Røde has updated the VideoMicro on-camera shotgun microphone, adding new features for improved performance.
The VideoMicro II is a true shotgun condenser microphone with a supercardioid polar pattern for recording professional audio directly to a camera or smartphone. The body has been redesigned, using Røde’s annular line tube technology for transparency and natural, full-bodied sound. The circuitry has also been overhauled, offering improved sensitivity and lower self-noise.
With no batteries required to operate and no complicated controls, it is aimed at creators who want to upgrade the audio quality of their camera or smartphone.
One of the most striking new features of the VideoMicro II is the sleek red suspension mount. This is the Helix isolation mount, an innovative shockmount system developed in-house at Røde specifically for the VideoMicro II.
Moulded from a single piece of Hytrel thermoplastic, it fully isolates the capsule from vibrations that occur from knocks, bumps and general handling, which can result in rumbles and other audio artefacts in a recording. It is designed to the exact size and weight of the microphone, ensuring optimal stabilisation and acoustic performance, while being low-profile. It also features handy cable management slots and a standard mount for attaching to a camera cold shoe, plus a 3/8-inch thread for mounting onto a boompole and other accessories.
The VideoMicro II also comes with deluxe foam and furry windshields for protection from wind noise, making it suitable for recording in a wide range of environments, indoors or in the elements. Also included is a 3.5mm TRS-to-TRS cable for connecting to cameras and a 3.5mm TRS-to-TRRS cable for connecting to smartphones.
At 39g, the VideoMicro II is suited to use with DSLR and mirrorless cameras, compact and action cameras, and smartphones. It takes up minimal space in a creator kit, camera bag, backpack or handbag. It is also incredibly tough, designed and made in Røde’s manufacturing facilities in Sydney, Australia, using components including a rugged, all-metal body and broadcast-grade capsule.
‘The VideoMicro was groundbreaking when it was released almost a decade ago,’ says Røde CEO, Damien Wilson. ‘Never before had creators been able to record crystal-clear audio with a microphone as compact, lightweight and easy to use. It has since become the world’s best-selling on-camera mic and has spawned many imitators, though none have replicated the professional performance of the original. Over the past ten years, we have continued to innovate across our entire VideoMic range, and we are excited to now update the VideoMicro with next-generation features for today’s creators.’
