic options.
"Neewer! Better than nothing!"
It works! 🤣
Have you checked out Podcastage? Outstanding mic and other audio gear reviews going back a few years and includes Neewer mics and up to $10k or so price point mics.
Great job though.
Thanks for the recommendation!
I've gotten several cheap condenser mics. They've been great. I don't know why you would spend more. Also these cheap mics are pretty.
The M 800 along with a cheep interface and a new xlr cable and you got a good settup. I recommend throwing out the 3.5 to xlr or repurposing it in some way.
When he put the settings on neewer holyshit that's sooooooo goood
I guess it says more about the quality of the pre amps in the mixer and the settings applied. It’s pretty cool what is possible.
I use one of Neewer mics for two years and the sound quality is decent. it gives a good enough quality for ridiculusly low price
“A Czech one too” I watch your videos just for the comedic value! .. jk, great video. I was just about to pull the trigger on 2 SM7Bs to use with a $100 audio interface,, feeling a great deal of pain at the prospect of getting into an $800 debt just for 2 mics, until I saw your comparison with the podmic. For the same $800, I got 2 podmics and procaster mixer; a setup totally worth the money. Thank you!
Oh man, that's a great setup, I'm glad it's working for you! I use my PodMics and Rodecaster constantly and they haven't let me down yet 👍
My friends and I used NW-800s into a Mackie mixer for podcasting and they worked super well for us. There were 6 of us on the show and we wanted to keep costs down and we were pleasantly surprised with the quality. A cheap pop filter helps too.
Very cool review! I have been loving my PodMics! The $25 mic sounds great for the cost!
It’s not bad at all for the price, but I definitely prefer the PodMic.
I bought a few and found that for the best quality sound, it does need phantom and some tweaking on a board and some post production. But, for the price? Fantastic.
It doesn't make sense that you only have 22k subs. This is a crisp video alright!
Thanks man! I really appreciate that 🙏
First of all, I subscribed because your entire room and general backdrop is freaking A. Secondly, I'm buying this mic, great overview, preview, review. Thank you!
Thanks! I’m really happy that it was helpful!
Tom: it's sound like a good deal now let's see if it sounds like a good deal
Me: taking 5 mins to process it
Neewer 800 doesnt have that crystal clear sound but hey man it's a microphone, they are super good with pop filters and other neewer accessories like the phantom..
I am no audio expert, but I felt your voice more present and pleasing on the $25.
It does a bit, but rode podmic sounds ages better in terms of audio quality
True
Maybe it's your headsett or earplugs, but the 25$ one lacks certain sounds. And I would say røde sounds a lot more present.
However, I would buy the Amazon one, cause it was good enough
Amazon still takes returns right now no problem. You can return it or at least exchange it if the cosmetic damage bothers you. It would bother me and I’d swap it out if I wanted to actually keep it.
For starting mic? This neewer thing is the best bang for the buck.
In any case, as a new player, you should be learning about audio. What better way to make a progress other than trying to make a $20 dollar mic to sound like $100? As for the pros, you just can't spend time to tinker and should start buying products that just work out of the box. $70 difference would be gained in 1-2 hours professionally.
Currently sitting with the Fine b669 and I'm very happy with it! I don't have a physical audio processor and I just plug the usb directly in to my pc but I do have voicemeeter installed and with some tweaking it really does make it sound like a mic worth 80 bucks and not 46!
You made the Newer sound better than the Rode imo.
Except it actually has a carbonoid pattern and actually has a fall off unlike a headset mic.
I think the issue with the comparisons after the EQ was that the neewer was much louder than the rode.
It's easier to hear things when they're louder.
I got a Neewer NW-7000 USB for my son's desk setup. It's far better than the webcam mic and he's happy with it. I've got a pretty decent mic closet with a variety of MXL, AT, Shure, Behringer XM8590s and even a Neumann TLM 102. However the one on my desk is a EV RE320 that I got used. I think it fits my voice well and I got it used for about $185. Add a decent audio interface and I think it's a good quality setup. Nice to see you doing some different reviews, and I'm tempted by the new Rode Podmic.
The 7000 is a USB mic, right? That's a pretty good deal for sure. And yeah, the PodMic is awesome!
@@tombuck Yes, it's a USB mic. My son doesn't have much of a interest in hardware, so keeping it simple made sense.
I got a mic from this brand that costs around 50 dollars its really high quality and it also comes with a stand with the same set up as this
Ive had a neewer mic for about 2 years and so far it’s done its job!
