I searched and found several people purchasing and planning on using these shotgun mics So... after a couple of years or couple of months, any new opinions on them good or not good? I"ve put together a package at B&H but would like to get some long term user reports before buying.

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I'm also searching some opinions about these mics...
Comments from pd-100 or pdx-10 users are welcome !

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No answers, does not bode well. I'm primarily interested in durability in a rough and tumble field environment.

No answers, does not bode well. I'm primarily interested in durability in a rough and tumble field environment.

I've heard good things about both but haven't personally used them. Fellow forum member Ty Ford has some reviews on his web site.

I have the NTG-2. I think it's great. No issues. throw it in a bag, pull it out, works. built nice, phantom or battery powered, phantom powered sounds better to me. Sounds great.

I've been using the NTG-2 with my dvc30 for about six months, so far so good. Usage is primarely outdoors, either event actionsport or run'n gun ENG use. About the quality, both I and the Tv/webtv where i delivered clips lately were surprised(to say the least) of how well it performs. The build quality is also good, and I'm looking forward to the winter to see how much wear and tear it can take.Take the price into consideration and there arn't many comptetitors left, only Audio Technica as far as I remember has any mic's in the same price range.

No, it's not a Schoeps, Nuemann or Sennheiser mkh...but thats 1k + USD mics, not the more student friendly 250-300$ i paid for the NTG-2.

Thanks, before I purchase I wanted to get info about build quality.

I use the NTG-2 with my dvx100b and it is solid and sounds great. I purchased a kit from B&H for around $250 US. It came with a shockmount, case, foam windscreen, a 1ft right-angle cable, and a Rode Deadcat. As far as build quality goes, it's tough and looks like it could take a beating (or give one, for that matter). I don't think that you would be dissapointed with this mic.

Thanks, before I purchase I wanted to get info about build quality.

I don't have an NTG but I do have a Rode NT1a studio mic and it's build quality is first rate. Solid performer.

it's tough and looks like it could take a beating(or give one, for that matter)
Maybe thats way Airport security wondered what the H*** I had in my handluggage:)

Compared to the sennheiser K6+Me66 it's at least as good when we talk about the build quality, if not better, thats the impression i have so far.

The setup i've used a few times with the Rycote softie and rode shockmount.
http://www.chma.net/pana2.JPG

Christian, Michael and others,

Can any one of you comment on how well your NTG-2 has worked for you in an indoor music environment? I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a Rode NT-3 primarily because of its hyper-cardioid pick up pattern (better for live music I'm assuming?) not to mention its nice price and battery option.

Secondly, I have a DVC30 as well but without the XLR mic adapter. When you say the NTG-2 performs better w/phantom vs battery, how much better? Of minor significance? Like night & day? I'm just trying to get an idea of how decent a recording I can get using the NTG-2 with battery only.

Thanks for any input~

Mike

Christian, Michael and others,

Can any one of you comment on how well your NTG-2 has worked for you in an indoor music environment? I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a Rode NT-3 primarily because of its hyper-cardioid pick up pattern (better for live music I'm assuming?) not to mention its nice price and battery option.

Secondly, I have a DVC30 as well but without the XLR mic adapter. When you say the NTG-2 performs better w/phantom vs battery, how much better? Major or minor significance? Like night & day? I'm just trying to get an idea of how decent a recording I can get using the NTG-2 with battery only.

Thanks for any input~

Mike

For music recording, IMO both the shotgun and the hyper are likely to have too narrow a pickup pattern to give good results. Those mics have a 15-25 degree angle of acceptance while for most stage settings you'll need more like 90-120 degrees or more to cover the entire stage. Of course it depends on the type of performance. If you were, say, shooting a solo acoustic guitar and you couldn't close-mic it then a mic with a narrow pickup pattern at the edge of the stage might work. But if it's an ensemble, band, or larger group, you need to cover a much wider area. A shotgun or hyper would pick up the one musician exactly where it was pointed but the rest of the group would be way down.

Christian, Michael and others,

Can any one of you comment on how well your NTG-2 has worked for you in an indoor music environment? I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a Rode NT-3 primarily because of its hyper-cardioid pick up pattern (better for live music I'm assuming?) not to mention its nice price and battery option.

Secondly, I have a DVC30 as well but without the XLR mic adapter. When you say the NTG-2 performs better w/phantom vs battery, how much better? Of minor significance? Like night & day? I'm just trying to get an idea of how decent a recording I can get using the NTG-2 with battery only.

