Audio Technica ATR-55 Condenser Shotgun Microphone

• 2 condenser microphones in one
• Normal for close- and medium- distance recording, Tele for long-distance pickup
• Integrated 3ft. cable terminated with 3.5mm mini plug
• Designed for video use
• Camera-mount, pistol-grip/mike stand clamp, foam windscreen, battery and 1/4 phone plug adapter included

I recently purchased this microphone, hoping to improve the audio picked up by my Canon GL1's built-in microphone. The price was good, the reviews seemed to lean a little more on the positive side, so I decided to bite. I assumed quality of the audio would be better, that it would filter out surrounding noise more efficiently, and that it would make my videos sound more professional. It also may be of note, that I planned on using this mic with a lot of handheld camera work, which you may or may not do. Well, it seemed to offer little to no performance upgrade from the camera's mic. To be fair though, the GL1 doesn't offer a lot of control over audio levels, so your milage may vary.

CONS:

-This microphone will pick up camera noise if mounted on the camera. The included shoe accessory to mount on your camera is absolutely useless if you want clean audio. I recommend using a shock mount if you have one (or better yet, a seperate mic stand).

-Despite the fact it can be mounted to the camera, it is in no way made for handheld work. The slightest bump of the camera or mic, will register as a loud thud in recorded audio. Using the zoom on certain cameras will be out of the question because it picks zoom motor noise and the sound of you pressing the buttons.

-Normal mode makes the audio sound compressed and unnatural compared to my camera's microphone.

-Tele mode does amplify the incoming audio significantly, but unfortunately doesn't filter out much of the noise that a directional microphone should.

-Not a professional level mic, by any means. If you have a $1000+ camera, this will be the weak link in your production. The Mic built into your prosumer (not consumer) camera probably works better.

PROS:

-Slightly more directional than my camera's microphone.

-Tele mode works well if your trying to capture the sounds of something further away than your camera mic would normally pick up. But be prepared to clean up audio in post to get rid of possibly unwanted ambient noise.

-The mic makes voices sound a bit clearer, but only in close range (no more than 10 feet away).

-An improvement if you have a very poor quality mic, or no mic at all.

-The simple fact that the mic is not attached to your camera means that you can place the mic close to your subject, even if you can't get the camera close. You'll need an extra long cable, of course. Make sure to place the cable in an area where it will not be bumped, because the cord can pic up reverberations if it's disturbed.

If I could do it again, I would have saved a bit more money to get a nicer mic in the $100-$200 range. This mic is really designed for amateur use only, as it sounds nowhere near broadcast quality. If your looking for a good mic to mount on the camera for handheld work, a nicer XLR mic would be a better bet. If I would have thought about it, I would have checked Youtube before I bought the mic, as there are many tests using this mic vs. other video mics. I would recommend trying that site to hear actual audio tests of this mic, and various other mics that Amazon sellsbefore you make a purchase. Also note, that this is a mono mic, so you'll need a mono to stereo adaptor if you'd like to hear this mic in both L&R channels.

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I've rented the high end gear before (Seinheiser shotgun with full zeppelin setup) and I've got to say that this little mic is an odd little option that I like having in my bag of tricks for shooting movies.

It is VERY easy to use. I love the tonality in the 'standard' mode, though the range is quite low when compared to other high end mics. So, as a 'shotgun', the standard mode is pretty useless. However, it delivers a very rich and engaging tone and I find myself using this mic in 'standard' mode very often for regular vocal performances.

The 'tele' mode definitely extends the range...Quite a bit further than the high end mics in fact. The problem is that the overall sound can become a little thin. It definitely doesn't have the same warm quality as the standard mode. However, if you can't get a boom in close enough (and you don't have LAV's), the telescopic mode can really get you out of a jam.

Standard mode = great sound with good directionality, but poor range.

Tele mode = thin sound, good directionality, very good range.

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This is a great microphone. I bought it and tested all functions the same day. I am shooting some non-budget short movies and it comes in very handy. Very clean sound. Deep base and crisp high tone. The price is outstanding, I feel like I'm ripping off Audio-Technica. What a steal! I don't see any reason not giving it 5 stars. It does what it promises for so little money. My only wish is that the cable would be a little longer, but then it would loose on quality, because it's not an XLR connector. Who cares though, most camcorders don't come with XLR anyway (not mine). I say buy it, you won't regret it. It's gold for peanuts.

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While this microphone does give you decent sound quality and performance for a good price, they aren't built very well and don't last long. In September '06 I purchased ten of these microphones for teachers to use in their classroom with students. It's now May, and all but two have failed.

The problem is that the wire used for these is so thin and delicate that it breaks after only a few months of normal use/handling (rough use cuts that down to a few weeks). What's more, most electronics repair shops refuse to repair these because of the poor quality of the materials used. Azden makes a similar microphone for a few more dollars. I've had better luck with it, even though it appears to be made of only slightly better materials. As these break, I'm replacing them with the Azden SGM-X (about $110 new). So far, so good.

I tried to be as frugal as reasonably possible in my video spending (Canon ZR 800 cameras are doing OK so far...) but it appears that a decent shotgun microphone that you can expect to last for more than a year starts at around $110. Best of luck; not an expert in this area, so would appreciate any advice from those "in the know" for good mics to use with younger students. THX

If you can afford the Sennheiser MKE300 for about $170, buy it! (If money's tight and you're smart you'll get a cheaper camcorder and then get the better mic instead). The ATR-55, however, is a decent mic not great, but good, and a good value for the money. It's a bit long for smaller camcorders so be careful. Still, I've not found anything better in this price range.