Report:
Last year I got the Sony shotgun mic ECM-Z37C. The specs claim that it uses plug-in power. I put a battery in it just for safety, then started using it for home video.

Sadly, I learned the hard way to test every new piece of equipment before trusting it. The battery ran out (of course I wasn't monitoring the audio while taping), and now we have hours of family fun MOS.

Question:
Can someone recommend a reliable pro/sumer shotgun mic for that is definitely plug-in powered? Under $200?

Thanks,
David

David,
Does your camera support phantom power? If not, you will need to get a Beachtek box or equivalent to power a mic which will add to your expenditure. You may want to check out the Rode NTG-1 which runs on phantom power. It's around $200 and has good sound and build quality. There also is the Rode NTG-2 that I believe is the same as the NTG-1 except in runs either self powered or with phantom power.


--JL

Report:
Last year I got the Sony shotgun mic ECM-Z37C. The specs claim that it uses plug-in power. I put a battery in it just for safety, then started using it for home video.

Sadly, I learned the hard way to test every new piece of equipment before trusting it. The battery ran out (of course I wasn't monitoring the audio while taping), and now we have hours of family fun MOS.

Question:
Can someone recommend a reliable pro/sumer shotgun mic for that is definitely plug-in powered? Under $200?

Thanks,
David

Sometimes a dead battery in a mic will draw off or blocks the plugin power supplied to it. If the batter is in, it uses that, if it's out it uses plugin. Check your documentation.

Or, some battery powered mics MUST have a battery in the slot, even if it's dead.

You DON'T need phantom power with battery powered mics.

Rode NTG-2, and several battery powered AT mics will work.

Regards,

Ty Ford