Before You Buy Any Shotgun Mic, Take a Look at the Rode NTG4

The Rode NTG4 and the NTG4+ are two really useful mics being shotguns and very directional. The only difference between the two is the NTG4+ has an internal battery so that one is even more useful if you want to go mobile. For people who don't want an internal battery but want battery power, the Sennheiser MKE600 is excellent and runs on an AA battery as well as phantom power.
Shotgun mics are excellent for video because their coverage focuses on the direction of the lens and rejects side and back pretty well. They can be used for booming although you need to check for any 'phasing' effects that can happen from wall reflections. Basically, indoors, a pencil mic or short shotgun is better. The NTG4 is a short shotgun and I do get great results with it indoors.
Afilliate Links:
Rode NTG4 - amzn.to/3qAuQjB
Rode NTG4+ - amzn.to/3it5DVd
Gear Used in my Video:
Sony AX53 - amzn.to/2KrQ6YS​​
Canon M50 - amzn.to/3b5bHSo​​
Manfrotto Tripod - amzn.to/2Wfl2y3​​
Falcon F7 Light - amzn.to/2IRXSej​​
Ulanzi VL49 - amzn.to/3oUcY23​​ and the RGB Version - amzn.to/34h5AG9​​
Manfrotto Mini Tripod - amzn.to/3mjJs43​​
Beachtek Preamplifier - amzn.to/2JY6kt6​
Sennheiser MKE600 - amzn.to/3illUf7

[@Tewahedo]

Great vid as always, thanks! Can't wait to see the NTG 3 review one day!

[@EstudioT.A]

Hello Ian, do you recommend this microphone? thanks a lot :) always glad to see your reviews

[@iancraig]

Hi. I prefer the ntg5 but it costs a lot more. I also prefer the Sennheiser mke600. It has less mid bass and gives a clearer sounding voice, at least it does for me!

[@ww1www]

Another great mic review, thank you. Which shockmount is it? I wonder if it is compatible with my MKE600. My finding is that the tiny shockmount that came with the Sennheiser, which in fact does not look any serious, is actually pretty effective.

[@iancraig]

Thanks Krisztian. The shockmount I use normally doesn’t come with the mic. Only the NTG5 comes with a mounting kit, but the one I use is a Rycote one. Not cheap but very good. I think the one in this video might actually be the Sennheiser/Rode one but normally I use the hand grip one from Rycote. I bought that one separately! The Rycote handgrip one fixes to stands and allows great movement whereas the one I used in this video doesn’t. It’s designed more for going on top of the camera. I have two of thos Rycote ones now because one came with the NTG5.

[@mikesmultimedia]

Hello. Thank you for a complete overview of the Rode NTG4/4+ microphone. I had an NTG3 and was willing to experiment with it using the appropriate XLR adapter cable to plug it into my Sennheiser G3 wireless transmitter/receiver system. However, I wasn't able to play with that configuration due to the NTG3's need to have phantom power to work. Therefore, seeing the NTG4+ does include a battery powered option, I would test it out using it with the G3 wireless transmitter / receiver to have the freedom (in the field) to run and gun without wires creating a trip hazard. So in short, the question regarding the NTG4+, and when using the appropriate XLR cable adapter (mic to Sennheiser Transmitter) setup, is the recorded Audio Quality acceptable given this setup?

[@iancraig]

Yes it works fine that way. My preference though is for the Sennheiser MKE600. Has less of a ‘chesty’ sound. I found the NTG4 a little bassy and prefer the more open sound of the Sennheiser.

[@mikesmultimedia]

@@iancraig Yes, I am looking at the MKE600 because it too has internal battery option to send it to my Sennheiser ew 100 G3 wireless system. I sold my NTG3 because it always required external phantom power creating a clunk issue when out and about in field. My current project is not very demanding (indoor interview format) but wanted to open up as many options as reasonable when considering a currently available mic. sure, a coupke of mics in the bag would be best, perhaps the rode video go II USBc for on camera running, but looks like Ill start from top down, with a MKE600, and later fill in lesser demanding mic needs wuth further expenditures. Problem with the USBc out I felt was connectivity issues when running longer cables on a boom perhaps, or otherwise. I still hav re variouse cables, shock mounts i used with the NTG3, so yes. looks like the MKE600 is a good fit.

[@lensmanonline]

Interesting stuff Ian, probably not the right Mic for me to put on top of My M50, but always enjoy these videos as I always learn something. Best wishes stay safe Jon

[@iancraig]

Sennheiser MKE600 works on top. It uses a battery to power it and I hope to compare them next week. Not only shotgun mics but great dialogue mics too.

[@FishFoodTV]

Thanks for the video, what would you choose Rode NTG4 vs Audio Technica AT875R ?

