Hey everybody. I have a small budget (VERY small) for a microphone, and can only afford either the Rode Videomic or NTG-2. So my question is: Which mic is quieter/has less internal noise? I just need a starter mic right now that can teach me all the possibilities of audio in video, and later I'm going to expand into something more expensive, maybe a Sennheiser Me-66. Thanks for your help, Clint Grant

Given that choice, I'd get the NTG-2.
It won't come close to teaching you "all the possiblities of audio in video" but it will give you a pretty good glimpse of what a better than average or on-camera mic can do for your productions. It's a very good entry level mic, no doubt.

The Videomic might actually be better? Supposing you run out of money buying the NTG-2, the Videomic would:
A- Actually work, if your camera only has mini-plug input. If your camera has XLRs, then there are probably better choices out there.
B- The videomic comes with a shockmount to cut down on handling noise.
C- Short enough that it doesn't stick in the frame. If using a wide-angle adapter, this becomes more important (and a wide-angle adapter can let you get closer to people in some situations and pick up their sound better).
The NTG-2 is not particularly long and you can figure out if it would get in frame before you buy.

Certainly if you had more money the NTG-2 would make sense. There may also be other good solutions at that price point. A lot of it depends on:
A- What camera and XLR adapter (if any) do you own?
B- Your budget
C- What kind of things you shoot. If you do lots of sit-down interviews, a wired lav can/will give you much better sound than a camera-mounted microphone.

Well stated points, Glen. Sometimes in the process of looking at which is better, an apple or an orange, I forget that there is the process of eating one or the other. You don't have to peel an apple. :-)
Even though the orange tastes better, it's not always the best choice.

Maybe this will help, I produced a short QuickTime which gives a little closer glimpse of the VideoMic. I wish I had more time to do head to head comparisons, but I did get a sax player to come in and perform a quick number with the Videomic and Sennheiser ME-66. You can hear it here, scroll down to RØDE VideoMic http://dvestore.com/theatre

Guy Cochran, I checked out your site for the Videomic, and I'm really convinced. When you had the sax comparison with Videomic and Me-66, I didn't really notice any difference! I see your point on 20 foot cables, but it would be more important to me to mount it on the camera than use a boom right now.

As for the earlier question of what kind of film I shoot: I never do sit-down interviews. I only shoot outdoors, at a proximity of 10 to 30 feet from my subject (actors), and it is usually windy.

Also, thank you everyone else for your insight and quick reply. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated also. Clint Grant

You may/will pick up lots of background noise at 10-30 feet. Decreasing the distance would improve sound a lot more (by reducing b/g noise) than getting a better microphone. On the other hand, depending on your situation, a on-camera mic might work ok for you??? (I doubt it though.)

Moving the actors closer, using a planted/hidden mic, wireless lav, hand-held microphone, or boom mic would be ways to get the microphone closer.

Yes, I've learned from experience that the closer they are, the better, especially with a lavalier mic. That is also why the NTG-2 could be more helpful, as I could use it on a boom pole....still can't really decide on which mic....

While going through the PDF files for the Videomic and NTG-2, I noticed that the description for the NTG-2 said it was Balanced input, while the Videomic did not mention wheteher it was balanced or unbalanced. Is the Videomic balanced, or not? If not, what kind of connector/adapter do I need? Thanks for your help, Clint Grant

While going through the PDF files for the Videomic and NTG-2, I noticed that the description for the NTG-2 said it was Balanced input, while the Videomic did not mention wheteher it was balanced or unbalanced. Is the Videomic balanced, or not? If not, what kind of connector/adapter do I need? Thanks for your help, Clint Grant

The VideoMic is a Low Impedance, Unbalanced mic. It has been cleverly wired to mate correctly with the unbalanced 1/8" camcorder stereo inputs. The mic feeds both channels.

Ty Ford

Thanks for the reply. Does this mean it would be better to get a balanced mic? Thanks again, Clint Grant

Thanks for the reply. Does this mean it would be better to get a balanced mic? Thanks again, Clint Grant

As for the earlier question of what kind of film I shoot: I never do sit-down interviews. I only shoot outdoors, at a proximity of 10 to 30 feet from my subject (actors), and it is usually windy.

