RODE VideoMic GO II

In this episode, we have a look and a listen to the RODE VideoMic GO II. This versatile, very small shotgun style microphone can record to your camera, your mobile device (iOS or Android) or your Mac or PC. It is super simple to use and it doesn’t require a battery. Let’s take a closer look and listen!

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd

#RODE #VideoMic #GOII

Index:
00:00 Start
00:15 Summary
00:21 Disclosure
00:25 Raw audio samples
00:44 Who is this for?
01:16 Size and weight
01:18 Outputs
01:31 Headphone jack
01:54 No batteries
02:30 USB real-time monitoring
02:55 Pad, high pass
03:24 RODE Central app for control
03:27 Practical noise floor sample
04:34 Shockmount
05:40 Slide forward or back
05:48 Included parts
06:08 Extra accessories
06:21 Podcast with RODE Connect
06:55 Versatility
07:03 Warranty and price
07:10 No physical controls
07:53 versus VideoMic NTG
08:38 Settings on apps
09:05 My take
0926 versus original VideoMic GO
10:11 Please buy my courses

[curtisjudd]

One thing I didn't get to cover in detail but is really nice for podcasters: In the RODE Connect app in combination with the VideoMic GO II, you can use the same processing you can use on the RODECaster Pro. That includes the noise gate, compressor, big bottom, and aural exciter. Pretty impressive for a $99 microphone.

[robert_starling]

I just received the VideoMic GO II today, which I specifically purchased as a mobile voice-over audition mic to use with my iPhone DAW when I'm away from the studio and need to record on the fly. In my vocal booth studio, I rely on the Sennheiser MKH-416 and Neumann TLM-103, so those are my benchmarks. After some initial testing today, I’m genuinely impressed—this mic performs surprisingly well for its price. At $99, it’s an outstanding solution for my needs. Paired with the $10 TwistedWaves DAW app on my iPhone, the VMG2 lets me handle VO auditions almost anywhere with just the mic, a short USB-C cable, literally something the size of a giant chapstick. Just for fun, I'll test it against my 416 in my vocal booth using Pro Tools and see if I can create a side-by-side comparison.

[GaryStockton]

Sounds like a great microphone to add to my kit, the price and features are impressive. I recently purchased the NTG5 to use as an overhead boom, and very impressed with it. I have actually started recording videos without lavalier microphones and getting much better audio.

[skakdosmer]

I just received the Røde WS-12 furry windscreen for this microphone, and with it was a little rubber-ring to cover the output you’re not using: If you use the USB, it can cover the mini-jack socket, if you use the mini-jack, it can cover the USB port.
And this might be quite important. Robert Rozak (I hope I spell his name correctly) from Juiced Link had a very interesting video on his now closed YouTube channel where he blew on a microphone through a straw and showed how any crack on the surface of the mic was a potential source of wind noise. His trick was to cover every crack and crevice with tape.

[AllThingsFilm]

I recently picked up this nice little mic. One thing I like about it, is that because you can slide the mount back and forth on the hot shoe mount, I was able to clip a Wireless GO transmitter on the area where the mount slides. Thereby, creating a boom mic that transmitted audio wirelessly. Of course, it works perfectly with the Wireless GO being a Rode product. Personally, I am very impressed with this mic and very glad I picked it up.

[Dracomies]

This USB microphone is amazing at that $99 pricepoint. I'm convinced it's the best sounding USB microphone out there in the market. Doesn't sound like most typical USB microphones.

[ryszardm]

I do not know enough English to write efficiently and I have to use a google translator. Unfortunately. :(. I watch these acoustics lectures with interest. I am grateful to admit that I have supplemented my knowledge of acoustics, sound processing and recording techniques a lot. You can say that I absorb this knowledge like a sponge with water. For 40 years I have been dealing with electronics related to sound, and for 10 years still image, recording and editing films. I must admit that I was pleased because there is a channel in which I can (at no additional cost) draw from the sources of well-prepared knowledge in your performance. You can hear that in the background someone (a woman ) watches over the funds, I know it :) I hope the translation is understandable. Thank you Curtis.

[mrheng]

Wifey at the end had me dying!!! Keep up the good work, Curtis. The only con that I really didn’t like was that the settings on the Rode Central app isn’t saved. The mic is hot on my Panasonic S5. It’s not the mic’s fault, but it could be a nice firmware update.

[CraigHollabaugh]

Bought it with your sweetwater afflink. Thanks Chris, you're my goto AV guy.

[brettsherman]

Nice review. I was on the fence about adding this to my camera kit because I already have the VideoMic NTG. But the fact that I can plug it into my Wireless Go II transmitters and I can use it in a pinch when I, um, don't charge my VideoMic NTG has sold me on it. Rode keeps knocking it out of the park. At this price point it's worth just having it in the bag.

[afoeder]

Thank you for this video! What is the tripod we're seeing at e.g. 1:40? You've only listed the iFootage Cobra II in your description… thanks again!

[brunosancci]

Thank you very much Curtis! I was just comparing microphones to decide my equipment to teach. I'll stick with the NTG in this case. Greetings from Patagonia!

[gcprost]

Thanks for doing this. You covered all the things I needed to know. I have three other shotguns but I needed a fourth to shoot a theatre-in-the-round with four cameras.

[michaelpoczynek]

Looks like a great deal for $99 USD. Have a nice day, Curtis. Well done as always.

[ytcommenter]

I like these RODEs. Good value for the money. Have you tried those small RODE VideoMic Me that attach to the mobile phone?

[Tmaxar]

I got the best out of this mic when I connected it to my Zoom H1n….got the best sound that way.

[edjefferson]

Handy little mic. Camera mic inputs seem to be improving. When are we going to be able to use the USB-c port on the camera for audio input?
A side note - The “gain” control on the NTG is NOT an input level control. It controls output level. Not preamp gain.

[NeonsStyleHD]

Thank you Curtis. Ask and ye shall receive :)

[dankelly]

Seems like the HUGE difference between this and the NTG is the gain control when connected directly to a camera. NTG had it; Go II doesn't at all. I was hoping you could use the app to set the gain and it'd be saved to the mic itself.

[skymakai]

Yes, the Rode software is compatible with the Videomic NTG. Just tried it. 🙂
I’d been curious to hear a sound comparison between the two.