Thanks for any input~

Mike

this mic would be horrible for indoor music IMO. Like it was said, the pickup pattern is too narrow. also can't handle the spl's of a PA system of say a rock band. i picked up a couple of church audio omni mics to record indoor music and they work nice for this. The shotgun for other stuff.

with the DVC30, the NTG-2 is a long mic, you might have issues of the mic peeking into the frame if you mount it on your camera. Unless you push it way back, but if you don't have the xlr adapter, then you're going to need the transformer adapter like what Sure makes to stick on the end of the mic and now it's really long. poke you in the eye long. I had that setup on my DVC30 and it sucked, not sound wise but setup wise. Finally went with the xlr adapter.

It's noticeable more in the dynamic range of the mic running on battery vs phantom, not to mention there is no power switch on the mic, so if you run it off a battery, you've got to take it out when you're done or you'll just need to carry a lot of batteries around.

build quality and sound quality are great. couldn't find anything else that came close in the price range.

Thanks Steve & Michael for the replies. While it still sounds like a great mic, it (and the NT-3) may not be what I'm looking for.

I've read some good reviews here from folks using a pair of AT3031's for music, so I'm now leaning more toward those along with the Panny XLR box which I'm sure I will have to spring for eventually. How to mount them (3031's) is another story of course and OT on this thread, but if there's anyone out there who uses these AT's and would care to share your experience with them feel free to PM me.

Thanks again guys for helping me narrow my choices.

~Mike

You want to mount a pair of 3031s on your
camera?

with the DVC30, the NTG-2 is a long mic, you might have issues of the mic peeking into the frame if you mount it on your camera. Unless you push it way back, but if you don't have the xlr adapter, then you're going to need the transformer adapter like what Sure makes to stick on the end of the mic and now it's really long. poke you in the eye long. I had that setup on my DVC30 and it sucked, not sound wise but setup wise. Finally went with the xlr adapter.
It shouldn't be a problem with ntg2 and its length. This setup (http://www.chma.net/pana1.JPG) works fine even with a Century wide angle lens.

Haven't used my ntg2 for music so cant help with that one. And can't comment on the phantom Vs. AA battery, yet.

You want to mount a pair of 3031s on your
camera?

Dave,

Yes, it's what I was hoping to do--you think it a bit impracticable? That's why I hang out here, to learn from people who know....

Rode also makes a stereo video mic that looks pretty nice.

Thanks Steve & Michael for the replies. While it still sounds like a great mic, it (and the NT-3) may not be what I'm looking for.

I've read some good reviews here from folks using a pair of AT3031's for music, so I'm now leaning more toward those along with the Panny XLR box which I'm sure I will have to spring for eventually. How to mount them (3031's) is another story of course and OT on this thread, but if there's anyone out there who uses these AT's and would care to share your experience with them feel free to PM me.

Thanks again guys for helping me narrow my choices.

~Mike

I have a pair of 3031's and they are excellent mics. Not very practical to mount a pair on your camera though. They should go on a couple of stands or on a single stand with a stereo bar and there are a wide variety of miking arrangments - A/B, X/Y, ORTF, etc - that you can use them for.

It shouldn't be a problem with ntg2 and its length. This setup (http://www.chma.net/pana1.JPG) works fine even with a Century wide angle lens.

Haven't used my ntg2 for music so cant help with that one. And can't comment on the phantom Vs. AA battery, yet.


You put a dead cat on the mic, and you'll see the little hairs creeping in when you use a wide angle. At least I do. But if you crop for 16:9, it cuts them out.

Anyone have any other experiences with on camera mounting? Although I always want to get the mic off the camera, it oftentimes just isn't feasible. The GL1/GL2/XHA1 all have handles on the top that I use quite frequently and I'm afraid that running a mic on the top (or even with the XHA1's mic mount) I would lose easy use of the handle.

Although I want the option of battery power, the NTG1 is about 2 inches shorter. So I'm torn trying to find a good mic that isn't unwieldy when mounted on a cam like an xh a1.

When you say the NTG-2 performs better w/phantom vs battery, how much better? Of minor significance? Like night & day? I'm just trying to get an idea of how decent a recording I can get using the NTG-2 with battery only.

You can download a comparisationclip of the NTG-2 with a penlite and with phantompower here: http://www.rivierenlandmedia.nl/Media/NTG2_AAvsPHANTOM.wmv
I have done some (quick) testing last week to see what sounds better. Phantom wins, thats clear!