Rockville Microphone Review (Is it Worth it in 2022?)
Ever heard of a microphone with the lowest price range and everything its competitors offer?
Yes,
I am talking about Rockville’s RCM03 Microphone. Its sound quality is much better than a professional Rode microphone.
In fact, Rockville makes microphones with a wide range between 30 Hz and 20KHz, provide customers with the best quality of sound and innovative design.
Rockville Audio has been in the audio business since 1959, during that period they have been able to innovate their products and meet the needs of customers.
One of the many innovations was their most popular microphone model, “The Rockville RCM03”, which features a cardioid polar pattern that captures every nuance accurately while rejecting unwanted noise from the rear, side or from other directions.
Aspiring musicians who want to record their own music at home sometimes find that the equipment they need can be very expensive, particularly when it comes to microphones.
If you’re looking for an affordable mic that still delivers high-quality sound, the Rockville RCM03 might be exactly what you’re looking for!
This condenser microphone is fantastic both on its own and in conjunction with other audio equipment, and it’s available at several different price points depending on how much you’re willing to spend.
In this Rockville Microphone review, I’ll go over some of the features that make this condenser microphone so popular, including its design, features and its pros and cons compared to other condenser microphones out there.
Read on to find out if the Rockville RCM03 microphone is worth purchasing or if you’re better off getting something else.
| Specification | Details |
| Connectivity | Wired |
| Polar Pattern | Unidirectional |
| Item weight | 380 grams |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | 24 dB |
| Impedance | 200 Ohm |
| Noise Level | 24 dB |
| Phantom Power | 48V DC |
| Sensitivity | -29 dB +-2dB |
| Frequency Response | 30 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Max SPL | 126 dB |
| Self-Noise | 18 dB |
Overview
The Rockville RCM03 is a well-known, low-cost option. As one of the top 3 bestselling microphones, it has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, including the HyperX SoloCast and Maono AU-A04.
The Rockville RCM03 is $40.04 less expensive than the average microphone ($89.99).
RCM03 by Rockville is designed for capturing vocal and acoustic sound as well as room reverb. The microphone is made of aluminum, so overall it’s rugged and tough. It can easily be used in live performances without any hesitation.
Our team put this microphone under several tests. Honestly speaking, it outperformed and left behind many professional microphones.
Due to its large diaphragm condenser microphone it can generate low and high frequency range and sounds crystal clear without background distortion.
If I keep listing its features, you won’t believe how it compares to its counterpart which costs hundreds of dollars. It’s definitely a good value for money.
Let’s dig deeper into its design, performance, features, and pros and cons.
What's Included
- RCM03 Condenser Microphone (made of aluminum!).
- 100% Copper 10 foot 3.5mm jack to XLR cable to connect mic to your computer or other device.
- 100% Copper 10 foot XLR to XLR cable to connect to any mixer with phantom power.
- Metal shock mount.
- Metal Anti-wind foam cap.
- Owners Manual.
- Warranty card.
Design
The Rockville RCM03 is a well-built and solid microphone. It is made from aluminum, which is a robust and solid material. The microphone is very rugged and can withstand a lot of abuse. It also has a very low noise floor, which means that it will not pick up any unwanted noise.
It is one of my personal favorite rugged and sturdy microphone. I’ve been using Rockville microphones for a while now in my studio, and I have to say – I’m thoroughly impressed.
The sound quality of the microphone is very good and it can be used for both live and studio recordings.
The Rockville RCM03 is a great all-around microphone that is perfect for both live and studio use.
The Rockville RCM03 is a high-quality studio recording condenser microphone that has been designed with a large diaphragm for smooth, natural sound and low noise. It features an internally polarized cardioid design and aluminum construction for unmatched performance.
Performance
We put this microphone through a lot of tough tests, including whispers, screams, high and low notes, and more. It did really well under all that pressure, better than I thought it would.
I want to be clear that it’s not as good as microphones that cost a lot more money. But it does provide a performance that is above its price.
Pros
- XLR Connectivity
- Easy to use
- Best sound quality
- Value for money
- Excellent performance
- Sturdy and rugged
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Can't handle loud sound
- Lack of broadband interference
Features
- Rockville RCM is studio / recording condenser microphone.
- Best for home-studio, recording studio, broadcasting, podcasts and live performances.
- Microphone Body is made of aluminum that prevents noise from shock and vibrations.
- Cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from sides and rear, reducing unwanted noise.
- Large diaphragm with 25mm large cartilage responsible for smooth, natural sound and low noise.
- High SPL handling and wide frequency range is ideal for reducing unwanted noise.
- Cardioid pickup pattern allow smooth natural sound with minimum noise.
- It comes with shock mount that eleminate resonance and vibration in the microphone.
- It requires phantom power or mixer.
- It comes with XLR cables to connect it to mixer or to computer sound card.
Characteristics
Frequency Response
The Rockville microphone has a frequency response of 30 Hz to 20KHz. We can consider this mic under the category of reference microphones as it remains flat or accurately measures sound levels across all frequency ranges.
Rockville RCM03 was tested for recording speech, unique musical instruments or various environmental sounds and is equally suited for each situation. This microphone boosts in the upper mids and highs, are excellent for recording vocals, instruments.
