In this short video, we compare the sound quality of the popular Electro-Voice RE50N/D-B and the Audio Technica BP4002 microphone. Both are dynamic omnidirectional handheld mics. Ahead you’ll see and hear the difference, plus see a review of why omnidirectional mics generally are most prominent for field handheld interviews.

Difference between the original RE50/B and the RE50N/D–B

The original RE50/B had a relatively lower output level, which some users found to be too low. At a slightly higher street price of approximately US$199, the RE50N/D–5 has the same design as the original RE50/B but also has neodymium magnet structure, which allows it to offer a higher output level.

Comparison: Audio Technica BP4002 versus Electro-Voice RE50N/D-B and how it was done

My friend María offered the use of her RE50N/D-B, iPad 4th generation, Padcaster mount, DUO-CAPTURE EX, and tripod. Audio Technica sent me a BP4002 microphone for review. Thanks to María and Audio Technica, I was able to make a direct comparison between the two microphones, shot minutes apart in a noisy coffee shop in Miami, Florida, US. All audio went through the high-quality VS microphone preamp in the DUO-CAPTURE EX and was digitized at proper 48 kHz before being sent to the iPad. The audio/video recording was made with FilMiC Pro at 1080p. I imported the clips into FCP X, applied the Dual Mono characteristic, deactivated the unused channel, applied normalization, edited, and uploaded each one to Vimeo Pro at 1080p at 48 kHz, where it remained at 48 kHz as explained in this article. To be fair to each microphone, I used no background noise reduction or equalization.

Male voice mic comparison

Female voice mic comparison

More articles about María and how she uses her iPad 4th generation with Padcaster mount

Stay tuned for more articles including María and how she shoots with her 4th generation iPad with FiLMiC Pro, Padcaster mount, and BPHS1 broadcast headset (see: Audio Technica BPHS1 broadcast headset with dynamic mic: review + comparison) together with her Electro-Voice RE50N/D-B.

SIDEBAR: Why omnidirectional microphones are so predominant in TV news interviews?

Despite the (sometimes) excessive background ambience associated with standups or interviews done in TV news, I believe the reason why omnidirectional microphones (like the BP4002, RE50/B or the RE-50N/D-B with higher output are so predominant is the following: When doing an interview with a single handheld microphone, no matter how experienced or agile the reporter is in toggling the mic's position, there is almost always an unexpected interruption by either side which causes one of the two parties to sound either off mic or almost inaudible if a cardioid or other directional microphone is used. However, if the reporter uses a headset like the BPSH1 for her/his own voice, s/he can use an independent cardioid microphone to point exclusively at the interviewee. At that point, it becomes to: “how much ambience do you want”.

Upcoming articles, reviews, and books

Stand by for upcoming articles, reviews, and books. Sign up to my free mailing list by clicking here.

Si deseas suscribirte a mi lista en castellano, visita aquí. Si prefieres, puedes suscribirte a ambas listas (castellano e inglés).

My latest ebook

My most recent ebook is available in two languages. The format is Kindle, but even if you don’t have a Kindle device, you can read Kindle books on many other devices using a free Kindle app. That includes iPad, iPhone, Android phones, Android tablets, Mac computers, Windows computers, some Blackberry phones and Windows 7 phones.

In English:

In English, it is currently available in the following Amazon stores, depending upon your region:

• At Amazon.com (for all of the Americas and the Republic of India)
• Amazon.co.jp (Japan)
• Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)
• Amazon.de (Germany)
• Amazon.es (Spain, pero a lo mejor lo prefieres en castellano, a continuación)
• Amazon.fr (France)
• Amazon.it (Italy)

If you’re going to buy a Kindle book as a gift, you must do so via the Pan-American Amazon store (the first one listed above), regardless of where you live or where the recipient lives.

En castellano:

En castellano, está disponible actualmente en las siguientes tiendas Amazon, según tu región:

• Amazon.com (todas las Américas y la República de la India)
• Amazon.co.jp (Japón)
• Amazon.co.uk (Reino Unido)
• Amazon.de (Alemania)
• Amazon.es (España)
• Amazon.fr (Francia)
• Amazon.it (Italia)

Si vas a comprar un libro Kindle como regalo, debes hacerlo vía la tienda panamericana de Amazon (la primera de la lista) sin importar donde vivas tú o donde viva la persona que recibirá el regalo.

Allan Tépper’s books, consulting, articles, seminars & audio programs

Contact Allan Tépper for consulting, or find a full listing of his books, articles and upcoming seminars and webinars at AllanTepper.com. Listen to his TecnoTur program, which is now available both in Castilian (aka “Spanish”) and in English, free of charge. Search for TecnoTur in iTunes or visit TecnoTur.us for more information.

FTC disclosure

No manufacturer is specifically paying Allan Tépper or TecnoTur LLC to write this article or the mentioned books. Some of the other manufacturers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to carry out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. Many of the manufacturers listed above have sent Allan Tépper review units. So far, none of the manufacturers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur programs, although they are welcome to do so, and some are, may be (or may have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition magazine. Some links to third parties listed in this article and/or on this web page may indirectly benefit TecnoTur LLC via affiliate programs.

Copyright and use of this article

The articles contained in the TecnoTur channel in ProVideo Coalition magazine are copyright Allan Tépper/TecnoTur LLC, except where otherwise attributed. Unauthorized use is prohibited without prior approval, except for short quotes which link back to this page, which are encouraged!