I really wanted to like this microphone. I owned it for a long time before I really tried using it seriously. The rejection off the sides is better than I expected. The sound quality is also better than you'd expect for the price. The handling noise seemed below par, but a better isolation mount improved that situation. With its unbalanced output, it picks up hum and noise when near, say, an old school light dimmer pack.
Then one time in the middle of shooting an event, it just stopped working. When I got home, it worked perfectly. Strange. Then I jiggled the cable at the strain relief, where it enters the mic. Bingo -- the audio cut in and out as I moved the cable. Being somewhat handy with a soldering iron, I opened up the mic to see if I could just rewire the cable, but no -- everything is potted thoroughly in glue (which is probably what led to the failure in the first place), so repairing this thing would take more time than it's worth.
And there in lies the fatal flaw. With a microphone equipped with an XLR output jack instead of a permanently attached cable, you could just replace the cable and carry on. But this mic sooner or later is going to let you down, and you better hope you have a spare mic handy when it does.
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From the manufacturer
Specifications
- Element: Condenser
- Polar Pattern - Normal: Cardioid
- Polar Pattern - Tele: Supercardioid
- Frequency Response: 70 – 18,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity - Normal: -56 dB
- Open Circuit Sensitivity - Tele: -45 dB
- Impedance - Normal: 1,000 ohms
- Impedance - Tele: 2,200 ohms
- Weight: 113 g (4 oz)
- Cable: 1 m (3') long, permanently attached cable with 3.5 mm (1/8") mini-plug
- Accessories Furnished: Camera mount; microphone stand clamp; foam windscreen; AA battery
Audio-Technica ATR6550
Condenser Shotgun Microphone
Crisp & intelligible pickup—far away or up close. In its “Tele” range setting, this cardioid condenser is engineered to pick up dialogue and sound effects at a distance, while bypassing ambient noise such as traffic, air-handling systems, room reverberation and mechanically coupled vibrations. Designed especially for use with video cameras. For best results, position mic as close to sound source as possible. Beyond three or four feet, the audio may start to sound distant. Also, try to aim the mic at the sound source, as sound from the side or rear will not be picked up well. Still, some side or rear sound may be recorded—keep this in mind, especially if mounting mic to a camera, since some camera operation noise may be captured.
Winner of numerous industry awards, Audio-Technica manufactures products that set quality, durability and price/performance standards for live sound tours, broadcast and recording studios, corporate and government facilities, house-of-worship venues, and more. A-T microphones are chosen for critical government installations and are also selected for major broadcast music events, including the Grammy Awards and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
- 3.5 mm connector plugs into your video camera
- Two range settings: "Normal" for close & medium-distance; "Tele" for long-distance
- Includes camera-mount, stand clamp, foam windscreen, battery
Customer reviews
I think it is well built, so far. Very sensitive in TELE. It is almost a spy microphone! I could hear things through bushes and trees, across a small river. It came with 2 microphone holders, one for a camera shoe, the other was for a mic stand. The price was very good ( China ).The not so good part = The wind filter doesn't work. We had a very slight breeze and the mic would pick up the rumble of the breeze. Maybe it works well as a "pop" filter. If you mount the mic to a video camera and use the zoom you will hear "VRRRRRRR" because the mic is super sensitive. This mic needs to be isolated from the camera with "O" rings or used on a stand. Or edit out the noise. No "ON" led. This microphone is made in CHINA. $64?? What did I expect..Taiwan would have been better. I'm saying buy this microphone. It sounds good ( I'm almost deaf folks ) and it was $64..try a dead rat for the wind filter. see what I've done on youtube. David A Loving
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Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2019
The not so good part = The wind filter doesn't work. We had a very slight breeze and the mic would pick up the rumble of the breeze. Maybe it works well as a "pop" filter. If you mount the mic to a video camera and use the zoom you will hear "VRRRRRRR" because the mic is super sensitive. This mic needs to be isolated from the camera with "O" rings or used on a stand. Or edit out the noise. No "ON" led. This microphone is made in CHINA. $64?? What did I expect..Taiwan would have been better. I'm saying buy this microphone. It sounds good ( I'm almost deaf folks ) and it was $64..try a dead rat for the wind filter. see what I've done on youtube. David A Loving
Sounds GREAT!
By David on March 10, 2019
I think it is well built, so far. Very sensitive in TELE. It is almost a spy microphone! I could hear things through bushes and trees, across a small river. It came with 2 microphone holders, one for a camera shoe, the other was for a mic stand. The price was very good ( China ).By David on March 10, 2019
The not so good part = The wind filter doesn't work. We had a very slight breeze and the mic would pick up the rumble of the breeze. Maybe it works well as a "pop" filter. If you mount the mic to a video camera and use the zoom you will hear "VRRRRRRR" because the mic is super sensitive. This mic needs to be isolated from the camera with "O" rings or used on a stand. Or edit out the noise. No "ON" led. This microphone is made in CHINA. $64?? What did I expect..Taiwan would have been better. I'm saying buy this microphone. It sounds good ( I'm almost deaf folks ) and it was $64..try a dead rat for the wind filter. see what I've done on youtube. David A Loving
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Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2021
So I feel like 'The Predator' - this Audio-Technica ATR-6550 is Out of this World
By Jay Bachochin on March 13, 2021
I do a lot of researching the woods in Wisconsin. I used Body Cam to capture everything I see and needed a good shotgun mic to capture audio in the woods. What I liked best about the Audio-Technica ATR-6550 was that it was quality made (not cheap). Comes with a wind guard and the functions of using standard to Telephoto audio capture is easy to use. Even though built tough it is not heavy at all and I got creative a mounted it to the straps of my backpack (kinda feel like 'The Predator' but this is where I needed the mic). This Audio-Technica ATR-6550 Shotgun Mic did NOT disappoint in recorded sound quality. It really does capture audio at a distance. I caught probably the best audio of coyotes yelping at night (chilling). I would totally buy another one of these Audio-Technica ATR-6550.
By Jay Bachochin on March 13, 2021
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Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2020
Top reviews from other countries
broomwood
Disappointingly high level of background hiss (white noise) - useless for recording soft sounds
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2017Majid Khan
Great quality mic for the price
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2016
Ben
A Great bit of Gear and Good Investment.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2015
