Rode VideoMicro Review: The Portable & Budget Microphone
Rode’s been churning out some of the world’s best audio solutions for filmmakers, musicians, vloggers, and podcasters for some years. If you are looking for a Compact On-Camera Microphone to take your video recording to the next level. You become a die-hard fan of Rode Videomicro.
Over a couple of months, I was searching for the best microphone to kick off my videography career. Getting started with video recording was a breeze with Rode videoMicro. Rode videoMicro adds a whole level of professionalism to my video recording set up.
The Rode VideoMicro microphone can be used to improve the audio quality of videos. It is portable and affordable, making it a good option for those who need something to improve their audio quality without spending a lot of money. The rode VideoMicro review will help you decide if this is the right mic for you.
I am holding you back before you start reading my review. Would you mind taking a moment to reflect on why VideoMicro is a unique solution for filmmakers to level up their video recordings?
I return to the statement that the Rode Video mic is one of the best and most budget-friendly microphones on the market. It’s incredibly lightweight and compact, making it perfect for use with a DSLR camera. The included windshield and shock mount also make it ideal for use in windy or noisy environments.
Are you surprised when I tell you that there aren’t more mics like this one that combine a shock mount with mic design.
Let’s dig further into the Rode VideoMicro review, first by looking at the specification of this microphone.
Rode VideoMicro is a small, light-weight microphone that is perfect for on-the-go recording. It has a cardioid polar pattern, which means that it picks up sound primarily from the front, making it ideal for capturing dialogue or narration.
The 3.5mm jack makes it compatible with most DSLR cameras and camcorders, and the included flurry windscreen helps to reduce any unwanted noise.
| Specification | Details |
| Connectivity | SC2 1/8" TRS plug |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Item weight | 0.1 lbs. |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | 75dB (A weighted) |
| Impedance | 200 Ohm |
| Noise Level | 20dB (A weighted) |
| Sensitivity | -33.0dB re 1 Volt/Pascal |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 20kHz |
| Max SPL | 140dB SPL |
| Self-Noise | 20dBA |
| Acoustic Principle | Pressure Gradient |
| Included Accessories | Windshield, Rycote Lyre Shockmount |
Despite the low price, the microphone is simply not the right one when viewed from the perspective of voiceover artists and professional vocalists. As well as not trying to be one. The company has made it known that this microphone is designed to be used with smartphones or DSLR cameras. So, unfortunately, this microphone would not be suitable for such people.
The Rode VideoMicro is a great budget-friendly option for those looking for a quality mic. It includes a windshield, mic, shock mount, and TRS cable, making it a great option for use with cameras, smartphones, and tripods. The only downside is that it doesn’t include a USB cable.
RØDE VideoMicro At A Glance:
The Rode VideoMicro is a directional microphone that is 8cm long and furry, making it ideal for capturing sound while reducing background noise and vibration.
The built-in windshield helps to further reduce wind noise, while the Rycote Lyre mount helps to isolate the mic from handling noise. The 3.5mm output cable is also detachable, making it easy to replace if needed.
The Videomicro is a high-end mic that is perfect for DSLR video shooters who need to capture clear audio without any background noise.
Design of Rode VideoMicro
The Røde VideoMicro is one of the most popular on-camera microphones
It included:
- Durable And Rugged Body
- The cardioid condenser capsule for reducing noise.
- Easy Hookup to Camera
- A spiraled TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) male mini phone plug with L shaped ends. To connect one end into your phone, and camera.
VideoMicro has a lot of user-friendly features since there is no battery or external power needed. Its plug-in power is still considered a standard in camera manufacturing. - Unique Features of Rycote Lyre:
The Rycote Lyre suspension mount and cold shoe make it ideal for capturing incredible audio to accompany inspiring visions to reduce noise from camera and movement shock. The Video micro lyre is a suspension system that eliminates vibration and wind noise.
This is a unique and popular microphone that offers many features for those who want to record video or audio. For starters, the Videomic comes with a shoe mount adapter that allows it to be attached to either a DSLR camera or a tripod.
