Shure VP83 User manual

VP83
LensHopper Camera-Mount Condenser Mi-
crophone
™
The Shure professional shotgun microphone, VP83, user guide.
Version: 1.1 (2020-H)

Shure Incorporated
2/10
Table of Contents
VP83 LensHopper™ Camera-Mount Condenser Micro-
phone 3
General Description 3
Features 3
VP83 3
Mounting the Microphone 4
On a Camera: 4
Installing Batteries 5
Audio Configuration 5
Low-cut Filter 7
Monitoring the Audio Signal 7
Why Gain Settings are Important 7
Troubleshooting 7
Specifications 7
Battery Life 9
Accessories and Replacement Parts 10
Certifications 10

Shure Incorporated
3/10
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
VP83 
LensHopper Camera-Mount Condenser Microphone
General Description
Designed for use with DSLR and video cameras, the Shure VP83 condenser microphone enables videographers to capture
professionalqualityaudio.Adjustablegain,superioroff-axisrejection,andaselectablelow-cutfilterprovideexceptionaldefini-
tion and clarity. Consistent with Shure's commitment to quality and durability, the VP83 features a lightweight, all-metal housing
and a built-in shock mount for reliable use in the field.
Features
Supercardioid/lobar pattern rejects unwanted off-axis sounds
Low-cut and gain switches for maximum adaptability
Integrated shock mount
130 hours of battery life
Built-in 3.5 mm audio output cable
Superior RF immunity
Durable, all-metal housing
Shoe mount adapter for easy installation
VP83
™

Shure Incorporated
4/10
1.
2.
①Foam Windscreen
②Battery Compartment
③Integrated Shock Mount
④Audio Output Cable
⑤Gain Adjustment Switch
⑥Power / Low Battery
LED
⑦Power / Low-Cut Filter
Switch
on power on
power on with low-cut filter engaged
off power off
⑧Camera Shoe Mount
Adapter
Mounting the Microphone
On a Camera:
Slide the microphone onto the camera shoe.
Tighten the knurled ring to secure.
Tip:Inadditiontothevibrationisolationprovidedbytheshockmount,thelow-cutfiltercanbeusedtofurthereliminatehan-
dling noise and low frequency rumble.

Shure Incorporated
5/10
1.
2.
3.
Installing Batteries
This microphone requires one AA battery to operate (Alkaline, NiMH, or Lithium). To install:
Squeeze the door latches and pull the battery compartment open.
Insert the battery into the holder according to the polarity indicator and secure it into place.
Close the compartment by pushing the holder back in until it latches.
Low Battery LED: When the battery is running low, the LED turns red and the battery should be replaced as soon as possible.
See the battery life table in the user guide to determine remaining runtime after the LED turns red.
Audio Configuration
①Connect to the camera
or recording device
Plug the attached coiled cable into the camera's audio input. Alternatively, the microphone
can be plugged into a field recorder or other external device. It may be connected to both a
camera and a recorder by using a Y-splitter cable.
②Lower the camera's gain
(input volume) to the mini-
mum setting
Using the least amount of gain from the camera or recording device and more gain from the
VP83 will result in a better signal-to-noise ratio.

Shure Incorporated
6/10
Note: Ifautomaticgaincontrolonthecamera(whenapplicable)introducesunwantedaudioartifacts,considerby-
passing the feature.
③Perform a sound check
and adjust the gain switch
ThedBgainswitchadjuststheleveloftheaudiosignalsenttothecamera'saudioinput.Be-
gin with the gain switch set to +20 dB. Monitor the camera's audio meter and adjust the
switchsothattheloudestsoundsdonotexceed−6dB.
+20 dB: Appropriatelevelformanycameraswhenrecordingtypicalsoundlev-
els (speech, for example) and for quiet sources.
0 dB: Use when capturing sounds that are slightly louder than typical speech
levels.
−10 dB: Use when the signal is too loud and distorts the camera's preamp, or in
loud environments, such as a concert or sporting event.
Note: Camera input sensitivity varies between manufacturers. Use this information for general reference.
④If necessary, increase
the camera's input gain
Theaudiosignalshouldpeakbetween−12and−6dBonthecamera'saudiometer.Follow
the camera manufacturer's instructions to fine tune the gain to reach the appropriate level.

