Rode-Video Mic disapointment at DVinfo.net

Jay Cowley · July 30th, 2007, 11:07 PM

I purchased a Rode Video-Mic expecting to be able to make use of it's built on shock-mount.

I have my boom pole mounted to it, but regardless, it still picks up the sounds of the boom pole, ie if you tap the boom pole, this is picked up in the recording.

What exactly is the purpose of the supposed shock mount on this mic, I was under the assumption it was to eliminated noise from the attached camera or boompole

Douglas Spotted Eagle · July 30th, 2007, 11:33 PM

it's a shock mount, which makes it shock-resistant, not shock-proof.
Virtually any boompole will transmit sound from the pole to the cable or shockmount or mic directly if given enough vibration to pass on. The idea is to minimize the transmitted vibration or kill it if it's small enough. Some boom poles are very noisy, others are silent. Then there is the cable. Then there is the operator. Any of the above can cause noise to be transmitted.
Lightly tap the boompole with a fingerpad, you'll likely not hear it, or hear very little of it in the mic. Tap it with a fingernail, you'll likely hear it just fine. Tap it with a key, wedding band, or other metallic object, you'll likely hear it nearly as well as if there was no rubber.
That said, there are shockmounts, and then there are SHOCKMOUNTS.
It's all in the $$ that you spend. For the $, the Rode is a very good tool, but it's no where near a professional mount.

Zach Mull · July 31st, 2007, 10:48 AM

I was just about to post a related question. How much noise does come from the boom pole and cable, respectively? Can a great shock mount negate the effects of a noisy boom pole? How much depends on the sensitivity of the mic?

I just got a K-tek aluminum pole (KE-110CC) with an internal coiled cable, and I've been having an awful amount of noise when I use it with my ME-66. I have a cheap Beyerdynamic tube-style shock mount, and when I was recording into either a DVX-100B or Pro Tools LE through an MBox (both on 48v phantom), I was hearing awful noise from the slightest movements all the way up to 250 Hz. Then I tried it in the K-SM mount that I got the week before, and I could still hear the noise - virtually no difference from the Beyerdynamic mount. I didn't think it was cable noise because I could hear it even with tiny movements, and it was no different with the cable extended to its full reach. I got less noise (but still too much) with the Oktava MK-012 I got along with the K-SM mount, and I know the Oktava is a cheap mic that's notorious for sensitivity to handling noise. Any ideas what this means? Is the boom pole noisy? Is the ME-66 too sensitive to handling noise? I have heard many complaints about the ME-66 in the 5 years I've had it, all of which I've found are true, but I never heard anything about handling noise, and I never had any problem with it before. I've also had great luck with K-tek poles from rental kits (mostly KE-89s), and basically everyone I know uses K-tek. Any suggestions on how I could fix this problem? Where should I look to fix it (pole, mount, mic, myself, etc.)?

Giroud Francois · July 31st, 2007, 10:51 AM

first mount foam bike grips on your boom pole
http://www.amazon.com/Foam-Scooter-G...5900379&sr=1-7

Join the shock mount and pole with http://www.midatlanticrubber.com/prod_2.htm
(or better if made from silicon)
cable running inside the pole are a nightmare, better to tape a straight one outside.
do not let the cable run directly on the floor, make sure it goes on the belt of the boom guy first.

Zach Mull · July 31st, 2007, 12:56 PM

Thanks for the suggestions Giroud. That rubber insert for the tip of the pole is really interesting.

But really, foam bike grips? I've only worked around 4 or 5 professional mixers and boom ops, but not one of them used foam grips. I've read that some boom ops wear gloves, but again, I haven't seen it yet. Several of the people I've worked with have also used internally cabled poles, and I've used them before without a problem (although they were in poles 1-2 feet shorter than the KE-110CC).

I did try using an external cable with my pole, and it didn't make a difference. I admit that I did not have it running through my belt - I can try that.

