We've now purchased TWO Takstar SGC-598s and we truly couldn't be happier. This is THE budget shotgun mic to get if you're concerned about cost for function. The battery life is also FOREVER even with no-name batteries.
I use two Takstar microphones on two canon 700d cameras. This microphone is perfect for recording professional musicians in live shows, recording professional actors doing monologues and interviews with me talking behind the camera. You can see all my work using only this microphone doing all of these activities on my page. The Takstar SGC 598 is superb for the price and the work I have produced has had no criticisms with regards to the audio recording. Tip for recording acoustic live performances is have the 10bd boot switched off. That is the middle button. I always have it down / off as this significantly reduces any hiss. It however I an doing a two shot from a distance it works well with all three buttons switched to the on / up position. An excellent mike and you can see the various different jobs I have used if for for yourself. Hope this helps as this microphone is excellent value for money.
I have the Takstar for my channel too, love it so much, especially at its price point, it's now making fuzzy sounds when recording, but this is after maybe 2-3 years of usage, so maybe time to get another mic just incase to change it up!
I've had the TAKSTAR SGC-598 for some time now, very pleased. Battery life excellent, extremely good for Indoor use and especially outdoor concerts. As always you can download free software Audacity to clean up any hiss sounds and adjust Base/Treble. Highly recommended~
Had to pause at :12 to express my excitement of running into another one of your vids after the lighting under $50 reviews. Like running into the customer service employee you favor over others lol. Thanks dude keep it up!!! Looking for mics now after your vid of lighting where i chose one. (:
Thank you for putting together this comparison. On my Mac connected to Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 speakers, I actually prefer the Takstar SGC-598. Your voice was the clearest. The Movo sounded especially muffled and even the Rode did not sound as clear to me as the Takstar.
I have a newish Takstar 598 that sounds surprisingly good. Better than a Sennheiser MKE 600 in A/B tests. I borrowed a second older Takstar 598 from work and it sounded noticeably worse with lots of hiss. I may take them both apart to see what's going on. Maybe they changed components later in production, or maybe I won the "Golden Ticket" and soon I will own Takstar and fly around in a glass elevator. If I find anything interesting I will let you know.
Dig it man, thanks for the detail and work put into this comparison! I've had the Takstar for a little over a year as a backup mic and it isn't the best but definitely does the job for a great price! Will be looking at the Movo after seeing your video!
I think the Pixel MC-50 had the best sound quality, IMO. The 'esses' from words spoken sounded very clear and clean so it seems this mic picks up the low, mid and higher end sounds easily, which I like.
I own the RØDE Videomic Pro. Great microphone, but it's still nice to know that there are different alternatives out there. I will recommend my friends to check out this vid! Thanks man.
FYI - There are two mounting locations for the hot shoe on the Takstar. It comes in the center position. It can be removed with a screw on the bottom and moved reward so it sits flush with the mic and out of the way of the viewfinder.
It would had been interesting if you had compared with the Rode Video Micro as well, so we have a parameter to measure. I think that there will be a lot of people wanting to know if they should take a shot with any of these 3 or maybe it's better to go with the Video Micro. I'm more interested in the distance range x sound quality comparison since the Videos Micro has probably less range and gain, so is the sound quality difference big enough?
Thanks!!! The Movo VXR4000-PRO is without question the best sounding of the budget mics. I would have enjoyed hearing the Movo vs the Rode and then the Movo with a slight boost in post EQ to see if there is any difference at all between it and the Rode. BTW the Movo is now $40 on Amazon as of 2-4-2020. I boom with AT875R mic which sounds amazing and at $100 provides fantastic cinematic cound. My lavs are Comica CMV-WM300A with JK MIC J 044 mics (a copy of the Sennheiser) however, having great scratch audio always comes in handy. Also, having a super fast setup without booming or mic'ing the principal and getting fantastic audio is always a massive plus. Thanks for this video comparison!!!
Great comparison of 3 budget microphones with hot shoe mounts. I would not use any enhancements in post (too time consuming) and therefore would choose the Movo as a backup mic. If I am using aDSLR for videos, I would want a better mic than the Movo.
