Superhero Sunday: Bucky Barnes

We are all the good kid and the bad boy in this Superhero Sunday with Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier.

The History

 James Buchanan Barnes the boy solider and sidekick to Captain America was created by the team Joe Simon and none another than Jack Kirby in March 1941 appearing in Captain America #1. The book was printed by Timely Comics the predecessor to Marvel Comics. The character was created and named simply Bucky at first and was made to be a sidekick for Captain America. Bucky would go on to appear in several teams and stories before his death in the comics until 2005 when Ed Brubaker had a unique way to bring him back.

The Character

James Buchanan Barnes born in 1925 in Indiana he was an orphan and was adopted by a solider. James had a love of the army to and help the troops, though underage he snuck his was into the army and would help the troops. One day in 1940 at camp he walked into Steve Rogers tent and saw Steve putting on the Captain America helmet. After some convincing Steve Rogers agreed to train James and let him be a sidekick of sorts. The army agreed to let him fight to help rally the youth of America to support its troops and with Bucky being at the side of Captain America. James changed his name to Bucky after his middle name Buchanan.

Bucky helped Captain America fight the Nazis and was even a scout for a super team known as The Invaders for a brief time. Throughout missions and years Bucky would help defeat Nazis and Hydra. Flash Forward to 1945 and WWII was coming to an end. But Baron Zemo a commander of Hydra had an experimental plane he ridged with explosives to drop on the allies. Both Captain America and Bucky climb the drop plane as it flies over the ocean. They try to disarm the bomb and Bucky fails to do so. The plane explodes sending Captain America to the ocean where he freezes and isn’t discovered til years later. Bucky Barnes was presumed dead from the explosion (he was dead in the comics until 2005).

The Winter Soldier is born in the wake of Bucky’s death or his thought to be death. Turns out Russian soldiers find a frozen body missing an arm and barely alive. Bucky Barnes died that day in the snow and Hydra/Russian secret forces got a new weapon. Bucky would have his mind wiped and get a new metal arm. He was brain washed and turned into an assassin for evil. After missions he would be put in a life preserving chamber until he needed to be used again. The Winter Soldier would be used for years until he was caught up to Captain America in present day and they do battle. Captain America and the Avengers find out who this weapon is/was. Steve Rogers (Captain America) is so torn by this but must save Bucky from what he has become. Steve ends up capturing and Bucky and brings back memories.

Over the years in comics Bucky would have to deal with his dark past as well as find his place in the present without letting the guilt eat away at him. He would join the avengers and become a great hero even taking the mantle of Captain America in Steve Rogers brief absence just after Civil War.

Why this hero?

As Bucky Barnes he is a sidekick that we the readers relate too. I may not be a super solider but I can pretend to fight alongside him. He also was the representation of innocent kid who just wants to be enthusiastic and help the heroes. This only makes his death all the more tragic.  His resurrection as a villain is more than a gimmick and only makes the character richer and enriches the Marvel universe with more depth as well as bring a new element for Captain America. This is one of my favorite stories in all of Marvel comics history and it made me see how much you can do with people in costumes.

Recommended reading:

BSP-013: XLR vs USB Microphones, Which Should You Buy?

On this episode of The Bandrew Says Podcast, Bandrew clears some more air regarding YouTube comments.

He talks about testing out YouTube red and the value that he found in spending $9.99 for a service that used to be free. There's also a brief overview of the latest Apple Event (iPad Pro 9.7", iPhone SE, iOS 9.3, Apple TV). And lastly there is discussion of which type of microphone is right for you; a USB microphone or an XLR microphone.

Behringer C-1u USB Microphone Review/Test

Today I am testing out the USB version of I microphone I have already tested. Today I am testing out the Behringer C-1u USB Microphone.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $60 on Amazon.

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Microphone Stand Mount
  3. 5/8" to 3/8" Mic Stand Adapter
  4. USB Cable
  5. Driver CD & Podcasting / Audio Editing Software
  6. Documentation 

Performance / Features

The build quality is pretty good. It has an all metal body and a metal grill, but it does not feel like high quality metal. The USB cable is your standard rubber cable, so there's nothing special there, and the microphone stand mount is made of a cheap plastic. Lastly, there is a light on the front that turns green to indicate that it is plugged in and receiving power.

