How do I choose a shotgun mic?

Most shotgun mics are reasonably good at capturing on-axis audio, but for the best shotgun, it’s important to look for low-self noise and high sensitivity in conjunction with a natural on-axis sound and uniform off-axis rejection. This will ensure the best audio overall..

Why do I need a shotgun mic?

A professional shotgun mic is usually used to capture sound at a distance, meaning that the microphone is trying to pick up low-level signals. This is why a quality shotgun microphone needs to have sensitivity higher than those intended to pick up close sources.

What is the difference between a condenser microphone and a shotgun microphone?

Cardioid mics have an upside-down heart-shaped pickup pattern – they capture mostly from the front, not so well from the sides, and reject sound at the rear. The shotgun microphone narrowly focuses on whatever is directly in front of it (even sounds at a distance), rejecting sounds from the sides and the rear.

What is another name for a shotgun mic?

Shotgun mics are sometimes called Line Microphones.

Are shotgun mics good for streaming?

A shotgun mic is good enough for streaming if you won’t be moving around a lot. It also has ideal directionality as it will pick up sounds fed directly to it and leave the extra noises out. You can place it overhead, so it’s a good option if you don’t want your mic to be visible on camera.

Are shotgun mic dynamic or condenser?

A type of microphone characterized by an extremely directional polar pattern. Shotgun mics may be condenser or dynamic, but are almost always built with a long (8 to 24 inch) tube protruding from the front.

Do shotgun mics need batteries?

Mics like the AT897 are rugged and provide balanced XLR audio output. They operate on standard phantom power or can use an internal AA battery. When using phantom power make sure no batteries are inside the unit. Video shotgun mics have a very directional pattern, on set they are referred to as short shotguns.

What is shotgun mic?

A type of microphone characterized by an extremely directional polar pattern. Shotgun mics may be condenser or dynamic, but are almost always built with a long (8 to 24 inch) tube protruding from the front.

Is 20hz to 20khz good for microphone? A microphone with a frequency response range of around 80 Hz to 15 kHz would make a good choice for a vocal mic. However for miking snares and toms, you would look for a range that starts lower, at around 50 Hz, and for a bass drum mic, you will want a low end of 40 Hz or even lower, down to 30 Hz.

Why are shotgun mics so long?

In front of the capsule, however, is a long interference tube. This is what gives shotgun microphones their length. These tubes affect how sound waves reach the microphone diaphragm, thus having a huge effect on the microphone’s polar pattern.

Is a shotgun mic a boom mic?

A boom mic is, by definition, any mic at the end of a boom pole. Shotgun microphones are highly directional mics with hyper or supercardioid capsules and interference tubes. Boom mics are typically shotgun mics, but shotgun mics are used in more applications than just boom miking.

Do shotgun mics need phantom power?

Most XLR shotguns require phantom power in order to operate, while others depend on batteries for power. The new MKE 600 is one of only a few shotgun microphones that gives you the option to use either phantom power or a single AA battery.

Which microphone picks up sound at a distance?

The Sound Shark can capture audio from 30 feet, or more, compared to 3 to 5 feet for a typical shotgun mic. Record a speaker from up to 6 feet as if they were wearing a lapel mic. Reject more peripheral sound than a shotgun microphone, and record outdoors with much less wind noise.

Are Laser microphones real?

A laser microphone is a surveillance device that uses a laser beam to detect sound vibrations in a distant object. It can be used to eavesdrop with minimal chance of exposure.

Are shotgun mics good for vocals?

Can I use a shotgun mic for podcasting? In podcasting, broadcasting and movie production, shotguns are mostly used for on-location recording when you want to capture a speaker and not pick up ambient noise as much. Alex Blumberg from Gimlet uses the Audio-Technica AT8035 shotgun mic when he does his on-location interviews.

How far can a shotgun mic work?

The most expensive shotgun mics can only capture audio from a distance of six to ten feet, while more affordable mics sound their best at a distance of three to four feet away. Interviews are typically shot from about seven to ten feet away from the subject.

Are shotgun mics good for recording music?

Shotgun mics are a solid choice for large rooms, spaces with balanced acoustics, or outdoors. There are studio uses for shotgun mics too. Voice-over artists sound GREAT when recorded with shotgun mics.

Can I use a condenser mic as a shotgun mic?

Is a shotgun mic a condenser mic?

Shotgun mics (and many other condensers) are susceptible to handling noise. Shotgun mics aren’t built to be held in the hand, but many reporters do it and end up with handling noise on their recordings.

Is a boom mic the same as a shotgun mic?

A boom mic is, by definition, any mic at the end of a boom pole. Shotgun microphones are highly directional mics with hyper or supercardioid capsules and interference tubes. Boom mics are typically shotgun mics, but shotgun mics are used in more applications than just boom miking.

Is a shotgun mic a condenser?

Shotgun mics (and many other condensers) are susceptible to handling noise. Shotgun mics aren’t built to be held in the hand, but many reporters do it and end up with handling noise on their recordings.

Are shotgun mics good for zoom?

These are excellent because of their directionality. Rode, Shure, Sennheiser and Audio Technica make excellent shotgun mics. You don’t have to be as close to a shotgun mic as you are to a tabletop (cardioid) mic but you do need to have it facing you.

Why are they called shotgun mics? The shotgun microphone is named for the long, slotted tube in front of the microphone cartridge that makes it resemble a shotgun. This “interference tube” helps reject sounds coming from more than about 30 degrees off to the sides, while still picking up sounds from the front.