any suggestions for shotgun mics at DVinfo.net

Jeff Moore · September 8th, 2008, 10:43 PM

Hey guys,
I own a canon xh-a1 and i am looking for a good shotgun mic around the $250 to $300 level. any suggestions. preferably not too long but beggars can't be choosers. thanks.

jeff

Allan Black · September 8th, 2008, 11:05 PM

The RODE NTG-1 or 2, check the forum user reports and web prices.

Cheers.

Dan Brockett · September 9th, 2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Moore

Hey guys,
I own a canon xh-a1 and i am looking for a good shotgun mic around the $250 to $300 level. any suggestions. preferably not too long but beggars can't be choosers. thanks.

jeff

Jeff:

Go to my article here and read, listen and decide. It will hopefully help you make a good choice based upon your ears and your needs.

As I Hear It - Choosing the Right Microphone

All my best,

Dan

Steve House · September 9th, 2008, 10:04 AM

While it's a little over your stated budget (well okay, double) I just got a Rode NTG-3 from Guy at DVCreators and it's looks very promising. Very similar to the Sennheiser MKH416 at a considerably lower price. Haven't has a chance to put it through its paces yet but at first glance it's definitely worth considering.

Bill Pryor · September 9th, 2008, 10:59 AM

Dan's article is very good.

I bought the Oktava 3 capsule system, $350 with all 3 capsules from Oktava.com.
You can get it with just hypercardoid or cardoid capsule for a hundred bucks less.

The reason I bought it was because I had a need for a mic with an omni capsule, and it was cheap. I liked it so well I use it all the time for dialog recording, usually with the cardoid. And, the thing is really tiny. Much skinnier and shorter than a normal short shotgun. Easy to conceal in various places. If you want to use it on the camera you'd have to buy some O-rings at a hardware store, or wrap some foam around it, because it is probably too skinny for the mount. You'd also need a shock mount.

I think it's a bit optimistic when people compare this to the 5 times as expensive Schoeps or Sennheiser, MKH60, but it's a good mic for the money, and having the 3 capsules gives you some added versatility. I also get less boominess for indoor shooting than I do with other shotguns.

Dan Brockett · September 9th, 2008, 09:01 PM

Hi Bill:

Yes, I liked the Oktava in the tests. It's a pretty versatile little system and sounds good. I wouldn't use it camera mounted though, it was pretty noisy in my handling tests with lots of microphonics.

The Audio Technica AT-875r is superb on-camera and very good off-camera on a boom. It was also the cheapest mic I tested. I bought one and have been using it a LOT for a bunch of broadcast and DVD projects. Superb mic, almost impervious to handling noise, small, cheap and very good sound. It is my new travel, non-studio mic, I use it in my travel kit. I think I paid $189.00 for it from the Sound Room.

I love my MKH-60 but for travel and on-camera, the little AT is so good.

Best,

Dan

Shahryar Rizvi · September 10th, 2008, 03:07 PM

Were there any suggestions for the AT897? I'm looking to buy an XH-A1 used to save some money and there's a seller here on dvinfo.net who is selling both the XH-A1 and the AT897 so perhaps if we could work out a package deal, I could grab that now too. I am not 100% sure I want a shotgun mic as the first(main?) mic I would be using. But I recently read over on another thread about how bad the built in mic sound is on the XH-A1 (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/canon-xh-...amera-mic.html) that I thought maybe I should try to get something better right away.

Ty Ford · September 10th, 2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Moore

Hey guys,
I own a canon xh-a1 and i am looking for a good shotgun mic around the $250 to $300 level. any suggestions. preferably not too long but beggars can't be choosers. thanks.

jeff

Why a shotgun? What will be shooting and where?

Regards,

Ty Ford

Randy Larioz · September 10th, 2008, 11:33 PM

Personally I love the sennheiser 416mic. It is better than the MKH60 in the fact that it is more durable. Pure steal compared to a lot of plastic. However it did cost me a pretty penny at over one thousand, but I love audio and I went nutz and bought myself enough equipment to work on any professional shoot. But if on a budget like some say go with the Rode. It will do for now, but consider the 416 when you go and play with the big boys. For wireless I own the very affordable sennheiser evolution 100 series. I recommend a great boom pole for your shotgun mic. Things like mixers and recorders are also fun.

Jimmy Tuffrey · September 11th, 2008, 02:45 PM

[QUOTE=Randy Larioz;932279]Personally I love the sennheiser 416mic. It is better than the MKH60 in the fact that it is more durable.

Let's not get started on that one again!!!

