Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone
The Audio Technica AT897 is a short shotgun condenser microphone designed for audio capturing in video and broadcast applications. The microphone's unobtrusive length of 11" (279.40mm) ensures that the microphone remains out of the frame when mounted on compact, consumer video cameras.
The microphone's narrow pick up pattern enhances signal reproduction when capturing audio at long range. Excellent off-axis sound rejection minimizes noise and ambiance, emphasizing the desired signal. A wide frequency response provides accurate sound reproduction of signals registering at various frequencies. A low-cut frequency switch eliminates noise and hum registering at the low frequency range. The microphone operates on a single 1.5v AA battery or 11V - 52V phantom power.
- Short Lightweight Design
- An unobtrusive length of 11" (279.40mm) ensures that the microphone remains out of the frame when mounted on compact, consumer video cameras.
- Excellent Noise Rejection
- The microphone's narrow pick up pattern is desirable for capturing audio signals at long range. Excellent off-axis sound rejection minimizes noise and ambiance, emphasizing the desired signal.
- Low Cut Filter Switch
- A low-cut frequency switch eliminates noise and hum registering at the low frequency range.
| Transducer | Condenser |
| Polar Pattern | Line + Gradient |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz to 20kHz |
| Dynamic Range (Typical) |
Phantom: 112 dB, 1kHz at Max. SPL Battery: 98 dB, 1 kHz at Max. SPL |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 77 dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa |
| Maximum Input Sound Level |
Phantom: 129 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. Battery: 115 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. |
| Power Requirements |
Phantom Power: 11 - 52V, 2 mA typical Battery Type: 1.5V AA/UM3 |
| Output Impedance |
Phantom: 200 ohms Battery: 300 ohms |
| Output Connectors | 3-pin XLR |
| Pad | No |
| Low Frequency Roll-Off | 80 Hz, 12 dB per octave |
| Dimensions | 10.98 x 0.83" (279 x 21.0mm) (Length x Diameter) |
| Weight | 5.1 oz (145 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 96 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
99%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Lightweight (76)
- Durable (62)
- Great sound quality (58)
- Simple use (41)
- Easy to use (32)
Cons
- Noisy (3)
Best Uses
- Professional (70)
- Productivity (24)
- Presentations (9)
- Den (5)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Tech savvy (58), Gearhead (23), Technically challenged (5)
- Primary use:
- Business (73), Personal (19)
Most Liked Positive Review
Great/Affordable shotgun mic - but...
A great bargain and very versatile. This mic can do virtually everything. You can mount it on a cam for run-and-gun, you can use it with a pistol grip or on a boom outdoors...Read complete review
A great bargain and very versatile. This mic can do virtually everything. You can mount it on a cam for run-and-gun, you can use it with a pistol grip or on a boom outdoors. You could use it under quiet indoor studio-like conditions. But it does have a glaring weakness - forget about it for indoor dialog booming in a lively/reverberant location. This is true of most interference tube or line gradient shotguns and not necessarily just this mic. Just keep in mind it cannot do everything. You'll be disappointed with that one use - the sound comes out tinny and hollow and with lots of echo. And the noise floor is a bit higher than I would like. For outdoor use you can't beat it for the price. Just be sure to use a zeppelin.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Good first shotgun.
While there are many better "shotgun" mikes this is excellent for the price(others cost as much as ten times the price!). For "fishpole" mounting w/shock-mount, ...Read complete review
While there are many better "shotgun" mikes this is excellent for the price(others cost as much as ten times the price!). For "fishpole" mounting w/shock-mount, or handheld, this is a great choice for use with a consumer video camera. Or with audio recorder for question-pickup at News Conferences. Remember: it as important to position to reject unwanted sound as it is to aim for the desired audio!
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 96 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
This is my 2nd purchase of AT897.
I've used Senheiser 416, 816, ME66, and AT839.
Obviously, it cannot beat 416 and 816. But it comes with the prices.
However, as a low-budget project producer, the quality of the sound is acceptable for the most of my customers.
If you compare with 416 back toi back, you can clearly hear the difference. AT897 is less clear in both high and low.
But it's acceptable quality for most people. If you're working on a low-budget project, Audio Technica Shotgun mic is the alternative to 416 and ME66.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Using a universal shock mount, I mount this SG to my DSLR while shooting video on a 60D. Sound quality is good and the length works out well for not getting in the frame while using a wide lens.
Not much else to say, it works as it should, doing a good job at isolating sound at the front of the lens.