This microphone has a 16mm condenser microphone capsule and provides a frequency response of 40Hz - 16kHz (40Hz - 20kHz for the XLR version). It provided a decent sound in every situation we put it through; vocals, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar. There weren't any frequencies that stuck out as harsh, and it didn't sound like any freq's were missing. 

The C-1u also has a Cardioid polar pattern. We heard quite a significant drop off as we got farther away from the microphone. However, as we moved around the microphone, it still tended to pick up a bit of noise around the sides and back. The microphone did perform well with eliminating the background noise of the keyboard.

Pros

  • Decent sound
  • Good at eliminating background noise
  • Plug & Play
  • Cheap

Con

  • Poorly built microphone mount
  • Difficult to trouble shoot
  • Low output volume

Conclusion

This is nothing more than a decent, middle of the road microphone. It sounds decent in every situation, but that's about it. It will not provide top of the line audio, but it will get you recorded for youtube. I did find that it had a relatively low output volume (had to set at 75% input gain to get decent volume). This can lead to issues with hiss/buzz, so if that's a concern of yours, this microphone is not for you. 

This microphone is basically for anyone who is just looking for a super easy, plug and play microphone to get audio that's good enough for chatting and voice overs. It is not for people who want to make professional videos/music or people who want to eventually upgrade their microphone with additional gear.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Buy it on Amazon (US): http://amzn.to/25ENGHa
Buy it on Amazon (UK): http://amzn.to/1oAn4oV

The Shrieker Podcast 007: Jonathan Zimmerman

Jonathan Zimmerman talks to us about Nighttime Guardians, a simple game about teddy bears protecting sleeping children from things that go bump in the night.

Jonathans’s first game aims to be accessible through its simplicity. The rules are short, filling one double-sided page. The game only requires a handful of common six sided dice. The subject matter and simplicity should make the game usable by even the youngest players. The core game is available as a pay-what-you-want but future supplements will likely have a small fixed price.

This month you can download Quimcy Sluran’s Slumber, a short adventure for Nighttime Guardians.

The Free RPG Society: The demo version of Golden Sky Stories is a trimmed down but completely usable version of the full game. Its unique genre and resolution mechanic make this a game that everyone should try at some point.

Rate and Review our show on itunes, comment on our website, or email me. We’d love to hear from you.

Takstar SGC-598 Shotgun Mic Review

Today I am testing out a microphone that helps improve your camera's audio. The Takstar SGC-598 Shotgun Microphone.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $30 on Amazon.

I do have to note that this is an active microphone and requires a single AA battery in order for the microphone to work.

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Windscreen
  3. Carrying Pouch
  4. Documentation 

Performance / Features

The build quality is decent. The entire build is made of plastic and nothing feels too sturdy. The cable is also permanently attached to the front of the microphone (which seems like odd placement to me) and also eliminates the possibility to attach a longer cable, or replace the cable if the provided one goes bad.

There are three switches on the side.

  • Power On / Off
  • +10db Audio Boost
  • Low Cut Switch

The frequency response is listed as 50Hz - 16kHz which is a pretty decent response. It does seem to lack a little bit in the low end, leaving audio sounding a bit weak. But this is nothing you wouldn't expect out of a $30 microphone.

The mic offers a cardioid polar pattern which is what you would expect. It is not as directional as I would have liked. It still picks up quite a bit of audio as you move around the side and back of the microphone, but the majority of audio is picked up directly in front of the mic.

Pros

  • Decent sound
  • Cheap
  • Portable
  • Improves camera's audio
  • +10db boost / Low cut options

Con

  • Poor build quality
  • Permanent cable (poorly placed)
  • No mic stand mount
  • Lacks low end
  • Wide polar pattern

Conclusion

This is in no way a top of the line shotgun microphone. It will not provide you excellent audio, or clean sound. What it will do is provide decent audio, which is a huge improvement over most cameras internal microphones. So if you are a vlogger and you want to improve your camera's audio, or if you're just trying slightly increase your videos audio, this is a good option for $30.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Buy it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TcSKO6

The Paper Robots Episode 60: Brian Petty

In this episode Logan chats with the talented  Brian Petty as Brian lets him come by his workshop for an interview.

