Review by Cosmo for Azden High-performance(SMX-10) Stereo Condenser …

Comment posted Azden High-performance(SMX-10) Stereo Condenser Microphone by Cosmo.

Review by Cosmo for Azden High-performance(SMX-10) Stereo Condenser Microphone
Rating:
I’ve had the mic for two weeks now and I’m using it w/a Canon HV30 and a NRG 59111 bracket. In quiet shooting situations, the mic will pick up a lot of motor noise if mounted directly to the camera; this is normal. The bracket suspends the mic about 5″ above the camera and motor noise pickup is eliminated. The supplied windscreen does a pretty good job. I would prefer if there was a “power on” LED to serve as a reminder to shut the mic off but that would just draw power too. I understand the rationale behind not having one, but want one anyway. The mic cord is NOT detachable as shown in the picture. Maybe newer versions are, but the one I received does not detach. The shockmount is not that great. The upper/lower parts of the mount are connected by hard rubber squares. So, it’s not really “shock mounted” but more of a “dampened mounted.” Some handling noise/tapping the camera will be picked up by the mic. This is due to the “not really a shockmount” shockmount.

That said, I’m very happy with it. Note: This is not a shotgun mic, so don’t expect to pickup conversation-level sound from 30 feet away. This mic is a true stereo mic and outputs two distinct L/R channel. This mic beats the pants off the stock in-camera mics in every way. There is much more clarity as compared to the stock mic. The best way to describe it is that with the stock mics, all the sounds are “mixed together and indistinct.” Whereas with the SMX-10 each sound “stands out from all the others.” Frequency response is also better with the SMX-10; I find there is a lot more high-end frequency information in recordings made with it vs. stock.

The mic is very light, not too long (doesn’t hang over the front of the camera) and the cord is of the coiled variety so it doesn’t hang all over the place. It’s designed very well. Body is all-aluminum and very solid feeling. Switches are recessed into the body of the mic, so it would be very difficult to accidently slide them one way or the other. There really isn’t anything else in it’s price range that is better. Another option/very popular video mic is the Rode Stereo Videomic, but it is literally 2x the price and twice the size. I took a chance with the SMX-10 and am very happy with my purchase.

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