Azden SMX-30 Stereo Mic and SMX-15 Powered Shotgun Microphone for DSLR Shooters2 min read

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You might remember our post about the Azden PRO-XD wireless microphone system we did a while back, and now we have some more announcements from the popular budget audio brand. The time around they have a couple of new microphones designed for DSLR/mirrorless video shooters ““ the SMX-15 Powered Shotgun Mic, and the SMX-30 Stereo mic, dubbed by the manufacturer as “the ultimate video microphones.”

The new SMX-30 and SMX-15 are engineered with outstanding audio quality, appealing design, ergonomic form factor and all the functionality expected in a top-of-the-line, camera-mount microphone.

Azden SMX-15 Features

Superior directionality and off-axis rejection
Level adjustment: -10dB, 0dB, +20dB
+20dB gain booster alleviates noise produced by low-quality camera preamps
-10dB pad for loud sound environments
Low-cut filter selectable at 120Hz, 3dB/octave
Operates on (2) AA batteries with no degradation of audio quality over battery life-span
Low noise, high sensitivity, wide frequency response
10 year warranty with registration
Custom, detachable foam windscreen
Integrated shock-absorbing shoe-mount with 1/4″-20 thread
Battery indicator LED light
3.5mm stereo mini-jack output

The SMX-30 uses the same form factor, features, and components as the SMX-15, but also adds a built-in Stereo microphone above the Mono shotgun mic, giving you 2 mics into 1, which is a hell of a deal.

The selectable +20dB gain pad allows for strong, clean audio recordings, minimising the need to turn up the noisy preamp in most cameras. If you’re in a noisy environment the selectable -10dB pad protects against overload distortion. Both microphones have wide band frequency response from 40Hz to 20kHz, for full and natural sound reproduction. A low-cut filter is provided to lessen outdoor wind and traffic noise and tame noisy indoor heating and cooling units.

Sporting a rather unique design, the new SMX-30 is actually two microphones packaged into one, available at the flick of a switch. 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.

Powered by 2 AA batteries both microphones can operate for up to 24 hours with no degradation of sound quality. The battery LED light turns OFF 1 hour before it’s time to change the batteries. Both microphones feature a unique “Auto” power setting that senses when the camera is ON or OFF and switches the microphone accordingly, eliminating accidental dead battery syndrome.

Integrated into the design of both microphones is a custom made, shock absorbing shoe mount to isolate the microphone from camera motor and handling noise. The standard shoe mount features a ¼” 20 thread for easy mounting to boom poles and other camera accessories.