AT897 or RODE NTG-2?

story2rewrite

story2rewrite

Well-known member
So I'm new to sound but I've narrowed it down to these 2 mics for my budget. I'll be using it for narrative dialogue. I have an h4n recorder for audio.


I'm having a difficult time trying to decide which mic. I've heard good things about both. Any feedback is appreciated.


Thanks in advance.
 
i prefer the sound from the ntg2 but have read somewhere that it doesnt play nice with the h4n for some reason - worth finding out
 
The NTG-2 is known as the "AT897 Killer". It's a nice shotgun for what you pay. Nice full natural sound. Ty Ford even prefers the NTG-2 to the NTG-3. He said so in response to a video that compared the two NTGs I made. I prefer the NTG-3 though.

 
Thanks. The problem is with the h4n though. Is there a problem with using the rode ntg-2 with this device? I think I've heard this before as well. I do like the rode's sound but if it doesn't work with the h4n it won't do me much good.
 
What is the supposed issue with the NTG-2 through the H4N? Not sensitive enough? If multiple people describe the same issue, it may be something to consider. If only one person says it, it's usually user error. Have you considered the Tascam DR100? It's supposedly got better sounding pres, and is just more bang for your 300 bucks. But also, whether or not you use the H4N, you should be using a mixer like the MixPre from Sound devices. It's just asking for trouble to go from mic to recorder with no mixer. The MixPre has sweet optical limiters on the input and output, so you will be virtually unclippable, which is definitely not the case going straight in. It's something to save up for. And even without a mixer sending a proper signal to the H4N. How low is too low? Can you see the waveforms on the audio track? If you can, it should be loud enough to turn up in the timeline (or add gain in an audio editor), and if that's not enough volume for your timeline, just make a copy and put 2 instances of the file in the timeline, one under the other. With 24bit recording you have more headroom to record at a lower level without adding noise. Also this lower level will protect the H4Ns lame pres from the clipping they easily incur. You can get a headphone booster from RadioShack for 25.00, so you can hear the weak H4N headphone signal better.

Q: have you tried the High Gain setting?

So when working with consumer recorders like the H4N, the lower sensitivity of the NTG-2 might actually help to protect your sound from the recorders lack of usable limiters and bass rolloff. (Try not to use software limiters like the H4N has). Again like I said though, all if this is a non issue if you get the tool you are supposed to be using absolutely all the time - a mixer. Yes 665.00 is a lot for someone starting out. But think about what happens when your audio is so bad it causes your film to be unwatchable. That's a lot of production money thrown away because you wanted to save a little money and just use an unprotected 300.00 recorder as the guardian & keeper of all the audio in the film. That is what I call a big gamble. So drop a grand and get the NTG-2 & a MixPre, and be done with these worries. Your work is worth it, especially if you are planning on making money with your work.

Cheers.
 
Chadfish said:
What is the supposed issue with the NTG-2 through the H4N? Not sensitive enough?
Click to expand...

Several DVXUser members have reported that the signal is too weak with the NTG-2/H4n combination. The pre-amps in the H4n don't play very nice with the NTG-2, since the mic does have a lower sensitivity than others. The problem is that the input levels have to be cranked all the way open, and even then the signal is still weak (which just amplifies noise).

If it's worth it to the OP, and the budget will allow, get a better recorder and get the NTG-2. Or better, as Chad suggested, get a proper mixer for your kit. The Sound Devices MixPre is a great place to start, but on a tight budget even the Sound Devices MM-1 can be a good problem solver (though it's a single pre-amp, not a mixer).
 
you are nothe the only one , they stopped make it about 10 years or more :-)
replaced it with shitty me 66 and k-6
 
Dang. So if I already invested in the h4n which is 300 bucks. Is there a mic that works well with it. That will give me clean audio instead of starting from scratch. I'm on a budget.
 
story2rewrite said:
Dang. So if I already invested in the h4n which is 300 bucks. Is there a mic that works well with it. That will give me clean audio instead of starting from scratch. I'm on a budget.
Click to expand...

The AT897, I believe, works well with the H4n. Getting a better pre-amp like the MM1 or the MixPre, however, will help immensely.
 
Thanks C2V. I've read a lot of your post on here so I trust your advice. I was thinking the at897. I will definitely look into the mixers. I'm a one man band at this point so cost is definitlely a big thing for me. I do want good audio though. I'll look into the mixers you've mentioned. Thanks for the quick response by everyone. It's appreciated.
 
I'd say save up for the NTG-3. It's twice as sensitive as the NTG-2. 6db louder, and sounds so good. It's worth the extra money.
 
IMO and judgment:

NTG-2 is boxy and sounds weird... Why people say the NTG-2 is better? You don't need good pre-amps, which cameras usually don't have.

AT897 sounds rich, not boxy and has character, but you need good pre-amps.
 
AT 4073 as it has much hotter output to get less less gain on zoom 4 preamp , the mic sound s better anyway then both of your options
 
story2rewrite said:
Dang. So if I already invested in the h4n which is 300 bucks. Is there a mic that works well with it. That will give me clean audio instead of starting from scratch. I'm on a budget.
Click to expand...

AT 4073 as it has much hotter output to get less less gain on zoom 4 preamp , the mic sound s better anyway then both of your options​
 
Thanks olgak. At 4073 is out of my budget range right now but I'll look to it in the future. I think if I go with the at897 and then my next investment can be a preamp. At least that's what I think I'm hearing.
 
try find used one( or me 80 keu3) , the 2 you did choose ,they are the worse you can buy , especially the 897
 
olgak said:
AT 4073 as it has much hotter output to get less less gain on zoom 4 preamp , the mic sound s better anyway then both of your options
Click to expand...

Based on Ty Ford's test I wouldn't pick the AT4073 when sound isolation was a key factor. It has a hot output, very crisp and nice sound characteristic but the off-axis sounds are very loud.

I have some samples here if someone is interested.
 
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