What shotgut mic should I buy?

Tom Van den Berghe · February 18th, 2016, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Harding

Hi James

Both my cams have the good ole Rode Videomic on them and at weddings during pre-dinner drinks I also do interviews and having tried a whole bunch of mics, these, for me are still the best..they have the ability to punch thru a lot of background noise (sorta 50+ people chatting) and I still get clean audio on the interviews. I'm normally less than 10' from couples/persons saying something nice for the bride and groom so it's becomes a "video guestbook" My Rode's are pretty good at ignoring side noise so the audio is certainly very clear despite often loud background ambience.

If you are doing the same thing then it's a tough call for a mic anyway and I think ideally a tiny lave would work better but I normally have less that 30 minutes to go thru maybe 10 - 15 couples so having to clip on a lav would be a serious time waster.

One thing I should mention is that I use shoulder-mount cameras so the mics do have an advantage as they are already almost 6 ' in the air and tilted slightly downwards so it's a sorta semi-boom situation. If you do use shotguns they are amazingly sensitive to noise miles away if it's line of sight with the mic..often a simple slight to the right or left can elminate the guy making a noise next door as long as the mic isn't pointed directly at the source with your interviewees in between.

Chris

Chris, You have the rode NTG2? And because you have it it must be better than the sony shotgun?

Chris Harding · February 18th, 2016, 06:08 PM

Hey Tom

Nope I just used the standard Rode Videomic not the NTG2 ... it has a good output for run 'n gun ! Not sure about the cheaper Rode Go Mic though? I have never owned one, The Rode Videomic was definitely a lot better unit than the Sony shotguns that came with the EA-50 cameras from an output point of view.

Jeff Harper · February 25th, 2016, 11:16 AM

The Sony shotguns that come with many Sony cams are crap, that is well known. The Videomics are amazing values and work well for me at weddings. I set up a cam in an area such as the lobby, etc., and the Rode produces fine results. I position people four to five feet away and the sound quality is very good.

Tom Van den Berghe · February 25th, 2016, 01:20 PM

CHris, Jeff,

I did some research and I'm going for the audio-technica AT875R. It must be even or better then the rode NTG1/2 and even cheaper.

February 18th, 2016, 06:08 PM	#17
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: What shotgut mic should I buy? Hey Tom Nope I just used the standard Rode Videomic not the NTG2 ... it has a good output for run 'n gun ! Not sure about the cheaper Rode Go Mic though? I have never owned one, The Rode Videomic was definitely a lot better unit than the Sony shotguns that came with the EA-50 cameras from an output point of view.

February 25th, 2016, 11:16 AM	#18
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: What shotgut mic should I buy? The Sony shotguns that come with many Sony cams are crap, that is well known. The Videomics are amazing values and work well for me at weddings. I set up a cam in an area such as the lobby, etc., and the Rode produces fine results. I position people four to five feet away and the sound quality is very good. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

February 25th, 2016, 01:20 PM	#19
Tom Van den Berghe Major Player Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: BELGIUM Posts: 402	Re: What shotgut mic should I buy? CHris, Jeff, I did some research and I'm going for the audio-technica AT875R. It must be even or better then the rode NTG1/2 and even cheaper.