Well I mounted it on top of the camera, but I stood about a foot in front of it. It was just on there to hold it. I think I probably just have the settings wrong because I could swear it wasn’t like this when I first tried it. My audio experience is in radio, so I’m used to studio mics that were set up ten years ago and just riding levels. I have a Vid-Pro XM 88. Not the best thing ever, but seems decent. I don’t have to use the shotgun until this summer.