THIS IS A REPOST. Thanks to some careful listeners, we found an issue where the audio clips were aligned with the incorrect video clips in the audio samples section. It turns out that Final Cut Pro X has trouble with poly wave files. You can also listen to the original uncompressed wav audio files at drive.google.com/open?id=1AcgIeUcGtI5EZY2vd_kEBO-E8ibzZP7g Index: 0:21 Intro 0:45 Indoor NTG5,NTG3, MKH 416, S-Mic 2S Samples 3:55 RF-bias advantages 5:01 Build quality & size 5:34 RF Immunity/wireless interference 6:01 Polar pattern 6:28 Outdoor samples 7:41 Polar pattern/isolation samples 9:34 Isolation analysis - how good is each mic and rejecting off-axis sound 12:26 Practical noise performance 13:35 Handling noise & Shockmount 14:45 Fur cover and wind 15:04 Accessories 15:21 Should I upgrade? 17:11 Cons 18:34 Summary
@@curtisjudd I consider Resolve to be an extremely versatile, reliable and professional toolset. Fairlight... it's coming along! Each update brings about big improvements.
I've been narrating voice over and audiobooks for the past seven years and for the past two years I've been using the ntg 5... never thought I would switch from using the microphone that I was using, but I'm glad I did the ntg5 is just plain gold!... not only does it sound good right out of the box oh, but it is also crazy easy to manipulate with EQ Etc.
I bought the Zoom F3 and this Rode NTG5. I think I've made a good investment after watching your videos ;) By the way a fantastic channel, greetings from Spain.
@ I just bought RØDE NTG3 with RØDE boom pole and RØDE blimp, I’m an independent Director/DP, owner operator, some documentary clients and producers for indie films requested a boom mic so I made research and responded accordingly, thank you for helping me take that decision.
Thank you Curtis, this was very clear and helpful, (as always!) I have been struggling with this choice for quite a while and your demonstration really helped nail things down. I live in the rainforest in southern coastal B.C., so the fact that the NTG5 can handle humidity is really good to know. Best wishes!
Diligent and thorough as always, thanks Curtis. Q: for my channel, which is a female voice and often inside without sound treatment, would you steer towards the NTG3 over the NTG5?
At 0.55 audio comparison ... NTG3 sounds crispier (better to my taste) than NTG5. (Listened with my High Fidelity headphones.) Thank you Curtis and the rest of the team , for the time you put ... to present all this amount of information.
Thankyou for your reviews, they’re always thought provoking. One area not really covered that’s been an issue is reliability. I work in news gathering and have predominantly used 416s and 816s before that, for all their faults they are really tough and reliable where as I have had an array of Rode mics and while they sound great they all failed the reliability test .
Yes, good insight, thanks for bringing that up. In my work, we don’t go out in the field much so I don’t have as much insight to share there. Your insights on that are valuable. 👍
Great review as usual. Thanks for addressing not only the off-axis sound, but the signal/impedance and handling noise, which few people often do on reviews. Looks like this mic may finally set a new size/performance standard for others to chase, and a price point that can't be beat. Also, I like your rougher, 2-day unshaven look. Looks much more like a location sound guy now. :D
Great review as always, Curtis. Thanks for putting all the work into it! Thought something felt off in the first one but figured it was just me haha! I’m loving the NTG5. I shot a few interviews this week with it and I’m loving it more and more each time I use it.
Thank you for including the bit of info about rf-bias vs dc-bias humidity considerations. I'm in a rain forest and trying to figure out if my Audio Techica AT85R is the reason the beginning of my sentences are staticky. It doesn't say if it's RF anything on their site.
Great review Curtis and awesome mics... I'm sticking with my ntg4+ for now and my new baby zoom f6 and couldn't be happier with the results I'm getting for my needs.
Great vid as again as usual! I actually want _some_ off-axis pickup in case I may do a little side-to-side body movement, or even approach the chair from off-frame as part of Intro. Thanks again Curtis.
still looking at ntg3/5 for dialogue, i have a mid level tone voice not too much bass, deffo more higher its mainly for dialogue / streaming. i did look at the 416 but sadly due to it being infamous the price has gone up. my room is treated acoustically
@@RathOXI think the NTG5 is more neutral sounding and the NTG3 is bassier. They’re all fine mics. But If you want the 416 sound, then the NTG3 is probably a better choice.
I think you're selling yourself short in terms of the title of this video. You should mention the other mics you are comparing with, both for SEO and so people interested in them can benefit from your experential wisdom.. I got lots of good info about all of those mics from this, because you're always so thorough and provide such practical results. Thank you!
Do you think the NTG5 would be the best mic for talking head TH-cam videos in a treated 13x9 room? (On boom pole, above head, just out of shot). If not, what would you choose? (MKH 50?)? I have a baritone voice. Thanks!
Stellar review! @17:35 you mention that this is really not for on-camera sound. Could you elaborate please? I have used this mic on my C300 and I think the NTG5 is far too sensitive, with lots of handling noise. Perhaps I need a better shock mount? Or maybe, as you imply, this just isn't a good choice for on-camera recording?
I just didn't want people to think that buying a $500 mic and mounting it to camera would result in the type of sound we usually hear in movies. Yes, you probably need a shock mount like those made by Rycote. Best wishes!
Very helpful, thank you. I’m sure you already know but if you add 0:00 at the beginning of your time index it will add chapters to your video. Thanks again, this was helpful in my research and purchase decision.
Hello Curtis, thanks for the repost. I'm afraid there's still issues with the audio, as the sound at 1:52 sounds like the high frequencies were dampened with an EQ. I downloaded the files from the google drive, and its a totally different sound. Don't know what's going on with Final Cut, or if its something with TH-cam, but its weird. Can you please help double check? NTG5 should sound very very similar to NTG3, and they sound very different here (not in the source files) 1:40 vs 1:52
Thanks for checking. Please rely on the wave files for making any critical decisions. I will devote as much time as I can but I suspect there are multiple factors including FCPX and TH-cam, some of which we may not have the power to solve. My day job employer also wants me focused on my day job. 😜
@@TheVedicWayChannel Oh wow, good question. I'm only aware of the RODE NTG3, 5, & 8 as well as the Sennheiser MKH series. There are probably others, I'm just not familiar with them. Thanks!
Great review! Since I own an NTG3, I’m going to pretend like I don’t need it, knowing I’ll get it anyway. Rode is really putting out some great stuff this year.
Thank you for this review! I wonder if the ntg5 could be eq'd to sound more like the ntg3 because the broadcast vocal sound of the ntg3 for controlled environments sounds great, but during the outdoor segment the ntg5 blew the ntg3 away! :)
@@nealpobrien Shotgun mikes are desinged for outdoor boompole scenario. Just the NTG5 is shorter mike so must be positioned closer to the speaking person. NTG3 excells outdoors when you can place it some more cm further away from the speaking person and record nice sounding voice. For indoors dont use shotgun microphone - use pencil mic.Moreover my impression is that with NTG5 Rode brand wants to make shotgun mike but universal - for outdoor/indoor which is nice but impossible to have the best of both worlds. So its a shotgun mike, but a short shotgun. Thats why is sounds thin outdoors when record voice further than 30-40 cm.
@@curtisjudd do you have comparison of videomic ntg vs 416 or ntg3? i just want to see the isolation/polar pattern of the videomic ntg. or can i get your suggestion? currently i only use videomicro for my video. and now i interest to buy videomic ntg, because the price is half of ntg 3/ntg 5. what do you think? better i go buy videomic ntg? or wait until my budget is enough to buy ntg 3 or ntg 5?
