Best Shotgun Microphones Under $200 Budget Reviews | What to expect?

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A professional microphone is the need for podcasts, interviews, dialogues, and filmmaking. To get more directional and crystal clear audio, you have to invest little bit. To make sure your investment is not going to vain, you must do some research. Here we have listed some best shotgun microphone under $200. This is a mid-range investment that will give you better outcomes.

List of best shotgun mics under $200

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS Check Price
Product 1 Best under $200
Rode VideoMic VIDEOMICR Shotgun Mic
  • Polar Pattern: Super cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 40Hz-20kHz
  • Power: 9V battery power
  • Weight: 12 ounces
  • Length: 12 inches
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Product 2 Line/Gradient Condenser
Audio-Technica AT875R Shotgun Mic
  • Polar Pattern: Line + Gradient
  • Frequency Response: 90Hz-20kHz
  • Power: 11-52V phantom power
  • Weight: 80 grams
  • Length: 6.8 inches
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Product 3 with Integral shock mount
Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Mic
  • Polar Pattern: Super-cardioid /
    Lobar
  • Frequency Response: 40Hz-20kHz
  • Power: 1 AAA battery
  • Weight: 2.08 ounces
  • Length: 5.12 inches
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Product 4 Stereo Shotgun Mic
Zoom SSH-6 Stereo Shotgun Mic
  • Polar Pattern: Hyperdirectional M
    + bi-directional S
  • Power: Phantom power
  • Weight: 7 ounces
  • Length: 8.7 inches
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Product 5 with Rycote Lyre Shockmount
Rode VideoMicPro VMPR Compact Directional Mic
  • Polar Pattern: Super-Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 40Hz-20KHZ
  • Power: Phantom power
  • Weight: 7 ounces
  • Length: 8.7 inches
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1. Rode VideoMic Camera Mount Shotgun Microphone:

Rode VideoMic Camera Mount Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Shock MountRode VideoMic is a perfect choice for studio recordings. If you want to buy a mic for your personal audio recorder or camera, it is better to try.

It also works best for interviews and dialogues. The super-cardioid polar pattern enables the microphone to record on-axis sounds while rejects ambient noises. The highly directional mic provides you with phenomenal audio. Be relax; it will not bother to record the background noises of fans, traffic, or birds chirping.

The Rycote Lyre shock mount detaches the mic from other external elements so that no vibration or handling noise can interrupt the recordings. The shock mount is constructed from heavy-duty thermoplastic that will never bend, sag, or wear out. So, that’s a low budget shotgun mic.

You can easily mount it on a boom pole or stand. The all-metallic shoe mount with 3/8 inch at the bottom makes the mounting on a boom pole and stand convenient.

The high pass filter at 80Hz would not record low-end noises like traffic, fan, and air conditioners.  Three-step PAD makes the recording of loud sounds possible like motorsport and live music.

The windshield is additionally available with the microphone that is quite a helpful tool in windy areas. The windshield protects the audio from wind noise, so the recorded sound remains crisp and clear.

What do we like?
  • Better for interviews and dialogue.
  • 9V battery power.
  • Rycote Lyre shock mount.
  • Two-step high pass filter.
What don’t we like?
  • Not for professional use.

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2. Audio-Technica AT875R Line/Gradient Shotgun Microphone:

Audio-Technica AT875R Line/Gradient Shotgun Condenser MicrophoneThose videographers who often work on distant sound recordings would enjoy using Audio-Technica AT875R. It is the best shotgun microphone under $200 because it is perfect for video production and broadcasting. Its performance is superb in indoor recordings like voiceovers.

The Audio-Technica is such a short length microphone especially made for compact cameras and DV camcorders. The narrow acceptance angle is ideal for picking up sounds from a distance. So, If you want to use this microphone for recording wildlife documentaries or interviews from a distance, try this one.

It excellently rejects the sounds coming from sides and rear while picks clear sound from the front of the mic. It doesn’t have an internal battery and relies on phantom power only. Plug it in the camera and let the camera provide it with power. It records natural, smooth, and incredible audio with the maximum rejection of off-axis noises.

Tailored response reduces the handling noises because such sounds can distort all your efforts. In fact, it records rich audio with a lot of clarity. It is not only used on camera but also can be mounted on a stand or boom pole. So, you can say that it is perfect for every type of use. With this price, it is such the best option for getting outclass audio for your videos and it is not less than any best shotgun microphone.

What do we like?
  • Shortest shotgun microphone fit for compact cameras.
  • Narrower pick up pattern.
  • Phantom powered.
  • Excellent sound rejection from sides and rear.
What don’t we like?
  • It doesn’t contain any cable for connecting it to the camera.

Check Price on Amazon

3. Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone:

Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone - Black, MKE 400 MicrophoneIf you are always concerned about the battery life of your microphone then Sennheiser MKE 400 is a fantastic option. Just one AAA battery delivers 300 hours of incredible performance.

It is a versatile, compact, and heavy-duty microphone specialized for superb audio results. It is also having lightning shoe mount, sturdy structure, and external mic input.