Very nice video, Caleb. One thing I noticed was your use of rechargeable Eneloop NiMH batteries. In my admittedly limited experience using regular AA batteries will give a hotter or louder signal. I believe this is due to regular AA batteries being 1.5 Volts versus NiMH AA batteries being 1.1 Volts.
Nice video as usual Caleb. I love how you are focusing more on the lower budget video people. Not DIY but very budget friendly. My mic is a cheap Audio Technica ATR-6550. When I bought it it was 60$Can ... now its 115$Can but US you can get it for 70$
Could you make a video explaining the editing process and what happens when you shoot at different frame rates (24, 30, 48, 60...), but export at 24, without necessarily using slow motion? Your videos are great!
You are right that the Takstar sounds tinny with the plus 10 db turned on. But when you use it with the setting at 0, it actually sounds very good (when it is on a boom stand just out of frame). In fact it's almost comparable to the rode pro.
I guess I'm just old school. I prefer the good old fashioned 31 band. But just like getting your WB or exposure right in camera, if you can get a satisfactory tone from your mic, your post production self will thank you. Another good video Caleb!
My experience listening to these mics is a bit different than yours. To my ear the Rhode is overly resonant with mids that lack detail and openness and was missing high frequencies. The Pixel MC50 compared to the Rhode is more open with better detail and more extended and natural highs. The MOVO was by far the worst of the mics tested and captured a muffled sound lacking in bass or midrange detail as well as limited band with in either direction. The Tackstar was the most open with the best highs and definition that traded a weighty bottom end for a more forward and open presentation. Slight tweak in low end amplitude puts this mic ahead of the others. Seems to me that you mistake lower end boom for low end content. As long as the low end information is present you can contour the sound any which way you want. But a muffled bass lacking in detail cannot be tightened up nor can missing highs be recreated with equalization.
Ditto. The rodes all sounds boomy to me and don't sound, to me, that they handle the low end well at all. Yet most reviews seem to think that sounds better. As said that low end isn't what makes voice audio intelligible for the listener. So I'm not sure why do much focus is given to it. Other than voice or dialogue the low end may be more important.
I just realized that my RUclips shortcut on my computer Favorites Bar is linked to this video. You get a view every time I go to RUclips using my shortcut icon for the last 3 years.
How is the rode videomic pro with the G85? Can you use the +20 db? I find that with a lav mic plugged into that camera, even with the audio turned all the way down in the camera to minus 12 db, it still clips. I have to move the mic further down my shirt. Do you find the Panasonic G85 pre amps too loud? Is that a good thing?
It's kind of difficult to tell the sound difference between these microphones when the levels are so varied. Matching the DBs would have been good. * Absolutely savage video though really appreciate the in depth review! *If someone would like me to o level match these and upload it, I can
I had the Pixel mic and returned it because it created noise. I have to up my budget to about $150 Canadian (The Pixel was $55). Looking for a decent boom mic and haven't the faintest idea what to buy. Thank you for the comparisons.
is there any problem in takstar sgc 589? because theres is video on youtube talk about the noise in the mic and it happens when he connect the with his camera is that correct? and In your opinion is takstar sgc 589 better than rode video mic go? thank you
Ugh, again today I forgot to turn on my shotgun mic that sits atop of my Canon VIXIA HF G30. I hate and can't do voice-overs to save myself. I'm considering either suffering with the onboard mic or going with the Rode battery free one. That may be another regret that without the boost it lacks. I wish they would put the LED indicator on the front, or at least I need to remember to turn the mic on!
This was such a great video! I bought that takstar mic a few months ago and have found out with much trial and error how to get it to sound good, wish I could've seen this video earlier! I like how I can get a $28 microphone to sound great but I am definitely interested in a rode mic pro for the ability to just record and not waste time EQing, it just doesn't make financial sense at the moment.
