Monday, April 8, 2013

Rode NTG2 Review 



Even though the Rode NTG2 shotgun microphone costs a bit more than other entry shotgun microphones, the Rode NTG2 will give you more bang for your buck.

Rode NTG2
Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone


Rode NTG2
Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone

With the Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone you can greatly improve the overall quality of your film, as an indie filmmaker. The whole idea of having a shotgun microphone is to record only the audio that you are interested in, so why save a few dollars and record unwanted audio.

Rode NTG2
Rode Boom Pole
An important note though is that when you get a shotgun mic, make sure to get a boompole. This will allow you to place the mic as close to your talent as possible. This is still a common mistake made by many low budget production.
They pimp their shoulder rig by placing the mic ontop of the camera, however this will position the mic quite far from your talent in most cases.

Rode NTG2
Rode Shock Mount

In order to properly use the Røde NTG2 Shotgun Microphone on a boom pole us will need a shockmount. This will dampen the vibrations made by holding the boom pole, allowing for better quality audio recording.




For the Rode NTG2 review we tested the microphone in several situations.


[Rode NTG2 outside]
Outside this mic really hold it's own and performs magnificently. Even whith loud background noise you are able to record your talent's voice perfectly.

[Rode NTG2 inside]
Inside the Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone is able to greatly reduce reverberation when recording in large spaces. I have to admit that the mic records voices inside a little to warm for my taste. It sounds as if bass is added slightly. This effect is not really present outside.

For inside use I would recommend more high end shotgun mics than Rode NTG2 shotgun microphone, however those would no longer qualify as indie filmgear. My advise is to place the mic as close as possible, try dampening the surroundings if needed and adjust your input settings accordingly.

[Rode NTG2 basement (very cramp)]
In tight spaces it is possible to adjust the input level (mine was a zoom H4n) so that the reverberation is kept at a minimal, however when filming in those space you might want a more authentic feel. If this is the case you will love working with this mic.

Overall the Rode NTG2 shotgun microphone is a high quality mic in its range. Outside the mic records really good and will allow any indie filmmaker to acquire great audio. If you're contemplating getting the Rode NTG2 Shotgun Microphone I would say you are looking at a very great addition to your production set-up. 

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