A shotgun mic is a mic that, well, has a shotgun-like appearance. It tends to have a long and slender body, much like the barrel of a shotgun. It is designed to provide superior isolation of the main audio signals from other disturbing noise. Shotgun mics are usually used for video recording, either you use a mirrorless, DSLR, or professional camcorder. Now, if you are looking for a budget-friendly shotgun mic, Rode NTG 1 and Rode Videomic Pro are indeed feasible choices. Both are very popular on the market, but which is the one that you should choose?
Rode NTG 1
Rode NTG 1 is pretty much designed like what you expect from a shotgun mic. It has a lengthy and slim body that measures by 219mm long and 22mm wide. Featuring a metal housing, Rode NTG 1 offers a good degree of ruggedness and durability. The bundle includes a windshield to prevent wind sound from getting captured, a mic clip for easy mounting and handling, and a zip case for storage and travel. Rode NTG 1 has an XLR output jack.
Technical Specs
| Rode NTG 1 | Videomic Pro |
|---|---|
| - Includes mic clip, wind shield and zip case | - Acoustic Principle : Line Gradient |
| - Broadcast sound quality | - Active Electronics : JFET impedance converter |
| - Low noise circuitry | - Frequency Range : 40Hz - 20kHz(selected HPF @80) |
| - Super-cardioid polar pattern | - Maximum SPL : 134dB SPL (@ 1kHz, 1% THD into 1KΩ load) |
| - Condenser transducer | - Maximum Output Level : 6.9mV |
| - Rugged metal construction | - Equivalent Noise Level (A-weighted) : 14dB-A |
| - 10 year extended warranty when you register your microphone | - Sensitivity : -32.0dB re 1 Volt/Pascal (20.00mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1kHz |
Rode NTG 1 is a condenser mic, utilizing JFET impedance converter with bipolar output buffer. Thus, it requires phantom power to operate. The microphone has been constructed with a sophisticated circuitry design that promotes low self-noise levels. Rode NTG 1 only has an equivalent noise level of 18dB-A, which is sufficient to deliver crisp and clear audio reproduction. Furthermore, with a frequency response range of 20 Hz – 20 kHz, Rode NTG 1 is certainly able to stage and define every note accurately. It has good sensitivity, and it offers high SPL handling. In addition, Rode NTG 1 has been equipped with an 80-Hz high-pass filter, too, which is handy when you want to attenuate low-frequency noise and boost the presence of the midrange.
Rode Videomic Pro
On the other hand, Rode Videomic Pro is a shotgun mic that comes with a hot shoe mount, which typically exists on a compact camera or camcorder. So, since it is designed to use with a compact device, it is also designed in a similar way. Rode Videomic Pro boasts a compact and ultra-lightweight form factor, with barely 6” of length and 85g mass. It works with a 9V battery and has a maximum battery life of 70 continuous hours on an alkaline battery. It connects to the camera or camcorder using a 3.5mm mini jack.
Rode Videomic Pro also utilizes JFET impedance converter. The frequency response range is 40Hz – 20 kHz. Quite interestingly, Rode Videomic Pro actually has a lower self-noise level of only 14dB-A. It performs an excellent job in delivering crisp and clear sounds. It is also feature-packed; it already has an integrated shock mount to reduce handling noise, an integrated foam windscreen, also an 80-Hz high pass filter and a three-position input level control.
Rode NTG 1 Vs Videomic Pro
Conclusion
So, if you want to use a mic that can be attached on top of your camera or camcorder on the hot shoe mount, Rode Videomic Pro is the way. However, if you want the best audio quality possible, you should go with Rode NTG 1 here!