RØDE VideoMicro II Ultra-Compact On-Camera Shotgun Microphone for Recording Audio with a Camera or Mobile Device

Okay, fellow videography aficionados and content magicians, gather 'round! 🎥 Let me tell y’all about a solid upgrade I made recently - from the original Rode VideoMicro to the Rode VideoMicro II Camera-mount Compact Shotgun Microphone. First off, for context, I'm your quintessential hobbyist videographer, with my trusty Panasonic Lumix S5II X always within arm's reach. And man, has this new Rode VideoMicro II been a revelation! Straight out the gate, the value. 💸 The audio clarity has taken a notch up from the original - and that’s saying something because the OG VideoMicro was already pretty darn good. But for someone like me, the II just feels like it's been tuned to perfection. It's got this delightful crispness to the audio that makes your content sound that much more professional. Now, don't get me wrong. The big wide world of microphones is vast, with some mics that have price tags as impressive as their specs. But for the run and gun shooters among us, who prioritize efficient, high-quality, no-fuss gear? This mic is the sweet spot. It's plug, play, and phenomenal results every time. I have to give a nod to its compact size, too. It's like the pocket-sized superhero of camera mics, delivering way more than you'd expect from its petite frame. In conclusion? If you’re thinking of leveling up from the original Rode VideoMicro, or even just stepping into the videography game, the Rode VideoMicro II should be high on your list. It’s a small investment for a sizable leap in audio quality. And let's face it, in this game, good audio can make or break your content.

I recently purchased the Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone, and it has truly transformed my video recording experience. This little marvel deserves every bit of its 5-star rating. First off, let's talk about its appearance. The VideoMicro looks sleek and professional when mounted on my camera, adding a touch of elegance to my setup. It's compact and doesn't obstruct the camera's view, which is a huge plus. The real magic happens when you hit the record button. The sound quality is simply outstanding. I can now capture crystal-clear audio without any unwanted background noise. Whether I'm shooting indoors or outdoors, the Rode VideoMicro consistently delivers excellent sound quality. One of my favorite features is its ease of use. You simply plug it into your camera's microphone input, and you're good to go. No complicated setup or additional batteries required. It's a true plug-and-play device. Furthermore, its affordability is unbeatable for the quality it offers. Rode has managed to strike the perfect balance between price and performance with the VideoMicro. In conclusion, the Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone is a must-have for anyone serious about improving their video production quality. It's not just a microphone; it's a game-changer. I couldn't be happier with my purchase, and I highly recommend it to fellow videographers and content creators. This microphone is a solid 5-star performer all the way!

This mic blocks sound from the back REALLY WELL. For example, it's great if you are trying to record music being played live on a stage, and you don't want all the crowd noise behind you to be recorded. On the other hand, if you are using it to vlog, you have to talk louder than normal if you're behind the mic, otherwise your voice will come in soft. In comparison, the much more expensive Rode Video Mic Pro and Pro+ mics are good at picking up sound from the front and the rear, while rejecting sound only from the side. But they pick up sound well from the rear which make them great for vlogging, if you don't mind the larger size and having to use a battery. In any case, this Rode VideoMicro mic is literally one of the best condenser mics you can buy at any price when it comes to blocking sound from the rear. I've used dozens of condenser mics all the way up to $1,000 mics and very few are as good at blocking sound from the rear. (Dynamic mics are better at blocking sound from the rear, but they are a completely different kind of mic.) As far as condenser mics go that can be used for vlogging, the only vlogging mic as good as this one at blocking sound from the rear is the much more expensive Sennheiser MKE 440. Long story short, this Rode VideoMicro is a bargain. Small, cheap, sounds pretty good, comes with a shock mount and a windscreen, and no battery needed. It's a really good deal!

I use this mic on my Sony ZV-E10 every day. I also have the Rode NT-1 studio condenser mic, but my students say the VideoMicro II is clearer and so it's easier for them to hear my voice. I suspect this is due to it having strong response in the mids (where the voice resides) and less in the higher and lower ranges. (It's probably also better when played back on the students' laptop speakers or cheap earphones, which probably also lack highs and lows.) So, for this purpose, it works perfectly. However, it's not so good outdoors. Sometimes I record students outdoors for promotional videos. The included wind protection options are great, but after some testing I discovered that there is excessive wind noise when the wind comes from the side or back. This is due to the flat, ribbon-like shape of the shock mount. If you cover this area on the rear of the mic (and it would probably help to cover the cable too), you can blast it with powerful wind and it stays silent (as confirmed by my tests in a controlled environment). Recommended for indoor use only, or outdoors if you don't mind rigging up an extra cover for the shock mount to supplement the benefits of the fluffy wind shield. It's also highly directional, which is good if you want to somewhat isolate one speaker in a noisy location. I often mount it on a pole with a long cable and use it like a field reporter. Works perfectly and sounds great when you get closer to the interviewee (and without having to stick the camera right in their face).