I was looking for the best option to upgrade from rode videomic pro and I stumbled across your channel. Great review! Awesome production quality in your videos! I'm totally subscribing and buying myself a ntg5 right after!
Excellent review and great job showing all the in use and technical comparisons. I think I much prefer the more natural sounding NTG5 for online video and everyday purposes, especially if buying a microphone for the first time. The NTG3 has great sound, although the lower bass seems more useful for broadcasting as you were discussing. Thank you for sharing! I'll be getting the NTG5.
Curtis Judd If we have the NTG5 close range within 1-2 feet, would the sound be decent enough to not have to do extensive soundproofing if say we were operating in a garage?
Finally got my copy. Thank you Curtis for your reviews. It made selecting the NTG5 easy. It was further delayed due to the covid-19 pandemic but it’s home. Any in depth material you can recommend how to professionally this microphone will be high appreciated. Thanks
@@curtisjudd awesome! Will check it out. Please extent discount. Hahaha. Now the next selection between the Zoom F Series and Mix Pre series begins. Will be upgrading from zoom H6. But for now I will explore the H6 + NTG5.
@@hbl_channel Not to worry, we have everyday very low prices! LOL! I think you'll be able to make some great recordings with the H6 - NTG5 combo. Happy recording!
Great review Curtis. The great about Rode is that now that they are faced with the major competition from deity , they have produced a mic that will definitely disrupt the current dominance of audio review on TH-cam. Will be getting the NTG3 for Run & Gun on camera audio and keep my NTG3 for external audio with my Zoom F4. Love rode gear .
I have an NTG2 and would like to upgrade, just not sure if I can get by with the shorter model "VideoMic NTG" which they say is similar to the NTG5. I'll be waiting on that video comparison to make a final decision. Once again thank you for your time and great video content!
Hi David, the VideoMic NTG is similar to the NTG5 only in that it has the circular hole interference tube design. Where they differ is that the VM NTG is a DC bias mic with a 3.5mm output while the NTG5 is an RF bias mic (this is the least expensive RF-bias mic of which I am aware) and has a balanced XLR output. You can evidently adapt the VM NTG to XLR though I'm not sure yet whether it has a balanced output which dictates how long a cable you can use. I'll do a review of the VM NTG as soon as I can get a copy.
@@curtisjudd I cant wait, I love your detailed reviews! Curious how the 3.5 connection will do against the XLR, does XLR still have a huge advantage in audio these days?
@@Dubi00 The question is whether the VideoMic NTG's 3.5mm output is balanced or not. That still very much makes a difference in how long you can run a cable. Balanced is still superior for longer cables such as when booming the mic.
I really like the NTG5. I do have the NTG3 which is almost only used for sound effects, foley and stuff like that. i like the big bottom end i get out of the sounds using that mic. I use the 416 for dialog (aswell as the audio technica 4053b). And i am super happy with these mics. Not really sure which one i would trade for the NTG5 tho. It seems to be placed awkwardly in the middle of the 416 and the NTG3, but probably incapable of delivering the best of both worlds!
The Sennheiser MKH-416 still sounds the best imo. The transients, that airy open sound sounds so natural and real. Even better then the real source I would think!
Question for Mr. Judd or other owners of this mike... Is the shock mount that comes with this mike a standard RØDE shock mount and do you happen to know what other wind protection solutions it works with, in particular solutions that offer more protection than the fur cover that comes with the mike?
PG2-R, rode rycote pistol grip. There’s no listed blimp applications for it. Rode blimp includes a similar but different grip made specifically for mounting the blimp.
Thanks this was great. My challenge….. I have a naturally deep and resonnt voice… and while I like my NTG3… it accentuates those lower frequencies and I have to EQ the heck out it to improve clarity. The NTG5, being slightly brighter may be worth a look.
Curtis, why does the NTG3 sound so harshly strange in the outdoor sample? I am owning three of them and they never sounded like that when used outside... In your indoor samples the NTG3 and NTG5 sounded much more similar.
Thanks for the great review, I'm getting into location sound and your video's are off great help! I'm considering the ntg5 but the windscreen worries me a bit, I don't wanna tel a client 'sorry we can't record here because of the wind' unless the conditions are exceptional. I think (please correct me if I'm wrong) going for a rycote super shield kit with either a mke600 or AT 895 would be a safer bet. Also the super shield is gonna stay useful later if I upgrade to a better mic. your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
I would think of wind protection in the form of something like the super shield to be something you’ll need regardless of the mic you choose. If you’re saying that your budget cannot afford the NTG5 and supershield then yes, I’d go with one of the other mics and a supershield for now.
grate video as usual dear Chrtis. I am planing to up my game and move from a lav system + zoom H6 to a shot gun mic to save post time. I am on a 250$ max budget and all use will be in my studio. so I need your advice on what shot gun mic to go for that would give me grate results. I am getting the Beachtek DXA-MICRO PRO Audio Adapter that ill use with my Canon D80. thanks in advance and keep up the good work.
@@curtisjudd thanks for your reply. well mostly I get interference in which I think is due to a bad cable but mostly its not convenient for me as it limits my movement and it always fall or show in the video. I was thinking of getting the Rode NTG2 but not sure about it. what budget should be better as a step up in quality ?
@@banderal-ali5066 Hi Bander, I think you'll see the biggest improvement in quality when you get to the DEITY S-Mic 2 range which is around $350 USD. You can hear it in this video compared to the other much more expensive mics and it sounds quite good.
@@curtisjudd just curious about the DEITY S-Mic 2s as its cheaper and I will be recording only indoors (my room). will it be a good option as i just found about about sound garbling that may occur with long mics. I have decided on either the DEITY S-Mic 2 or the 2s.
Yes but it isn’t really the same type of microphone as the NTG5, designed for a different set of use cases like camera-top on consumer cameras. Even though RODE says you can use the VideoMic NTG on a boom pole, I wouldn’t recommend that if the goal is to always use the mic on a boom. It doesn’t have a balanced output which you normally want when working on a boom.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the reply. I'm waiting to get one anyway after you've made a review so I can do it through your referral link, and also to know the pros/cons.
I'm wanting to buy this mic and the zoom h4n. I'm still not sure what kind of boom pole I should buy though.. Any suggestions on what boom poles will go well with this mic? Something under $200 preferably :)
Hi, how would you compare this to your AT4053B for indoor dialogue. I kind of want tos tick to pencil condenser as will be upgrading from an okatva mk012 but the at is harder to find at current in UK Vs the ntg5.
Great video and great channel - thank you. I have a couple of late questions of NTG3 vs NTG5: Firstly, most of the discussion on the NTG3 focuses on the extended bass response, and that it is great when wanted but that is not always the case. To what extent could the high pass filter on something like a MixPre be used to reduce that response on the occasions when it is not needed? Secondly, what about the high frequencies? Both mics have a boost but from the specs, it is looks more pronounced on the NTG5. Does this lead to an increase in sibilance? it isn't always apparent but that seems voice dependant.
Hi Piers, yes, you could use the MixPre's HPF to tame the bass response on the NTG3, and also in post. I didn't notice a huge difference on my voice in these samples in the higher frequencies.
NTG3 is the mic you may place further away from the speaking person and still have good souding voice. Very useful if you want a little bit wider frame. With shorter mic which is NTG5 it is necessary to place the mic closer to have comparable sounding voice. Thats why one still needs to pay more coins to purchase NTG3 in 2024.
Another great video, thank you. You mention in one of your videos that the Rode NTG5 does not have a high pass filter and that it would be wise to get a recorder with this filter. Can you please recommend a recorder that has this filter, also with really good preamps, that is portable as I travel a lot. Thank you very much.