Love the comparison! I Would like to hear a noise test also though. I feel that sometimes the polar patterns that these less expensive mics write on their spec sheet are not that accurate. So a side noise comparison between these would've been Awesome... Love Your vids anyway! helped me lots to make an informed decision. I am an Audio Engineer and I think that the Pixel MC50 is the best sounding one with the less work added to it, just the small EQ you mentioned,
I'm watching this on my phone and WITHOUT any sort of headphone or earphone. The only thing I noticed different was the volume level. The Takstar SGC 598 was VERY VERY loud that I had to turn down the volume a little bit. While on the other hand, the MOVO was a bit low. The sound quality was not much of a difference when you don't use any headphones or earphones but I can notice that the MOVO have a softer sound.
Eric Lefebvre I got the BM-800 a few months ago and LOVE it. Amazing mic for such a cheap price! The only drawback for this particular purpose is that it needs phantom power like you said, making it not a great option for "run-and-gun" shooting.
Michael Prizant Yes but Umar Farooq was asking about a mic to do voice overs on the pc. Quote: I'm currently looking for a microphone to record voice overs on PC. (A cheap one, of course!)
why didn't you test them outdoors? would've been quiet interesting... also a comparision to the rode video micro would be great... but besides this very good video :)
Gotta keep in mind that the preamp on the GH4 is much better than say a Canon Ti series camera. Do you think that these mics would still produce usable audio with a lower quality preamp?
Really appreciating the videos man. They're a lot of help. I'd love to see a video about audio recorders. I have a Zoom H1 ($100) but there's only one input for a mic and I'd like one with multiple inputs.
The Movo looks to be a generic Chinese model, it is identical to the Boya BY-VM190P even down to the accessories in the box. Not sure what impedance your "mic in " is, or what recording levels you have it set to, but on my Canon DSLR, the +10 dB is deafening. (my levels are set mid way) - There is obviously a difference though as the other mics are definitely louder. The filter on my mic is a low cut (or hi pass) does not really seem to make much difference though. Not bad mics for the money.
Hi! When you showed the eq for your voice I noticed that you don't use low cut. I mean yeah it's set to 30Hz I guess but actually you can not hear frequencies between 20Hz to aprox. 50Hz - you can only "feel" them with your body through bone conduction. Back to my point - there's absolutely no need for frequencies below 50Hz to be heard unless you play bass or synth on huge stage audio system. And for man voice I would recomend cutting the low freqs to 75 or 80Hz for speach and for women at around 100Hz because there's no valuable sounds below those frequencies assuming we still talking about speech. Also with lo cut you can get rid of most wind noises or "poping" with P, B, T letters. I hope it makes sense and I will help somehow! :)
I think you confused dynamic range and frequency range. Dynamic range is the effective clarity of lower volumes vs. higher volumes and not lower frequencies.
Fanastic videos and great tips. Your sound is exceptional! Do you process your audio after shooting? I find that the Video Mic Pro sounds a little muffled... (DB boost on, Canon 5D3 / M3, preamp all the way down)
interesting test! listening to this on a samsung galaxy s7 edge phone with samsung oem earbuds and no eq on the phone and 1st mic sounded best, 2nd mic sounded muddy, 3rd mic sounded ok. just my results :) thanks for doing the test results for us. cheers. 😎
Loved the video Caleb! As you probably know, the Rode VideoMicro is also $60 - just like the Movo. My question is: do you recommend the Micro, or the Movo? Really stuck between the two!
The Pixel MC-50 sounds surprisingly good,much better than the Takstar SGC-598. Actually the Pixel one is around 10 us dollars cheaper than the takstar one okay,just get the Pixel one for my a6300
Hi Caleb, thanks for the great videos; they are a tremendous help with my video aspirations. I took your advise and I bought the Movo VXR 4000 Pro. My question is, have you used your Saramonic Smart Rig Plus with the Movo and if so, how did it sound? I am working on a budget and I was wondering if purchasing the Saramonic would be a good idea to use with the Movo. I definitely want to get a Rode and/or a Sennheiser in the near future, but I wanted to know how good the Movo could sound. Thanks for all of the videos. Keep up the great work!
