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When it comes to the world of filmmaking sound is as important as the cinematography of your film.
Although shotgun microphones are a directional kind that is used across other fields like interviews, vlogging, or corporate videos, boom microphones are a must in any equipment list for a film project.
And that is because they are directional super cardioid mics that will isolate background sounds and focus on the sound coming from the front of them.
If you are recording some dialogue, ambiance sound, or a field or outdoor scene and you want to record like a pro you’ll need a shotgun mic.
That said, sound and microphones are not the easiest things to understand.
I get it, I’ve been there too.
There are several different brands and various types from short to long shotgun mics, to boom mics, mounted to DSLR’s, or some other options that you can connect to your iPhone.
Not sure which would suit your project best?
In this list, I have included the best options and classified them for low budgets as well as specific needs.
Best shotgun microphones in 2020
Top pick – Sennheiser MKE 600
This boom mic has definitely earned a good reputation among indie filmmakers around the world.
It will offer you excellent audio, in a very directional pick-up pattern which means you won’t get much background noise in your recordings.
The Senheiser MKE 600 is an excellent choice for films both with indoor or outdoor scenes since it has a great frequency response, it’s good in handling rough weather, and has low noise.
It is a long super-cardioid directional mic which means it will do an awesome job not picking up sound that it’s off its main axis.
With a frequency response of 50 Hz – 20,000 Hz and a high sensitivity rating you can’t ask for more.
Considering how affordable the Sennheiser MKE 600 , we had to make it our top pick.
Video review:
Microphone features:
Pronounced directivity
Maximal rejection of side noise
Switchable “Low Cut” filter minimizes wind noise
Phantom or battery powering
Supplied with foam windshield and shock mount. Frequency response – 40 Hz to 20 kHz
Sensitivity in free field, no load (1kHz) – 21 mV/Pa at P48; 19mV/Pa with battery power. Max. sound pressure level – 132 dB SPL at P48. 126 dB SPL with battery power.
Best value – Audio-technica at897
Another film industry favorite well built engineered design and its awesome audio recordings for field or studio.
It is a very directional microphone that runs with AA batteries but can also work with Phantom power.
The mic has a global polar system which means it makes a first-rate choice for capturing specific audio and having low pick-up noise levels.
Taking into account this is a low budget microphone, its high directionality makes it a pro microphone by rejecting sounds from the rear and sides.
Excellent in order to capture natural sound recording, the Audio Technica AT897 could add a quality bonus to your film.
Video review:
Microphone features:
Audio Technica Studio Mic Bundle featuring the AT897 Line + Gradient Condenser Microphone
YOUR CLIENTS AND LISTENERS WILL HEAR THE DIFFERENCE: Designed for video production and broadcast (ENG/EFP) audio acquisition. Smooth, natural-sounding on-axis audio quality.
UNSURPASSED SOUND QUALITY AND PICK-UP SENSITIVITY: Provides the narrow acceptance angle desirable for long-distance sound pickup
THIS BUNDLE INCLUDES: AT8405a stand clamp for 5/8″-27 threaded stands; AT8134 windscreen; battery; 5/8″-27 to 3/8″-16 threaded adapter; protective carrying case, Extended 1 Year Warranty In Addtion to Audio Technica 2 Year Limited Warranty Covering Manufcturer Defects
BEST DSLR shotgun mic- Shure VP83F
If you don’t want to worry about boom poles and want a microphone that can be attached to your DSLR camera the Shure VP83F would definitely be a great option.
It is perfect for documentaries or films that require a lot of spontaneity, following characters and movement.
It is also a global super-cardioid so you won’t miss on quality and it still has a low pick up the noise level.
To best cover you for various filming situations this shotgun mic comes with a windscreen and built-in shock mount.
This mic requires 2 AA batteries to function, it can record directly to an internal SD card and it comes with an integrated LCD screen.
Overall a great choice that provides you access to various features and it has again up to 60db.
Video review:
Microphone features:
Best-in-class audio performance, capturing both the detail and the frequency response of the subject.
