awards | Gear of the Year
Time to make some noise for the best sound equipment around
Audio recorder/adapter Beachtek DXA-Max Deity PR-4 Tascam CA-XLR2d-N Tascam DR-40XP Tascam FR-AV2 Zoom H6essential Zoom Instamic Pro Plus C Microphone XLR Audio-Technica BP3600 Audio-Technica BP4029 Deity S-Mic 3 Rode NTG5 Rycote BD-10 Rycote HC-35 Sennheiser MKH 8018 Sennheiser MKH 416 Sony ECM-778 Microphone DSLR Audio-Technica ATV-SG1 Canon DM-E1D Deity V-Mic D4 Mini Nikon ME-D10 Audio-Technica ATR2500x-USB Hollyland Lark M2 Rode NT-USB+ Rode Podmic USB Rode Videomic Me-C Sennheiser Profile USB Sennheiser MK4 Shure MV88 USB-C Shure MVX2U Zoom Am7 Zoom ZUM-2 Wireless audio Audio-Technica System 10 Camera Mount Rode Videomic Pro+ Rode Videomic NTG Sennheiser MKE 200 Sennheiser MKE 400 Shure VP83F Sony ECM-B1M Microphone USB Hollyland Lark M2S Rode Interview Pro Rode Wireless Go Gen 3 Rode Wireless Micro Saramonic Blink500 ProX Sennheiser Profile Wireless Shure SLX-D+ Deity Theos DJI Mic Mini DJI Mic 3 The shortlist
reat audio elevates even the simplest production, while poor sound ruins great visuals. That’s why the Pro Moviemaker
Gear of the Year Awards 2026 celebrates the mics, wireless systems and recording tools filmmakers and creators trust most. Portable recorders and audio interfaces continue to evolve rapidly. Tascam impressed with the compact FR-AV2 and flexible CA-XLR2d-N adapter system, while Zoom’s H6essential remains a favourite for run-and-gun productions thanks to its 32-bit float recording and simple operation. The Deity PR-4 also proved a powerful portable recorder. Shotgun mics remain essential too. Sennheiser’s legendary MKH 416 still dominates location sound, while the MKH 8018 offers greater flexibility for modern productions. Rode’s NTG5 is hugely popular for lightweight boom set-ups, while the Sony ECM-778 and Audio-Technica BP4029 deliver broadcast quality. Deity’s S-Mic 3 and Rycote’s BD- 10 and HC-35 also impressed for indie filmmaking and compact rigs. For DSLR and mirrorless shooters, compact on-camera mics remain just as important as ever. Rode has the Videomic Pro+ and Videomic NTG, while Sony’s clever digital ECM-B1M and Canon’s DM- E1D integrate seamlessly with compatible cameras. Sennheiser’s MKE 200 and MKE 400 are strong creator favourites, while Nikon has now entered the market with the ME-D10.
USB mics and podcasting tools are on the up. Rode’s Podmic USB and NT- USB+ are beloved, while Shure’s MV88 USB-C deliver pro sound for streaming, podcasting and mobile production. Wireless systems saw some fierce competition this year. Rode expanded its ecosystem with the Wireless Go Gen 3, Wireless Micro and Interview Pro, while DJI’s Mic 3 and compact Mic Mini pushed ease of use further. Deity’s Theos system boasts advanced timecode functionality, while Sennheiser’s Profile Wireless proved there’s serious wireless audio for all levels. From podcasts and live streams to cinematic production and documentary work, this year’s audio gear proves sound has never mattered more. Cast your vote at promoviemaker.net
Mic drop Audio is more than mics like the Canon DM-E1D (above), as wireless systems such as the Rode Wireless Go Gen 3 (left) and recorders like the Tascam FR-AV2 (top) are also important
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July/August 2026
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