So I have the Takstar and am running into issues I believe is from the mic. I get horrible static (white noise) in different areas of my videos which make them unusable. I am wondering if the mic is faulty or what. I have recorded with on camera mic without issue. Wondering what mic I could get instead .
I actually really liked the sound of the Pixel! I was debating if I should get the Takstar since I'll be shooting more group interviews with the mic connected to the boom arm, but still would like some flexibility when I film just myself in front of the camera. What do you think? Takstar of Pixel?
Hi I have a question what would be the best mic for fast movement ? I got a boya vm01 and I got many of such mic „bumps“ in the recording very anonying. Would bring the rode video micro a better solution ? I need a solution for fast movement and outdoor, most videos I found are only for vlogs indoor
Is the Pixel better than the Rode Video Micro? Just checked the local prices and they cost exactly the same. The camera is a Sony A7II, so I guess the amplifier is decent for non-amplified microphones.
Do you know - just know i was seeing your old last year Nov16 Microphone comparison video for my new canon 80d for vlog Mic, and ur uploaded the new budget mic now... ohhh
5:45 Rode
5:56 Pixel MC-50
6:20 MOVO
6:39 Takstart SGC-598
E JR You're the real MVP
Me wuv u
Its takstar. Not takstart
We've now purchased TWO Takstar SGC-598s and we truly couldn't be happier. This is THE budget shotgun mic to get if you're concerned about cost for function. The battery life is also FOREVER even with no-name batteries.
Thanks for that, especially the info on the battery life.
A lot of people complain about the noise it makes when you walk - like the shock mount sucks. Have you experienced this?
@@gopolarisstudio Yeah, I've had problems with this, but some EQ in post can sometimes get rid of the low rumble
I use two Takstar microphones on two canon 700d cameras. This microphone is perfect for recording professional musicians in live shows, recording professional actors doing monologues and interviews with me talking behind the camera. You can see all my work using only this microphone doing all of these activities on my page. The Takstar SGC 598 is superb for the price and the work I have produced has had no criticisms with regards to the audio recording. Tip for recording acoustic live performances is have the 10bd boot switched off. That is the middle button. I always have it down / off as this significantly reduces any hiss. It however I an doing a two shot from a distance it works well with all three buttons switched to the on / up position. An excellent mike and you can see the various different jobs I have used if for for yourself. Hope this helps as this microphone is excellent value for money.
I have the Takstar for my channel too, love it so much, especially at its price point, it's now making fuzzy sounds when recording, but this is after maybe 2-3 years of usage, so maybe time to get another mic just incase to change it up!
I've had the TAKSTAR SGC-598 for some time now, very pleased. Battery life excellent, extremely good for Indoor use and especially outdoor concerts. As always you can download free software Audacity to clean up any hiss sounds and adjust Base/Treble. Highly recommended~
I think the Pixel MC-50 is the winner. Sounded great and has that great form factor.
More than two years later in 2019 now. You have helped me make my purchase of the Takstar! Really great quality video! Thank you!!!
I've been using the TAKSTAR SGC-598 for about a year now, and I can say it has definitely treated me well for such a low price.
What wolume you set on camera?
Had to pause at :12 to express my excitement of running into another one of your vids after the lighting under $50 reviews. Like running into the customer service employee you favor over others lol. Thanks dude keep it up!!! Looking for mics now after your vid of lighting where i chose one. (:
9v battery TOTALLY killed that mic straight away
Thank you for putting together this comparison. On my Mac connected to Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 speakers, I actually prefer the Takstar SGC-598. Your voice was the clearest. The Movo sounded especially muffled and even the Rode did not sound as clear to me as the Takstar.
I have a newish Takstar 598 that sounds surprisingly good. Better than a Sennheiser MKE 600 in A/B tests. I borrowed a second older Takstar 598 from work and it sounded noticeably worse with lots of hiss. I may take them both apart to see what's going on. Maybe they changed components later in production, or maybe I won the "Golden Ticket" and soon I will own Takstar and fly around in a glass elevator. If I find anything interesting I will let you know.
