AC90: Microphone Dilemma

S

Shenan

Well-known member
Hi All,

I'm pretty close to ordering the AC90 for a documentary that I'm going to be shooting over the next few months. My dilemma now is that I'm trying to choose between the Rode NTG-1 and NTG-2. The NTG-2 seems to be more popular and talked about on forums, but the NTG-1 has lower impedance (50 ohm vs. 200 ohm on the NTG-2), so I figured that would give a bit of a boost in signal level from the mic, allowing lower gain settings on the camera for possibly better sound. On the other side of the equation I'm concerned about how much time the mic may take away from the camera's battery life by powering it through phantom power.

What is your experience with this? How much time do phantom-powered mics take from camera batteries? The AC90 battery is supposed to last 6 hours I seem to have read, so will the mic cut that down by an hour? More? Not that much?

Am I going about this the wrong way? Should I just get the NTG-2 instead, with its built-in battery power? Are my concerns about sound levels and quality or my concerns about battery life unwarranted? Why do people typically choose one mic design over another (phantom power only vs. both phantom power and internal battery)?

Should I post this in the audio forum instead? It just seemed like a hybrid camera/microphone question, which is why I posted it here.

Thank you in advance!

Shenan
 
Having the battery option will be valuable if you ever want to use the microphone with a plug-on wireless transmitter that doesn't supply phantom power, or if you anticipate needing to use it with an older or cheaper recorder without balanced inputs.

- Greg
 
Thank you for your responses, David and Greg! I've had the same considerations. Ok, going crazy here trying to choose a mic, but will order one soon. Now considering the AT875 as well. Thanks!
 
An associate bought an AT875 for his HPX170 and he really likes it! He works as a free-lance producer for the Weather Channel and he uses the 170 when a crew isn't available.
 
I still find the the Rode VideoMic has more punch during wedding receptions so I have stuck with them. If you rip off the rubber band mounts they fit quite nicely into the Panny holder and are noise free. The 9v battery is a bit of a pain but I live with it as the mics output really suits my kind of work

Chris
 
Hi Chris,
I am about to buy a rode. Do you use the pro or the larger standard? Reviews seem to indicate no difference other than size. But there is a big difference in cost!.
Rod
 
Hi Rod

Both mine are the standard VideoMic with the band suspension and they work great. On the 130/160 all you need to do is remove the two screws that attach the mount to the actual mic housing and then clamp the front barrel right up near the bigger housing and let the battery compartment lie vertically and it works really well and no silicon bands to break off either (or jump off) The rubber nodes inside the Panny mic mount isolate the mic nicely.

Chris
 

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