Sony is a world-famous brand when it comes to audio gear. They make all sorts of audio solutions for all kinds of uses. They have the WH-1000X series of headphones for consumer level high-end noise-cancelling headphones. They make the MDR Z series headphones for audiophiles. If you prefer in-ear earphones, there is the WF-1000X series for consumers looking for the best truly wireless listening experience. You also have the IER series earphones if you prefer a wired audiophile solution. They do not stop at headphones though, they make vinyl players, portable media players, speakers, home theaters, recorders, and even microphones. They are also some of the biggest name in audio specific production work.
For years, the benchmark for studio and production monitoring has been Sony’s MDR-7506 over ear headphones. In fact, Sony’s MDR series monitoring headphones have been setting the standard in studio level monitoring equipment for more than three decades. Now, there is a new one – the MDR MV1.
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Unlike the MDR-7506, the MDR-MV1 offers an open-back design. That means you can expect more natural and cleaner audio response from the headphones, an advantage over closed back designs. Open back headphones also usually offer a more accurate sound reproduction with a wider sound stage, allowing for better and more accurate mixes. There is a small problem of ambient noise though, since there is nothing stopping noise from outside from coming in.
Apart from that accuracy, the MDR-MV1 also offers spatial sound capabilities. For Sony, their spatial sound algorithm is 360 Reality Audio. You can technically use the headphones to mix for Apple’s Spatial Audio and other surround sound implementations. With Hi-Res resolution compatibility, the MDR-MV1 offers a broad depth of monitoring capabilities allowing you to mix all kinds of music accurately. The headphones offer frequency responses between 5Hz all the way to 80kHz, which is more than wide enough for all kinds of sounds, even if you sit in a foley studio instead of a music recording studio.
Unlike older designed Sony MDR monitoring headphones, the MDR-MV1 offers a detachable AUX cable. You can technically use other similar cables, but why would you want to when Sony offers a highly durable high-quality cable with machined connectors. They also re-engineered their earpads with softer materials that is also lightweight so that you can work for much longer without taking off the headphones or hurting your neck and head.
Sony C-80
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Alongside the MDR-MV1 open back monitoring headphone Sony also launched a new microphone made mostly for home recording and podcasts, the Sony C-80.
Sony’s C-80 is not the first microphone Sony makes. They have the C-100 and C-800G, both are aimed at recording studios mostly. The C-80 is more made for prosumers and hobbyist looking to have a professional grade gear in their homes.
The C-80 offers the best of both the C-100 and C-800G microphones. The capsule is derived from the C-100 while the shock-proof two-part metallic body is derived from the C-800G. They also innovated with something they call “Noise Elimination Construction” that prevents the mic from picking up noise from the body’s vibration itself offering a much cleaner sound almost free of noise while recording.
The C-80, like the mics that came before, is made mostly for vocal recordings. That does not mean that you cannot use it for anything other than vocal recording. You can technically use it for recording instruments like guitars. It is also a condenser, so you want to make sure you have mixer with 48v power through its XLR port.
Price and Availability
The Sony MDR-MV1 will be available in May 2023, alongside the C-80. There are no colour options here, so personalizing your headphones and mics will have to come down to your own efforts. The MDR-MV1 will set you back MYR 1,690, which is a little way off from the older MDR-7506. It is supposed to offer a lot more in terms of monitoring and mixing capabilities though. The C-80 will retail at MYR 2,190. More on Sony’s latest MDR-MV1 can be found on their website.
RØDE’s NT1 is quite legendary in the podcasting community. It is Rode’s oldest product namesake and what kickstarted the brand 30 years ago. If you are into recording gear, the Rode NT1 can be likened to the Shure SM58 for podcasters. Unlike the Shure though, the Rode is a condenser.
The latest RØDE NT1 is in its fifth generation now and comes with a few upgrades that makes it a must have for studio works. While some might say that it is a podcasting or radio mic, it can be used for other things like vocal recording too. To some extremes, the condenser can be used to record musical instruments.
