via RØDE
RØDE NTG-3 and Blimp put through their paces for UK’s Channel 4
In late 2008 freelance location recordist Chris Bruce was commissioned to make a programme that would put his brand-new RØDE NTG-3 shotgun microphone to the ultimate endurance test. The assignment was to record a new programme for The UK’s Channel 4 entitled ‘Ultimate Gap Year’, which follows a team of six backpackers as they slog their way across this spectacular corner of South East Asia.
A tougher test for production equipment would be difficult to imagine. For all its beauty and cultural mystique, Indonesia is an obstacle course of rugged and diverse terrain. The climate can hardly be described as benign, as it boasts most of the environmental extremes found in the natural world.
Having previously relied on Sennheiser’s popular MKH416 shotgun microphone for tough conditions, this time Chris opted for RØDE’s NTG-3 shotgun, giving it a trial by fire – and took both the NTG-3 and the matching RØDE BLIMP windshield system on the trip. He was very pleased with the results: ”I was familiar with the 416, it’s a solid and reliable workhorse that can handle most environments. But I’d read some rave reviews of the NTG-3, and was intrigued to find out how well a mic costing half as much would measure up to the old standard.”
Chris was very impressed by his RØDE NTG-3. “It’s difficult to overstate exactly how unfriendly the conditions were. Temperatures ranged from near freezing on the side of a volcano to the more normal 35 degrees plus, accompanied by 100% humidity and frequent tropical rain storms. Jakarta is a very densely populated city in a part of the world where, dare I say it, RF restrictions on electrical equipment probably aren’t quite so stringent as they are in Europe. In all situations the NTG-3 performed outstandingly well.”
“It was an exhausting trip, but the NTG-3 performed brilliantly throughout and was no trouble at all. I didn’t need to use anything else, and didn’t even have to dip into the bag for my spare. We went through a whole variety of environments and damp humid locations and it didn’t let me down once. I’m so happy with it, it’s going to be my main shotgun mic on my next trip to Ethiopia.”
We have the Rode NTG-3 in stock at Australia’s lowest price.