The $25 mic definitely sounds better. Much crisper and cleaner and brighter than the Rode. Great video
to me its the other way round. The NW-800 is stuffy and really boomy....
@@matthewlockyer5571 stuffy yes, but it does sound good
Honestly the neewer doesn't sound bad for 25 bucks. Definitely really muddy though, for the average person they probably wouldn't notice, but its night and day between the two through my monitors. EQ would help but I don't think you're going to get rid of the lack of clarity more than a mitigation. It would be really hard to mix vocals with this microphone imo. Mind you I'm also looking to upgrade to the LCT 540 subzero so I'm quite a ways out of that bracket.
"... and a Czech one too." Best final line of a microphone review ever!
Glad you appreciated it, haha!
I’ve been using an MXL 770 for close to 2 years. It was around 80 bucks new when I bought it. It works well for me tbh. I just set my gate in reaper, and if need be flip the -5dB switch, have me EQ set. After that I just record then touch it up after. I have a Shure sm58 too, but I use that mostly for music, not so much voice over. My interfaces preamps arent the best so dynamic mics have a lot of background white noise once I crank the gain. Been thinking of getting a fethead just so I can keep the gain down a bit, even with my MXL condenser mic. Hopefully I’ll be picking up a CAD E-100S soon. Honestly, just because I like the aesthetics. I dont actually need it lol I have an obsession with mics tbh. I’d own dozens if I was rolling in money.
That epiphany when you "Put together a podcast" 🤣🤣
“Peter Piper Put together a Podcast”
Great video!
1) I just got the rode videomic pro plus, and LOVE IT!
2) l love Neweer products. I have ring lights, light box, mic stand, and more from them.
3) love your breakdown and the quality of every aspect with the video.
4) New sub here!
Thanks Dan! I really appreciate that. I've actually been curious about some of the Neweer lights, glad to hear your liking them 👍
@@tombuck
Love them!
Do a whole show with the $25 mic 😉
You didn't notice but he already did. XD
These are drop shipped and sold everywhere. I have the exact same mic, but labeled the "Excelvan BM-800". It also came with the same stuff as the Neweer branded one.
I don't think it's bad at all for $25. I think it being phantom powered makes it a little pointless because even a cheap interface with phantom power isn't /that/ cheap. I think for someone on a budget would be better off with something like a Blue Snowball since it's USB powered, looks and sounds great, and is only about $30 more.
Me with the NW-7000 that came with a shock mount, and a boom arm for $38 😳
I’ve had my NW-800 for 4 years now and it’s never let me down for my streaming radio shows I do. So far I’ve only had to get a new mixer in the 4 years of broadcasting.
I've had one for 5 years, still works great.
The 25 dollar one or the 100 one?
Had one for at least 2 years and still works great. Didn't get it through amazon though, bought it directly from China and it is called a BM-800. Came with identical paraphernalia but in a nicer and bigger box. The Mic was better protected and had no scratches on it. I paid $35 Canadian. Also that additional cable that comes with it allows you to plug it directly into a computer without phantom power though as mentioned it does sound better through a mixer WITH phantom power.
@@clementem8458 $100 one hasn't existed that long, so he must mean the $25 one.
@@guitarstrunged That doesn;t always work. Your mic port has to provide at least 5v of plug in power. Some mic ports don;t and then your mic just doesn;t work at all and you need an interface of some type.
@@EricLefebvrePhotography Didn't know that. Just tried using the mic port for fun and on my computer it works. Generally I use a small mixing board with phantom power.
I just got mine today and its good for the price and EQ can fix the frequencies no biggie...the package deal is about 100 -150 (MIC, MIC STAND,SPIT FILTER, P'S AND S FILTER AND DONT FORGET NW-002 2 CHANNEL 48V PHANTOM POWER) You can't use a condenser mic without 48v phantom power
The rode is worth 4 times the cost than the nw 800 for me.
it really is and im kinda blown away by how many people are commenting that the neewer sounds of similar quality lol
then again many people might just be watching on a laptop or something
@@schwanzkopf400 I used to think the sound wasn't too different, but now I'm listening to it with studio headphones, the Neewer sounds absolutely horrible. A modern smartphone will demolish that Neewer.
Thanks for doing this, you saved us all some time and money. Good to know what we are getting with that 25 dollar mic and showing us how great the pod mic sounds in comparison.
I'm really happy you found it helpful. I've heard other people use this mic and get better results than I got, but this was my experience.