At 213 mm lengthy, the XDM-100 microphone is barely 3mm shorter than the RE20 or RE320.
Right here is my evaluation of the brand new U$249 RØDE XDM-100 studio dynamic USB microphone. It’s RØDE’s first dynamic microphone with an inside DSP (digital sign processor), which makes it historic. Though the XDM-100 certainly works with macOS and Home windows, as of publication date of this evaluation, the XDN-100 inside digital sign processor’s options are solely accessible by way of RØDE’s UNIFY software program, which is now free for everybody, though it’s at present out there just for Home windows 10 or 11. Forward you’ll discover written info and audio recordings completed with and with out the DSP’s options lively, in addition to a blind check with one other dynamic studio microphone I reviewed not too long ago. There’ll even be a short fictional dialog about microphones with shock jock Howard Stern.
Above, XDM-100 with shockmount and windscreen. (Picture courtesy of RØDE)
Scope of this XDM-100 mic evaluation
This evaluation is primarily concerning the XDM-100 microphone (and its included equipment) and mentions concerning the PSA1+ versatile increase arm (not included) and NTH-100 isolating headphones (reviewed right here, not included). This isn’t a evaluation of the UNIFY software program, which I plan to cowl utterly sooner or later. On this XDM-100 mic evaluation, I take advantage of the UNIFY software program to be able to entry sure options within the DSP so you may hear how the microphone sounds with and with out these options. The UNIFY software program is now transitioning from being a paid product (for customers of microphones which aren’t from RØDE) to a free product for all (however now works completely with sure RØDE microphones). It’s best to let the mud settle earlier than reviewing the UNIFY software program totally.
Above, XDM-100 with out shockmount or windscreen. (Picture courtesy of RØDE)
RØDE’s pitch on the XDM-100
The XDM-100 is an expert dynamic USB microphone that (per RØDE) delivers wealthy, broadcast audio ideally suited for dwell streaming and gaming. It options RØDE’s ultra-low-noise, high-gain Revolution Preamp and high-resolution 24-bit/48 kHz analog-digital conversion guaranteeing pristine audio high quality. It comes with a high-quality pop protect and shock mount for mitigating undesirable plosives (pops), knocks and bumps. A high-power headphone output offers flawless zero-latency audio monitoring and playback, with hands-on stage management and microphone mute performance.
The XDM-100 additionally encompasses a highly effective inside digital sign processing (DSP), which could be unlocked utilizing the UNIFY software program. This permits customers so as to add superior APHEX audio processing to their voice – together with a compressor, noise gate, high-pass filter (aka low lower filter), and the legendary Aural Exciter and Huge Backside results – with full granular management over each parameter for crafting their very own signature sound. Collectively, UNIFY and a RØDE X microphone supply a whole audio resolution for streaming or gaming with the complete capabilities of an expert broadcast studio.
It’s doable that sooner or later, the XDM-100’s DSP could also be accessible from different software program like RØDE Join or RØDE Central. If that ever occurs, I’ll cowl that in a future article.
Significance of the DSP in a microphone
The interior DSP (digital sign processor) in a microphone (or audio interface) is effective since it could alleviate processing in a number pc, regardless that (on this case), the pc and a chunk of software program is required to activate or modify the DSP. It takes the pc a tiny little bit of assets to try this, versus having the pc truly carry out the results in actual time.
The XDM-100 measurement
After studying my latest article StreamYard-a nice expertise, with pleased surprises (illustrated above, the place I used to be utilizing the XDM-100 and an almost invisible IFB as a substitute of the NTH-100 headphones), an excellent buddy (Jeff Taylor of Beaker Movies) wrote to me: “Your microphone appears good, however very large!”
Jeff Taylor is kind of appropriate. That’s why —after I first lined the XDM-100 after RØDE’s announcement a few months in the past, I created this measurement comparability chart:
Size (millimeters, rounded) Weight (grams, rounded) Electro-Voice RE20 216 737 Electro-Voice RE320 216 681 FDUCE SL40 151 463 RØDE Broadcaster 167 577 RØDE Procaster 214 745 RØDE PodMic 172 937 RØDE X XCM-50 (though not broadcast-style in look) 119 492 RØDE X XDM-100 213 700 Shure MV7 153 550 Shure SM7B 190 767
At 213 mm lengthy, the brand new RØDE XDM-100 is closest in size to the RØDE Procaster, Electro-Voice RE20 and RE320. These 4 mics are the longest of the listed mics. Given the dimensions similarity with the RE20, I had a flashback to the Eighties, when shock jock Howard Stern was at WNBC in New York and used the RE20 from Electro Voice, a traditional microphone which even RØDE honored with its personal preset within the RØDECaster Professional.
