Audio-Technica BP4029 (AT835ST) - Mic Shotgun Estéreo

Comments about Audio-Technica BP4029 (AT835ST) - Stereo Shotgun Condenser Microphone:

The package arrived only a week after the order. I thank for very quick shipment. This microphone is designed for outdoor recording, but I use it indoor also with video camera for the concert, etc. This microphone is very natural sound quality, and surprised the quality, when recording the distance of 50-80 feets in narrow mode in piano recital. I couldn't feel the distance and so clear sound.
This microphone is usable for a multi-use and look forward to outdoor indoor.

Comments about Audio-Technica BP4029 (AT835ST) - Stereo Shotgun Condenser Microphone:

I have a Rode Video Mic and a Sennheiser ME66 short shotgun mic. The BP4029 (AT835ST) is better than both of these mics put together... and then some. Why? Because it can be a mono short shotgun that is VERY loud and focused for its size (just a little longer than the Rode and much shorter than the ME66/K6). It is also a narrow and wide stereo mic AND it is also an M+S matrixed mic that can be easily separated into three channels (Middle and Left and Right) in post production audio editing software. Even with my handy Zoom H4N I can exploit mono, stereo and M+S recording with ease. M+S Matrixing allows you to balance a crowd in loud room with a single voice or a bird's chirping in a tree beside a babbling brook. If you shot with a DSLR and like to travel light, get this and a Zoom H4N - You'll be VERY happy!

Comments about Audio-Technica BP4029 (AT835ST) - Stereo Shotgun Condenser Microphone:

A good mid/side mic for the money (I just can't afford anything much more expensive). While I haven't really tried the canned L/R modes, the M/S mode is sensitive and works well when properly processed in something like Soundtrack or Logic after recording.

I use this as both an on-camera and boom-mounted mic outdoors and at events, and the results have been exactly what I was hoping for.

Comments about Audio-Technica BP4029 (AT835ST) - Stereo Shotgun Condenser Microphone:

I use this microphone to record in nature and I can see through the 3 settings very well the perfect sound. Until today, I noticed no wind or noise sensitivity. For me, the switch to use is a little bit difficult(too small).

Comments about Audio-Technica BP4029 (AT835ST) - Stereo Shotgun Condenser Microphone:

very directional, with good stereo presence and useful adjustability. Very quiet self noise.

Comments about Audio-Technica BP4029 (AT835ST) - Stereo Shotgun Condenser Microphone:

I use this mic on a Sony A1U HDV camcorder. If you know that camera you know that requires using the XLR set add-on. While this mic doesn't have the very best spec's (signal to noise, dynamic range) compared to other "professional" camera-mounting mics, the price and size make it a great fit for this camera. Audio Technica has a similarly priced stereo shotgun mic but it is several inches longer. This one already sticks out from the lens a couple inches, so that one, though better on paper via spec's, would be too large to be used practically (esp handheld) on a relatively smaller camcorder like the A1U.

There are other mic's from other manufacturers, again, with better spec's but at 2-3 times the price and usually with a larger form factor. While I have not done an A/B against other stereo shotgun mics, the built in mic pre's on the A1U XLR set aren't the most awesome (noisy at higher gain) and HDV only does 320kbps audio anyway, so I think it's well suited.

The built in M/S matrix modes are great to have. The are just what they say, narrow and wide stereo. When you have the time and ability to mix the audio later, the discrete M/S mode gives that flexibility as well. I had been looking for something that wasn't too expensive that offered this mixing feature, so it was a nice find.

It does not come with a 5-pin to 1/8" stereo plug like some other stereo (more "consumer" type) mics do. I am not sure if it would run off of 9V mic power on a camcorder (my cam' has this kind of input as well) even if you have the cable. I run 48V phantom power to it from the XLR inputs and it might work only on that. So, you might have to have a truly "pro" camcorder for this. XLR inputs seem to be a req'd feature to be called "pro" at least for the B&H and Sony classification.

The stereo image is quite god and playback on headphones is very life-like. For example, if your phone rings while recording something and you listen back on headphones, it can fool you and make you think it's ringing while listening to playback.

The only drawback I have noticed so far, and I think this is typical of external mic's mounted on camcorders, is that it is quite sensitive so if your program material is on the quiet side, the mic tends to pick up a little bit of the camera mechanical noise (tape heads, etc) and well as any hand held noises, adjustments, etc. On a tripod with a varizoom and louder program/ambient I don't think this would be an issue.

Overall a good fit for my camera and needs.