The Best Shotgun mic for $300-400 (ME66/AT897/other?)

Carlos Leon · September 23rd, 2004, 02:24 PM

Wow, thank you all for the feedback and the lively debate. Right now I consider myself lucky since I can invest money on good gear altought im not rich.

Carlos Leon · September 23rd, 2004, 02:42 PM

Opps sorry, the text posted before I had time to finish. My point is, I decided I should buy the best possible microphone in my price range. I just ordered the 4073a microphone kit from B and H!
It looks like its the best mic for the buck I could get. Thanks again for all of you who had a say in this "debate" who helped me make up my mind!

Chris Thomas · September 23rd, 2004, 11:30 PM

Well thanks for all these comparisons and entertaining reads... Now I have to sell my cheap (unmentioned) mic, and xlr to mini plug (which I guess I should have never bought in the first place), and beg borrow and steal to buy a 4073a and a beachtek with phantom power...

Carlos Leon · September 23rd, 2004, 11:34 PM

Heh dont feel bad. My first "mic" was a $60 dollar Best buy mic connected to a long a*s xlr converter. The mic really never worked, it was just for show lol.

Matt Gettemeier · September 24th, 2004, 06:24 AM

Hey I did something I probably shouldn't have... I decided to add up just how many dollars worth of mics I've bought over the last 3-4 years... and realize that I sold most of 'em... but the total is OVER $8K... Holy Sh*t.

My first mic was an Audio Technica ATR55 which I used for about 4 months before getting an me66... the ATR55 was $60... I bought another ATR55 for $60 thinking that I could get more coverage with an additional mic. It took the 4 months to realize that there's a reason that's the very bottom price range for mics and it's not a matter of improving technique.

Don't ever forget to get mics as close as practical for the best sound... but mics aren't like hammers. Just because you hit the nail on the head with your technique doesn't mean it's going to sound good with a crappy mic.

Nathan Taylor · November 16th, 2004, 06:46 PM

Hello Matt,

This is basically a big thank you for the advice and information you have given over the shotgun mic thread. I own a sony dsr250 and wanted to buy a good shotgun for weddings etc but didnt know where to start. After reading on the net and listening to your sound files i purchased an at4073a kit (foam, cable and shockmount) and a lightwave fluffy. I bought from B&H for $1050new zealand dollars delivered. To buy just the mic in new zealand cost $2000nz dollars alone! The shockmount in the kit is a Beyer Dynamic EA-86. Is this ok or would you recommend something else to upgrade to in the future?
Again, thanks heaps for all your input and time - any fool can hear that the at4073a outperforms the me66 hands down.
If i hadnt read this thread that would have been the mic i would have got!!

Thanks again guys and keep it up :)

Emre Safak · November 16th, 2004, 07:33 PM

Nathan, could you help other people considering the 4073a by posting your own samples? I would be very much interested in hearing it with and without the Lightwave.

Alessandro Machi · November 16th, 2004, 09:06 PM

Are you comparing a non-phantom powered mike (ME-66) with a phantom powered mike that costs twice as much money???

I just heard from someone who rented both of my ME-66's for an electronic press kit shoot at Sony Studios and he said the recorded sound was surprisingly good. He was very happy.

Microphone isolation specifications and peformance requirements can be different for different types of location recording. Sometimes slightly less mike isolation can be a good thing if you are trying to go for a real sound in a real environment versus shooting someone in a completely controlled environment.

As long as the signal to background sound ratios is well in favor of the person being miked, saying that more mike isolation is always better is not necessarily a correct statement for location shooting.

Nathan Taylor · November 17th, 2004, 01:15 AM

Hi Alessandro,

Sorry - I should have mentioned.
If i was to buy the me66 i would have bought the k6 module aswell as my dsr250 can power it.
The me66 / k6 / rycote softie combo is about the same price as the audio technica / lightwave combo.

In my opinion the at is a better deal

Jose di Cani · November 17th, 2004, 08:35 AM

The 66 is a good mic for amateur-semiprofesional use. If you know the tricks for recording audio inside and outside, then you can achieve the same profesional results as the more expensive mics. It is a matter of knowing how to record sound and edit sound. Pc's and macs offer enough opportunities in 2004 to achieve quality sound. Why ask for more?

Douglas Spotted Eagle · November 17th, 2004, 08:45 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Nathan Taylor : Hi Alessandro,

the same price as the audio technica / lightwave combo.

In my opinion the at is a better deal -->>>

Yes, I agree. The AT has a smoother, warmer sound, albeit not *quite* as hot as the 66. Plus, I find I can use the 897 in more places overall. I've been able to use it indoors on occasion, not to mention the close mic sound of it for V/0 work.

September 23rd, 2004, 02:24 PM	#31
Carlos Leon Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 46	Decision Reached Wow, thank you all for the feedback and the lively debate. Right now I consider myself lucky since I can invest money on good gear altought im not rich.

