Detail 01
Line + gradient (shotgun) pattern
Narrow forward lobe. Off-axis sound is rejected but also colored, so aiming accuracy matters more than with a cardioid.
Product detailSKU #1273887988793
Audio-TechnicaAT897 Line + Gradient Shotgun Condenser Microphone
1/3
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Short shotgun condenser for video, film and ENG. Buy it to isolate dialogue on a boom or camera when you can aim it at the source.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Boom-operated dialogue on film and video shoots
- Interviews where you need to reject room and crowd noise
- Camera-mounted use on location with no phantom power available
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Indoor rooms with hard, reflective walls that a shotgun exaggerates
- Multiple people spread apart from one static position
- Loud sources on battery power, where max SPL drops to 98 dB
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Runs on phantom or one AA
Battery mode makes it usable straight into a camera or recorder with no 48V. Roughly 1200 hours on an alkaline.
Detail 03
Max SPL 112 dB phantom / 98 dB battery
You give up 14 dB of headroom running on the AA. Use phantom power for anything loud.
Detail 04
20-20,000 Hz response
Full range, unlike speech-only mics. Ambience and music captured on location keep their body and top end.
Detail 05
80 Hz roll-off, 12 dB/octave
A gentler cut than a steep filter. Trims wind and handling rumble while leaving male voices intact.
Detail 06
10.98 in long, 0.83 in diameter
Short for a shotgun. It stays out of a wide shot on a boom and does not overhang a small camera.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Included: stand clamp, windscreen, battery, 5/8"-27 to 3/8"-16 adapter, carrying case.
- 02No shock mount or blimp in the box. Outdoor and boom work needs both bought separately.
- 03The supplied windscreen handles indoor air only, not real wind.
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Can I mount it on a camera?
Yes. The AT8405a clamp plus the included 5/8"-27 to 3/8"-16 adapter fits standard shoe mounts and boom poles. A shock mount is worth adding.
02Do I need phantom power?
No. One AA runs it for about 1200 hours. Phantom power is still better for loud sources, since max SPL rises from 98 dB to 112 dB.
03Does it work as a room or podcast mic?
It is designed to be aimed at one source from a distance. In a reflective room the narrow pattern picks up colored reflections rather than rejecting them.
04How far from the subject can it sit?
Close enough to aim precisely. A boom just above the frame line is the normal working position; the further back you go, the more room you hear.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
3 detailsSound
- Polar Pattern
- Line + Gradient
- Low Frequency Roll Off
- 80 Hz, 12 dB/octave
- Frequency Response
- 20-20,000 Hz
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Black
5 detailsConnections & power
- Battery Current Life
- 0.4 mA / 1200 hours typical (alkaline)
- Output Connector
- Integral 3-pin XLRM-type
- Phantom Power Requirements
- 11-52V DC, 2 mA typical
- Battery
- 98 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
- Battery Type
- 1.5V AA/UM3
2 detailsSize & weight
- Weight
- 5.1
- Dimensions
- 10.98 inch (279 mm) long, 0.83 inch (21.0 mm) diameter
1 detailsIn the box
- Audio Technica Case Style
- SG2
4 detailsOther
- Signal to Noise Ratio
- 77 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1 Pa;
- Phantom
- 112 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
- Accessories Furnished
- AT8405a stand clamp for 5/8 inch-27 threaded stands; AT8134 windscreen; battery; 5/8 inch-27 to 3/8 inch-16 threaded adapter; protective carrying case
- Element
- Fixed-charge back plate, permanently polarized condenser