The size does play a factor when the mic is set up on the top of the camera and you decide to shoot some stills. It gets in the way of your eye getting in on the viewfinder. Still possible, but a bit uncomfortable. Just plan ahead!
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
We use it primarily on canon xf100 video cam to record toasts or other speeches where lavalier mic is not an option and this mic delivers.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Film making, great sound pickup.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
I was looking for a mic that is robust, and has great sound, and this mic is exactly that! Whether you're doing a lot of run & gun shooting or filming in a controlled environment, this mic is a great option for the price!
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Den
- Presentations
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Home studio - and for VDSLR application. Solid construction - compared to other higher dollar shotgun mics this stacks up micely (I own a Rhode -very similar)
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Flimsy
Best Uses
- Productivity
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Been using this product for church productions and must say that it has a clean signal but seems to be not as strong as other microphones. Definitely need phantom power.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Great Sound Quality
Cons
- Shotguns are cumbersome
Best Uses
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Good quality microphone. Good pickup/rejection. I use this for improving the audio in my home videos. Ideally, I mount it on a telescoping, swinging boom arm so that I can move around a small area and tape and push the arm around to record. When I need to be mobile over a larger area (ie. taking my daughter to the zoo), my wife usually carries the mic on a pistol grip and I manage the camera. I also use this for recording voiceovers to the video or re-recording some key dialog that did not get picked up well to begin with (usually operator error). When I have no other option, I mount it to my camera. But when doing so, I never get the quality of audio that I am after (that is impossible) but it still beats the camera's onboard microphone. I wish I could use a lav in those situations but 2 year olds and lavs don't mix.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
i was monitoring audio while directing a small crew shoot and asked the cameraman to hold the headset while i talked to the talent.
i took 2 steps and he said "wow. this is xlnt."
then everybody else had to take a turn hearing it.
this was the first time this crew had used a boom mike (but not me) and we were all impressed.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
You get what you paid for. How could anyone ask for more?
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Good mic for mounting to camera or boom. I have no complaints. For the money, it's a good mic.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Beyond the excellent performance of this short shotgun, I bought this AT mic as the on-camera answer for my Canon 7D.... Which also works as a hand-held and wireless with a plug. For trade show interviews sound quality and run n' gun, its excellent. The Pearstone shockmount works well and very durable.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
I bought this in order to eliminate the use of the on-camera mic while shooting scenes for [@]I wanted to get rid of the noise when I'm moving around with the camera. I mounted it on my boom stand that holds my overhead mic and put a wireless transmitter on it.It works PERFECTLY. Great sound, no more "squeaking" noises when I'm changing positions with the camera and the volume is now consistent.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
- Too Long
Best Uses
- Productivity
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
For the price I couldn't beat it. It is a very good mic. I use it for weddings and have done three with it already. Very little background noise. Great for interviews and such.
Things I don't like is that it is a bit long. I don't see it in my camera, however if I put a windscreen on it then I see it in the camera. Which can be a problem. Not exactly what they say by unobtrusive length. Plus it isn't as loud as I thought it might be.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
We use this mic in a shock mount at the end of a long boom pole, as well as on a short shotgun handle. Any way you use this microphone, the quality is incredible. Truly a versatile mic. The unidirectionality (is that a word?) of this mic gives you great audio from the source being pointed at, while drastically cutting out unwanted background noise. We've used this mic in a noisy hotel/casino, out on a busy street with sirens, trucks & helicopters going, and we've been truly pleased with the audio we ended up with.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Very directional. I borrowed a friends last month and after that I had to get one for myself. For the price, you wont be disappointed.
A very handy little workhorse mic
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
Using for corporate video production. Works great[...]. Everything just as promised.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
mounted to camcorder it picks up well, even in a noisy room.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Outdoors
- Presentations
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
We do professional videos of our lighting products with customers in outdoor environments. This mic is great and serves the purpose perfectly.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Audio-Technica AT897 - Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone:
The only thing is we had to go to [...] and buy a 25 foot cable for this to hook it into the system.
- Primary use:
- Business
Displaying reviews 1-20
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- Price: $49.95
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- Original: $29.00
- Save: $2.90
- Price: $26.10
- GBP 16.66
Cases & Protection
- Price: $69.99
- GBP 44.69
What's in the Box
- AT897 Microphone
- AT8405 Stand Clamp
- AT8134 Windscreen
- AA Battery
- 5/8"-27 to 3/8"-16 Threaded Adapter
- Carry Case
- 1 Year Warranty
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