The 8 Best Boom Microphones | Musician Nerd
Updated on Dec 22, 2021
Boom microphones are audio devices attached to the end of a boom stand, often used in films as a method of getting the recording device close enough to a sound source without showing up in the frame. While referred to as a boom microphone, more often than not we’re actually talking about shotgun microphones at the end of the boom stand. The great thing about these mics is that they're usually cross-compatible with cameras, so many options on this list will be very versatile for filmmakers.
Having worked with many Boom Operators, the team here at Musician Nerd knows a lot about these microphones and are qualified to give you an educated buyers list. Whether you're new to the industry, or a veteran filmmaker, our list pertains to all budgets so that everyone can find the right choice here. Along with the features we love about each option, we'll go into detail about what they're best for so you can be confident in your final purchase.
We're going to run you through a list of our favorite boom microphones, and afterward, we'll discuss the purpose and use cases of these devices in further detail. Without further a due, we'll get right into it, starting with the more beginner-friendly option (and a hobbyist favorite), the Rode VideoMicPro!
The Best Boom Mics
Our Picks
- 1. Rode Video Mic Pro Best Overall
- 2. Rode NTG3B Best Runner Up
- 3. Audio-Technica ATR-6550 Best Budget Choice
- 4. Sennheiser MKH416-P48U3 Best Premium Choice
- 5. Deity V-Mic D3
- 6. Audio-Technica AT897
- 7. Deity S-Mic 2
- 8. Sennheiser MKH 60
1. Rode Video Mic Pro
The Rode VideoMic Pro is one of the most popular boom microphones on the market, offering state of the art quality at a reasonable cost. This shotgun microphone is designed for camcorders & DSLR Cameras, but also works great on the end of a boom pole.
Rode Video Mic Pro On Camera And Boom Microphone
The VideoMic Pro comes equipped with a Rycote Lyre shock mounting onboard, helping you maintain pristine and consistent audio quality despite the conditions your microphone is used in. The foam windscreen that gives it that "puffy" look will help protect your sound from weather factors as well as plosive sounds. Condenser microphones are very sensitive by nature, so we value every accessory that aids in protecting our sound.
Most importantly, the sound produced is what I would consider being professional quality. Offering a selectable high-pass filter, the VideoMic Pro can bring the low-end frequency response from 40Hz to 80Hz to prevent lower frequencies from coming in, such as air conditioners and traffic. The attenuation pads also give you the flexibility to record loud sound sources without compromising your audio.
For the price this boom microphone comes in at, I have to say it’s remarkable. I’ve worked with many similar microphones and have found most in the Rode series to be very impressive.
2. Rode NTG3B
As the second most expensive option on this list, the NTG3B makes for an absolutely incredible boom microphone, offering you best-in-class sound with intuitive engineering. Rode really excels at making mid-range microphones sound high-end, and as this one falls between $500 and $1000, it’s no surprise that it’s as good as it is.
Rode NTG3B Super Cardioid Shotgun Boom Microphone
The superior broadcast sound quality comes from several factors. The first is the high sensitivity, offering a deep, rich, and warm quality sound, tailored with the full frequency response. Professional quality relies on capturing the full picture of your sound, and the NTG3B does exactly that.
The low handling noise paired with the high level of immunity for radio frequency interference assures us that the only sound we're capturing is what's in front of the microphone. The durability of this mic also makes it perfect for use in any conditions, indoors or out.
If you’re going to spend over $500 on a boom microphone, you want to know that you’re getting the most for your money. The NTG3B is exactly that, and I would argue it’s worth even more than the asking price. Big fan of this one!
3. Audio-Technica ATR-6550
If you know much about Audio Technica as a brand, you will see that they do an incredible job in affordable and high-end markets. The ATR-6550 is no exception! The Audio-Technica ATR-6550 is by far the most affordable boom microphone on this list and offers the absolute best bang for your buck out of all the other competitors under $100.