Not sure if you've still got your Pocket 4K, but I've noticed when running the NTG5 into the camera via XLR, it has an audible noise floor that will ruin your recording. This does not happen with any other mic I plug into the Pocket 4K (NTG2, Deity SMic 2, etc). Just a heads up for both yourself, and any other person running the same setup as myself.
Brill. I watched this before I bought the ntg5 last year. Thinking about the ntg3 but sounded like there was more noise. I might have to rent one for a weekend and test them to my voice. Also going to get this video on my computer with proper headphones.
Hmm, the NTG5 has the better package for sure. But after listening I do prefer the NTG3, fuller lows while having more detail. The NTG5 sounds a tiny bit muffled in comparison. It would be great in the future to include some female vocals to see how the low end treatment affects the sound. Great review as always!
What would your opinion be on this mic for a voice-over/podcasting scenario? I considered the Sure SM7B, but this mic seems more versatile if I need it for location shooting. Excellent video as well!
If the space where you'll record voice-over is decent in terms of acoustics - not a lot of hard, reflective surfaces - then yes, this could serve both purposes.
thank you so much for great review again Curtis ! I am using sennheiser mke 600 for on-camera mic mainly and booming sometime ( already bought Rycote shock mount with Classic-Softie for it ) , I am always looking for a better boom mic , do you think NTG5 is a good choice in this price range ? or even more expensive stuff like MKH 416 as a long team investment ?
@@curtisjudd initially the MKH 416 was my initial pick, but i think the new NTG is good enough for my up coming applications. What suggestions might you have for a blimp ?
Excellent work as always Curtis! On your recommendation, I purchased the AT4053b a couple years ago. Question: snag another 4053b for conducting interviews between 2 subjects, OR get this new Rode instead? PS - I loved your Mix Pre 3 course! Thx in advance!
Hmm, tough call. I could see either way. The advantage of going for the NTG5 is then you'd also have a mic for those rare outdoor occasions. But, a hyper like the 4053b is a good one and won't have issues with phase interference - though that is quite rare.
Thanks Juan. It's been on my list for a while but I have had a hard time sourcing one for the review (no budget at the moment). Will keep it on the list.
I’d be really interested to hear the ntg5 with the Xvive P1 Portable Phantom Power Supply recording onto the tentacle track recorder and now much it will affect the sound
Curtis, I've been using the Rode videomic pro to record my teaching videos, but want to upgrade, so I bought a Zoom H5 recorder. If I buy the NTG-5, do I just plug it into the H5 with XLR and use the phantom power at 48v like you said? And was level do I record it on the H5? In videos I watched, most people say to record between -3 to -6 dB; however, in your video you say you normalize the audio to -23dB. I just want to make the video and post it to youtube. I started at making my audio around -3 dB, but have since lowered it to -9 dB. I like the videomic pro in that I don't have to do all the phantom power and use a secondary recording. They also have a videomic NTG coming out. What do you think I should do? Normally my mic just sits on top of my camera about 2 feet from me. Thanks for any help. Trying to learn, Theo
Theo Heartsill Is there a problem with the sound that you are getting from the H5 that explains why you want to purchase a separate mike? Your recording level is fine. It’s just a matter of making sure that you don’t hit 0dB. Curtis’s reference to -23 LUFS is to an average level at which he uploads his videos after editing. It has nothing to do with recording level. Don’t worry about this unless you think that your videos on TH-cam are too quiet (if you upload them too loud, TH-cam itself takes care of it).
Agreed with Rory. -23 LUFS is not the same as peaks at -23dB. While recording with the VideoMic Pro, I'd aim for peaks on your camera around -12, no more than -6 unless you're a really, really steady speaker without a lot of inflection in your speech. Same would apply with the NTG5 and Zoom H5 - set the input level so that peaks on the meter hit around -12 to -6 at the very most. Best wishes!
@@roryonabike5863 Hi Rory, I'm just wanting to upgrade to a better sounding mic and there are several things I don't like about the one I have. I haven't actually even used the H5 yet as I just got it. I like the ease of the mic I have now because the audio and video tracks are already together and I don't have to sync them in post. That's why I was wondering if the Videomic NTG might be a good option for me. It just plugs right into the camera and I wouldn't even have to mess with this H5 Zoom recorder. I edit the audio in Adobe Audition. I am going to get a new mic for sure, but it seemed like everyone was saying to get the flagship model NTG-3, and the day I was going to buy it, I saw the NTG-5 came out so I didn't get anything yet. Thanks for responding.
I bought the RODE NTG5 to use for Voice Overs as a possible backup for my MKH416 and returned it right away. It's so muddy and woofy compared to the Sennheiser. It seems to enhance the worst low mid frequencies when used in a close Voice Over setting. The included Foam Windscreen is made of a really scratchy fabric that enhances mouth noise and harsh upper frequencies as well. The more intimate/close I got with this mic the worse it sounded. This mic is much more suited to uses that don't require crystal clear audio. It would work well for News Crews or Low Budget Movie Makers that just need dialogue recorded on the cheap. I've used about 2 dozen mics for Voice Overs and the NTG3 and NTG5 are the only mics I immediately packed up and returned. However, I will always keep my Rode NT1. That mic is incredible and versatile and I actually have a client that rejected MKH416 files in favor of the NT1.
Interesting feedback. Thanks for sharing form a voice over perspective. I was reviewing this from a filmmaking perspective where we don't usually place the mic as close as for voice over.
Good morning Curtis. Thanks first of all for your great work. I have a problem and I need your advice. I purchased the Rode NTG5 which I connect to the Zoom H6. When I connect it for the first few minutes turning the Zoom knob on the 4 or 5 power I hear noises, I hear the distorted audio and strange sounds until at some point a sort of whistle goes up and then I hear a crack at that point everything works; if I disable the XLR track and then reconnect the same thing happens but it takes less to get to hear the crack and re-function properly. I tried two different cables, two different Rode NTG5 (with the first one it was even worse). Having never had experience with microphones connected via XLR I don't know if it is normal or if my Zoom has problems (all the other inputs and microphones connected work perfectly). Because of the pandemic, I can't even ask someone for help or go to the store where I bought the Zoom H6 over a year ago. The Rode NTG5 is very expensive and I'm going crazy to understand the problem. I follow all the precautions to power the microphone, never unplugged the cable without first disabling the phantom power and wait a bit. The Zoom is powered by current or by charged batteries. I also connected the microphone directly via the PG2-R cable, perhaps thinking that my cables had some problems. Help me if you can. If you want to hear the problem I have uploaded an example.. at 58 seconds you can hear the crack and the the audio goes ok; at the beginning and at the end you can hear how my voice at the same volume is first distorted and then clean (I said the first thing that came to my mind): drive.google.com/file/d/1Py0VliLaEyraPmr6eCqywIcZwXapqmkl/view?usp=sharing Thank you very much
Hi Giancarlo, some phantom powered microphones take a few seconds to settle after phantom power has been applied to them, so this is not terribly unusual. So I usually give every phantom powered microphone a couple of minutes to settle after applying power. If it takes more than about 15 seconds, it is possible there's a defect with your copy. I haven't noticed any problems with my copy like you describe above. Maybe it is unique to the H6. Anyone else out there using the NTG5 and Zoom H6 experience this issue?
