Love the colour-coded backgrounds during the audio samples - super smart and effective!

THIS IS A REPOST. Thanks to some careful listeners, we found an issue where the audio clips were aligned with the incorrect video clips in the audio samples section. It turns out that Final Cut Pro X has trouble with poly wave files. You can also listen to the original uncompressed wav audio files at drive.google.com/open?id=1AcgIeUcGtI5EZY2vd_kEBO-E8ibzZP7g Index: 0:21 Intro 0:45 Indoor NTG5,NTG3, MKH 416, S-Mic 2S Samples 3:55 RF-bias advantages 5:01 Build quality & size 5:34 RF Immunity/wireless interference 6:01 Polar pattern 6:28 Outdoor samples 7:41 Polar pattern/isolation samples 9:34 Isolation analysis - how good is each mic and rejecting off-axis sound 12:26 Practical noise performance 13:35 Handling noise & Shockmount 14:45 Fur cover and wind 15:04 Accessories 15:21 Should I upgrade? 17:11 Cons 18:34 Summary

Great video, Curtis!

Thank you for sharing - your audio skills are unmatched here on YT everyone of us needs to take your full course. 🔥💯👌🏽👏🏽🙌🏽

The 416 still has the best "bite" in the mid-range for vocals, it just cuts through better. Great review Curtis!

Lighting cues, of course! Genius;) The NTG3 my fave is so wonderfully quiet but the NTG5 sounded slightly quieter, wowzers. Nice review...as always.

I have been a subscriber for a long time, I need to say that you are the best audio reviewer out there

I've been narrating voice over and audiobooks for the past seven years and for the past two years I've been using the ntg 5... never thought I would switch from using the microphone that I was using, but I'm glad I did the ntg5 is just plain gold!... not only does it sound good right out of the box oh, but it is also crazy easy to manipulate with EQ Etc.

Wow MKH 416 sounds so much pleasant to my ears. Its high freqs are clean and pronounced yet not harsh. Amazed.

This was great. Thank you!

I'm sold on the NTG5. Can't wait to get it.

Thank you Curtis, this was very clear and helpful, (as always!) I have been struggling with this choice for quite a while and your demonstration really helped nail things down. I live in the rainforest in southern coastal B.C., so the fact that the NTG5 can handle humidity is really good to know. Best wishes!

Thanks again Curtis, by far the best audio videos out there. Saludos from Chile!

Great review as usual. Thanks for addressing not only the off-axis sound, but the signal/impedance and handling noise, which few people often do on reviews. Looks like this mic may finally set a new size/performance standard for others to chase, and a price point that can't be beat. Also, I like your rougher, 2-day unshaven look. Looks much more like a location sound guy now. :D

Thank you for this review. I've been looking for my first microphone and I believe the NTG5 will be it.

At 0.55 audio comparison ... NTG3 sounds crispier (better to my taste) than NTG5. (Listened with my High Fidelity headphones.) Thank you Curtis and the rest of the team , for the time you put ... to present all this amount of information.

Diligent and thorough as always, thanks Curtis. Q: for my channel, which is a female voice and often inside without sound treatment, would you steer towards the NTG3 over the NTG5?

Thankyou for your reviews, they’re always thought provoking. One area not really covered that’s been an issue is reliability. I work in news gathering and have predominantly used 416s and 816s before that, for all their faults they are really tough and reliable where as I have had an array of Rode mics and while they sound great they all failed the reliability test .

Hopefully Rode sent you their new VideoMic NTG for review as well, it appears very interesting indeed.

I've been waiting for your review of this mic! Lemme grab some popcorn, be right back!

Excellent review Curtis, many thanks

Excellent Job Curtis!! I have the Rode NT1. After watching your review I will soon purchase the NTG5 for my voice over gigs. Keep up the great work!

Love your microphone reviews. Very helpful comparisons to the other models!

Great review as always, Curtis. Thanks for putting all the work into it! Thought something felt off in the first one but figured it was just me haha! I’m loving the NTG5. I shot a few interviews this week with it and I’m loving it more and more each time I use it.

Wow, fantastic work on this review. I love your attention to detail in testing as well as the aesthetic choices in the video.

That polar pattern test was genius and it made me decide which one to get. Thank you.

Your videos are so good. Thanks!

