Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode we have a look at and listen to the new MOVO X3-II shotgun microphone. This budget shotgun mic is a solid option for anyone building out their first filmmaking kit, but its audio quality is definitely good enough for pro-sumer applications as well! Noteworthy features include both camera-top and boom pole mounting solutions, an inbuilt high pass filter, and multiple powering options. Let’s take a closer look and listen!
You can find more from Allen here on his channel: youtube.com/@SoundSpeeds
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX. See school.learnlightandsound.com for more info!
Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com: ko-fi.com/curtisjudd
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- MOVO X3 II Shotgun Microphone — Amazon geni.us/d33BUJd
Some of my other studio gear:
- Sennheiser MKH50 microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/iYb065
- Sound Devices MixPre audio recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/O8e0
- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon geni.us/8a8tt
- Aputure LS 600x Pro Bicolor LED Light — Aputure, B&H, Amazon geni.us/EreRQa
- Aputure Light Dome III Softbox — Aputure, B&H geni.us/AVHU1p
- Amaran 300c RGBWW Single-Point LED Light — geni.us/uGkDX
- Amaran Spotlight SE — Aputure, B&H, Amazon geni.us/4DuyTz
- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H geni.us/GWKt
- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H geni.us/ABYB
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon geni.us/qwsEs
- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon geni.us/InspOl
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon geni.us/gr47
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2024, Curtis Judd
#MOVO #X3II #ShotgunMicrophone #Microphone
Index
00:00 Intro
00:13 Raw audio samples
00:51 What is the X3?
01:16 Kit includes…
01:49 Powering options
01:58 High-pass filter
02:17 Budget mic issues…
02:30 Practical noise floor sample
03:05 Build quality
03:15 Sibilance
03:25 Off-axis coloration
04:34 Max SPL test
05:58 Plosives
07:09 Radio frequency interference
07:30 How does it do with wind?
10:15 Handling noise
11:00 Camera-top sample
11:26 Mic positioning is important!
11:48 Pricing & warranty
12:02 Cons
12:06 Noisy when battery powered
13:40 High-frequency loss
14:00 Off-axis coloration
14:18 My take
14:26 Please buy my courses
14:45 Summary
In this episode we have a look at and listen to the new MOVO X3-II shotgun microphone. This budget shotgun mic is a solid option for anyone building out their first filmmaking kit, but its audio quality is definitely good enough for pro-sumer applications as well! Noteworthy features include both camera-top and boom pole mounting solutions, an inbuilt high pass filter, and multiple powering options. Let’s take a closer look and listen!
You can find more from Allen here on his channel: youtube.com/@SoundSpeeds
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX. See school.learnlightandsound.com for more info!
Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com: ko-fi.com/curtisjudd
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- MOVO X3 II Shotgun Microphone — Amazon geni.us/d33BUJd
Some of my other studio gear:
- Sennheiser MKH50 microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/iYb065
- Sound Devices MixPre audio recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/O8e0
- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon geni.us/8a8tt
- Aputure LS 600x Pro Bicolor LED Light — Aputure, B&H, Amazon geni.us/EreRQa
- Aputure Light Dome III Softbox — Aputure, B&H geni.us/AVHU1p
- Amaran 300c RGBWW Single-Point LED Light — geni.us/uGkDX
- Amaran Spotlight SE — Aputure, B&H, Amazon geni.us/4DuyTz
- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H geni.us/GWKt
- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H geni.us/ABYB
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon geni.us/qwsEs
- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon geni.us/InspOl
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon geni.us/gr47
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2024, Curtis Judd
#MOVO #X3II #ShotgunMicrophone #Microphone
Index
00:00 Intro
00:13 Raw audio samples
00:51 What is the X3?
01:16 Kit includes…
01:49 Powering options
01:58 High-pass filter
02:17 Budget mic issues…
02:30 Practical noise floor sample
03:05 Build quality
03:15 Sibilance
03:25 Off-axis coloration
04:34 Max SPL test
05:58 Plosives
07:09 Radio frequency interference
07:30 How does it do with wind?
10:15 Handling noise
11:00 Camera-top sample
11:26 Mic positioning is important!
11:48 Pricing & warranty
12:02 Cons
12:06 Noisy when battery powered
13:40 High-frequency loss
14:00 Off-axis coloration
14:18 My take
14:26 Please buy my courses
14:45 Summary
