In Review: DPA Microphones 2017 Shotgun Microphone

If you aren’t familiar with DPA Microphones, you owe it to yourself (and your productions) to check out their product line up. After matching up the DPA 2017 Shotgun with two awesome cameras — the Canon R5 C and the Nikon Z8 — I came away really impressed with the overall quality of capturing audio and the build of the mic itself. We'll be diving into a few of the particulars, but let’s first revisit why the oft forgotten audio half of the production equation matters. 

This next part is for you newcomers. There's no excuse for bad audio if you plan it out. This is where investing in a good mic like the DPA 2017 will take your productions to the next level. Get it out of your brain that the built-in mic on your camera will be good enough for anything other than capturing ambient room noise or scratch tracks, and always keep in mind that sub-par audio just won’t cut it when someone is paying you good money to produce professional videos. Why? When you get a chance to do a once in a lifetime interview or event, you shouldn’t cut corners. You wouldn’t skimp on your camera or lighting, so why do it with your audio?

DPA 2017 Physical Characteristics

For a microphone that comes in at just under $1000, the 2017 has a high-quality build. Having had a variety of mics for a long time, I always tend to look at how all parts mesh together, which the 2017 does quite well. I was particularly impressed with the 2017 holder and the XLR connection quality, which is often a weak point of construction due to substantial wear and tear and at times sub-standard manufacturing in less well-built microphones. I was not too keen on the windscreen, but that is due more to a personal preference.

Additionally, the 2017 was built with no parts or capsules to lose (that never happens, right)? Remember, this is a piece of gear that you are going to use almost every day, so it must be built like a brick. The DPA 2017, along with the mic holder and windscreen, all scored a solid “A” in the build quality category. 

How Does the DPA 2017 Sound?

This was the fun part! For context, I decided to work with the mic in what I consider a real-world scenario. In other words, I used the 2017 as if it was my only mic—not an uncommon practice for many situations.

For my first run, I decided to use the mic away from the camera for some scripted voiceover retakes. I set the 2017 up ever so slightly off center (on purpose), but it came through like a champ, with little to no noticeable off-center, hollow-ish sound.

Using the 2017 as a very directional studio mic, I would say it performed as well as any other microphone in its category. My second set up was up on a  boom pole, to capture moving dialogue from the talent. The mic performed well, as long as I didn’t get too far away. Here, I was glad to add the windscreen into the mix since we were outside on location, which produces noise. But overall, this was not a deal breaker. When I brought the recording into post, I added some cut filters and fixed any extra unwanted noise. Here, I scored the DPA 2017 at an “A-“.

Lastly, I tried to mimic a lot of work I see online for you YouTubers and social media folks, and I think this is where the DPA 2017 really shines. I went all handheld and mounted the mic with a separate shock mount right onto the camera bracket. Up close and personal for handheld work, the 2017 picked up the audio I wanted without too much handling noise at all. Additionally, since the 2017 has a compact barrel length of 7.2 inches, it ergonomically fits in well with the work. Overall, it made for a neat and tidy camera/mic package. The 2017 definitely scored an “A+” here.

A Few Other DPA 2017 Notes 

The 2017 features a strong directional pick-up pattern, in a compact housing. It was easy to set up and position, and easy to use on camera, boom poles and in the studio. There are no cut filters on the 2017 itself, but I am not an audio engineer. I just want good, clean, efficient audio. However, for those technonauts who really need the specs for the DPA 2017 here they are listed below.

Overall, the DPA 2017 Shotgun Microphone would be a great addition to your audio set up. If you are in update mode for 2024, you should figure out how to give it a good listen. Affordable and well built, this microphone will provide many years of reliable service. If you are serious about delivering good, professional audio, the DPA 2017 is an excellent choice.