Rode M3

Reviews | Rode M3
102
A
ustralian company Rode
have a more-bang-for-the-
buck reputation of turning
out quality microphones at
affordable prices and their latest, the
M3 (a small-diaphragm cardioid
response, end-fi re condenser) certainly
falls into the affordable category at just
£89. Technically speaking, the mic is
an electret design, which means it has a
permanently polarised capsule giving it
the capability of being able to run from
an internal 9V battery as well as from
phantom power. This facility makes it a
very practical choice for location
recording or situations where phantom
power is not available and a dynamic
mic not the preferred choice.
The M3, plus mic clip and foam
windshield, comes in a large moulded
plastic carry case giving it a nice level of
protection. The mic is reassuringly solid
and almost nine inches long with a high
strength mesh head and an internal
shock mount for the capsule, which
could reduce handling noise, although
the mic’s cylindrical shape doesn’t
make it feel at all comfortable as a
hand-held mic.
Hold me, thrill me…
Should anyone choose to use it as a
hand-held, however, they’re unlikely to
accidentally switch it off mid-
performance as the on/off switch is
recessed into the body. That switch has
three positions – off, on with a fl at
response and on with a high-pass fi lter
engaged, rolling off the extreme low end
below 80Hz at 12dB per octave. A red
LED in the same recess indicates low
battery power. A 10dB and 20dB pad
are also available but these can only be
accessed by unscrewing the mic in its
centre position revealing the PP3
battery compartment. The three-position
switch is a little fi ddly requiring the use
of a pen or a small screwdriver. It would
have been a more practical proposition
if placed externally on the mic body but
Rode placed it inside to guard against
‘unauthorised or mistaken activation’…
Jack of all trades
While a large diaphragm condenser
would be the choice for recording
vocals, the M3 works really well in
capturing a natural vocal sound that’s
well-balanced across the frequency
range. The published frequency
response plot is resolutely fl at across
most of the range with a couple of
humps in the high end, most notably
around 10kHz, which is borne out by a
pleasant degree of airiness in the voice.
That crisp response also lends itself
to use for hand-held percussion, hi-hats
and as a drum overhead – a pair of M3s
would represent an inexpensive way to
acquire a condenser stereo pair. Decent
results were also obtained recording
acoustic guitar and the M3 had no
problems with a loud guitar amp. I
could also see it being put to good use
on brass or woodwind.
If you’re recording vocals and other
acoustic sounds, it goes without saying
that you need a mic – but which one? If
you can afford to buy several different
mics you’ll be assured having the tools
at hand for any number of studio tasks
but if you’re on a very tight budget
you’re more likely to be looking for one
decent all-rounder that can cover plenty
of options. The M3 is a practical choice
that won’t let down those looking for
their fi rst mic, and a worthy option for
anyone looking to extend their arsenal
with a small, affordable diaphragm
condenser (or two).
Rode M3 | £89
Got vocals and instruments to record on a budget?
Trevor Curwen fi nds the one mic to record them all
VERDICT
BUILD
VALUE
EASE OF USE
VERSATILITY
RESULTS
The M3 is a-value-for-money
versatile performer that’s a sound
choice as a fi rst mic.
WHAT IS IT?
Multi powered cardioid
electret condenser mic for
studio or stage use
CONTACT
Who: Source Distribution
Tel:
[phone]
Web: sourcedistribution.
co.uk
HIGHLIGHTS
1 Fairly fl at response
2 Powering options
3 Rugged construction
SPECS
Directional pattern:
Cardioid
Frequency range: 40Hz ~
20,000Hz
Selectable High Pass
Filter: 80Hz 12dB/octave
Three stage selectable pad
(0, -10dB, -20dB)
Sensitivity: -40dB +/-3dB
re 1V/Pa @ 1kHz
Equivalent noise: 21dBA
SPL (A - weighted per
IEC651)
Maximum output:
+9.22dBU (@ 1% THD 1k)
Dynamic range: 121dB
Maximum SPL: 142dB (@
1% THD into 1k)
Signal/Noise: 73dB SPL
(@1kHz, rel 1Pa)
Weight:
390g
FMU197.rev_rode 102 20/12/07 17:14:58