Beyerdynamic

V
ideocasting really
puts your audio
gear centre-stage
and if you want to
look and sound
good you’ll need
the right tools.
Mics like Shure’s SM7B are regularly
seen in videocasts and their
popularity is driven in part by the
fact they look good and are easy to
use. So, it should come as no
surprise that mic manufacturers are
actively targeting this market with
new products. Following on from
Beyerdynamic’s M 90 Pro X large
capsule condenser, which I recently
reviewed, I now have its sibling on
the bench, the M 70 Pro X. This is
visually quite similar to the M 90 Pro
X, but is in fact an end address
cardioid dynamic mic, and it’s aimed
squarely at the videocasting and
podcasting market.
Much like the M 90, the M 70
Pro X looks excellent, and uses a
similar low-profi le cradle. In the box
you’ll also fi nd a proper two-layer
gooseneck pop shield and storage
pouch. So, the bundle is well
equipped and overall fi nish excellent.
That said, and it’s a minor issue, I’d
still like to see a regular mounting
option for the mic so you can use it
drift off-axis, the higher frequencies
suffer a bit. This isn’t a dealbreaker,
but you’ll get the best results staying
bang on the end of the headstock.
Although it’s designed for speech, I
did give the mic a go on some other
sources and it was a bit too edgy for
high frequency sources like
tambourine or shaker, but worked
well with acoustic guitar.
I’ve used the M 70 Pro X on a
number of voiceovers and I like the
results. It’s not quite as smooth as
my normal large capsule condenser,
but I like the upfront nature. Overall
this is a well conceived and
competitively priced mic ideal for
broadcast voice and beyond.
without the full cradle. In terms of
spec there’s no quoted noise fi gure,
however the quoted sensitivity
(1.8mV/Pa) is acceptable for a
dynamic mic. Frequency response is
quoted for both very close and at 1
metre, and these fi gures confi rm the
additional proximity you’ll get when
up close. In fact, I found you needed
to get in pretty close for the
proximity to be obvious. Interestingly,
I found that, right up close, the M
70 Pro X handled plosives really
well, although breathing noise was
more of a problem. Back away a few
centimetres and plosives became
more of a problem, and at this point
a pop shield became a must. I prefer
the latter confi guration simply
because it’s more predictable, and
even with the pop shield almost
touching the headstock, I found it
pretty much impossible to get the
mic to pop, which is ideal for
broadcasting uses.
Sonically, the M 70 Pro X is
tailored for speech, and the overall
curve is boosted in the high mids to
help add clarity. Looking at the
frequency graph this seems focused
on 4kHz and 8kHz but there’s a
general lift from about 1kHz
upwards. The polar pattern is pretty
smooth in the mid range, but if you
THE PROS & CONS
+
Tailored around
speech usage
Quality build and
looks good
Handles plosives
very well
Includes proper
suspension cradle
Bundle comes with
pop shield and
pouch set
-
A regular mic clip
would be welcome
FM VERDICT
8.8
Aimed primarily at speech,
this delivers an excellent
combination of sonics and
visuals, making it a great
choice for videocasting
Beyerdynamic M 70 Pro X | Reviews
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