NTG-3 vs. 4073a

J

justinslee

Member
If price wasn't an issue (though they're getting pretty close in price now right?), how do the Rode NTG-3 and the Audio-Technica 4073a match up against each other?

I know these mics are mainly for exterior, but which of the two is more versatile for recording in interior locations? I read on posts, by Matt I believe, that the 4073a is too sensitive for indoor but wanted to hear more opinions.

I'll mainly be using a mic for short films.
 
Guy Cochran at the DVestore can give you info on this. I had called and talked to him about this very topic. Mention DVXuser and he will give you a great price. Nice people to deal with there.
 
Justin:

Did you find out what you needed on the 4073a?

I thought I would refresh this thread since I just made an impluse buy of the 4073a, it's a great deal at B&H right now.

Basically Ken Stones microphone review is right on. I bought the mic for some outdoor work at a sporting event. This mic is really hot and capable of picking up more distant sound better than anything else I have tried. You do need good wind protection (the factory foam does not cut it at all) and may need the low-cut turned on depending on conditions/handling. Then with a little EQ and compression in post, you can get some incredible results.

As for indoor, I would not say that it is too sensitive at all. It may not be the best choice, but not because it's too sensitive. It seems to me that this mic allows for very low pre-amp gain levels, keeping noise lower than expected. The two indoor room shots I have done so far were not bad, although the rooms were a little inherently noisy. In a quiet/flat room, this mic would rock.

I do not have a NTG-3, but can say the 4073a is a great value mic. I don't think the NTG-3 and 4073a really have the same intended uses anyway. I would compare the NTG-3 with the 416.

FYI, I am using this mic with the HMC-150. They work very well together.
 
Actually I have both. I bought the NTG-3 to mount on the camera although I got the field production kit with Rode blimp from Guy and I have two 4073's from B&H to cover stage use. I have a teenage actor and end up taping plays and band concerts. I also got a Zoom H4n for the 4073's. So far the combination is terrific. Each mike has different characteristics and I am learing the best use for each. Either way, they are both good mikes, probably two of the best in the medium price range. I have a EX-1.
 
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Dadin:

What do you think about using the NTG-3 as your everyday on-camera mic?

Do you use it as one channel and the on-camera L or R mic as the other channel? I generally find the channels not usable together because the audio image is way off.

So far I haven't found a on-camera mic (for general use/ambient) that I like. Partly because of mic size and camera bag size requiring removal of the mic, not convenient. And partly because for ambient I like the omni capture pattern from the on-board camera mic, just not the quality/resolution of the on-board mic. There are a few $2,000+ mics for on-camera use that would be great, but I can't justify one yet.

FYI, I do find the 4073a to be a good on-camera mic for backup capture/ambient at weddings and some events, but its not really a mic I would generally leave on the camera.
 
Yep, I use the NTG-3 on channel 2 and the onboard mike on the other channel. I have no problem taking the mike and shock holder on and off when I put the camera away. The 4073a's are a little bright (more top end) than the Rode so I stick with the Rode on camera and use the 4073's as a stereo stage or band pickup.
Later I will find some large diaphram mikes for band recording but I've spent my tax refund and then some....

BTW, I'm headed to Virginia Beach tomorrow for the weekend. My son's school band is performing at Busch Gardens on Friday and I got stuck documenting the trip.
 
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So wait, can you guys fill me in on reasons you like the 4073a? I haven't used it. It seems like the rode ntg3 would be better (for me at least), but what do you see as the advantages of the 4073a?

Thanks.
 
Entity said:
So wait, can you guys fill me in on reasons you like the 4073a? I haven't used it. It seems like the rode ntg3 would be better (for me at least), but what do you see as the advantages of the 4073a?

Thanks.
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I would not say either has an advantage over the other, they are just better in different uses. You really need both.

The 4073a is more sensitive/hotter, you often have to turn your level adjustments much lower than any other mic. But this sensitivity is not always needed and can introduce high room tone and all kinds of other stuff the NTG-3 would not have a problem with. One place the 4073a would never be used is something like a rock concert or loud venue.

I generally use the 4073a to compensate for not having a mic where it should be, close to the sound source. Does this always work? No, but it helps and with post capture editing, I can usually pull out some really good audio.
 
