Rode NTG3

Do you want to get a microphone for your podcasts or YouTube videos ? Why not try the Rode NTG3 condenser microphone Far from being the best-known model from the Rode brand, the NTG3 nevertheless offers excellent sound quality both in the home studio and outdoors. To see more clearly, discover the complete test of this microphone.

Focus on the Rode microphone brand

Before diving into the NTG3 review, let's first focus on this brand. The NTG3 is arguably not Rode's most popular . All microphone enthusiasts have surely heard of the Rode NT USB , a USB microphone with formidable sound quality .

Please note that long before the release of this legendary microphone, Rode has already proven itself in terms of microphone quality . To be more precise, it was in 1960 that this Australian brand began to make itself known in the world of audio recording with the studio microphone .

Since then, many other microphones adorned with the Rode logo have equipped professional recording studios . These include the Rode NT5, the Rode NTG8, the Rode NT-SF1, the Rode K2, the Rode NTR… The list goes on. But in this article, we will focus on the Rode NTG3.

Rode NTG3 Microphone Overview

Just like the Rode NTG1 microphone or the Sennheiser MKH 416, the Rode NTG3 is a microphone also called a shotgun microphone or shotgun microphone . This type of microphone is so named because of their elongated body forming a cylinder, exactly like the barrel of a hunting rifle.

All microphones of this type belong to the condenser microphone family. They work on the same principle as ribbon microphones . Only, a moving coil acts as a metal ribbon.

Like a lavalier microphone, the NTG3 offers the advantage of being easy to install . You can attach it to the end of a pole or to the upper grille of a box depending on your needs. Furthermore, if you are not yet familiar with this type of microphone, know that it is not at all bulky.

Entirely made of metal, the body of this condenser microphone is rather robust. In terms of weight, it corresponds perfectly to the usual standards of shotgun microphones. It actually weighs 163 g .

As for accessories, the NTG3 comes in a small zippered storage bag that is very practical when traveling. Added to this is a weather-resistant aluminum cylinder. Enough to allow you to record more peacefully outside without fearing the weather conditions.

And that's not all ! The Rode NTG3 also comes with a foam windscreen which serves as protection when used outdoors . Not to mention, a microphone clip as well as a sturdy stand adapter to stabilize the microphone when recording in the studio.

Since this is a condenser microphone, a stable power source is required to operate it. In particular, you will need 48 V phantom power supplied by a mixer.

The Rode NTG3 and its supercardioid directivity

All shotgun microphones on the market are unidirectional . To be more precise, their directivity is either supercadioid or hypercadioid. The Rode NTG3 is no exception to this rule. Indeed, it displays a supercadioid directivity .

As a reminder, a cardioid microphone is designed to pick up the sound source in front of it (exactly like the AKG Lyra microphone ). As for microphones with supercadioid polar pattern, these are a variation of cardioid microphones . However, they have a narrower lobe. This allows them to focus the capture on one element. The rest of the environment is completely isolated.

A good shotgun microphone designed for multiple applications

The Rode NTG3 is suitable for a wide variety of uses. First of all, note that it can be suitable for both studio and outdoor . YouTube videos shot in a room or outside, voice-overs, short films, documentaries, interviews… The list goes on and on.

Due to its supercadioid directivity, the NTG3 is mainly used in the world of cinema and television. Its atypical polar pattern allows it to effectively control ambient noise. Moreover, this is why it is very practical if you want to record only the voice of an actor during a shoot.

Besides recording vocals, you can also rely on this mic to capture the sound of acoustic instruments . We can cite, among others, the acoustic guitar, the piano, the violin, or the harp.

standard Telefunken m80 microphone review guide . It is a dynamic microphone which has a supercardioid polar pattern. Discover through the link our complete test, as well as our opinion on this microphone.

Rode NTG3: a microphone with RF-bias polarization

The Rode NTG3 benefits from RF-bias polarization . A device that allows it to be used outdoors without fear of bad weather. Note that condenser microphones come in two categories: classic condenser electret condenser microphones .

The advantage of electret microphones is that they do not consume energy. They can work with both phantom power and an AA battery . This is particularly the case with the Rode NTG2. The only downside: they do not withstand unfavorable environmental conditions. Among other things, they tend to crack in humid environments.

With the NTG3 from Rode, you will not face this kind of problem. Indeed, this microphone is one of the classic condenser microphones just like the MKH 416 from Sennheiser , its main competitor. To polarize, this type of microphone requires an external electrical current supplied by a 48 V . Their main advantage lies in their resistance to humidity .

Furthermore, RF technology gives this microphone good stability under extreme temperatures. Also, it is less prone to interference with the audio signal, which is not the case with DC biased microphones.

unfavorable environmental conditions . In particular, you can shoot a documentary in very humid locations while still enjoying good audio quality .

Zoom on the sound quality of the Rode NTG3

The Rode NTG produces natural , soft and precise , whatever the sound source in front of it. It has very nice warmth compared to other shotgun microphones. Additionally, it reproduces high frequencies with clarity.

Already, without the windscreen, this microphone provides impressive performance. Using this device you will benefit from optimal recording quality . You will indeed see that the plosives will be greatly attenuated.

Thanks to its supercadioid directivity, this wireless microphone offers excellent off-axis rejection. This microphone also has radio frequency interference which allow it to eliminate parasitic noise caused by RF sources. These include WiFi networks, radio antennas and even power lines.

The Rode NTG3 has the same frequency response as the Sennheiser MKH 416, in this case between 40 Hz and 20,000 Hz . The same goes for the output impedance which is 25 Ohms .

Note that this microphone is sensitive to proximity effect . This means that if you move too close to the mic, the low frequencies will boost.

You will notice that this microphone delivers almost no background noise . In addition, you will certainly not face problems related to handling noise. In short, you will have impeccable audio quality using this microphone.

The technical characteristics of the Rode NTG3

• Type: Shotgun Condenser Microphone
• Acoustic principle: pressure gradient transducer
• Polar pattern: supercardioid
• Frequency response: 40 Hz – 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: – 30 Db re 21 Volts/Pascal (31.6 mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1 kHz
• Power supply type: 48 V
• Output impedance: 25 Ohms
• Maximum SPL: 130 dB (@ 1kHz, 1% THD at 1kOhm load)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 81 dB
• Weight: 163g
• Diameter: 19mm
• Length: 255mm

Our opinion on the Rode NTG3 microphone

Fan or not a fan of shotgun microphones, you will certainly be of the same opinion as me: the sound quality of the Rode NTG3 stands out from the rest. The rendering of this microphone has nothing to do with that of ordinary shotgun microphones.

I particularly like this condenser microphone because of the results it provides. Indeed, its ability to eliminate parasitic noise is impressive. What's more, it does a remarkable job of rejecting background noise. Additionally, you can use the foam windshield to reduce plosives. So, there is no longer any need to invest in a pop filter.

Suffice it to say that this shotgun microphone will certainly delight the most demanding producers in terms of sound quality.

And what about its versatility? Whether indoors or outdoors, you will not be disappointed with the performance of this microphone. It is a shotgun microphone that can be used outdoors without problem thanks in particular to its RF polarization. The aluminum cylinder provides additional protection against harsh weather conditions.

Here is a summary of the main advantages of the Rode NTG3 shotgun microphone:

• Versatility
• Exceptional sound quality (natural and precise sound, low background noise)
• Moisture resistance
• Good design quality
• Windscreen included

And to all these strong points of the NTG3 is added a very attractive quality-price ratio. It would be ideal for audio engineers who want to acquire a good condenser microphone without breaking the bank.

Rode NTG3 Demo

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