About the Azden AZDEN-SGM-3500 Professional Broadcast Shotgun Mic 7" Barrel
The Azden SGM-3500 is a professional-grade shotgun microphone engineered for critical broadcast, film, and video production applications where superior directionality and clear audio capture at a distance are essential. Its sleek, 7-inch barrel houses a precision line + gradient interference tube that provides a highly focused, supercardioid polar pattern, effectively isolating the intended on-axis sound source while rejecting unwanted ambient noise, reverberation, and off-axis audio from the sides and rear. This acoustic design makes it an ideal choice for boom pole operation in dialog recording for television, cinema, and documentaries, as well as for fixed mounting on cameras and studio booms where capturing clean, intelligible speech in challenging acoustic environments is paramount. The microphone is built to deliver a smooth, natural frequency response tailored for vocal clarity, with a controlled presence rise that ensures articulation cuts through a mix without sounding harsh or sibilant.
Constructed for durability in the field, the SGM-3500 features a robust, all-metal body that can withstand the physical demands of location work. Its design incorporates effective internal shock mounting to minimize the transmission of handling noise—a critical factor when the mic is used on a boom pole. The integrated windscreen, a permanent part of the barrel, provides significant protection against wind noise and breath pops, and it can be supplemented with an external fluffy windsock for extreme outdoor conditions. The microphone operates on standard +48V phantom power supplied by professional mixers, recorders, or cameras, ensuring compatibility with virtually all professional audio equipment. Its balanced low-impedance output via a 3-pin XLR connector guarantees a noise-resistant, reliable signal over long cable runs.
The microphone offers practical versatility for the sound professional. It can be powered directly from any phantom power source, eliminating the need for internal batteries and simplifying the setup. Its moderate weight and balanced design make it well-suited for extended use on a boom, and its standardized mounting thread allows for easy integration with shock mounts and suspension systems. By combining broadcast-quality audio performance with a rugged, purpose-built design, the Azden SGM-3500 establishes itself as a reliable tool for production sound mixers and videographers who require a dedicated shotgun microphone capable of delivering clean, focused audio in unpredictable recording situations, from controlled studio sets to noisy exterior locations.