Are you looking for the best Rode shotgun mics that suit your recording needs and applications? You are in the right place, as we are going to review all the useful shotgun microphones made by Rode piece-by-piece from different perspectives to help you make a better choice.
Table of Contents
- What Is Shotgun Microphone?
- Uses of Shotgun Mic
- Things To Consider When Buying A Shotgun Microphone
- Rode Shotgun Mics Review
- 1) Rode Videomic Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Mount (Model: VIDEOMICR)
- 2) Rode VideoMic Pro Compact VMP Shotgun Microphone
- 3) Rode NTG1 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
- 4) Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone
- 5) Rode NTG3 Super-Cardioid Condenser Microphone
- 6) Rode NTG4 & NTG4 Plus Shotgun Microphones
- 7) Rode NTG8 Broadcast Quality Shotgun Microphone
- Conclusion
What Is Shotgun Microphone?
A shotgun mic is a long, cylindrical shaped microphone which is adept at isolating the sound source. It only picks up the sound source from in front of the mic while canceling all the sound sources from the sides and rear. Thus, it is especially useful to filter out all the other ambient sounds and noise around the recording environment. It’s designed to narrow down its pick up range while rejecting other ambient background sounds.
Uses of Shotgun Mic
There are around ten models of shotgun microphones from Rode itself available on the market right now. Rode seems to be more specialize in this shotgun mic category than to other categories such as lav, handheld, and USB mic categories. You will have a variety of choices available for your shotgun mic among the Rode’s models.
In fact, you need to have some technique knowledge to set up the Shotgun microphone correctly for optimum audio quality. Technically, this kind of microphone is normally heavily in professional sound industry productions such as film/video- making, theater, live sound and sound effect productions.
However, the shotgun mics can also be used in some common recording events such as presentations, speeches, conferences, lectures, and in other speaking events where the human voice in a single direction is the only sound source to be picked up by the mic. It’s especially very useful when the speaker is speaking towards the mic’s direction in fixed position within a reasonable distance.
If you plan to use it for recording singing performance, you will have better choose other types of mic. The shotgun mic only picks up the isolated sound source that directly pointed to it without picking up any of the reverbs, tones and ambiance sounds of the room.
Things To Consider When Buying A Shotgun Microphone
1) Applications
Shotgun mics are hyper-cardioid mics. Its pickup pattern is very narrow to the point that the audio quality of the targeted sound source will deteriorate significantly if the targeted sound source is slightly off-axis occasionally.
If you are using it for capturing dynamic sounds such as singing and musical instruments, the shotgun mics are not made for this kind of applications.
However, it’s more suitable for on-camera dialogue where the human speaking voice in front of the camera is the only sound source that needs to be captured.
2) Tube Length & Its Frequency Response:
The tube length of the shotgun mic does affect its frequency response and pickup pattern.
Shotgun mic with a long tube, for instance, will only capture the on-axis sound and eliminate all the off-axis sound. Thus, it is very suitable for capturing the distant sound sources, at outdoor and in loud environments. This type of shotgun mic only suitable for capturing the fixed sound sources that don’t move around so much. The sound quality will be affected even the sound source has slightly deviated from the mic’s direction axis. Otherwise, you will need a professional boom operator to handle the boom mic placement & direction.
Whereas, for the shotgun with medium length tube, it is more suitable for general uses in most environments.
Shotgun mic with a short tube is more suitable for capturing shorter distance sound sources because it will pick some of the off-axis sounds in the minimum level. However, it still good at eliminating those off-axis high frequencies at some point.
3) Budget
There must be a shotgun microphone that suitable for you without breaking your budget. It’s all depends on your applications of using that mic. Alternatively, You can buy different shotgun mics for different recording purposes if you have a very deep pocket. In my opinion, having one or two shotgun mics that can apply to most of your recording purposes is the path you should pursue.
Rode Shotgun Mics Review
1) Rode Videomic Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Mount (Model: VIDEOMICR)
It is connected through 3.5mm stereo mini-jack. The user can control its level and filtering functions via the control button at the back of the mic itself. In term of sound quality, It works great on the dialogue recordings and directional applications such as interview and dialogue to cameras.
And it’s the model of shotgun mic that ideal for camcorders and mid-range DSLR.
Check Current Price For Rode Videomic Shotgun Microphone On Amazon
2) Rode VideoMic Pro Compact VMP Shotgun Microphone
Furthermore, It works great on applications such as interview, dialogue to cameras, sporting events and other outdoor events in louder environments. And this model is ideal for high-end DSLR and full frame cameras.