Awesome review. Thanks for putting in the work on that. The NTG5 really does look and sound like a great mic.

Another greatly informative video from a "go to source" for my audio information. Thanks again, Curtis! 👍

You helped me pick lights. Now we meet again with mics

This was amazing, loved your video. I'm a filmmaker and this truly help me decide on which mic to choose for my next film. Thank you!!

Great vid as again as usual! I actually want _some_ off-axis pickup in case I may do a little side-to-side body movement, or even approach the chair from off-frame as part of Intro. Thanks again Curtis.

I love how quiet the NTG 5 is. Great stuff, thank u very much

I bought the Zoom F3 and this Rode NTG5. I think I've made a good investment after watching your videos ;) By the way a fantastic channel, greetings from Spain.

great comparison test, thx for that Curtis! really appreciate your videos and your work!

Very comprehensive and helpful review as always. Thanks Curtis!

thank you so much for explaining it in a way that us commoners can understand. very well produced video. thank you!

What a solid review with awesome sound quality.

WOW. And hey! You got you some merch happening there!!

Great review! Since I own an NTG3, I’m going to pretend like I don’t need it, knowing I’ll get it anyway. Rode is really putting out some great stuff this year.

You are so good at what you're doing. Thx for the input.

Great review Curtis and awesome mics... I'm sticking with my ntg4+ for now and my new baby zoom f6 and couldn't be happier with the results I'm getting for my needs.

Great video! Thanks Curtis for doing this test

Great review, very helpful thanks.

Thank you for this review! I wonder if the ntg5 could be eq'd to sound more like the ntg3 because the broadcast vocal sound of the ntg3 for controlled environments sounds great, but during the outdoor segment the ntg5 blew the ntg3 away! :)

Excellent in-depth review, thank you.

I bought the RODE NTG5 to use for Voice Overs as a possible backup for my MKH416 and returned it right away. It's so muddy and woofy compared to the Sennheiser. It seems to enhance the worst low mid frequencies when used in a close Voice Over setting. The included Foam Windscreen is made of a really scratchy fabric that enhances mouth noise and harsh upper frequencies as well. The more intimate/close I got with this mic the worse it sounded. This mic is much more suited to uses that don't require crystal clear audio. It would work well for News Crews or Low Budget Movie Makers that just need dialogue recorded on the cheap. I've used about 2 dozen mics for Voice Overs and the NTG3 and NTG5 are the only mics I immediately packed up and returned. However, I will always keep my Rode NT1. That mic is incredible and versatile and I actually have a client that rejected MKH416 files in favor of the NT1.

I really like the NTG5. I do have the NTG3 which is almost only used for sound effects, foley and stuff like that. i like the big bottom end i get out of the sounds using that mic. I use the 416 for dialog (aswell as the audio technica 4053b). And i am super happy with these mics. Not really sure which one i would trade for the NTG5 tho. It seems to be placed awkwardly in the middle of the 416 and the NTG3, but probably incapable of delivering the best of both worlds!

Always well done. Thank you Curtis.

Thanks for the amazing reviews !!!

The Sennheiser MKH-416 still sounds the best imo. The transients, that airy open sound sounds so natural and real. Even better then the real source I would think!

As always, great video. Thanks for the detailed review! Think we're going to go with this one at my office to replace our old NTG2 that's wearing out.

thank you for the review. i really new in this sound/audio gear. i need a lot of learning to improve my channel sound.

Got a lemon. Worked fine when I tested it at home but on a professional shoot it started creating squealing noises. Rode took it back for repair under warranty. Now it works great. Lesson: there have been a few cases when the NTG5 goes bad so always have backup audio, but Rode is good with doing repairs.

Fantastic, incredibly detailed review including outdoor tests. Wow.

Very helpful, thank you. I’m sure you already know but if you add 0:00 at the beginning of your time index it will add chapters to your video. Thanks again, this was helpful in my research and purchase decision.

Thank you for including the bit of info about rf-bias vs dc-bias humidity considerations. I'm in a rain forest and trying to figure out if my Audio Techica AT85R is the reason the beginning of my sentences are staticky. It doesn't say if it's RF anything on their site.

Thank you for a fantastic review! Very helpful!

