The Rode VideoMic Pro is a reliable and versatile microphone designed for capturing high-quality audio during video recording. Whether you’re a professional filmmaker or a content creator, this shotgun microphone has a lot to offer.
Pros:
- Impressive Sound Quality: The VideoMic Pro delivers clear and crisp audio, making it a perfect choice for capturing dialogues, interviews, and ambient sounds.
- Compact and Lightweight: Weighing just 85 grams, this microphone is incredibly portable and won’t weigh down your setup.
- Easy Setup: It’s a breeze to attach the VideoMic Pro to your camera. Simply plug it into the 3.5mm audio input, and you’re ready to record.
- Rugged Build: The microphone is built to last, with a durable construction that can handle the rigors of outdoor shooting.
- Battery Life: The VideoMic Pro boasts an impressive battery life, allowing you to record for extended periods without interruptions.
- Directional Pickup Pattern: The supercardioid pickup pattern focuses on the sound source in front of the microphone while minimizing background noise.
Cons:
- Price: While the Rode VideoMic Pro is a top microphone, it comes at a slightly higher price point compared to some competitors.
- Wind Noise: Without a proper windscreen, this microphone can be susceptible to wind noise when shooting in breezy conditions.
- No On/Off Switch: Unlike its sibling, the VideoMic Pro+ doesn’t have an on/off switch, which can be inconvenient when you need to conserve battery life.
Conclusion:
The Rode VideoMic Pro is an excellent choice for those looking to elevate the audio quality of their videos. Its compact size, impressive sound quality, and ease of use make it a valuable addition to any videographer’s toolkit. While it comes at a slightly higher cost, the investment is well worth it if you prioritize audio quality in your content.
Another World Terraria –
WARNING: Rode does not offer Warranty for purchases from Amazon, so I was unable to register for a warranty for my product.I have not tested the microphone yet, but wanted to write the review because I just had the Warranty issue and wanted to caution other people about it. I will update the review later after testing.Seems to be nice quality, though as others have said it feels a little “cheap.” I think that is partially due to the red suspension frame, which bends and wobbles (as it should). I am sure it is pretty tough, but I feel like I’m going to break something every time I pick it up or try to put it in my camera bag.I like that it is relatively lightweight so it doesn’t add to the already heavy equipment I am carrying.It is somewhat bulky, and in addition to the “fragile” feeling, could be tricky to pack if you are trying to travel compact (for example if you are hiking long distances in the wilderness for wildlife videography)You should be aware that the “fuzzy windjammer” included in this kit is not actually a true “deadcat windscreen,” (Which is totally fine and expected, since the listing does NOT claim it to be a Deadcat.) I can’t say how the performance compares since I don’t own the “deadcat,” but the deadcat has longer “fur” and is more varied in length and direction, whereas this Windjammer seems more uniform and with shorter fur.So, overall this seems like a good product and value for the cost, but be aware of the “no warranty” issue and that the windscreen isn’t a real deadcat.
cv67 –
I had a fantastic experience with Kellards regarding my purchase of the Rode VideoMic. Initially I had recieved what appeared to be an open box item. I contacted the company and recieved a new product with return box postage paid for my return item immediately. The whole transaction took just a few days. I would definitely purchase from this company again, they really do care about the customer!!!The Rode VideoMic has been outstanding so far. I am in a band and am using this as an external mic with an HD video camera to capture our performances. The mic picks up lows and highs very well and as a shotgun mic minimizes peripheral crowd noise. It is a directional monoaural condenser mic which is what I needed based on the venues in which we perform and it does an outstanding job capturing full sound without distortion. The mic also has gain control settings inside the battery compartment which I have not had to use as of yet.One note: I use a Sony video camera with this mic and had to purchase a universal hot shoe adapter to get the mic to mount on the camera…I got one for around $10 including shipping from EasyFoto (EzFoto Sony Camcorder “Active Interface Sho” to universal hot shoe adapter).Overall I am extremely pleased with this microphone and with the company who sold it, Kellards.
Andrew –
I recently purchased this Mic so that i could use my Canon Sl1 for recording videos. I like the look and feel of the microphone on my camera. The mic stand has a lot of flex and give, so it does move a lot but it doesn’t seem to affect sound at all but it also means its less likely to break.The microphone is very sensitive. I was testing it out at my kitchen table and during playback on my computer i heard a faint humming noise. After listening to it a few times i realized it picked up the sound of my refrigerator that was running during the time of recording. I haven’t tested it at the 80hz setting.The only thing you have to be careful with is that the windjammer is a little bulky and i did notice a few strands hanging in front of my lens. I look forward to getting a lot of use out of this mic. It is weird that it uses 9v batteries. Not yet sure of how long the 9v will last but the door is pretty easy access although its a bit of a bear to try and get back perfectly closed.
Chef Gene –
This version of the Rode kit comes with a nice extra – the wind noise blocker similar to a dead cat. All in all worth the money as a decent shotgun for DSLR work. Next step up shotgun will be more than double the price point and will require XLR preamps.Pros-Reasonably good sound – much better than DSLR and close to a portable recorder-Light – because it’s all plastic it does not add much weight to the camera-Battery seems to last a long time-Power light makes it easy to see if its left on-Coiled cord is a nice feature making it good for cable management on DSLR-Free wind screen with this kitCons-Sound not up to par of XLR mics with some internal noise at 1KHz-Very cheap feeling – the whole thing is cast in typical chinese plastic part look and feel. No aluminum to be found-Weird shape means it leans to the right (see photos) and is a bit off center.-Wider pickup pattern than other shotguns of this size-No pre-amp in this version means you need to max your DSLR levels or use a separate preamp.