Audio-Technica AT897 Review
Shotgun Microphone
- For Indie Films & Video Production
- Ideal for High-Gain Preamps
- AA Battery or Phantom Powered
- Selectable 80 Hz Low-Cut Filter
- Smooth On-Axis Tone
- Gentle Presence Boost
- Windscreen Reduces Wind Noise
- Lightweight Housing
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 3,244 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Audio-Technica AT897. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Audio-Technica AT897. For example, 86% of 151 users who have commented on the Sound quality of the Audio-Technica AT897 have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 167 Reviews
Excellent starter kit for boom mic
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Steve on B&H Photo Video
I teach video production at a regional university. This kit has not only worked extremely well (great sound, excellent pickup), but it has held up with students regularly checking it out for use.
Affordable Quality
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Ken on B&H Photo Video
I finally had a chance to get this mic and the AT 8035 I also bought out into the field for testing. I mounted both on a Canon XH A1 video camera using XLR inputs without attenuation and the mic levels on the camera all the way up. I was shooting birds in trees 30 to 100 feet away and did voice testing of myself a few feet in front of the camera. Like the 8035, I'm pleased with the clean sound quality and good range with pretty rich voice pickup at a few feet forward. While it's what I expected of a shotgun, I've listened to cheaper mics that don't have as clean of a sound pickup. The sound levels were very even across the spectrum. No booming lows (the cutoff filter was not on) or lost highs. It certainly doesn't have the sensitivity of the 8035, but it's a shorter and different mic, so that's expected. I expect to use it for voice pickup in front of the camera and sounds I can reach with a boom pole a few feet from the mic. The back lobe was as expected in a shotgun. I did notice the back lobe, but then I had the volumes max'd out. Excellent side rejection; I was impressed at how moving off axis levels dropped off considerably. Compared to the 8035, the 897 was about 20% quieter with volumes on my Canon XH A1 peaked out without attenuation on the XLR inputs. It's also shorter than the 8035 by at least 3 inches. It looks like it would work fine mounted in my camera's fixed shotgun mic mount. This isn't a 416 copy, nor does it try to be. But for the price it delivered good quality sound on my tests, and I expect it'll deliver well as a shotgun for voice pickup in front of the camera. ... More
Awesome Shotgun Mic!!!
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Mehran Moin on B&H Photo Video
I'm a videographer for a PR firm in Atlanta, and we produce a lot of corporate videos and interviews. This mic has been a goliath step forward from the wired lavs and wireless lavs we used to employ during our video sessions. The wired mics produced a very mute and flat tone, and the wireless lavs (which were top of the line Sennheiser sets) produced God-awful hiss and feedback from time to time. When you want to produce professional quality videos, the last thing you want is ugly hiss or poor quality audio to go with your good quality video footage. Enter the Audio Technica AT897 shotgun mic. This changes the way we shoot videos. We can shoot multiple subjects and not have to worry about wireless lav channel interference, hiss, feedback, and we don't have to yell 'CUT' when we suddenly hear interference. We can roll right through the whole interview and capture clean, crisp, consistent, and noiseless audio throughout the entire session. For the price tag on this mic, this is practically a steal. I've used $1K Rode shotgun mics and high end Sennheiser shotgun mics as well, and the AT897 stands up to the competition for sure! Love it. I'd get another one for sure!! ... More
GREAT SOUND AT GREAT PRICE, JUST BUY IT!
