Rode VideoMic Copy? 50 bucks less! Opteka VM-100 Video Condenser Shotgun Microphone

Rode copies everyone elses mics just the same as apex, beringer.... Other lowbies. Don't see why someone else can't do it to them.
 
Chadfish said:
http://opteka.com/vm100.aspx
So what's up with this Opteka VM-100 Video Condenser Shotgun Microphone? Can they do this? Maybe they have a deal with Rode. Anyone know anything about it?
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Just thought I could link to this, as you've been linked there too, and Taky has answered in that post.
Basically:
Lunchbox on hv20.com said:
I just received a msg back from RODE Regional Sales Manager. The Opteka is a cheap rip off of the RODE VidoeMic. They look like the VideoMic but they sound nothing like one. So obviously, Rode didn't OEM their mic to Opteka.
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I wouldn't put Rode in the same category as Berringer. Rode's gear actually works consistently and lasts - and sounds great. Berringer makes their stuff look like better stuff and it breaks easily, with poor quality control. Like many companies they started off intimating, but now Rode are developing some sweet original microphones and capsules. They put 1,000,000.00 into the development of their HS1 capsule used in their NT2000 mic - which is ground breaking in it's continuously variable polar pattern, pad, hi-pass. Their Classic II is a stellar mic too. Video gear is a side thing that took off like wildfire for them. Yes they cloned the MKH-416, but they made an awesome shotgun available for half the price without compromising quality.
 
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Rode has no connection with Opteka, their mic was a straight Rode Videomic knock off. It's been tested at Rode here and it's much noisier and less sensitive across the frequency range.

All Rode mics have a free 10yr warranty when you register your purchase on line at Rode.

The Opteka mic didn't have this warranty and this is all moot because their knock off is no longer available ..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Opteka-Video-Microphone-Canon-T3i-T2i-1Ds-A1S-NEW-/370535379009

Cheers.
 
Mitch.Kear said:
Of course Rode would say that. Just as Sennheiser would say the same of an NTG3
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OK Mitch we get it you hate Rode for some reason.

The mic this thread is about is a cheap copy. They have chosen to copy the look to confuse purchasers who don't look too close.

The NTG3 is not a 416 copy. It is aimed at the same market and it is the same type of microphone, But it doesn't sound the same and it doesn't have the same pattern. Was it designed to attract folks who like the 416? I would say yes. Is it designed to fool people into thinking they bought a 416? Absolutely not. And that is a HUGE difference.

If we wanted to get picky about companies one could say Sennheiser hasn't really come up with any "new" mics in a very long time, where the VideoMic was a "new" mic that wasn't just a variation on something mic companies had been doing for decades.

If you don't like them fine, thats an opinion and your entitled to it. But it is not accurate to put Rode in the same class as cheap junk chinese mics.
Rode has produced quality products at an affordable price and has also produced a number of products that were actually new ideas.
 
Noiz2 I have to agree. I'm all for calling out companies on their shenanigans, but I don't see (or hear) Rode as having anything to be ashamed of. They put a lot of money into the development of their mics and come up with very nice products, and offer the best warrantee out there. They created the VideoMic for crying out loud! That's a groundbreaking piece of kit in that they put out a high quality mic for consumer cameras, and at a great price. And nobody can beat that mic in it's category. The NTG-3 is fricking' great sounding too and beats anything under 1,000.00.
 
Alright, folks. Enough of the brand-bickering. This has absolutely nothing to do with the OP.
 
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Chadfish said:
I'm all for calling out companies on their shenanigans, but I don't see (or hear) Rode as having anything to be ashamed of... They created the VideoMic for crying out loud! That's a groundbreaking piece of kit in that they put out a high quality mic for consumer cameras, and at a great price....
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I don't hate Rode, I just don't think they are pro quality but they have nothing to be ashamed of for being a "prosumer" company. Opteka isn't doing anything different than any of the other companies in the same. As for the video mic I wouldn't really know but it appears to be a good choice for video guys. Its not a mic that a sound guy would be using though. I forget the mic but I believe it was an apex mic next to an akg that were both open. The wiring and casing was the exact same just lower quality material. Pretty crazzy.
 
Chadfish said:
http://opteka.com/vm100.aspx

So what's up with this Opteka VM-100 Video Condenser Shotgun Microphone? Can they do this? Maybe they have a deal with Rode. Anyone know anything about it?
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Unfortunately, the audio biz (manufacturing side) is cut-throat. Companies overseas, especially in one particular country, buy a copy of a mic they think would make them a decent profit, somewhat reverse engineer it, and then sell it on the market for less than the original. Or they get ahold of the prints.

Sadly it happens all the time. Let me show you an example:

avantone_bv1.jpgMicrophone designed at my last company. Designed from the ground up (body, capsule grille, electronics, the works).

