COMICA VM40 Wireless Shotgun Microphone, 32-bit Float Internal Recording, 32GB Memory, 200M Range, Super Cardioid, External Camera Microphone for Filmmakers, Interviews, YouTube Live Streaming

Brilliant product, exactly what i needed, a wirelss shotgun mic to use with mirrorless, it works great, lots of good features, just a brilliant product, and even comes in a case which holds it all together, and its compact. Not a single improvement i could think of. Brilliant design.

Amazingly - although I'd seen comprehensive tests online - when I bought the 'combo' version (2 mics) and tried them against the 'industry standard' Sennheiser 416, I found the Comica (dreadful name!) VM40 mics were easily the equivalent ..with almost IDENTICAL SOUND.. of the 416, up to 8 feet and beyond ..but with a touch more available bass, if you want that.The VM40 has identical pickup range and width as a 416 (but not as narrow as a Schoeps SuperCMIT, which I also tested it against, but that's multiple times the price!) ..so just maybe the VM40 has the same capsule inside as some 'knock off' 416 clones..?I'd expected the mic to be not really a proper shotgun, as its instruction leaflet shows the mic capsule to be at the outer end of the short interference tube, not at its rear end next to the electronics, so I thought "maybe it's just a make believe shotgun". But in practice it does give identical output to an old original, genuine 416.The advantages of the VM40 - both the internal recording and also the *wireless* (no cables) transmission, plus a gain control on the mic itself, as well as 32-bit float non-distortion recording, and a handy onboard screen showing battery charge, mode, signal level, etc, make these an incredible bargain! I thought I might be sending the package back as being not up to proper, or even reasonable, quality ..but I'm honestly amazed. [I'm just a buyer; I have no connection with the brand whatever.]Tested against Sennheiser 416, Schoeps SuperCMIT, and recorded on DAT, with Senal (Sony copy) headphones.NOTE: I was using the VM40 through a Soundcraft Signature 12 mixer, with four EQ (tone) adjustments (..low, low-mids, high-mids and top..) which let me match the VM40 precisely to the 416 mic. Used 'raw', without any adjustments, the VM40 was pretty close to the 416, but wasn't as perfectly matched when not using any EQ at all. No XLR cables or adapter are included with the VM40, and its output is only through a 3.5mm jack socket (or wirelessly). Hot pin 2 of a professional XLR connector - if you're using one - should preferably be the RING contact of the 3.5mm TRS plug. Some 3.5mm plugs vary (and the VM40 can also accept TRRS plugs) so not *every* 3.5mm-to-XLR cable will do the job if you're feeding into a device with XLR inputs![ I also bought from Amazon a Veetop 1m Dual XLR Male to 3.5mm Microphone Cable (XLR Male to 3.5mm mini Jack TRS Balanced Audio Stereo Cable) which looks - and performs - like a splitter cable, though the XLR plugs are marked Red and Black ..and that gives identical output on both XLR plugs, effectively *doubling* the mic's output when fed into a mixer! But the VM40 is a mono mic, of course, not a stereo shotgun. ]NOTE also: The VM40 does NOT need or use 'Plug-In Power' (3.5 volts or thereabouts power up the cable) which Sony mic inputs - and some other equipment - may supply. Do NOT turn on 'Plug-In Power' on your recording - or whatever - device. If connecting to XLR inputs. Also, do NOT use Phantom Power ..if available! All mic power is supplied by the rechargeable batt within the microphone itself, recharged via USB-C, and that cable is supplied with the mic(s). My two VM40s came with their batteries fully charged!

Really surprised how well this mic sounded and worked. I’ve used it for interviews connected to my iPhone 15 and plugged into pro cinema cameras. Good isolation, full sound and tone.

This is the first mic I have bought so I don’t really have a reference point to compare it too but it’s been very good for me so far. I’ve used it in the making of one short film and it was good, the ability to use it wirelessly is also very handy. Would definitely recommend, but again I don’t have anything to compare it too so I can’t give a judgement on the price to performance compared to other mics.

Product arrived charged straight out of the box. I bought this on impulse after hearing it mentioned. My original plan was to mount it on the camera for filming myself outdoors. Then I realised that it would make more sense to hand hold it just out of shot. I used it with the ‘dead cat’ hairy windscreen. Results were superb: no handling noise, no wind noise. I was originally going to cut the Comica label off the windscreen but I didn’t need too. Sound quality was noticeably better and quieter than the lavalier/tie clip wi-fi mic I was using before. Really delighted with this. Exceeded expectations.

Ok

Works as advertised. Great to be able to use the microphone remotely. Seems to connect seamlessly every time.

Really handy for commercial work. The freedom from wires is great in a run and gun environment.