The podcast mic market is booming. As the popularity of podcasts continues to grow, the demand for high quality microphones grows alongside it.
This is great news for those looking to start up a podcast, or even improve upon one already running.
With so many different choices out there, it can sometimes seem like choosing a microphone is a daunting task.
However, with some research and consideration, you can find yourself picking up a mic that suits your needs perfectly.
In this article, we’re taking a look at the Rode PodMic, a compact, affordable option that offers a lot of power without breaking the bank.
In this review, we’ll also look at how we tested the shock mount; a handy feature for stable recording.
What Is It?
The Rode PodMic is an affordable dynamic microphone designed specifically for podcasters and voice actors.
With a built-in pop filter and mount, it’s perfect for capturing audio while traveling or recording in noisy environments.
Compared to the Procaster microphone, the PodMic has a more focused sound with tighter bass response, as well as a more consistent low frequency noise response across its entire range.
The PodMic also offers low headroom and is ideal for users who want to record in less than perfect acoustic environments without having to worry about clipping or distortion.
For those looking for a professional level mic, the Rode PodMic offers great value.
Microphones Performance
The Rode PodMic is a small handheld microphone designed to work well with iOS devices.
First off, this mic isn’t meant to replace the larger and heavier Shure MV7 or Sennheiser EW100.
Instead, it’s intended to serve as a smaller alternative for those looking for something portable, easy to use, and affordable.
I tested the PodMic against the Shure MV7 and Sennheiser EW 100. Both microphones are great options for mobile audio capture, but the Rode PodMic offers better sound quality while being easier to carry around.
In particular, the Rode PodMic is very light, weighing less than half of what the Shure MV7 weighs. On top of that, the Rode Podmic is a lot cheaper than both of those options.
When paired with an iPhone 7 Plus, the Rode Pod Mic sounded better than either of the other two options.
The sound of the Rode PodMic is better than the Shure MV7. But, it’s important to note that the Rode PodMic sounds just fine without an iPhone.
If you’re looking for a solid option for capturing audio on the go, the Rode PodMic is a good choice.
Testing Noise Rejection
If you’ve ever tried to record podcasts in a noisy environment and less than-ideal microphone position, you’ll know how hard it is to hear yourself over ambient noise.
There are many ways around this problem, including having a microphone stand near a window, but sometimes those aren’t possible. In that case, we recommend testing out microphones under different conditions.
For example, you could test in a quiet office, a noisy home office, and a loud restaurant.
For this test the level came out at -24dB RMS with the noise floor sitting at -63.3 dB RMS. This isn’t terrible considering the fact that I’m standing in a small apartment.
However, if you’re trying to record in a larger space, you might want to consider boosting your audio up to -14 LUFS.
Plosives Testing
The PodMic is advertised as being able to handle any type of vocalization. This includes yelling, screaming, singing, humming, whispering, etc. In the testing, there was no difference in quality at different distances.
However, it did seem like the mic picked up some high frequency sounds at close range. You can test this by playing a recording saying “ahhh”.
At six inches away, you should clearly hear the AHHH sound.
The reason for this is because the microphone is actually designed to pick up the air escaping around the mouth rather than just focusing on the voice itself.
However, this doesn’t mean that the mic won’t capture your voice perfectly at a distance.
The best way to use the PodMic is to hang it loosely off of your chest while speaking into it. This allows the speaker to breathe naturally and makes the most out of the mic’s capabilities.
Testing Off-Axis
In this test, we recorded a few different types of music including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, drums, vocals, and bass.
In each case, the sound quality was excellent with a wide frequency response and good definition across the spectrum.
While the PodMic did produce some low frequencies, it was never boomy or harsh. The overall tonal balance was pleasing throughout the entire range.
The PodMic is very forgiving when used off axis. Moving away from the center of the capsule caused a significant reduction in volume, however, when the mic was placed closer to the speaker cone, the sound became much louder.
Overall, the Rode PodMic performed well in every application tested. It produced clear, detailed recordings with a pleasant tonality.
Shock Mount Test
I’m sure many of us have had our microphones fall off a table or desk while recording. Sure, there are some great shock mounts out there but sometimes, you just want something simple and effective.
Enter the Rode PodMic shock mount.
This mount is designed to fit snugly onto the PodMic, making sure it doesn’t move or fall off your desk. External vibrations reduces rumble and other noise that usually get picked up when recording – perfect if you want to make sure your audio comes out sounding its best.
The Rode PodMic shock mount also makes setup a breeze. You just need to clip it onto the microphone and then screw it into place. There’s no need for any tools or complicated adjustments – you’ll be ready to record in minutes.
Rode’s PodMic’s perfect suspension mount is designed to protect your microphone from damage due to dropping it during use.
It features a rubberized base plate that keeps the microphone steady on flat surfaces like desks and tables.
There’s no need to worry about damaging the microphone either because the mount is completely enclosed within the pod. As far as I know, this is the only shock mount that does this.
The shock mount was tested with the Rode PodMic both inside and outside of the mount. The mount works perfectly fine without being encased within the PodMic itself.
In fact, the mount worked even better outside of the PodMic. If you’re looking for protection against drops, this is definitely the perfect suspension shock mount to check out.
Conclusion
The Rode PodMic is a good investment if you’re looking for an easy to use, versatile microphone. It has a nice design and performs well in all applications.
For those who are looking for more control over their audio, then the PodMic may not be for you.
If you’re looking to record vocals, acoustic instruments, or anything else where you don’t need a lot of control over the sound, then the PodMic will work.