Robby Nowell where did you get it at?
Did you find anything new?
Dig it man, thanks for the detail and work put into this comparison! I've had the Takstar for a little over a year as a backup mic and it isn't the best but definitely does the job for a great price! Will be looking at the Movo after seeing your video!
For an on-camera mic, I would always choose a good budget mic. The camera audio circuitry is the limiting factor in nearly all cases.
we are talking about dirt cheep mics here. some of them worse then the one built into the camera!!!
@@mrpicky1868 I use a Rode Videomicro for camera mic. I use camera audio for sync. It does ok. I record separate audio for my video projects.
I think the Pixel MC-50 had the best sound quality, IMO. The 'esses' from words spoken sounded very clear and clean so it seems this mic picks up the low, mid and higher end sounds easily, which I like.
I just found your channel and now it's one of my favorites.
I own the RØDE Videomic Pro. Great microphone, but it's still nice to know that there are different alternatives out there. I will recommend my friends to check out this vid! Thanks man.
FYI - There are two mounting locations for the hot shoe on the Takstar. It comes in the center position. It can be removed with a screw on the bottom and moved reward so it sits flush with the mic and out of the way of the viewfinder.
It would had been interesting if you had compared with the Rode Video Micro as well, so we have a parameter to measure. I think that there will be a lot of people wanting to know if they should take a shot with any of these 3 or maybe it's better to go with the Video Micro. I'm more interested in the distance range x sound quality comparison since the Videos Micro has probably less range and gain, so is the sound quality difference big enough?
Yes, I should have included the Micro!
9:55 MC-50 NO EQ
9:59 MC-50 w EQ
10:03 SGC-598 No EQ
10:06 SGC-598 w EQ
I know that this could be useful.
Nice video tho! Love your channel man :D
Thanks!!! The Movo VXR4000-PRO is without question the best sounding of the budget mics. I would have enjoyed hearing the Movo vs the Rode and then the Movo with a slight boost in post EQ to see if there is any difference at all between it and the Rode. BTW the Movo is now $40 on Amazon as of 2-4-2020. I boom with AT875R mic which sounds amazing and at $100 provides fantastic cinematic cound. My lavs are Comica CMV-WM300A with JK MIC J 044 mics (a copy of the Sennheiser) however, having great scratch audio always comes in handy. Also, having a super fast setup without booming or mic'ing the principal and getting fantastic audio is always a massive plus. Thanks for this video comparison!!!
Great comparison of 3 budget microphones with hot shoe mounts. I would not use any enhancements in post (too time consuming) and therefore would choose the Movo as a backup mic. If I am using aDSLR for videos, I would want a better mic than the Movo.
hands down the most useful channel for filmmakers on youtube. thank you.
That Movo is basically the Insigma microphone. They have identical construction. I really dig that mic!
PLOTURE Microphone is a solid budget mic, also include in your review
Very nice video, Caleb.
One thing I noticed was your use of rechargeable Eneloop NiMH batteries. In my admittedly limited experience using regular AA batteries will give a hotter or louder signal. I believe this is due to regular AA batteries being 1.5 Volts versus NiMH AA batteries being 1.1 Volts.
Thanks, without this review I wouldn't never have checked out Takstar which is over 2 times cheaper than Rode Video Micro in my country
Nice video as usual Caleb.
I love how you are focusing more on the lower budget video people. Not DIY but very budget friendly.
My mic is a cheap Audio Technica ATR-6550. When I bought it it was 60$Can ... now its 115$Can but US you can get it for 70$
Thanks Eric!
Great video. I am now buying the Takstar!
I got the TAKSTAR SGC-598 and love it; works fine for interviews and vlogging!
What wolume you set on camera with Takstar?
never get rid of your intro music I love it.
I have the Takstar and din't know how good or bad it is. Your video was super helpful. Thank you
Could you make a video explaining the editing process and what happens when you shoot at different frame rates (24, 30, 48, 60...), but export at 24, without necessarily using slow motion? Your videos are great!
