Rycote is a company with a heritage of over forty years, specializing in developing state-of-the-art microphone windshields and shock resistance products for field audio productions. Our own Johnnie Behiri met John House at Inter BEE 2019 in Japan. They talked about the Rycote “hand-made” production process and facilities, their specialty tools, individual manufacturing requests, sound quality, and real-life onset product performances. Let’s take a closer look! Rycote selection – image credit: cinema5D The Rycote Brand Rycote is a brand is now owned by the Vitec Group that holds many of the well-known brands of our industry such as SmallHD, Teradek, Sachtler, Vinten, Manfrotto, and OConnor. They acquired Rycote just over a year ago. Rycote’s production line is still in Stroud, Gloucestershire in the UK and its products are created hand-made, 1-by-1 testing their products directly with the microphones and audio-equipment, which they are designed to fit. Their products range from categories such as production sound, through news & sports broadcasting, to live & studio applications as well as on-camera sound solutions. They create everything from mini windjammers, via lavalier mic solutions, to slip-on systems like their “Super-Softie” or “Classic-Softie”, to all sorts of windshields and basket systems like their “Cyclone” as well as PCS Range and specialized systems. Rycote- Solutions (Examples) (Credits: Rycote) Special Applications & Individual Requirements In the video, Johnnie (cinema5D) and John (Rycote) show several of the products mentioned above and describe profound use-cases. They especially linger with a sizeable specialized project for the Japanese TV broadcaster NHK. Rycote has been creating custom-made solutions for the NHK Golf Course coverage with hundreds of Sennheiser microphones placed to cover events such as the Japan Open Golf event in Yokohama. If you want to learn more about fabrication solutions, material options, color choices to blend in with the natural environment of your productions, John House offers a great set of explanations and real-life examples within the video. He also goes on to explain on-camera solutions for DSLR and DSLM cameras, meant to support “one-person production crews”. The BBG Windshield is such a small-sized solution that offers the properties for wind attenuation of a full-size windshield. Rycote – BBG Windshield (Credits: Rycote) Since Rycote’s efforts always focus on actual utilization, their website helps professionals to search their specific products by application, by product, and by category. If you have less connection to these types of sound and audio gear, it is worth taking a look, even for educational purposes. Which products did interest you the most? Let us know, and please subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notices for future publications.