Integrated digital flash recording (MicroSDHC, up to 32 GB) for WAV file capture at 24-bit / 48 kHz sampling rate
Back-lit LCD screen that displays audio and battery metering, track information, and remaining recording time
Switchable gain settings & low-cut filter
Comes complete with 2xAA batteries, cable, shoe mount, windscreen, and user guide
Best under $100- Rode VideoMic GO
If I had to describe this shotgun mic in 3 words they would be: simple, high-quality, functional.
It is also a super cheap option and ideal for beginners.
The Rode VideoMic Go is super lightweight and can either be mounted on your camera, tripod, or boom pole.
This mic will be powered by the camera, its audio recordings are frontal and won’t pick up much background noise.
Overall the Rode VideoMic Go will suit any filmmaker that wants a compact microphone ready to go!
Video review:
Microphone features:
Delivers clear, crisp, directional audio with incredible ease of use
Rode designed the VideoMic GO with a tight pickup area that focuses directly in front of the mic
Reduces other surrounding sounds, ensuring that your subject is isolated from background noise
The integrated Rycote Lyre shock mount isolates the VideoMic GO from bumps and vibrations
No complicated switches or settings and is powered by your camera’s external microphone input.
Best short shotgun mic- Rode NTG3
This is a microphone that was specifically designed for the film.
It stands out in the industry because anyone wanting to get high-quality broadcast sound will not be disappointed with this pro-level mic.
The build quality is very solid and it is a very good mic to handle low background noise levels.
It can be mounted to your camera, to a stand or boom pole.
With a super-cardioid pattern, it will keep you covered in any of your field trips or scenes where there is a lot of background noise.
If you want a mic that you could everywhere and it provides you with outstanding pro-level sound, this is your one.
Video review:
Microphone features:
Almost completely resistant to moisture
Low weight (163g)
Complete with weather resistant aluminium storage cylinder
10 year warranty
Item set comes in a box and color is black
Superior broadcast sound quality
Super-cardioid polar pattern.
Best for iphone- Shure Mv88 ios
If you want a portable shotgun mic that fits in your pocket and you can mount onto your iPhone the Shure Mv88 IOS is your best bet.
It has a really good and clear audio quality and it is portable which also means you can rotate it and flip it to your liking.
The Shure Mv88 IOS has 5 built-in recording modes: flat, acoustic instrument, loud, flat, singing, and speech.
Should you get the pack you’ll also receive 2 free audio apps and a windshield.
Video review:
Microphone features:
iOS LIGHTNING CONNECTION: Apple MFi certified and compatible with all iOS devices with a Lightning connector
POCKET-FRIENDLY: Capture powerful audio recordings on the move without the need for large and heavy audio equipment
FULLY ADJUSTABLE: Flexibility to tilt, flip and rotate the microphone up to 90° to get stereo clarity, whatever your sound source
TWO FREE APPS: ShurePlus MOTIV Audio & ShurePlus MOTIV Video allow you to customize the performance and set-up of the microphone for professional audio and video capture. Download directly from App Store
NO WIND NOISE: Includes a black foam windscreen (part number AMV88-WS); please note that the windscreen comes attached and can be removed if desired
BUILT TO LAST: All-metal construction and quality Shure engineering that has stood the test of touring and live stages across the world over the past 90 years
Frequently asked questions about shotgun and boom mics for film and video
Who should buy a shotgun microphone?
If you are a filmmaker you need one of these. Shotgun microphones are the industry standard mics that are part of any sound equipment list when it comes to shooting.
Have a look at any behind the scenes documentary. The first thing you’ll see apart from various cameras and possibly cranes would be boom operators rising their shotguns in the air.
These microphones are made to record sound from a distance. They are great to capture ambiance sound, outdoor audio scenes and natural sound.
In a professional production, you’d definitely have 2 of these and some lavalier microphones to possibly record your actor’s audio.
The reason why shotgun microphones are so good for filmmaking is that they can adapt to every single scene.
Whereas if you, for instance, are trying to record some dialogue or ambience sound while you engage your actors in a fight scene it would be impossible to do so using any other mic since the rustling and motion will prevent you from recording good audio.
That said shotgun microphones are also great when it comes to field recordings, broadcasting, or any other activity that involves shooting outdoors.
How do you hold a boom pole properly?
