Best shotgun mic for under 300

P

Policar

Carbonite Member
Can anyone recommend to me a good microphone for under 300 dollars (the less money the better, if I can get somethign almost as good for under 200, that's fine)?

I need something that doesn't pick up background noise, picks up speech clearly from a distance, and can deal with environments with terrible acoustics. I want to spend as little as possible, but I don't want to buy something that's not appreciably better than the built in microphone. I want something good enough that I'll never have to replace it, but relatively cheap, too.

I hear the sennheiser me66 is incredible, but it seems like you need to buy an adapter with it that puts it around 400 bucks and that's a little too much unless it's way beyond anything else in the price range. The Audio-Technica AT897 also looks nice, but I know nothing about microphones in general. Anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

...and I want a screw-on lens that will give my DVX High Definition resolution, but for less than fifty bucks. And it's got to last me fifty three years.

:P God I sound like a jackass now...

Seriously though, it might be worth your while to rent a mic if you're not willing to spend top-dollar for one...that way you can get the best quality possible for the lowest cost...
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

The AT897 seems like a really good mic for the price. Many people say it's comparable to the me66, some says it's even better. Anyway, I would go for it if I were you. In fact, I just ordered one! =)
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

How good is that one Pannasonic mic for like $150? The one they show in the pictures of the DVX.
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

Mike, I'd be mad but I deserved that. The truth is that I'm not looking for miracles, just the most miraculous thing under 300 bucks. Can the AT897 be put on a stand, btw, and used as a boom mic for some shots? And how much would 15 foot cables cost to allow for that to happen?

I was considering the 150 dollar panasonic mic, too, but I've heard bad things. Still, for that price....
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

Schreiber acoustics makes a $150 mic that kicks the Panasonic one to the curb. Still, its a low priced mic and the dynamic range isnt the best, but it will beat the onboard and that Mic, but neither those will be as good as the ME66
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

I have the Audio Technica AT835B (as do others on this forum). works great for me, on the cam or on a boom pole and its under $300.
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

How does the AT835B compare with the AT897?  The model number makes it sound lower, but I've heard good things about it.

So let me get this straight....

panasonic<schreiber<AT835B/AT897<ME66?

Can you use an ME66 without that 200 dollar adapter thing?  How much better is it than the AT897 and how much worse is Schreiber than that?

I basically just want the cheapest mic that I can use on the camera and as a boom that will be worth the money.  I also don't want to go out and buy another mic in a year to replace it.
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

That "adapter thing" on the ME-66 is the power module. It allows different Sennheiser microphone "capsules" to be mounted on it for a variety of pick up patterns, etc.

Once you buy the initial system including the K6 power module and ME-66 mic capsule you can build from it.

In other words, you could buy a ME-64 (or ME-67) mic capsule to put on the K6 module for about $200 and have a completely different shotgun mic 'system' allowing you maximum flexibility for different acoustical environments.
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FYI, I believe I read *somewhere* on this board that Rush @ EVS has a special deal on a K6 / ME-66 combo package for $395... (I think).
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

Hmm...so it looks like the sennheiser is about 400 dollars and the audiotechnica is a little over 250.

How do the two compare? Is the me66 really that much better than the at897? Are they both mono?
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

both mono.. but the Me-66 is kinda becoming the Indy standard.

And Rush does have a special edition gift pack that includes a case etc. that is a pretty good deal.
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

The Sennheiser ME-66 is great, but usually more than $300. So the answer to the question is...

The AT897 is the best shotgun under $300. You can try the Azden SGM 2X if you want to spend less. It's almost as good.
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

That review (which I have seen before) would be very helpful if it had compared the AT897 and not the 835. No matter, though, the sennheiser does seem to be the best but just barely beyond what I want to spend.

I've also heard raves abou the "oktava 012" or something...some sort of microphone that can be adjusted to pick up different patterns or something. Looks hard to find, but from what I hear, it's practically miraculous.
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

Hmmmm... I haven't heard of that mic.  But, I did find this website.

http://www.oktava.net/
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FYI, there is a new forum here dedicated exclusively to audio.
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

[quote author=Everdene link=board=Links;num=1084395848;start=0#12 date=05/13/04 at 17:16:55]The AT897 is the best shotgun under $300. [/quote]

I agree, great mic.  ;D
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

Rush, I sent you a PM. I'm gonna buy one pretty soon I think, and it's between you and my friend who works at an audio shop (he gets them for 250, but then there's tax and he has to charge at least some mark-up, so it's really not that cheap.)
 
Re: Best shotgun mic for under 300

Was gonna go cheapo last year and the guy at B&H said "unh unh, get the Sennheiser". He was right. Knew them for their great drum mikes when I was a kid. Throw the (Sennheiser) wireless transmitter on it and you've got a great wireless boom. A great quality I love is that it's pattern does zero in on your subject and minimize peripheral sounds. I've even used it camera mounted in NYC clubs for interviews and the music is relegated to ambient status or completely absent depending on how hot I have the mic.
 
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