The boom microphone is an industry term, mostly used in film and television, for a microphone attached to the end of a long, extendable pole.
This is done so that audio can be recorded of a subject from a distance while the audio technician holding the boom mic is far away and not in the camera shot. They are usually considered the standard for audio recording, which sends people looking for the best ones.
However, different scenarios require different quality microphones, so the idea of the best boom microphone is hard to pin down. Still, here are five that might be the best for you:
5 of the Best Boom Microphones
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
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Rode NTG4+ |
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Comica CVM-VM20 |
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Audio-Technica AT897 |
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Rode NTG2 |
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ASUS C302CA-DHM4 |
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Rode NTG4+
This candite for best boom microphone has broadcast sound quality, low noise circuitry, and an internal rechargeable lithium battery that can last for over 150 hours of use and can be fully charged in under two hours.
While most of the reviews are positive, the ones that aren’t all seem to have the same problem of the audio quality not being as strong as they thought it would be.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Has a long battery life
- Comes with a ten-year warranty
Cons
- Some users reported that the sound recording quality, while good, is not as good as advertised.
Comica CVM-VM20
This boom microphone is designed to eliminate any and all background noise effectively. So that you can record the desired sound accurately and clearly. Built with a rechargeable Lithium-battery in it, this microphone can be used for 60 hours before needing to recharge. This microphone is built with two special low-cut filter modes (75dB. 150dB), allowing it to filter out the low-frequency noise, improving the sound quality.
The pros of this microphone are all that is listed above as well as it being compact and lightweight. It also comes with a visual battery level display, so you always know how much charge it has left. It is also the cheapest microphone on this list. The cons are, again, the amazon reviews are to be believed, that the windscreen it comes with isn’t that good and it would be best to get an after-market one.
It also seemed to be the consensus with the reviewers that the sound quality could be better but for the price you are paying with this microphone, it was perfect.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Comes with a visual battery level display, so you always know how much charge it has left.
- Cheapest microphone on this list
Cons
- There are some reports that the windscreen it comes with isn’t that good
Audio-Technica AT897
This microphone is designed specifically for video production and broadcast audio recording. It is designed with a short length to help ensure it will stay out of the camera shot without sacrificing the audio quality. The microphone provides a narrow acceptance angle that helps with strong quality in any long-distance sound recording.
Naturally, it also has incredible sound rejection from the sides and back. The audio itself is smooth and natural-sounding It also has a switchable low-frequency roll-off which is designed to help remove any ambient and mechanical noise from the audio recording. Lastly, it can be used on battery or phantom power.
The microphone itself has no power indicator on it so if you aren’t careful, the battery will drain and you won’t notice until it’s too late. Overall, the Audio-Technica AT897 seems to be a quality microphone that works as well as one would expect it to at its price point and the only drawbacks are cosmetic ones.
Pros
- All features listed above
- Also, all the amazon reviewers seemed pretty pleased with the microphone’s performance and the quality of the audio recorded.
Cons
- Should the amazon reviews be believed, that the case it comes in is pretty big and clunky and hard to store.
Rode NTG2
This microphone is a lightweight condenser shotgun microphone. It is designed for professional use within the film and television production industries. It has a full frequency response, low noise, and audio transparency which makes it an ideal choice for recording audio for everything from videos to voice-overs.
Additionally, its lightweight makes it ideal for use as a boom mic. It has a native 20Hz-20kHz frequency response and an 80Hz selectable high-pass filter. This microphone can be used with either its AA (1.5V) battery or a P48 phantom power, meaning it can also be powered by professional cameras, audio recorders, and power supplies.
It comes with a windshield to minimize light wind noise while recording. Lastly, this microphone is covered by R DE Microphones’ industry leading 10 year warranty.
However, according to the reviews, it seems that the Rode customer service tends to leave a lot to be desired, and getting a replacement through the warranty can be a hassle. Overall, this is a quality microphone if you want to roll the dice and see if you get it shipped to you correctly.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Comes with a windshield to minimize light wind noise while recording
- Full frequency response, low noise, and audio transparency
- Has a native 20Hz-20kHz frequency response and an 80Hz selectable high-pass filter
Cons
- According to a not insignificant number of Amazon reviewers, a con of these microphones is that they will be shipped to you broken or you will be shipped a completely different microphone that does not work as well.
Deity V-Mic D3 Pro
This microphone is built to record broadcast quality sound with a supercardioid polar pattern, meaning the audio recording is super directional.
It is all built to be ultra-lightweight, weighing only about 143g, and to be durable, with a uni-body aluminum build. It also has an internal rechargeable lithium battery that can power the microphone for over 50 hours of recording time. It’s also designed to be compatible with just about all cameras, recorders, smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
It also comes with an adjustable Rycote cold-shoe shock mount. Lastly, this microphone’s big selling point is that it comes with an analog gain knob. Overall, this is a quality microphone that has some reports of waning quality over time.
Pros
- Ultra light weight
- Durable with its aluminum build
- Comes with an adjustable Rycote cold-shoe shock mount
- It has analog gain knob, this is the only microphone on this list that has that.
Cons
- Should the amazon reviewers be believed that after heavy use, the microphone will start to dip in quality and will have heavy feedback in its audio recordings.
Buyer’s Guide
So, what is the best boom microphone? Which of the five is the best? Which boom microphone should you get? Well, the best boom microphone is whatever one is best for you. Whichever meets the needs you have. Whichever one is at a price point you can afford. But how do you know which is best for you?
Rode NTG4+
What is it that would make the Rode NTG4+ the best boom microphone for you? Well, right off the bat it is listed on amazon as being $324.90. which makes it the most expensive microphone on this list.
