Which shotgun should I buy?

A good quality shotgun mic will zero in and "reach" a few feet directly in front of the mic while at the same time rejecting sound from the sides. This is great for picking out just the sounds you want and is the most desirable and common microphone for DV filmmakers.

A question we hear from most new camcorder owners is, "Which shotgun mic should I buy?" This usually happens after they shot some awesome footage, but later found that they can't quite make out the intriguing dialogue from what was a light breeze but somehow now burgeons whips, rumbles and howls like a tornado.

Well thankfully if this is you or someone you know, we're glad to help!

We picked some of the top shotguns on the market and recorded them in a professional studio so you could hear what they all sound like. For those with a critical ear, you may hear the subtle differences and nuances. For those of you with untrained ears, they may all sound "good" and that's cool too. We all have to start somewhere.

Now the most important thing to remember in achieving high quality audio is microphone placement.

Get the mic as close as you can to the subject without getting the mic in the frame. It's also important to "que" or point the mic at the subject if you can and always monitor your audio through a pair of closed-eared headphones.

So if you've been getting bad audio, the solution is a high-quality shotgun mic, good wind protection if outdoors, and concentrate on getting that mic in as close as you can. With these few tips, your audio should improve remarkably. Remember, George Lucas says, "Audio is 50% of your project.