GEAR
BUYERS’ GUIDE
“The Rode NTG5 is small and compact, so it actually catches less wind than largermics”
RODE NTG5
RODE VIDEOMIC GO II
RYCOTE SUPER-SOFTIE £94/$129 rycote.com
£399/$499 rode.com
£89/$99 rode.com
The Rode NTG5 is a short, lightweight XLR shotgun microphone, that uses a new design with circular acoustic ports instead of slots, as used in many other mics. It gives a very natural sound and is great at eliminating background noise. Best of all, it comes in a location recording kit that includes a pistol grip shock mount, mic clip, pro cable and everything you need to use it on an XLR mount for a camera or boom. It has the standard foamwindshield, but also Rode’s professional-level WS10 furry windshield, which is a perfect fit. This does a much better job of reducing wind noise than a standard furry cover, as it is designed for the moisture-resistant NTG5 with a custom-fit aperture, and has open-cell foam covered with synthetic fur. As the NTG5 weighs just 76g/2.68oz and measures 203mm/7.99in, it is small and compact, so actually catches less wind than larger mics.
The second-generation Rode VideoMic Go II can be thought of as a smaller, simplified version of the popular VideoMic NTG. The Go II is a compact shotgun, that’s a radical departure from the original VideoMic Go – with significant upgrades to the body, shock mount, cable and more. It gives the sound of the award-winning NTG shotgun microphones in a super-light camera- mount mic, that works with cameras, recorders, mobile devices and USB- equipped computers. When using the VideoMic Go II as a traditional shotgun mic for your camera, it will deliver focused directivity, low noise and good isolation from external vibrations. As a USB microphone, the 3.5mm jack functions as a headphone output for monitoring the live signal or playback from the host device. Since the mic runs on plug-in or USB power, and has no controls or switches, it is easy and fast to operate.
Sound-deadening expert Rycote makes furry dead cat-style covers, but also has the innovative Rycote Super-Softie, which slips snugly over your mic. The idea is that it is a more aerodynamic shape, so the wind glides over, rather than buffeting the mic cover. And it is made of high-tech material called 3D-Tex, stretched over a larger open-cell foam covering, compared to standard windshields. Instead of getting soaked through with rain like a normal furry windmuff, the Super-Softie can be squeezed out and shaken dry, or wiped clean when covered in dust. The Super-Softie comes in different lengths and internal bore sizes, so you need to make sure you buy the right one for your mic. At £94/$129 for a 15cm- long version with a 19-22mm internal diameter, it’s a good investment to improve your audio. Other sizes are available at a range of prices.
Pros: The new gold standard Cons: You may not need the extras
Pros: Useful on multiple devices Cons: No gain adjuster
Pros: Improves on the dead cat Cons: One size doesn’t fit all
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PRO MOVIEMAKER
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