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Which RØDE microphone to get?
  • IronFilmIronFilm

    The RØDE contest is making me consider splurging out & buying a better micophone (currently I just use the cheapie thirty buck ones off eBay direct from China), specifically a RØDE microphone.

    I suppose one of these would be in my price range that I'd be considering, for use with my GH1 (and via a hacked iRig Pre):

    Rode NTG2 Condenser Shotgun Microphone, $269 http://www.amazon.com/Rode-NTG2-Condenser-Shotgun-Microphone/dp/B00093ESSI/

    Rode VideoMic Pro VMP Shotgun Microphone, $229 http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic-VMP-Shotgun-Microphone/dp/B004K8WPUQ/

    Rode Videomic Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Mount, $149 http://www.amazon.com/Rode-Videomic-Shotgun-Microphone-Rycote/dp/B00CAE8PM4/

    Rode VMGO Video Mic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone Super-Cardio, $99 http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VMGO-Lightweight-Microphone-Super-Cardio/dp/B00GQDORA4

    What would be the pros and cons of each of these options? Sound knowledge is a big big weakness of mine, so I'm open to all & any advice :-)

  • 14 Replies sorted by
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Looks like Rode advertisement :-)

    If you have XLR preamp you don't need Rode mike at all in this price range, as NTG2 has low sensitivity.

  • DrDaveDrDave

    The only one I would buy is the NT4 with the omni capsule. Having said that, even though I own them I never use them.

  • andyharrisandyharris

    I use the NTG2 as a primary mic along with a NT1A for voice-overs.

    I have the on camera Video Mic that I used to use with the GH2, now mainly it sits on the 5D3. I would say that this is the most useful mic I have. I'm often surprised at how far away and how noisy the camera audio can be yet still sync with the clean primary.

    The NTG2 can't be used with BMCC without a preamp.

  • redbloodcelredbloodcel

    I've been considering the Videomic as a solution to improve the quality of my sound directly out of camera in instances where I don't need top notch recordings, but I don't think I'd trust it for anything beyond that.

    I chose the Audio Technika 875r for my main shotgun after watching this video from the guy who builds the Juiced Link preamps:

    Mainly as he seems a little obsessed with capturing quality audio (in a good way!) and it allowed me to get both that and a sound recorder with XLRs (went for the Tascam DR-40) without breaking my budget. It's a great setup for getting interview audio but when on a shoulder rig it makes things a little unwieldy, hence looking at adding the Rode.

  • peaceonearthpeaceonearth

    I found that the NTG-2is no good idea as run&gun shot gun mic.

    http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/3146/rode-ntg-2-with-zoom-h4n-problems-choosing-alternatives/p1

  • IronFilmIronFilm

    I like to think I'm kinda operating on a semi-pro level :-P Still learning, but also done a fair handful of paid work which will only be growing.

    My hacked iRig Pre allows me to power XLR mics too if I wish. http://www.dslrfilmnoob.com/2012/11/25/irig-pre-hack-cheap-xlr-phantom-power-preamp-dslr/

    My uses would primarily be things like weddings and interviews, where I'll be primarily be operating by myself. (I can use Lav mics too for this, but want a better on camera mic either for back up or for when I need the extra speed of not using a lav mic such as last weekend when I was doing a lot of very short and quick interviews at a conference)

    Though I could use a boom operator for when I do short films I suppose, this is of lesser importance to my primary semi-pro use.

    I think NTG-2 might not be a good choice because it isn't particularly sensitive thus useless if I'm too far away? (or does that not matter if I've got a pre-amp to use beforehand?) So maybe I should go with with the VMP instead, as it is the most directional which I think is handy. (is it worth the extra US$80 though? Hmm... that is a fairly large jump from US$149, more than 50% increase)

  • JimboJimbo

    Hello,

    I filmed weddings for 2 years with the Rode VMP but was always disappointed with the audio quality, rear sound dampening (always recorded my heavy breathing!) and also it seemed highly susceptible to mobile phone interference.

    Maybe I had a bad unit, although I did have to return it once because the capsule came loose so I'm sure the engineers would have tested it then.

    Anyway, I really didn't see another viable option for the size/price-point, until the wonderful Shure VP83 came along. I sold my Rode and bought the Shure off e-bay and I am blown away by the difference in quality, both build and sound. Very happy customer.

    I cannot recommend the Shure enough over the Rode, it's the little shotgun mic I've been waiting for! Very little difference in price, worth every penny and more.

  • tonalttonalt

    Getting off-topic here. Other brands will not do because this topic is about RØDE mics and you have to use RØDE mic in the RØDE competition.

    I've been very happy with Rode NTG-3. It's basically just like Sennheiser MKH 416, just a lot cheaper.

    . I don't need to ever get new shotgun microphone.

    However, it's not that good for indoors, because shotguns picks up reflections coming from walls. For indoors you need hypercardioid microphone. I haven't made too much research on RØDE's hypercardioid selection, but it seems that most of them are mainly for recording instruments (drums etc.).

  • JimboJimbo

    Oops! My sincere apologies, I missed the third word in IronFilm's post.

  • jmcjmc

    Has anyone had a problem with the NTG2's inner case moving around and making noise against the outer case? Even when I tighten the mic as much as I can there still seems to be some wiggle especially at the connector end (see red ring in photo) which causes a lot of audible clicking in the audio when changing positions of the mic.

    Do I have a faulty mic or is this common with all of them? The brute in me wants to get a hammer and give it a gentle tap to make it snug.

    P1070446.png
    1200 x 762 - 1M
  • andyharrisandyharris

    @jmc --- I have no problem with mine, and I've done some very quiet recordings. How about a dab of UHU Por glue -- fill the gap, easy to release.

  • jmcjmc

    But I guess the problem is the inner casing rotates around the outer whenever you replace the battery so it needs to be able to move.

  • MikeLinnMikeLinn

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