Head over to my article “How to hold a boom pole properly without getting tired” to learn the best tricks!
Important features to consider
As with any other mic out there, there are a few features you should consider when buying your shotgun microphone.
The more directional your microphone is the more background noise it will reject and therefore the more it will focus on recording the sound coming from the front.
Self-noise is also very important. This term does not refer to the noise picked up by the mic but to the noise, the microphone makes it on its own.
If you have a high self-noise microphone you’ll get some unwanted hissing sounds in your recording.
As a rule of thumb, shotgun microphones have outstanding high sensitivity, however, you want to make sure it is not lacking this feature in particular.
A high sensitivity microphone works very well in capturing low-level sounds, which is exactly what you need when recording sound from a distance.
What is the difference between a shotgun microphone and a boom microphone?
A shotgun microphone is a long condenser microphone that is usually mounted on a boom pole.
The term “boom microphone” refers to the mics that are usually mounted in a boom pole. Hence it is sort of the same thing.
However, when you refer to a boom, technically speaking you are referring to a boom pole and not the mic itself. For this reason, the proper word to use when you are referring to the mics that mount onto a boom pole is a shotgun microphone.
Shotgun microphones often have cardioid directional patterns since these are designed for filming and are the preferred ones by industry professionals due to their good quality and very low background noise pick up.
An omnidirectional pickup pattern will record noises coming all around the microphone, whereas a cardioid directional focuses on the sound coming from the front.
As their nickname indicates, a shotgun mic looks like a long straight mic in order to allow you to direct it to your preferred action in a scene.
Complete your microphone set up
If you get a shotgun microphone you will need to have one of the items below to mount in on.
Otherwise, your sound will be completely ruined since the microphone will shake a lot.
There’s no point in getting a shotgun mic if you don’t invest in one of these accessories.
That said there are some different ones designed for specific needs.
The reason for that is you might just want to have the mic attached to your camera or might require a bit more freedom in movement.
Boom poles were designed to cover the last necessity.
Shotgun Boompoles
In a nutshell, boom poles are long sticks in which you can mount your shotgun microphone and direct your mic towards the sound you want to record.
They are usually positioned above your subjects or the action you are recording so that the mic picks up as less unwanted noise as possible.
It is pretty much impossible for a person to do this by themselves that is why a boom pole is required.
Because a boom operator will be holding the boom pole for hours, it is definitely worth it to get a good one that still stays within your budget.
The Rode Boompole Pro Carbon fiber is a good example of that.
Head to xxxx to read the full article.
Shock mounts
These are also mandatory for boom operation.
They pretty much allow your microphone to be separated from the boom pole by having this external mount.
This fact prevents vibrations and mechanical noises from affecting your mic’s signal.
One of my top recommendations is:
It is very easy for this to happen, especially if you don’t properly know how to hold a boom pole since the XLR cables can sometimes hit the boom pole if not tangled appropriately.
Check out my article on xxx for more info.
Blimps
These will protect your microphone and shock mount from wind and will still allow your sound waves to travel to your mic.
Dead cats
Even though its name is super funny it actually describes the function of these devices pretty well.
Dead cats are very furry windshield covers that will protect your microphone for extreme weather conditions and background noises.
They are much more protective than blimps and will cover you in any of your outdoor scenes.
This is the one I used to use and recommend:
For a full guide on this go to xxxx
Conclusion
If you want to have proper audio for your film a shotgun microphone should be a must on your list.
Directional super cardioid mics that will isolate background sounds and focus on the sound coming from the front of them.
They are perfect for dialogue, ambiance sound, or field or outdoor scenes.
Even though there are several different brands and various types of shotgun microphones my recommended one for you would be Sennheiser MKE 600 due to its great frequency response, it’s good in handling rough weather and has low background noise pick up.
But truth be told, any of the mics listed above would do a great job and they are totally affordable.
You just need to make sure you learn how to hold and use them properly to get professional sound in your film.
This is also rare in the indie filmmaking industry so if you have a short film with great sound I can tell you for a fact you’ll be one step ahead of everyone else.
For that reason, start by investing in good quality equipment.
I promise you, it will be worth it.
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