Best On-Camera Shotgun Mic Under $300
Investing in a decent shotgun mic is one of the best methods to ensure crisp audio and clear sound. When you swear at the camera, editing may sometimes eliminate some of the nastiness from a shotgun microphone.
Furthermore, the sound quality may be too soft or dim for the content you require. In certain cases, you should invest in a higher-end shotgun microphone.
You have a video camera and want to improve the sound quality of your web videos. However, a Shure, Sennheiser, or AKG microphone is out of your price range. For under $300, I’ve put together the greatest On-Camera Shotgun Mics. The majority of these mics will produce fantastic sounds. (However, it is up to you to make effective use of them.)
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Best On-Camera Shotgun Mic Under $300
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The Best Overall: RODE VideoMic NTG
The RODE VideoMic NTG is the best audio solution available today. It’s a broadcast-grade, feature-packed shotgun microphone built for on-camera use.
You’ll get the normal RODE ease-of-use and attachment, as well as some of the greatest sound quality currently available on the market, when you add the on-camera RODE VideoMic NTG. Digital tone controls, constantly variable gain, and concentrated directivity are also included, as well as a 30-hour USB-rechargeable battery.
While most cameras on the market today are improving their internal audio recording, mirrorless and DSLR cameras are still designed to take amazing photos and videos, not record audio, which is why you should invest in a directional on-camera shotgun microphone like the RODE VideoMic NTG for your professional audio recording needs.
The RODE VideoMic NTG is compatible with a wide range of cameras, including Canon DSLRs, Sony mirrorless cameras, and Panasonic, Fujifilm, and Blackmagic Design cameras.
The RODE VideoMic NTG is a real plug-and-play solution, allowing you to effortlessly mount it to the camera’s cold shoe, set everything to auto, and rest assured that it will handle just about any condition.
You may also use it as a shotgun microphone and operate it with your camera’s manual controls.
If you have a boom pole, you may attach the shotgun mic to it to get targeted and direct audio recording for narrative shorts or whatever filmmaking projects you’re working on at the time.
The one slight disadvantage of using the compact RODE VideoMic NTG is that it is the most costly on-camera microphone on this list, but it is still affordable when compared to higher-end shotgun mics.
Overall, this on-camera microphone is a terrific addition to any filmmaking gear because it gives excellent audio quality for a camera microphone.
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How I Chose This Selection Of On-Camera Shotgun Mic's Under $300
Aside from the RODE VideoMic NTG, the following on-camera shotgun mics are your best bets for capturing high-quality audio while on the move.
As previously stated, an attachable shotgun microphone cannot replace the use of an audio recorder with a boom pole arrangement or wireless lapel mics, but they are your most reliable options in a pinch or as a backup source of audio.
For my run-and-gun short film projects over the last year or so, I’ve utilized various on-camera mics under $300, and the brands included in this post are the best of the best in this price range.
If you’re searching for a cheap on-camera mic right now, any of the options on our list won’t let you down, and they’re a great addition to just about any film or video production employing a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Never rely on your camera’s built-in audio to capture the finest sound quality, so investing in one of these attachable shotgun mics that you can put in and start shooting is a tremendous help.
Best Reliable: RODE VideoMic Go
Even though the RODE VideoMic NTG is the best on-camera shotgun microphone for under $300, the RØDE VideoMic GO is an affordable option for those on a budget.
The VideoMic GO’s small and light design provides clear, sharp, directional audio with exceptional simplicity of use. Its small pickup area concentrates sound squarely in front of the microphone and decreases background noise, ensuring that your topic is free of distractions.
The Rycote Lyre shock mount protects your microphone from bumps and vibrations that could otherwise distort your audio. The Lyre is made of a single piece of tough thermoplastic that provides better acoustic suspension than standard elastic solutions and will never wear out, sag, or snap.
The VideoMic GO doesn’t have any difficult switches or settings, and it’s powered by your camera’s external microphone input, so you’ll never miss a spectacular photo.
While it doesn’t have the full-featured features of the RODE NTG, the RØDE VideoMic GO will not fail you if you’re searching for help with audio for online videos, vlogs, or as a backup for other audio sources.