Additionally, it includes a furry windshield that helps to reduce wind noise when recording outdoors.
Additionally, the Videomic allows it to be attached to a DSLR camera or other device with a cold shoe attachment. Finally, the Videomic comes with its own cable that can be used to connect it to a recorder or other device.
The most important of these accessories is the shock mount at the top of which this microphone sits. The shock mount of this microphone uses a Rycote Lyre suspension system which helps in reducing the unwanted vibration.
This microphone is important because it uses a Rycote Lyre suspension system to reduce vibrations.
- Furry Windshield Minimizes Wind Noise
With the added feature of Furry Windshield, also known as a dead cat, helps to block wind noise when recording outside.
This furry windscreen reduces wind noise by up to 40% and the shock mount is designed to reduce vibration.
Rode Video Micro: Amazing Camera-mount Video Mic Value
The Rode mic is an amazing camera-mounted video mic that offers great value for its price. The microphone is a condenser type with a cardioid polar pattern, which is ideal for on-camera mics. It has a lyre shockmount that helps to reduce vibration and noise, and a furry windshield that helps to reduce wind noise.
The audio quality is excellent, and the mic is very easy to use. It comes with a camera shoe mount that makes it easy to attach to your camera, and it also has a standard thread mount for attaching to tripods and other supports.
Pros
- Compatible with all devices.
- Best for filmmakers, vlogger, YouTubers, and podcasting.
- Rugged and Portable
- No need of Battery
- Amazing features of windscreen and shock mount to isolate vibration and wind noise.
Cons
- Not suitable for vocals and singers
- Not supported USB cable
RODE VideoMicro Compact Camera-Mount Microphone Features
- Rycote Lyre shockmount included.
- Best for filmmakers, vloggers, YouTubers, and interview.
- Microphone Body is made of aluminum that prevents noise from shock and vibrations.
- Cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from sides and rear, reducing unwanted noise.
- Come with Furry windshield
- 2-year extended warranty.
- SC2 3.5mm TRS patch cable included.
- No battery required, powered by 3-volt (minimum) camera plug-in power
- Designed and manufactured in Australia
Characteristics Of Rode VideoMicro
Polar Patterns
The polar pattern on this microphone is cardioid or unidirectional. What it essentially means is that it can only catch the audio from one direction only.
This pattern not only clearly captures your voice but also reduces the noise from the surroundings. Thus, in the end, you would get the audio that is free of all noise and is very clear in quality.
The thing about polar patterns is that it is not always exactly as the companies claim, especially when it comes to cardioids. These are often not as tight which consequently lets the noise deteriorate the quality of audio.
However, this is not the case with this microphone. The polar pattern is exactly as Rode claims.
Thus, you would get audio of very fine quality with minimal noise which would essentially improve your videography.
To sum up, The microphone has a cardioid pickup pattern with off-axis rejection, which means that it will only pick up your voice while suppressing background noise. Since this will help make your voice recording sound a lot cleaner.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is not a criterion for choosing a quality microphone; it generally depends on what they are being used for. We can compare the Rode VideoMicro with the Rode VideoMic go II. VideoMicro has a sensitivity of -33.0 dB as opposed to Rode VideoMic, which has a sensitivity of -31dB.
So it is clear that the Rode VideoMicro is a more sensitive microphone making it more suitable for recording and video work. However, we wouldn’t recommend it for use as a vocal microphone for rock singers and musicians.
Battery Not Required
Unlike other microphones, Rode VideoMicro does not require a battery, just plug and go. It mostly uses plug-in power that draws little voltage from cameras or smartphones through audio cable.
This feature makes it an ideal mic for filmmakers. So it Is compatible with most cameras and smartphones.
Consider standard for cameras.
Additionally, plug in power features make it consume little voltage and have been standard for camera manufacturers.
Compatibility With Devices
The Rode is compatible with a wide range of devices. The device works with DSLR cameras and camcorders. It also works on DSLRs, smartphones, laptops, and tablets. The compatibility makes it a versatile device that can work well with different types of devices.