July 30th, 2007, 11:07 PM	#1
Jay Cowley Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Niagara, Ontario Posts: 141	Rode-Video Mic disapointment I purchased a Rode Video-Mic expecting to be able to make use of it's built on shock-mount. I have my boom pole mounted to it, but regardless, it still picks up the sounds of the boom pole, ie if you tap the boom pole, this is picked up in the recording. What exactly is the purpose of the supposed shock mount on this mic, I was under the assumption it was to eliminated noise from the attached camera or boompole

July 30th, 2007, 11:33 PM	#2
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	it's a shock mount, which makes it shock-resistant, not shock-proof. Virtually any boompole will transmit sound from the pole to the cable or shockmount or mic directly if given enough vibration to pass on. The idea is to minimize the transmitted vibration or kill it if it's small enough. Some boom poles are very noisy, others are silent. Then there is the cable. Then there is the operator. Any of the above can cause noise to be transmitted. Lightly tap the boompole with a fingerpad, you'll likely not hear it, or hear very little of it in the mic. Tap it with a fingernail, you'll likely hear it just fine. Tap it with a key, wedding band, or other metallic object, you'll likely hear it nearly as well as if there was no rubber. That said, there are shockmounts, and then there are SHOCKMOUNTS. It's all in the $$ that you spend. For the $, the Rode is a very good tool, but it's no where near a professional mount. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

July 31st, 2007, 10:48 AM	#3
Zach Mull Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 273	I was just about to post a related question. How much noise does come from the boom pole and cable, respectively? Can a great shock mount negate the effects of a noisy boom pole? How much depends on the sensitivity of the mic? I just got a K-tek aluminum pole (KE-110CC) with an internal coiled cable, and I've been having an awful amount of noise when I use it with my ME-66. I have a cheap Beyerdynamic tube-style shock mount, and when I was recording into either a DVX-100B or Pro Tools LE through an MBox (both on 48v phantom), I was hearing awful noise from the slightest movements all the way up to 250 Hz. Then I tried it in the K-SM mount that I got the week before, and I could still hear the noise - virtually no difference from the Beyerdynamic mount. I didn't think it was cable noise because I could hear it even with tiny movements, and it was no different with the cable extended to its full reach. I got less noise (but still too much) with the Oktava MK-012 I got along with the K-SM mount, and I know the Oktava is a cheap mic that's notorious for sensitivity to handling noise. Any ideas what this means? Is the boom pole noisy? Is the ME-66 too sensitive to handling noise? I have heard many complaints about the ME-66 in the 5 years I've had it, all of which I've found are true, but I never heard anything about handling noise, and I never had any problem with it before. I've also had great luck with K-tek poles from rental kits (mostly KE-89s), and basically everyone I know uses K-tek. Any suggestions on how I could fix this problem? Where should I look to fix it (pole, mount, mic, myself, etc.)?

July 31st, 2007, 10:51 AM	#4
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	first mount foam bike grips on your boom pole http://www.amazon.com/Foam-Scooter-G...5900379&sr=1-7 Join the shock mount and pole with http://www.midatlanticrubber.com/prod_2.htm (or better if made from silicon) cable running inside the pole are a nightmare, better to tape a straight one outside. do not let the cable run directly on the floor, make sure it goes on the belt of the boom guy first.

July 31st, 2007, 12:56 PM	#5
Zach Mull Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 273	Thanks for the suggestions Giroud. That rubber insert for the tip of the pole is really interesting. But really, foam bike grips? I've only worked around 4 or 5 professional mixers and boom ops, but not one of them used foam grips. I've read that some boom ops wear gloves, but again, I haven't seen it yet. Several of the people I've worked with have also used internally cabled poles, and I've used them before without a problem (although they were in poles 1-2 feet shorter than the KE-110CC). I did try using an external cable with my pole, and it didn't make a difference. I admit that I did not have it running through my belt - I can try that.