Description
The SMX-30 was engineered to be the ultimate video microphone with outstanding audio quality, appealing design, ergonomic form factor, and all of the functional features one expects in a top-of-the-line, camera-mounted microphone.
Stereo or Mono? Why Choose?
If you only have the budget to buy one microphone for your camera, why should you have to choose between mono or stereo? The SMX-30 is stereo/mono switchable, so you don’t have to.
Housed inside an innovative casing, the SMX-30 is actually two microphones packaged into one. The stereo microphone is positioned at the top and consists of 2 cardioid polar pattern microphone elements spaced apart at a 120º angle for capturing a natural sounding stereo image. The mono microphone uses a super-cardioid polar pattern to focus on sound in front of the camera and is equipped with the same high-quality element as Azden’s SGM-250 shotgun microphone to record broadcast quality sound.
Gain Control
The audio controls on DSLR cameras are limited, if they exist at all. And DSLRs are notoriously known to have low-quality microphone preamps that add noise to the video soundtrack when the gain is turned up. That’s why Azden designed the SMX-30 with a +20dB gain booster; so you can get a strong, clean audio signal into your camera, minimizing the need to turn up the noisy preamp.
Also included is a -10dB pad to protect against distortion when recording in loud environments such as live concerts and motorsport events.
Frequency Response
The SMX-30 has a wide frequency response ranging from 40Hz to 20kHz, so the audio you capture will sound full and natural. Additionally, a low-cut filter switch is included for reducing the level of low frequencies below 120Hz, which is especially useful for mitigating noise caused by air conditioners, wind and traffic.
Power
The SMX-30 is powered by two AA batteries; a lower cost option than the 9V battery that is used in some competitor microphones. The SMX-30 can achieve 24 hours of operation with a single set of batteries with absolutely no degradation of sound quality. The battery indicator LED light lets you know when it’s time to change batteries with up to a 1 hour warning.
Maximize battery life by using the unique “Auto” power setting. When set to Auto, the SMX-30 can detect when a camera is on and will automatically power on and off with the camera (requires a mic input that provides plug-in power). Ever leave your microphone on by accident to discover that the batteries are dead the next time you try to use it? Eliminate that possibility by always leaving the SMX-30 in “Auto” mode.
Integrated Shock Absorbing Shoe Mount
Integrated into the design of the SMX-30 is a custom made, shock absorbing shoe mount to isolate the microphone from camera motor and handling noise. The mount is designed to fit the standard camera shoe and comes with a ¼”-20 thread at the bottom for mounting to boom poles and other camera accessories.
Features
- Switch between stereo and mono microphones
- Level adjustment: -10dB, 0dB, +20dB
- +20dB gain booster alleviates noise produced by low-quality camera preamps
- -10dB pad for loud sound environments
- Low-cut filter selectable at 120Hz, 3dB/octave
- Operates on (2) AA batteries
- Low noise, high sensitivity, wide frequency response
- 10 year warranty with registration
- Custom, detachable foam windscreen
- Integrated shock-absorbing shoe-mount with 1/4”-20 thread
- Battery indicator LED light
- 3.5mm stereo mini-jack output with included audio output cable
Anissa Corralez –
This gives me the best quality sound+video all in one!
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Lexi –
I do small podcasts with my friends and we decided to all go in on this bad boy. Wow, let me tell you guys.. The sound quality is unreal. Our podcast episodes turn out beautiful sounding. We are all very pleased with this microphone! Worth the extra $$$.
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch
Tom Sylvester (verified owner) –
The audio quality is nothing short of superb. Very impressed.
(1) (0) Watch Unwatch
Tony Chaney –
I watched several YouTube reviews on this mic before buying it. I think for the money it’s as good, if not better than its more expensive competitors. I’m using it on a Canon 70D.
(1) (0) Watch Unwatch
Stuart –
We do a lot of run and gun exercise videos and were using the Rode Pro R mics and they jus weren’t cutting it. The SMX-30 gives a way cleaner signal and is an all around more versatile mic. It blew our minds when compared to our old gear.
(1) (0) Watch Unwatch
Lou –
This microphone was what I was looking for to use on my Nikon digital camera
(1) (0) Watch Unwatch
Alan –
The unit is pleasantly compact and light-weight.The suspension is effective (compliant) & sturdy yet compact. Uses two, AA batteries that last about 24 hrs. Though this is significantly less run-time than most otherDSLR video mics on the market, the increased current draw is a direct consequence of the built-inlow-impedance pre-amplifier design. Lower impedance should yield a better signal-to-noise ratio.The easy to access battery door has a nice, sturdy (thick) design.The cord with a 3.5mm mini-jack is not too long (like many) nor too bulky (like one that is coiled).It is permanently mounted with good strain relief. Plug-in connections can be problematic. My audio is much improved and I really like being able to quickly & easily switch between shotgun & stereo with a minimum of equipment.
(1) (0) Watch Unwatch
D Kane –
I bought this mic for my recent trip to the Galapagos Islands and I am glad to have done so. Originally I was considering buying a new additional stereo mic to compliment my Rode NTG3 for the expansive sounds of surf, birds and who knows what else the Galapagos offers. Upon further research I determined that this approach would involve way too much equipment and hassle. The SMX-30 had just been introduced and it looked like a good product so I bought it with the furry windscreen. This is a very good microphone. The shotgun capsule compares very favorable to my Rode Video Mic Pro with a little different sound in the treble, where the Rode seems to have a more pronounced bass. They are both good, just different. The SMX-30 also has a very nice X Y stereo capsule that creates a wonderful expansive ambience that was exactly what I was looking for and all in one small package. The suspension system works well and the furry cover is effective up until about 25 mph winds. There is a very neat feature that lets the mic power on and off as the camera is powered on and off. This means watching the mic batteries is not necessary, one less thing to worry about.The only possible problem that might arise is when pressing your face against the back of a DSLR style camera, the back of the mic suspension system may come in contact with your forehead. This happened to me once and it is not a big issue, just something to be aware of. I am very happy with this purchase and it is now my go to mic for my GH4.
(1) (0) Watch Unwatch