You are right that the Takstar sounds tinny with the plus 10 db turned on. But when you use it with the setting at 0, it actually sounds very good (when it is on a boom stand just out of frame). In fact it's almost comparable to the rode pro.
I guess I'm just old school. I prefer the good old fashioned 31 band. But just like getting your WB or exposure right in camera, if you can get a satisfactory tone from your mic, your post production self will thank you.
Another good video Caleb!
Your reviews are the best I've seen on YT, both in quality and material. What a great inspiration!
My experience listening to these mics is a bit different than yours.
To my ear the Rhode is overly resonant with mids that lack detail and openness and was missing high frequencies.
The Pixel MC50 compared to the Rhode is more open with better detail and more extended and natural highs.
The MOVO was by far the worst of the mics tested and captured a muffled sound lacking in bass or midrange detail as well as limited band with in either direction.
The Tackstar was the most open with the best highs and definition that traded a weighty bottom end for a more forward and open presentation. Slight tweak in low end amplitude puts this mic ahead of the others.
Seems to me that you mistake lower end boom for low end content. As long as the low end information is present you can contour the sound any which way you want. But a muffled bass lacking in detail cannot be tightened up nor can missing highs be recreated with equalization.
Mic drop! :)
100% agree with you!
Ditto. The rodes all sounds boomy to me and don't sound, to me, that they handle the low end well at all. Yet most reviews seem to think that sounds better. As said that low end isn't what makes voice audio intelligible for the listener. So I'm not sure why do much focus is given to it. Other than voice or dialogue the low end may be more important.
I just realized that my RUclips shortcut on my computer Favorites Bar is linked to this video. You get a view every time I go to RUclips using my shortcut icon for the last 3 years.
How is the rode videomic pro with the G85? Can you use the +20 db? I find that with a lav mic plugged into that camera, even with the audio turned all the way down in the camera to minus 12 db, it still clips. I have to move the mic further down my shirt. Do you find the Panasonic G85 pre amps too loud? Is that a good thing?
Still can't use the +20DB on the G85. Too hot! It is a good thing since the preamps are good. Might look into a lav with a build in attenuator?
@@dslrvideoshooter W
It's kind of difficult to tell the sound difference between these microphones when the levels are so varied. Matching the DBs would have been good. *
Absolutely savage video though really appreciate the in depth review!
*If someone would like me to o level match these and upload it, I can
Love these reviews! Lot's of reviews of the more common major brands, not so much for the cheaper ebay/amazon stuff.
Please do another comparison with the Videomicro and Videomic Go in it please.
I had the Pixel mic and returned it because it created noise. I have to up my budget to about $150 Canadian (The Pixel was $55). Looking for a decent boom mic and haven't the faintest idea what to buy. Thank you for the comparisons.
I have the SGC-598 and I love it.
Awesome video and very informative! It definitely helps those who are on a budget and cannot afford expensive gear. Now they have options. :)
I was lucky and was able to score a New Rode Video Mic Go on eBay for $60 and have been really loving the sound quality
Awesome video Caleb!! Nice seeing other brands other than Rode
Great comparison but enabling the the low pass filter and the other would have been much better. they are there for a reason.
Very good and thorough explanation of the mic's.
is there any problem in takstar sgc 589?
because theres is video on youtube talk about the noise in the mic and it happens when he connect the with his camera
is that correct?
and In your opinion is takstar sgc 589 better than rode video mic go?
thank you
Ugh, again today I forgot to turn on my shotgun mic that sits atop of my Canon VIXIA HF G30.
I hate and can't do voice-overs to save myself.
I'm considering either suffering with the onboard mic or going with the Rode battery free one.
That may be another regret that without the boost it lacks.
I wish they would put the LED indicator on the front, or at least I need to remember to turn the mic on!
