Aputure is shipping their new microphone: "Aputure Deity" (meant to be a competitor
- Thread starter IronFilm
- Start date
Where do you hear this, do you have one?
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
I'm highly intrigued by this mic. They show a polar-pattern on their site, which I find a little hard to believe... ideally a polar pattern looks like an onion (progressively oblong, but smooth layers)... and this is pretty close for such a cheap mic.
https://store.aputure.com/products/deity-1
I asked "what about frequency response?" and they said I could email for more information... I guess I will, but if it's impressive I don't know why they'd omit that chart from the page(?) It sure appears to be a great starter mic... or maybe a couple for risky situations.
Tyreeford... they claim a self-noise of 12db(a) vs. 416 at 13db(a) so it's funny to hear the Deity would have audibly higher noise. (To notice it as higher, it's got to be at least 2db higher, if not more)... If this is the case, then I also doubt that perfect onion polar-pattern.
https://store.aputure.com/products/deity-1
I asked "what about frequency response?" and they said I could email for more information... I guess I will, but if it's impressive I don't know why they'd omit that chart from the page(?) It sure appears to be a great starter mic... or maybe a couple for risky situations.
Tyreeford... they claim a self-noise of 12db(a) vs. 416 at 13db(a) so it's funny to hear the Deity would have audibly higher noise. (To notice it as higher, it's got to be at least 2db higher, if not more)... If this is the case, then I also doubt that perfect onion polar-pattern.
Rick R
Veteran
If you look closely at the specs, the test parameters for noise are different than the Sennheiser. Low cost gear manufacturers often tweak the test parameters to 'enhance' the numbers. That said, the Deity mic appears' decent, though I do not have one to do a hands-on comparison with my 416.
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
Their polar pattern looks about as good as a Schoeps... so I doubt the accuracy of that as well.
TyFord
Well-known member
I have been in touch with the folks who make the Deity. I did some side by side with the 416. I told them the selfnoise was an issue and suggested that they swap FETs to get it quieter. My last response from them did not indicate that they were going to change the design in time for the roll out. I told them that inside on quiet sets the selfnoise was noticeably more audible than the 416.
The selfnoise figure is not the only spec to check; there's also sensitivity.
The 416 has a sensitivity of 25 mV/Pa +- 1 dB. The Deity figure is -32±2dB re 1V/Pa @1kHz. When I calibrated them so that both mics were giving me the same level, the selfnoise of the Deity was apparent.
The 416 uses a RF voltage to charge its diaphragm. That design has proven to be very rugged and makes the 416 less sensitive to humidity issues. The design is so useful that Rode employed it on their NTG-3. The Deity does not use an rf voltage to polarize its capsule.
Bottom line: Although the mic looks very much like a 416. There are significant differences that make its lesser price point understandable.
Regards,
Ty Ford
The selfnoise figure is not the only spec to check; there's also sensitivity.
The 416 has a sensitivity of 25 mV/Pa +- 1 dB. The Deity figure is -32±2dB re 1V/Pa @1kHz. When I calibrated them so that both mics were giving me the same level, the selfnoise of the Deity was apparent.
The 416 uses a RF voltage to charge its diaphragm. That design has proven to be very rugged and makes the 416 less sensitive to humidity issues. The design is so useful that Rode employed it on their NTG-3. The Deity does not use an rf voltage to polarize its capsule.
Bottom line: Although the mic looks very much like a 416. There are significant differences that make its lesser price point understandable.
Regards,
Ty Ford
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MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
Ty,
It's posts like that... which have kept DVXuser a consistently valuable resource through the years.
Thank you, I enjoyed reading your scientific and experienced answer... and it makes me feel good about my guesses on the unlikely specs/graphs at the price-point.
Rode aimed squarely at the 416... and they got close, with an appropriate MSRP to also come close. Nobody's going to make a "416" for $370...
It's posts like that... which have kept DVXuser a consistently valuable resource through the years.
Thank you, I enjoyed reading your scientific and experienced answer... and it makes me feel good about my guesses on the unlikely specs/graphs at the price-point.
Rode aimed squarely at the 416... and they got close, with an appropriate MSRP to also come close. Nobody's going to make a "416" for $370...
Ah darn, pity to hear about that! (glad I tagged you on Facebook so Aputure got in touch with you, this is the kind of feedback it is good to know!)
While the Deity has missed out on taking the crown of "cheapest 416 level performance" microphone, it might still turn out to be the best pick at its price point? Would be interesting to see a close comparison of the Deity vs the common other microphones that are near its price point: NTG2 / ME66 / MKE600
Why not? Sennheiser had a flash sale recently at some stores of their 416 for $499 (which I keep on kicking myself a million times for missing out on!!).
If you remove the premium for the name brand, and shift the manufacture to China, it is easy to see that one day that price point / performance ratio could shift down from being priced at $499 for a 416 to instead being $370 for an equivalent.
Jaime Valles
Veteran
Wow, I wish I had known about that sale!
TyFord
Well-known member
John, I don't get you.