Alctron-BV200-tube-condenser-microphones-recording-microphones-performance-microphone.summ.jpgSix months later, we see this one on the market. But sonically..........this is a doorstop in comparison. But it did cut into our market for the BV-1. The funny thing was they copied the tube venting on the back side of the mic. Which was an inverted V (signifying an A), three horizontal dashs (E), and a V. What they didn't realize, that symbol represented the name of our company. LOL, joke's on them.

A smaller company, such as the one I used to work at, cannot afford to get international lawyers, and get into trade disputes. So what can be done? I wonder if Rode has an agreement of if they are going to be fighting this also?

But like I said the audio manufacturing side gets ugly.
 
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Mitch.Kear said:
I don't hate Rode, I just don't think they are pro quality but they have nothing to be ashamed of for being a "prosumer" company. Opteka isn't doing anything different than any of the other companies in the same. As for the video mic I wouldn't really know but it appears to be a good choice for video guys. Its not a mic that a sound guy would be using though. I forget the mic but I believe it was an apex mic next to an akg that were both open. The wiring and casing was the exact same just lower quality material. Pretty crazzy.
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Mitch, there are a lot of pretty well known recording artists that like Rode plenty. Rode doesn't have quite the cache in the video world, but in music, they are well regarded. Music, of course, trumps the size of our little video world by a couple of magnitudes.

Grant
 
The Rode Videomic is still the worlds biggest selling mic in its class and Rode has no agreement or licence whatsoever with Optek to make and market their Videomic.

While the Optek VM100 looks exactly like the Rode Videomic, inside it's not.

There are other cowboy Videomics on the market and we think, coming from the same factory.

Cheers.
 
Grant said:
Mitch, there are a lot of pretty well known recording artists that like Rode plenty. Rode doesn't have quite the cache in the video world, but in music, they are well regarded. Music, of course, trumps the size of our little video world by a couple of magnitudes.

Grant
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It's weird, I thought the opposite. I started with music and found (at least with the people I was working with) that Rode was not a respected name at all for the recording industry as a pro mic company. I don't think if you do a search for mic lists at real studios Rode will be on any of them. Hearing many people here talk about the great quality made me think that the film guys think differently.

In the end it's just my personal opinion and I will use the mics I like and you can use yours. Someone suggested a cheap shotgun for doing handheld so I bought an NTG2 that I have been using and it does the job. For $200 brand new inc tax you can't beat it!
 
Doc Bernard said:
Unfortunately, the audio biz (manufacturing side) is cut-throat. Companies overseas, especially in one particular country, buy a copy of a mic they think would make them a decent profit, somewhat reverse engineer it, and then sell it on the market for less than the original. Or they get ahold of the prints.

Sadly it happens all the time. Let me show you an example:

View attachment 41139Microphone designed at my last company. Designed from the ground up (body, capsule grille, electronics, the works).

View attachment 41138Six months later, we see this one on the market. But sonically..........this is a doorstop in comparison. But it did cut into our market for the BV-1. The funny thing was they copied the tube venting on the back side of the mic. Which was an inverted V (signifying an A), three horizontal dashs (E), and a V. What they didn't realize, that symbol represented the name of our company. LOL, joke's on them.

A smaller company, such as the one I used to work at, cannot afford to get international lawyers, and get into trade disputes. So what can be done? I wonder if Rode has an agreement of if they are going to be fighting this also?

But like I said the audio manufacturing side gets ugly.
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Check this one out.

Apex 460 and Telefunken M16

m16mkII_circuit.jpg
 
Mitch.Kear said:
Check this one out.

Apex 460 and Telefunken M16

View attachment 41145
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I believe this is front and back of the same mic. I think your missing the second picture. The file name implies this is the Telefunken, not a comparison.

But your point is well taken. I bet they look very close.

Actually I'm right, and so are you.

Here is an interesting link on the topic.

Telefunken was sourcing from China for this "cheap" mic. They were not clones they were actually the same mic. Telefunken was doing the rebranding!

That is one crazy and sad story.

thanks for making me look.

Cheers
SK


Scott Koue
www.scottkouesound.com
http://imdb.com/name/nm0468138/
 
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Noiz2 said:
I believe this is front and back of the same mic. I think your missing the second picture. The file name implies this is the Telefunken, not a comparison.But your point is well taken. I bet they look very close.Actually I'm right, and so are you.Here is an interesting link on the topic.Telefunken was sourcing from China for this "cheap" mic. They were not clones they were actually the same mic. Telefunken was doing the rebranding!That is one crazy and sad story.thanks for making me look.CheersSKScott Kouewww.scottkouesound.comhttp://imdb.com/name/nm0468138/
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Oops haha. It is sad, I thought that was the comparison pic. If you google you can see on images. I read an article about these mics with that picture in it.
 
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