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32-Bit Float

REC. SETTINGS

ON

REC. LOWCUT

N/A

REC. LIMITER

N/A

REC. LEVEL

AUX. SETTINGS

N/A

AUX. BASS

N/A

AUX. HIGH-LOW

FULL

AUX. OUTPUT

MIC. SETTINGS

N/A

MIC. LOWCUT

N/A

MIC. HIGH PASS

N/A

MIC. BOOST

(RFI) RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE

?

LESS THAN

1.1ft / 0.34m

?

BETWEEN
1.1ft / 0.34m -2.2ft / 0.67m 

?

BETWEEN
2.2ft / 0.67m -3.3ft / 1m

BETWEEN
3.3ft / 1m -4.4ft / 1.34m

Published: 

February 4, 2023 at 5:11:17 AM

 REAL  RATINGS

After testing each microphone, I like to know if it sounds realistic (accurate lows/bass, mids, highs/treble) in combination with the recorder and/or AUX. amplifier, to see if it needs EQ.

Catching a Wave

LOWS/BASS

?

 DO THE "LOWS" SOUND REAL? 

Song Notes

MIDS

?

 DO THE "MIDS" SOUND REAL? 

A woman singing in a record studio

HIGHS/TREBLE

?

 DO THE "HIGHS" SOUND REAL? 

NOTES:


AUX. SETTINGS:
1. I'm using the Comica CVM-D03 Dual Lavalier as an AUX. AMP
2. The mic is plugged into the AUX. AMP (into Mic 1 or 2)
3. The AUX. AMP is set to MONO ("M")
4. The AUX. AMP is set to FULL (on the dial)
5. The AUX. AMP sends (VIA 3.5 AUX. cable) from OUTPUT port to Zoom F2 (audio recorder) INPUT

"PROXIMITY" SPECIFIC:
This is a 32-bit float recorder (the Zoom F2) so you really don't have to change settings when moving from one "proximity" (recording distance) to another (even the "AFAR" proximity). The only thing you COULD change is turning the REC. LOWCUT on/off. When using the "CLOSE" proximity INDOORS, you don't really need the LOWCUT to reduce bumps and/or wind noise from being in an outdoor environment, but I'm leaving it ON because I sometimes use "CLOSE" outdoors as well (either for narration or nat. sound capture) it works best for me to have the same settings for both. It does lack a little bit of BASS with the REC. LOWCUT on however, so I will need to create a custom EQ for each proximity.

Note that REC. LOWCUT can only be activated in Zoom app (and only on the Bluetooth version of the F2).

The way I'm using this mic is a bit different than it was designed. I'm plugging it into the Comica CVM-D03 Dual Lavalier booster pack (which was designed to provide plug-in power for 2 Comica lavalier mics) and it actually works to power AND boost the Rode VideoMicro, which improves the audio quality a lot compared to just plugging this mic into the Zoom F2. I did try that as well, and while it does sort of work, because you can raise the level of the 32-bit float file in post-production, but it sounds way, way better (at ALL proximities) when using the Comica CVM-D03 as an AUX. amplifier (see my settings above).

BACKGROUND:
This was the first mini (camera-top) shotgun mic I purchased, and I almost got rid of it for a number of reasons. The first reason I didn't like this mic was that it does not have its own power (it takes power from the device it's plugged into). The second reason I didn't like it, was that I also like to plug mics into headphone amplifiers (sometimes) to boost the level when needed, this mic couldn't do that because it requires that plug-in power (and the headphone amplifier isn't supplying that). Other mics have a similar problem (the Diety D3 Pro) but for a different reason. They have "smart" power, which means they only turn on when they sense it's plugged into a camera!

IN THE FUTURE:
I have another strange idea that might be fun, and that's to get another one of these, and run 2 of them into that booster TO CREATE A STEREO PAIR OF MICS (yet the Zoom F2 doesn't capture stereo, so it would already be mixed to MONO, but it would still gather audio from 2 mics, and could sound really good.

 

Keep in mind, these settings will not establish the exact level you'll need for every scene (where the audio level "bounces" around -12) but my goal is to provide a good starting point (that comes out clean, after boosting in post). It's also important to use these "recommended settings" for my microphone-specific EQ files to work properly (they won't work as intended if any of the "audio variables" are different). The EQ file was created to correct any sonic imperfections of the microphone or wind protection (foam, furry) and have been created with Audacity (the free audio editor) to make them as affordable as possible. Also, it's important to always monitor (accurate headphones) your audio while recording so you can hear any problems and make any changes needed to your audio.

GAFFER TAPE SUPPLIED BY
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