The whole metallic housing is perfect for fulfilling the everyday challenges of outdoor recordings. Sennheiser MKE 400 is a small but efficient microphone because, with lightning shoe mount and external microphone input, it fits with every camera. Due to its durability and securely fitting, you can take it anywhere for outdoor shootings.

You’ll experience superb noise rejection coming from the sides of the camera. It would be amazing for outdoor recordings where a lot of noises interrupt the desired sound. However, it is a small-sized microphone but can work in professional settings also.

It has a better frequency response from 4 Hz to 20k Hz and a super-cardioid lobar polar pattern. There is a button of volume with + and – sign at the side of the microphone. Select – option of volume for medium to more loud sounds and high input sensitivity cameras. The + sign of volume is for quiet and far off sound sources and for low input sensitivity cameras.

Along with volume is the on/off switch. When you drag the button to the very left side, it is the ON button for flat frequency response. If you push the button in mid, it is ON button for power on. And the right side is for off option, and it is desired for saving battery consumption.

What do we like?
  • Rejects noises coming from sides.
  • Switchable wind noise filter.
  • Switchable sensitivity.
  • 300 hours of battery life.
What don’t we like?
  • The windscreen doesn’t fit thoroughly to the mic.

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4. Zoom SSH-6 Stereo Shotgun Microphone Capsule:

Zoom SSH-6 Stereo Shotgun Microphone CapsuleWhy don’t we use the right microphone for our audio creations? Zoom SSH-6 is a novel microphone that allows interchanging of mic capsules according to the sound recording requirements. You can easily snap the capsules in no time. So, if you reach late at the recording studio and boss is getting angry, don’t worry, you’ll take no time to get start. That’s all because of this easy snap and fixing of capsules Zoom SSH-6 is famous.

It is a rich, warm, and much versatile microphone, and you can call it the best shotgun mic under $200. It’s so incredible at recording directional sounds; it gives more depth to sound and records fine details.

SSH-6 mid-side shotgun microphone is meant to record highly directional sounds while the bidirectional side-mic picks up audio from left and right clearly. If you are interested to record some interviews or dialogue, switch on only mid-side directional mic. When trying to add more dynamical sounds of surrounding or recording live music, then select side-mic. The Mid side mic is for H5 and H6 for handy recorders and Q8 for handy video recorders.

The analog-style gain control provides quicker input level settings. Adjust the settings from the front area of the microphone without any inconvenience.

It includes a hairy windshield to protect your recordings from wind noises in outdoor shootings. The windshield will never blow away with the fast wind because you can hook it up on the sides of the microphone.

What do we like?
  • Best for filmmaking and theater.
  • Side-mic and mid-mic.
  • Light-weight and easily mounted mic.
  • Super cardioid pick-up pattern.
What don’t we like?
  • Lacks shock mount in the box.

Check Price on Amazon

5. Rode VideoMicPro VMPR Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone:

Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone with Rycote Lyre ShockmountRode VideoMicPro is the best shotgun mic under $200. You can use it with your camcorders, cameras, and audio recorders for recording phenomenal audio.

The Rycote Lyre shock mount is such a fantastic tool for minimizing rumble and unwanted sounds.

It’s effortless to adjust the setting available at the rear of the microphone. You can see the power button, high-pass filter, and level controls there. The high-pass filter prevents low-end voices from recording. So, it will not record the sound of the fan, air conditioner, and traffic when you select the 80 Hz option in high pass filter.

When you are recording motorsports, music, dialogues, or interview, select -10dB level attenuation to record clear sounds. The other two options are 0dB and +20dB, which makes the audio recordings smooth and clear.

The shoe mount with 3/8 inches thread at the base is available with the microphone for convenient mounting on a boom pole. So, it’s up to you that whether you mount it on boom pole or camera, its fit for both.

Those microphones that don’t have a connector cable are of no use until you buy some wire for connecting it to the camera. The Rode VideoMicPro has a 3.5 mm mini-jack that connects the microphone to the camera in no time.

The single 9V battery keeps the microphone working for 70 hours. Then replace the battery for again setting back to work.

What do we like?
  • Two-stage high pass filter.
  • Super cardioid polar pattern.
  • Rycote Lyre shock mount.
  • Battery works for 70 hours.
What don’t we like?
  • Additional cables are required to connect with cameras lacking 3.5 mm mic input.

Check Price on Amazon

Summary:

Still Confused?
Have a look at quick suggestions for Best Shotgun Mic Under $200!

In conclusion, if you want to get the top quality shotgun mic for camera, then out no, 1 option, Rode VideoMic is good to buy. But is your sole purpose is interviews or boom usage, then we recommend Audio-Technica AT875R. Further you can check comparison table and read reviews and pick the best shotgun mic under $200, that suits your needs!

Read more: Different types of microphones

by Harry Olson
I am audio engineer by profession and worked with many renowned brands. I spend most of my life in audio technology. Testing different microphones and doing research on them is my passion. I am here to spread my knowledge with readers.

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