Great review Curtis. The great about Rode is that now that they are faced with the major competition from deity , they have produced a mic that will definitely disrupt the current dominance of audio review on KZfaq. Will be getting the NTG3 for Run & Gun on camera audio and keep my NTG3 for external audio with my Zoom F4. Love rode gear .

Thank you Curtis very intuitive review.

I was looking for the best option to upgrade from rode videomic pro and I stumbled across your channel. Great review! Awesome production quality in your videos! I'm totally subscribing and buying myself a ntg5 right after!

Really impressed with your video man! Super helpful. And just really well executed.

Excellent review and great job showing all the in use and technical comparisons. I think I much prefer the more natural sounding NTG5 for online video and everyday purposes, especially if buying a microphone for the first time. The NTG3 has great sound, although the lower bass seems more useful for broadcasting as you were discussing. Thank you for sharing! I'll be getting the NTG5.

I think you're selling yourself short in terms of the title of this video. You should mention the other mics you are comparing with, both for SEO and so people interested in them can benefit from your experential wisdom.. I got lots of good info about all of those mics from this, because you're always so thorough and provide such practical results. Thank you!

Great review Curtis, thanks!

I LOVE THE RODE NTG5 Tecture

Do you think the NTG5 would be the best mic for talking head KZfaq videos in a treated 13x9 room? (On boom pole, above head, just out of shot). If not, what would you choose? (MKH 50?)? I have a baritone voice. Thanks!

Didn’t really understand what RF bias was, so I looked it up. RF bias refers to a radio frequency alternating current that is applied to the microphone diaphragm. Due to the very high frequency of the AC current, usually in the megahertz range, the diaphragm doesn’t really vibrate as a result of the current, but it has a stiffening effect on the diaphragm, so that external bumps and disturbances do not move the diaphragm and induce noise into the signal. Basically, it’s like an electrical spring that makes the diaphragm stiff like a spring, and it is tuned in such a way that it blocks out mechanical response of the diaphragm to very low frequencies like bumps and handling noise, while letting through audio frequency sound. Typically, RF bias microphones also have DC bias. DC bias essentially means that the diaphragm is designed to naturally rest off-center when there is no bias, and then a DC bias is added during operation to push it back to center, which creates a kind of stiffening and stabilizing effect for the diaphragm. The difference with RF bias microphones is that it is like an extra step that further stabilizes the diaphragm without the need for more mechanical stiffness in the diaphragm design. This allows for greater microphone sensitivity without a heavier diaphragm or increased noise sensitivity.

Thank you so much for this. Deity S-MIC S2 is better for my application which recording stereo(paired) nature sounds :)

Man I really dont need a Enthusiast shotgun mic... but you do make a really compelling evaluation for why I'd want one

Great video Curtis. The ntg5 sounds great and looks like the best bang per buck.

Finally got my copy. Thank you Curtis for your reviews. It made selecting the NTG5 easy. It was further delayed due to the covid-19 pandemic but it’s home. Any in depth material you can recommend how to professionally this microphone will be high appreciated. Thanks

Finally setting up my NTG5/Zoom F3...

Brill. I watched this before I bought the ntg5 last year. Thinking about the ntg3 but sounded like there was more noise. I might have to rent one for a weekend and test them to my voice. Also going to get this video on my computer with proper headphones.

Stellar review! @17:35 you mention that this is really not for on-camera sound. Could you elaborate please? I have used this mic on my C300 and I think the NTG5 is far too sensitive, with lots of handling noise. Perhaps I need a better shock mount? Or maybe, as you imply, this just isn't a good choice for on-camera recording?

Thank you Curtis for this review. That kit shock mount, though - the weight of the pistol grip seems to more than erase the lightweight advantage of the mic itself. I did invest in the NTG5, but will probably stick with lightweight minimalism on the tip of my handheld boom.

Great review trust your feed back so just ordered!

here we go again, me trying to justify buying camera gear again... i have way too much gear acquisition syndrome.

you put so much into this clip .... thx

Thanks Curtis! Hope you could keep the NTG-5 you tested. You totally deserved it. As much you deserve our gratitude for these reviews. I'm not a RODE fan(especially since DEITY came on the market) but I think they totally nailed it, this time. Videomic NTG looks really promising too. As much as the 416 is still a great mic, I just don't see the need of it anymore like in the past. For that amount of money you could have now more than one mic and have more options. I think it's good news all in all.

there are no interferences precisely because it is made of aluminium, the metal acts as a shield.

