I’ve been researching different microphones that I can use for recording either through my DSLR or my PC. I landed on the Rode VideoMic Directional Video Condenser Microphone – after much research it was a difficult decision but I landed here because of the price and quality. Also, I was able to get some recommendations – Rode is apparently the way to go. Nonetheless, I still wanted to do a bit of research to make sure this was the right mic for me.

My research usually begins on amazon – looking at reviews. Depending on the product, I will also look at reviews and demonstrations on YouTube. If I can find another third party source that has a good set of detailed reviews then I’ll also take those into consideration. I depend on this kind of research because there are those out there who can afford, or have the ability to, test products side by side. I am not one of those people, so I do as much research as I can to find the best product for me.

Finding the right microphone for your camera will depend on what you want to use it for. I was looking for a microphone that will be used most likely with just one person, indoors or in a minimally windy area.

The Rode VideoMic will not pick up good sound if you’re trying to record – let’s say – your band. Since it is a directional mic it is meant to pick up the noise that it is pointed toward. For my purposes, this is exactly what I need. Recording, through my DSLR, indoors.

I ended up recording indoors with my wide angle lens so I could get my camera close enough to my body for optimal sound. You can also use this microphone through a computer to dub over video that  is already recorded. If you’re interested, I used Camtasia for a video I’ve done. This program can be used for screen recording and allows your audience to view  video of something you may be demonstrating on your computer screen. This would come in very handy for something like Lightroom, Photoshop, or Excel tutorials.

This microphone worked well for me because I can hook it up to my DSLR and I can also use it through my computer. Many other “podcast” mics used a USB plug rather than a mic jack which completely defeated the purpose of also being able to use it on my DSLR.

What mics have you used and which are your favorite?