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis for the reply first. I have tried and tried again to connect the Zoom but not even after minutes the microphone worked correctly (still rustling and distorted sound as if the phantom power was not enough). Thinking that the cause was the Zoom I took (also following your suggestions on TH-cam on a possible alternative) the Tascam Dr 60D MkII (which has an interface setting very different from the Zoom, a good product but with a ridiculous battery life). I connected the Rode NTG5 to the Tascam and it works. At that point I connected the microphone to the Zoom H6 and it works! I tried to turn it off and on again and it works properly on all inputs of the Zoom (connected both to the wall socket and with batteries and with several xlr cables). After the night I did the test again a few times and it works. I can not explain how it can happen ..It's as if the Tascam has unlocked the microphone, but it seems so strange to me. I will try to see if the same problem occurs again. How strange! I take this opportunity to thank you for your videos that I follow with great attention, you are a source of inspiration. Keep it up, trying to stay, as you do, as independent as possible from the pressure of the producers..this attitude in the long run is rewarding in my opinion
Are all Diety mics DC bias? I happen to live in South Florida so the talk about humidity caught my attention. Diety product line has caught my attention over the past year. But humidity is a huge issue particularly during hurricanes. So thanks for bringing this to our attention. Now I have to re-think everything. I am assuming I should stay away from anything DC bias which would seem to rule out Diety. I should add that I have seen the word “waterproof” used on some of Diety’s branding and that had me wondering if that factors into the equation. I am thinking not, since air/moisture are pretty hard to stop long term but perhaps i am wrong?
Hi Adam TV, Yes, all of the Deity mics along with 98% of all condenser mics use a DC-bias or JFET principle. The DEITY S-Mic 2 and S-Mic 2S have coated circuit boards so that if they do get wet, they should not be permanently damaged. However, this does not necessarily mean that they will continue to capture good sound if a substantial amount of water condenses on the microphone diaphragm while the diaphragm is still wet. They may need to dry out for 24 hours before they'll work well again. RF-bias isn't totally absent of issues in humidity, but does tend to continue working more reliably when moisture condenses on the diaphragm. But if you drop it in a bog, there's a good chance it won't capture good sound, at least until it dries out. 😀
@@curtisjudd Well, not much survives in the Everglades, not even humans, but that's a different story. But thanks for the reply and all you do for the community. Deity is also doing a lot for the community and I in no way mean to bash their product line. Like I said, I have been impressed and was seriously looking at several of their products until this "humidity issue" raised its head. I have now heard you raise the humidity issue in more than one video which makes me think it something I should take seriously since humidity is an issue year round in Florida. I guess this is going to severely limit my choice but at least the Rode mic in this video is RF bias. I still need to look at the rest of the Rode product line but with any luck that will also be RF bias.
@@AdamTV The NTG3 and NTG8 are also RF-bias microphones. The other manufacturer who has a lineup of RF-bias microphones, indeed the company that has done the most with that technology, is Sennheiser.
@@curtisjudd Thanks. Yes, I have been catching up with those on some of you older videos which are a gold mine of information!!!!! And then Wikipedia has a very good section on RF vs DC that I found very helpful.
Got a lemon. Worked fine when I tested it at home but on a professional shoot it started creating squealing noises. Rode took it back for repair under warranty. Now it works great. Lesson: there have been a few cases when the NTG5 goes bad so always have backup audio, but Rode is good with doing repairs.
Love the colour-coded backgrounds during the audio samples - super smart and effective!
Thanks Casey!
I agree. Also how do you light that?
@@thefilmalliance Light aimed at the wall behind me. Can use an RGB LED panel or re-color in post. In this case I re-colored the background in post.
Yeah brilliant idea. Love your videos Curtis!
THIS IS A REPOST. Thanks to some careful listeners, we found an issue where the audio clips were aligned with the incorrect video clips in the audio samples section. It turns out that Final Cut Pro X has trouble with poly wave files. You can also listen to the original uncompressed wav audio files at drive.google.com/open?id=1AcgIeUcGtI5EZY2vd_kEBO-E8ibzZP7g
Index:
0:21 Intro
0:45 Indoor NTG5,NTG3, MKH 416, S-Mic 2S Samples
3:55 RF-bias advantages
5:01 Build quality & size
5:34 RF Immunity/wireless interference
6:01 Polar pattern
6:28 Outdoor samples
7:41 Polar pattern/isolation samples
9:34 Isolation analysis - how good is each mic and rejecting off-axis sound
12:26 Practical noise performance
13:35 Handling noise & Shockmount
14:45 Fur cover and wind
15:04 Accessories
15:21 Should I upgrade?
17:11 Cons
18:34 Summary
I thought you edited in Resolve, mr Judd?
@@Nicdehouwer Final Cut Pro X 99% of the time as Resolve is a bit on the beta end of the spectrum in Fairlight. But that might change now. 😀
@Zzzz oop Keep your NTG3 and sorry to pull the rug out from under you. 🙂
@@curtisjudd I consider Resolve to be an extremely versatile, reliable and professional toolset.
Fairlight... it's coming along! Each update brings about big improvements.
Yess, uncompressed samples, noooice) thanx man!
Great video, Curtis!
Thanks Gerald!
Thank you for sharing - your audio skills are unmatched here on YT everyone of us needs to take your full course. 🔥💯👌🏽👏🏽🙌🏽
Thanks Carlos!
Lighting cues, of course! Genius;) The NTG3 my fave is so wonderfully quiet but the NTG5 sounded slightly quieter, wowzers. Nice review...as always.
Thanks Ray!
The 416 still has the best "bite" in the mid-range for vocals, it just cuts through better. Great review Curtis!
👍
I have been a subscriber for a long time, I need to say that you are the best audio reviewer out there
Thanks ATH!
I've been narrating voice over and audiobooks for the past seven years and for the past two years I've been using the ntg 5... never thought I would switch from using the microphone that I was using, but I'm glad I did the ntg5 is just plain gold!... not only does it sound good right out of the box oh, but it is also crazy easy to manipulate with EQ Etc.
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I bought the Zoom F3 and this Rode NTG5. I think I've made a good investment after watching your videos ;) By the way a fantastic channel, greetings from Spain.
Congrats - I hope this works well for you. Happy recording!
Always the last reliable and credible source, thank you Curtis, you made my decision much easier
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@ I just bought RØDE NTG3 with RØDE boom pole and RØDE blimp, I’m an independent Director/DP, owner operator, some documentary clients and producers for indie films requested a boom mic so I made research and responded accordingly, thank you for helping me take that decision.
@@HasanAmin Happy recording!
Thank you Curtis, this was very clear and helpful, (as always!) I have been struggling with this choice for quite a while and your demonstration really helped nail things down. I live in the rainforest in southern coastal B.C., so the fact that the NTG5 can handle humidity is really good to know. Best wishes!
Thanks for the feedback and best wishes!
Thank you for this review. I've been looking for my first microphone and I believe the NTG5 will be it.
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Excellent Job Curtis!! I have the Rode NT1. After watching your review I will soon purchase the NTG5 for my voice over gigs. Keep up the great work!
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Thanks again Curtis, by far the best audio videos out there. Saludos from Chile!
Thanks Daniel
I've been waiting for your review of this mic! Lemme grab some popcorn, be right back!
Enjoy!
Diligent and thorough as always, thanks Curtis. Q: for my channel, which is a female voice and often inside without sound treatment, would you steer towards the NTG3 over the NTG5?
Thanks! I'd probably opt for the NTG5 - will be easier to work with indoors due to its smaller size.
Wow MKH 416 sounds so much pleasant to my ears. Its high freqs are clean and pronounced yet not harsh. Amazed.
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At 0.55 audio comparison ... NTG3 sounds crispier (better to my taste) than NTG5.
(Listened with my High Fidelity headphones.)
Thank you Curtis and the rest of the team , for the time you put ... to present all this amount of information.
Thanks!
Thankyou for your reviews, they’re always thought provoking. One area not really covered that’s been an issue is reliability. I work in news gathering and have predominantly used 416s and 816s before that, for all their faults they are really tough and reliable where as I have had an array of Rode mics and while they sound great they all failed the reliability test .