Brian makes everything from 501st Star Wars armor and helmets to replica quality models and his own original masks. I felt like a kid at a candy shop when I saw all the different things he had hung on his shelves and in progression tables. This man is amazingly talented and so kind. He shared a lot of what it was like to get started and how he is more than willing to help out people getting started in costume design.

Follow:

Facebook/Brian Petty
IG: PETTY.BRIAN

Razer Seiren Pro Elite USB Condenser Microphone Review / Test

Today I am testing out an absolute beast of a microphone. The Razer Seiren Pro Elite.

And if you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back approximately $225 on Amazon.

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Microphone Stand
  3. USB Cable
  4. 5-Pin to Dual 3-Pin XLR Splitter
  5. 3.5mm Extension Cable
  6. Documenation
  7. 1-Year Warranty

Performance / Features

The build quality of this mic is excellent. It has an all metal stand. Metal body. Metal grill. There are a few scattered pieces of plastic in the build, but nothing that raises concerns. Basically, everything feels well built. 

Front: The front has an LED display that shows mic gain, headphone gain, and current polar pattern. Directly below that is the headphone volume control and a microphone mute button.

Back: There are two dials on the back. The top dial is the polar pattern selector that allows you to switch between all 4 different polar patterns. The bottom dial controls the microphone gain.

Bottom: The bottom has the 5-pin XLR Jack, Microphone Mount, USB Port, Headphone Port, and a high-pass filter button which allows you to cut troublesome low frequencies.

The frequency response alters with each polar pattern, but the documentation lists that it the microphone is capable of 20Hz - 20kHz performance. It seemed to accurately represent the instruments being tested on it, and sounded very nice on the voice.

The polar patterns available on this microphone are as follows.

  • Stereo (generates stereo L-R signal)
  • Cardioid
  • Omnidirectional
  • Bidirectional

Each polar pattern serves it's own purpose and performs relatively well. I think that this microphone would hold it's own if it were placed against ~$100 USB microphones with each polar pattern. Basically, the performance is not stellar, but it is everything that most entry level folks will need.

I should also note a few other things.

  • Sample Rate: 192kHz
  • Bit Rate: 24-bit
  • Both 3-Pin XLR's require Phantom Power to Work

Pros

  • Excellent build quality
  • ULTRA LOW NOISE FLOOR
  • Versatile polar patterns
  • Great frequency response

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Bulky

Conclusion

Overall, the microphone sounds great. Each polar pattern works well, and the overall tone is accurate and nice sounding. I do think that this microphone is for a very specific group of people though, and it is surprisingly, not gamers.

For gamers, this microphone will be overkill. Most gamers use a cardioid polar pattern and that's it. You can get an ATR-2100 for $60 and be perfectly fine. You will most likely not use any of the other settings. I also don't think that this microphone is for professional musicians. 

I think the people who will benefit most from this mic are amateur musicians, and youtube musicians. It will allow you a LOT of microphone versatility for a relatively low cost. It may seem expensive, but if you think about the cost of getting 4 decent microphones to match this microphone's performance, it suddenly seems like a much more reasonable price.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Razer Seiren: http://amzn.to/1SbI4gb
Razer Seiren Pro: http://amzn.to/1Uef1fM

 

Do You Even Comic: Criminal

Let's look at the dark and gritty underbelly of humans in this month's Do You Even Comic: Criminal (series) created by the masters of noir Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips.

The Story

The series follows self-contained story arcs in the same world with minor overlaps. The stories follow two generations of crime that can't escape the consequnces of their histories. Center City is the main foucus with a common bar that is frequented. The character driven series is all about dealing with the actions and situations that each person has been put into.  Each volume is different with its only main foucs and main problems but each is also a fantastic read that build a work of crime fiction that only Ed Brubaker can do.

Why this Book?

Why? Ed Brubaker, and Sean Philips that's why. But also the series was given to me by my brother after I read and was reading Captian America by Ed Brubaker. His run is famous for bringing back Bucky Barnes as the Winter Soilder. His run also had this tone and aesthetic that wasn't in the Capt. books before and it put real consequences into the comic. Anyway that got me into his noir and other writing and I havent stopped reading his work since.

