Audio-Technica AT897 Line/Gradient Shotgun Condenser Microphone

This is an outstanding microphone for the money. I was using lavalier mics before I switched, and I have been very happy with the results. The audio is more clear, and the results are far more consistent over what I was getting with the lavaliers. Perfect for in studio use. I am sure you can do better, but this is a screaming bargain for the cost and worth every penny.

Clean, true sound. Great at reducing surrounding ambient noise, other than in front, of course. Excellent build and finish. All metal, yet very lightweight. Made in Japan. Comes in a nice case; way too big though. (Obviously one size case for all the longer shotgun mics) The nice thing is, you can cut out the foam in the extra space and put other small accessories and store it in the case. Even the mic stand adapter is quality construction. The supplied wind screen helps cut down moderate wind or close breathing noises but you will still need a deadcat or zepplin: For me, it is quite useful as a protective cushion for the mic more than a wind diffuser. In the similar price range: I have also used a few Rode shotgun mics and I think this AT has a slightly "cleaner, crisper" sound pickup than the Rodes, although not as sensitive at picking up sounds from far away, in comparison. In the higher price range: I have used Sennheiser and Sony, and to be honest, I don't notice much difference in audio quality or sensitivity with those that are 2X-3X more the price! Then again, I am not recording anything critical or scientific. Just human voices and ambient sounds. Listening through AT and Panasonic studio headphones on a Zoom H4.

Super clean professional shotgun mic. This is an XLR shotgun Microp that goes into an XLR audio recorder, like a Zoom XLR Audio Recorder or a Tascam X8 Portacapture or a Rode Rodecaster, not a camera. A lot of these negative reviewers don’t understand the basics that you can get from a YouTube video about setting up shotgun mics for videography.

Probably a five star microphone actually. I'm really happy. The only reason I gave it four stars is I don't have enough experience to compare it to the other options. It's not small, but not really very big either. I bought this and the Azden Universal Shock-mount Shotgun Microphone Holder ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EW1LLG/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00 ) with the GLS Audio 25 foot Mic Cable Patch Cords - XLR Male to XLR Female Black Microphone Cables - 25' Balanced Mike Snake Cord - Single ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JJQMD8/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i01 ) to capture cleaner interview vocals in a loud environment at the some time as getting the full sound on the H4n. No complaints, except that I should have bought two for full stereo input on the second set of channels. The case is nice, the recording level is good, the signal is clean. It takes a little more input gain (record level) than the normal onboard mic's but it's not problematic at all. If you want to mod the case foam, you can fit a couple more very small items in there, which I may do when I decide exactly what I'm going to be using regularly. In the case is a battery, the mic, the foam wind muff (not really effective for outdoors, you will need a good Dead Cat or similar), the mic stand holder, and a 5/8" to 3/8" threaded adapter. They all have their own little spot in the foam, so I take the battery out every time, for longer life. The Azden mic holder came with extra rubber gaskets (nice) and it holds the AT897 mic perfectly on the camera hot shoe. if your XLR cable is really light, or it doesn't exert too much force (don't let it hang freely without some kind of support), then it stay's nicely centered, and secure.

Great sound and good value

Love this mic for the price! It's my everyday goto in my VO booth

Great mic, I wanted a microphone I could use in Zoom, Teams, and Discord without it being in the view of my webcam. This worked perfectly and offers great sound quality!

I swapped out my keyboard for a quieter keyboard. I tweaked OBS settings, my Rhode microphone orientation, etc.. Computer mice are almost universally clicky. I couldn't find a quiet one. I was still getting mouse clicks, keyboard clicks, and my household AC/Heater fan noise. This microphone was the last thing I did/purchased to deliver clean recording audio and boy did it deliver! I now have 2 of these for recording stuff with a friend on OBS and my audio editing for voice is down to *nothing*. I still get the occasional mouse mouse and keyboard click, but it's not prominent and is, as best as I can describe it, a background noise - muffled. With all the tuning in my environment, this microphone was probably the easiest to implement as it immediately reduces anything not directly in front of the mic to background noise- to the point where I don't even mind hearing the occasional mouse or keyboard click. Plus, I sound *really* good. :)

Un microfono che supera le aspettative, ho girato un cortometraggio utilizzando questo microfono all'interno del Blimp e devo dire che sono rimasto molto soddisfatto, visto il prezzo non pensavo che restituisse una qualità audio del genere, lo consiglio.

Works well in the field.

Wow. Great mic, great price. Broadcast quality and works a charm with my Tascam field recorder.