Audio Technica ATR 6550 Boom Microphone
This super-cardioid condenser microphone offers a crisp intelligible pickup for both close and far range uses in your film. The boom microphone has multiple setting modes, known as "normal," which works great for close range, and then a "tele" mode for distant audio. This feature, combined with the price point, makes the ATR-6550 a solid choice for both a solo microphone and an additional microphone. If you're recording multiple sound sources at different ranges but have a set budget, you can buy numerous of these for the same price as a mid-range boom microphone.
The frequency response range on the ATR-6550 cuts off the low-end at 70Hz, which will reduce the number of rumbling noises you pick up, whether it's traffic or AC units. When used at long range, the polar pattern shifts from "cardioid" to "supercardioid," which is crucial at a distance. This feature helps the microphone focus on the specific sound source you're aimed at.
At the end of the day, it’s a very affordable microphone and so you shouldn’t expect the most high-end audio, but it’s certainly impressive. I’ve found it really easy to work with, and any beginner or even intermediate filmmaker will have a great time with this one.
4. Sennheiser MKH416-P48U3
Despite being last on the list, this is my favorite microphone and one I've used on many, many occasions. If you’re looking for one of the best boom microphones on the market, the Sennheiser MKH416 very well may be the choice for you.
Sennheiser MKH416 Shotgun Tube Boom Microphone
High-end condensers are very well known for their extremely low self-noise. This boom microphone is no exception, offering very low inherent self-noise with high sensitivity. If you're not aware of the interference tube principle, it gives the MKH416 increased directivity so that you can focus on picking up particular sound sources. When recording two people speaking at a table, for example, it will focus more on that and less on the surrounding tables.
A unique factor about the MKH416 is that it uses two microphone types, a pressure gradient transducer and an interference tube mic. We already mentioned how the latter provides the low self-noise, but this unique combination gives us a supercardioid pickup pattern at the lower & mid-range frequencies while transitioning to a lobar characteristic at the higher frequencies. This intuitive design is a real-time optimization of the way the microphone records your audio and is a single factor for why you should invest in this boom microphone.
Honestly, the MKH416 does everything you could ask for and does it all above and beyond any other microphone on this list. It’s an absolute beast and I could go on and on for days about why I love it. If you can invest the $1000, I couldn’t recommend anything better.
5. Deity V-Mic D3
If you’re looking for a microphone around $100, the Deity V-Mic D3 is by far the choice for you. This boom microphone utilizes a super-cardioid polar pattern, allowing it to pick up sound from the direction you're aiming at, which is exactly what we look for in the film space. Reduce the pickup from our surroundings and focus on what's in the frame!
Deity V-Mic D3 On Camera And Boom Microphone
Though very lightweight, the V-Mic is built with a durable & rugged aluminum construction design, allowing it to withstand even the harshest environments without weighing you down. Unlike other microphones that require 9V batteries, this boom microphone uses a single AAA battery with a quick-wake/mic-sleep energy-saving mode. If you've ever used a microphone that shuts off out of nowhere when the battery is drained, rest assured that this bad boy will give you a low battery indicator. But don't worry, your battery will last 100 hours.
I appreciate the V-Mic feature that uses a standard wide-range response, from 20Hz to 20kHz, similar to many studio microphones. This is typically the "sweet spot" for most recordings as it will pick up all of the audio you're looking for with incredible detail.
For a more affordable boom microphone, you can’t beat these features. I highly recommend giving this one a closer look if your budget caps around $100.
6. Audio-Technica AT897
The Audio-Technica AT897 is one of my favorite mid-range boom microphones, by far. From the quality of the sound to the rich features built-in, this choice has it all. Designed for video production and broadcasting, the AT897 works great as both an on-camera mic or boom microphone, able to withstand most environments.
Audio Technica AT897 Shotgun Boom Microphone On Stand
This mic is sized at just under one foot and is simple to work with while staying out of the video frame. The on-axis audio quality returns a smooth & natural recording, with professional-grade off-axis rejection. Protecting your audio from unwanted sounds is one of the biggest challenges with boom microphones. With a switchable low-frequency roll-off, you'll be able to take it a step further by blocking out ambient & mechanical noises.
