GNinja Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 I just came across this company. Has anyone ever heard of them, used their products, or have any comparisons to other mics? Here is their website: http://aspenmics.com/ Interesting for the price and warranty. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 At that price point they would be fine for event videographers for use in weddings & parties, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karri Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Just some random Youtube-videos that might give you an idea of the sound: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottenCarcass Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 I actually have a bunch of these, bought them when they were on sale. They're not going to compete with top level lavs, but for quick and dirty backup, they're really quite decent and much better than the $30 trash that's sold on ebay. I even used them on a project two weeks ago, in an armory where we couldn't use wireless or booms, and I just wired these to the talent (3 guys), stuck them on zoom 1 recorders and hoped for the best. Luckily, the levels were OK and nobody had a bad word to say about the sound. My verdict - not bad in emergency situations and I carry them in my grab bag of random stuff just in case they might come in handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew From Deity Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 I believe these are the same microphones that CheesyCam is marketing.... I'd avoid them if CheesyCam is associated with them. http://cheesycam.com/thanksgiving-holiday-sale-aspenmic-lavalier-microphones/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muntus Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 I believe these are the same microphones that CheesyCam is marketing.... I'd avoid them if CheesyCam is associated with them. http://cheesycam.com/thanksgiving-holiday-sale-aspenmic-lavalier-microphones/ That doesn't sound like a very scientific approach to evaluating a piece of gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew From Deity Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 That doesn't sound like a very scientific approach to evaluating a piece of gear. Traditionally you'd be right, but CheesyCam.com is famous for endorsing and profitting off chinese gear. Really bad knock off type shit. And any product would would be associated with Cheesycam.com probably isnt of any quality. The site is geared toward DSLR DIY novices.... Also, here is a marketing ad for the aspen mic attached to the Zoom H1.... in the headphone port. So that should sum it all up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Deakin Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Lol. High quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Reilly Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Plugging mics into the headphone jack reduces noise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muntus Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I actually recently bought a pair of the Aspen Mics. I have a couple of Oscar SoundTech TL-40 mics, as well. If I get around to recording a comparison, I'll post it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GNinja Posted February 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Thanks muntus! I look forward to those results you find. I was looking at Oscar Soundtech lavs as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire soundie Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Clicking the website's contact details brings up no contact details, which means I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. Also - "Aspen Mics is a design and research lab based in the United Sates of America." China isn't in the USA. No thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Reineke Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Clicking the website's contact details brings up no contact details, which means I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. Also - "Aspen Mics is a design and research lab based in the United Sates of America." China isn't in the USA. No thanks. What website? OST? OST mics are made (or at least assembled) in New Jersey, which AFAIK is in the US, OST's customer service is excellent. Don't know much of anything about the 'Aspen Mics', except they're marketed towards the DSRL/Zoom crowd which suggests the quality (or lack thereof). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 I find it ironic that many of us spend upwards of two grand for a boom mic (or, actually, for each of several in our "toolbox"), and will spend more than three grand for a channel of wireless, but here is talk about compromising sound quality in order to save maybe a couple of hundred bucks on the lav. Different markets, I guess. In case it matters, probably the single thing one can do to most improve a mid-range kit, is with better mics. $300 to $500 for a lav is not out of line in relation to the expense of the rest of our kits, considering that better mics will improve your sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Spaeth Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 I find it ironic that many of us spend upwards of two grand for a boom mic (or, actually, for each of several in our "toolbox"), and will spend more than three grand for a channel of wireless, but here is talk about compromising sound quality in order to save maybe a couple of hundred bucks on the lav. Different markets, I guess. In case it matters, probably the single thing one can do to most improve a mid-range kit, is with better mics. $300 to $500 for a lav is not out of line in relation to the expense of the rest of our kits, considering that better mics will improve your sound. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think there is a tendency with some newer producers and directors to have everybody wired at all times, so some young sound mixers might rather want to buy 20 Aspen Lavs than 5 DPAs? I think getting fewer but better mics is probably the better choice here, but I'm not sure these producers would see it the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Maybe I'm wrong, but I think there is a tendency with some newer producers and directors to have everybody wired at all times, so some young sound mixers might rather want to buy 20 Aspen Lavs than 5 DPAs? I think getting fewer but better mics is probably the better choice here, but I'm not sure these producers would see it the same way. Not meaning this to sound argumentative, but how many young sound mixers own 20 wireless systems? My point being, part of owning a good wireless system is having good mics for it -- they're a crucial part of the chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Maybe I'm wrong, but I think there is a tendency with some newer producers and directors to have everybody wired at all times, so some young sound mixers might rather want to buy 20 Aspen Lavs than 5 DPAs? I think getting fewer but better mics is probably the better choice here, but I'm not sure these producers would see it the same way. I'm not sure it really matters how some producer views this --- if you're working on jobs that require wireless (for whatever reason) you should be prepared to have and use the highest quality wireless mic set you can afford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 I further submit that producers leaning more on wireless mics these days is not a reason to use cheaper lavs. Quite the opposite, it becomes more important to buy higher quality ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Spaeth Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 I further submit that producers leaning more on wireless mics these days is not a reason to use cheaper lavs. Quite the opposite, it becomes more important to buy higher quality ones! Actually that's exactly my point, and if you care to read my post again, it's also what I wrote in my last sentence. My assumption, I don't mind rephrasing, was that because of the expectations to have large quantities of wireless kits (and forgive me for exaggerating, no, I don't know anyone who owns 20 kits), it will be a natural effect for some to consider buying cheaper products. I personally think that's wrong (like you and Jeff and many others), but that doesn't mean nobody else thinks like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VASI Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 The price difference between low quality vs high quality lavaliers is not huge. We are not talking for a Rode NTG2 ($225) and Schoeps CMIT5U ($2200). Since your lavalier microphone will be your main microphone; bring something better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayellabad Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 The price difference between low quality vs high quality lavaliers is not huge. We are not talking for a Rode NTG2 ($225) and Schoeps CMIT5U ($2200). Since your lavalier microphone will be your main microphone; bring something better. I totally agree with you man. In fact, somebody already mentioned that these mics will be useful in case of an emergency. But truth is that the price is not even as competitive as they might think it is. If I'm in a desperate situation were my B6s are totally gone. I'll rather get some used M152s from the original kit. I'll never trust these AspenMics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Deakin Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 The M152 are a great backup mic. And they were free with the lectro kits. Not sure if they still give them with wireless these days or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Actually that's exactly my point, and if you care to read my post again, it's also what I wrote in my last sentence. My assumption, I don't mind rephrasing, was that because of the expectations to have large quantities of wireless kits (and forgive me for exaggerating, no, I don't know anyone who owns 20 kits), it will be a natural effect for some to consider buying cheaper products. I personally think that's wrong (like you and Jeff and many others), but that doesn't mean nobody else thinks like that. Sorry if it appeared my comments were aimed at you personally -- that was not my intent. I was addressing the issue of lav quality and had no intention of negating anything you said. My comments are not aimed at any one personally -- just at the issue of "cheaping out" on one of the most critical links in the sound chain. With the best lavs available costing less than $500, it shouldn't be an issue for someone working professionally in our industry. Having "crash lavs" is a different thing entirely -- that's a specialty application, and one that's good to be prepared for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 The price difference between low quality vs high quality lavaliers is not huge. We are not talking for a Rode NTG2 ($225) and Schoeps CMIT5U ($2200). Since your lavalier microphone will be your main microphone; bring something better. I agree with you. But considering how may Schoeps mics I own, compared to how many lavs I own.... upgrading to better lavs can be rather costly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Upgrading to just having so many wireless sets is rather costly too. So pleased that I managed to go about 20 years with only a maximum of 4 wireless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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