Buy the Book: Criminal

,

Versus Series: BM-8000 vs NW-1500

,

These two mics have very different numberings, but they are placed in the exact same body. Again, the Excelvan out shines the Neewer in terms of specifications, however, unlike the last three versus series, the Excelvan actually wins.

Not only is the Excelvan about $10 cheaper than the Neewer microphone, but it has a much better sound. The frequency response captures all the way up to 20kHz, and the low end is not overly boomy.

All around the BM-8000 is a better sounding microphone, and it saves you so money too!

Buy the BM-8000: http://amzn.to/1QPnbXZ
Buy the NW-1500: http://amzn.to/1M0DLVR

BM-8000

  • Price: $28.00
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid

NW-1500

  • Price: $38.00
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 16kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid

Samson Meteorite USB Microphone Review / Test

Today I am testing out another rather cheap USB microphone. The Samson Meteorite.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $40 on Amazon.

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Microphone Stand
  3. Documentation 

Performance / Features

The build quality of this microphone is nothing special. It is an all plastic body and the permanently attached cable feels like it was pulled of a cheap iPhone charger. The microphone stand (if you can even call it that) is a plastic base with an indentation to place the microphone in. It has a magnet to help secure the microphone and it also allows you to tilt the microphone to place it in the best position.

There is also a light on the front of the microphone. It glows blue to indicate that it is plugged in and receiving power and it blinks red if the signal gets to loud and begins to clip. 

The frequency response of this mic is 20Hz - 20kHz, but you wouldn't be able to tell. The 14mm capsule seems to create a very tinny and small sound. It is not conducive to recording any instruments. 

The polar pattern is listed as cardioid so it should have done fairly well with noise cancellation. However, when testing it against the keyboard, it picked up a LOT of noise. This issue could have been resolved by adding a microphone stand adapter to the mic, allowing you to get the microphone off your desk, but as this is not an option, it did HORRIBLY at avoiding background noise. 

Pros

  • Portable
  • LED Indicator for Clipping

Cons

  • Thin sound
  • Picks up lots of background noise
  • Poor build quality
  • No mic stand mount

Conclusion

I cannot recommend this microphone. It is a bit too expensive for what it is. It does not allow for decent placement, it picks up lots of background noise, and the build quality is not good. If you were considering this microphone which costs $40, I would recommend saving another $10, and picking up the Samson Meteor, which is all around a MUCH better microphone.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Samson Meteorite: http://amzn.to/1YO5wmt
Samson Meteor: http://amzn.to/1P708Dv

BSP-012: How to Outline, Script & Edit for Youtube

On episode 12 Bandrew clears the air about giving away free microphones to Podcastage viewers, Talks about a comic book that everyone needs to read, discusses his gratitude for The Mythbusters, gets excited for The last man on earth, shares his thoughts about a few audio recording apps, spotify, and then discusses how he outlines, scripts, & edits for youtube.

,

Versus Series: BM-800 vs NW-800

,

BM-800

  • Price: $28.00
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid

NW-800

  • Price: $27.00
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 16kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid

In the second installment of the Versus Series, we had a much closer match. Based on the specifications, once again the BM-800 should have won. But when it comes down to actual performance, the victor was the NW-800.

The sound quality between these two microphones was very close, however, the NW-800 provided a slightly cleaner tone. This was apparent in the acoustic guitar performance, as well as electric guitar performance. 

Although the NW-800 is limited in the frequency response arena, I believe that it makes up for in a tighter, and less boomy low end, and cleaner all around tone. 

Buy the NW-800: http://amzn.to/1pFyYiK
Buy the BM-800: http://amzn.to/22e7FKa

The Shrieker Podcast 006: Taylor Frank

Taylor Frank  chats with us about his zines, Dungeon Crawl Classics, and their intersection, his DCC fan-zine, Dungeon Lord.

Zines, abbreviated from magazine, are small, independently created pieces of literature that allow for small side cultures to have a presence and a voice. In many ways they can serve the same function as a blog but there is still something special about a physical object. The first tabletop RPGs fit the description of Zines in a lot of ways. As the hobby developed zines continued to distribute fan-made content before that could be done via Internet. Now the Internet can be a valuable zine distribution tool.

