Rode NTG-2 Battery or Phantom Powered Condenser Mic is a lightweight shotgun condenser mic which offers professional quality audio recording both indoors and outdoors. It also offers clean and clear audio output.

It can produce an annoying humming sound at high volume. The mic tends to pick up handling noise as well. It is important to have the mic at the right distance: too far and it won’t pick up sound well; too close and the sound will be too muddy. Also the battery life is not great.

Rode NTG-2 Battery or Phantom Powered Condenser Mic

Battery or Phantom Powered Mic

This condenser shotgun mic offers professional quality audio recording. It has a narrow pick up pattern for clear recording. Designed for use by film, video, television and other sound professionals, the Rode NTG-2 Mic is great for voice over work by media professionals. It works both on phantom and battery power.

It comes with a windscreen to minimize extra sound and works gives decent sound. It also works with a boom or hotshoe. The sound sometimes does not sound great in the mid-range, but for the price it offers quality sound and does the work.

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This is a microphone that is in its own level since it is designed with excellent patterns that enable it to pick up sound from relatively long distances.

The low cut frequency that is produced by the Audio-Technica AT897 is approximately 80 Hz and it has a steep slope. This means that when you want to remove the rumble it is important not to leave any audio information that you have intact. This device should also be handled with care because any form of fumbling when using it causes a lot of annoyance. You can easily loose the data and this is also attributed to the fact that it also does not have a button to witch it on and off.
 

Audio-Technica AT897 Microphone Review

This microphone falls in the shotgun category mainly because it is 11 inches long and less than an inch wide. In addition to this, the Audio-Technica AT897 is very light and weighs approximately 5 ounces. It has been finished nicely to a grayish color and it usually comes with a vinyl case that is padded.

The microphone has a windscreen that foams completely and has a stand for the batter & the adapter. The audio connection that is used for this device is made from a XLR connector that is of the standard type. It comes with a user manual though the process of plugging it in and using it is relatively simple.

This microphone also operates with the phantom power that is normally supplied by some mixers and cameras. The Audio-Technica AT897 is operated by only one AA battery that is able to keep it operational for approximately 1200 hours.

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Better isolation from tape mechanism, and is unidirectional. It has great sound and good directionality.

It is so sensitive that it picks up the zoom motor of the camcorder and any other touches and bumps. It also has no battery light, weak/flimsy mounts.

Audio Technica ATR- 55 Review

Perfect recording with the right adjustments

Audio Technica is well- known in manufacturing different kinds of product and is specialized in microphones and many more has now created a cheaper but incredible product, bringing at this instant the Audio Technica ATR- 55 out in the market. The Audio Technica ATR- 55 is made for an easy use. It is a condenser shotgun microphone; it offers intelligible production for close-, medium-, and long- distance pick- up. The price of the Audio Technica ATR- 55 is very affordable and the quality is impressive parallel to its price.

As based from the user’s experience using the Audio Technica ATR- 55, in a normal mode and with the filter the ambient noise is gone. It is preferably better indoors. In a TELE mode and the wind filter, the voice is clear and the ambient sound is gone. The audio quality is very remarkable. Audio Technica ATR- 55 is reasonably light in weight. There is a difference between the up- close cardoid pattern and the long range shotgun setting. The Audio Technica ATR- 55 rejects mechanical noise compared to the built-in microphone (just don’t touch the cable or fiddle around with a long zoom lens).

The amplified TELE feature seems to reach out and grab sounds without picking up hardly any surrounding noise. It is uni- directional, as expected from it. The normal zone is about 120 degrees V in front of the microphone and the TELE are about a 90 degree V- zone. Filming a football game using the Audio Technica ATR- 55– one half in TELE mode and the other half in the NORMAL mode. The TELE mode was almost eerie, as it could pick up the voices out in the field, however, all the surrounding noise (crowd cheering/fans) could hardly be heard, while the NORMAL mode picked up a little more audience noise, so it sounded more natural, but nevertheless still filtered out the other people chit- chatting in the location(press tower).  The TELE mode is preferably good in lectures as it does not pick up distracting noises, including that of the camcorder’s mechanism. You must also be aware that this is not a stereo, so you should either get a mono-to- stereo adapter to use with it, or set the sound input on the camcorder to mono. Otherwise, you will only get sound coming out in only one speaker on stereo playback.

The Audio Technica ATR- 55 requires the use of one AA battery that is installed inside its aluminum shell. The battery seemed to last pretty well as one consumer has never depleted a battery in it, but routinely replace it once a year. As an extraction the Audio Technica ATR- 55 in a STANDARD MODE has great sound with good directionality, but is poor in range, while, TELE MODE has thin sound, good directionality, and does well in range. You just have to keep it mind though that it is a 40-dollar microphone not the usual $400 and its pretty perfect for a price like that already.

Where to Purchase:
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With versatile mounting options and the possibility of going wireless by plugging into the 41XT transmitter, this shotgun is perfect for use with smaller consumer video cameras.

Although this shotgun is nicely priced, it won’t blow you away the way a Shure or Sennheiser will.

Azden Barrel SGM-1X Shotgun Mic with XLR Outputs

For low budget productions, the Azden shotgun mic is perfect.

Shotgun mics are highly directional microphones used to record on set audio such as dialogue. The Azden Barrell Shotgun Mic is a particularly affordable shotgun mic that really blows the built-in camera microphones out of the water.  It provides far better audio and is quite versatile.  Its integrated shock mount attaches to a camera shoe or mic stand.  This allows lots of options for placement and the ability to plug in the 41XT transmitter also makes it possible to go wireless.  Although there are much more professional shotgun mics on the market, this one is particularly good for less than $200.  For low budget productions, it is excellent.

With versatile mounting options and the possibility of going wireless by plugging into the 41XT transmitter, this shotgun is perfect for use with smaller consumer video cameras.

Although this shotgun is nicely priced, it won’t blow you away the way a Shure or Sennheiser will.

Azden Barrel SGM-1X Shotgun Mic with XLR Outputs

For low budget productions, the Azden Barrel SGM-1X Shotgun Mic is perfect