September 23rd, 2004, 02:42 PM	#32
Carlos Leon Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 46	Decision Reached Opps sorry, the text posted before I had time to finish. My point is, I decided I should buy the best possible microphone in my price range. I just ordered the 4073a microphone kit from B and H! It looks like its the best mic for the buck I could get. Thanks again for all of you who had a say in this "debate" who helped me make up my mind!

November 16th, 2004, 09:06 PM	#38
Alessandro Machi Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles, Ca USA Posts: 553	Are you comparing a non-phantom powered mike (ME-66) with a phantom powered mike that costs twice as much money??? I just heard from someone who rented both of my ME-66's for an electronic press kit shoot at Sony Studios and he said the recorded sound was surprisingly good. He was very happy. Microphone isolation specifications and peformance requirements can be different for different types of location recording. Sometimes slightly less mike isolation can be a good thing if you are trying to go for a real sound in a real environment versus shooting someone in a completely controlled environment. As long as the signal to background sound ratios is well in favor of the person being miked, saying that more mike isolation is always better is not necessarily a correct statement for location shooting. __________________ https://alexlogic.blogspot.com/ Los Angeles Emmy Winner (yes, used a video edit controller and loved doing so.)

November 17th, 2004, 08:45 AM	#41
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	<<<-- Originally posted by Nathan Taylor : Hi Alessandro, the same price as the audio technica / lightwave combo. In my opinion the at is a better deal -->>> Yes, I agree. The AT has a smoother, warmer sound, albeit not quite as hot as the 66. Plus, I find I can use the 897 in more places overall. I've been able to use it indoors on occasion, not to mention the close mic sound of it for V/0 work. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

September 23rd, 2004, 11:30 PM	#33
Chris Thomas Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Burlington ON, Canada Posts: 118	Well thanks for all these comparisons and entertaining reads... Now I have to sell my cheap (unmentioned) mic, and xlr to mini plug (which I guess I should have never bought in the first place), and beg borrow and steal to buy a 4073a and a beachtek with phantom power...

September 23rd, 2004, 11:34 PM	#34
Carlos Leon Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 46	Heh dont feel bad. My first "mic" was a $60 dollar Best buy mic connected to a long a*s xlr converter. The mic really never worked, it was just for show lol.

September 24th, 2004, 06:24 AM	#35
Matt Gettemeier Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 936	Hey I did something I probably shouldn't have... I decided to add up just how many dollars worth of mics I've bought over the last 3-4 years... and realize that I sold most of 'em... but the total is OVER $8K... Holy Sh*t. My first mic was an Audio Technica ATR55 which I used for about 4 months before getting an me66... the ATR55 was $60... I bought another ATR55 for $60 thinking that I could get more coverage with an additional mic. It took the 4 months to realize that there's a reason that's the very bottom price range for mics and it's not a matter of improving technique. Don't ever forget to get mics as close as practical for the best sound... but mics aren't like hammers. Just because you hit the nail on the head with your technique doesn't mean it's going to sound good with a crappy mic.

November 16th, 2004, 06:46 PM	#36
Nathan Taylor New Boot Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 19	Hello Matt, This is basically a big thank you for the advice and information you have given over the shotgun mic thread. I own a sony dsr250 and wanted to buy a good shotgun for weddings etc but didnt know where to start. After reading on the net and listening to your sound files i purchased an at4073a kit (foam, cable and shockmount) and a lightwave fluffy. I bought from B&H for $1050new zealand dollars delivered. To buy just the mic in new zealand cost $2000nz dollars alone! The shockmount in the kit is a Beyer Dynamic EA-86. Is this ok or would you recommend something else to upgrade to in the future? Again, thanks heaps for all your input and time - any fool can hear that the at4073a outperforms the me66 hands down. If i hadnt read this thread that would have been the mic i would have got!! Thanks again guys and keep it up :)

November 16th, 2004, 07:33 PM	#37
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Nathan, could you help other people considering the 4073a by posting your own samples? I would be very much interested in hearing it with and without the Lightwave.

November 17th, 2004, 01:15 AM	#39
Nathan Taylor New Boot Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 19	Hi Alessandro, Sorry - I should have mentioned. If i was to buy the me66 i would have bought the k6 module aswell as my dsr250 can power it. The me66 / k6 / rycote softie combo is about the same price as the audio technica / lightwave combo. In my opinion the at is a better deal

November 17th, 2004, 08:35 AM	#40
Jose di Cani Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Holland, Europe Posts: 214	The 66 is a good mic for amateur-semiprofesional use. If you know the tricks for recording audio inside and outside, then you can achieve the same profesional results as the more expensive mics. It is a matter of knowing how to record sound and edit sound. Pc's and macs offer enough opportunities in 2004 to achieve quality sound. Why ask for more?