Dungeon Crawl Classics originated in the Old School Renaissance which endeavors preserve and expand the experience of some of the first games. The first OSR games were the retroclone game like OSRIC that tried to stay very true to the earliest games. DCC doesn't stay as tethered to the past, instead trying to keep the charm of old games while providing a fresh, contemporary play experience. DCC has fostered a very active fan base that creates shares a great deal of content for the game including zines and software. DCC’s publisher, Goodman Games, supports fan creations in ways that few other company's do.

While some other DCC zines focus on developing a specific setting, Dungeon Lord collects any sort of entertaining materials including maps, character classes, poetry and art inspired by DCC. Taylor also creates single page zines that support charities. They can be found at his website and rpgnow.com. Submissions for For Dungeon Lord can be sent to deathmachinepress@gmail.com

This month we have a d50 random table, full of magical and mundane rings, created for you mostly by Taylor Frank.

The Free RPG Society: Lasers and Feeling is a single page game based on fiction like Star Trek (and a song by The Doubleclicks). It's fast, easy and has a very clever mechanic that allows the players to inform the GM on the complications they want to see. The One Shot Podcast has played it a couple of times with fantastic results that you can listen to here.

The Name of God Kickstarter is a game by Italian designer Alessandro Piroddi. It’s a short-form story-driven GM-less game using a deck of custom cards. The kickstarter has already doubled it’s modest funding goal and is now tearing through push goals that involve new cards by notable female designers. Check it out.

Rate and Review our show on iTunes, comment on our website, or email me at shriekerpodcast@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Blue Spark Condenser Microphone Review / Test

Today I am testing out a mic that I have been dying to try out. The Blue Spark.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $199 on Amazon.

WARNING: This microphone will require phantom power to function. So if you plan on purchasing this, make sure to purchase a phantom power supply, or make sure your audio interface is capable of providing sufficient voltage.

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Metal Pop Filter
  3. XLR to XLR Cable (certain packages)
  4. Shock Mount (5/8" to 3/8" Stand Adapter NOT Included)
  5. Documentation

note: I do not believe that all Blue Spark microphones come with an XLR cable. 

Performance / Features

The build quality of this mic is awesome. It has an all metal body and a nice metal grill. The shock mount is a nice sturdy metal and performs it's job without any problems. The windscreen has a very fine mesh to help eliminate plosives as well. The XLR cable is a very nice and high quality cable and the box is a nice wooden box which will provide sufficient protection while storing the microphone.

The frequency response of this mic is 20Hz - 20kHz, and you can hear every bit of this in the microphone. The sound is incredibly full without having any excess boominess in the low low end. The acoustic guitar, voice, and electric guitar all sounded great on this mic.

There is a button on the back that activates a FOCUS MODE, which slightly alters the EQ of the microphone and provides slightly improved clarity through boosting mid & high frequencies, and gently rolling off frequencies around 100Hz.

The Spark provides a Cardioid polar pattern which performs very well for voice & guitar. It picked up very minimal background noise while providing the freedom to move around the microphone a bit. As I got farther away from the microphone, you could hear a decrease in volume, and the largest drop in velocity seemed to appear between the 1-2 foot mark.

Lastly, this requires FULL +48v PHANTOM POWER! 

Pros

  • Full frequency response
  • Great vocal/guitar sound
  • Does not pick up excess background noise
  • Nice shock mount
  • Nice wind screen
  • Focus button to add Clarity

Cons

  • None?

Conclusion

I have to say. This is my favorite XLR mic that I have tested out to date. I couldn't find anything that I didn't like about it at the price that I paid. I do want to recommend that you shop around. I found this for $70 less than the normal price tag.

This microphone will not be for everyone. It will be for people who are more serious about recording music, voice overs, etc. It will require additional investment in an audio interface that provides +48v phantom power, and some people may not like that. If you want a plug and play microphone, there are plenty of other options for you to choose from. If you are in the $200 price range, and you're looking for a good XLR condenser microphone, I would highly recommend this one. 

