Deity V-Mic D3 Pro Super-Cardioid Directional Shotgun Microphone with Mic Deadcat Windshield, Rycote Shockmount for DSLRs, Camcorders, Smartphones, Tablets, Handy Recorders

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DEITY also has a different take on adding +20dB of gain. Unlike some other microphones that use a simple 1 or 2 position toggle switch, the V-Mic D3 Pro uses an adjustable knob so you can dial in exactly how much gain you need. In some ways, it’s almost like having an audio mixer built into the microphone. Inside each microphone is a 14mm pre-polarized capsule that offers a flat natural frequency response. Unlike other microphones on the market that have a pronounced bass boost that ends up mudding the sound, Deity claims that the D3 Pro offers the user a very realistic representation of sounds as they originally occurred. The V-Mic D3 Pro features a stepless analog gain dial. Integrated bump guards help prevent the dial from being accidentally rotated. The gain (up to 20 dB) is added on a linear scale, so you can dial in the exact amount of boost you need for the shot. The pre-polarized condenser capsule utilizes a supercardioid polar pattern, which yields low off-axis coloration, high SPL handling, and a high signal-to-noise ratio. Boasting a 50 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range with low noise and distortion, the V-Mic D3 Pro adheres to the demanding standards of high-resolution recording. A stepless dial on the mic's bottom provides up to 20 dB of gain for easy optimization of levels. Activate the onboard low-cut filter at 75 Hz or 150 Hz to reduce rumble and bass buildup.

There is an adjustable step-less gain control that lets you change the output level of the microphone. This goes from 0-10. The trouble is, unlike the version on the RØDE VideoMic NTG where the level you select is always shown on the top of the microphone, on the Comica you can only see when 3-6 is selected. With any other values you set, the red indicator can’t be seen. The D-XLR is designed to have a 3.5mm TRS standard wired input. So, many other 3.5mm standard TRS microphones will work with it. Which version should you buy? A further improvement on many rival’s camera microphones is the mic cable. One end is not permanently fixed into the microphone’s tube. The smart TRRS coiled cable is a separate element, so it can easily be swapped over or replaces. A handy feature to have if it were ever to become damaged or you need to use a TRS connector instead of the supplied TRRS cable. Direct competition comes in the form of the RØDE VideoMic NTG and the DEITY D3 Pro. The DEITY D3 Pro was introduced about a year before RØDE bought out its VideoMic NTG. The Comica CVM-VM20 Shotgun Microphone is bound to draw comments that it looks like a copy of the VideoMic NTG and the DEITY D3 Pro. That is certainly valid criticism.So, if all three microphones sound similar, why have I chosen the Deity mics over the well-established Rode video microphones? When researching the Deity V-Mic D3 I watched a couple of YouTube videos that reassured me that the audio quality was much higher than the relatively low price would suggest. Now that I’ve tried the microphone on both outdoor and interior shoots I’m really impressed with the results. The Deity V-Mic D3 Pro, on the other hand, is extremely directional and uses a Super Cardioid pattern. Compared to the usual Cardioid polar pattern found on the above mics, it’s much narrower. Across 18 inches or so from the top of my monitor to where I sat in my chair, it lost virtually none of its character. My voice still sounded perfectly natural with a surprising amount of bass. Few sacrifices. Have a listen:

There is a simple button on the microphone that you press to activate these low-cut filters. A blue LED indicates which one has been selected. If the blue LED is off the no low-cut filter has been selected. Adjustable Stepless Gain ControlThe other occasion when you might consider using the low-cut filter is when recording outdoors in light wind. The foam windshield will not stop anything but the lightest of wind blasts but activating the low-cut filter can remove some of that wind noise. However, getting a dead cat for your microphone would be a better option when shooting outdoors. Each number on the gain knob is half the actual gain boost on the microphone. So, 1 = +2dB, 6 = +12dB, and 10 = +20dB While the system on the Comica isn’t nearly as full-featured as what you get with the RØDE it still does the job. Wind Jammer

The battery life sounds a little poor, but one charge is going to be enough to take you through four working days of non-stop filming. So really the internal battery performance is much better than good enough. External phantom power The V-Mic D3 Pro uses a built-in 320mAh lithium battery, which powers the mic for up to 51 hours. Unnecessary battery usage is avoided by an automatic power-off function that turns off the V-Mic D3 Pro after 15 minutes in standby mode. The internal battery recharges via USB in approximately two hours. The CVM-VM20 is a solid offering that can be used for a lot of different applications. The build quality is decent and the microphone looks like it would survive the rigors of field use. The main advantage the D3 Pro has over the VideoMic NTG is that it has a balanced output which makes it a better option if you want to use it as a wired connection on a boom.In addition to recording with the iPhone, I also recorded directly to my Canon DSLR when shooting some video and I also connected the D3 Pro to my MacBook Pro so that I could use it as an external microphone for video conferences. Each time I used the microphone it performed admirably. One of the things I like the most about it is how versatile it is. You don’t have to be confined to using it to record video interviews – it can work just fine as a connected microphone for podcasting or vlogging, too. CONCLUSION No XLR output. If you want to use the microphone with a professional camera or audio mixer you would have to use an adapter. It would have been nice to see Comica include a cable with an XLR plug. It can reduce 12-48V phantom power down to 3V for microphones with 3.5mm TRS connectors to run off Plug-In Power. This setting should be a good starting point when you are recording talking head interviews or vlogging. With that advice, the shorter D3 might be better if you’re recording in a small domestic room with reflective walls.

When comparing the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro vs Rode Videomic Pro Plus there’s one inescapable truth, the D3 Pro is significantly cheaper. I mean, a lot cheaper Just to be clear with our readers, I have never used the DEITY D3 Pro, so I can’t say how it compares against the VideoMic NTG and the Comica CVM-VM20 when it comes to sound quality. Interestingly, whichever type of AAA battery you choose it will power the D3 for at least three times longer than the internal lithium battery will power the D3 Pro, which lasts 50 hrs. The comparison makes the battery performance of the Pro version sound poor but it’s not. It really emphasizes what a stunning performer Deity has created with the standard D3.The microphone has an In-built rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is claimed to provide up 60 hours of recording. I didn’t leave the mic on for 60 hours to test this, but it easily lasts for a couple of days without needing to be recharged. While the Deity Microphones V-Mic D3 Pro is clearly not for entry-level streamers, where it sells itself is its versatility. This is a mic that you can use for your stream, take it to record the intro for your YouTube video or home movie with the family, and know that it’s up to any challenge you can throw at it. It’s sturdy metal construction is clearly meant to weather heavy use, so you can be confident that it won’t fail because you’ve made the most of it.