Above, Howard Stern within the Eighties utilizing the RE20 and its exterior shockmount. He was at WNBC in New York. (Picture courtesy of Fb WNBC tribute.) That’s why, I responded to my buddy who had made that remark concerning the XDM-100’s measurement:
If Howard Stern of the Eighties might have commented about my interview look lined in StreamYard-a nice expertise, with pleased surprises, Howard Stern would doubtless taunt me by saying:
Allan, my microphone is 3 mm longer than yours!
Picture, courtesy of SiriusXm.
Nonetheless, right now Howard Stern apparently makes use of a U$729 Neumann BCM 705 at SiriusXm (which measures 85 mm in size), so I suppose that the present-day Howard Stern would say:
Allan, my microphone is 34 mm shorter than yours!
After all, my remark again to him could be:
Howard, your Neumann BCM 705 sounds nice, however you’re getting plosives manner too usually. It is best to know the trick about placing the magnetic Aston Pop Filter (made for the Aston Aspect microphone) onto the Neumann BCM 705. It simply snaps on, actually solves the plosives and appears prefer it had been made for the BCM 705. It prices solely U$29 however is absolutely onerous to seek out.
XDM-100 specs
Polar Sample: Cardioid
Capsule: Dynamic
Frequency Vary: 20 Hz — 20 kHz
Connectivity: USB-C
Analog Outputs: 3.5mm Headphone Output
Pattern Fee: 48kHz
Bit Depth: 24-bit
OS Necessities: MacOS 10.12, Home windows 10
Internet weight: 700g
Dimensions: 52 mm x 213 mm
Included equipment: PSM1 Shock Mount, SC29 USB-C to USB-C cable, 3m headphone extension cable, pop protect
Blind check recording with the FDUCE SL40
Under are blind check recordings towards the FDUCE SL40 (reviewed right here). No DSP results had been lively within the XDM-100 throughout this blind check recording. Nonetheless, there can be DSP results revealed within the upcoming part.
Above, microphone 1.
Above, microphone 2.
Precise recordings of the XDM-100
Within the above recording, I’m going by means of every preset of the DSP, together with two positions of the high-pass filter (aka low lower filter): 75 Hz and 150 Hz, the smooth noise gate, compressor, Aural Exciter, Huge Backside. There are certainly granular changes out there for all of those results. Nonetheless, for brevity, I used the preset quantity for each.
Latency free monitoring
The latency free monitoring works nice and has loads of energy. It additionally works for listening to playback the host app (UNIFY) to listen to different members, cart (sound board) playback. The microphone is robotically muted when enjoying again a recorded absorb UNIFY. When related to a Mac (with out UNIFY), the latency free monitoring additionally works very effectively.
Muting choices
You may mute and unmute utilizing the built-in button on the XDM-100. Nonetheless, there’s a noticeable click on, as you in all probability heard within the check recording above. You may also mute and unmute a selected mic supply utilizing the icon inside the UNIFY software program, which is far quieter by comparability. No muting choice is out there at present when related to a Mac pc.
Scores
Construct high quality and look
Sound high quality with out DSP results
(On Home windows or macOS)
Sound high quality with DSP results
(though at present out there solely with UNIFY on Home windows)
Latency-free monitoring
(though at present out there solely with UNIFY on Home windows)
Mechanical mute button performance
Software program mute performance
(though at present out there solely with UNIFY on Home windows)
Shockmount efficiency
Key to blind check
Within the blind check, microphone 1 was the FDUCE SL40 and microphone 2 was the XDM-100.
Pricing and availability
The XDM-100 is out there for U$249 together with the exterior shockmount and exterior windscreen.
Conclusions
I applaud RØDE for creating its first dynamic microphone with a built-in DSP, the XDM-100. That is really historic. I additionally love the sound high quality and suppleness, though to take full benefit of the XDM-100, Home windows is at present required. Hopefully, some software program for macOS will have the ability to entry the DSP too.
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FTC disclosure
RØDE will not be paying for this evaluation. Some producers listed above have despatched Allan Tépper evaluation models, together with RØDE and FDUCE, however not but from Aston or Neumann. Among the producers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to hold out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. Up to now, not one of the producers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur, BeyondPodcasting, CapicúaFM or TuSaludSecreta applications, though they’re welcome to take action, and a few are, could also be (or could have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition journal. Some hyperlinks to 3rd events listed on this article and/or on this net web page could not directly profit TecnoTur LLC by way of affiliate applications. Allan Tépper’s opinions are his personal. Allan Tépper will not be chargeable for misuse or misunderstanding of knowledge he shares.