Audio-Technica AT835b

These microphones are great for Video work, but not for videos that you need clarity on the vocal without any room noise. Remember you can use shoot gun kinds of microphones for kick drum and snare drums. We have done this for years at my online recording school www.comia.us., however I don't think you would use this for close or clear micing for a video. I would use a lavalier mic. I like lav mics for the real clear video audio. I used this mic for a recent movie and it was a bit low endy and harsh on inside scenes and a bit more noisy on outside scenes in this movie. If you are looking for a great video mic I would go with a more recognized professional mic. If you are looking for decent mic that would suffice for some inside scenes and some basic background sounds, then this mic would work just fine. I used it daily for a while but not for voice during a scene. There is a bump at about 50hz that is noticeable. I also hear a bit of noise.

OVERALL OPINION

Of the video mics I will review I think this would be in the top 50 percent. I like the clear sound for background video sound. If you are using it for voice in video look into some real expensive microphones that are specifically used for voice work. I would not think this would work great for any voice over or tracking voice in a scene for video.

Other uses for a mic like this is for kick drum or a secondary snare mic. It has a narrow diaphragm and does not pick up any noise on the sides of the mic. That would be helpful in a hi-hat bleed drum set up. I use to use these on kick drums but now I find it to be too thin. I would rather use a better shotgun for kick or snare that is not so muddy on the low end.

The Audio Technica AT 825b is an electret condenser primarily used for audio/visual work and for field recording.

OVERALL OPINION

The AT 835b is an excellent choice for A/V applications. It's portability using battery power makes it obviously ideal for such use. What may be surprising is how this "intended" use can be ignored and what you can accomplish when you use this mic in creative ways.
I, of course, have used this mic for "on-site w/camera" recording and I've also used it to capture folley tracks. It has performed well in both instances but I prefer to use it for folley. I've gotten some really outstanding thunderstorm tracks, bird song, and lakeside nightnoise tracks in particular using this mic. I have a much older version which is grey but I'm positive that there is no difference other than the newer models are black. Honestly, I think that that is all that the 'b' in the model number signifies.
Where I have diverged from it's intended purpose is where I've found some really unique results have occured. I've used the AT 835 as a mono distant room mic for drums. In a larger drum room with an uncommonly high ceiling I placed the 835 in the opposing corner from the drum kit aimed down at the kick drum from a point just below the ceiling. Wow! The 835 covered the whole kit with a very good overall balance between shells and cymbals but what blew me away was how huge the kick and toms sounded! I have to say it was probably my favorite drum room ever, it had a stone floor, A-frame ceiling, and rough, un-even log cabin style walls. Once the 835 track was mixed dead center with the close mic'ed tracks the whole room and a beautiful depth stepped forward in the mix.
I expect groans and shaking of heads for this next part. Use it as an overhead! I know that because of it's design it is going to try to focus itself further out than the typical overhead mic. Yet, that's the beauty of it! Using it as a close over really complicates getting your phase relationships nailed down in an acceptable way, but if also combined with another 835 used as a distant room mic, you can get a very open, roomy, washed jazzy sound. You don't need to believe or even agree but you should know that this is an excellent mic to own.
The quality of the sound overall is a little bit pushed in the mid-range but respectably flat-ish everywhere else.