Azden SMX-30 DSLR Microphone

The SMX-30 StereoMono Switchable Video MicrophoneThe 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 stereomono 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 ControlThe 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 ResponseThe 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.PowerThe 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 MountIntegrated 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.Specifications: Polar pattern: mono: super-cardioid; stereo: cardioid (120°) Frequency responce: 40–20 000 kHz Sensitivity: -36 dB @ 1kHz Dynamic range: 118 dB SN ratio: 82 dB, 1 kHz @ 1 Pa Max Input Level: 130 dB SPL (1 kHz @ 1% T.H.D.) Max Output Level: +6.2 dBu Output Impedance: 50 Ω Power: 2 × AA Output connection: 3.5 mm Stereo mini plug Power Switch: Off, Battery, Auto Gain Control: -10 dB, 0 dB, +20 dB Low-cut filter: 120Hz, 3dBoctave Dimensions: 47 × 107 × 145 mmWeight: 145 g