Audio Technica AT835b Shotgun Mic
 

Has anyone used this microphone? If you have could you please comment on it, I found it for $200, and I am wondering if it would be a good addition to my gear. I would probably use it more for in-studio recording, but I would also like to use it on set.

Any input -line or mic level- (sorry, I saw the opportunity and ran with it) is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Max Liptack

It is an excellent shotgun with all the benefits and down-sides of the genre. It is rugged and not quite as prone to audio overload as some other shotguns. I've had 2 for many years and they just keep working and working.

I use them all the time on-set. I do not use them for VO work as a good studio microphone sounds better (to me).

Thats good to hear, is the price good compared to other sources? How much did you pay for yours? I found it on eBay for 200.

Do you have any experience with the Rode NTG-1? I just found that for a decent price too.

Are these two mics comparable? Which one is better, (I think I hear better things about the Rode), but I would like to read a direct comparison.

The RODE NTG-1 is the phantom only version of the NTG-2 (battery). These microphones are comparable to the Audio-Technica AT897. There is an article on the NTG-2 here (click).

Hmmm that link doesnt work for me, phantom only is fine, I will be using a camera which has onboard phantom, or a mixer which also has it.

Maybe I need to register to see that link first... hmmm

Thanks,
Max

Ok i found it, sorry, I didnt really scavange around when I first went there.

thanks,
Max

Ok, well I went out and found a good deal on the RODE NTG2 so I bought it. There is a guy on ebay who I bought it from, I submitted a best offer of 215 and I won it.

Thanks for all your help,
Max

Max, I have read where one audio pro said something
pretty bad about the NTG2. He said the best use
for that mic is to put bristles on it and use it to
scrub a toilet.
Haven't really heard anything else about it.

That's a HUGE exaggeration on someone's part. It's not at all a bad mic. In it's class, I like the 897 better, but the NT2 is not at all a bad mic. Compared to a Shoeps or Sanken....yeah, but so are most other sub 500.00 mics, too.

Sometimes (myself included), audio guys easily become snobs and forget that not everyone has a gig that pays enough to buy the really sweet gear.

lol, from what I heard on a review website for it, all the sounds sounded really crisp and clear, yes compared to some microphones this one would probably be better for a toilet scrubbrush, however. I guess I'll have to see, if it lasts for 5 years then that will be well worth my investment.

Oh well, Thanks for everyone's input.

-Max

...well, speaking as a person who is just beginning to acquire her own equipment, I have this exact mic and I love it. I use it on my DVX100a and I got it NEW from B&H for $150 (I think, its been a while) , so you may want to do that as opposed to purchasing it on eBay for $50 dollars more...

Did you get the bristles from B&H, too?

[QUOTE Sometimes (myself included), audio guys easily become snobs and forget that not everyone has a gig that pays enough to buy the really sweet gear.[/QUOTE]

Yea, that's probably what happened here.

I just thought it was a funny way to critique a mic.
Maybe next time you review a really bad mic, Douglas,
you could borrow that line about the bristles:
"the best use for this mic is ... "
LOL.

By the way, I bet you know who that audio pro. He's
in Israel.

LOL, once you say where he is, it's one of two guys....and yeah...they've both got very nice collections.

Hollyland. Now you know?

Yeah, I checked B&H first, however they are retailing at 250... maybe you got some sort of instant rebate, or the videomic version?

Thanks for the heads up though, I appreciate it.

-Max

I'll be using an NTG-2 for audience capture tomorrow.

I would use the Schoeps, but it's a wireless/pistol grip gig.

Ty Ford

Do the bristles attenuate the highs somewhat?

LMAO... i guess it depends on the size of the bristle... if it were toothbrush style I would think the resonant frequency would be in the higher ranger, whereas with a toilet brush bristle... it would resonate in the lower-mid range...

lol

LOL

This guy who didn't like the mic also said that
another feature to the NTG2 is that you can put
soap in the battery compartment, for when you are
doing the cleaning.

hahaha that great... I really hope its better than that... yikes... lol... I have faith in my purchase. Maybe I'll review it when I get it, too bad I don't have some $2k mic to compare it to... anyone want to send me one??? ;) For keeps...

Ok... so I had to try at least...

I will be using it through and Alesis Multimix USB into my computer. I bet a lot of people hate alesis stuff, and yeah I would prefer a Midas... but anyone want to give me 3k for the upgrade? lol, but from what I have seen with alesis products is that they are actually making some good stuff lately. Like compressors, I like their layout. And the sound quality is great.

I should be getting it sometime next week. I'll let you guys know when I get it.
Thanks,
Max

To be fair, there was someone else in that thread
who said that the NTG2 compares well with the Senn
MKH60 and Senn MKH416. Both those
mikes cost over $1000.
But then the scrub brush guy came back and said
that the only mic he's heard that is as bad as
the NTG2 is the Senn ME66. He said he had also
heard the NTG1 and that both NTGs are equally
"piece of s---".

lol... the guy sounds like a character... I hope its nowhere near as bad as he makes it seem, and besides I heard good things about the ME66.... oh well, I usually dont really trust senheiser.. idk why...

-Thanks,
Max

Max, I think Douglass was right when he said
that was a HUGE exageration to say that the
NTG is not good.
I just heard (on Ty Ford's website) a comparison
of the NTG1 to the new Schoeps (very expensive)
and I thought the NTG didn't sound bad at all.

Dave,

Did you read the note that said the recordings were made in my studio, with controlled accoustics?

That means you don't really get the sense of what their respective off axis response is like, or their reach.

Regards,

Ty

Hmm, sorry to stir up an old post, but how did the NTG-2 turn out? Is it a better mic than the AT835b?

I'm a complete mic idiot. I know more about fishing and I haven't touched a fishing pole in 8 years.

I really NEED better audio.

So, I'll make it simple, NTG-2 or AT835b?

Thanks!