Buyers’ guide
Buyers’ guide Sound affects
If you’re getting in a jam about audio, don’t worry. Here’s PN’s exclusive pick of top-quality sound recording gear, sure to improve your next video...
RodeWireless Go II &NTH-100 › rode.com › £195&£149
pro over-ear headset. Priced at £149, it delivers exceptional audio performance with custom-matched 40mm dynamic drivers, and a comfortable, contoured earcup design – plus the use of the soft, durable material, Alcantara.
allow. It can be bought as a two- piece set with Transmitter (TX) and Receiver (RX) units, or as a three- piece with two TX units. Rode has recently stepped into the headphone market for the first time with the NTH-100
The Wireless Go II is a wireless mic with a range of up to 200m, giving you freedom to move further from the camera than mounted mics
lavalier mic keeps the speaker crisp and clear. But good sound also comes from better monitoring. If it’s built properly for video, your camera should have a headphone connection, so investing in a decent set of ‘cans’ will let you hear how good the sound is. External monitors let you see the levels easily. Don’t underestimate the usefulness of ‘wild track’ audio, either. This is recorded separately from footage and gives options in editing, for instance to overlay poor sound. Recording in this way is vital if you’re using a drone, which won’t have a microphone. It’s usually done using an external recorder. Read on to see what made our top picks for audio kit…
IT’S GREAT TO see so many photographers trying their hand at shooting video. But there’s something that every new filmmaker will soon realise: although many of their hard- earned skills can be easily transferred, sound recording isn’t one of them. Audio is of huge importance in filmmaking, and bad-quality sound can quickly wreck an otherwise successful project. Fortunately, as well as some good, basic sound-recording skills, all you need are a few additions to your kitbag to get better audio. Adding a dedicated external microphone to your camera will give far superior results compared to its built-in mics. If you’re shooting an interview or speech, a good-quality
A shotgun mic lets you record sound in a more narrow pattern than the wide pickup of regular on-camera mics. You can therefore point it at a subject and have them recorded more clearly. The MKE 400 is a compact shotgun mic that efficiently suppresses unwanted background noise and lets your subject come through loud and clear. Although it weighs only 60g, it has great build quality and comes with a foam windshield and anti-shock mount. As well as isolating subject recording, it also has a switchable low-cut filter. Sennheiser MKE 400 › en-uk.sennheiser.com › £179
Saramonic’s UwMic9 TX9+TX9+RX9 kit is a portable, dual-channel, camera-mountable UHF wireless system, giving broadcast-quality sound across a stable connection. With two mics, two transmitters (TX) and a receiver (RX), it’s a real belt- and-braces option, meaning you can record from two sources at the same time. With a sturdy metal build, but light weight and compact size, it’s a great fit for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. It’s easy to use, too. Saramonic UwMic9 TX9+TX9+RX9 kit › saramonic.com › £299
Beachtek DXA-Go › beachtek.com › £85
a shotgun mic on the top – or an on-camera LED if you prefer. With the Wireless Go attached to the side, the DXA-Go’s left, right and stereo ports let you mix multiple inputs. The level of each channel can be adjusted with independent controls, and a 3.5mm output then connects to the camera.
If you’ve been smart enough to invest in a Rode Wireless Go, the DXA-Go is a custom, two-channel adapter and bracket for use with it – of course, it can be employed as a stand-alone adapter, too. The DXA-Go sits in your camera’s hotshoe, or on an external cage, and has a coldshoe port to mount
Issue 98 | Photography News 25
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