The narrow acceptance angle makes the AT897 an excellent choice for long-distance recording, though it still works great close up. I've used this one on a boom on several occasions and on-camera and found it to be highly versatile.
If you want clear, professional sounding audio at a reasonable cost, this might be the right microphone for you.
7. Deity S-Mic 2
The Deity S-Mic 2 is an amazing boom microphone for under $500. When I work with beginners and intermediate video producers, I've found this one a popular choice. It comes in at a moderate price but offers excellent quality, from the sound to the physical build.
Deity S-Mic 2 Shotgun Boom Microphone
Utilizing an ultra-low off-axis correlation, the S-Mic 2 will give you that incredible broadcast sound with a linear response performance of 50Hz – 20kHz. It also works well in ambient settings, thanks to the 50Hz cut-off of the lower frequencies.
Just like others on this list, the S-Mic 2 uses a supercardioid pickup pattern for isolating the recording to where you’re aiming the boom microphone. This feature combined with the -18dB of off-axis rejection helps ensure you’re only recording what’s important to your production.
The physical protection of the microphone help withstand even the harshest environments, using a waterproof hard case with a rubber o-ring seal. The all-brass body with the computer-designed gold-coated circuitry board allows the mic to work in harmful weather environments.
It’s fair to say the S-Mic 2 has a lot of great features. I always recommend this to someone looking for a boom microphone under $500 because it really gives you a lot for this price point.
8. Sennheiser MKH 60
The MKH 60 offers some of the highest quality sound you could ever look for in a boom microphone. Just like the MKH416, it comes at a serious premium, but if you're looking for the best boom microphone on the market, it's going to well worth it for you.
Sennheiser MKH 60 Short Boom Microphone
So what separates the MKH 60 from the rest, allowing you to justify making this purchase? A lot of it comes down to the strength of directionality and lateral sound muting. When working with this boom mic, I can capture pristine audio from my sound source without picking up any of the backgrounds. From my experience, there's no drop in quality even at a distance, giving you a truly authentic sound even with those hard-to-get angles.
The MKH 60 uses a short interference tube with an RF condenser. Like other condensers, this offers low self-noise, but more importantly, this boom microphone has a solid immunity to moisture. It's so lightweight, durable & compact, making it the perfect mic to bring on the road with you.
So if you really want the best of the best, I strongly stand behind the MKH 60.
Best Boom Microphone Placement
The first thing you need to keep in mind when recording audio for film is how close the microphone is to the speaker’s mouth. In music, we often say "close, but not too close," but in film, that's probably not going to be an issue. So, we want to get that microphone as close to the speaker's mouth as we can. Thanks to the filming boom poles, this shouldn't be too challenging, depending on the number of angles being shot. For a single camera scene, you'll have a much easier time.
Adjusting Boom Microphone On Filming Set
While keeping the microphone out of the shot is common knowledge, other aspects less considered are the microphone & pole shadows. People like me get a kick out of finding little mistakes like that, so it's an important factor to consider. This is why we typically block the scene before filming. The general idea is to work out the details of each actors' movements throughout the scene. Preparing beforehand will help save a ton of time if you know every angle the camera will be capturing.
The last component to consider is the shock mount. I don't care how careful you think you are; we use shock mounts in studios where we're 100% confident nobody is going to bang into the microphone stand because vibrations will happen. Now, a boom stand that's handheld? Yeah, you need one! If you don't know already, shock mounts will absorb any vibrations or "shocks," keeping your audio clean.
Conclusion
I hope that you were able to find the best choice for you from our list. Our past experiences have taught us a lot about working with boom microphones, and our objective is to use that knowledge to help guide you towards the most educated purchase, regardless of your budget. You can also find the best microphone boom arm stands here, if needed.
We're always looking for feedback, so let us know what you think! If you've purchased a boom microphone from this list and are currently using it, let us know how that's working out for you! If you have any suggested options that you think this list is missing, we're always looking to expand our top choices. Let us know in the comments, and we'll be sure to check it out. Good luck!
Posted on Nov 24, 2020
Recording
Have questions for us? Email us at info@musiciannerd.com