Review: Røde VideoMic Pro+
© Røde Microphones
By Campbell George
*Tap tap*
“Is this thing on?”
With the top-of-the-line Røde VideoMic Pro+, you’ll never have to ask. When the camera is on, the mic is on. When the camera is off, the mic is off. It’s that simple. You’ll never have to worry about forgetting to turn on the mic when you begin recording or draining the battery by failing to switch it off when your work is done.
After years of collecting feedback on the their flagship VideoMic Pro model, Røde has introduced a new microphone that builds on what users loved about the original, as well as improving on areas that failed to convert detractors. Well, after sustained field use, the jury has returned and find the Pro+ model a superior microphone in every respect.
© Røde Microphones
The original fans will appreciate a wide range of controls at the back of the microphone. The original Pro model offered -10/+20 decibel gain control; the new Pro+ sees and raises this essential feature with a 75/100 Hz high pass filter to remove unwanted audio clutter while recording, such as air conditioning or traffic noise. As an added bonus, the Pro+’s high frequency boost cuts through ambient sound, recording a subject directly in front of the camera with significantly less background noise. Aside from being the sturdiest suspension system outside a Ferrari, it also ensures that no matter how hard you jostle the camera for that perfect shot, the audio will be clear as a bell.
© Røde Microphones
Though the typical match of the Pro+ is the standard DSLR, fear not, should you prefer other equipment. Thanks to the detachable 3.5mm TRS cable, you can hook up the Pro+ to a smartphone or tablet, no questions asked.
© Røde Microphones
Of course, none of this matters if the mic isn’t on. With over 100 hours of battery life on a single charge, however, that shouldn’t be a problem. Should you need more, the micro USB charging cable can be plugged into an external power source to record as long as you need. Yet the most impressive feature,-- the one that gives this mic the scrappy staying power you’ll feel comfortable relying on-- is that should all other power sources run out on you, you can always slide in a couple trusty AA batteries to ensure the job gets done.
All in all, whether you’re an amateur filmmaker or professional YouTuber, you can rest easy knowing you’ll be capturing crystal sound with the Røde VideoMic Pro+ as your source of primary and reference audio.
© Røde Microphones
