Rode M3 Mic Issue 56

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1 REVIEW RDE M3 A bullet proof, (almost) idiot proof, fashion proof (black) condenser mic thats road ready. Text: Andy Stewart If you find yourself in a public place unscrewing the long Theres a second switch thats well and truly idiot proof, barrel off the back of a new Rode M3 to replace the 9V however, and thats the pad switch. This is located inside battery you might run the risk of getting arrested. You see, the mic just above the battery compartment, so youll the new all-black design of this sleek new mic looks every need to unscrew the silencer to access it. It offers 10 or bit like a gun-silencer, something you might see in a James 20dB reduction in mic sensitivity for those times when Bond movie. If youre a Foley recorder in the film industry the input source is so loud that it distorts the front end of and you had two of these, you could use one to create the your signal chain. sound of the silencer screwing onto the barrel, and the other to record it. When I first got this mic I had endless SONICS fun simply screwing and unscrewing the metal sleeve I Sonically the Rode M3 offers a good balance of low-end must get out more. voluptuousness and midrange clarity. Its slightly clearer in the midrange, in fact, than the Rode S1 or a Shure SM58, BACK IN BLACK and louder too a vivid mic on voice that skilfully walks The Rode M3 is a fixed cardioid electret condenser mic the tightrope between open and clear and harsh and with a large hollow compartment in its nether regions bright. Its really good on speech recording in particular designed to carry the aforementioned 9V battery. The M3 and because the barrel of the mic is long (and good- thus carries its own phantom power supply as it were, so looking too) it would also make a handy all-rounder as an you neednt rely on an external source like a console or a on-camera interview mic, Id wager. To that end, handling location recorder to power it. Its a good-looking mic and noise of the M3 is reasonably good too, generating a heavy too; sturdy in the hand and built like every other slightly ringier and more midrange-sounding handling Rode microphone like a tank. The M3 actually looks disturbance than the S1, mainly due to the hollowness of very similar to an AKG C1000 and shares basic design the body. But you really need to be attempting a Chinese principles with this other well-known electret condenser. burn on the mic before its really a problem. The M3 comes in a moulded black plastic case and other The price of the M3 also makes it a pretty compelling accessories include a black foam pop-shield and a black option as an all-rounder. Im not normally keen on talking dedicated mic clip with a vice-like grip the all-black rock about price in reviews, but in this case the overall value for n roll look is back it would seem! I like it. money does seem to make it a pretty competitive option, FEATURES & CONTROLS and with a 10-year guarantee thrown into the bargain, its There are two main functions on the M3 that are worthy hard to fault. The M3 can happily be used in a vocal booth of discussion. Firstly, theres a switch on the mic just one minute and on location where theres no phantom below the ubiquitous gold dot, which performs multiple power the next. Its not a specialised mic by any means functions. First and foremost this is the mics on/off that is, of course, until you discover that, for your purposes, switch and this needs to be in the middle position for its perfect for X but as a stock condenser Id reckon a the mic to work. When this is switched to its third and pair of these in the studio as overheads or room mics would uppermost position (closest to the head of the capsule) a be a good option (although I never had a pair to judge this high-pass filter is engaged, which cuts in at around 80Hz. properly). I say overheads in particular, not only because This is good for counteracting singers who eat the mic the one I had seemed to provide a really good overall sound and generate too much low-end proximity effect. Its also above a drumkit, but the mic clip was so reassuringly a handy tool for negating the plosives caused by wind strong, there was never any prospect whatsoever of the mic in an outdoor setting or where environmental rumble slipping out and hitting the deck. This might seem trivial, is impinging on the subject youre trying to record. The but Ive often felt a sense of foreboding as Ive walked away switch is recessed and fairly stiff so its not easily knocked from a stereo pair that felt like they were going to fall the by accident, but I would be mildly concerned if it were moment I turned my back! in the hands of a singer who liked fiddling with a mic The only difficulty I really had with the M3 was the on stage. In this situation the high-pass filter could be tightness of the XLR connector at the base of the mic the unwittingly engaged during a performance and go largely M3 had a bit of trouble with an Amphenol connector but unnoticed. The bottom end warmth that the M3 otherwise no problems with a Neutrik. Im not sure whether the provides would be rolled out, and to that end Im surprised tolerances of some modern mic connectors and XLRs are this switch has no markings on it to indicate the on, off starting to cut things a little too fine, but its something to or high-pass positions. look out for. AT 110

2 The M3s published frequency response curve. The M3 is hard to fault overall. Its versatile, projects an open midrange tone thats good for speech intelligibility, and comes shipped as a total package thats competitively priced. The elongated body of the mic itself looks good too and with the pop-shield in place could easily perform on- camera duties where looks are important. Just be careful to ensure that the high-pass filter isnt engaged accidentally and the mic should perform well for many years to come. And if something untoward does happen with it in the next 10 years, the Rode guarantee should see it right. NEED TO KNOW Price $240 Contact Rode Microphones (02) 9648 5855 [email protected] www.rodemic.com Pros Cheap. Solidly constructed. Clear tone, particularly suitable for speech. 10-year guarantee. Cons High-pass filter isnt labelled. Tight XLR connector. Summary At this price point the Rode M3 is well within the economic grasp of most. Its well constructed and suited to a variety of record- ing duties. Wherever stereo recording is common, two mics are often employed, and the as the old clich goes, its cheap at half the price. AT 111

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