Check Current Price For Rode VideoMic Pro Compact VMP Shotgun Microphone On Amazon
3) Rode NTG1 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
NTG1 has an excellent frequencies response from 20hz all the way up to 20khz, means that you will get a very nature sounding tone from the actors, actress and the targeted sound source you are recording. And the selectable high-pass filter at 80Hz is just another very useful feature to handle the low-end noise and eliminate the off-axis noise (surrounding noise ) from being recorded
After all, it’s a great shotgun mic to use in the indoor environment. I would suggest you get an additional “DeadCat” furry windshield if you want to use it in the outdoor environment or high wind conditions.
Check Current Price For Rode NTG1 Condenser Shotgun Microphone on Amazon
4) Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone
The NTG2 is able to run on an AA battery, which the NTG1 can’t.
The only drawback of NTG2 is that it will pick up a little bit of background noise in the room during recording.
As an entry-level mic, NTG2 still can be considered as a good mic to get the general video recording jobs done with acceptable audio quality if you are on a budget.
Check Current Price For Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone On Amazon
5) Rode NTG3 Super-Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Its audio quality is better than NTG1 & NTG2 with richer and warmer sound quality and fuller frequency response.
Its excellent self-noise capability as low as 13dBA ( 50% less self-noise than most of the shotgun mics) and efficient low handling capability have made the NTG3 to become a better directional shotgun microphone at eliminating the rumble rustle and buzz noises as compared with NTG1 and NTG2.
This Rode NTG3 is a super-cardioid condenser shotgun microphone. With maximum SPL of 130dB, it is very suitable for filming, electronic news gatherings with high-resolution broadcast audio. It is also suitable to use in orchestra or concert to capture the sound of individual music instrument.
Unfortunately, it is without the high-pass and low-cut filter in this NTG3 model. But, the External RF-bias technology which is used in NTG3 is more than sufficient to compensate its absence of high-pass and low-cut filter features.
Its RF-biased technology is designed to make NTG3 a true condenser shotgun mic to works in humid conditions with better audio pickup quality. The RF-biased technology utilizes in NTG4 is to make it a perfect mic that is resistant to the environmental moisture, incredibly low handling and high level of immunity to the radio frequency broadcast.
Check Current Price For Rode NTG3 Super-Cardioid Condenser Microphone On Amazon
6) Rode NTG4 & NTG4 Plus Shotgun Microphones
So, what are the differences between Rode NTG4 and NTG4 PLUS? And what are the features they both have in common?
In fact, NTG4 & NTG4 PLUS are identical in term of its features, except that NTG Plus can run on 48V Phantom Power and a USB rechargeable Lithium Ion battery. In contrast, the NTG4 can only run on the 12V, 24V and 48V Phantom Power.
NTG4 and NTG4 Plus are the semi-professional directional shotgun microphones that have more features than the previous NTG1, and NTG2 microphones.
NTG4 & NTG4 Plus features a very user-friendly digital switching for the high-pass filter (Flat/up to 75hkz), PAD (-10db), High-Frequency Boost functions. They are both utilize the latest condenser capsule from Rode to produce the audio recording quality that is richer, smoother with lower noise and higher sensitivity in directional sound.
In general, NTG4 & NTG4 Plus are more suitable for on-camera and boom applications in filmmaking, sound productions, broadcasts and field recordings.
Check Current Price For Rode NTG4 Shotgun Microphones On Amazon
Check Current Price For Rode NTG4 PLUS Shotgun Microphones On Amazon
7) Rode NTG8 Broadcast Quality Shotgun Microphone
NTG8 and NTG 3 are both using the same “RF-biased Technology” that are completely resistant to the humid and unstable outdoor environments. And both produce nearly the same level of sound quality, except that NTG8 is more selective in picking up the directional sound due to its longer shotgun tube.
After all, The NTG8 is a very high-end shotgun microphone that perfects for film-making, television, sports events, live performance, outdoor broadcastings and other distance miking purposes with high-resolution broadcast audio.
Check Current Price For Rode NTG8 Broadcast Quality Shotgun Microphone On Amazon
Conclusion
Most shotgun microphones from Rode are quite good at capturing directional on-axis sound. However, it is suitable for most of your applications, it’s crucial to make sure the shotgun mic has the essential features such as low self-noise and high sensitivity with more natural on-axis sound and excellent off-axis noise rejection.
In my opinion, considering budget and applications factors in mind. You should go for the NTG4 Plus if you are regularly using the shotgun mic in the indoor environment. And If you are using your shotgun mic in the outdoor environment, I would recommend that you should get a NTG3.
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