You want to use this mic for all sort of recording also because it is the first condenser in the world that offers 32-bit float digital output. That also means that the mic can pick up loud sounds without clipping. For the laymen, that means that you are not going to get any sort of distortion even if you go above the usual threshold that 24-bit recording allows. In production terms, that also means you can capture more nuances in your recordings.
Source: RØDE
Inside the condenser is RØDE’s precision engineered HF6 1-inch large-diaphragm gold-sputtered capsule to capture everything you can throw at it consistently. Because it is a condenser, it is rather sensitive too. In that case, the internal shock mounting should eliminate any unwanted noise or rattles in recording situations. At 4dBA, the RØDE NT1 is also the quietest studio condenser you can find in the world. That means you do not get too much hissing on the mic as you work with it. Alongside the 32-bit float digital output, the audio is recorded at 192KHz resolution, the highest digital resolution you can currently get for audio.
Within the Rode NT1, you can find the built-in DSP for APHEX audio processing. There is also a built-in compressor and noise gate to set certain a floor and ceiling for your recordings with the RØDE NT1. There is also a built-in two-step high-filter and Aural Exciter for even more fine tuning in your recordings.
For the first time ever for RØDE’s NT1 as well, it features both an XLR output alongside a USB output. They call it the Dual Connect output and both outputs exit from the bottom of the mic. This means that you could work with the regular mixer if you already spent on a digital interface. If it is your first NT1, you can save some money on the digital interface and plug it directly into your PC for your recordings. You can even get the NT1 to record at 32-bit float format when you plug it into your PC directly.
Source: RØDE
Source: RØDE
Source: RØDE
Source: RØDE
Source: RØDE
Source: RØDE
The 5th generation RØDE NT1 will be available in either black or silver colour options. It is available for pre-order in select regions. You can check with your local retailers if you want to get your hands on one. It will set you back US$ 249 (MYR 1,103*). As legendary condensers go, the asking price could be a reasonable one. More information on the RØDE NT1 5th generation can be found on their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.43 as of 21/02/2023 on xe.com
If you are into video production, or if you are looking to start your own podcast and streaming career or hobby, you might be familiar with Rode. They are known currently to make some high-quality audio capture products for video and podcasting work at a fraction of the price of what you want to consider as “professional” grade gears. While they have been regarded also as some of the best and most sought-after brand in the world of audio capture for videos and podcasts, they feel like they have not tapped into one market: the gaming industry.
While this was not really a thing 10 years prior, streamers are a thing now. Where there are gamers, there will be streamers in the current video games industry. Of course, Rode must be part of that action. Introducing the Rode X line-up.
Unlike the usual Rode stuff, you get for your video cameras, the Rode X sub-brand does not offer you any regular audio capture hardware you might be used to. You do not get a mixer, or a mic with XLR output. You instead get a software solution to accompany USB connected mics for your PC.
In a way, this makes high-quality podcast type mics a lot more accessible to aspiring streamers. USB type connection also makes the technology a lot simpler to work with. Users do not need an inherent knowledge on operating the traditional audio capture gears like a mixing console, getting digital outputs to work with their PC, or even choosing between dynamic and condenser type mics. You simply plug the mics in, and you are ready to go, almost.
Instead of a physical mixing console, you get UNIFY, Rode’s proprietary software for the Rode X range of devices. Via UNIFY, users can fine tune their mics to their own desired qualities, make themselves sound good, or at least to levels and qualities they are happy with. There is a built-in high-pass filter mode, APHEX Aural Exciter, and Big Bottom within the software itself for you to have complete control over your voice.
They also say that the UNIFY PC app also simplifies audio routing, mixing, and processing. We are guessing that this could also mean that the app might be able to support multiple Rode X mic inputs at the same time on a single PC, which is always a blessing since Windows’ audio routing is rather frustrating with multiple inputs.
