SabineTek SmartMike+ Review | Musician Nerd
Updated on Mar 16, 2022
Table of Contents
Today we'll be reviewing the SabineTek SmartMike+ Wireless Lavalier microphone, the latest product on our roster. We're fortunate enough to have the opportunity to test out this microphone for our audience to help answer any questions you might have before diving in. Founded in 2014, SabineTek is an innovative technology company made up of scientists who share a common vision in bringing quality audio technology to your home. This is the first product we're reviewing from them, and we're very excited.
SabineTek SmartMike+ Lavalier Microphone
Wireless lavalier microphones are very popular in various markets, from lifestyle businesses to YouTube and, of course, filming. There are a lot of factors we look for in microphones like the SmartMike+, including the noise isolation, sound quality, and how that compares to the price of the microphone. Another important factor we look at is how well it stands out compared to other microphones within the same price range.
For this review, we'll start by talking about everything we love about the SabineTek SmartMike+. We'll go into detail about the technical details and features involved with the microphone. Afterward, we'll talk about what it's best used for and why. From here we'll go into any downsides we noticed with the microphone, and do a mashup of the pros and cons. By the end of our review, you should have a much better sense of whether or not it's right for you.
Why It's Great
Right off the bat, I'll say that the SabineTek SmartMike+ has excellent sound to it. When I first tried it out, I was beyond satisfied with the level of depth in my voice & the amount of vocal presence. They talk about having a 48kHz True Stereo audio sampling, which is pretty accurate. Other lavs I've worked with can come across as flat, but the SmartMike+ offers real-time stereo sound.
SmartMike+ Lavalier Mic Box Contents
Inside the box, you'll find the microphone along with a wind-proof cap, microphone sponge cover, an earphone, and charging cable. Using windscreen caps for your microphone should help prevent the rushing air from corrupting your audio and causing distortion. With our team based out of Boston, we were able to try out the microphone in higher wind conditions to ensure the wind-proof cap does its job while maintaining quality.
The next most important feature we tested out was the noise cancellation. What's cool about the SabineTek SmartMike+ is that they offer four levels of noise reduction, allowing you to control how strong the isolation is. Often microphones come with built-in noise reduction or offer an on/off button, but it'll either be too strong or weak.
That's not the case with the SmartMike+. They use Qualcomm CVC technology to help reduce unwanted sounds such as background noise or the wind. When you combine this feature with their included accessories, you'll have an easy time setting up the microphone for your conditions.
SmartMike+ Lavalier Mic Size Dimensions
Another cool feature I'll touch upon is the teleprompter and real-time transcription. If you're unsure what a teleprompter is, think of the screen news anchors use to read their scripts. The app that SmartMike+ uses will allow you to set up your prompts, so you don't have to worry about your memory getting in your way. It also works in reverse. If you want it to transcribe everything you say, the SmartMike+ can recognize over 120 languages and present you with editable subtitles. Pretty handy if you're filming videos!
Lastly, it's pretty small in size & weight. It's just over 2 inches long and a little over half an inch wide. The weight comes out to 14 grams. We recently worked with a similar looking microphone but it was nearly twice the size, and when it comes to lavs, the smaller the better.
What It's Good For
The SabineTek SmartMike+ is best suited for anyone looking for a reliable microphone that's able to record their voice without the hassle of wires. Often times we use wireless microphones like this one for recording videos, whether it's a professional film or a home project. The SmartMike+ is a little less subtle than other lavs, which shouldn't be an issue for most people.
SmartMike+ With Mobile App
As discussed earlier, the noise cancellation features and wind protection will come a long way for outdoor projects. You will find the SmartMike+ can be used in various weather conditions and even maintain sound levels when in more populated areas. This includes filming interviews or videos inside a coffee shop without the background chatter taking over.
For the most part, though, you'll need to use their app or a complicated method of getting around it. This is the biggest pain point we discuss in the next section, "downsides." If you're using a specialty app for filming, be sure to continue reading.
While lavs are most commonly used for in filming, there's no reason you can't use it for other home projects like vlogging, TikTok/YouTube, or even live streaming. The included headphone we mentioned earlier will allow you to get real-time monitoring of your sound while you're recording, which is absolutely essential.
The Downsides
There is one major downside that you need to know about before you consider this purchase. It'll be a big enough reason to look for something else for some of you. The SabineTek SmartMike+ mostly requires you to use their app for filming videos. If you look at their frequently asked questions, they mention workarounds for using the microphone on third-party apps and native camera apps. You'll notice that not all apps are supported, and to use your native app on both iOS & Android will require two microphones.
In my opinion, this is the worst implementation I've ever seen an audio company make. I've made it pretty clear that this is a solid microphone at this price, but they did a horrible job making it easy to use. There are a lot of specialty third-party apps that people would like to use, and you're better off trying to record with a second device and using your primary device to capture the audio through the SmartMike+. Many alternatives won't require these workarounds, and I'm very disappointed this isn't one of them.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good Price
- Great Sound
- Great Noise Cancellation
Cons
- Horrible Device / App Compatibility
Best Used For
- Film / Vlog
Summary
By now you should have a pretty good idea of whether or not the SabineTek SmartMike+ is right for you. There are a lot of factors at play between the quality of the microphone and the simplicity. Our team at Musician Nerd has worked with a large collection of microphones, and we rarely have the level of compatibility issues that the SmartMike+ presented us with. In this day and age, many companies focus on building an app for everything, making you use personal information to sign up, but doing all that for a microphone is taking it too far. When you look at their workarounds, it's just way too much.
On the other hand, it's a gorgeous-sounding Bluetooth mic. So many people would benefit from using this microphone for Zoom or even through their included app. If that sounds like you, then I would encourage you to give it a try. It sounds great & looks even better. If you do move forward with it, let us know in the comments below how it's working out for you. Do you think requiring an app is going too far? We'd love your opinions on this.
Posted on Feb 01, 2022
Recording Streaming
Have questions for us? Email us at info@musiciannerd.com