RØDE just announced the latest addition to their lineup of on-camera microphones: The RØDE VideoMic NTG. Both terms sound somewhat familiar, VideoMic for small, on-the-go mics, NTG for RØDE’s professional line of shotgun microphones. Well, the new VideoMic NTG aims to unite both concepts in one sleek product. The new RØDE VideoMic NTG. (image credit: RØDE) I personally own one of these tiny RØDE VideoMicro on-camera mics. Its performance is OK (in relation to its size) and I use it mostly for recording better scratch audio when deploying a gimbal. However, I just recently had to attach this mic to a smartphone and here I ran into issues: You need to adapt the TRS connector of the VideoMicro to a somewhat weirdly wired up TRRS plug so that the smartphone recognizes the mic as an audio input. I soldered that cable on my own but as you can imagine the result didn’t look very professional. If only I had this new RØDE VideoMic NTG handy, I wouldn’t have had this kind of problem, since it really solves many issues you might have with currently available on-camera mics. Plus it offers greatly improved audio performance, obviously. RØDE VideoMic NTG So what is special about this new microphone? As RØDE founder and Chairman Peter Freedman AM puts it: It’s in the name. The VideoMic NTG is a hybrid microphone that brings the signature broadcast-quality sound of our NTG shotgun range to a compact, feature-packed VideoMic. Since it bears NTG in its name, this new mic offers the same annular tube technology as the NTG5 shotgun microphone. According to RØDE, this design offers natural, uncoloured sound and high transparency. Along with the new mic, RØDE offers a new shock mount with cable management and sliding rail to balance the mic on the camera. The new shock mount is included when purchasing the VideoMic NTG. Image credit: RØDE It features an auto-sensing 3.5mm output, so it works seamlessly with both, cameras and smartphones. No frankensteined (or purchased) TRS-TRRS adapter needed. Furthermore, it features a USB output for connecting the VideoMic NTG directly to a computer (or tablet). When using that USB output the freed-up 3.5mm port can be used to plug in a headphone for monitoring. With both analog and digital outputs, it becomes very clear that this VideoMic NTG is more than just a microphone. It sports a build-in ADC (analog to digital converter), a variable gain control for everything from mic level to line level, a built-in preamp with a dB peak warning light and, in order to power all this, a 350mAh lithium-ion battery which lasts for 30+ hours. Polar Pattern and Frequency Response This is a classic supercardioid on-camera microphone, since it is meant to be used as a on-the-go shotgun mic. It uses the pressure gradient electret condenser principle to translate acoustic waves into electrical impulses. image credit: RØDE Here’s a list of acoustic specifications: Frequency Range: 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response: 35Hz – 18kHz ±3 dB Output Impedance: 10Ω Signal to Noise Ratio: 79 dBA Dynamic Range: 105dB SPL (A-weighted, as per IEC651) Equivalent Noise: 15dB SPL (A-weighted, as per IEC651) Sensitivity: -26 dB re 1V/Pa (50mV @ 94dB SPL) ± 1dB @ 1kHz Input SPL at 1% THD: 120dB SPL High Pass Filter Frequency: 75Hz, 150Hz image credit: RØDE And a list of general specifications: Battery Life: 30+ hours Battery Capacity: 350mAh Output Connection: 3.5mm auto-sensing (TRS <-> TRRS), USB-C Bit Depth: 24-bit Sample Rate: 48kHz Weight: 94g Dimensions: 21.6mm (diameter), 171mm (length) image credit: RØDE The VideoMic NTG offers an auto-on mode in which it will automatically power on once the host camera is switched on. That way, you don’t need to worry about battery life since the mic will also automatically power-off once you switch off the camera. battery life is 30+ hours and you can recharge it within 2 hours using the USB-C port. The correct output level can be dialed in using the gain control on the rear of the microphone. Pricing and Availability At time of writing this article, there’s no intel about pricing, unfortunately. I’ll update this article once the information is available. Same goes for availability. UPDATE: The VideoMic NTG will cost $249 US and shipping should start very soon. image credit: RØDE This new VideoMic NTG seems to be much more than just a microphone. Use it with a camera, or a smartphone, or a computer using USB. Your choice. All the built-in tech is here to help but you really don’t need to worry about it, it just works. 3.5mm auto-sensing, automatic power-switching, built-in preamp, headphone out when using USB-C, variable gain control, high-pass filter, built-in ADC. When reading this, it could be the description of a dedicated audio breakout box, but it’s just a microphone. Pretty neat, I’d say. Link: RØDE website What do you think? Could this be your next on-camera mic? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

RØDE just announced a new addition to their directional shotgun microphone NTG line – the NTG5. It is a lightweight (76g) and compact microphone (length is only 203mm), which features acoustic port design providing superior progressive wave interference, and broadcast-grade sound. New NTG5 microphone. Source: RØDE I believe the Australian audio company RØDE is quite familiar to most filmmakers. They have quite a few different lines of microphones and audio gear. One of them is the NTG – line of directional “shotgun” microphones. RØDE just announced the NTG5, which is the newest addition to the line. What are its features and specs? RØDE NTG5 Shotgun Microphone The first microphone in the NTG range, the NTG1 was released already in 2005. Since then RØDE kept innovating the mic and for instance, the NTG3 has gotten very popular. The NTG5 is the next step in the evolution of this range. The most noticeable innovation is the new body. The design has been completely overhauled, with circular acoustic ports replacing the linear slots found in other shotgun mics. New NTG5 microphone. Source: RØDE This new design is the result of acoustic testing during the development of the TF5 – RØDE’s new premium small diaphragm condenser mic. The TF5’s capsule features a unique perforated acoustic vent design. That’s why the NTG5 also has acoustic perforations employed along the length of the microphone. The result is acoustic transparency, and a natural, uncolored sound. That will sound superb in a wide variety of applications. The microphone offers tailored frequency response and very low self-noise of just 10dbA. It has a highly directional super-cardioid polar pattern and a smooth off-axis response. RF-bias technology and conformal coating ensure great performance in adverse weather conditions. The NTG5 is very lightweight at just 76g and quite short with 203mm. That makes it easier to handle on set than other shotgun mics, especially when used on a boom pole. It comes in a complete location recording kit with the new WS10 windshield, pistol grip, and other accessories. New NTG5 microphone with accessories. Source: RØDE Price and Availability RØDE NTG5 will be available soon. The retail price has been set to $499. We will update the article as soon as we get more information about the availability. What do you think about the new RØDE NTG5 microphone? Do you have experience with their other NTG microphones? How do you like it? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.