Yes, good insight, thanks for bringing that up. In my work, we don’t go out in the field much so I don’t have as much insight to share there. Your insights on that are valuable. 👍
Awesome review. Thanks for putting in the work on that.
The NTG5 really does look and sound like a great mic.
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I'm sold on the NTG5. Can't wait to get it.
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Great review as usual. Thanks for addressing not only the off-axis sound, but the signal/impedance and handling noise, which few people often do on reviews. Looks like this mic may finally set a new size/performance standard for others to chase, and a price point that can't be beat.
Also, I like your rougher, 2-day unshaven look. Looks much more like a location sound guy now. :D
Thanks Stefan! Happy to embrace the location sound guy look! 🙂
Wow, fantastic work on this review. I love your attention to detail in testing as well as the aesthetic choices in the video.
Thanks Zaim!
Excellent review Curtis, many thanks
Thanks Steve.
Love your microphone reviews. Very helpful comparisons to the other models!
Thanks Mike!
Great review as always, Curtis. Thanks for putting all the work into it! Thought something felt off in the first one but figured it was just me haha! I’m loving the NTG5. I shot a few interviews this week with it and I’m loving it more and more each time I use it.
Thanks Tyler and glad its working well for you!
Thank you for including the bit of info about rf-bias vs dc-bias humidity considerations. I'm in a rain forest and trying to figure out if my Audio Techica AT85R is the reason the beginning of my sentences are staticky. It doesn't say if it's RF anything on their site.
That Audio Technica is a FET or DC bias mic and is likely the reason you're experiencing a staticky sound.
@@curtisjudd Thank you for the reply. I'm very happy that I found your channel.
Hopefully Rode sent you their new VideoMic NTG for review as well, it appears very interesting indeed.
Nothing yet, but hoping to get one however we need to make that happen.
@@curtisjudd Eagerly waiting for your review on this!
That polar pattern test was genius and it made me decide which one to get. Thank you.
Thanks. Happy recording!
Great review Curtis and awesome mics... I'm sticking with my ntg4+ for now and my new baby zoom f6 and couldn't be happier with the results I'm getting for my needs.
Nice! Happy recording!
great comparison test, thx for that Curtis! really appreciate your videos and your work!
Thanks!
Great vid as again as usual! I actually want _some_ off-axis pickup in case I may do a little side-to-side body movement, or even approach the chair from off-frame as part of Intro. Thanks again Curtis.
Thanks Glen. Makes sense.
This was great. Thank you!
Thanks.
Another greatly informative video from a "go to source" for my audio information.
Thanks again, Curtis! 👍
Thanks Pradeep!
This was amazing, loved your video. I'm a filmmaker and this truly help me decide on which mic to choose for my next film. Thank you!!
👍 Happy recording!
I love how quiet the NTG 5 is. Great stuff, thank u very much
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Your videos are so good. Thanks!
Thanks so much!
still looking at ntg3/5 for dialogue, i have a mid level tone voice not too much bass, deffo more higher its mainly for dialogue / streaming. i did look at the 416 but sadly due to it being infamous the price has gone up. my room is treated acoustically
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@@curtisjudd what do you think?
@@RathOXI think the NTG5 is more neutral sounding and the NTG3 is bassier. They’re all fine mics. But If you want the 416 sound, then the NTG3 is probably a better choice.
I think you're selling yourself short in terms of the title of this video. You should mention the other mics you are comparing with, both for SEO and so people interested in them can benefit from your experential wisdom.. I got lots of good info about all of those mics from this, because you're always so thorough and provide such practical results. Thank you!
Thanks for the suggestion - I updated the title.
thank you so much for explaining it in a way that us commoners can understand. very well produced video. thank you!
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Very comprehensive and helpful review as always. Thanks Curtis!
Thanks Paul!
Do you think the NTG5 would be the best mic for talking head TH-cam videos in a treated 13x9 room? (On boom pole, above head, just out of shot). If not, what would you choose? (MKH 50?)? I have a baritone voice. Thanks!
It depends on the voice but id generally prefer the MKH50.
Stellar review! @17:35 you mention that this is really not for on-camera sound. Could you elaborate please? I have used this mic on my C300 and I think the NTG5 is far too sensitive, with lots of handling noise. Perhaps I need a better shock mount? Or maybe, as you imply, this just isn't a good choice for on-camera recording?
I just didn't want people to think that buying a $500 mic and mounting it to camera would result in the type of sound we usually hear in movies. Yes, you probably need a shock mount like those made by Rycote. Best wishes!
You are so good at what you're doing. Thx for the input.
Thank you.
Very helpful, thank you. I’m sure you already know but if you add 0:00 at the beginning of your time index it will add chapters to your video. Thanks again, this was helpful in my research and purchase decision.
Yes, we've started doing that on all of the new videos. Thanks!
Hello Curtis, thanks for the repost. I'm afraid there's still issues with the audio, as the sound at 1:52 sounds like the high frequencies were dampened with an EQ. I downloaded the files from the google drive, and its a totally different sound. Don't know what's going on with Final Cut, or if its something with TH-cam, but its weird. Can you please help double check? NTG5 should sound very very similar to NTG3, and they sound very different here (not in the source files) 1:40 vs 1:52
Thanks for checking. Please rely on the wave files for making any critical decisions. I will devote as much time as I can but I suspect there are multiple factors including FCPX and TH-cam, some of which we may not have the power to solve. My day job employer also wants me focused on my day job. 😜
@@curtisjudd Ok, thank you. One more question, do you any other microphones besides ntg's and mkh416 that have RF Bias techonology?
@@TheVedicWayChannel Oh wow, good question. I'm only aware of the RODE NTG3, 5, & 8 as well as the Sennheiser MKH series. There are probably others, I'm just not familiar with them. Thanks!
Great review! Since I own an NTG3, I’m going to pretend like I don’t need it, knowing I’ll get it anyway. Rode is really putting out some great stuff this year.
They are on a roll!
Thank you for this review! I wonder if the ntg5 could be eq'd to sound more like the ntg3 because the broadcast vocal sound of the ntg3 for controlled environments sounds great, but during the outdoor segment the ntg5 blew the ntg3 away! :)
That or a transformer saturation plugin, yes.
@@curtisjudd Do you happen to have a video explaining a transformer saturation plug in?
Not just the opposite? Outdoors NTG3 sounds so much better than NTG5. And outdoors is what those shotgun mics are made for, aren't they?
The ntg 5 captures higher frequencies (ie eq’d for less lows) than the ntg 3 which is better for wind and worse for voice over.
@@nealpobrien Shotgun mikes are desinged for outdoor boompole scenario. Just the NTG5 is shorter mike so must be positioned closer to the speaking person. NTG3 excells outdoors when you can place it some more cm further away from the speaking person and record nice sounding voice. For indoors dont use shotgun microphone - use pencil mic.Moreover my impression is that with NTG5 Rode brand wants to make shotgun mike but universal - for outdoor/indoor which is nice but impossible to have the best of both worlds. So its a shotgun mike, but a short shotgun. Thats why is sounds thin outdoors when record voice further than 30-40 cm.
thank you for the review. i really new in this sound/audio gear. i need a lot of learning to improve my channel sound.
You're welcome. I hope my videos will help you make your audio better. 😀
@@curtisjudd do you have comparison of videomic ntg vs 416 or ntg3? i just want to see the isolation/polar pattern of the videomic ntg. or can i get your suggestion? currently i only use videomicro for my video. and now i interest to buy videomic ntg, because the price is half of ntg 3/ntg 5. what do you think? better i go buy videomic ntg? or wait until my budget is enough to buy ntg 3 or ntg 5?