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Buy it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1YWlPz1

 

BSP-011: Chromebooks, Microphones, Phantom Power & Soundcards

On Ep. 11 Bandrew talks about new Podcastage projects, Helping Friends, Music you should check out, The X-Files, talks about his experience with the Acer Chromebook 11, and then talks about different types of microphones mixed with USB soundcards and phantom power supplies.

Superhero Sunday: Green Arrow!

Grab your bow and quiver for this month's Superhero Sunday: Green Arrow! Lets flash back to 1941 when Morton Weisinger and George Papp created/designed Oliver Queen aka the Green Arrow.

The History

Oliver would appear in "More Fun Comics #73" and would spend the next 25 years gaining notice but wouldn't reach real popularity until writer Denny O'neil started working on him in the 60's. From there the popularity has only grown with the character getting a solo TV series.

The Character

This origin is the most current and collected version, there have been many retools and reboots of this character (like many hero's who are decades old). This origin is a hybrid (including TV elements)

Oliver Queen is a rich, arrogant, ego driven workaholic until everything is taken from him. He is young and has the his fathers company, Queen Consolidated, bother his parents have past under mysterious circumstances. But his life changes when he goes out on to travel on a ship and the boat wrecked onto an island.

Oliver Queen must survive the island and become something stronger than he was, but even after his time on the island when he returns and the world thought him to be dead he loses his fathers company and is left with nothing. The arrogant Oliver must be better and must mature. Oliver learns his bow skills on the island but always had a love for robin hood as a child. The mythos of the island only grow in Jeff Lemire's story (New 52). That is the origin. (if this all sounds familiar thats because the original creators saw Green Arrow as the Batman with a bow for Star City).

But with all the iterations of Green Arrow comes his character and who Oliver Queen is. That hero is a man who had to build up after losing his family his company and survive on an island, Oliver Queen protects a city from corruption and is progressive for the liberal rights of all humans. He is known for being friends with Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) and fighting on the Justice League but mostly his own solo work.

Why this hero?

 Honestly, I didn't like Green Arrow at first. I thought he was like Hawkeye with a Van Dyke and didn't seem very interesting. As a kid he was the grumpy one on Justice League cartoon. But I was watching a PBS documentary or some other doc and it went of the history of heroes, Green Arrow teaming up to work for equality for all people was amazing. He became more interesting and I wanted to know more. 

The Green Arrow is DC's Robin Hood and green solutions and civil rights, he was later revamped to be more a vigilante in the more common sense but was given a deeper mythos including guilds and magic. He is truly an interesting character that has carved out a path in the DC universe. The TV show and new books only add to his depth and keep him interesting.

Recommended Reading

Aspen Mics HQ-S (HQ-SPK) Lavalier Microphone Review

This time I am back with a review of a stereo Lavalier mic as well as a complementary piece of gear that allows this mic to function as an extension of your smart phone. I am testing out the Aspen Mics HQ-S & Aspen Mics HQ-SPK. 

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back between $45-$50 and it is available through the links at the bottom of the article.

WARNING: This microphone will has a standard operating voltage of 2.0 - 10.0 volts. This means it requires a minimum of 2.0 volts to work, and if you exceed 10.0 volts, you risk damaging your microphone. 

What's In the Box

  1. Stereo Lavalier Mic (w/ 54-inch cable)
  2. Lapel Clip
  3. Two Foam Windscreen's
  4. TRRS Adapter (if you purchase the SPK kit)
  5. Metal Carrying Case
  6. QA Check List
  7. 5-year Warranty

Performance / Features

The build quality of this lavalier microphone is fairly standard for a lav mic. It has a rubber cable 54-inch cable, a metal microphone capsule, and a metal lapel clip. The lapel clip is significantly smaller than most cheap lav mics which is helpful when attempting to conceal it on your clothing.

The metal carrying case is also a nice addition as I have not received a Lav mic that included a way to carry/store the microphone. 

The frequency response of this microphone is 20Hz - 20kHz. Even when clipped to your shirt, far away from the sound source, you get very nice presence unlike some cheaper mics I have tested.

As per usual for a Lav mic the polar pattern is Omni-Directional which means you will pick up a bit of ambient noise. So just keep that in mind when planning out your shoots or recording environments. 

