MINI TESTS
RODE WIRELESS GO (GEN 3) £279/$299 (£368/$388 with Charge Case+) rode.com
Rode’s popular Wireless Go has been upgraded to the version three, which uses lots of the technology from the flagship Wireless Pro, but at a more attainable price. Both these kits come with a single receiver and pair of transmitters, and have built-in 32-bit float recording, plus intelligent Gain Assist to avoid clipping highs. The new Go doesn’t just come in black or white, but also in the limited-edition colours red, orange, green, purple, pink, blue, clay, cobalt, lilac, stone, rose and moss. The new Wireless Go – reverted to being called that instead of using the III or Gen 3 labels – is a powerful, compact wireless mic system that uses Rode’s latest Series IV 2.4GHz digital transmission with 128-bit encryption for stable audio at ranges up to 260m, with line of sight. It’s small and easy to use and audio quality is excellent. There are more than 40 hours of 32-bit float on-board recording, but
the signal sent directly to the camera is not in 32-bit. That’s where intelligent Gain Assist comes in, as the output gain can be adjusted to compensate for loud or quiet sound. There’s a safety channel you can set at a lower gain in case of sudden loud noises. Gain Assist has two modes – auto and dynamic – or it can be turned off to allow manual adjustment of 30dB of gain control. Other features shared with the Pro include locking lavalier connectors and headphone monitoring with on-board level control. To extend battery life, the Wireless Go detects when the camera is on or off, and does the same to match. Like the Pro, the Rode Central app can configure the system on a computer or smart device, while the most important adjustments can be set on the LCD display and control buttons. There are also built-in microphones with omnidirectional pickup patterns as well as the same improved design and upgraded preamp as the Wireless Pro. Both output a signal via USB-C for digital audio or 3.5mm TRRS analogue, so it also works for phones or PCs. The transmitters also pair to Rode Series IV compatible products such as the Rodecaster Pro II, Duo and Video. The Go’s integrated clip enables easy attachment to clothing or coldshoe mounts and comes with a soft pouch and furry windshields. It also has a plastic adapter with three USB-C outputs that Rode calls a charging hub. Rather, it makes sense to buy Rode’s dedicated charging and travel case, the Charge Case+. This has an integrated
BASIC KIT Two TX and one RX unit, cables, fluffies and a charging bar
battery that delivers two full recharges for up to 21 hours of life, allowing data access to the entire system for transfers, updates and more. Adding this brings the cost to £368/$388. It’s a great bit of kit, and when we tested the Pro version we gave that an unprecedented ten out of ten. The Go has pretty much all the same tech apart from timecode, which is Pro only. If the Go was significantly cheaper, it would be a no-brainer buy, unless timecode is a dealbreaker. However, at launch the Go and case cost £368/$388 altogether, while the slightly older Pro is now discounted to £339/$315. It comes with a charging case and two lav mics with furry covers and tie clips. There’s no doubt the Wireless Go offers incredible performance in a fantastically compact package, but the Pro currently offers a little more for less cash. You can’t go wrong with either, but unless the new Go has a price cut, we’d be happier with the Pro. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 Incredible spec with 32-bit float Pros: The tiny solution for two mics Cons: Higher price against the Pro
SPECIFICATIONS
Audio functions: Mono, stereo, safety track, mute Range: 260m/853ft Frequency: 2.4GHz Receiver response: 20Hz-20kHz Interfaces: TX 3.5mm TRS input; RX 3.5mm TRRS output, 3.5mm headphone jack Built-in mics: Omnidirectional mono, 50Hz-20kHz Lavalier mic: 2x omnidirectional, 20Hz-20kHz Encryption: 128-bit SNR: 72dB Maximum SPL: 123.5dB Battery life: 7 hours Charging time: 2.5 hours Built-in recorder: 32-bit Compatibility: Android 11, iOS 14, MacOS 11, Windows 10 or later Charging case: 2.5-hour recharge time, 14-hour extra runtime Transmitter and receiver dimensions (wxhxd): 46.5x44x20mm/1.8x1.7x0.8in Transmitter weight: 35g/0.08lb Receiver weight: 36g/0.08lb
MUST-BUY The optional charging case is an essential accessory and worth the cash
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