XCM-50 – Simply Plug, and Play
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
The simplest mic to work with in their stables is the XCM-50. While this is their entry-level product, Rode says that it still offers professional grade sound quality with features made for gamers and streamers. It is not just made for streaming purposes; it is also made for gamers that are looking to up their team chat quality.
It is a condenser type microphone, which also means it needs power. It gets it from the USB type-C port from the back of the device to be connected to a USB port on your PC. If you need to hear yourself, or even hear whatever you want to hear on your PC, there is a dedicated 3.5mm AUX jack for you to plug into. That also means that the condenser mic is not just your regular input mic, it is also your external DAC, sort of.
It is designed to pick up your voice and only your voice. The cardioid polar pattern can be quite narrow, and you need to be speaking directly into it for it to pick up. That also means that it is going to reject most of the noise that is around you to ensure that your teammates or audiences hear only you and not the noise your cat makes beside you. There is also an internal pop filter already so you do not need to get another that will get into your face.
XDM-100 – Professional and Natural
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
If you are more familiar with audio gear, and just want to have the best type of voice for your multiplayer gaming, streaming, and podcasting purposes, then you go for the more premium XDM-100. It is larger than the entry-level condenser, which is quite normal for a dynamic mic. You also get an input volume control knob alongside a 3.5mm AUX jack for your headphone output.
Because dynamic mics are passive mics, they tend to sound a lot more natural than condenser mics, and this holds true for the XDM-100. Since it tends to be less sensitive than condensers, you generally want the mic to be closer to you. That way, it naturally cancels out noise that is further out from its central pick-up area. It naturally rejects keyboard noises and mouse clicks, for example. With built in pop filter, you are going to sound good however you speak.
The mic has built-in pre-amp, which is rather necessary for dynamic mics. That also means that it offers high-quality 24-bit/48kHz audio for that crisp and natural radio voice. Of course, you also get high-pass filter, APHEX Aural Exciter, and Big Bottom like the XCM-50. The UNIFY app also allows you to set a noise gate just to make sure that your streams are free of noise.
Price and Availability
The Rode X XCM-50 and XDM-100 are now available for purchase, but only in select regions. There is no specific local availability (Malaysia) mentioned. The XCM-50 will set you back US$ 149 (MYR*) while the XDM-100 is available for US$ 249 (MYR*). They are not exactly cheap, but they are significantly more accessible than full-on professional-grade podcasting set-ups. While they are only available in select regions, we are also confident that you might be able to get your hands on one or pre-order one from your favourite resellers (audio and video gear stores) in Malaysia. More on the Rode X can be found on their website
They say that a good audio adds a whole lot of value to your videos. They also say that even if your video looks bad, your audio can more than make up for it. It does sound counterintuitive, but it can be quite true.
While it is true that the first thing that should stand out in a video is the visuals itself, bad audio can destroy a perfectly good video experience. Audio is one of the most underrated tools in a video production that people sometimes do not pay too much attention to it, especially when it is good. When it is bad though, you just cannot bear to watch the video for too long because the audio just annoys you.
Audio gear is not exactly cheap or straightforward to work with though. Cheap solutions are out there, but they usually come with a whole slew of compromises that makes you think twice about using them sometimes, especially cables. Cabled set-ups, while are some of the most reliable and easily the best sounding while remaining relatively cheap to work with, is rather restrictive. That is also why plenty of productions have preferred to work with wireless microphone systems.
Source: DJI
There are plenty of good choices out there too in this department. One of the most popular choices out there is made by RODE. Plenty have also sort of followed suite in the same form factor. All of them are similar kits too with one receiver and two mic transmitter combos. Each item must be charged individually and kept separately though. There are a few risks to that, obviously.
What if you can just put them in a single place, and charge them simultaneously? What if you can just work with them like most true wireless earbuds now? They are sort of the same thing are they not?
