RODE NTG-3 on the A1.

Ty Ford · December 30th, 2008, 06:55 PM

not real fur.

Larry, you are a hoot.

Ty Ford

Larry Vaughn · December 30th, 2008, 07:12 PM

Apparently the fur cover is not real fur, it's synthetic. The rode site says it's a dead wombat. Apparently a fake dead wombat or a real one with a fake hairpiece.

Ty, it must be the owl I hear outside my house.

Andris Krastins · December 31st, 2008, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Vaughn

Apparently the fur cover is not real fur, it's synthetic. The rode site says it's a dead wombat. Apparently a fake dead wombat or a real one with a fake hairpiece.

Ty, it must be the owl I hear outside my house.

Well, dead-cats are also not made from dead felines. ;)

Christopher Warwick · January 1st, 2009, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andris Krastins

Well, dead-cats are also not made from dead felines. ;)

Hang on, all these years thinking dead cats and dead wombats were one and the same thing!

Seriously though, I came to this thread looking for a critique between the NTG-3 and the Sennheiser ME66. Obviously the Sennheiser is more expensive but is it worth the extra expense over the NTG-3?

Which do you recommend I buy? I do like the wireless setup of Sennheiser, the use of the plug in transmitter to free up the boom operator from wires... In fact I like this whole sound location package: DV eStore Theatre - Location Sound

Chris

Ty Ford · January 1st, 2009, 04:45 AM

Um, just thinking about that particular video.

1. How does the boom op know if the mic's in the right spot? Visually? I don't think so.
Better to cable down to a small mixer or headphone amp with pass though so the boom op can hear what's going on.

2. The last thing I want as a boom op is another thing attached to the mic end of the boom.
It may not seem like a lot of weight when you hold it in your hand, but do the math. On the end of a 14 foot stick, four ounces weighs a lot more than four ounces.

Per Archimedes, "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world."

Regards,

Ty Ford

John Stakes · January 1st, 2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher Warwick

Obviously the Sennheiser is more expensive but is it worth the extra expense over the NTG-3?

isn't this the other way around? Last I checked the ME66 and K6 could be had for about $450. And the NTG-3 is close to $700 I think.

Christopher Warwick · January 2nd, 2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Stakes

isn't this the other way around? Last I checked the ME66 and K6 could be had for about $450. And the NTG-3 is close to $700 I think.

I can buy a new RODE NTG-3 for USD $599 and a RODE Blimp for $269.

You're right about the ME66 and K6 which I can get for $449, although the Sennheiser Blimp, hairy and pistol grip will add another $775

So does the NTG-3 beat the ME66/K6 hands down? Anyone here tried both?

As I've said, the reason I was favouring the Sennheiser is because I have a deal on the
Sennheiser Evolution G2 EW100 “A” which includes a plug in transmitter that I could stick into the end of the ME66 to make it wirefree. This would be handy for me if I'm using the A1 on a Steadicam with the ME66 on a boom pole.

I don't see Ty Ford's comment above about making it heavier since those transmitters are not heavy and the removal of a heavy wire can only improve that.

Chris

Ty Ford · January 2nd, 2009, 10:26 PM

Tell you what Chris,

We'll stick the transmitter on the mic on the end of a 14 foot pole and let you hold the other end. We'll take it off the pole and see what that feels like. You can disagree with me all you like, but you can't disagree with physics.

Plus, as I said, there's no way for the boom op to hear if the mic's in the right spot.

I'm not sayin' it thrice.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Larry Vaughn · January 11th, 2009, 12:55 PM

I paid 499 for the ntg-3 new and a bit less for the me-66, but I'd say the ntg-3 has a noticeably better sound than the me-66 when comparing them side by side via a 302 mixer and decent headphones.

My ME-66 will soon be on ebay.

Mark Fry · January 13th, 2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Vaughn

I paid 499 for the ntg-3 new and a bit less for the me-66, but I'd say the ntg-3 has a noticeably better sound than the me-66 when comparing them side by side via a 302 mixer and decent headphones.

My ME-66 will soon be on ebay.

That's very interesting, and not altogether suprising. Rode have a track record of producing very good sound quality for the money. The K6+ME66 is very widely used, and often used as a bench mark when assessing short shotgun mics, but it has never struck me as particularly good value for money. I've spoken to a few people who considered buying one but ended up either getting a (much) cheaper Rode NTG-2 (as I did) or AT297, because the sound quality difference wasn't enough to justify x3 the price, or a (much) more expensive Senn, AKG or Schoeps (?) because "good enough" wasn't actually good enough for them.

Larry - do you have any side-by-side recordings? If so, would you be prepared to post them somewhere for the edification of the rest of us, please? If not, and you've not sold the Senn yet, could you find time to record and post something with the ME66 on one track and the NTG-3 on the other? I think this question is going to come up a lot in the coming months. Thanks in advance.

Ty Ford · January 13th, 2009, 11:27 AM

Mark,

No need to do that. The ME66 is a student grade mic. The NTG-3 is a lot better and better engineered to prevent rf and moisture problems.

Regards,

Ty

Mark Fry · January 13th, 2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Ford

Mark,

No need to do that. The ME66 is a student grade mic. The NTG-3 is a lot better and better engineered to prevent rf and moisture problems.

Regards,

Ty

Hi Ty - thanks for the second opinion. I'd still be very interested to hear a side-by-side comparisson with the ME66, if only because it is the de facto bench-mark for short shot-gun mics. What does "a lot better" actually sound like? Someone like me, with only limited experience of a few different models in limited circumstances can learn a lot from listening to such comparissons.