Providing compactness for on-camera microphones, the Azden SGM-250CX is designed around small DSLR and mirrorless cameras for run and gun shooting. Capturing high-quality on-camera sound when filming run-and-gun style as a single shooter can be a challenge. Azden aim to combat this with the SGM-250CX microphone, designed for on-camera use from DSLR and mirrorless cameras up to small production cameras. With size and performance in mind, the microphone barrel has been kept considerably short for an XLR shogun microphone, with a length of 153mm. It is powered via +48V phantom power and not from an internal battery, so it is recommended to use it with an on-camera audio device such as the Sony XLR-K2M or Panasonic DMW-XLR1E. The SGM-250CX connects via XLR, which is much more ideal for integrating into a professional sound solution than a mini jack. It also means the microphone can be used on video cameras with XLR inputs. Azden SGM-250CX – Tech Specs: Super-cardioid polar pattern 20Hz to 20KHz frequency response -33dB at 1KHz sensitivity +48V phantom power XLR connector The Azden SGM-250CX is available now, and at a reasonable price of $199.00 it certainly is an affordable solution for on-camera sound. Are you looking for a high quality on-camera and XLR microphone for your filming? Let us know in the comments.

The Aputure Deity is a shotgun condenser mic which comes at a very competitive price point, and seems to offer all the features you expect from a broadcast-grade mic. The Aputure Deity Shotgun Mic Aputure has entered yet another market, and this time the company is aiming at an industry legend: the Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic. In fact, if you’ve ever worked with a MKH416, you’ll notice the Aputure Deity actually looks quite similar. Watch the introduction video from Aputure below: This new microphone seems to be built like a tank: CNC machined from solid brass, it looks like it will be capable of taking quite a bit of beating while in use in the field. The whole unit is very rugged and even waterproof to a certain extent. The Aputure Deity works with a so-called supercardioid polar pattern, so it’s very directional. Any sounds coming from sources other than the one you’re poining the microphone at will be very low in volume, making it a perfect choice for shooting interviews, for example. Being a condenser microphone, the Aputure Deity needs 48V phantom power from the camera or recording device you’re using it with. The majority of available recorders do provide phantom power so this shouldn’t be a problem. In terms of features, the Aputure Deity is very close to its obvious competitor, the Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic. However, the Deity will set you back only a third of the cash required for a MKH 416. This microphone seems to be a very decent choice indeed. Let’s have a look at this review by Curtis Judd – however we can’t give our personal opinion about it until we have reviewed it ourselves, which we plan to do as soon as we get our hands on a review unit. Specifications and Availability Given its competitive price point and features, I think the Aputure Deity is well worth a closer look. It comes in two different kits: the basic kit contains the Deity itself, a basic mirophone clamp and a windshield, everything packed in a nice waterproof case. The Deity Location Kit extends the basic kit with a Rycote shockmount and a fluffy windscreen. Hyper Cardiod polar pattern Low inherent self-noise 130 dB SPL (@1kHz, 1% THD into 1 kΩ) No low-cut / hi-pass Good handling noise Rugged build quality and water resistance Dimensions: 19mm x 250mm (same as Sennheiser MKH 416) 24V or 48V phantom power is required The Aputure Deity is available now and the price is $359 for the basic kit and $429 for the location kit. You can read more about it on the Aputure Website. What is your favorite microphone in the field? Let us know in the comments below!

We thank our sponsor B&H who has made cinema5D’s news coverage of IBC 2012 possible. Get your gear through B&H to support this platform: www.bhphotovideo.com Here we’ve got a new and very nice looking shotgun mic by Sennheiser that was designed for use with small video cameras and HDSLR’s. Usually these mics are very tiny and lightweight, the previous generation MKE 400 comes to mind. The new MKE 600 is larger and heaver, but also looks a lot more serious and capable. This is a microphone people have been anticipating. While it’s not cheap it might deliver some very good sound. The sound pro’s in the forum (LINK) will have more to say on that point. The Sennheiser MKE 600 is $399: