- Mobile Journalist, Vlogger, Run & Gun
- For Cameras and Portable Recorders
- 100-Hr Run Time via 9V Battery
- Selectable Pad and Bass Roll-Off
- Attached 3.5mm TRS Output Cable
- Power Switch with LED
- Windscreen Reduces Wind Noise
- Integrated Shoe/Pole Shockmount
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 207,264 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Rode VideoMic. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Rode VideoMic. For example, 83% of 177,851 users who have commented on the Value for money of the Rode VideoMic have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 816 Reviews
Not bad for the money
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I bought my Canon HV30 less than a month ago and I'm still working out the sound issues. Basically, I can't tell if this camera's motor noise is louder than other cameras, but what is certain is that I will have to find a solution to not having this noise in my recordings if I am going to be able to use this camera for the project I bought it for. I bought the Rode VideoMic without having even tried the mic's built-in microphone, because I assumed the quality of the built-in mic would be unusable. When I got the camera, I tested the built-in mic, and sure enough, it sucked. My project is a documentary where my interview subjects are sitting about 8 feet from the camera. Using the Rode VideoMic on my camera and doing two interviews, I would say the mic is a vast improvement over the built-in mic, but it was impossible to notice that there was still significant camera motor noise in the audio. Also, I felt that the directionality of this microphone's polar pickup pattern is not very good and I would not call this mic a shotgun mic. I would say this mic has a standard cardiod response which is somewhat directional but not really ideal for video work. The other thing I noticed about this mic's performance is that the sound seemed somewhat muffled, that was in appropriate for recording speech. In an attempt to better my situation, I purchased the Sennheiser MKE400, which is a competing (and more expensive) product to the Rode, and unfortunately this mic picked up even more of the camera's motor noise than the Rode, though it did seem to have a slightly brighter frequency response. I returned the Sennheiser and and have kept the Rode, but am looking for a new solution, probably buying an expensive shotgun mic from B+H, or maybe getting a wireless microphone. I would say in closing that if having some camera motor noise in your videos is not a huge problem, the Rode VideoMic is an excellent improvement on the built-in microphone on your camera. One other thing I should also mention is that the shockmount built-in to this microphone is rather loose, and the mic tends to move around quite a bit. The only solution I found for this is to put a finger on the mic while moving around, or to have the camera on a tripod. ... More
We would recomend this product
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by R B. on B&H Photo Video
Assignment: shoot a documentary series for Internet presentation consisting primarily of interiors and talking heads. For this we used the following lighting and photographic equipment purchased from B&H. Our Interfit Fluorescent Lighting set-up consisting of 3 x Super 5's and a Prolite 9 instrument. For photography we chose 2 VIXIA HF R400HD cameras, together with 2 PNY 32 GB class 10 High Performance memories, 2 SONY 32 GB class 10 memories, 2 Duracell 9 V batteries for our mic and a Rode VideoMic. Lighting: the Interface Fluorescent Lighting set up worked great. All of the instruments were lightweight, easy to set up and break down and provided excellent lighting with the diffusers in place. All of our energy consumption was handled easily by two circuits (it could have been one) and we would highly recommend this system for productions that want quality lighting on a budget. Microphone: the Rode VideoMic easily attached the hand bracket that was attached to the camera and the mic consistently provided professional quality sound for our 12 foot throws. Memory: the PNY 32 GB class 10 High Performance memories worked flawlessly in recording and reading our video project. He depended on them and making The SONY 32 GB class 10 memories worked flawlessly in recording and reading our video project. We depended on them and they came through. Batteries: one Duracell 9 V battery provided all the power necessary for the Rode VideoMic. It is rated at 100 hours. We can rely on it with confidence. Cameras: the VIXIA HF R400HD best met our criteria for the shoot. We locked down one camera and roamed with the other during panel discussions. Camera Pros: Excellent picture quality at 35 Mbps, 60 P. Excellent Canon optics. Excellent zoom ratio 35mm equivalent of 32.5 mm x 1,723 mm (but the HD format is as wide as a 35mm 4 x 3 format at 20 mm). Excellent zoom snap manual zoom plus three motor zoom speeds worked fine. Microphone input for professional sound we used the Rode VideoMic. Earphone output we used ear buds. Memory Two hour recording time with the 32 GB SBHC memory cards was essential for the success of this project. Camera Cons: Color temperature the cameras seem to be warm, but they cut well together. No hot shoe we used our own hand bracket for the Rode VideoMic. No threads on lens for additional lens or filter mounts but, we didn't need anything else. No manual control of exposure however, we were able to keep the lighting set-up consistent with the use of a handheld meter. Camera is slow we rated the1/4.85 CMOS at ISO 160, but easily maintained the recommended 100 Lux minimum illumination through the numerous lighting controls and metering. We've been working with B&H for over 20 years in still photography and they have always answered all of our technical questions. Their expertise has been indispensable during this media transition. B&H has always helped us get the quality results we want for the price we want to pay. ... More
Great sound for the price
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Samantha on B&H Photo Video
For a quick interview and a small budget this mic is a great backup boom for the price. Of course there are better mic's out there. This one feels cheap (plastic) but what can you expect for $$. It's extremely sensitive to direction and distance so it's best for close interviews. Impressed with the sound quality. Not impressed with the 8th inch connector. I'd rather the cable be independent from the unit. I've been having some issues with connection to my Canon 5D Mark ii. I'm not sure if it's the connection or the unit itself but I'll get levels but two minutes later all I hear is static on my clips. If the chord was independent I could test other ones to at least find out myself if it's a bad chord or if I need to send the mic in. ... More
Great mic, like it for DSLR video
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Malte Strauss on B&H Photo Video
The Microphone is larger than I would anticipated it. It is a full size professional looking microphone with a fantastic sensitivity. I had to adjust the little switches inside the battery compartment as the sound came in too sharp for the Canon Eos 60d in the factory settings. The switches are tiny so you have to have good eyesight or a magnifying glass. After that it was much better. The only drawback is that the Canon 60d produces some background noise. I read up on it and the culprit is not the microphone but the signal processor inside of the Canon. So if you want excellent sound quality that is truly professional an external Amplifier and recorder is the best bet. The microphon has an excellend sensitivity. The sound from 10 feet is almost identical as from 3 feet away. So it picks up conversations very micely. If you do not plan to bring your footage onto the big screen the external mic with the DSLR works great despite a slight camera noise. I tried it outside with some ambient noise and wind with the furry diffuser on (seperate item) and its directional orientation helps to buffer sound from the back. It truly picks up nicely from the front. I bought also the generic fuzzy Windjammer for Shotgun Mic as it is cheaper than the original dead cat from Rhode. It fits quite OK over the rhode Mic so you can save $ 10 and still get a nice windscreen. I also bought the extension cable in 10' length. This is great to mount the microphone with some rubber band on a broomstick for an instant boom. One thing though, with the microphone on your DSLR the Rig looks like you mean business. No way to hide it. You can not shoot undervocer with it. On the bright side, if you are getting paid to shoot a video, this will add not only to your video sound quality but to your credibility. So there is no one doubting you got the goods to do the job. I am using it for a web series of informational videos, hoping to get picked up for a TV series at some time. Another positive the hot shoe mount is secure and easy to use on top of the camera. The microphone is relativ leightweight so it works great top mounted on the Canon. The shock mount with the rubber bands is effective and genius. They even provided some replacement rubbers. I am considering getting H4n zoom recorder for better amplification and backup sound recording. ... More
VERY GOOD VALUE
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Joseph on B&H Photo Video
The mic is one of the best starter to mid level products available, clean sound, crisp, very nice, the boom pole is very light, extends out over 6 feet... at this price, they're basically throwing in the pole for free - almost. Three tips: 1. Make sure you tighten the mic in properly so that it doesn't rotate out of position once it's up in the air 2. The mic basically sits at a 90degree angle so be prepared to have your operator or you ready to maneuver around that (not difficult) 3. The pole tension system can tighten left OR right, so don't crank it all the way, make it snug and it won't be a hassle to collapse or adjust it. ... More
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Don't believe the hype
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by TreeTown on B&H Photo Video
This is one of the most consistently well-reviewed mics on the market, and the reviews led me to believe it would produce acceptable sound for professional applications - without breaking the bank. Big mistake. While I don't doubt that the VideoMic's sound is better than what people are getting with their on-board DSLR or prosumer camcorder mics, it is NOT an acceptable replacement for a professional shotgun or decent lavalier microphone. Sure, if you speak directly into the mic from 12 inches away, it sounds fine. But if you actually try to use it for real-world applications (ie: interviews, commercials, documentaries, etc.) where you're several feet from the talent, you're in trouble. If you get more than a few feet away, the sound level drops to unacceptably low levels, and the room echo takes over. The mic's self-noise is pretty low, but it just doesn't pick up enough sound to use at distances over a few feet. And if you're going to set up your camera 2-3 feet from your subject anyway, you can get far better sound from a decent wired lavalier, for around the same price. If you're satisfied with anything that sounds better than your DSLR's on-board mic, you could do worse than the VideoMic. But if you want to pick up pro-level sound at a reasonable distance, don't believe the hype: invest in a more expensive shotgun mic, or go with a lavalier. ... More
OK for the money.
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Tyler on B&H Photo Video
I'm mainly using this mic to replace the audio that I get on the 5DMII. I was looking for something that has good audio, doesn't pick up off-screen audio, and that has a solid build. I got one of those things with this mic; the good audio. The pickup pattern on this mic is not nearly as directional as I would want it. I can hear sounds from behind the mic just as much as if it were in the front. So this mic will still give you unwanted noise. Everything on this mic is plastic. EVERYTHING. I was hoping that the quality would still be good enough to last a while but there are a lot of things on it that could break if you were to run the mic into the wall or drop it while it's on the camera. There is also an option to adjust the mic's placement on the hot-shoe mount but you CANNOT move it forward. This means that as long as the mic is on the camera you won't be looking through the eye-piece. I was also hoping the the mic itself would be able to separate from the shock-mount in order to upgrade to a better mic but everything is attached for good. On the plus side, the audio that it does get sounds pretty good. Despite its many flaws it still is miles better then the 5DMII's internal mic. If RODE would come out with a more expensive model with a better build quality, a narrower pickup pattern, and an upgradeable or perhaps interchangeable microphone separate from the shock-mount I would buy it for sure. I'm disappointed in the market so far for dslr audio. The last thing I want to do is shoot dual system sound. ... More
great product
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by GK on B&H Photo Video
I initially found this to be a pretty big mic, for my smaller HD camcorder. The rubber bands that hold the mic to the frame broke very frequently due to my moderately heavy use. The mic did come with plenty of replacements. However, since my camera has a hard drive rather than a tape or CD, I found i did not need the insulating qualities of the mount. So, with a small Phillips it was very easy to remount the hot shoe insert directly to the mic and remove the floating part. I am very happy with this mod as it makes it a much lower profile, and a bit more durable. It does not interfere with the field of view, after lowering as a result of the mod. I found the mic built into my camera would pick up my breathing and this addition not only stopped that, it picks up mostly everything in front of the camera rather than unwanted ambient noise behind the camera (ie me). It also does wonders for wind noise reduction that plagued my built in mic. The 9V battery lasts a while. And... don't forget to turn it ON and OFF, as that may ruin your day if you forget. ... More
Love this mic
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Josh on B&H Photo Video
I've had this microphone for about 6 months after purchasing it from B&H and I love it. I'm a new student studying Digital Cinematography online with Full Sail University and have been using this mic to record audio for my videos. The only issue I have is with the wind buster. After filming on a windy day I found that wind buster had completely blocked all sound and I ended up with wasted footage. The microphone itself is great for beginners like myself and the boom pole does its job. I definitely recommend this for people on a budget. If you need assistance with the mic there are plenty of videos online that will help you. ... More
Boom Baby
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Venture 5 Productions on B&H Photo Video
Just got this kit yesterday via second day air and its amazing. Havent tried the mic outside yet because we have heavy winds right now and even though I ordered the deadcat windmuff, i dont think it would block these winds. From what i heard from my indoor tests; sound quality is excellent and the system is very easy to use. Only concern was when i listened to it i heard a hum, but turned out to be my headphones. For this price, its a steal. And the quality is unbeatable. The boom is sturdy and built to last, the mic screws right on and I can trust it up there. Only reason I didnt give it 5 stars was the extension chord they give you. It seems very cheap and will probably break in the field. So im gunna buy a better quality one. ... More
Great Sound - Horrible Design
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Tilly on B&H Photo Video