What a solid review with awesome sound quality.
Thanks LaHamada.
Great video Curtis. The ntg5 sounds great and looks like the best bang per buck.
I've been happy with it.
Great video! Thanks Curtis for doing this test
Thanks Chris.
Excellent in-depth review, thank you.
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WOW. And hey! You got you some merch happening there!!
And there I go again. Commenting from the wrong channel. 😂😂😂
Wow! I've never had a comment from the BFM unscripted channel. It is an honor!
@@curtisjudd LOL! It's a mistake. Logged into the wrong channel. But hey! I need a kudo today, so I'm taking it! :)
I was looking for the best option to upgrade from rode videomic pro and I stumbled across your channel. Great review! Awesome production quality in your videos! I'm totally subscribing and buying myself a ntg5 right after!
Thanks and I hope the NTG5 works well for you!
Always well done. Thank you Curtis.
Thanks Ismael.
As always, great video. Thanks for the detailed review! Think we're going to go with this one at my office to replace our old NTG2 that's wearing out.
Thanks Tyler and hope it works out well for you all!
Excellent review and great job showing all the in use and technical comparisons. I think I much prefer the more natural sounding NTG5 for online video and everyday purposes, especially if buying a microphone for the first time. The NTG3 has great sound, although the lower bass seems more useful for broadcasting as you were discussing. Thank you for sharing! I'll be getting the NTG5.
Thanks Jonathan. I hope the NTG5 works out nicely for you. Happy recording!
Curtis Judd If we have the NTG5 close range within 1-2 feet, would the sound be decent enough to not have to do extensive soundproofing if say we were operating in a garage?
@@J_bui Depends on the garage and how loud the noise is. But the NTG5 has good reach for a short shotgun mic.
Thank you for a fantastic review! Very helpful!
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Thanks for the amazing reviews !!!
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You helped me pick lights. Now we meet again with mics
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Thank you Curtis very intuitive review.
Thanks Brian
Finally got my copy. Thank you Curtis for your reviews. It made selecting the NTG5 easy. It was further delayed due to the covid-19 pandemic but it’s home. Any in depth material you can recommend how to professionally this microphone will be high appreciated. Thanks
Hi Homer, congratulations on your new NTG5! I've got several courses over at school.learnlightandsound.com. Best wishes and happy recording!
@@curtisjudd awesome! Will check it out. Please extent discount. Hahaha. Now the next selection between the Zoom F Series and Mix Pre series begins. Will be upgrading from zoom H6. But for now I will explore the H6 + NTG5.
@@hbl_channel Not to worry, we have everyday very low prices! LOL! I think you'll be able to make some great recordings with the H6 - NTG5 combo. Happy recording!
@@curtisjudd 💯. Will be enrolling soon sir. More power.
Thank you so much for this. Deity S-MIC S2 is better for my application which recording stereo(paired) nature sounds :)
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Really impressed with your video man! Super helpful. And just really well executed.
Thanks!
Great review Curtis, thanks!
Thank you, Andrew.
Great review Curtis. The great about Rode is that now that they are faced with the major competition from deity , they have produced a mic that will definitely disrupt the current dominance of audio review on TH-cam. Will be getting the NTG3 for Run & Gun on camera audio and keep my NTG3 for external audio with my Zoom F4. Love rode gear .
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I have an NTG2 and would like to upgrade, just not sure if I can get by with the shorter model "VideoMic NTG" which they say is similar to the NTG5. I'll be waiting on that video comparison to make a final decision. Once again thank you for your time and great video content!
Hi David, the VideoMic NTG is similar to the NTG5 only in that it has the circular hole interference tube design. Where they differ is that the VM NTG is a DC bias mic with a 3.5mm output while the NTG5 is an RF bias mic (this is the least expensive RF-bias mic of which I am aware) and has a balanced XLR output. You can evidently adapt the VM NTG to XLR though I'm not sure yet whether it has a balanced output which dictates how long a cable you can use. I'll do a review of the VM NTG as soon as I can get a copy.
@@curtisjudd I cant wait, I love your detailed reviews! Curious how the 3.5 connection will do against the XLR, does XLR still have a huge advantage in audio these days?
@@Dubi00 The question is whether the VideoMic NTG's 3.5mm output is balanced or not. That still very much makes a difference in how long you can run a cable. Balanced is still superior for longer cables such as when booming the mic.
I really like the NTG5. I do have the NTG3 which is almost only used for sound effects, foley and stuff like that. i like the big bottom end i get out of the sounds using that mic. I use the 416 for dialog (aswell as the audio technica 4053b). And i am super happy with these mics. Not really sure which one i would trade for the NTG5 tho. It seems to be placed awkwardly in the middle of the 416 and the NTG3, but probably incapable of delivering the best of both worlds!
Sounds like you’ve already got a solid kit that’s working 😀
@@curtisjudd Yes im really happy with the gear! Next for me is to upgrade my G4 systems for the A10 with phantom power so i can go wireless!
Great review, very helpful thanks.
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The Sennheiser MKH-416 still sounds the best imo. The transients, that airy open sound sounds so natural and real. Even better then the real source I would think!
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Question for Mr. Judd or other owners of this mike... Is the shock mount that comes with this mike a standard RØDE shock mount and do you happen to know what other wind protection solutions it works with, in particular solutions that offer more protection than the fur cover that comes with the mike?
Hi Rory, unfortunately, it does not appear as though the included shock mount integrates with a blimp or other wind cover system.
PG2-R, rode rycote pistol grip. There’s no listed blimp applications for it. Rode blimp includes a similar but different grip made specifically for mounting the blimp.
Curtis Judd In other words, one has to purchase another shock mount on top of the one that’s included :)
@@roryonabike5863 Correct, if you plan to record outdoors in winds more intense than about 5-10 mph.
Thanks this was great. My challenge….. I have a naturally deep and resonnt voice… and while I like my NTG3… it accentuates those lower frequencies and I have to EQ the heck out it to improve clarity. The NTG5, being slightly brighter may be worth a look.
Indeed!
Curtis, why does the NTG3 sound so harshly strange in the outdoor sample? I am owning three of them and they never sounded like that when used outside...
In your indoor samples the NTG3 and NTG5 sounded much more similar.
Cable issue with the Cyclone which needs repair, it turns out. 😕
@@curtisjudd I see, thanks for clearing that up :)
Thanks for the great review, I'm getting into location sound and your video's are off great help!
I'm considering the ntg5 but the windscreen worries me a bit, I don't wanna tel a client 'sorry we can't record here because of the wind' unless the conditions are exceptional. I think (please correct me if I'm wrong) going for a rycote super shield kit with either a mke600 or AT 895 would be a safer bet. Also the super shield is gonna stay useful later if I upgrade to a better mic. your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
I would think of wind protection in the form of something like the super shield to be something you’ll need regardless of the mic you choose. If you’re saying that your budget cannot afford the NTG5 and supershield then yes, I’d go with one of the other mics and a supershield for now.
grate video as usual dear Chrtis. I am planing to up my game and move from a lav system + zoom H6 to a shot gun mic to save post time. I am on a 250$ max budget and all use will be in my studio.
so I need your advice on what shot gun mic to go for that would give me grate results. I am getting the Beachtek DXA-MICRO PRO Audio Adapter that ill use with my Canon D80.
thanks in advance and keep up the good work.
Hi Bander, That's a tough price range to make a substantial upgrade in quality. What are the issues you run into with your lav setup currently?
@@curtisjudd thanks for your reply. well mostly I get interference in which I think is due to a bad cable but mostly its not convenient for me as it limits my movement and it always fall or show in the video. I was thinking of getting the Rode NTG2 but not sure about it. what budget should be better as a step up in quality ?