That is the price for just the microphone, it doesn’t take into account the price for any cables or a carrying case. So, if that is a price you can afford, that is a tick in its favor.
This microphone works great for, as amazon reviewers claim, recording podcasts (as it cuts out background noise), recording audio for DSLR video (the excellent off-axis rejection makes it really easy to edit out any unwanted sounds after the fact), filming interviews (the audio comes out sounding very clear and crisp in a controlled space like an interview room), and for films (as the microphone itself is slim, reducing the risk of it showing up in a shot).
Ultimately, the consensus seems to be that this microphone works great for filming films, documentaries, broadcasts, and even musical performances.
So, if in the end, all of the fits your personal needs and what you need from a boom microphone and the price is something you can afford to spend, then this may just be the best boom microphone for you.
Comica CVM-VM20
Again, right off the bat, you should know that this microphone is currently listed on amazon as costing $119.00 which makes it the cheapest option on this list. But what would make it the best boom microphone for you?
Well, as one amazon review says, its low price makes it a great cheap choice if you need to film multiple camera angles at the same time and need consistent audio quality on each shot Another great thing about this microphone, as claimed by an amazon reviewer, is that it comes with a convenient carrying case and cables so that you can connect it to either a proper digital camera or a phone.
It also records surprisingly good audio when you consider how much cheaper it is than other high-quality microphones. As it seems, the consensus from the reviewers on this microphone is that it is a great microphone of quality, that comes with handy accessories, and is far and away the best microphone you can get at this low of a price point.
So, is the Comica CVM-VM20 the best boom microphone for you? It is if you are looking for a standard microphone without many bells and whistles at a price that won’t break the bank. If that is what you want then this is the microphone for you.
Audio-Technica AT897
Again, right off the bat, you should know that this microphone is currently listed on amazon as costing 247.00, which makes it the third most expensive microphone on this list. But even with the price, it might just be the best boom microphone for you Multiple amazon reviewers hale this as a great microphone.
]They claim that it is perfect for recording audio in a place that might have a lot of background noise because it is designed to not pick up the background noise and only record the intended subject’s audio.
It also is boasted as having quality construction as everything down to the microphone stand adapter is crafted to perfection.
As it seems, the consensus from the many amazon reviewers on the Audio-Technica AT897 microphone is that it is a great microphone for recording one specific source of audio in an otherwise busy and loud location and is built and designed to last with expert craftmanship put into every part and detail of this microphone.
So, is the Audio-Technica AT897 the best boom microphone for you? It is if you are looking for a microphone that can do a great job of recording audio in a location that other microphones may be prone to picking up the background noise and you don’t mind paying a good amount of money for it. If that is what you are looking for then this is the microphone for you.
Rode NTG2
As with the other microphones it should be mentioned right at the start that Amazon lists this microphone as costing $268.00, which means that it is the second most expensive microphone on this list. But would it work best for you?
As a reminder, this is the microphone that had reports of it not working after being shipped to customers. Amazon reviewers who actually got what they ordered, said this microphone worked great for recording podcasts (as it wonderfully does not pick up most background noise), recording audio for DSLR video (the audio quality tremendously clear), filming interviews (the audio comes out sounding very clean and clear with the subject not being overpowered by any background noise), and for films (as previously mentioned, the audio quality is incredible).
Also, the microphone itself is very light and easy to carry, making it easy to get it around to wherever you need it to be. Ultimately, the consensus seems to be that this microphone works great for filming and recording all sorts of projects and is a perfect size and weight to get the job done.
So, is the Rode NTG2 the best boom microphone for you? Well, if all the above speaks to you and makes you want to get it. and the price is something that you can afford to spend, then this very well may be the best boom microphone for you.
Deity V-Mic D3 Pro
One last time, upfront, this microphone is listed on Amazon as costing $199.00. which means that it is the second cheapest microphone on this list. However, will it work for you? It has worked for some Amazon reviewers.
As they claim, there is +20 dB of stepless gain that can be controlled through a dial on the back end of the microphone, which allows you to get exactly the audio levels you want. There is also a high- pass/low-cut button with 75 and 150 Hz options.
This microphone has found a lot of success with the Amazon reviewers in recording people talking music playing straight from instruments, singing and ambient noises. In the end. the consensus with the reviewers is that it’s a great microphone for both filmmaking and location sound recording.
So, is the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro the best boom microphone for you? Well, it depends, is that gain knob something you need? Or something that you would even know how to use? Or be willing to learn?
If you do need it, want it or would be willing to learn how to use it, and the price of the microphone is something that you can afford to spend, then this very well may be the best boom microphone for you.
So, what is the best boom microphone? Which of the five is the best? Which boom microphone should you get? Well, the best boom microphone is whatever one is best for you. Whichever meets the needs you have.
Whichever one is at a price point you can afford. All that truly matters is that it is the boom microphone that you want. At the end of the day, it is your job as a consumer to look into all your options.
The best boom microphone for you might not even be one of the five on this list. There are many different options of boom microphones out there to choose from. It is up to you to look at as many as you want and look at all their features to see which one fits your needs best But. you also got to make sure you check the reviews.
Check the good ones to see what people liked about the microphones but also check the bad reviews as well to see what people didn’t like about the microphones. That way you know what might not work about the microphone and you can then make a decision on whether it is a con that would bother you or if you’d be able to handle it.
Then, you also have to check the prices, make sure that the microphone you want to get is one that you can afford. Ultimately, the best boom microphone for you is whatever microphone has the features you want, has pros you like and cons you can deal with and is within your price range.
Conclusion
Different scenarios require different quality microphones. Different people require different quality microphones. So the idea of the best boom microphone is hard to pin down. But with a little research, reflection on what you want from a microphone, and a good hard look at your bank account, you will be able to find the best boom microphone for you.