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AT897 Shotgun Works in Field, Studio
The Mic's Light Weight, Longer-Than-Average Length Enable Newsfolk
to Capture Clear Sound
by Paul Kaminski
 Freelancers
and other small broadcast/production operations need versatility
in all of their equipment. So when one piece of equipment can perform
multiple functions without a major compromise, owners and managers
have to consider that when crafting a capital budget.
Audio-Technica's AT897 short shotgun microphone works well not
just in the field, but also in the studio.
The AT897 is a condenser line and gradient "shotgun" super cardioid
microphone, which means the usual mode of employment is to point
the unit in the general direction of the sound source. In the field,
where many reporters and producers stick handheld mics in the faces
of newsmakers, it means those reporters and producers don't have
to stand so close, and can even raise the unit over a crowd with
a boom pole.
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Product Capsule
Audio-Technica 897 Line + Gradient Condenser
Microphone
THUMBS UP:
Low weight
Battery life (up to 1200 hours on one AA alkaline cell)
Battery and phantom power (11-52 VDC)
Nearly flat response
80 Hz bass roll-off switch
THUMBS DOWN:
Phantom power requires battery changes
PRICE: $369
CONTACT: Audio-Technica USA in Ohio at (330) 686-2600
or visit www.audio-technica.com
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In my field test, I used it as I would a handheld microphone, gathering
sound for a series of reports heard on the CBS Radio Network newscasts
over the New Year's weekend; and in mass interview situations as
well as voice work at the 2005 Daytona 500. In my studio test, I
used it as an announce mic for the production of the Motor Sports
Radio Network programs, "Race-Talk" and "Radio-Road-Test."
Flat
Subjectively, the AT897 seems to have a flat accurate sound, which focuses almost completely on the source to which it is pointed when the bass roll-off switch is not switched on. This means there is little to no proximity effect when the microphone is used at a working distance of 6-18 inches.
If you are recording voice tracks on a laptop or other computer for future use, you can apply a Cool Edit/Adobe Audition or other similar quick filter in an audio editing program to boost bass and mid range and give the track a warm sound upon playback if desired.
In real time, one can use the AT897 as one might use a traditional phantom-powered microphone, whether powered (11-52 volts DC) through a small mixer or microphone processor/preamp.
The bass roll-off switch will help to cut out low-frequency rumble with a 12 dB roll-off per octave at 80 Hz. This also helps when the room in which you might have to record voice tracks isn't soundproofed as well as you might like. The standing wave reflections you might pick up with other microphones are significantly reduced, thanks to the inherent pickup characteristics of shotgun microphones.
Some reporters might not consider using a shotgun mic as a primary microphone because of their usual length. At 11 inches long, the AT 897is a slight bit longer than most long-barreled handheld interview mics. That extra length will capture clearer sound when held above a crowd or held steady when trying to record natural sound or sound from a PA speaker when there is no mic distribution amplifier (mult box).
If you do not have a boom pole, holding the AT 897 won't cause your arm to get tired; it weighs 5.1 ounces including the installed AA battery. The AT897 can be battery-powered, which might concern some reporters who do not want to carry another piece of equipment that needs a battery, for fear the battery would go dead at an inopportune time.
A-T specifications suggest a battery life of 1200 hours from a single alkaline AA cell. We used one Ray-O-Vac AA alkaline cell for almost six weeks. In the daily grind of newsgathering, users might not remember to change batteries every 1200 hours. Changing disposable alkaline AA batteries in the AT897 on the first day of every month will solve that problem. If you do get into a situation where the battery is dead and you have a mixer with phantom power, then you won't miss a thing.
The AT897 also will run on phantom power from 11-52 volts DC without a battery installed. Users will want to keep the unit out of hot news cars or other places where the temperature can get over 110 degrees Fahrenheit, since it has a condenser element.
The AT897 comes with its own adapter (clamp), windscreen protective case and adapter fitting to change a non-standard thread pitch on a mike stand or pole to the 5/8ths/27 standard. A small portable microphone stand can work for long-distance shotgun applications such as pointing the AT897at a sound source and for positioning the unit to maximize voice pickup for voice work, like when you have to knock out a voice track in an office, broom closet or other location without soundproofing.
Using the AT897 does change the way you work in interview situations. No longer do you have to muscle your way through a crowd to get a clean, on-mic sound from a newsmaker; shotgun mode, whether in the hand or on a boom, will work just fine.
You also can hold the mic in your hand, in the same manner you would use for a traditional handheld mic interview. As long as you remember to change the single AA cell once a month, you will have clean uncolored sound from your newsmakers or sound source. You also will find that you might not have to carry as many microphones in your flyaway kit, thanks to the AT897's versatility.
Paul Kaminski is the news director for the Motor Sports Radio Network,
and a contributor for CBS Radio Network News. His e-mail address
is motorsportsradio@compuserve.com.
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