Shotgun microphones are one of the most popular options for recording sounds of videos, interviews, and broadcasting. Finding a good shotgun microphone guarantees a clear and detailed sound of your recorded material.
We would like to help decide on which microphone to buy and tell you more about what a good microphone is all about. Therefore, we made a list of the best shotgun microphones currently for sale.
1. RØDE NTG2 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
- Comes with a high-pass filter
- Comes with a windshield
- Output impedance of 250 ohms
- Lightweight
- Has a metal body
If you want to film something with a great sound, the RØDE NTG2 might be the right microphone for you. This condenser shotgun microphone is very tiny and lightweight, which means that it’s very portable. It’s designed with a sturdy body made of metal and you can use it in different situations and weather conditions.
The RØDE NTG2 condenser shotgun is a microphone with great features. Don’t worry about recording nearby air conditioners or louder environments. Noise is not allowed when it comes to this microphone. The microphone comes with a high-pass filter to prevent any low-frequency noise from ‘polluting’ the sound of your video. It has a supercardioid polar pickup pattern, so all of the unnecessary noise will not be picked up. The microphone also does well in eliminating any handling noise.
RØDE NTG2 also has an output impedance of 250 ohms and it sounds terrific. The frequency response range of the microphone extends from 20Hz to 20kHz, so it’ll pick up all the sounds from the human hearing range. Use the windshield and the furry that come with this microphone to prevent any wind noises in the sound projection.
The sound that you’ll get with the help of the RØDE NTG2 shotgun condenser microphone will be natural and detailed. Its super cardioid polar pickup pattern will allow you to record at a closer distance from the microphone or further away. Just get an AA battery or a P48 phantom power, and your NTG2 will be powered and ready to record.
2. RØDE NTG4 Microphone
- Supercardioid polar pickup pattern
- uilt-in high pass filter
- Can be mounted on a boom or on a camera
- Persistent settings
- Metal body pad, boost, digital switching, rm5 mic clip, foam windshield, ZP1 pouch,
The RØDE NTG4 is a very versatile shotgun microphone. Its design features a durable metal body that you can mount on a boom or on your camera. Being made of metal, you can use this boom microphone in different weather conditions without it losing its broadcast sound quality.
This microphone comes with a set of interesting features. There is a high-pass filter that is built in the microphone to prevent the interference of any lower-frequency sounds. RØDE NTG4 also has a boost to help you emphasize the higher frequencies. The microphone also comes with a pad to help you get the best sound possible. To control its settings, use the digital switches that are located on the microphone’s body. The microphone also allows the settings to stay persistent even when it’s turned off.
The RØDE NTG4 produces an accurate and noise-free sound. It has a supercardioid polar pickup pattern that is great for picking up the sound from the sound source, while at the same time eliminating any unwanted noises. Therefore, the RODE NTG4 is all about a good noise reduction.
This microphone comes with an RM5 microphone clip to mount it on your camera. In case there is a lot of wind, you can use the foam windshield that comes with the RØDE NTG4. In order to power this microphone, you’ll need to use a phantom power.
3. Sennheiser MKE600 Camcorder Shotgun Microphone
- Comes with a high-pass filter
- Has a foam windshield
- Has a shock mount
- Works with AA batteries or phantom power
- Has a metal body 40-20
The Sennheiser MKE600 camcorder shotgun microphone is a great choice for both amateurs and professionals. This shotgun mic is sturdy and very reliable. It design makes sure that the microphone performs very well both indoor and outdoor and in different weather conditions. The microphone has a durable metal body that is highly damage-resistant. The metal body will keep the internal components of the microphone protected and in a good state.
The microphone has a frequency response that ranges from 40Hz to 20kHz. As you may notice, the lower frequency response of the Sennheiser MKE600 starts 20Hz from the lowest frequency that we, humans, can hear. Of course, this enables the microphone to be less sensitive to unwanted noises coming from the environment. On the other hand, the microphone is highly sensitive to the source of sound and it picks the sound accurately.
To reduce noise to levels barely noticeable, the Sennheiser MKE600 furthermore has a high-pass filter and a windshield. The high pass filter prevents sounds from stumping, machines, and other noises to creep into your audio recording. On the other hand, the windshield will not allow and wind noise to be picked up by the microphone. This microphone also has a shock mount, and it can also deal with any handling noises.
To power your Sennheiser MKE600, you can use AA batries or a phantom power. Having these two options can be really important for recording in different situations. However, no matter how you power it, this shotgun microphone will deliver a natural and detailed sound.
4. Shure VP83F LensHopper Camera-Mounted Microphone
- Supercardioid polar pickup pattern
- Has an integrated Rycote Lyre shock mount
- Can record for up to 10 hours
- Allows you to monitor yourself with headphones
- Offers gain control
If you really want to take control over your recorded sound, you should check out the Shure VP83F LensHopper microphone. This shotgun microphone has a design that features an integrated Rycote Lyre shock mounting and a metal body. It is very durable, and it can be mounted on your camera very easily. The microphone furthermore has a LCD screen that is easy to understand, and you can control the microphone through it.
The Shure VP83F LensHopper offers a wide variety of features when it comes to noise control and quality of sound. The microphone has a supercardioid polar pickup pattern that greatly eliminates any unwanted sounds from the environment. On the other hand, this polar pattern is highly sensitive to the sounds you want to record.
The Shure VP83F LensHopper gives you the option for a real-time monitoring with headphones. With a feature like this, you will know what your recorded material sounds like. Furthermore, to adjust the gain on this microphone, use its gain control feature. This way, your microphone will pick up even the quietest of sounds. There is also a windshield that you can use in windy recording scenarios, and rely on the integrated shock mount for mechanical noise reduction. With features like this, you’re guaranteed to get clear and accurate sounds when you use the Shure VP83 LensHopper.
The Shure VP83F can record for up to 10 hours if it’s powered by AA batteries. To connect it to your camera you can use its 3.5 mm jack.
5. TAKSTAR SGC-598 Microphone
- Cardioid pickup pattern
- Has a 200Hz low-frequency attenuation
- Comes with a windscreen
- Comes with a shock mount
- 10dB gain adjustment
The TAKSTAR SGC-598 microphone is ideal for everyone who will be pleased with a decent sound quality. You can use the microphone with cameras and camcorders, and you can mount it on them pretty easily. It is also easy to connect the microphone to your recording device by plugging its connector to your device’s port.
With the TAKSTAR SGC-598 microphone, noise is a thing of the past. This microphone comes with a nice windscreen that will help you trap all the noises produced by the air. Also, SGC-598’s shock mounts will handle all the mechanical ‘shocks’ leaving the sound free from any noise of the kind.
The microphone also lets you control its gain with the 10dB gain adjustment. This way, your microphone will be able to ‘hear’ some hard to hear sounds and pick them up with ease. The frequency response of the TAKSTAR SGC-598 ranges from 50Hz to 16kHz. This is a great frequency response since it doesn’t let the microphone be sensitive to some unwanted low-frequency sounds.
The cardioid polar pickup pattern of the microphone will pick up only what you want it to pick up. Furthermore, you can also use the SGC-598’s 200Hz low-frequency attenuation to get the sound you desire.
The TAKSTAR SGC-598 comes at a very affordable price, so we can’t really complain much about the way it sounds. However, it does sound decent if the barely noticeable static noise doesn’t bother you. To get the decent sound from this microphone, you’ll have to power it with a single AA battery.
6. Tascam TM-2X Stereo X-Y Microphone for DSLR Cameras
- An SPL of 120dB
- Built-in cable connector
- Has a switchable low-cut filter
- Comes with two capsules
- Has a noise isolation arm
If you’re interested in a microphone that drastically eliminates noise from the camera, Tascam TM-2X could be what you need. This DSLR shotgun microphone is designed with a very sturdy structure that features many strategies on how to eliminate mechanical camera noise. You will not have a hard time mounting it to your camera, but you will enjoy the sound that it will produce.
The Tascam TM-2X stereo microphone can be mounted to your camera with the help of a noise isolation arm. This arm will position the shotgun at a significant distance from the camera where the noise won’t be able to reach it. Furthermore, the microphone’s floating structure will make sure that its two capsules don’t get exposed to mechanical noise. This way, handling the camera will not make an impact to your shotgun microphone.
For better sound quality, the Tascam TM-2X comes equipped with two capsules and a SPL level of 120dB. The two capsules allow your microphone to pick up more from the environment and optimize your recording. On the other hand, the SPL level helps the shotgun handle loud noises with ease. The microphone also has a windshield to keep all the wind noise away from its capsules. You can also use the low-cut filter to make the microphone less sensitive to low-frequency sounds.
The Tascam TM-2X can rotate at an angle of 180 degrees and it is powered by the battery in your camera. The sound that it produces is pretty nice and clear, and you’ll be able to hear a lot of details in it.
What to look for in a shotgun microphone
Durability
Make sure that the shotgun microphone you buy is very durable. This will enable you to use it in different weather conditions and both indoors and outdoors. Also, if your shotgun microphone is durable, you will get to use it for a longer period of time.
Noise reduction
Pick a microphone that will greatly reduce the outside noise. If your microphone doesn’t have the equipment necessary for proper noise reduction, you’ll end up with bad sound. Therefore, look for a microphone that comes with a windshield, shock mount, and other noise reduction accessories.
Check if the microphone has a high-pass filter. A filter like this will keep away noises like those from working air conditioners, walking, or some rumbling. If your microphone doesn’t have a high-pass filter, noises of this kind will easily become part of your recorded material.
Sensitivity
A microphone’s sensitivity should be one of your greatest concerns when you’re buying a shotgun. In order to pick up a sensitive microphone, you should mind its frequency response and polar pickup pattern. The frequency response of your shotgun should be wide enough to cover the sounds that humans can hear. Also, the response can be shorter in the lower frequency spectrum so that the microphone doesn’t pick up any unwanted low-frequency sounds.
As for the pickup pattern of your microphone, make sure that it is a cardioid or a supercardioid. These polar pickup patterns make the microphone sensitive to your sound source of preference, and less sensitive to unwanted noise.
Conclusion
Buying the right shotgun microphone is crucial for producing a good recorded material. Now that you have a list of the best shotgun microphones currently available, your search for one might have ended. However, if you would like to do some more research, we recommend you follow our guidelines on what to look for in a shotgun microphone. You may also want to check out our dynamic mics guide.
