Setup and fit a Lavalier Mic- smartLav+

See what’s in the box, setup and fit the Rode smartLav+ lavalier mic. Lavalier mics are the best way to improve the audio recordings using a smartphone, recorder or DSLR camera. You can get the microphone much closer to the talent.

Setting up a lavalier microphone and connecting it to a camera or smartphone can be the simple fix to improving the quality of your  audio recordings.

plug in lavRODE Microphones have released the smartLav+ an improved version of the very popular smartLav.   I’ve use the smartLav+ microphone because it so versatile in the sense that it can directly connect it to smartphones without extra adaptors but the principles of setting up Lavalier microphones are basically the same.

What you get in the box

In the boxLet’s have a quick walk around the box before I show you how to set up the lavalier and decide where to clip it on for the best recording.

Inside the box you get a storage pouch, mic wind screen. instruction pamphlet and mic clip and the lavalier mic itself.

The new RODE smartlav-plus has a broadcast quality capsule and reinforced cable that’s easy to thread through and hid under clothing. RODE have now implemented a grey sleeve to identify all smartphone style plugs or sockets that are a tip ring ring sleeve configuration.

 

fit clipHow do you put it together?

Setting up the mic is fairly easy, the instruction leaflet shows this step by step.  To set up the lavalier to clip on from the right hand side, hold the clip in your right hand then open up the mic clasp and feed in the capsule from the bottom. Settle it in the manufactured grooves so it won’t slide out. Fit the windscreen and now your ready to thread the cable into the special groove for strain relief just in case you tugg on the cable.
fit cableOpen up the clip and loop in the cable so it feeds out the top, loop it over and very carefully work the cable into the little groove with your finger nail or credit card- being careful not to damage it. And there you have it your lavelier mike ready to use.

 

 

clip to shirtSetting up the mic

Once you have the mic assembled you’re ready to attach it. Discreetly thread the plug and lead through the clothing and clip on the mic. Then drawer out the plug in a place that’s not visible to the camera.
If you are wearing a garment that isn’t clip friendly you can simply tape the mic under the fabric. Make sure that it is secure to minimise movement. RODE microphones even make a special mount for this mike called an invisilav to assist in discreetly mounting it under or on your body. If it is not necessary to hide the mic under fabric, don’t.

Where to clip the mic

The position of the mic can vary considering a number of factors.  If there is a lot of noise in the room you may need to lift the position of mic and if the person tends to move their head up and down you may need to drop the mic a little to get a more even recording.  In some situations the lavalier mic may not be the best option at all because of loud background noise. You may have to choose a headset type microphone.

Do a test recording to see that the mic is not distorting or popping and you then be ready for a final recordings.

Rode smartLav vs smartLav+ lavalier mic

This video compares the two mics using a simple bench test. The Rode smartLav+ lavalier microphone is an improved version of the original smartLav. How much better is it, and are there improvements to the noise floor level that many have commented on?

The original RODE smartLav mic is a good lavalier mic but it does have the disadvantage of having a high noise floor. By comparing the original and the new smartLav+ we should be able to find out if it is worth spending a little more money and getting the improved version.

slvsl-plus

Comparing the two mikes it is obvious that there is not a lot of difference.  They both have the same clips and windscreens, the cables are similar and the retaining clip is the same. One thing that is very different is the color of the plug. RODE have chosen to color code their plugs that are a tip ring ring sleeve configuration and make them gray in color.  The male and female plugs and sockets will now be gray so that it is easy to identify the style of connection.

new capsuleThe major difference is that the mic capsule is now of broadcast quality. So the quality of audio will be significantly improved.  This will make a good mic into a great mic if it works out to be the improvement that RODE would like us to believe. The box contains or the same material as the previous model.

What's in the box

What’s in the box

How did the test go?

test bench

Putting the mics to the test using the RODE Rec app for a recorder should give us a good measurement of if the background noise has improved at all with the new model.

To do this I have set up each mic for a recording using the same parameters. As you can see from the screenshot there is a considerable difference between the two mics.

comparisonThere is no doubt at all that the RODE smartLav-Plus lavalier mic is a real improvement over it’s predecessor and is definitely worth the little extra money.  For under $100 the microphone is a great option for those that just want to plug their mic into a smartphone without the need for adapters.  The mike can be used with DSLR cameras but you would have to use the adapter to plug it into a tip ring sleeve socket on the camera.

Where do I connect the speaker- 70volt

Where do I connect the speaker? Would you like to know which terminals are used to connect a constant voltage 70/ 100 volt speaker to the back of a PA amplifier, then this audio tips is just for you.

There are so many terminals on the back of an amplifier it can be very confusing. Check out this simple audio tip on how to connect your speakers together so they are in phase to each other, and then see how to connect your cable to the right terminals on the amplifier.

70/ 100 volt Speakers

polarity2Connecting 70/ 100 volt speakers to a amplifier is not as simple as it may seem.  Like most installations there are a lot of variables.  How many speakers are being used and at what setting they are connected to make a big difference to the load that is on the amplifier.  Once you have been able to calculate that the total load on the system is within the limitations of the amplifier you should be right to connect it all up.polarity

Identify which one of the conductors is the common terminal.  This is usually identified as the wire with a trace. As you can see from the illustration.  You must check that when the speaker is being connected to the cable the trace is connected to the black/ negative terminal on the speaker.

amp connect2Select the 70 or the 100 volt terminals on the back of the amplifier and be sure to connect the trace wire to the COM terminal. This will ensure that all of the system is wired the same.

Be sure to tighten the terminals so that you are unable to tug the conductors out. Inspect the connection to make sure that there are not any stray strands of wire sticking out of the terminal. This can cause a short circuit that will overload the system.cover plate

Now that you have connected the speaker cables screw on the plastic cover to protect the terminals.  The voltage can be dangerous when the amplifier is being driven hard.

 

 

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