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Best Value: RØDE VideoMicro
The RØDE VideoMicro is the next mic on our list of inexpensive on-camera microphones. The VideoMicro is a little microphone that enhances the sound quality of your videos.
When used with a variety of cameras, it has a high-quality cardioid condenser microphone capsule for excellent audio recordings. The VideoMicro is a directional microphone that eliminates distracting background noise and concentrates on the audio in front of the camera.
When recording inside, its pickup is more forgiving than RØDE’s other on-camera microphones, resulting in a more genuine sound. It’s ideal for capturing excellent audio to go along with captivating visuals. The microphone body is composed of aluminum and finished with RØDE’s high-grade ceramic anti-glare black coating, which provides excellent RF rejection.
A camera shoe mount with a Rycote Lyre shock mount is included with the VideoMicro.
The WS9 synthetic furry wind shield with foam inner cell is also provided, which is ideal for usage in outdoor circumstances where wind and ambient noise can interfere with recording.
The RØDE SC7, a TRS to TRRS connection that allows the VideoMicro to be used with smartphones to capture crystal clear, directional sound for video and video applications like Periscope, is an optional accessory.
While the VideoMicro may not capture audio at the same high quality as the NTG and may not be as stable as the GO, it may be the ideal size for mounting and pricing for those searching for the most cost-effective solution to their audio demands.
The VideoMicro is an excellent choice for any smartphone videographers or video journalists that need to record interviews while on the fly, frequently with just one hand free and a bag of gear in the other. It’s great for vlogging because you can easily turn it around and it takes up very little room when attached to your camera.
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Cheaper Alternative: Movo VXR10-PRO
It’s time to switch firms and focus on brands other than RØDE, as there are plenty of other fantastic brands competing in the audio and video industries today, including MOVO.
The Movo microphone brand has been around for a long time and is likely the most competitive and best alternative to any of the RØDE microphones described above. The Movo VXR10-PRO Shotgun microphone, which records high-quality audio and supports headphone monitoring on smartphones with third-party apps, is a less expensive alternative to the RØDE VideoMicro.
It produces sharper sounds than a normal directional microphone thanks to its very accurate super-cardioid. Furthermore, the Rycote Lyre shock mount virtually reduces smartphone or vlogging camera handling noise and vibrations.
This type of attachable shotgun mic is light enough for documentaries, vlogs, or online films that won’t be viewed on huge screens, as well as other quick-turnaround projects where better than internal audio is required but not high-end production audio.
Best All-in-One Mic: Shure VP83F Condenser Microphone w/ Integrated Flash Recording
Unless you’re digging mediocre audio, your DSLR or HD camera isn’t going to cut it. It’s also why the LensHopper VP83F exists. Get ultra-clean, accurate audio from a company with over a century of experience. For the ideal partner device, include integrated microSD card recording and up to 10 hours of capture time.
When video recording with DSLR cameras and camcorders, the VP83F is a tiny condenser shotgun microphone that lets you capture detailed, high-definition audio with ease. It can also be utilized with audio recorders on the go.
It has integrated flash recording for utmost convenience and to enable standalone operation. You may concurrently record onto the camera using a detachable coiled cable with a 3.5 mm gold-plated connection.
If you’re a vlogger or shoot in places you don’t have control over, you’ll almost certainly come across a ringing cell phone. Any interference that may bleed into the track is eliminated by the Shure VP83F filter.
You’ll appreciate our famed durability standards, which are packaged in a lightweight shotgun form with all-metal construction. Audio for use on the go has never sounded so good.
Summary
When it comes down to it, the best On-Camera Shotgun Mic for you is the one that matches your camera the best and works well for your shooting style and demands. The On-Camera Shotgun Microphones on this list will undoubtedly outperform the camera’s internal microphone, and isn’t that what we all want in high-quality videos: the greatest stereo sound?
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About the author: Trent (IMDB | Youtube) has spent 10+ years working on an assortment of film and television projects. He writes about his experiences to help (and amuse) others. If he’s not working, he’s either traveling, reading or writing about travel/film, or planning travel/film projects.
