One of my favorite things to do while watching older movies and TV shows is to watch the technical aspects of the show. Many times, I’m watching to learn something new or to get inspiration for my own projects. Besides plot holes or bad costumes, one of the things I see most often is the boom mike in the shot.
How can a boom pole can help audio and video production?
The primary reason to put a mic on a boom pole is for more isolated audio. This holds true whether the audio is for a video, film, YouTube video or Vlog. A Foley artist with a portable recording device can get a good amount of use out of one as well.
A boom mounted microphone gets the mic closer to the audio source than a camera is ever likely todo. Also a disadvantage that many videographers face is the limitation of the camera’s built in mic. Even the best cameras can greatly benefit from an external mic, or even better, one on a boom pole.
Limitations of using a boom pole
With all good things, there is often a price to pay. The biggest price involved in boom mics, in my opinion, is physical. Even a lightweight mic can become difficult to hold after a while. Arm fatigue sets in and we end up with the mic in our shot, getting made fun of by MST3K type of viewers on our vlogs or YouTube channel. Please see below ;).
We have to be careful not to swing too close to our subject too, otherwise we might land a pretty hard punch on them accidentally. Or we might knock over a prop or piece of decoration. Careful use is suggested even with the best boom poles.
We have to watch out for, or listen for, excess handling noise. If any connections are loose, or the cord is slapping the pole, or if we’re too rough with our handling of the pole, that noise could get transferred to our recording. If you’re careful enough, those things shouldn’t limit you too much.
Top 5 Best Boom Poles For Video, Audio & YouTube Production
1. Rode Boom Pole Microphone Boom Arm (Best Tested)
Rode is a trusted and respectable brand that is a favourite for serious audio recorders, whether for video, music, or any other use. That trusted reputation continues with this 10 foot aluminum Rode boom pole which was easily one the best boom poles that I tested.
Straight out the box I could tell this unit was of a high quality build which I have come to expect from all of Rodes products. (All their products are designed and made in Australia).
Even when using a heavier mic on the end of this pole, it balanced well and the removable foam rubber grip adds to the comfort level. The pole telescopes in five sections and is quick to adjust as the sections lock and unlock by means of twist lock rings.
Overall I was extremely pleased with this Rode boompole and I am glad I paid the little bit extra knowing that this will last me several years of constant use. Highly recommended!
2. LyxPro MPL-20 Boom pole With Internal Cable for Shotgun Microphones
Next up is the LyxPro MPL-20. This boom pole is one of the best boom poles for videographers because of the built in internal XLR cord. Having the cord included was a nice touch as it is one less thing to purchase for my filming/audio setup.
The pole itself also has a jack at the end of the handle and a small extension at the mic end of the pole. A coiled cord inside the pole allows for the extension to be mostly effortless.
When compared to the above Rode boompole, this model comes in at 9.25 feet and collapses down to 2.4 feet which made it great for field recording. Its weight is also quite light coming in at 2.1 lbs or 0.95 kilograms which makes it ideal for longer recording sessions.
While using this unit, I did come across one downside which was quite a bit of flex when used at full extension. This was easily adjusted to when recoding, but something to take note of if you plan on recording at the full 9.25 feet.
While this boompole is not perfect, it does strike a great balance of being extremely affordable while still delivering some great results when recording. This would be ideal for TV production, student films and YouTube videos.
3. Koolertron Lightweight Boompole
If nothing else, you gotta love the brand name! This boompole is ideal for most uses but it is a little shorter than the other poles tested (coming in at 67.3in/171cm). With such a small footprint, it still feels nicely balanced and was a lot more rigid than the other boom poles that I reviewed.
This unit comes with a ¼” connection on the mic end of the pole, which I found a little odd, but then I remembered that there are a lot of consumer grade products that use that mounting size. With a ball head mounted on the end of this, I could see myself using it with a GoPro or a small video camera for capturing a different view.
The ¼” screw actually is removeable, allowing for a use I figured out that wasn’t covered in the manual. There is also a threaded hole on the bottom end of this pole and the pole itself is hollow. So, I ran a cord through it and taped the microphone end of the pole with the XLR connector down pretty solid.
What it did show me was to not look at a less expensive pole as having limitations, but to see what I could do with it. In regular use with it set up the way the manufacturer intended, this pole was more than up to the task of holding a mic.
4. On Stage MBP7000 Handheld Boom Pole
Coming in next on my list is the cheapest boom pole which costs the same as a dinner for two. This one reminded me of a bait casting fishing pole with its two foam hand grips.
It extends out to about 8 feet which was quite surprising considering the price of the item. Even more surprising was that it has a aluminum build instead of a plastic one which I was expecting.
However when using, the weight of the mic caused a bit of sag. Not a big deal, but any sag means that you might get noise from looseness. Might as well not use a boom if it adds noise instead of enhancing audio quality. Just something to keep in mind, since this is a little bit lighter duty of a boom.
This pole had a good fit and finish to the parts, the twist knobs operated smoothly, and the business end of the pole sports a 5/8” fitting. If you are on a tight budget, this one might be for you.
5. Neewer Microphone BoomPole with Built-in XLR Audio Cable
This Neewer unit is another great boompole with built in XLR connections and an internal cord. If you’re looking a really long light pole, this is one of the best boom poles to look at. Fully extended, it goes almost to 11 feet.
Let me tell you, that much extension length will limit your time for use without arm fatigue. When you need a lot of extension, though, it’s nice to have.
The foam rubber grip covers the entire bottom section, not just the back end of it, allowing for a comfortable wide spaced grip, which will be necessary when using at full extension. The aluminum sections extend and contract readily, locking and unlocking with twist knobs.
The only thing I wish were a little different is that the cord that comes out of the mic end of the pole is a little thin, looks like it might wear out quicker. Probably just my own preconceived notions leading me to that statement, as I did not notice any degradation of audio quality. A sound man always has to concern themselves with cord quality.
What pole is best for my budget?
Any of these five best boom poles for video and YouTube will do a great job. Having a built in cord will be what sways a good number of users. Fully extended length and comfort of use will sway others. Decide what is most important to you, absolute length or arm comfort with extended use.
All the other features, like fittings and grips will narrow down the choice. Also, a couple of these best boom poles are almost twice as expensive as the others. Personally, I like the built in cords, and the comfort of thicker grips. You won’t go wrong with any on this list.
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