Which Rode VideoMic Suits Your Project?

Which RØDE VideoMic suits my project?

RØDE is one of the market leaders in audio and video. They offer a large range of microphones, and with no fewer than 13 different microphones, the VideoMic series is by far the most well-known. It all started in 2004 with the release of the original VideoMic and quickly grew into a series of microphones for every filmmaker. This gives you plenty of choice, but it also makes choosing more difficult. To make it easier for you, we have compared the best RØDE VideoMics.

What do the RØDE VideoMics have in common?

The RØDE VideoMics are very similar to each other. Except for the Stereo microphones, they are all shotgun microphones. They also all feature a cardioid or supercardioid polar pattern. This means that they mainly capture sound from the front and to a lesser extent from the rear and sides of the microphone. All RØDE microphones also feature a professional Rycote Lyre shock mount, which effectively dampens external vibrations so they are not audible in the recording.

All VideoMics in a row

The all-rounders

VideoMic

The original VideoMic from RØDE is a high-quality on-camera shotgun microphone. This microphone features a studio-quality condenser that delivers clear and natural sound recordings. Thanks to the supercardioid polar pattern, the VideoMic mainly records sound from the front of the microphone. This gives the microphone a lot of flexibility when recording videos outdoors, especially in locations with heavy traffic or wind. The VideoMic is an ideal microphone if you are looking for a compact microphone with many options. For example, this microphone has a selectable high-pass filter that prevents background noise from being recorded. The VideoMic also features a gain pad from -10dB to -20dB, allowing you to record loud sound sources without overloading your camera’s preamp. This makes it especially useful for making vlogs in busy places, (street) interviews, and reports.

VideoMic GO II

If you are looking for a microphone with the same reliability as the original VideoMic, but with more simplicity, then the VideoMic GO II is perfect for you. This microphone offers high-quality sound but is simpler than the VideoMic. This compact version weighs only 89 grams, making it easy to carry for vlogs and travel videos, both with your camera and your smartphone. The VideoMic GO II features both a 3.5mm TRS and a USB-C connection. You can also record simultaneously and monitor the sound by connecting headphones to one of the ports and a camera, PC, or smartphone to the other port. Handy for recording podcasts. The VideoMic GO II does not require batteries, as it is powered by the device it is connected to. Like the original VideoMic, the VideoMic GO II has a supercardioid polar pattern, which mainly captures sound from the front of the microphone. This microphone can also be used with the RØDE Apps for more advanced settings.

VideoMic NTG

The VideoMic NTG is a multifunctional shotgun microphone that delivers high-quality sound. It can be used both with your camera and your phone, making it easy to create different types of audio recordings. The VideoMic NTG can also be used as a USB microphone connected to your PC. Ideal for podcasts, voice-overs, streams, video calls, and more. The VideoMic NTG runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts more than 30 hours on a full charge. Like the previous microphones, the VideoMic NTG has a supercardioid polar pattern, mainly picking up sounds from the front of the microphone. The VideoMic NTG stands out because of its revolutionary design that delivers transparent, natural, and uncolored sound.

VideoMic Pro+

The VideoMic Pro+ is the most advanced VideoMic from RØDE. This microphone has higher sound sensitivity and a high-frequency boost that captures and enhances more details. This gives you clearer sound that stands out beautifully, especially useful when using a deadcat. In addition, the VideoMic Pro+ has very low self-noise. The built-in safety channel ensures that the volume of the recorded sound remains consistent, even if the sound suddenly becomes louder during recording. The VideoMic Pro+ does this by making a second recording at -10dB, functioning as a backup recording that can compensate for loud sounds. This makes the microphone extremely suitable for live concert recordings. This microphone runs on an LB-1 Lithium-Ion battery rechargeable via microUSB or on two AA batteries. The LED indicator shows the battery status. With the Automatic Power Function, the microphone detects when it is disconnected from the camera and switches itself off to save battery power. This microphone is an on-camera condenser microphone and, like the previous models, features a supercardioid polar pattern.

Stereo VideoMic X

The Stereo VideoMic X is the successor to the Stereo VideoMic Pro and differs from the rest of the RØDE VideoMics in one major aspect: they are the only stereo microphones in the series. The Stereo VideoMic X is an on-camera stereo microphone and features a dome windshield. It runs on a 9V battery or 48V phantom power, allowing uninterrupted recording. Like the VideoMic Pro+, this microphone has a high-frequency boost that captures more details. The cardioid polar pattern means that the Stereo VideoMic X mainly captures sound from the front of the microphone and to a lesser extent from the sides. The microphone is therefore fairly directional, but thanks to its round shape it also captures ambient sounds well, making it extremely suitable for recording cinematic videos, live performances, natural ambient sounds, sports events, and more.

Mini VideoMic's

VideoMicro II

The VideoMicro II is the successor to the VideoMicro. This ultra-compact microphone weighs only 39 grams and is just 8 cm long, making it the smallest shotgun microphone in the VideoMic series. Thanks to its small size, this is an ideal microphone for making vlogs and travel videos. Like the VideoMic and the VideoMic GO II, the VideoMicro II has a supercardioid polar pattern, focusing recording on the front of the microphone. The VideoMicro II has a 3.5mm TRS port and comes with both a 3.5mm TRS to TRS cable and a 3.5mm TRS to TRRS cable. This allows you to easily connect the microphone to your camera or smartphone.

VideoMic Me, Me-L, Me-C

The VideoMic Me series consists of very small, high-quality microphones. These microphones stand out because they can easily be connected to your mobile devices. No matter which device you use, there is a VideoMic Me compatible with your device. The VideoMic Me has a 3.5mm headphone connection, the VideoMic Me-L has a Lightning connection for iOS devices, and the VideoMic Me-C has a USB-C connection for Android devices. These microphones can all be plugged directly into your device for immediate use. These small shotgun microphones all have a cardioid polar pattern. Sound is therefore picked up well at the front of the microphone, while sound from the rear and sides is reduced. This gives you clear sound with minimal background noise. This makes them ideal microphones for recording vlogs, video calls, TikToks, and interviews with your smartphone.