Rode Announces Two New On-Camera Microphones

Freedman Electronics, the parent company of renowned microphone company RØDE Microphones has just celebrated the opening of their 50th year and to mark the occasion they released some very exciting new microphones.

We have been gripped by the news of a 360 degrees video mic called the Rode VideoMic Soundfield. This accessible new on-camera ambisonic mic uses four capsules on a Lyre shockmount to capture sound from all directions. On board the Rode VideoMic Soundfield there’s a standard 3.5mm jack and a multipin connector for a four channel ambisonic signal that you can use to take a feed to a live mix.

The Soundfield mic will certainly be of interest to many sole operators out there, especially those conducting interviews that want to capture dialogue from both sides of the camera, and because it’s by Rode you can expect it to be reliable and give an impressive output.

But wait, that's not the only new product from Rode... Many camera operators and producers will already be familiar with the Rode Video Mic Pro, a reputable mic for DSLR users. The newly announced Rode Video Mic Pro+ keeps the familiar shape but hosts a bundle of improvements. On the back of the unit you will find a two stage high pass filter button for switching between 75 and 150hz and an output level controller. Another update is to the windshield which is now made of a microfibre flocking that offers much better protection from the elements.

If you are out and about a lot with the microphone then the new high capacity lithium ion battery will be a welcomed addition to the new model. The new battery promises an impressive 100 hour life between charges, and if that does run out you can also power the unit with AA batteries.Another innovative addition to the power department is the auto power off functionality that will turn the microphone off if the user turns the camera off, and similarly the microphone will turn on when the camera starts up.

We have yet to see any confirmation regarding price or availability but can’t imagine it being too far away, obviously we will keep you updated on the blog and social media channels.