Another fantastic video. Can't wait for your review on the new Rode VideoMic NTG??

All of these mics are great, but the 416 just sounds so much more natural to my ears. It's just so well balanced that you don't "notice" any weird audio characteristics. The low end on the NTG5 is still a bit much.

3rd time watching. Broke out the headphones for the last one to truly appreciate what you have put together here. I loved the floor noise test and absolutely appreciated the polar pattern white noise test. The NTG5 is a great value at $499 usd for the beginning youtuber or beginning film maker. The Rode PG2 R pistol grip and cable alone is $140 on B&H. The NTG 3 is a great mic at $700 by itself. Wouldn't we all like to have a Sennheiser MKH 416 in our arsenal for $1K . Deity puts out some good stuff too, with there S2 location kit coming in at $429 at B&H as well. The location kit comes with comparable accessories to the NTG5. However overall after the tests you have provide us today, value and sound, pound for pound, its the NTG 5 for the win. Thanks Curtis -Will

Good comparison........ Thanks CJ......!!!

Great review as always! Having recently bought the NTG3 think I'm going to return it for the NTG5.

Great review as usual! Could you please also do one of the Sanken CS-M1? Looks like a very interesting option in the under $1000 range.

Excellent work as always Curtis! On your recommendation, I purchased the AT4053b a couple years ago. Question: snag another 4053b for conducting interviews between 2 subjects, OR get this new Rode instead? PS - I loved your Mix Pre 3 course! Thx in advance!

While I’m not a 416 fan as a general (DPA 4017 for me), it’s leagues beyond the others in sound quality, though seemed like the NTG5 had slightly better noise floor. Most of them have some sort of weird resonance or jagged peak in the spectrum making sibilance sound dirty. The 416 has a much more transparent sound with much more midrange and high frequency detail. The deity sounded like absolute garbage.

Thanks for the great review, I'm getting into location sound and your video's are off great help! I'm considering the ntg5 but the windscreen worries me a bit, I don't wanna tel a client 'sorry we can't record here because of the wind' unless the conditions are exceptional. I think (please correct me if I'm wrong) going for a rycote super shield kit with either a mke600 or AT 895 would be a safer bet. Also the super shield is gonna stay useful later if I upgrade to a better mic. your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

awesome review thank you!

I have an NTG2 and would like to upgrade, just not sure if I can get by with the shorter model "VideoMic NTG" which they say is similar to the NTG5. I'll be waiting on that video comparison to make a final decision. Once again thank you for your time and great video content!

Great review as usual Curtis. Mixpre3ii and my NTG5 sound great. One thing I did find that upgrading my cable to mogami quad and neutrik gold connectors did bring out slightly more fidelity over some very good cables I owned. No regrets on these purchases.

Awesome thanks so much love the videos!

Not sure if you've still got your Pocket 4K, but I've noticed when running the NTG5 into the camera via XLR, it has an audible noise floor that will ruin your recording. This does not happen with any other mic I plug into the Pocket 4K (NTG2, Deity SMic 2, etc). Just a heads up for both yourself, and any other person running the same setup as myself.

Ntg5 sounds the best! Nice sound, good reject noise, It's a great deal for the price!

thank you so much for great review again Curtis ! I am using sennheiser mke 600 for on-camera mic mainly and booming sometime ( already bought Rycote shock mount with Classic-Softie for it ) , I am always looking for a better boom mic , do you think NTG5 is a good choice in this price range ? or even more expensive stuff like MKH 416 as a long team investment ?

I’d be really interested to hear the ntg5 with the Xvive P1 Portable Phantom Power Supply recording onto the tentacle track recorder and now much it will affect the sound

Great video and great channel - thank you. I have a couple of late questions of NTG3 vs NTG5: Firstly, most of the discussion on the NTG3 focuses on the extended bass response, and that it is great when wanted but that is not always the case. To what extent could the high pass filter on something like a MixPre be used to reduce that response on the occasions when it is not needed? Secondly, what about the high frequencies? Both mics have a boost but from the specs, it is looks more pronounced on the NTG5. Does this lead to an increase in sibilance? it isn't always apparent but that seems voice dependant.

Personally, I like the warmer sound of the NTG5. Fantastic review.