Oddly enough, the first manufacturer that does this is not RODE or Shure. It is DJI with their new DJI MIC. DJI should not be an unfamiliar name to content creators at this point. They make some of the most interesting video recording hardware to date. A lot of them are also targeted to independent and small-time content creators. Most of them are video recording gears though, not really audio recording dedicated items until the DJI MIC.
It is a unique product, this DJI MIC. It will set you back US$ 329 (MYR 1,386*), which is just a little bit more expensive than the RODE Wireless Go II. It is a little smaller than the RODE alternatives. In concept, they work similarly. But there is one fundamental difference between the two. The DJI can be charged on a single platform and that single platform also works as their battery extenders, very much like true wireless headphones today.
Source: DJI
Obviously, coming from DJI, it also comes with a slew of adapters for maximum recording flexibility. There is a USB Type-C adapter and a Lightning adapter that comes with the set if you prefer to shoot with your smartphones. Because it is made primarily with DSLRs to mind, of course it comes with a hot shoe mount adapter and a matching 3.5mm audio cable.
According to DJI, the audio is transmitted via 2.4GHz frequency band that allows audio to be transmitted to the receiver from up to 250m away, which also means long lens shooting is not out of the question. DJI’s clever technologies have also ensured that the signals are free of interference for when your shoot locations get busy.
DJI also says that the entire package allows you to record videos at up to 15 hours in total (5 + 10 from charging case). That means that an entire day worth of shoot will be a non-issue with the DJI MIC. You are not going to be shooting five hours at a time as well, so you are not going to need to worry about the MIC running out of battery. If you need to, you can also record audio directly on to the receiver itself at up to 14 hours, either for backup, or when you are recording a podcast outside.
The DJI MIC is available now in select regions. As mentioned, it will set you back US$ 329. It is not officially available in Malaysia just yet. You can pre-order it in Malaysia for MYR 1,599. For more information on the DJI MIC, you can visit their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.21 on xe.com as of 05/04/2022
We were planning to review this item on video. The problem was our studio had to close because of the Pandemic. It is now a written review instead.
There is a reason why we wanted to review the Razer Seiren Mini on video though. We technically can use it as our audio input for the video, completely using the audio recorded from the Razer Seiren Mini as our voice over for the video. Why? Because it made sense.
The Razer Seiren Mini is not necessarily a new product segment for Razer though. They had the Razer Seiren X before this, a big mic thing that Razer made for streamers. That USB mic received plenty of praises for being one really good mic especially for streamers.
It was a little big though. Then again, having a big mic is not really an issue when you have a streaming set up at home. Having a big mic is never really touted as an issue at all for streamers.
So, what is the Razer Seiren Mini? Why would anyone buy this little mic if they could just get the adult sized Razer Seiren? Is it even something you should consider?
Design
It comes in three colour shades; it comes in plain black, solid white, and even pink. There are no green mics though; quite odd considering this is Razer we are talking about. But at least the black is universal enough that it does not look like it is out of place on the video. If you want a little bit of a flavour, the pink should fit your style nicely. Keep in mind that it does not taste like cotton candy though, it tastes metallic.
Literal taste aside though, the whole package of the Razer Seiren Mini is rather unassuming. The capsule looking body with mic does not look like it is made to impress anyone. The whole package comes with its own mini legs too, which is nice, because that means you do not need to get a separate mic stand for it. It is easy to set up too because the mic uses a proper, regular mic stand ¾-inch thread. There are two standard mic holder thread though, so do check properly.
In some ways, it looks cute because it is just so tiny, and light. It looks and feels durable too, and that is the best part because we think that users might use this mic as a portable mic set-up as well. At least, that is also what Razer is selling this product as, a “portable mini microphone”. The only missing thing from the whole package, in that case, is a carrying case for the mic.
Hardware
Inside this tiny capsule is a 14mm super cardioid condenser. Which also means it is not a passive type of dynamic mic that words by just plugging it into an amp or mixer; you need power. At the same time, you cannot plug this into any XLR, or ¼” jack though. It is a USB Type-C mic that also draws its power from the PC it is connected to.
