Unfortunately, I had some major issues with the Rode VideoMic Pro+ Supercardioid Shotgun Microphone during a wedding last month. It wasnt as good as expected for the price, especially since it picks up way too much autofocus chatter from the S5II body. For your Chicago gig, you definitely want something more reliable and budget-friendly. I suggest looking at the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone instead. Honestly, it performs better than the more expensive options and fits your compact requirement perfectly. I moved to this after being disappointed by the Rodes preamp noise. Its much cheaper, which helps if youre trying to keep costs down for the weekend. The stepless gain knob is a lifesaver when youre working solo and need to make quick adjustments on the fly.

@Reply #1 - good point! tho i disagree about wireless being too complex. I used a lav kit for a Chicago wedding last fall and it was way easier than a shotgun for the vows.

• <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+400+Shotgun+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone
• Tighter pickup helps block lens chatter compared to the Rode.
• Rode Wireless GO II Dual Channel System
• Clip it on the groom. Fixes the noise problem since the mic isnt on the camera body.

I've tried many different setups over the years and honestly, I have to disagree with the idea that a shotgun mic is your best bet for the main audio at a wedding. Even with a tight pickup pattern, you're at the mercy of the room acoustics. Reliability means getting the mic close to the person speaking. Here are two options that are way more reliable than an on-camera shotgun:

• Tascam DR-10L Pro Digital Audio Recorder with Lavalier Mic. This is my go-to. It supports 32-bit float recording, which basically means you cant ruin your audio with clipping if things get loud suddenly. Since it records internally, you dont have to worry about the S5II preamp or wireless interference.
• Hollyland Lark M2 Wireless Lavalier Microphone System. You mentioned the DJI was too complex, but this one is literally just a tiny magnetic puck. It's much cheaper and honestly easier for solo work since there arent really any menus to mess with. If you're dead set on an on-camera mic for ambient sound, check out the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+200+Directional+On-Camera+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Directional On-Camera Microphone. It's way smaller than the Rode and has an internal shock mount that helps with those handling noises you're worried about. If you need the specific S5II gain settings to match these, just shout.

Adding my two cents here. I have been very satisfied with a simple DIY approach for my own video projects lately. It keeps the setup compact and saves money, which works well for me. To help narrow this down tho, I have a couple questions... Are you gonna be shooting mostly ceremony vows where you need clear speech from a distance, or is this more for capturing the general atmosphere and music at the reception? Also, how much of the Chicago wind are you expecting to deal with if any of it is outdoors? Knowing if you need the audio synced in-camera or if you are okay with post-processing would help a lot.

Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.

This thread is gold. Bookmarking for future reference 🔖