Compact On-Camera Microphone
A microphone is a device that converts sound waves into electrical signals. These signals can then be amplified and recorded onto tape or digital media.
There are many different types of microphones, but the most common type used in video production is the videomicro.
Accessories
Mic comes with an integrated shock mount, dead cat or furry windshield, and TRS cable.
Rycote’s lyre shock mount is the most important feature for vloggers and filmmakers. It means that the vibration that comes from moving a camera or smartphone while recording, won’t be picked up by your microphone. The shock mount rests directly on the DSLR camera and reduces vibrations caused by camera handling.
Additionally, it offers a furry windshield, also known as dead cat in film industry. It is a cover that slips over the mic and helps to reduce wind noise during outdoor recording.
The goal of a microphone is to pick up audio. No matter what you plan to do with it, whether you plan to use it for work, vlogging, film production, etc. Although more professional microphones can help, there are some best practices that can help you get the best audio regardless of the microphone you use.
Rode's User Manuals And Guidance
The Rode mic comes with an instruction manual that ensures that users will know all the information necessary to use the product properly.
The user manual also provides helpful guidance when it comes to troubleshooting some issues that may arise while using the product. For example, if the microphone does not work at first, it is helpful to review the user manual for tips on how to fix this issue.
How To Set Up Rode VideoMicro?
The Rode is easy to set up because it has a plug-and-play feature. This means that users do not need any drivers or other software in order for this device to function properly on their systems.
Simply connect the microphone into an available USB port and then start using it right away without needing any other type of setup process. This feature makes this particular model very convenient for users.
Røde VideoMicro Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Less expensive than the competition Cons: Stereo mic, which is good and bad.
- Good for recording soundscapes, but not so much for getting clean dialogue.
- Best Uses: Videography, independent filmmakers, podcasting
I use this mic on my Canon C100 Mark II as a shotgun mic when I am shooting video. It works great in that role to pick up the audio from the scene without picking up too much of the background noise (which would require me to record audio separately).
I’ve used this mic on both an iPhone 6+ and a Canon C100 Mark II camera. I love it! The size is perfect for carrying around with you and attaching to a small DSLR or iPhone. The sound quality is definitely better than what you get out of either one’s built-in mic.
My only complaint about this product is that it records in stereo, not mono. This can be good and bad depending on what you are recording. If you want to record soundscapes or other sounds/noises around you, then having a stereo microphone will work great because you will capture a wider field of sound and be able to distinguish between different directions from
It is a great way to improve your video quality. They provide a wide field of view and a shallow depth of field, making your footage look more professional. They’re also very easy to use, so you won’t have to worry about getting the perfect shot every time.
Final Verdict - Rode VideoMicro Review
To conclude that this is a very small and light microphone made by Rode. It is designed to be used with DSLR cameras, camcorders, and audio recorders. It has a 3.5mm jack and comes with a flurry windscreen. This is very popular among vloggers and YouTubers.
It’s well-built, sounds great, and is very affordable. If you’re looking for a good mic to use with your DSLR, the Rode VideoMicro is definitely worth checking out.
FAQs
Will this work with the Sony FDRX3000 action camera?
What is the microphone quality of Rode VideoMicro?
Why Should I Use an External Microphone with my DSLR or Mirrorless Camera?
There are several reasons why you might want to use an external microphone with your DSLR camera.
First, the built-in microphone on these cameras can often be quite poor, picking up a lot of unwanted noise along with your audio.
Second, an external microphone can be positioned much closer to your subject, resulting in clearer, more focused sound.
And finally, using an external microphone can free up your hands to operate the camera, which can be especially helpful if you’re shooting video.
Should I Buy a Rode Shotgun Video Microphone?
The Rode Shotgun Video Microphone is a great choice for those looking for an affordable, high-quality videomic.
It offers excellent sound quality and is very versatile, making it a great choice for both on-camera and mirrorless cameras.
It comes with a dead cat windscreen, which is essential for reducing wind noise when recording outdoors.
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