First off I have owned this mic for well over a year. The sound this mic picks up is amazing, it can easily replace on subject mics during interviews. I have used this mic on the 7d and 5d mark ii and it is night and day on quality and distance of picking up subjects talking. With that being said, a good quality mic does nothing if it's hanging off the camera due to a horrible design. The shock mount is overkill, and not required. It is held together by small rubber bands that easily snap if you bang the mic into anything. I use my rigs for move and shoot filming. So I am moving from one area to the next quickly, and usually by vehicle. Banging this mic into anything, will snap the rubber bands. The shoe made of plastic ended up snapping in two after a couple of minimal bumps. This caused me to have to zip tie this mic to a lens to keep audio in a shot during a filming. I have not tested out the Pro yet, but I would recommend looking into that option UNLESS you do not plan on doing anything besides studio shooting. Where you can take a lot of time to set up, and also keep this mic secure in a separate area of your bag. Why the 2 stars. Like I said above, a mic is only good if you can use it. I found the design of this mic shock system to be overkill and easily destructible. ... More
Wonderful Mic with Questionable Layout
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by AnnaOmaria on B&H Photo Video
As a beginning DSLR filmmaker myself, I knew I must have the Rode Videomic. After extensive research, and confirming that it was the best and simplest microphone for my budget and knowledge, I purchased one. Upon delivery I was excited to find everything nicely packaged and clean, and slightly larger than I expected. However, it does not interfere with the image on the camera. I attached it to the hotshoe adapter I had to put on my camera (as my camera does not have a standard hotshoe) and was extremely glad, suprised and relieved to see how easy it was to attach and simply switch on. The sound quality is superb for its price, and picks up the subject clearly with little extraneous noises caused by one's surroundings. The free deadcat provided by BH and manufactured by Rode is of course, quite a lovely and quality surprise as well. One thing that perturbed me slightly though is the location of the pad-sound-thingy-mc'clicky. To change the db from 0 db to the other settings of -10db or -20db, you must remove the battery and use a tiny, pointy object to flick a little switch. I think that could have been thought out a little better. Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase, and satisfied with its professional sound from a basic microphone that any beginner or advanced videographer can use. ... More
Good, but not as good as the
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by mckermit on B&H Photo Video
I bought this before I realized there was a Pro version (I know... slow on the uptake). I wanted it to work, but it just wasn't good enough for what I needed. In order to change the -10 and +20 settings, you have to get into the battery compartment and it's REALLY small. It looked pretty fragile so I didn't mess with it. The mic itself is also pretty big (not heavy, just big). The Pro is more than half the size (and probably offers better sound quality... ironically enough). Anyway- all in all I'd say it's a solid mic, but depending on what your needs are- shelling out a little extra buck for the Pro is probably a better choice (and maybe even a better deal). If you're on a budget- get this one. If you have a little wiggle room- save yourself the trouble and get the Pro. Side note: I've recenetly figured out that you can get some pretty solid audio quality if you hook up the Pro to an audio recorder (I have a Tascam- Zoom is good too). I have the mic set on +20 and then adjust the recorder as needed. There's probably a better setup somewhere, but this is the one that has worked for me and it might work for you too. Happy filming! ... More
Great intro shotgun mic
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by jknobs on B&H Photo Video
So, first off understand this is a cheap shotgun mic and therefore it is more of an omni-direction mic that is mounted like a shotgun mic. That being said, this mic continues to surprise me, I was able to record a video in a bar(not crowded or busy) with music and stand up fans... did it catch some background audio? Yes. But the person I was recording definitely stood out, and after running the audio through audition I was pleased with the quality. Is this mic the end all be all? No, should you rely on this as your only source of audio for interviews? No. But it is a great secondary mic to capture not only the people talking but also the general surroundings at a lower db. My only problem with this mic is that, as others have pointed out, is that to adjust the pad between -10 or -20 db you have to basically take out the battery and find something small to flip the little switches, fingers cannot reach these switches... Other than that if your getting started and are looking for a general video mic to learn on this is a good, reliable and cheap starter. ... More
Excellent Mic!
