Audio Technica AT897

An "ENG/EFP" Microphone Designed for Field and Video Use

The AT897 follows the tradition of shotgun microphones dedicated to broadcast, video production, and radio environments where the priority is simple: clearly capturing a voice (or a specific source) without adding bulk to the rig. Its 279 mm length was chosen to remain easy to mount on a camera while maintaining sufficiently pronounced directivity for typical ENG/EFP situations (news gathering, documentary, lightweight recording). This "compact but serious" approach makes it a coherent choice whenever a reliable shotgun mic is needed without moving to a longer, more cumbersome format to balance.

Who the AT897 Makes a Difference For and Its Use Cases

The Audio-Technica AT897 is aimed at videographers, journalists, sound recordists, content creators, and technicians who need intelligible sound capture in the field. Thanks to its narrow acceptance angle, it helps keep focus on the subject, whether in interviews, outdoor voice recording, "run and gun" sequence capture, or institutional shooting.

It is particularly relevant when the microphone must remain off-camera: mounted on a camera, placed at the end of a short boom pole, or positioned just above the frame. And when the environment becomes challenging (reverb, traffic, crowds, ventilation), its excellent rejection of side and rear sounds helps limit noise and facilitates mixing in post-production.

Key Features: Directivity, Bass Control, and Flexible Power

"Line + Gradient" Directivity: More Targeted Sound Capture

The AT897 uses a line + gradient directivity, designed to provide a narrow acceptance angle suitable for distant sound capture. Practically, this allows better isolation of the main source at the center (often the voice) and reduces unwanted surrounding sounds. The result is a natural and smooth on-axis sound, with a very appreciable off-axis rejection when the scene is uncontrolled.

Switchable Bass Roll-Off: A Quick Solution Against Rumbles

During shooting, the low end can quickly become overwhelming (handling noise, vibrations, rumbles, wind, traffic). The AT897's switchable bass roll-off allows you to act directly at the source to clean the recording even before it starts. This is a simple but decisive advantage to save time and avoid "fixing" issues later that could have been prevented at capture.

Battery or Phantom Power: Adapts to Your Setup

The AT897 can operate on battery or via phantom power. This dual option is ideal if you switch between a camera, portable recorder, interface, or preamp that do not always offer the same power management. You thus maintain workflow continuity: you can stay mobile with a lightweight setup or switch to a more complete audio chain whenever the shoot requires it.

Technical specifications