VM40 Wireless Shotgun Microphone with 4 Transmitters and 1 Receiver

Amazingly - although I'd seen comprehensive tests online - when I bought the 'combo' version (2 mics) and tried them against the 'industry standard' Sennheiser 416, I found the Comica (dreadful name!) VM40 mics were easily the equivalent ..with almost IDENTICAL SOUND.. of the 416, up to 8 feet and beyond ..but with a touch more available bass, if you want that. The VM40 has identical pickup range and width as a 416 (but not as narrow as a Schoeps SuperCMIT, which I also tested it against, but that's multiple times the price!) ..so just maybe the VM40 has the same capsule inside as some 'knock off' 416 clones..? I'd expected the mic to be not really a proper shotgun, as its instruction leaflet shows the mic capsule to be at the outer end of the short interference tube, not at its rear end next to the electronics, so I thought "maybe it's just a make believe shotgun". But in practice it does give identical output to an old original, genuine 416. The advantages of the VM40 - both the internal recording and also the *wireless* (no cables) transmission, plus a gain control on the mic itself, as well as 32-bit float non-distortion recording, and a handy onboard screen showing battery charge, mode, signal level, etc, make these an incredible bargain! I thought I might be sending the package back as being not up to proper, or even reasonable, quality ..but I'm honestly amazed. [I'm just a buyer; I have no connection with the brand whatever.] Tested against Sennheiser 416, Schoeps SuperCMIT, and recorded on DAT, with Senal (Sony copy) headphones. NOTE: I was using the VM40 through a Soundcraft Signature 12 mixer, with four EQ (tone) adjustments (..low, low-mids, high-mids and top..) which let me match the VM40 precisely to the 416 mic. Used 'raw', without any adjustments, the VM40 was pretty close to the 416, but wasn't as perfectly matched when not using any EQ at all. No XLR cables or adapter are included with the VM40, and its output is only through a 3.5mm jack socket (or wirelessly). Hot pin 2 of a professional XLR connector - if you're using one - should preferably be the RING contact of the 3.5mm TRS plug. Some 3.5mm plugs vary (and the VM40 can also accept TRRS plugs) so not *every* 3.5mm-to-XLR cable will do the job if you're feeding into a device with XLR inputs! [ I also bought from Amazon a Veetop 1m Dual XLR Male to 3.5mm Microphone Cable (XLR Male to 3.5mm mini Jack TRS Balanced Audio Stereo Cable) which looks - and performs - like a splitter cable, though the XLR plugs are marked Red and Black ..and that gives identical output on both XLR plugs, effectively *doubling* the mic's output when fed into a mixer! But the VM40 is a mono mic, of course, not a stereo shotgun. ] NOTE also: The VM40 does NOT need or use 'Plug-In Power' (3.5 volts or thereabouts power up the cable) which Sony mic inputs - and some other equipment - may supply. Do NOT turn on 'Plug-In Power' on your recording - or whatever - device. If connecting to XLR inputs. Also, do NOT use Phantom Power ..if available! All mic power is supplied by the rechargeable batt within the microphone itself, recharged via USB-C, and that cable is supplied with the mic(s). My two VM40s came with their batteries fully charged!

This is an amazing microphone system.. 32-bit float! The fact that you can record directly to the mic is a game changer The prices amazing too! I only have small quirks that prohibit me from giving it five stars One: sometimes the controls on the microphones can be a little finicky, The receiver seems on the cheap side, sometimes you forget to turn it off so the battery drains, I wish it was an option after a certain amount of time it shuts off, If you record longer than an hour on the mics internally it breaks the clip up which is annoying but I can work through it The app sometimes lags when you're trying to get it to correspond with the microphones But this is something every filmmaker podcaster needs to have in their kit ASAP

Microphone quality is decent for the price, but I am slighlty worried about build quality. After only one use, the o-ring on one of the shock mount has fallen-off. Without this o-ring, it is impossible to record without hearing clinking. It makes me wonder how long these will last... Too bad, because it is a really nice kit. I have written to Comica to let them know about this issue. I will wait to hear back from them, but I am still within the return timeframe.