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Started my own video production business on a shoestring and decided on this mic to get some quality sound at a decent price. Kit came with boom pole and extension cable, which were both great. Used this mic with a Canon Vixia HV-40 and it mounted perfectly on the accessory shoe. Also bought a small tripod to mount this on and that worked beautifully. I shot a concert at a small cafe and put it on the tripod and pointed it near one of the speakers and the sound came out great. The only drawback is mic is designed to work with shock mount and boom pole. You could still use it without but it works better with. Boom pole is perfect and mic attaches to it great. Used the extension cable with the pole for interviews and it was spot on. A nice addition for the price. Overall great sound. Buy this if you want your recordings to have better sound then your on camera mic (which should really be never used). ... More
A Good Starter Mic But Could Be Better
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Mr Schmancy on B&H Photo Video
I picked this up for an small indie production and so far it has done me pretty well. The audio is a drastic improvement over my Hv40 internal mic (obviously) but the design behind the mic has a few flaws. For one I found the shock mount to not be very impressive. There is clear rustling sound with any major movement caused by the mount. I had to eventually modify it with tape because of this and it now seems to be doing pretty good. My next problem was actually a more specific issue. When attaching it to my Canon Hv40 I had to remove the bottom dial from the shock mount to get it to properly fit into the attachment slot. This meant that I was unable to tighten the mic and I had to tape it into the slot. However, if you are using this for an actual production I recommend using a boom pole. It attached quite easily and I haven't really found any situation where I wanted it attached to the actual camcorder. All in all though, it does a good job for anyone looking for quality audio on a consumer camcorder. Just make sure to test it out and modify it according to your needs. Tape goes a long way with this mic. ... More
Not bad for the price, cheap mount
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
The mic itself sounds great, and the battery life is amazing. The only time a battery has died on me in the past year is when I left it on in the camera bag. I've shot multiple 8-10 hour wedding days with a single 9V battery without issue. The shock mount is OK, but is very cheaply made. The bands do break easily, but it comes with spares, and extras are cheap. No big deal. My biggest gripe with the mount is the hotshoe mount. The section that actually connects the hotshoe mount to the shock mount is held in place by one screw and four tiny plastic pins that keep it from rotating. Well, throw a camera over your shoulder with the rode mic in place, bump it against something and those four pins will snap, causing the entire shock mount to spin freely. I was able to quick fix the mic with some gaff tape on the fly just to make it through the rest of the evening. The only way to fix the hotshoe mount once broken is to superglue the hotshoe mount back on to the shock mount, which I admit--is probably a stronger connection than the original setup. Overall the mic sounds great, but the mount is terribly cheap. I'll be looking at the new VideoMic Pro as a replacement soon. ... More
Really good for the money
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Sam on B&H Photo Video
The general audio quality is really good. I mostly use my Zoom H1 and for audio recording when I shoot video, but for when I need a hypercardioid microphone, I've got this, and the audio quality sounds really similar between both. Of course, the reason to use this is for a more narrow pickup pattern, which it does well like it should, The side rejection is pretty good and the range is pretty good. The build is not as bad as I feared before purchasing this microphone. It's made of plastic, but it feels like a very sturdy plastic. It's also smaller than I was thinking it would be, because I was hesitant to purchase this microphone because it looks huge, and while it's pretty big, it's not particularly huge and cumbersome. It's just tall, but I've seen some people online re-do the shockmount so the microphone is suspended but weighted towards the side, so it's essentially as tall as the shock mount. Speaking of the shock mount, that would probably be the biggest con, because the rubber bands--while they have to do so--feel like they're going to break easily and the microphone moves in the shock mount very easily from left to right. ... More
RODE Video Mic is a great step up for me
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Tyghtrope on B&H Photo Video
I was using Azden SMX-10 stereo mics and 'moved up' to a Rode VideoMic, shooting primarily my WebTV stuff. I'm very happy with my purchase, and really enjoy the clarity afforded by a straight directional mic for dialogue. It's definitely several steps up in getting the cleanest direct dialogue. Operation and care are simple enough, battery door is easy to open/shut and most options are easy to access/operate. I don't really run around with my cameras, so the suspension is more than good enough for my needs. The only caveat to this are the dip switches inside the battery compartment for level padding options. These switches are *very* tiny, placed under where the battery is slotted in. So, make sure to be VERY careful in how you toggle them, as they look very easy to wreck if too much force is applied. Keep in mind, this is a straight directional mic, so what it's aiming at is what it's picking up. If you want/need ambient sounds in a wider arc, stick with stereo-capable mics to get the full scope of sounds. I'm keeping my Azdens for this very purpose. They capture target audio + ambiance, while the Rode VideoMic is focused specifically on the key audio for a shoot. ... More
A great addition to the Sony A55
Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Reviewed by Fwed on B&H Photo Video
Product was tested for distance pick up of some 45 feet at normal voice level and achieved good results. Also tested for sound reduction of unwanted background noise (except wind, to date) with good results as well. A definite upgrade to the Sony A55 video's audio capabilities. Use intent is for family indoor/outdoor recording. Purchased specifically for upcoming USAF ceremony for acquiring one's wings where distance pick up is needed. Warranty is great and shows the confidence of the manufacturer in the quality / durability of the product. Engineering to reduce noise due to mic movement works as intended. Is engineered to compensate for audio distortion due to mic exceeding camera's engineering to process audio or exceptionally high dBA of ambient sound (air shows, etc. - not tested to date). Product did well in an indoor test for sound reviberation off walls where the desire was to have audio playback that did not resemble talking into a 55 gallon steel drum. Only noted disadvantage is the shoe mount does not fit the A55 mount and requires an off camera standard flash accessory to use with the A55. ... More