DadinWestchester said:
BTW, I'm headed to Virginia Beach tomorrow for the weekend. My son's school band is performing at Busch Gardens on Friday and I got stuck documenting the trip.
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It's going to be a great weekend.

Expect heavy traffic on 64 when you get near Williamsburg. Should be a lot of fun.

It will be a bit of a pain hauling a lot of video gear into Busch Gardens from the parking lot, via the tram.

Have fun!
 
Didn't realize this thread was refreshed until recently. Anyway, I ended up going with the NTG-3 and I'm very happy with my choice. Guy Cochran at the DVestore hooked me up with a good deal, so definitely call him up if you're interested in getting one. I also ended up getting a Rode Blimp for outdoor wind scenarios.

I just shot a short film using it if you guys want to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs22fOl9G1M
 
Stark for our gun banned country, but congratulations, great production.

NTG-3 good choice. I can hear its warm low end, sounds great in that reverberant room too.
Hey watch out you don't lose the Blimps small grommet, mine went. If you do, contact RODE support in your area, they'll mail a few. RODE now ship the Blimp with a few extra.

Cheers.
 
justinslee said:
Didn't realize this thread was refreshed until recently. Anyway, I ended up going with the NTG-3 and I'm very happy with my choice. Guy Cochran at the DVestore hooked me up with a good deal, so definitely call him up if you're interested in getting one. I also ended up getting a Rode Blimp for outdoor wind scenarios.

I just shot a short film using it if you guys want to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs22fOl9G1M
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Awesome video man! I like the way the NTG-3 sounds - very rich. What camera did you shoot that with?
 
Raster said:
Stark for our gun banned country, but congratulations, great production.

NTG-3 good choice. I can hear its warm low end, sounds great in that reverberant room too.
Hey watch out you don't lose the Blimps small grommet, mine went. If you do, contact RODE support in your area, they'll mail a few. RODE now ship the Blimp with a few extra.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Chadfish said:
Awesome video man! I like the way the NTG-3 sounds - very rich. What camera did you shoot that with?
Click to expand...

Thanks Raster and Chadfish for the comments and the tips!
I shot it with a Panasonic HMC150. Just got it recently. Been loving it
 
justinslee said:
If price wasn't an issue (though they're getting pretty close in price now right?), how do the Rode NTG-3 and the Audio-Technica 4073a match up against each other?

I know these mics are mainly for exterior, but which of the two is more versatile for recording in interior locations? I read on posts, by Matt I believe, that the 4073a is too sensitive for indoor but wanted to hear more opinions.

I'll mainly be using a mic for short films.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that the 4073 is too sensitve for interior use. It should be fine indoors, keeping in mind that sometimes a shorter supercardioid mic has better results inside if it can be worked close enough.

The Rode NTG3 is basically a reproduction of the Sennheiser MKH416, but at a lower price. I have to say that, not only is it a copy of the 416, it is also pretty well done. It can use all of the same suspension and windscreen accessories as the 416, too. The 4073 is a larger diameter than the 416 and NTG3.

Like the 416, the NTG3 uses the "RF" circuitry formerly patented by Sennheiser, which now is evidently public domain. Therefore, the NTG3 has similar resilience to radio interference and humidity as the 416. The 4073, while being a respectable mic, was designed many years ago when the "RF" circuit design was available only to Sennheiser, and is, therefore, more susceptible to interference and humidity than the 416 or NTG3.

Glen Trew
 
Glen Trew said:
Like the 416, the NTG3 uses the "RF" circuitry formerly patented by Sennheiser, which now is evidently public domain. Therefore, the NTG3 has similar resilience to radio interference and humidity as the 416. The 4073, while being a respectable mic, was designed many years ago when the "RF" circuit design was available only to Sennheiser, and is, therefore, more susceptible to interference and humidity than the 416 or NTG3.

Glen Trew
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I can confirm the 4073a does run into trouble in high humidity after a few shoots in light drizzle/rain. However, after throughly drying for a few days, they do return to normal sound/operation.

Never noticed any interference on the 4073a, but I have never used more than a 20' cable, and interference usually occurs on the long cable runs.
 
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