@@banderal-ali5066 Hi Bander, I think you'll see the biggest improvement in quality when you get to the DEITY S-Mic 2 range which is around $350 USD. You can hear it in this video compared to the other much more expensive mics and it sounds quite good.
@@curtisjudd thank you. ill check it out.
@@curtisjudd just curious about the DEITY S-Mic 2s as its cheaper and I will be recording only indoors (my room). will it be a good option as i just found about about sound garbling that may occur with long mics. I have decided on either the DEITY S-Mic 2 or the 2s.
Will we also get a Videomic NTG review video before the end of the year? I'm curious how it compares to this or other shotgun mics.
Yes but it isn’t really the same type of microphone as the NTG5, designed for a different set of use cases like camera-top on consumer cameras. Even though RODE says you can use the VideoMic NTG on a boom pole, I wouldn’t recommend that if the goal is to always use the mic on a boom. It doesn’t have a balanced output which you normally want when working on a boom.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the reply. I'm waiting to get one anyway after you've made a review so I can do it through your referral link, and also to know the pros/cons.
@@Pikmeir 👍 Can't wait to get back to work on the review next week!
I'm wanting to buy this mic and the zoom h4n. I'm still not sure what kind of boom pole I should buy though.. Any suggestions on what boom poles will go well with this mic? Something under $200 preferably :)
RODE Boom pole should work.
@@curtisjudd thanks man!
Hi, how would you compare this to your AT4053B for indoor dialogue. I kind of want tos tick to pencil condenser as will be upgrading from an okatva mk012 but the at is harder to find at current in UK Vs the ntg5.
I think the NTG5 sounds better than the AT.
Great video and great channel - thank you. I have a couple of late questions of NTG3 vs NTG5:
Firstly, most of the discussion on the NTG3 focuses on the extended bass response, and that it is great when wanted but that is not always the case. To what extent could the high pass filter on something like a MixPre be used to reduce that response on the occasions when it is not needed?
Secondly, what about the high frequencies? Both mics have a boost but from the specs, it is looks more pronounced on the NTG5. Does this lead to an increase in sibilance? it isn't always apparent but that seems voice dependant.
Hi Piers, yes, you could use the MixPre's HPF to tame the bass response on the NTG3, and also in post. I didn't notice a huge difference on my voice in these samples in the higher frequencies.
@@curtisjudd thank you - much appreciated.
NTG3 is the mic you may place further away from the speaking person and still have good souding voice. Very useful if you want a little bit wider frame. With shorter mic which is NTG5 it is necessary to place the mic closer to have comparable sounding voice. Thats why one still needs to pay more coins to purchase NTG3 in 2024.
Another fantastic video. Can't wait for your review on the new Rode VideoMic NTG??
Plan on it!
@@curtisjudd Can't wait!
Another great video, thank you. You mention in one of your videos that the Rode NTG5 does not have a high pass filter and that it would be wise to get a recorder with this filter.
Can you please recommend a recorder that has this filter, also with really good preamps, that is portable as I travel a lot. Thank you very much.
Sound Devices MixPre: th-cam.com/video/8lRVnMO14k8/w-d-xo.html
@@curtisjudd Thank you,.
Not sure if you've still got your Pocket 4K, but I've noticed when running the NTG5 into the camera via XLR, it has an audible noise floor that will ruin your recording. This does not happen with any other mic I plug into the Pocket 4K (NTG2, Deity SMic 2, etc). Just a heads up for both yourself, and any other person running the same setup as myself.
Thanks Carty, I’ll try it out.
Hi Carty, I was considering buying the NTG5 for my BMPCC 4K. Did you ever get this noise issue resolved?
Brill. I watched this before I bought the ntg5 last year. Thinking about the ntg3 but sounded like there was more noise. I might have to rent one for a weekend and test them to my voice. Also going to get this video on my computer with proper headphones.
I hope you find it helpful. Happy recording!
Hmm, the NTG5 has the better package for sure. But after listening I do prefer the NTG3, fuller lows while having more detail. The NTG5 sounds a tiny bit muffled in comparison. It would be great in the future to include some female vocals to see how the low end treatment affects the sound. Great review as always!
Trust your ears - if you prefer the NTG3, that's legit! And yes, will include female voices in the future.
@@curtisjudd Wow, that would be awesome, looking forward to it! Thanks!!!
What would your opinion be on this mic for a voice-over/podcasting scenario? I considered the Sure SM7B, but this mic seems more versatile if I need it for location shooting. Excellent video as well!
If the space where you'll record voice-over is decent in terms of acoustics - not a lot of hard, reflective surfaces - then yes, this could serve both purposes.
@@curtisjudd Yeah that makes a lot of sense, just watched your video on the rode NT1 now heavily considering that 🤔
thank you so much for great review again Curtis ! I am using sennheiser mke 600 for on-camera mic mainly and booming sometime ( already bought Rycote shock mount with Classic-Softie for it ) , I am always looking for a better boom mic , do you think NTG5 is a good choice in this price range ? or even more expensive stuff like MKH 416 as a long team investment ?
I like it quite a bit though i think you’ll mainly hear the difference when booming. I prefer the sound of the NTG5.
Great review trust your feed back so just ordered!
I hope it works well for you!
@@curtisjudd initially the MKH 416 was my initial pick, but i think the new NTG is good enough for my up coming applications. What suggestions might you have for a blimp ?
Excellent work as always Curtis! On your recommendation, I purchased the AT4053b a couple years ago. Question: snag another 4053b for conducting interviews between 2 subjects, OR get this new Rode instead? PS - I loved your Mix Pre 3 course! Thx in advance!
Hmm, tough call. I could see either way. The advantage of going for the NTG5 is then you'd also have a mic for those rare outdoor occasions. But, a hyper like the 4053b is a good one and won't have issues with phase interference - though that is quite rare.
Hello!
What is your XLR interface?
I used a field recorder for this - the Sound Devices 888. Of course there are much more affordable options.
what are the mics mounted to? I cannot find that arm anywhere
Four different stands in this case. Two are boom poles on C-Stands and two are just $25 mic stands.
Great review as usual! Could you please also do one of the Sanken CS-M1? Looks like a very interesting option in the under $1000 range.
Thanks Juan. It's been on my list for a while but I have had a hard time sourcing one for the review (no budget at the moment). Will keep it on the list.
I’d be really interested to hear the ntg5 with the Xvive P1 Portable Phantom Power Supply recording onto the tentacle track recorder and now much it will affect the sound
Me too, but I don't have an Xvive P1 on hand, unfortunately.
Curtis, I've been using the Rode videomic pro to record my teaching videos, but want to upgrade, so I bought a Zoom H5 recorder. If I buy the NTG-5, do I just plug it into the H5 with XLR and use the phantom power at 48v like you said? And was level do I record it on the H5? In videos I watched, most people say to record between -3 to -6 dB; however, in your video you say you normalize the audio to -23dB. I just want to make the video and post it to youtube. I started at making my audio around -3 dB, but have since lowered it to -9 dB.
I like the videomic pro in that I don't have to do all the phantom power and use a secondary recording. They also have a videomic NTG coming out. What do you think I should do? Normally my mic just sits on top of my camera about 2 feet from me.
Thanks for any help.
Trying to learn,
Theo
Theo Heartsill Is there a problem with the sound that you are getting from the H5 that explains why you want to purchase a separate mike? Your recording level is fine. It’s just a matter of making sure that you don’t hit 0dB. Curtis’s reference to -23 LUFS is to an average level at which he uploads his videos after editing. It has nothing to do with recording level. Don’t worry about this unless you think that your videos on TH-cam are too quiet (if you upload them too loud, TH-cam itself takes care of it).
