Which Boom Microphones Do I Use? 2020 Edition

In today’s episode, I tell you about all of the boom microphones I choose for indoor and outdoor dialogue recording for video and film. We cover several different price ranges and both shotgun and small diaphragm condenser microphones as well as camera-top shotgun mics.

Jump ahead:

00:27 Introduction

02:05 Camera-top Shotgun Microphones

08:50 Less than $300 USD XLR Shotgun Microphones

12:46 $300 - $599 USD XLR Shotgun Microphones

19:24 $600 USD+ Pro Level Shotgun Microphones

24:08 Indoor Boom Microphones

24:46 ~$100 USD Cardioid Boom Microphones

25:50 $200 - $499 USD Cardioid Boom Microphones

29:27 $500 USD+ Professional Cardioid Boom Microphones

36:37 Bonus - Matched Pair Stereo Microphones

37:43 Buying Advice

In-depth reviews of most of the microphones we cover here:

Takstar SGM-598

RODE VideoMic Pro+

DEITY V-Mic D3 Pro

RODE VideoMic NTG

RODE NTG2

RODE NTG4+

Azden SGM-250

Sony ECM-674

DEITY S-Mic 2

DEITY S-Mic 2S

Azden SGM-3500 & 3500L

RODE NTG5 (with samples from NTG3, Sennheiser MKH 416)

DPA 4017B (5 Shotgun Microphones)

Samson CO2

Oktava MK-012 (compared with other indoor Boom Microphones)

Comparison of Samson CO2, Audix SCX1HC, AKG Blueline & CK93, Audio Technica AT4053B, RODE NT5

Sennheiser MKH 50

Comparison of Sennheiser MKH 8050, Schoeps CMC641, and Audio Technica AT4053B

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

Takstar SGM-598 - Amazon

RODE VideoMic Pro+ - Amazon B&H

DEITY V-Mic D3 Pro - Amazon B&H

RODE VideoMic NTG - Amazon B&H

RODE NTG2 - Amazon B&H

RODE NTG4+ - Amazon B&H

Azden SGM-250 - Amazon B&H

Sony ECM-674 - Amazon B&H

DEITY S-Mic 2 - Amazon B&H

DEITY S-Mic 2S - Amazon B&H

Azden SGM-3500 - B&H

Azden SGM-3500L - B&H

RODE NTG5 - B&H

RODE NTG3 - Amazon B&H

Sennheiser MKH 416 - B&H

DPA 4017B - B&H

Samson CO2 (pair) - Amazon B&H

Oktava MK-012 - Amazon

Audix SCX1HC - Amazon B&H

AKG Blueline & CK93 - B&H

Audio Technica AT4053b - Amazon B&H

RODE NT5 - Amazon B&H

Sennheiser MKH 50 - Amazon B&H

Sennheiser MKH 8050 - Amazon B&H

Schoeps CMC641 - B&H

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2020 by Curtis Judd