Shure Incorporated
7/10
Low-cut Filter
The low-cut filter reduces low frequency rumble caused by camera handling and other environmental factors by rolling off low
frequencies 170 Hz and below (12 dB per octave). To engage, slide the power switch to the low-cut filter ( ) position.
Monitoring the Audio Signal
To listen to the audio while recording, connect a pair of headphones to the camera's headphone output. Use the camera's
headphone volume control to adjust the monitoring level. Do not use the gain switch on the VP83 to adjust the monitoring level.
Why Gain Settings are Important
Propergainadjustmentisnecessarytoachievethebestsignal-to-noiseratio.Whenrecordingaudio,thecamera'spreampcir-
cuitry may introduce a small amount of noise that increases as the camera's preamp gain is raised, or when volume levels are
raised during post production.
How the VP83 improves performance: The VP83 microphone has very low noise characteristics, which means that using
moregainfromthemicrophoneandlessfromthecameraimprovesthesignal-to-noiseratioandresultsinacleaneraudiosig-
nal.
Troubleshooting
Issue Solution
Unit does not turn on Replace batteries and make sure that the batteries are installed correctly.
Sound is distorted
Check that the audio cable is completely inserted into the camera.
Camera input gain may be set too high, resulting in clipping. Try lowering the gain. If the
camera'sgainappearstobeadjustedproperly,trysettingthegainswitchto0or−10dB.
If listening through headphones, check the connection or try using a different pair.
No sound
Makesurethemicrophoneisonandthattheaudiocableisconnectedtothecorrectau-
dio input jack on the camera.
If the camera doesn't register a signal, try increasing the camera gain or setting the gain
switch to +20.
Specifications
Type
Electret Condenser

Shure Incorporated
8/10
Polar Pattern
Supercardioid/Lobar
Frequency Response
50 to 20,000Hz
Output Impedance
171Ω
Sensitivity
open circuit voltage, @ 1 kHz, typical
-36.5dBV/Pa (14.9mV)
Maximum SPL
1 kHz at 1% THD , 1000 Ω load
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
76.6dB
Dynamic Range
@ 1 kHz, 1000 Ω load
Clipping Level
@ 1 kHz, 1% THD, 1000 Ω load
Self Noise
equivalent SPL, A-weighted, typical
17.4dBSPL-A
Environmental Conditions
Operating Temperature Range -18°C (0°F) to 57°C (135°F)
Storage Temperature Range -29°C (-20°F) to 74°C (165°F)
Operating Relative Humidity 0 to 95%
Housing
Cast aluminum
Power Requirements
1 AA battery (Alkaline, NiMH, Lithium)
Weight
133g (4.7oz.)
1 Pa=94 dB SPL
THD of microphone preamplifier when applied input signal level is equivalent to cartridge output at specified SPL
S/N ratio is the difference between 94 dB SPL and equivalent SPL of self noise, A-weighted
[1]
[2]
[3]
[1] [2]
[3]

Shure Incorporated
9/10

Shure Incorporated
10/10
Battery Life
AA Battery Type Typical Remaining Runtime (Hours)
New Battery After power LED turns red
Alkaline 130 13
NiMH 108 2
Lithium 187 ½
Accessories and Replacement Parts
Replacement foam windscreen A83W
Rycote Windjammer A83-FUR
Certifications
Following the European Union rule General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC: By the inherent nature of its design, this
product does not present a safety risk to the user.
Note: Testingisbasedontheuseofsuppliedandrecommendedcabletypes.Theuseofotherthanshielded(screened)cabletypesmaydegradeEMCper-
formance.
The CE Declaration of Conformity can be obtained from: www.shure.com/europe/compliance
Authorized European representative:
Shure Europe GmbH
Headquarters Europe, Middle East & Africa
Department: EMEA Approval
Jakob-Dieffenbacher-Str. 12
75031 Eppingen, Germany
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
®™