I recently used this microphone with my iPhone 15 Pro Max, and it works great. The directionality really enhances our audio quality, taking our recordings to the next level. I took it on vacation to Bora Bora, where we filmed unforgettable moments, and it proved to be incredibly durable. Despite dropping the mic several times, it showed no signs of damage, which is impressive. The compact size is another bonus, making it easy to carry along. It doesn't impact the battery life of my phone, which is essential for long filming sessions. Considering the high-quality results we achieve, I believe the value is well worth it. I can easily see this microphone being useful for other cameras, like my full-frame Sony or Fuji as well.

We bought the Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone to use with our GoPro Hero 8. We had a TASCAM Micro Portable Digital Audio Recorder and it was a nightmare to use. We did some research and came across the Rode and decided to purchase it. Boy what a change, I wish we had purchased the Rode first. Things I like: 1. The Rode captures quality sound. 2. It is easy to use, just hook it to the camera. 3. It is powered from the camera so you don't need batteries for it. 4. When recording outside the "dead cat" blocks the wind sound. 5. Good quality overall. 6. Good price point. 7. Compact 8. Works good indoors, but also good for when recording outside. We have had it for two years and haven't had any problems with it. We would buy one again, if needed. I can't think of anything right at the moment that I don't like.

This mic is good but not great, and how much you like it will really depend on your specific reasons for buying it. The intended purpose of this microphone is to offer you an improvement over your camera's built-in microphone (either a DSLR or mirrorless, or a camcorder with an accessory shoe) and to give you more of a directional mic (it is a mini shotgun) in an extremely compact package. This is however a $50 microphone, and is at the bottom end of Rode's product line of on-camera mics, so don't expect miracles. First, the pros. The mic is very well-built. The housing is all metal, and it has a very solid feel. The included shock mount is awesome, the cable to plug the mic into your camera is very nice quality and is just the right length so that it gets the job done without flopping all over the place. It is also of course coiled, so if you need more length, it's there. Including a dead kitten wind sock was also a really nice touch. You're getting a really nice package for $50. This mic is very compact, even with the shockmount and dead kitten, making it easy to stick into your camera bag. The mic also uses your camera's plug-inpower instead of batteries, meaning that you'll never be caught out with no batteries, as you would be with some other products. Now to the cons. The sound is simply not great. If you are trying to record sound only from your subject when filming, then this mic does OK for what it is. Expect to spend some time messing with EQ afterwards in order to improve the sound quality, though. I was watching reviews on YouTube where people were plugging it into a digital recorder and using it as a near-field mic for doing voiceover and on-camera work, and talking about how great it sounded considering how small and cheap it is. For this application (which to be fair is NOT its intended purpose), the mic is pretty poor. I only messed around with it in this fashion because, being that it uses an accessory/hot shoe mount, you can easily mount it to a tripod, microphone stand, or boom pole and use a longer 1/8" stereo cable to plug it into a digital recorder. Again, if you're willing to spend some time in post adjusting EQ levels, you can surely bring out the best in this mic, but the standard unedited audio is not going to sound impressive in any way. Just as a warning to Canon camera users, Canon DSLRs have notoriously bad microphone pre-amps in them. If you are plugging this mic directly into the camera (which, again is its intended purpose) you are likely not going to be happy with the sound. Shooting video with a Canon necessitates the use of an external digital recorder, and if you're going to go that route, then there are plenty of other choices as far as microphones are concerned. Personally, I bought this microphone to use with a Sony AX-53 camcorder, as the built-in mic is super omni-directional and therefore not suitable when tyring to train the camera on one particular subject (as opposed to, for instance, filming your kid's soccer game. For that application, it was a clear improvement. Just be aware of exactly what the purpose of this microphone is before purchasing it.

The RØDE VideoMicro II is an impressive upgrade for anyone looking to improve their camera or mobile audio. It’s ultra-compact, super lightweight, and doesn’t require batteries — just plug and play. Despite its small size, the sound quality is clear, directional, and a massive improvement over built-in mics. The included shock mount and windscreen are excellent additions, making it great for vlogging, interviews, or field recording. It works flawlessly with both my DSLR and smartphone (with the right adapter). If you're serious about upping your audio game without bulky gear, this mic delivers in a big way. Highly recommended!