1. I already stated that I'd been in touch with the company.
2. The Deity is a product that sits in line properly with how much it costs. Why bother to bust Sennheiser's ba**s for making an industry standard microphone?
Do you get hammered for price on the video you shoot down there so much that nickel and diming is your accepted method of doing business? How tiring is that? When I get offers to work for people like that, sorry, I'm already booked. Even if I'm not, I'd rather spend a day burnishing my cable connections than accepting work from someone after being being jammed down on price and likely short changed at the end of the day. Life's to short, mate.
3. Some people treat audio as the bastard step child. Are you this way with how you view the video gear you purchase or is it just the audio gear?
Regards,
Ty Ford
1. I already stated that I'd been in touch with the company.
2. The Deity is a product that sits in line properly with how much it costs. Why bother to bust Sennheiser's ba**s for making an industry standard microphone?
Do you get hammered for price on the video you shoot down there so much that nickel and diming is your accepted method of doing business? How tiring is that? When I get offers to work for people like that, sorry, I'm already booked. Even if I'm not, I'd rather spend a day burnishing my cable connections than accepting work from someone after being being jammed down on price and likely short changed at the end of the day. Life's to short, mate.
3. Some people treat audio as the bastard step child. Are you this way with how you view the video gear you purchase or is it just the audio gear?
Regards,
Ty Ford
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I've never understood the veneration of the Sennheiser MKH-416. I owned a couple over the years, used them a lot, and as a company, had to solve audio issues that were recorded with the 416 by incompetent boom ops and sound mixers when I had an audio post facility (not the fault of the 416, the fault of boom ops who were not good at their job, but hand booming two or three talent in a scene with a single 416 separates the competent boom ops from the superstars). While the MKH-416 is okay, there are so many better sounding, easier to boom with, superior value microphones on the market, I am baffled why it is still held up as an industry standard? The industry needs to move on and utilize the better mics out there.
3/4", Beta SP were industry standards too during the MKH-416's heyday, look where they are now. If you are a Sennheiser fan, the MKH-50, 60, 8060 all sound considerably better and if you explore beyond Sennehiser, so many other great mics out there that cost less and to my ear, sound better and are definitely easier to boom with. I recall a Sennheiser rep telling me that they wanted to discontinue manufacturing of the MKH-416, this was many years ago, but the mic still sold so well that they couldn't from a marketing and sales standpoint. Sometimes in our business, the "industry standard" starts out as a solid product, stays a solid product, but other products far surpass it eventually, but everyone (at least the producers who hire us) knows the name/model and keeps using it because they are too scared to move on. We see the same thing with cameras to a point also.
3/4", Beta SP were industry standards too during the MKH-416's heyday, look where they are now. If you are a Sennheiser fan, the MKH-50, 60, 8060 all sound considerably better and if you explore beyond Sennehiser, so many other great mics out there that cost less and to my ear, sound better and are definitely easier to boom with. I recall a Sennheiser rep telling me that they wanted to discontinue manufacturing of the MKH-416, this was many years ago, but the mic still sold so well that they couldn't from a marketing and sales standpoint. Sometimes in our business, the "industry standard" starts out as a solid product, stays a solid product, but other products far surpass it eventually, but everyone (at least the producers who hire us) knows the name/model and keeps using it because they are too scared to move on. We see the same thing with cameras to a point also.
Which microphones are they?
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Obviously a point of opinion but take a listen to the competition http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/right_mic_brockett.html And this article/samples are 8 years old, there are many others that have came onto the market since then. If it were me, depending on what you were shooting, off the top of my head, Røde NTG3, DPA 4017, Sennheiser MKH-8060, Sennheiser MKH-50, Sennheiser MKH-60, Sanken CS3E, Schoeps CMC641, Schoeps CMIT5U. Nothing bad or wrong with the MKH 416 but hand booming with it requires a level of precision that few boom ops have, the overall sound quality is just okay, nothing special, its pickup pattern allows a relatively high level of off axis pollution, it does not do well in reflective surface interiors, I could go on. The MKH-416 costs $1,000.00 new, some of the better choices are less, some are more, but when you are at a pro sound level, cost, in a way, becomes somewhat irrelevant if the tool is not the best for your project. I would rather pay a little more to get superior sound quality because your sound is how your project is judged by the audience unless it's a music video or silent movie. Keep in mind, superior value doesn't mean less or the same cost either. Something that costs more can be a superior value if it's value to cost ratio is better.
Thanks, puredrifting.
I'm well aware of the linked article and I appreciate your consideration for a pro sound man. However, I'm a hobbyist. Except for the Røde NTG3, all other mikes you mentioned cost over $1,000, which is beyond me means, at least at present.
Which mike would recommend, when on a budget, in addition to the AT875R and the AT4073a which I have? Will the Røde NTG3 be worthy improvement?
I'm well aware of the linked article and I appreciate your consideration for a pro sound man. However, I'm a hobbyist. Except for the Røde NTG3, all other mikes you mentioned cost over $1,000, which is beyond me means, at least at present.
Which mike would recommend, when on a budget, in addition to the AT875R and the AT4073a which I have? Will the Røde NTG3 be worthy improvement?