Audio Technica ATR3350 vs H4n in Windy Weather (Review)

http://devowe.com/blog/2011/audio-technica-atr-3350-review-in-windy-weather/ - Audio Technica ATR-3350 connected directly to a Zoom H4n. I needed a affordable lavaliere microphone for some upcoming projects and this one seemed to fit the bill just nicely.

It was very windy out, so it was the perfect day to test the ATR3350 vs the H4n built-in microphones. I am also using a Redhead Windscreen on the H4n. The Zoom H4n was set to Mono mix for both the ATR3350 microphone and the H4n onboard microphones.

☞ PROS:
✏ Super affordable (~$20 - Amazon: http://amzn.to/ot1FBr)
✏ Small microphone (about the size of an eraser)
✏ Long 20 foot cord (could be a con as well)
✏ Solid construction
✏ Comes with 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter


☞ CONS:
✏ Power pack with switch has a very stiff clip - will only clip onto somewhat thin clothing or belt
✏ Loooong cable
✏ Not a high-end lavalier microphone

☞ Overall: The Audio Technica ATR3350 is a fantastic microphone for under $20 and works extremely well. Best used to replace shotgun microphones in interview situations.


Please bestow a ♥ like or leave a ✉ comment if you have questions!

http://devowe.com

TRANSCRIPT:
Hey this is Michael from devowe.com with another video review slash comparison. I've got two audio products: the Audio Technica ATR-3350 along with the Zoom H4n. And we've got some street noise and vehicles. That is what this test is for - to see audio comparisons. As you can see, I've got the lavalier mic -- the Audio Technica lavalier mic connected directly to the H4n on top of the 7D. One thing I noticed was that the cable is extremely long at 20 feet long which can be good or bad, depending on your needs. If you're having on-talent audio like this, if you're going to have the audio recorder directly on the talent, that can be problematic. But for this test, it seems to be alright. Another thing I noticed is that the on/off switch uses a watch battery so it's not a triple "A" or anything common.. So that's one thing to keep in mind - you always want to have that battery on hand since you never know if that battery is going to be dead or not. So I'm going to disconnect the lavalier microphone and see the audio comparison between the H4n onboard mics and the Audio Technica lavalier mic. Alright, so I've got the H4n audio using the onboard mics and the Redhead windscreen. It might be a little bit windy, but in this situation, the lavalier microphone is definitely a lot better. It's protected from the wind, and it's closer to my mouth. So all in all, I think the Audio Technica ATR-3350 is definitely a good purchase for around $20. Thanks for watching, and see you later!

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Audio Technica
• ATR3350
• ATR3350 Review
• ATR-3350
• Zoom
• Zoom H4n
• audio
• lavalier
• Canon 7D
• Review
• reviews
• sound
• digital

[Juliambo]

Does the mic let you check the battery life or is there any indicator when the battery is low?

[michaeldevowe]

@Juliambo Nope. I occasionally check the levels on my H4n (or H1) to make sure it's still amplified. The original battery has lasted me over 20 hours of continuous use and has not died.

[darrenernest]

are you plugging the 3350 right into the bottom jacks or in the 1/8" ext mic jack on the back?

[michaeldevowe]

@darrenernest The ATR 3350 was plugged directly into the XLR connectors on the bottom and the H4n was set to MONO MIX (to essentially 'copy' the left channel audio to the right channel).

[pennytrust]

Hi there. Do you know if i can headphone monitor specific channels rather than a mix of all on the h4n?

[michaeldevowe]

Hi @pennytrust, thanks for the comment. I don't believe you can. I have checked and do not think it is possible. Sorry I couldn't be of any more help!

-Michael

[MisterSrm]

Thank you so much, i was searching for a mic, apparently the ATR is better. Compared to the H4N you can't even hear the wind.

[Juliambo]

@michaeldevowe Ok, thanks.

[michaeldevowe]

@mclaren777 You're welcome, I appreciate the comment!

[mclaren777]

Fantastic review. Thanks!