Accessories


The Tiny Microphone That Delivers Big Sound [Tech Tuesday]

October 6, 2015

By Laura Brauer

Photographers should be prepared to expect the unexpected. Unfortunately, I was taken by surprise at New York Fashion Week last month when friends asked me to shoot some video clips backstage that included two designer interviews.

The good news is that I had tucked a Sony a7R II into my camera bag along with my Nikon D4S so I had a great compact, hand-holdable option to shoot videos.

The bad news is that I didn’t have an external microphone, and with all the backstage chatter and clatter from models, hair stylists, makeup artists and the boom of bass-heavy music during the run through, it was almost impossible to get a clean audio track of the designers commenting on their latest collections. The audio was usable, but not as good as it could have been had I had RØDE’s new VideoMicro.

videomicro

Given the need to travel light during Fashion Week, this compact microphone would have been perfect. It’s only 3 inches long and weighs a mere 1.5 ounces, yet it’s sturdy thanks to its aluminum construction. The VideoMicro, a directional cardioid microphone, is designed—unlike some other cardioid models—to cancel out unwanted lower frequencies from the side and rear in order to focus on the sound in front of the microphone.

No batteries are needed and the microphone comes with a 3.5mm cable to connect the VideoMicro, which is mounted on the camera’s cold shoe, to the camera or an external recorder.

The mount has grooves in it so you can easily tuck and secure the cable while the mic is attached to the camera. A Rycote Lyre Shoe Mount is included for stability and eliminating vibrations. This thermoplastic accessory is touted as being “virtually indestructible,” so you don’t have to worry about it snapping or needing to be rethreaded.

videomicro2

Shooting outdoors? No worries. A synthetic furry windshield is bundled with the VideoMicro as well and will take care of wind noise and other outdoor audio nuisances. And, if you register your VideoMicro, RØDE automatically doubles the standard one-year warranty.

Better yet, the VideoMicro is super affordable at $59!