With the rise of streaming and the potential to earn money as a gamer, more people than ever are beginning channels and streams. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need two things: great video and outstanding audio. While gameplay can take care of most of your video needs, delivering excellent vocals demands an excellent mic. Today, we’re looking at the Deity Microphones V-Mic D3 Pro, a premium tool designed to be the perfect off-camera solution for every kind of content creator. Read on for our full review!
Specifications
- Current Price:
- Transducer Principles: Pre-Polarized Condenser
- Dynamic Range: 114dB (per IEC651)
- Pick Up Pattern: Super Cardioid
- SPL: 130dB SPL (@1KHZ, 1%THD into 1k)
- Frequency Range: 50HZ ~ 20KHZ
- THD: Less than/equal to: 0.1%
- Output Impedance: 200 Ohms
- Battery Type: Lithium Ion
- Sensitivity: -35 +/- 2dB re 1V/Pa @1KHZ
- Output Port: Smart 3.5mm TRRS
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 78dB SPL (@1KHZ, rel 1Pa per IEC651)
- Housing Material: Aluminum Metal
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This review marks a first for MMORPG and one I wouldn’t have anticipated us taking on several years ago. Streaming has completely changed the game, however, and more people than ever are signing up for Twitch and even creating YouTube channels hoping to build a community. It’s a short jump from streamer to YouTuber as you build an audience and, once you get comfortable in front of the camera, a whole new creative world opens up. As a result, this review is the first of two focusing on professional pieces of gear for those of you ready to take that next step and start creating. The next will be a gimbal, which is great for creating video and just plain cool tech, even if it’s well outside the world of gaming.
The Deity V-Mic D3 Pro is, technically, a videography microphone. The two wheels you see in the bottom right of the picture above are actually wheels meant to tighten it to the top of a camera – but don’t let that scare you. On the bottom of that mount is a standard 1/4 thread which you can use with many boom arms like a standard streaming mic. The Pro version also connects with a standard 3.5mm auxiliary cable, so can easily connect to a PC. The videography focus also makes it perfect for streamers, moreso, I’d say that most normal condenser microphones.
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Most USB and XLR “streaming” microphones are made to be positioned right in front your mouth. That means contending with a bulky bit of equipment on your facecam. Add to that a boom arm and pop filter and you’re contending with quite a bit of clutter. The V-Mic D3 Pro allows you to position the microphone back, completely out of scene without most of the usual sacrifices that would cause.
Take a Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica AT2020. They’re well-known microphones that offers good capture for the price. Proper microphone technique for mics of that type dictates having them close to your mouth. It’s within a small cone that they’re able to accurately capture tones inherent in your voice and create the pleasant warmth that makes a microphone easy to listen to. Get close enough and you’ll engage the proximity effect for a nice, thick “radio voice.” Slide either of those microphones (or most desktop condenser mics) back on your desk and you’ll lose all of that. With a matter of inches, you’ll sound cold, distant, and thin with virtually all of that microphone’s unique character obliterated.
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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:
The one thing to be aware of is that, while this microphone is very directional, you’ll still have to deal with sound reflections the same as any other mic. When you increase distance, you increase the potential reverberation the microphone picks up. If you’re using it in a carpeted room, this likely won’t be an issue but in my office with hardwood floors, I had to lower the gain on the microphone and raise the microphone volume inside of windows.
Because the V-Mic is a professional piece of equipment made to be mounted on top of a camera, it offers a few other unique benefits that make it much more versatile than your average computer mic. As I mentioned earlier, this is a piece of videography equipment, so if you fall into the camp of using a DSLR or mirrorless for your stream, you’ll have a complete solution, ready-to-go. But even if you don’t use a fancy camera for your stream and instead have one as a family camera, you can easily use this for just about anything.
Second, because it’s designed mount on a handheld camera it also comes with a very good Rycote shock mount. Whether you’re attaching the D3 Pro to a boom arm or taking it on the go, you won’t have to worry about unwanted noise. It also includes a nice foam windscreen to block those plosives and even wind noise.
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Around the back you’ll find your controls. There’s a very nice stepless gain control to silently adjust your levels on the fly. Even at higher levels, I was impressed at how quiet the mic is but it’s sensitive enough where you won’t need to turn it very high unless it’s far away. There’s also a two stage Low Cut Filter for 75 and 150Hz. This is great for cutting out low frequency noise, like your house’s HVAC system. Just below this control, you’ll find the USB Type-C charging port and the 3.5mm line-out.
Final Thoughts
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.
Speaking from personal experience, if you’re the kind of charismatic person who wants to host a stream there’s a good chance you’ll also be considering a YouTube channel at some point. Whether it’s for audience building or simply another creative outlet, it’s a step most of us will take on our journeys are creators. The V-Mic D3 Pro will more than provide for live commentary and voice over while allowing you to keep your camera space clean. It’s not for everyone, or even most, streamers but it’s a stellar piece of kit whose value increases if you even moderately do other video work. If you fall into that camp, this microphone comes highly recommended.
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Pros
- Excellent vocal capture across a greater distance than normal streaming mics
- Easily adaptable for use with standard boom arms
- Highly versatile, use it for more than just your PC
- Two-stage low cut filter to cut out background noise like an air conditioner
- Highly directional, great for isolating only your voice
Cons
- Very expensive compared to traditional computer microphones
- Sound reflections become a larger issue with increased distance
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of review.