This was such a great video! I bought that takstar mic a few months ago and have found out with much trial and error how to get it to sound good, wish I could've seen this video earlier! I like how I can get a $28 microphone to sound great but I am definitely interested in a rode mic pro for the ability to just record and not waste time EQing, it just doesn't make financial sense at the moment.
Love the comparison! I Would like to hear a noise test also though. I feel that sometimes the polar patterns that these less expensive mics write on their spec sheet are not that accurate. So a side noise comparison between these would've been Awesome... Love Your vids anyway! helped me lots to make an informed decision. I am an Audio Engineer and I think that the Pixel MC50 is the best sounding one with the less work added to it, just the small EQ you mentioned,
I'm watching this on my phone and WITHOUT any sort of headphone or earphone. The only thing I noticed different was the volume level. The Takstar SGC 598 was VERY VERY loud that I had to turn down the volume a little bit. While on the other hand, the MOVO was a bit low. The sound quality was not much of a difference when you don't use any headphones or earphones but I can notice that the MOVO have a softer sound.
What wolume you set on camera with Takstar?
You should really review Aputure A Lav ($30) and Aputure Vmic D2 ($130) ... and tell us what do you think.
Thank you for mentioning it. I'm currently looking for a microphone to record voice overs on PC. (A cheap one, of course!)
+Umar Farooq : Get a BM-800 condenser mic instead. you can get a Neweer NW-800 for like 15$US.
You WILL need Phantom Power of course.
Eric Lefebvre I got the BM-800 a few months ago and LOVE it. Amazing mic for such a cheap price! The only drawback for this particular purpose is that it needs phantom power like you said, making it not a great option for "run-and-gun" shooting.
Eric Lefebvre isn't the BM-800 a studio mic tho?
Michael Prizant Yes but Umar Farooq was asking about a mic to do voice overs on the pc.
Quote: I'm currently looking for a microphone to record voice overs on PC. (A cheap one, of course!)
I liked the mc-50 the best of the 3 microphones. To me the quality of that sound is most like the Rode... must be youtube messing with me
why didn't you test them outdoors? would've been quiet interesting... also a comparision to the rode video micro would be great... but besides this very good video :)
Gotta keep in mind that the preamp on the GH4 is much better than say a Canon Ti series camera. Do you think that these mics would still produce usable audio with a lower quality preamp?
I really like your reviews!
Great video! Looking forward to using my new Takstar! Ordered right after watching ur vid ;)
Really appreciating the videos man. They're a lot of help. I'd love to see a video about audio recorders. I have a Zoom H1 ($100) but there's only one input for a mic and I'd like one with multiple inputs.
The Movo looks to be a generic Chinese model, it is identical to the Boya BY-VM190P even down to the accessories in the box. Not sure what impedance your "mic in " is, or what recording levels you have it set to, but on my Canon DSLR, the +10 dB is deafening. (my levels are set mid way) - There is obviously a difference though as the other mics are definitely louder. The filter on my mic is a low cut (or hi pass) does not really seem to make much difference though. Not bad mics for the money.
Hi! When you showed the eq for your voice I noticed that you don't use low cut. I mean yeah it's set to 30Hz I guess but actually you can not hear frequencies between 20Hz to aprox. 50Hz - you can only "feel" them with your body through bone conduction. Back to my point - there's absolutely no need for frequencies below 50Hz to be heard unless you play bass or synth on huge stage audio system. And for man voice I would recomend cutting the low freqs to 75 or 80Hz for speach and for women at around 100Hz because there's no valuable sounds below those frequencies assuming we still talking about speech. Also with lo cut you can get rid of most wind noises or "poping" with P, B, T letters. I hope it makes sense and I will help somehow! :)
The SGC598 sounded best to me every time.
thx for this i've waited so long for a video like this
We run the takstar for our on the street videos, hasn’t failed us yet.
You're killing it lately... What are the colored lights you're using?
You should have tried htdz-ht81. It's cheap and quite good.
Excellent review comparison.
I think you confused dynamic range and frequency range. Dynamic range is the effective clarity of lower volumes vs. higher volumes and not lower frequencies.