As I mentioned, the standard operating voltage is 2.0 - 10.0 volts. So you need to stay with in this range in order to get good results out of the microphone.

Pros

  • Very nice sound
  • Smart Phone Compatible
  • Full frequency response
  • Small Lapel Clip
  • Metal Carrying Case
  • 5-Year Warranty

Cons

  • Standard Rubber Cable
  • Omni-directional polar pattern picks up ambient noise (but is required for a lavalier mic to work well, so it's not really a con)

Conclusion

This is a pretty rad little lavalier microphone. I think the sound reproduction was great, and the smartphone capabilities are a huge plus because it essentially provides you with a wireless microphone. I was also able to use this microphone across every single platform I tested with very nice results.

I should note that just like most other lavalier microphones, this is omni-directional, so it will pick up a bit of ambient noise. Therefore, it is important to take into account when planning where you will be using this microphone. 

I would basically recommend this to anyone who is looking for a lavalier microphone for interviews, or vlogs. It is a great price, and it works very well on the smartphone, camera and computer. 

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Aspen Mics HQ-S: http://amzn.to/1TgdJAG
HQ-SPK: http://aspenmics.com/col...
TRRS Adapter: http://amzn.to/1TgdSUH

BSP-010: Why Does Your Audio Suck!?

In this episode of BSP, Bandrew provides a brief review of the Netflix Original: Love. He also gives his first impressions on some new tech that he has been testing out. Lastly, he discusses how to improve your audio if you're having problems with excessive noise.

  1. Keep Gain Low
  2. Place Mic Close to Sound Source
  3. Control Recording Environment

Don't forget to Rate/Review/Subscribe in iTunes, and Subscribe to the Geeks Rising Youtube Channel. If you have any additional questions, leave them in the comments on youtube or here on the site and we'll get back to you ASAP. Thanks for the support.

Excelvan BM-8000 Condenser Mic Review

I am back with another review of one of the mass produced Chinese microphones that are insanely cheap. This time, it is the Excelvan BM-8000.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $29 on Amazon.

WARNING: This microphone will require phantom power to function. So if you plan on purchasing this, make sure to purchase a phantom power supply, or make sure your audio interface is capable of providing sufficient voltage.

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Metal Pop Filter
  3. XLR to 3.5mm Cable
  4. Shock Mount (5/8" to 3/8" Stand Adapter NOT Included)
  5. USB Soundcard
  6. Documentation

Performance / Features

The build quality on this microphone is relatively nice. It is an all metal body, and metal grill, but it still feels relatively cheap. With the form factor of this microphone, the neck seems like a weak structural point, so I would be careful. The mic cable seems decent enough, the shock mount does it's job, and the USB Soundcard is a piece of junk (only providing 2.43v to the microphone.

The specifications sheet lists the frequency response as 20Hz - 20kHz, which is great. When doing the music test, it seems like the low end is boosted quite a bit. This makes the acoustic guitar sound a bit boomy, but the vocals sound nice. 

The polar pattern is listed as "Uni-Directional" but it does tend to pick up audio all the way around the microphone. As you move around the back of the mic, the high end drops off exponentially. The mic did perform well at eliminating background noise when we did the keyboard test. 

I should note that this microphone will not perform at it's best if it receiving subpar voltage. It requires a minimum of 4.5 volts to sound decent. So keep that in mind. If you are only utilizing the provided soundcard, you will lose performance in terms of frequency response, noise, and over all fidelity.

Pros

  • Cheap
  • Good vocal sound
  • Good shock mount
  • Full frequency response (with Phantom Power)

Cons

  • Boomy low end with acoustic
  • Soundcard lacks sufficient power
  • Incorrect documentation?

Conclusion

This is a pretty good deal for $30. The audio quality sounds pretty good if you plan on doing voice work. It will pick up a bit of background noise, but other than that, it's a good option. If you do plan on purchasing this microphone, I implore you to pick up a phantom power supply & a boom arm. With that set up, you should be good to go.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Excelvan BM-8000: http://amzn.to/1RVRlLg
Phantom Power: http://amzn.to/1QASfYc
Boom Arm: http://amzn.to/21kRVrR