Review on 🎙️ Synco Authorized Shotgun Microphone - SYNCO Mic D2 Hyper Cardioid Directional Condenser Mic with XLR Connector, Professional Video and Audio Recording for Camcorders, Boom Poles, and Tripods by Russ Mashlan

First of all, this review was written from a voice over point of view. I have no experience with this mic on a boom or with a camera so look elsewhere for this information. But if you plan on using it in your home studio for voice over recording, read on! Most people compare this mic to the Sennheiser 416, a very popular voice-over mic, but I don't own either. If you want to see a great comparison between the two, check out Booth Junkie on YouTube. What I have is the Rode NT2A, another popular voice-over mic, albeit in the mid-range ($400). This isn't a review of Rode, but to give you an idea of what I think of Synco, let me tell you what I like and dislike about Rode, why I wanted Synco to replace it, and how Synco fits in . Advantages of the Rode NT2A: Very low inherent noise, very clear sound Disadvantages of the Rode NT2A: Too bright for my taste, the microphone is large and obtrusive, which makes it difficult to read text. My main motivation for getting the Synco was to have an unobtrusive microphone so I could read my copies more easily. Of course I also wanted it to sound as good or even better than the Rode and also have a comparable noise floor. I also liked the idea of a mic that was a little less bright or "edgy" than the Rode. How does Synco work? Excellent! In my opinion of course. The mic has a mostly flat EQ curve with little boost in the upper frequencies, which sounds very comfortable to my ears. Some say this mic doesn't have as high frequencies as the 416, to which I reply: It's all preference. I like the way the highs sound. It's not hyped, but it's not boring either. I'd say it sounds a lot better in the top end than the Rode as it's more balanced. Some might like a brighter microphone, again this is a preference. The inherent noise is very comparable to Rode. I'm not doing a scientific test here, just looking at my meter and listening to room noise recordings. Where the Rode didn't even register on my meter, the Synco rose above the floor at times, and I noticed that the tone of the room was a little more audible in the recordings. The increased noise is probably picked up by the microphone stand - I didn't test it with a shock absorber because it wasn't included. It's likely that this mic will be as quiet as the Rode with a shock absorber. One is on the way and I will update this review with my findings. The build quality is excellent. If you gave me this and asked me to estimate the price I wouldn't call anything under $500. For me, the convenience of being able to read my copy unimpeded was worth the compromise. But there are no compromises here: I like everything about this mic more than my previous one. A few notes: As I said, the microphone does not come with a shock absorber, so I recommend buying one when ordering from Synco. Do you really need a shock mount? Yes. Yes you do. I can see how some people can get a negative first impression of this mic with the included clip. In addition, the supplied foam cover is not suitable for voicing. It changes the sound a bit, and not for the better in my opinion. I would recommend using a different pop filter or windscreen with it. I use a Stedman metal pop filter and it works great. The best recordings I've ever made were with the mic overhead, pointing at my mouth. Point the microphone closer to your chest than your nose to reduce nasal noise. Conclusion: This microphone is great. I don't know of anything comparable in this price range. If this mic was $1,000 I could be finicky about the windshield and clamp, but for $250 I just can't. It's worth it. Buy a mount and a pop filter when you buy!