Most microphones in this price range have a very inconsistent response and are not flat at times, however, the Rockville microphone does not have this problem.
Hence, RMC03 mic tailored for any given situation, users are able to simplify recording and reduce the need for EQ. Ultimately, a Rockville microphone’s frequency response is usually tailored to complement the sound source it is intended to record.
Sensitivity
The Rockville microphone is quite sensitive, registering at 29 dB. This level of sensitivity puts it in the “Good Microphones” category. For context, a human whisper is around 29 dB.
In our Rockville microphone review, we tested the mic with a whisper and found that it picked up the sound quickly and delivered a clear output.
When working with microphones that are this sensitive, you need to be mindful of your surroundings. Any kind of disturbance can introduce noise into the output.
Interference Rejection
Unfortunately, RMC03 does not meet the criteria for electro-magnetic interference and radio interference. It does not function properly in an electromagnetic environment and creates interference.
Even radio stations can sometimes be picked up. However, the problem is generally negligible. In order to get significant sound, you would need to switch off broadband devices while recording.
Noise Rejection
Several mechanisms are in place to maximize the noise rejection in this product. As discussed in the Rockville microphone review, it features a cardioid polar pattern. Such patterns have built-in off-axis rejection, meaning that the mic only picks up the source that points directly towards it.
The sound waves from other sources do not make it into the microphone, resulting in clear audio without any unwanted noise from the surroundings.
The cardioid pattern on the microphone is true as well, which sets it apart from some other products in this price bracket.
To sum up, the Rockville RMC03 is a great microphone with only a few things to worry about. impedance is great, which means you can use it with large cables without distortions. And, if any unwanted noise does make it into the audio recording, it’s easy enough to edit out in post-production.
Maximum SPL
The Rockville company’s microphone does not handle loud noises well, as we found out during our review. When we tested it with drums, the output was distorted. It did better with acoustic guitars, but not too much.
Placement Technique
It is highly recommended to position a microphone while recording songs or instruments for maximum benefit. It is ideal to position RCM03 in front of a single person. The same placement is ideally suited for miking instruments such as guitars, drums, and pianos.
Bass Amp
I have tested RCM03 for recording Bass Amp under low, mids and highs frequency range and surprisingly I got 100% performance while recording a Bass Amp.
Vocal Recording
RCM03 stands out as excellent use for vocal as I put this mic to test along with other 2 mics for recording vocals. This mic dominate the others and now becomes my center microphone on stage and for 90% of the mix.
Final Verdict - Rockville Microphone Review
The Rockville RCM03 Microphone no doubt is signature microphone that stacks up against its competitors and whether it’s worth the money in 2022!
It has multiple features to give good sound quality and designed for live sound applications. The Rockville RCM03 microphone was designed with features to give smooth, clear recordings for those who may not have much experience in recording or mixing music.
This mic is perfect for capturing vocals, acoustic and amplified instruments, as well as room reverb with its frequency pick up pattern. Not to mention, the aluminum construction makes it tough enough for live sound applications!
The RCM03 condenser microphone outperforms other famous branded microphones that cost more than $125.
If you have not upgraded your setup with the updated model. This would be a worthwhile choice.
FAQs
Which is a better microphone for podcasting, the Rockville RMC03 or the Marantz professional mp-1000m?
Rockville RMC03 is a great mic for podcasting, live performance and recording instrument.
Does Rockville make good mics?
How do you set up a Rockville mic?
To set up your Rockville mic, you will need the following:
- A compatible device (such as a laptop or phone)
- A microphone stand adapter (if necessary)
- Lightning connector cable (to connect the microphone stand adapter to the compatible device)
- XLR cable (to connect the compatible device to your computer).
Once you have all of these items ready, follow these simple steps:
- Plug in the XLR cable into both devices.
- On your compatible device, open up YouTube screen recording and click on “Add webcam.”
- Click on “Open” next to “Mic,” and select the RFC 606 microphone stand adapter from list that pops up.
- Click on OK button once it has been selected.
- Now plug in power supply from mic stand adapter directly into outlet(or use optional external battery pack if desired).
- Connect microphones by clicking them onto connectors on Mic Stand Adapter.
- It should say becomes active shortly after connection.
Will this mic work if I plug it in straight into my windows 10 laptop or will I need a power supply?
If you plan on using your microphone with Windows 10, it should work without a power supply. However, if you are going to plug the mic into an outlet or computer directly, you will need to purchase a power supply.
The Rockville mic is equipped with 50 feet of RG6 audio cable and comes with both an AC adapter and XLR connector so that it can be used with almost any device. Additionally, the built-in pop filter ensures clear recording quality even in noisy environments.
How do you put a pop filter on a Rockville mic?
A pop filter is a small piece of metal or plastic that sits on top of the microphone and filters out noisy sounds, like popping noises. This is especially helpful when recording audio for video or podcasts.
To put a pop filter on your Rockville mic, first remove the cover by unscrewing it from the body. Then slide the filter onto the microphone and screw it back into place.
However, the best way to put a pop filter on a Rockville mic is to use the included mount. This will allow you to adjust the position and height of the pop filter, which is important in order for it to fit properly.
Additionally, make sure that your microphone cable is long enough so that it doesn’t get caught or twisted when using the pop filter.
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