Clint; If this is how you work, you should get a wireless rig with a lav. I wouldn't use a camera mounted mic for what you're doing.

Regards,

Ty

Ty, thanks for the lav suggestion, but I already have one. This was my mistake, as I didn't mention that. Yes, I already use lav mics, but need a camera mounted/boom mike for some closer shots. I apologize for not mentioning this earlier, as I have created more trouble! Sorry everyone, Clint

Clint, just as an aside, camera mounted and boom mounted are two very different animals, especially with the same mic being discussed for both positions.
Shotguns aren't good for indoors most of the time, and camera mounted shotguns have value maybe 10% of the time. You want to put a Rode VideoMic on a boom, you'll need a balancing adapter, because it is an unbalanced mic.
All mics are best used as close to the subject as possible in most instances.
While the VideoMic is a decent mic, I'd be going for the NTG-2, unless your cam doesn't have balanced inputs. You'd need to spend additional cash for a balanced to unbalanced device at the cam end, but you'll also need an unbalanced to balanced adaptor for the VideoMic at the boom end if you go that direction.

What the Rode Videomic excells at is on camera interviews when you don't have an extra audio guy. I use a wide ange lense on my VX2000 all the time. When I do an on-camera interview, I have the camera zoomed out as wide as possible and get right up close to the person I'm interviewing, usually holding the camera away from my face and using the screen so as not to freak them out. As a result, the mic is close enough to sound great. For a documentary type shoot, sometimes this is all you need.

Ty, thanks for the lav suggestion, but I already have one. This was my mistake, as I didn't mention that. Yes, I already use lav mics, but need a camera mounted/boom mike for some closer shots. I apologize for not mentioning this earlier, as I have created more trouble! Sorry everyone, Clint


Ah, closer.....as in 2 feet or less?

For close up run and gun work, you'll probably be OK. Ambient noise, especially that behind the subject may be a problem. Think of it in terms of backlighting. You might have to spin them around to get a quieter background.

I did this on location in Downtown DC when doing some interviews. With a busy street behind the interviewee the noise was a problem. We spun them around with an alley behind them and the sound was a lot better.

BTW, I have a video clip of me with the Rode VideoMic, but it's not on the camera. The clip is in my online archive (on my site) and in the Video folder.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Right on Lawrence. That is exactly what the VideoMic was designed for. It is meant to be a studio quality replacement to your on-camera mic. Your post is dead-on, it's meant for a one man band, run-n-gun style shooter. With a wide-angle you can get closer to the talent, and closer is always better with audio. In fact, it's the key to great audio. Everytime you can half the distance to the sound source, you are effectively DOUBLING YOUR SPL (Sound Pressure Level). This is called the inverse square law.

I'll be ordering the extension cable from RODE to see how well it handles on a boom, I'm excited about the VideoMic because it does allow the shooter who could not afford a BeachTek XLR adapter + shotgun to still get high quality audio at an affordable price. I wish more people that were shopping for the "best camera for $ xxxx" would factor in a nice mic and light kit instead of blowing the whole budget on just the camera. Quality sound and lighting is what will truly increase the production value of any project.

I just got the videomic and have used it for a couple of shoots, all indoor stuff, essetially interviews or dialogs between 2 people. I have been using an NT3 on a mic stand through a mixer (for the highpass filter). So far, I am very happy with the videomic, especially for an evening shoot after my day job. It makes the set-up and take down much simpler. I haven't done a direct comparison between it and the NT3 but my impression is, the quality is about 90%. In some very quite parts I think I was still picking up a little motor noise (very little) with it mounted on camera(PV-DV953), I just did a shoot Sunday and mounted on my "high Tech" Stabilizer (an "L" flash braket), that worked great! You can't beat if for convenience and price. If you get the the NT-2 you'll still have to get a shock-mount and cable. Disclaimer: I am very very new to video.

Mark