Fanastic videos and great tips. Your sound is exceptional! Do you process your audio after shooting? I find that the Video Mic Pro sounds a little muffled... (DB boost on, Canon 5D3 / M3, preamp all the way down)
interesting test! listening to this on a samsung galaxy s7 edge phone with samsung oem earbuds and no eq on the phone and 1st mic sounded best, 2nd mic sounded muddy, 3rd mic sounded ok. just my results :) thanks for doing the test results for us. cheers. 😎
Another great vid buddy!
Loved the video Caleb! As you probably know, the Rode VideoMicro is also $60 - just like the Movo. My question is: do you recommend the Micro, or the Movo? Really stuck between the two!
Another great video caleb! thank you as always !!
Very helpful for a beginner recorder. Thanks.
If you are making a video in a restaurant kitchen. Where there is no one except the camera and the chef. Which one do u recommend?
You are not an audio engineer but you still did a pretty good job bro. Well done!
That Pixel is a steal.
Sorry novice here im a beginning youtuber. Are any of these good for outdoor interviews
Which is the best cheap mic for canon dslrs
The Pixel MC-50 sounds surprisingly good,much better than the Takstar SGC-598.
Actually the Pixel one is around 10 us dollars cheaper than the takstar one
okay,just get the Pixel one for my a6300
How does one determine when to use the various db settings and the highpass filter?
Hi, first of all amazing video. By the way, which mic you are using for making this video, can you please tell me?
Hi Caleb, thanks for the great videos; they are a tremendous help with my video aspirations. I took your advise and I bought the Movo VXR 4000 Pro. My question is, have you used your Saramonic Smart Rig Plus with the Movo and if so, how did it sound? I am working on a budget and I was wondering if purchasing the Saramonic would be a good idea to use with the Movo. I definitely want to get a Rode and/or a Sennheiser in the near future, but I wanted to know how good the Movo could sound. Thanks for all of the videos. Keep up the great work!
So I have the Takstar and am running into issues I believe is from the mic. I get horrible static (white noise) in different areas of my videos which make them unusable. I am wondering if the mic is faulty or what. I have recorded with on camera mic without issue. Wondering what mic I could get instead .
Very good review. Thank you for sharing!
Takstar, 1 Takstar 2 or Takstar 3, try the dbx plugin on these mics. Rode Takstar ? Might be surprised !
I actually really liked the sound of the Pixel! I was debating if I should get the Takstar since I'll be shooting more group interviews with the mic connected to the boom arm, but still would like some flexibility when I film just myself in front of the camera. What do you think? Takstar of Pixel?
nice video again! We have the takstar as its the cheapest but has great reviews in youtube and in amazon
I currently have the Takstar!
i like these series, Just like the monitor its my budget!
Great video, very helpful in my decision making process
To my ears, this is how I rate them:
1) VideoMic Pro (big difference, but big price tag)
2) Movo VXR4000-PRO
3) Pixel MC-50
4) TAKSTAR SGC-598
Same here, I quite prefer these movo profile which sounds a little bit low.
Hi I have a question what would be the best mic for fast movement ? I got a boya vm01 and I got many of such mic „bumps“ in the recording very anonying. Would bring the rode video micro a better solution ? I need a solution for fast movement and outdoor, most videos I found are only for vlogs indoor
I just started making videos for RUclips using my DLSR but i would like better sound, thanks for this review.
Is the Pixel better than the Rode Video Micro? Just checked the local prices and they cost exactly the same. The camera is a Sony A7II, so I guess the amplifier is decent for non-amplified microphones.
Do you know - just know i was seeing your old last year Nov16 Microphone comparison video for my new canon 80d for vlog Mic, and ur uploaded the new budget mic now... ohhh
Learning polar curves in calc 2: when will I ever use the cardioid graphs?
This video: ...
I know this comment is 4 months old but i get the calc reference. Shit is literally useless.
Thank you for showing me the Movo I love you.
Love it! Good looking
why do you not tested outside, vloging in the road with many noisy Cars.. I hope u make a video comparison of those mics