Specifications
Sample Rate
44.1 KHz – 48 KHz
Microphone
14mm Super Cardioid Condenser Built-in Shock Mounting
Frequency Response
20 Hz – 20 KHz
Power
5V 500mA Via Micro USB
Sensitivity
17.8 mV/Pa (1 KHz)
Max SPL
110 dB
Features
While the mic does not look like much, there is quite a lot of things packed into the small capsule mic though. It is a USB Type-C mic, which also means it is a simple plug and play now. The USB port is designed to sort of hide the cable connection and make the whole capsule look whole. There is some clever surprise inside the capsule body as well.
Flush USB Plug and Play
Micro USB is not necessarily new in electronics. The difference between this one mic with other mics of its type is how they hide the cable. Well, they did not really hide the cable, just the fact that they made it seem like the cable is a part of the mic capsule itself. Of course, they colour match the cables too.
Razer does not just give you a regular looking USB cable for you to connect to your Razer Serine mini and calls it a day. They made an effort to properly design a USB cable head that matches and sits flush with the body of your Razer Seiren Mini.
While it is a plug and play mic solution, it is not Razer Synapse compatible unfortunately. That can be a good thing too though; it just works. To control the volume, you just go to Windows audio settings and sort it out. All you have to do is figure out the best place to put your mic and you can get streaming, podcasting, and even use it in your video conference.
Super Cardioid Condenser
Source: Razer
What you get inside the capsule mic, as mentioned before, is a 14mm super cardioid condenser. A condenser cannot work without a power source, unlike dynamic mics. There are advantages to dynamic mics compared to condensers. For example, on a dynamic mic, you get cleaner audio and it is simple to work with. Dynamic mics are known to be durable as well, just find a studio and ask them for their oldest Shure SM58 mic, ask them how old it is, and you will understand why.
Condensers have their own advantages as well though. Condensers tend to be a lot more sensitive than dynamic mics. Heightened sensitivity allows you to place the mic further away from you or have more control over sensitivity depending on where you place the mic. But that also means that you have more freedom to place your mic in different locations and positions to pick up different sounds like ambient noise and such. On top of that, condensers can be a lot more compact than dynamic mics.
Super cardioid refers to its pickup pattern which centers mostly at its front and a little bit at the back. It is a tighter pattern compared to a general cardioid mic though which also means that it will be a lot less sensitive to noise and sounds from the sides of the mic. Which also means you really want to point the front of the mic toward the source of the sound you want being picked up, you. At least that is straight forward enough to do; the front of the mic is where the power indication LED and RAZER branding is.
Built-in Shock Mount
Because condensers are also more sensitive, every little bump and shake can be picked up by the mic. That is why shock mounting is important when you get a condenser. That was our concern as well when we picked up this little Seiren Mini. Fortunately, Razer thought of that and figured out a way to fit a shock mount into the capsule, and it works. You still hear knocks on the mic, obviously, but when you place it on the table, knocks and bumps on the table is hardly heard through the mic, unless it is a hard knock. If you are using a boom arm and accidentally brushed or knocked your hands against the boom arm, the shock is also hardly heard through the mic. You only head knocks and bumps very clearly if you are bumping or knocking against the mic directly.
Tilting Stand
We will not call this the best quality tilting stand that you can find in the market. We are going to say that this is a good mic stand for your Razer Seiren Mini though. The best part about it is that you can use it with other mics or mic holders with standard mic stand threads. That also means that you can technically use different mic with a standard mic holder, and it works too. Although, you do want to make sure that you either balance the weight properly or that the mic is not too heavy to work with; dynamic mics like the Shure SM58 should be fine.
It is made with plastic mostly, even the base is covered with plastic material. Excluding the mic, there are two parts to the stand that comes standard with your Razer Seiren Mini. You get a base with a tilting thread, and a plastic stem that adapts the base to the mic because the thread on the base is a smaller standard thread. The base also comes with an anti-slip foam at the bottom to grip ensure that it does not get to move too much on your desk. The foam bottom also helps eliminate micro vibrations from your desk, which is a bonus in getting cleaner sound from you.