[@iancraig]

I haven’t used an AT875r but from what I’ve heard, it has quite high self noise, I think. The Rode NTG4 is a great choice. There’s also the NTG4+ which has a battery inside and can work without phantom power which is a great thing if tou want to just get up and running without a preamp providing phantom power. I would also consider the Sennheiser MKE600, which will also take a battery. Great sounding mic with just a bit less mid bass boost than the Rode. To me, Rode mics tend to sound a bit ‘chesty’. NTG4+ or MKE600 would be excellent for your fishing videos straight into camera if you wanted. They will hone in on you well in open space and being on camera, they’ll be away from flapping fish and water!

[@FishFoodTV]

I had the AT875R a few years ago and was very happy with it. Now I would like to buy a "shotgun" microphone again. I am thinking about NTG4 + and MKE600 because I could connect them directly to my Tascam DR-10X recorder and also to the camera right away - as you wrote. I must think it over. I watched your video about the comparison of MKE600 vs NTG4 and I liked Sennheiser better. Thank you very much for your answer and I send greetings from Poland.

[@trenthogan4212]

@Ian Craig Audio,Video, Reviews & Tips Can I plug the Rode NTG 4 (with an XLR to 3.5 adaptor) directly into my Sony ZV E10? I want to use it for streaming? I am not certain my Sony ZV E10 has sufficient phantom power. Sorry, I'm a newbie.

[@iancraig]

No. The mic needs 48v phantom power. One way around this is to use a battery operated power unit. There is one made by XVive and I use it all of the time with an NTG5.

[@trenthogan4212]

@@iancraig Thank you very much. I guess I could route it through an audio interface with phantom power and then come out of the interface to the camera *1/4 jack to 1/8 3.5 jack adaptor). This would also give me a lot more control.

[@iancraig]

Yes, that’s it. Short xlr to xlr lead from mic. Goes into XVive. On other side of XVive, a longer lead; xlr to 3.5mm plug straight into camera. Works really well.

[@trenthogan4212]

@@iancraig Perfect! Thank you kindly sir. Subbed

[@iancraig]

Thanks Trent.

[@UrbanCraftTv]

Awesome!

[@raleighnorton2891]

Thank you so much!

[@CalvinSerrao]

Can you connect the ntg4 to the camera to be used as a shotgun mic?

[@iancraig]

I think that there are two versions. One without battery and one with. The version with the battery will work but it’s a rather cumbersome setup. It might be better to look at more traditional ‘on camera’ mics. They give good sound, have a good shockmount system and aren’t so big.

[@CalvinSerrao]

@@iancraigGood to know! What mic would you recommend?

[@iancraig]

There are quite a few to choose from … Rode NTG, Rode Videomic Pro, Deity D4 or D3 Joby Wavo Quite a few shown on my channel and tbh, they are all pretty close. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKHXg4J9d7KSh7ssi=vJM9t4kQSzQw_5OD

[@aylekaful]

I bought rode m3 but is to quiet for my classical guitar. I am not sure if I want to try another rode. I have a big dillema.

[@iancraig]

Hi Eryka. That is really strange. The ntg3 and 5 are very sensitive mics and don’t need a lot of pushing from a preamp. More sensitive than the m3 but that should work ok tbh. I’m guessing that you’re placing it very close to the guitar? You will probably get more noise with the M3. Have you got a strong enough preamp or are you using battery power? Thomann sell the M3 and they have audio examples there. On of the examples is an acoustic guitar and that seems fine... www.thomann.de/gb/rode_m3_bundle.htm?sid=4d80531d3a248eb56671e79f4bb93152#bewertung

[@aylekaful]

@@iancraig I tried m-audio 2x2 and Berhinger U22 with phantom and with battery. I checked inside if there is everything ok with this -10 and -20 dB option and it is turned off. I tried Audacity, Cubase, etc. Works good with voice, but guitar is almost silent. It was like that from the beginning. I thought it is normal but now I can see in your videos it is not ;)

[@iancraig]

Exactly. I was wondering whether your mic has some kind of problem. It’s not the most sensitive of mics, but classical guitar should be ok. Almost sounds like it’s not powered up....

[@aylekaful]

@@iancraig yes, thank you for addressing this problem, I agree, something is wrong with power, it has no power. I will check it in service and if repairing is gonna be too expensive I think I'll buy AudioTechnica2031 :)

[@rigocornejo6003]

Asme about it, rode made cheap microphone that is why my next $1700 wento senny MKH416 and 2 mke 609

[@iancraig]

Just a slight difference in price. Some can’t afford that kind of money on a mic unfortunately so they have to make the best of what they can get. I hope you didn’t spend that kind of money for KZbin. 10 into 1700 is $170 per subscriber. More when you add the Senny. Now that’s an expensive channel.

[@rigocornejo6003]

10 years warranty that only last 10 months jajaja

[@iancraig]

I take it you’re very keen on Rode microphones then?