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› Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8 macro lens › Gitzo GH4383LR ball head › Epson EcoTank ET-8550 printer
RodeVideoMic NTG PRICE: £239
RODE.COM
WONDERFUL-QUALITY video footage is one thing, but no one will be able to appreciate it if the audio is not up to scratch. To hold an audience truly captive, and get YouTube viewers to subscribe to your channel, you need to make sure the sound is sorted. For suitable, high-quality kit, audio-recording specialist Rode is a great place to start – and here we test out its latest product, the VideoMic NTG. It’s a versatile, rechargeable shotgun mic that suits on- and off- camera use, and comes with a wind cover, shock mount and SC10 3.5mm TRRS to TRRS cable that makes the most of the NTG’s auto-sensing feature. Intelligent output circuitry detects when the mic is plugged into a TRS input ( found on most cameras) or TRRS input ( found in tablets and smartphones), so there’s no need for adapters here. Output is possible via its USB-C port, as well as in the 3.5mm Rode is a brand dedicated to helping videomakers and vloggers achieve great audio. PN tests its latest on-camera shotgun microphone
SPECS › Price £239
Verdict The Rode VideoMic NTG, with its feature set and impressive recording skills, represents excellent value for money. It delivers a performance way beyond that of your camera mic, and probably quite a few of its rivals, too. Make no mistake, this mic is a very good buy. PROS Sound quality, USB-C auto-sensing, lightweight and tough, good rechargeable battery capacity CONS Nothing of note › Acoustic principle Pressure gradient electret condenser › Polar pattern Supercardioid › Frequency range 20Hz-20kHz › Frequency response 35Hz-18kHz ±3 dB › Output impedance 10Ω › Signal-to-noise ratio 79dBA › Dynamic range 105dB SPL (A-weighted, as per IEC651) › Sensitivity range -26dB re 1V/Pa (50mV at 94dB SPL) ± 1dB at 1kHz › High-pass filter frequency 75Hz, 150Hz › Output connection 3.5mm auto-sensing USB-C › Bit depth 24-bit › Sample rate 48kHz › OS requirements macOS 10.12, Windows 10 › Battery life 30+ hours › Battery capacity 350mAh › Dimensions 21.6x171mm › Weight 94g › Contact rode.com
“THENTG IS EQUIPPEDTO
mini-jack, so you can record direct into a computer or tablet. The USB-C port is also for battery charging and firmware updates. Handily, when the NTG is being used as a USB-C mic, the 3.5mm mini-jack doubles as a headphone socket. Usability of the Video NTG rates highly. The supplied mount is well made, the mic can be slid back and forth in the mount, and a cable tidy is a practical addition. It will automatically power up and down when the device turns on or off. Just press and hold the button for three seconds for manual on/off, and an LED indicates the state of charge. Audio performance is very good, and the NTG is equipped to fine-tune results, depending on the sound source. In very loud situations, for example, push the function (on/ off ) button once and you engage the -20dB cut (or pad). Press it again and you turn on a safety channel that records a second track at -20dB. Press the button a third time and you get both together. If the main track is distorted, this option can be used during editing for quality results. A peak warning light flashes red to indicate when these features should be operated.
There are three EQ controls, two high-pass filters that cut off lower frequencies such as traffic noise, and a high-frequency boost to enhance clarity and detail. This comes in very handy with the windshield. I used the NTG on a Fujifilm X-S10, plugged into its 3.5mm jack. I made recordings, talking to the camera at different distances and positions – indoors and out. I started with gain at 10 with no filters. Indoors, without the windshield, the sound quality was very good. Even when I was about three metres from the camera, or to one side, I was recorded at a good volume. Outdoors, I started without the windshield just to see how it was without any protection. It was bad – even a mild breeze sounded like a hurricane – but the cover cured that. Sensitivity remained good, but with no walls to help the sound waves bounce around, retreating three or so metres away had a detrimental effect. That was no surprise, though. Overall, the NTG tested very well. It was easy to use, well-equipped to work in different environments, and versatile when recording through the 3.5mm mini-jack or USB-C with both computers and tablets. WC
FINE-TUNERESULTS, DEPENDINGONTHE SOUNDSOURCE”
SHOCK THE MIC The shock mount (above) is made from Rycote Lyre, a super-durable thermoplastic with excellent isolation qualities. A windshield (far right) is provided for use in blustery or noisy situations – this is a must for shooting outdoors – together with the 75Hz or 150Hz high-pass filters
48 Photography News | Issue 92
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