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I did research for a month, checking reviews here and in every Pro website dedicated to video and sound that I found in order to buy all my equipment to star again in the business after a few years away from it. At the end, for professional sound at this price range, the two finalist were the AT897 and Rode NTG-2. After listening very closely to a sound test in a webpage, the sound of the AT897 was a little bit more crisp and clear, picking up more detail than the NTG-2. Plus the AT is a workhorse and favorite of the industry.At the end, I went with the AT and what a mic my friends! I just did a wedding at the beach and a few interviews for a Doc using the mic with a boom pole. I was really impressed with the sound quality, the range, etc. The size is perfect for a Panasonic AG-HMC-150, I adjusted the mic as forward as possible at the Pearstone universal mount that came with it and the mic don't interferes with the image.If you are looking for the best sound quality, at this price range, just go with the AT, hands down the best on its division. ... ... More
Great for my Canon 5D Mk II
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Donald Rondow on B&H Photo Video
This microphone was the perfect price point for my needs, which I feel place it between consumer-quality gear and professional gear. I was looking for 75 db or better SNR and this fits the bill at 77 db. I feed this into a JuicedLink DS214 via a Pearstone LMT100 XLR to 3.5mm impedance matching converter, then into my 5D Mk II. Mounted on the camera, it is short enough to stay out of frame even with a 24 mm lens. The sound is excellent. This is exactly what I was looking for to get clean audio into my 5D. The only minor quibble is that, if you are using an AA battery, there is no switch so you need to unscrew the mic and remove the battery to shut it off. However, an alkaline battery should last 1200 hours with typical use. ... More
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Working very well for my application.
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Dan on B&H Photo Video
I do a lot of one-man-band documentary style interviews as well as some webseries work. Audio is not my specialty, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. On my limited budget I decided a shotgun was going to work better than buying lavs. Glad I went this way. The 897 is a good size for shooting in confined spaces. Others have complained that the 897 has too much off-axis pickup, I actually find the off-axis to be a benefit when doing a 2-3 person sit down interview. I can set the boom into a cradle and don't need a boom op to perfectly track with the dialogue. It also works well for my webseries work because I often don't get an experienced boom op. This mic allows a little wiggle room. Sure it means some extra cleanup in post, but it's not bad at all. Do heed the other reviews that warn of low levels from this mic. The signal is pretty low but clear. I can boost the gain on my mixer and get a workable level with not too much noise. To be quite honest, I do not have the skills to make the noise level work without the noise reduction tools in Audition, so don't think you are going to get away without some audio post work. ... More
Great/Affordable shotgun mic - but...
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Rob123xyz on B&H Photo Video
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. ... More
Good microphone. But not for everyone.
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Obnoxious video daddy on B&H Photo Video
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. ... More
The best shotgun than Senheiser K/ME66
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
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.
begginer mic
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Steven on B&H Photo Video
I used this for the first time this weekend and it was a huge step up from the sennheiser mke400. Sounds so much better. Now I'm starting to get used to this mic tho. what becomes aparent really quick is that the noise floor is pretty high. The mic sounds good but for budget shoots. Any thing requiring more production value would be totally out of its league.
Not too big. Not too small. Just right
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Brent on B&H Photo Video
I probably own too many microphones, and was looking for the one that was just right. A couple of years ago, I purchased an AT8035 shotgun mic and it is fantastic, but also 14 inches long. I had to buy a new gear bag to accommodate its length. At the time, I also considered the AT897. Based upon the quality of the 8035, I decided to buy the 897 also, and it is a great shotgun mic--just right. It has become my go-to microphone for most applications, which include recording face-to-face interviews and ambient sound. The feature that attracted me to both of these mics is their internal power source--a single AA battery. This means not having to use phantom power from the recorder (saving its power) or when I put it on top of my Canon 5D MkII for video, which is very rare usage on my part. The 5D does not provide phantom power. If you are looking to buy just one microphone, the AT897 is a very good all-purpose audio journalist's mic. ... More
Has yet to fail me.