Ty Ford · September 11th, 2008, 03:42 PM

+1

The MKH 60 was used on exteriors of the latest Pirates Of The Carribean movie.

Schoeps cmc641 inside.

Ty Ford

PS: If you want to try something new, try teh Rode NTG-3 rf-condenser shotgun. Wider pattern than the 416, not quite as much low end.

September 8th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#1
Jeff Moore New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Berkeley, Ca United States Posts: 8	any suggestions for shotgun mics Hey guys, I own a canon xh-a1 and i am looking for a good shotgun mic around the $250 to $300 level. any suggestions. preferably not too long but beggars can't be choosers. thanks. jeff

September 9th, 2008, 10:04 AM	#4
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	While it's a little over your stated budget (well okay, double) I just got a Rode NTG-3 from Guy at DVCreators and it's looks very promising. Very similar to the Sennheiser MKH416 at a considerably lower price. Haven't has a chance to put it through its paces yet but at first glance it's definitely worth considering. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

September 10th, 2008, 03:07 PM	#7
Shahryar Rizvi Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, MD Posts: 134	Were there any suggestions for the AT897? I'm looking to buy an XH-A1 used to save some money and there's a seller here on dvinfo.net who is selling both the XH-A1 and the AT897 so perhaps if we could work out a package deal, I could grab that now too. I am not 100% sure I want a shotgun mic as the first(main?) mic I would be using. But I recently read over on another thread about how bad the built in mic sound is on the XH-A1 (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/canon-xh-...amera-mic.html) that I thought maybe I should try to get something better right away. __________________ Current Audio Equipment: two AT822 mics, Sony MZ-RH1, and KE-110CCR. What else should I get for short films and recording stand-up comedy? http://is.gd/kePy

September 11th, 2008, 03:42 PM	#11
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	+1 The MKH 60 was used on exteriors of the latest Pirates Of The Carribean movie. Schoeps cmc641 inside. Ty Ford PS: If you want to try something new, try teh Rode NTG-3 rf-condenser shotgun. Wider pattern than the 416, not quite as much low end. __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

September 8th, 2008, 11:05 PM	#2
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	The RODE NTG-1 or 2, check the forum user reports and web prices. Cheers.

September 9th, 2008, 10:59 AM	#5
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Dan's article is very good. I bought the Oktava 3 capsule system, $350 with all 3 capsules from Oktava.com. You can get it with just hypercardoid or cardoid capsule for a hundred bucks less. The reason I bought it was because I had a need for a mic with an omni capsule, and it was cheap. I liked it so well I use it all the time for dialog recording, usually with the cardoid. And, the thing is really tiny. Much skinnier and shorter than a normal short shotgun. Easy to conceal in various places. If you want to use it on the camera you'd have to buy some O-rings at a hardware store, or wrap some foam around it, because it is probably too skinny for the mount. You'd also need a shock mount. I think it's a bit optimistic when people compare this to the 5 times as expensive Schoeps or Sennheiser, MKH60, but it's a good mic for the money, and having the 3 capsules gives you some added versatility. I also get less boominess for indoor shooting than I do with other shotguns.

September 9th, 2008, 09:01 PM	#6
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Hi Bill: Yes, I liked the Oktava in the tests. It's a pretty versatile little system and sounds good. I wouldn't use it camera mounted though, it was pretty noisy in my handling tests with lots of microphonics. The Audio Technica AT-875r is superb on-camera and very good off-camera on a boom. It was also the cheapest mic I tested. I bought one and have been using it a LOT for a bunch of broadcast and DVD projects. Superb mic, almost impervious to handling noise, small, cheap and very good sound. It is my new travel, non-studio mic, I use it in my travel kit. I think I paid $189.00 for it from the Sound Room. I love my MKH-60 but for travel and on-camera, the little AT is so good. Best, Dan

September 10th, 2008, 11:33 PM	#9
Randy Larioz Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 25	Personally I love the sennheiser 416mic. It is better than the MKH60 in the fact that it is more durable. Pure steal compared to a lot of plastic. However it did cost me a pretty penny at over one thousand, but I love audio and I went nutz and bought myself enough equipment to work on any professional shoot. But if on a budget like some say go with the Rode. It will do for now, but consider the 416 when you go and play with the big boys. For wireless I own the very affordable sennheiser evolution 100 series. I recommend a great boom pole for your shotgun mic. Things like mixers and recorders are also fun.

September 11th, 2008, 02:45 PM	#10
Jimmy Tuffrey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bristol U.K. Posts: 244	[QUOTE=Randy Larioz;932279]Personally I love the sennheiser 416mic. It is better than the MKH60 in the fact that it is more durable. Let's not get started on that one again!!!