Everybody is loving the new Blue Compass and how sleek and beautiful it is.
But, is it better than the Rode PSA1?
I’ll show you 3 features where the Compass is indeed better than the Rode PSA1
one of which nobody is even talking about!
But the Rode has one feature that might make all the difference for your setup!
I am Everson and this is Geek Detour.
Hum… how did I let it happen?
I was happy with my Rode PSA1 Boom Arm…
but I was seduced by the new Blue Compass…
then, the weirdest thing happened:
I kept my old PSA1… and even bought another PSA1.
I am a simple man, but somehow I found a good reason to use all three boom arms.
After you watch this video,
tell me in the comments if it makes sense or if I lost my mind!
So let’s see which is the best boom arm for you,
beginning with the Blue Compass:
why on earth the box is so big?
Take a look!
Oh, it is because the Compass comes completely straight inside the box.
This is actually good, and less funny…
I mean,
it won’t break any monitors.
I swear there were a few videos on YouTube, but they disappeared!
On every review I watched on YouTube,
you have people saying that the Compass has a nice build quality,
that the cable management is simpler and better,
and it looks way cooler on camera than the PSA1
and I agree.
But there are other 3 reasons why you might prefer the Compass:
1st: the Compass is taller than the PSA1.
Let me put them side by side and take a look.
The PSA1 reaches further horizontally,
but the Compass goes higher.
So If you use a big monitor, that might be important to you.
2nd: since its base is just a cylinder,
the Compass takes less space on your desk.
I don’t know about you, but, man, to me every inch counts!
Take a look how much more space the PSA1 takes for its rotation!
So that’s another point for the Compass.
and 3rd: is a feature that nobody is showing!
The beauty of a boom arm is being able to
position the microphone any way you want by just moving it.
Effortlessly.
<"wrong" buzzer>
You shouldn’t need to be constantly easing and tightening the friction thumbscrews…
It should remain stable in any position.
So, what do you do if your microphone is too heavy
or too lightweight?
On the Compass, you can fine tune the spring tension using this hidden screw!
It is mentioned on the manual’s text,
but no pictures…
My current microphone is the Blue Spark
and the Compass had the springs a bit too tensioned for my taste
So I loosened the screw just one full turn
and the arm balance got just perfect,
even with the friction hinges completely loose.
But there is one thing that I completely hate on the Blue Compass…
and I really love on the Rode PSA1:
the angle you set for your microphone remains the same,
no matter what you do with the arm!
Actually, the entire purpose of the Scissor Arm design
is to keep pointing to the same direction,
regardless of what you do with the arm.
It might look old fashion, but it is incredibly useful!
So, if you need the "parallel motion linkage", the Rode PSA1 is your choice.
And that is why I kept my old Rode boom arm, and even bought a second one.
But I don’t use them for microphones anymore!
One of them is now holding two LED light panels
they weigh almost twice the maximum recommended capacity
so, this is completely not-recommended and very experimental.
So far, it is working fine.
And the second PSA1 I bought to hold my camera.
To do that, I recommend using a ballhead.
The super cheap ones are fine to carry a GoPro,
but they can’t handle the weight of a DSLR Camera.
The Joby Ballhead for Gorillapod is not that expensive and handles the weight perfectly.
My Canon weighs about the same as the Blue Yeti + Shockmount + Pop filter,
so I know the PSA1 will be able to handle it perfectly for years to come.
I also tried to mount my GoPro on the PSA1… and… well, you can do it
but the GoPro is too lightweight.
To make the arm remain on the positions I want,
I have to add the weight of a powerbank, with velcro tapes.
You might say “why bother?"
"Aren’t tripods good enough?”
Well, I have tripods…
but they are not as flexible and fast to adjust
even more if you do lots of overhead shots.
Also, my “studio” space is quite limited,
and now our baby girl is walking all over the house
so we want to use the table more and leave the floor as free as possible.
If you liked the idea,
in the description I will put links for all the items I used for my YouTube setup.
The Blue Compass has a very modern design.
But the Rode PSA1 remains a work horse
that you can use also for lights and cameras.
Which is the boom arm of your choice?
Let me know in the comments and thanks for watching!