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RodeVideoMic Go II PRICE: £99 RODE.COM Poor audio is a turn-off – and no help if you’re trying to build a strong following. But invest in Rode’s latest lightweight plug-and-go mic and the only way is up
WHETHER IT’S A feature film, TV broadcast or YouTube video, poor audio is almost guaranteed to have viewers moving on to something else. Any aspiring vloggers will soon learn that on-camera microphones don’t really cut the mustard, giving muffled, indistinct recordings that suffer from wind noise and handling sounds. Also, by their fixed nature, they’re not particularly versatile. While better than nothing, and maybe handy for adding memory notes to your recordings, they’re not ideal for more serious work. Rode is renowned for cutting-edge audio products for the film and TV broadcast industries. It also has a strong presence in the consumer market. We tested the Rode Wireless Go II a few issues back, and fell in love with its performance and tiny stature. Its latest on-camera mic is the VideoMic Go II, which comes in at an attractive £99 – but shop around, as I found it at £89 with some retailers. “I DIDN’T HAVETO RAISE MYVOICE ABOVE NORMAL VOLUMETO BE PICKED UP”
The mic is good to go straight out of the box. You get a coldshoe-fitting shock mount that can slide back and forth on the shoe to aid balance. A 3.5mm TRS to TRS lead and slide-on windproof cover complete the ensemble in the box. The only potential extra is a USB-C lead, if that’s what your device needs. The mic has a supercardioid pickup pattern, with excellent on-axis sensitivity for centrally positioned subjects. This includes from behind, with good rejection of off-axis noise – a handy benefit if shooting in a noisy ambient environment. I tried it indoors at numerous distances, with the mic atop a Canon EOS R5, using supplied mini jack lead, Apple iPad Pro and Macbook Air – both via an extra USB-C lead. Plugging PICKUP ZONES The VideoMic Go II has a supercardioid sensitivity pattern, so is much more sensitive with a central subject – but less so to the sides
SPECS › Price £99 › In the box VideoMic Go II,
SC14 3.5mm TRS to TRS cable, foam windshield, SM8-R shock mount › Polar pattern Supercardioid › Frequency response 20Hz-20kHz › Acoustic principle Pressure gradient electret condenser › Power requirements 3.5mm plug-in power 2-5V › Minimum OS requirements Windows 10 (20H2), macOS 10.15, iOS 14, Android 9.0 › Weight 89g with SM8-R › Dimensions (wxhxl) 70x86x150mm › Contact rode.com
this into the iPad gave a warning that the free Rode Central app was required. This has a high-frequency boost and high-pass filter for even greater control of your sound. A benefit of using the USB-C connection is that the 3.5mmmini jack is then a headphone socket, for monitoring sound levels and checking over recordings. The VideoMic Go II performed as advertised. Outdoors, my recordings were impressive and I didn’t have to raise my voice, even on retreating two metres from the camera. Directional sensitivity was good. It functions fine with a centrally positioned speaker, but going slightly off-centre wasn’t an issue – so, if you’re a fidgeter when talking to camera, the results should be consistent. While the mic is less sensitive away from the central axis, you can still up lateral noise. It’s easy to add notes or a commentary from behind the camera. Indoors, I was getting clean, clear sound at around one metre from the mic. I also retreated to two and three metres from the camera, and it was still crisp. If you want a wide establishing shot, or to put yourself in the setting, this is perfectly possible without compromising too much on sound quality. WC
INPUT CHOICE Both USB-C and 3.5mm mini jack ports are fitted. A 3.5mm TRS to TRS cable is provided in the box
Verdict There’s much to like about the Rode VideoMic Go II, and at £99, it’s impressive value for money. This is a lightweight microphone with a small footprint, dead simple to use, versatile and suitable across a range of devices – including cameras, tablets and desktop computers. Critically, it gives an immediate improvement to your audio output compared with any onboard mic. Plug-and-play simplicity, solid recording performance and compactness make the VideoMic Go II worth serious consideration, and its skills will surely improve your viewing and retention statistics. PROS Compact, lightweight, high-quality sound, top value, simple to use CONS Nothing
GREAT FOR ON THE GO The VideoMic Go II is a compact mic measuring 12cm front to back, weighing less than 100g with the cradle and wind cover in place
32 Photography News | Issue 97
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