Agreed with Rory. -23 LUFS is not the same as peaks at -23dB. While recording with the VideoMic Pro, I'd aim for peaks on your camera around -12, no more than -6 unless you're a really, really steady speaker without a lot of inflection in your speech. Same would apply with the NTG5 and Zoom H5 - set the input level so that peaks on the meter hit around -12 to -6 at the very most. Best wishes!
@@roryonabike5863 Hi Rory, I'm just wanting to upgrade to a better sounding mic and there are several things I don't like about the one I have. I haven't actually even used the H5 yet as I just got it. I like the ease of the mic I have now because the audio and video tracks are already together and I don't have to sync them in post.
That's why I was wondering if the Videomic NTG might be a good option for me. It just plugs right into the camera and I wouldn't even have to mess with this H5 Zoom recorder. I edit the audio in Adobe Audition.
I am going to get a new mic for sure, but it seemed like everyone was saying to get the flagship model NTG-3, and the day I was going to buy it, I saw the NTG-5 came out so I didn't get anything yet.
Thanks for responding.
I bought the RODE NTG5 to use for Voice Overs as a possible backup for my MKH416 and returned it right away. It's so muddy and woofy compared to the Sennheiser. It seems to enhance the worst low mid frequencies when used in a close Voice Over setting. The included Foam Windscreen is made of a really scratchy fabric that enhances mouth noise and harsh upper frequencies as well.
The more intimate/close I got with this mic the worse it sounded. This mic is much more suited to uses that don't require crystal clear audio. It would work well for News Crews or Low Budget Movie Makers that just need dialogue recorded on the cheap.
I've used about 2 dozen mics for Voice Overs and the NTG3 and NTG5 are the only mics I immediately packed up and returned. However, I will always keep my Rode NT1. That mic is incredible and versatile and I actually have a client that rejected MKH416 files in favor of the NT1.
Interesting feedback. Thanks for sharing form a voice over perspective. I was reviewing this from a filmmaking perspective where we don't usually place the mic as close as for voice over.
Good morning Curtis. Thanks first of all for your great work. I have a problem and I need your advice. I purchased the Rode NTG5 which I connect to the Zoom H6. When I connect it for the first few minutes turning the Zoom knob on the 4 or 5 power I hear noises, I hear the distorted audio and strange sounds until at some point a sort of whistle goes up and then I hear a crack at that point everything works; if I disable the XLR track and then reconnect the same thing happens but it takes less to get to hear the crack and re-function properly. I tried two different cables, two different Rode NTG5 (with the first one it was even worse). Having never had experience with microphones connected via XLR I don't know if it is normal or if my Zoom has problems (all the other inputs and microphones connected work perfectly). Because of the pandemic, I can't even ask someone for help or go to the store where I bought the Zoom H6 over a year ago. The Rode NTG5 is very expensive and I'm going crazy to understand the problem. I follow all the precautions to power the microphone, never unplugged the cable without first disabling the phantom power and wait a bit. The Zoom is powered by current or by charged batteries. I also connected the microphone directly via the PG2-R cable, perhaps thinking that my cables had some problems. Help me if you can.
If you want to hear the problem I have uploaded an example.. at 58 seconds you can hear the crack and the the audio goes ok; at the beginning and at the end you can hear how my voice at the same volume is first distorted and then clean (I said the first thing that came to my mind):
drive.google.com/file/d/1Py0VliLaEyraPmr6eCqywIcZwXapqmkl/view?usp=sharing
Thank you very much
Hi Giancarlo, some phantom powered microphones take a few seconds to settle after phantom power has been applied to them, so this is not terribly unusual. So I usually give every phantom powered microphone a couple of minutes to settle after applying power. If it takes more than about 15 seconds, it is possible there's a defect with your copy. I haven't noticed any problems with my copy like you describe above. Maybe it is unique to the H6. Anyone else out there using the NTG5 and Zoom H6 experience this issue?
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis for the reply first. I have tried and tried again
to connect the Zoom but not even after minutes the microphone worked correctly (still rustling and distorted sound as if the phantom power was not enough). Thinking that the cause was the Zoom I took (also following your suggestions on TH-cam on a possible alternative) the Tascam Dr 60D MkII (which has an interface setting very different from the Zoom, a good product but with a ridiculous battery life). I connected the Rode NTG5 to the Tascam and it works. At that point I connected the microphone to the Zoom H6 and it works! I tried to turn it off and on again and it works properly on all inputs of the Zoom (connected both to the wall socket and with batteries and with several xlr cables). After the night I did the test again a few times and it works. I can not explain how it can happen ..It's as if the Tascam has unlocked the microphone, but it seems so strange to me. I will try to see if the same problem occurs again. How strange! I take this opportunity to thank you for your videos that I follow with great attention, you are a source of inspiration. Keep it up, trying to stay, as you do, as independent as possible from the pressure of the producers..this attitude in the long run is rewarding in my opinion
Are all Diety mics DC bias? I happen to live in South Florida so the talk about humidity caught my attention. Diety product line has caught my attention over the past year. But humidity is a huge issue particularly during hurricanes. So thanks for bringing this to our attention. Now I have to re-think everything. I am assuming I should stay away from anything DC bias which would seem to rule out Diety.
I should add that I have seen the word “waterproof” used on some of Diety’s branding and that had me wondering if that factors into the equation. I am thinking not, since air/moisture are pretty hard to stop long term but perhaps i am wrong?
Hi Adam TV, Yes, all of the Deity mics along with 98% of all condenser mics use a DC-bias or JFET principle. The DEITY S-Mic 2 and S-Mic 2S have coated circuit boards so that if they do get wet, they should not be permanently damaged. However, this does not necessarily mean that they will continue to capture good sound if a substantial amount of water condenses on the microphone diaphragm while the diaphragm is still wet. They may need to dry out for 24 hours before they'll work well again.
RF-bias isn't totally absent of issues in humidity, but does tend to continue working more reliably when moisture condenses on the diaphragm. But if you drop it in a bog, there's a good chance it won't capture good sound, at least until it dries out. 😀
@@curtisjudd Well, not much survives in the Everglades, not even humans, but that's a different story. But thanks for the reply and all you do for the community. Deity is also doing a lot for the community and I in no way mean to bash their product line. Like I said, I have been impressed and was seriously looking at several of their products until this "humidity issue" raised its head. I have now heard you raise the humidity issue in more than one video which makes me think it something I should take seriously since humidity is an issue year round in Florida. I guess this is going to severely limit my choice but at least the Rode mic in this video is RF bias. I still need to look at the rest of the Rode product line but with any luck that will also be RF bias.
@@AdamTV The NTG3 and NTG8 are also RF-bias microphones. The other manufacturer who has a lineup of RF-bias microphones, indeed the company that has done the most with that technology, is Sennheiser.
@@curtisjudd Thanks. Yes, I have been catching up with those on some of you older videos which are a gold mine of information!!!!! And then Wikipedia has a very good section on RF vs DC that I found very helpful.
In terms of capturing dialogue for narrative work, would you recommend the NTG-5's more natural response, or the more bass heavy response of the NTG3?
Really down to personal preference. I generally prefer the more natural sounding NTG5 but either can be right depending on the job.
Got a lemon. Worked fine when I tested it at home but on a professional shoot it started creating squealing noises. Rode took it back for repair under warranty. Now it works great. Lesson: there have been a few cases when the NTG5 goes bad so always have backup audio, but Rode is good with doing repairs.
Thanks for sharing Mary! I hope the new version holds up well.
you put so much into this clip .... thx
Thanks Oleander.