It's Tuesday which means it's time for another microphone test / review. One of our viewers "Ugly Potato" has requested that I test out the Excelvan BM-800 which is what I am doing.
What's in the Box
First lets cover what comes in the box.
- Cardioid Condenser Microphone (XLR)
- Microphone Shock mount
- Microphone Cable (XLR to 3.5mm)
- Ball Pop Filter
- User Manual / Spec Sheet
I do want to remind you that it does not include a microphone stand. It only includes the shock mount. Therefore you will need to invest in a microphone stand, and you can pick one up for about $13 (Neewer Boom Stand).
Performance / Features
This microphone states that it requires 48v of phantom power, however, I have completed multiple tests using a USB audio adapter (which provides a maximum of 5v to the microphone) and it seems to work perfectly fine. It DOES require some amount of power to function, and plugging it directly into your computers microphone port will not work (at least that's what I'm told from many viewers).
This microphone boasts a uni-directional polar pattern, and it works relatively well at isolating the sound source from background noise. The frequency response is 20Hz - 20KHz, and it does a really nice job of capturing the audio.
Conclusion
To be blunt about it, this mic sounds good. It doesn't just sound good for a $40 mic, it just sounds good for a mic. I did notice that this mic is quite a bit brighter than your typical American microphone, but a difference in tonality is to be expected. Basically, this mic produces a lot more high end than a Shure SM7b. If you want to hear a sample, check out the video above; the whole video was recorded with the microphone.
Overall, this mic is a great starting podcast microphone, especially if you are on a budget. But before picking it up, make sure that your recording device can supply power to the mic, or just pick up a USB Audio Adapter (the one I use is linked below). If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments on this site or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP.
BM-800 on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1LGYo7Z
USB Audio Adapter on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Pe0uyq