Ty Ford · January 13th, 2009, 01:27 PM

Maybe over there. Over here it would be the MKH 416.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Christopher Warwick · January 15th, 2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Ford

Tell you what Chris,

We'll stick the transmitter on the mic on the end of a 14 foot pole and let you hold the other end. We'll take it off the pole and see what that feels like. You can disagree with me all you like, but you can't disagree with physics.

Plus, as I said, there's no way for the boom op to hear if the mic's in the right spot.

I'm not sayin' it thrice.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Right, you're correct of course Ty. I had a chance to try it yesterday. The new idea (think we covered this in another thread), is to have the boomed NTG-3 jack into a sound devices 302 and then the plug in wireless transmitter into the output of the 302.

Thing is, I want the boom op and myself to listen in on the cans (nope, I don't trust anyone!) Do I use a headphones split lead off the camera jack for this? Seems pretty pointless to have the sound go wireless and then hook up the boom op to his phones from the camera... Or can he plug in a feed from his FM?

..Bet you hate guys like me! ;p

Chris

Ty Ford · January 16th, 2009, 06:56 AM

"Right, you're correct of course Ty. I had a chance to try it yesterday. The new idea (think we covered this in another thread), is to have the boomed NTG-3 jack into a sound devices 302 and then the plug in wireless transmitter into the output of the 302."

>>Yes, that's what I suggested.

Thing is, I want the boom op and myself to listen in on the cans (nope, I don't trust anyone!)

>>I understand that feeling. When you begin to use really good sound people, that'll fade.

Do I use a headphones split lead off the camera jack for this? Seems pretty pointless to have the sound go wireless and then hook up the boom op to his phones from the camera... Or can he plug in a feed from his FM?

>> In addition to the two jobs; hearing if the mic's in the right spot and hearing if the audio you're getting is good, you also need to think about whether the transmitter antenna is in the best spot. You'll get better range with it up in the air, but then you have the weight.

>> If you have an internal cable you can plug the transmitter into the rear of the boom. A variety of doohickeys are available to add to booms to make that possible.

>> Boom op listens to the 302 or MixPre, you listen to the camera.

..Bet you hate guys like me! ;p

>> I stopped thinking about people who want to put their fingers in the fan a long time ago. I have a short finger or two myself.

Regards,

Ty Ford

December 30th, 2008, 06:55 PM	#16
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	not real fur. Larry, you are a hoot. Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

December 30th, 2008, 07:12 PM	#17
Larry Vaughn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 201	real vs fake fur Apparently the fur cover is not real fur, it's synthetic. The rode site says it's a dead wombat. Apparently a fake dead wombat or a real one with a fake hairpiece. Ty, it must be the owl I hear outside my house.

January 1st, 2009, 04:45 AM	#20
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Um, just thinking about that particular video. 1. How does the boom op know if the mic's in the right spot? Visually? I don't think so. Better to cable down to a small mixer or headphone amp with pass though so the boom op can hear what's going on. 2. The last thing I want as a boom op is another thing attached to the mic end of the boom. It may not seem like a lot of weight when you hold it in your hand, but do the math. On the end of a 14 foot stick, four ounces weighs a lot more than four ounces. Per Archimedes, "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

January 2nd, 2009, 10:26 PM	#23
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Tell you what Chris, We'll stick the transmitter on the mic on the end of a 14 foot pole and let you hold the other end. We'll take it off the pole and see what that feels like. You can disagree with me all you like, but you can't disagree with physics. Plus, as I said, there's no way for the boom op to hear if the mic's in the right spot. I'm not sayin' it thrice. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

January 11th, 2009, 12:55 PM	#24
Larry Vaughn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 201	me 66 vs ntg-3 I paid 499 for the ntg-3 new and a bit less for the me-66, but I'd say the ntg-3 has a noticeably better sound than the me-66 when comparing them side by side via a 302 mixer and decent headphones. My ME-66 will soon be on ebay.

January 13th, 2009, 11:27 AM	#26
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Mark, No need to do that. The ME66 is a student grade mic. The NTG-3 is a lot better and better engineered to prevent rf and moisture problems. Regards, Ty __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

January 13th, 2009, 01:27 PM	#28
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Maybe over there. Over here it would be the MKH 416. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

January 16th, 2009, 06:56 AM	#30
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	"Right, you're correct of course Ty. I had a chance to try it yesterday. The new idea (think we covered this in another thread), is to have the boomed NTG-3 jack into a sound devices 302 and then the plug in wireless transmitter into the output of the 302." >>Yes, that's what I suggested. Thing is, I want the boom op and myself to listen in on the cans (nope, I don't trust anyone!) >>I understand that feeling. When you begin to use really good sound people, that'll fade. Do I use a headphones split lead off the camera jack for this? Seems pretty pointless to have the sound go wireless and then hook up the boom op to his phones from the camera... Or can he plug in a feed from his FM? >> In addition to the two jobs; hearing if the mic's in the right spot and hearing if the audio you're getting is good, you also need to think about whether the transmitter antenna is in the best spot. You'll get better range with it up in the air, but then you have the weight. >> If you have an internal cable you can plug the transmitter into the rear of the boom. A variety of doohickeys are available to add to booms to make that possible. >> Boom op listens to the 302 or MixPre, you listen to the camera. ..Bet you hate guys like me! ;p >> I stopped thinking about people who want to put their fingers in the fan a long time ago. I have a short finger or two myself. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog