Best Shotgun Mics — Review & Buyer’s Guide [2021]
When it comes to choosing the best shotgun mic, there are a few things to consider. The first is what type of shotgun mic you need. There are two main types: directional and non-directional.
Directional shotguns mics are designed to pick up sound from in front of the mic and reject sound from the sides and rear. Directional shotguns tend to be more effective at eliminating background noise and room noise, but it can also limit your mic angle.
On the other hand, non-directional mics pick up sound from all directions and reject less background noise than directional mics. Non-directional mic offer much greater flexibility in terms of where you can point them; this is because they are much less sensitive to the direction of the source.
The downside to this is that non-directional mics will pick up noise from all angles, including background noise and room noise. The graphic provided below illustrates directional sound pickup vs. non-directional sound pickup…
A shotgun mic is typically used in film making , where it is placed in a scene to capture spoken dialogue. The mic can be as far as 20 feet from the subject, yet still captures crisp and clear sound with limited background noise or room resonance.
In order to achieve this, shotgun mics use a highly sensitive, interference tube that detects high pitched sounds from long distances. Shotgun mics are also a popular choice for voiceover work, as they can capture the nuances of the speaker’s voice while minimizing background noise.
There are a variety of shotgun mics on the market, and it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. The following list is a compilation of some of the best shotgun mics available, based on user feedback and reviews.
1. Rode VideoMic Pro+
The Rode VideoMic Pro+ is a directional shotgun mic that has been designed for use with DSLR cameras. It is small and lightweight, making it easy to transport and set up.
The VideoMic Pro features a high-pass filter to reduce unwanted low-frequency noise, and a three-position level control that allows you to adjust the gain according to the level of sound you are recording. It also has a Rycote Lyre shock mount to minimize vibration and handling noise.
2. Shure VP83F
The Shure VP83F is another directional shotgun mic that has been designed for use with DSLR cameras. It is also small and lightweight, and has a Rycote Lyre shock mount to reduce vibration and handling noise.
The VP83F features a high-pass filter and an attenuator switch to adjust the gain according to the level of sound you are recording. It also has a low-cut filter to reduce unwanted low-frequency noise.
3. Rode NTG1
The Rode NTG1 is a professional shotgun mic that has been designed for use in a wide range of applications, including film making, voiceover work, and live sound reinforcement.
It is highly sensitive and can pick up sound from long distances. It has a high-pass filter and a 10dB pad to reduce unwanted noise. The NTG1 also has a Rycote Lyre shock mount to reduce vibration and handling noise, and comes with a fur windscreen for outdoor recording.
