RODE NTG2 Shotgun Microphone

RODE NTG2 Shotgun Microphone

The RODE NTG2 is a lightweight condenser shotgun microphone designed for professional film, video, television and broadcast work, and it is equally useful for voice-over and location dialogue recording. Its supercardioid pattern and interference-tube design focus tightly on the sound in front of the microphone while rejecting sound from the sides, so dialogue stays intelligible even in noisy rooms and busy locations. The RODE NTG2 can be powered either by 48V phantom power or by a single AA battery inside the body, which makes it unusually flexible: it works on a boom pole with a field recorder, on a camera rig with an XLR adapter, and in a studio with a mixer, without depending on any one power source.

Why Choose RODE NTG2?

Location recordists choose the RODE NTG2 because it solves the most common field-recording problem, which is power. A camera or recorder that cannot supply phantom power is no obstacle, since a standard 1.5V AA battery runs the microphone, and where phantom power is available the battery can simply stay out. At only 161 grams without battery, the microphone is light enough to boom for long takes without tiring the operator or unbalancing a camera rig. Its full 20 Hz to 20 kHz response, low 18dBA self-noise and selectable 80 Hz high-pass filter give clean, broadcast-usable dialogue with rumble from traffic and air conditioning rolled off at the source. The rugged metal body and the included foam windshield, mic clip and zip pouch mean it is ready for field work straight from the box.

Key Features

• Dual power: P48 or AA battery: runs from 48V phantom power or a single 1.5V AA battery for cameras and recorders without phantom.
• Supercardioid shotgun pattern: tight front-focused pickup that rejects side noise for intelligible dialogue.
• Selectable 80 Hz high-pass filter: two-step flat/80 Hz filter that cuts low-frequency rumble from traffic and air conditioning.
• Lightweight 161 g body: easy to boom for long takes and light enough for camera mounting.
• Full 20 Hz – 20 kHz response: broadcast-quality sound for film, video, voice-over and streaming.
• Field-ready accessories: foam windshield, mic clip and zip pouch included.

Best Suited For

The RODE NTG2 suits filmmakers, documentary crews and wedding videographers recording dialogue on location, boom operators who need a light shotgun that balances well, YouTubers and voice-over artists recording in untreated rooms, and ENG crews that need a dependable microphone that works with whatever recorder is at hand. It is a strong choice for anyone moving between studio and field, since the same microphone covers both. Buyers who need on-mic tone controls or an internal rechargeable battery should consider the NTG4+ instead, while buyers who only ever record indoors into an interface may not need the battery option at all.

Setup and Connection Guide

Fit the foam windshield for outdoor or draughty indoor use, mount the microphone in the supplied clip on a boom pole, stand or camera shock mount, and connect its 3-pin XLR output to a recorder, mixer or camera XLR input. If your camera or recorder has no XLR input and no phantom power, fit a 1.5V AA battery and use an XLR adapter for that device. Set the high-pass filter switch to 80 Hz when recording in rooms with air-conditioning hum or near traffic, and leave it flat for music or quiet studio voice work. Aim the front of the microphone at the speaker’s chest or mouth from as close as practical, since even a shotgun microphone cannot rescue dialogue recorded from far away, and monitor on headphones throughout the take.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the RODE NTG2 need phantom power?

No, not necessarily. It operates from P48 phantom power when available, or from a single 1.5V AA battery fitted inside the body, so it works with cameras and recorders that cannot supply phantom power.

Can I plug the RODE NTG2 directly into a camera with only a 3.5 mm input?

Not directly. The microphone has a balanced 3-pin XLR output, so a camera or recorder with only a 3.5 mm input needs an XLR adapter, and the microphone should be run on its AA battery unless the adapter supplies phantom power.

How is the NTG2 different from the NTG4+?

The NTG2 is powered by phantom power or a replaceable AA battery and has a simple flat/80 Hz high-pass switch. The NTG4+ adds digitally switched tone controls and a built-in rechargeable battery instead of the AA cell.

Technical Specifications

Explore Related Products

For a RODE microphone with both XLR and USB connectivity, also explore the RODE PodMic USB.