Comparing microphones

Microphones for Screencasting Part 3

Comparing Microphones ~

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, I discussed the relative merits and limitations of the three major classes of microphones that are relevant to screencasting. They are:

  • Lavalier/Lapel
  • Shotgun
  • Broadcast or studio

I thought I’d conclude this series of posts with recordings made with each class of microphone. I didn’t have access to a broadcast or studio mic so I used the closest match – a stage microphone.

The three microphones I used to make this comparison video are:

  • Rode Lavalier GO, a lavalier microphone, that was plugged into the transmitter unit of the Rode Wireless GO II. The Lavalier GO is a condenser microphone with an omnidirectional polar pattern.
  • Rode NTG2, a shotgun microphone that has a condenser capsule and a supercardioid polar pattern
  • Beyerdynamic XM8500, a stage microphone that has a dynamic capsule and a cardioid polar pattern

Please refer to parts 1 and 2 for more information about each class of microphones.

Here’s my video with recordings made with each of the above microphones. Also, it’s best to use headphones if you want to hear the differences.