Best Affordable Shotgun Mics

For 10 years I only had 1 mic (Sennheiser MKH416), which I used to record sound for 2 features and a number of shorts in a variety of situations. However, that mic cost me around £700. In this article I will look at the best alternative microphones, which you can get for less.

Shotgun microphones are for use in all kinds of audio recording situations, including radio, live music, speech and also in filmmaking.

The shotgun microphone design is setup to point directly at the sound source. In addition, as they are unidirectional microphones, they pick up a sound source directly in front of them well. They pick up the sound less well from the sides and rear.

And this is exactly what you need when trying to isolate the sound coming from a speaker’s mouth, as much as possible. Because, when shooting outside of a controlled environment (like a studio or sound stage), background noise is by far the biggest problem any sound recordist will face.

If you’re only going to buy one mic for filming (particularly narrative fiction), I suggest you make it a shotgun mic. With one of these, I have found I can record dialogue in almost every situation. However, this setup usually means you’ll probably need someone to hold a boom pole.

RØDE VideoMic Me

The RØDE VideoMic Me is small and could easily fit in your pocket. The mic clips onto the side of your smartphone and into the headphone socket with a mini jack. It also comes with a mini “dead cat” windshield.

As you would expect, the quality of the audio is “good enough”, in certain situations. Namely, when you are filming close to the subject. There’s some background hiss produced by the mic and the quality is a little thin (lacking bass frequencies). But this mic is roughly 1/20th of the cost of the Sennheiser MKH416, so…

Check Price RØDE VideoMic Me on Amazon

Marantz Professional Audio Scope SG-9P

Marantz has a new line of pro audio equipment worth looking at. Certainly, the SG-9P is a very decent shotgun mic at this price range. This model comes in 2 versions (long and short) with two selectable patterns: cardioid and super cardioid. The longer version should be more directional (the length of the barrel helps to focus the sound on what you’re aiming at).

This shotgun mic isn’t going to compete for sound quality against the more professional level mics. The audio level produced is low and some noise may occur when increasing the gain to get a good audio level. But as a starter shotgun mic for little cost, certainly worth looking at.

Requires 11 – 52V Phantom power for operation. (update: as of 15/9/2020 this mic has been discontinued by Marantz).

Check Price of SG-9P on Amazon

So if you really are on a tight budget, you might want to take a look at the Marantz Audio Scope SG-5BC, which is just about the cheapest shotgun mic available (whilst still producing a usable sound).

Audio Technica AT875R

Designed for video production and broadcast (ENG/EFP) audio acquisition. The AT875R is short in length (under 7″) while also providing the narrow acceptance angle desirable for long-distance sound pickup.

The mic requires phantom power as it doesn’t have a battery space. However, I always power my mic from my recorder (Zoom H4n, which is also used in the test below), so this won’t be a problem if you’re using one too.

For the price, this looks like a really great shotgun mic. I think if I had to purchase a low cost shotgun mic, this would be my personal choice.

Having checked a few online tests, the sound produced seems nice and rich. Often YouTube mic tests are set up in a vlogging situation, with the mic placed very close. However, this test below is closer to a “mic and boom” filmmaking situation.

Check Price of Audio Technica AT875R on Amazon

RØDE VideoMic Pro

As you can see, RØDE feature a lot in any budget filmmaker’s audio equipment list. They do an extensive range, cleverly covering all budgets.

The VideoMic Pro and Pro+ were designed to reside on top of your DSLR. But they can also be mounted to a boom pole. The mic sits on Rode’s signature Rycote Lyre suspension system. This soft plastic material works as a shock mount to reduce unwanted noise from various bumps and movements. This suspension system is said to be “fantastic”.

An additional high frequency boost mode helps bring out more detail in recordings, which can help with dialogue.

Check Price of RØDE VideoMic Pro on Amazon

Competition comes from the Shure VP83 LensHopper (used by Casey Neistat for DSLR mounted vlogging).

If you’re wanting to use any of these DSLR mounted mics on a boom, you’ll need to check how easy mounting is.

Check Price of Shure VP83 on Amazon

Azden SGM-250

“The SGM-250 was designed for video and filmmaking professionals to deliver broadcast quality sound at an affordable price. The all metal-alloy case provides rugged durability and strong resistance to RF. Its custom designed, slotted, acoustic barrel exhibits excellent super-cardioid directionality and side noise rejection.”

This mic has been compared to the RØDE NTG-2 (pretty much the same price). Note: the NTG-2 becomes 6db less sensitive when used on battery power, which translates to more noise. The Azden has the same sensitivity on battery or phantom. So the Azden wins out there.

One difference between the SGM-250/NTG-2 and the mics above (which are designed for DSLR mounting) – they are designed for boom mounting, so they have XLR sockets. Personally, I would always choose an XLR cable connected mic over a minijack connector.

Check Price of SGM-250 on Amazon

Aputure Deity S-Mic 2

Aputure Deity is a professional shotgun condenser microphone, offering good sound performance, high industrial standard components and a reliable tool for audio recording. Make sure to compare the price to their own online store.

The S-MIC 2 Shotgun Microphone from Deity Microphones features a supercardioid polar pattern, a low-noise floor, and an all-brass body with a gold-coated PCB (printed circuit board). Good for audio for video and interviews.

The sound quality from this mic is excellent, competing with the industry standards, like the Sennheiser MKH 416 and MKE 600.

The microphone has a water resistance level that allows it to work in the rain without being damaged. It’s powered with 24 or 48V phantom power and is equipped with a 3-pin XLR output connector.

Check Price of Deity S Mic 2 on Amazon

Check out the test here. Looks like a good mic:

Sennheiser MKE 600 Camcorder Shotgun

6 years ago, Sennheiser released the MKE 600, a shotgun microphone which captures clear sound from short distances. It’s the most affordable XLR-based shotgun microphone that Sennheiser has ever offered. However, its lower price doesn’t detract from its abilities as a high grade production tool.

The MKE 600 is short in length and lightweight. Added to that, it’s been designed to provide a very balanced, high caliber of sound with a directional pickup pattern.

Check Price of Sennheiser MKE 600 on Amazon

RØDE NTG-4 or NTG-4+

RØDE’s range of NTG shotgun mics have become very popular with filmmakers wanting to save a few $. Here we are talking about the NTG-4.

The only difference between the NTG-4 and the 4+ is a built-in Li-On battery which can be charged through microUSB cable, which gives 150 hours of battery life.

Both microphones are equipped with low-noise paths, assembled in a sturdy metal case. There are also conveniently placed controls for high-pass filter, -10dB pad and high frequency boost.

Rode NTG4 and NTG4+ are resistant to RF interference and virtually immune to humidity changes. This allows you to use them in all weather conditions.

Check Price of RØDE NTG-4 or NTG-4+ on Amazon

There’s a test here (in Russian but you’re just listening to the audio) where a guy switches between the 416 and the RØDE NTG-4+.

Read Next: Sound Recording on a Budget.

Eager to learn more?

Join our weekly newsletter featuring inspiring stories, no-budget filmmaking tips and comprehensive equipment reviews to help you turn your film projects into reality!





As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.