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Tyler on B&H Photo Video
This microphone has me running around like a kid in a candy store! I did some quick tests when I first received it and was amazed with it's quality. This is my first real shotgun microphone and I paired with a DR-40 audio recorder. It comes with a low cut switch which is so hard to reach that I needed a paperclip, but is probably good so there is no accidental switching. This microphone also feels tough. It's solid and has a good weight to it. Not enough to be cumbersome but not too light to where you're afraid to drop it(which I still don't suggest). The included wind screen is sufficient but I would suggest better wind protection if shooting outdoors. I originally chose this microphone because of online reviews that stated it was the perfect all around shotgun microphone and is fantastically priced. I would diffidently recommend this to anyone starting out, just as I am. ... More
Good performance at a good price
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Chris on B&H Photo Video
I'm using this microphone on a boom pole to capture interview audio for video in a variety of indoor and outdoor situations. I'm quite pleased with the performance and build quality of this microphone. The directionality, the on-axis frequency response and sensitivity, and the off-axis rejection are all quite good. I'm still evaluating the S/N performance, but so far it's good enough fo my needs. The included foam is decent in relatively wind-free conditions, though I am going to purchase a fuzzy windbuster to handle higher winds better. A sharp lo-cut filter in post took care of the wind the foam screen couldn't handle. Overall, I think this is an excellent mic for a reasonable price. My only gripe is the included storage case is designed for a longer model, so for this mic wastes an extra 5 of length. When packing to go on location, that's an annoying amount of wasted space. I'll figure out how to cut the foam to make it useful, though. ... More
Great value for the money
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Hesmanpro on B&H Photo Video
I am using this mic for a wedding videography bus. as well as short documentaries. I will say the quality is alot better less than 10 feet away. The further you go the quality decreases. But then again, that is what a shotgun mic is used for. Boom work less than 6 feet away. The build of the mic is very well built and made of great quality materials. Used with the rode sm3 shock mount is great. Sound is very crisp and clear, but could be alot hotter than it is. I tend to need to boost the db in post a lot even though I have level adjustments on my camera. For the price it can't be beat. I purchased the kit which included the Rode sm3 shock mount and 1.5ft xlr cable for $ GReat value. All in all a great price and great quality for the price. ... More
Good Microphone
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by dakvideo on B&H Photo Video
This microphone has given me the ability to run my lav system and this mic at the same, giving me two sources for interviews in my docu videos. On the Canon XH-A1, you can't use the onboard mic and a lav system. This mic allows me to have two sources of audio for an interview. The one negative I've seen so far is that it does pick up camera noise (focus and zoom rings) from the camera (XH-A1). I have read other reviews that say this is a fact of life with these mics. They are very sensitive. So, it you are doing alot of zooming or focusing, put the mic on an external stand away from the camera body. I would recommend buying the windsock as well. I didn't and tend to get wind noise. When I can afford it, I will. ... More
Quality for the Money
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Daniel on B&H Photo Video
I use the AT897 with a Canon XF100 and have to say that I am really happy with the combo. I use a Blue Snowball USB mic for doing voiceovers and this Shotgun mic has better sound then that mic even at 3 times the distance. I am really pleased with its deep rich sound. The only gripe I have is not related to the mic at least not it's performance, the barrel of the AT897 is really slim and is actually to small to fit in to the mic bracket that comes with the XF100. With just a small amount of creativity I easily fixed the problem, but like I said this in no way reflects poorly on the mic itself. I would highly recommend this mic for anyone on a budget that still needs good quality sound. ... More
Lightweight, High-Quality Shotgun Mic
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Check The Gate Films on B&H Photo Video
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.
Good Mic for interviews
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by mike on B&H Photo Video
Been using this mic with my Zoom H4N and my 5D MK II and have been impressed every time I use it. Most of the recording I've done with it have been in busy and loud conventions and trade shows where I've needed to record interviews. The mic excels in these situations and would recommend it to anyone doing gigs such as these.
My favorite microphone for a low price.
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Nate from October Films on B&H Photo Video
I've shot two features and three shorts with this microphone, and they all sound fantastic. It's very easy to work with this audio, especially if you go through an external recorder. Even if you go through a DSLR and the preamps make a hissing noise, the audio is good enough that you can take it out in post with minimal problems.
I love it
Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Ryan on B&H Photo Video
I'm a young filmmaker, and this is my first shotgun mic, so clearly I'm going to be excited no matter how phenomenal or mediocre this microphone is. Compared to the built in camcorder mics I'm used to... this bad boy is life changing. I will say that it comes with a windscreen, which is not explained in the description. I bought a windscreen because of that and haven't used it at all because (frankly) the one in the box is better. I love this mic and will use it all the time. Anyone looking for a good microphone in this price range... you get what you pay for, which is coincidentally a high-end microphone. ps, I bought it with the 'MM-4 Mic Mu ff f/Azden SGM 1X' and they work great together. ... More
