Shotgun Microphones
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About Shotgun Mics
A favorite for TV, voiceovers, and music production, shotgun microphones — named for their characteristically long and narrow shape — possess several unique qualities that make them a go-to option for clean, invisible audio capture. Whether you're shooting your next independent film on DSLRs or recording audiobooks in noisy environments, you'll find the mic to achieve your audio goals at Sweetwater.
How Shotgun Mics Focus Your Audio
Shotgun microphones come in all sizes, from short, broad-patterned varieties to long models designed for extended distances. The one thing they all have in common is their tight polar pattern. It's more focused than even the tightest supercardioid pattern, allowing the mic to completely reject off-axis sound and pick up audio from a narrow beam directly in front of it. This is why shotgun mics are a favorite for film and video production, where microphones must remain out of the shot while capturing intelligible audio.
What Are Shotgun Mics Good For?
Shotgun microphones are highly directional mics, which means they're able to focus on sound and dialogue coming directly in front of them while minimizing distracting background noise around them. Their audio pickup is exceptionally uniform across distances, too, which is ideal for the run-and-gun nature of journalism, event coverage, and TV production.
Shotgun Mic Vs. Boom Mic: What's the Difference?
Shotgun refers to a type of microphone. Boom refers to a technique. Many pole-mounted boom mics are shotgun mics, though they can just as easily be cardioid or omnidirectional, depending on the environment.
Types of Shotgun Microphones
There are two basic kinds of shotgun microphones: on-camera and off-camera. Which model is right for you depends on your shooting environment and audio-visual setup.
On-camera mics
On-camera shotgun mics, such as those in RODE's VideoMic series, feature a shoe mount that lets them attach to slide-in mounts most commonly used for mounting strobes or other lights on top of cameras. Their short designs keep them out of frame and cast a wider polar pattern than most off-camera shotguns, and they connect to your camera via 1/8" cables. A few of these mini shotgun mics feature stereo capsules, making them great for capturing ambiance and dialogue.
Off-camera mics
Traditional off-camera shotgun microphones tend to be far more directional than the on-camera type, with much longer bodies and numerous phase ports to promote off-axis sound rejection. This microphone style is most common in video production, where recording engineers mount them on mic stands or booms to home in on dialogue from a distance without appearing in the shot.
Shotgun Mics: Not Just for Video Production!
Video production is only one popular application for traditional shotgun mics. Studio recording engineers occasionally use shotgun microphones on sources such as kick drums and occasionally vocals. Live sound engineers use them for distance miking when getting up close is impractical. Many theatrical sound reinforcement engineers swear by shotgun mics. They're also among the best microphones for voice-over work since they tend to have minimal proximity effect and a remarkably uniform sonic character.
Need Help Choosing Your Next Shotgun Mic? Call Sweetwater
As you can see, shotgun microphones have many applications inside and outside the studio walls. Additional considerations, such as switchable filters and battery power, make each model unique and ideal for specific tasks. If you want advice on which shotgun mic will best suit your needs, call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700.
Check out the following articles for more information on how you can put shotgun mics to work for your art:
- “What Is a Shotgun Microphone?” | inSync
- “Shotgun Mics vs. Lavaliers — Which Is Better?” | inSync
- “Shotgun Mics and Sound Reinforcement” | inSync
- “Microphone Polar Patterns Demonstrated — Use Your Ears!” | inSync
What are the most popular brands for Shotgun Microphones on Sweetwater.com?
What are the most popular Shotgun Microphones on Sweetwater.com?
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Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Condenser Microphone
5 out of 5 stars 46 reviews
$1,049.00 -
Rode VideoMic Camera-mount Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Shock Mounting
4.5 out of 5 stars 12 reviews
$149.00 -
Rode NTG3 Shotgun Condenser Microphone
4.5 out of 5 stars 5 reviews
$641.52 -
Acacia Audio LIZ-Shotgun M Condenser Microphone
5 out of 5 stars 1 review
$179.99
Why shop Shotgun Microphones at Sweetwater.com?
With a massive selection of Shotgun Microphones, free shipping, a free 2-year warranty, 24/7 access to award-winning support - and more - Sweetwater gives you more than any other retailer! If you have any questions about Shotgun Microphones, make sure to give your personal Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700.