Performance
When you talk about the performance of a mic though, its sound quality and reproduction is everything. The thing is, specific mics serves different purposes in its design though. Mics like the Seiren Mini is really built for streamers and podcasting. That also means that it should deliver that ‘radio voice’ quality over voice chats and when you are recording a podcast, or in video calls.
Audio Quality and Reproduction
First of all, before you start thinking about downloading software solutions from Razer to control the mic, forget it. Even Razer’s synapse does not recognise the device. That also means that Razer’s own apps will not control the mic’s pickup. There are no physical buttons to the mic either, which also means you have to go into Windows 10’s or MacOS’s sound settings and control the mic sensitivity there.
No complains on that though, because it is simple enough to get to Windows audio settings and set the mic to default to the Razer Seiren Mini, set the volumes correctly in different use cases and just leave it from there. In most cases, we leave our mics to 100% sensitivity in Windows settings, especially when we tuck the mic further away from us (about 0.5m away from the mouth).
When we do our podcast though, we stuck the mic closer to our mouths and lowered the sensitivity on Window itself because the mic is now that much closer to our mouths to the point that we are almost kissing the mic. Here we find a problem with the Razer Seiren Mini. It does not have a pop-filter and Razer does not sell a Seiren Mini specific pop-filter too. That results in pops when we say things like “pick”, or “ping”, or “pack”. It is easily corrected by buying a generic pop-filter though. You only have to worry about mounting the stuff.
The audio you get from the mic is quite remarkable though. You get the same sort of sound signature with the bigger Seiren X from this little capsule. That also means a crisp voice with very clear mid-frequencies and low frequencies for great and clear voice. That also means your teammates or audience can hear you very clearly. Just be sure that nothing else is making noise behind you though, since it is a condenser.
Of course, you need to be the judge of the sound quality that the Razer Seiren Mini reproduces for you too. So, we have included a few voice clips for you to listen to. We used Adobe Audition to record all sample sound tracks.
The Razer Seiren Mini – Portable Goodness in Value for Money Package
You can get your hands on the Razer Seiren Mini at MYR 249 from Razer’s official store on Shopee, or their own online store. If you really look through Shopee, you can get a Seiren Mini for even lower prices. There are three colours to choose from as well with the Razer Seiren Mini – Quartz, Mercury, and Black. We do suggest the Black for a more professional and cleaner look.
Still, if you do want to spice up your set up a little bit, the white coloured mercury colour scheme looks great too. While we are not fans of the pink Quarts colour scheme, we do think that there are plenty who would like that colour option too. Whatever it is, the colour options do give a little more freedom for expression, we think.
While we would like to see USB Type-C replacing Micro USB on the Razer Seiren Mini, there is nothing much wrong with Micro USB. A lot of older USB devices still work nicely. Plenty of audio interfaces in the market are still relying on USB Type-B ports too. With the provided cable anyway, the connection is secure and reliable.
At the same price with the Razer Seiren Mini, there are other solutions like HyperX’s Solocast USB microphone. The Solocast does come with a nice built-in stand that looks extremely sturdy. The mic is also taller and a little bigger than the Razer Seiren Mini. Because of that though, it is a little more cumbersome, less portable. When connected to your PC, the USB cable sticks out like a sore thumb too, which could be less appealing in terms of cable management. The HyperX Solocast does have a touch sensitive ‘mute’ button though, while the Razer Seiren Mini does not.
Thing is, recommending the Razer Seiren Mini is really easy for us. At its price, it is hard to find a compelling enough mic that boasts the same quality and features. It is also a relatively economical and simple way to increase the audio quality of your conference calls and even streams. Because it is so small, you can easily throw it in your bag and set up anywhere and anytime.
