J. Trew@itstrewJanuary 10th, 2022In this posting: news, gear, mic, videomic go ii, podcast, rode, shotgun, microphone
When somebody asks “what’s the ideal microphone” the reaction is normally “well it is dependent what you are recording.” Rode’s new VideoMic Go II, as the name suggests, wouldn’t be suitable for podcasting. Would it?
Very clearly, the VideoMic Go II was designed to sit atop a camera. That’s just a point, but with USB and 3.5mm outputs and compatibility with Rode Link – the company’s USB-friendly podcasting application – it turns out this light-weight, $99 mic could be extra versatile than it first seems.
If you are looking for a mic for your DSLR, know that the VideoMic Go II has a chilly shoe mount, the aforementioned 3.5mm out (which can also be applied for monitoring) and it comes bundled with a Rycote shock mount and a windscreen in the box. There’s no secondary/security/stereo recording in this article or on-mic attain control, but that’s standard for one thing in this value vary.
Functionality-intelligent, the seem is incredibly prosperous for a mic of this size without having sounding far too “dead.” There is no noteworthy distinction amongst the audio you get out of the USB port in contrast to the 3.5mm port bar a minimal variation in acquire. When evaluating it in opposition to Rode’s VideoMic Me and VideoMic NTG, the VideoMic Go II may possibly perfectly be my beloved of the bunch. It is normal, concentrated with just the suitable amount of ambiance/sense of house.
The place the VideoMic Go II gets extra appealing is how it performs in other use scenarios. When plugged into a computer system and placed on a desk the VideoMic Go II appears just as robust as much extra pricey dynamic microphones. So a lot so it threw me for a second.
Perhaps the greatest illustration of this is when I analyzed it against the $400 Shure SM7B and Rode’s individual $99 NT USB Mini. Given that each of the Rodes in this examination are condenser microphones and expense about the exact same, you could possibly think these two would be the nearer match, but it turns out that the VideoMic Go II sounded significantly closer to the SM7B. This isn’t to say it is as excellent as the SM7B (there is a small additional depth in the Shure and a contact much more dynamic vary perhaps) but specified the disparity in selling price, it undoubtedly was not predicted.
This similarity is further compounded when you take into account that the unique form of capsule – Rode’s condenser vs . Shure’s dynamic – by itself would generally give them a incredibly various seem. You can hear all three microphones in the sample below. It commences with the Shure, then the VideoMic Go II and then the NT Mini. The changeover in between the very first two is refined, but the last one is apparent. Oh, and the VideoMic Go II was about two inches more away from my mouth than the SM7B was.
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Of class, this is just 1 examination, in a single state of affairs in a person certain space. But for a swift comparison of what a $400 mic can do off the cuff compared to a $99 a single, it is a very good beginning issue. Inspite of the absence of on-system controls, there are some configurable choices via Rode Central. When related to the application (mobile or desktop) you’ll have the selection to tweak the achieve degree, implement a higher pass filter / large-frequency enhance and adjust the checking volume. It is fewer handy than bodily on-mic controls, but even now will allow you some management above how it appears or responds to unique inputs. (If you might be questioning, the audio over commences with the SM7B and switches to the VideoMic Go II at “two condenser microphones”).
Supplied that Rode extra compatibility for Hook up, and the USB selection can make it phone and pill-welcoming, suddenly the VideoMic Go II could quite effectively be a very good all-rounder for the cost. A mic that has video chops but can also do double duty as a podcast mic (and, therefore an all-function laptop mic) there appears to be a great deal of bang for the veritable buck.
Of course, if you actually do will need something that information a safety channel, has bodily variable attain controls or if XLR connectivity is a ought to, this isn’t the 1 to go for. But for most common creator takes advantage of? It at last may well not completely “depend on what you are recording.”
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