VideoMic GO II

A Rode Videomic Go II or Videomic Pro. I recommend the Videomic Go because it doesn't need a battery, and that can save you when you're out and about. The number of times I've accidentally left my Videomic Pro on in my bag is... maybe five. So not horrible. But it's annoying.

Hundreds and hundreds. Nearly everything on this channel is the Videomic Go II or Videomic Pro. Occasionally the Wireless Go, but almost always the shotgun microphones on top of the camera. . https://youtube.com/@brianmarkgriffin

I use a ride video mic go 2. HUGE difference and a lot of people on 1-1 calls mention it. With a decent camera the difference is ridiculous over a built in camera and mic

I've done this using a 3.5mm->USB-C adapter and a variety of mics and also USB-C->USB-C with a RØDE VideoMic GO II. Personally I prefer my Deity I got from AliExpress cheap for sound quality. I've not experienced any issues so it's down to personal preference. I usually have an Andycine thrown in my bag and that is good enough for me.

So I'd recommend getting a good external mic. It's funny because I'm actually a mic reviewer too. I recommend the Fifine AM8 or RODE Videomic Go 2.

Yes but that's the one with the stand. There's one without the stand that should be about $58 or so.

Cheap and reliable: Rode VideoMic Go II

A setup that might work well for your dad is pairing the mic stand above with a shotgun microphone. Unfortunately, we can’t attach photos here, but the idea is to sort of use it like you see in the first image on this website [here](https://nofilmschool.com/your-guide-best-rode-microphones). You, your dad, or his cohost could position the mic at about a 45-degree angle above and in front of him using a tripod or extendable boom arm. That way, it stays out of the way so he won’t bump it, but it can still pick him up clearly even if a tremor causes him to move. For extra reliability, you could run both a lav mic and the shotgun mic. The lav would serve as the main recording, while the shotgun acts as a backup in case the lav gets bumped or disconnected. Later, you can just pick whichever track sounds better. A decent shotgun mic can run several hundred dollars. You could try using a camera-mounted shotgun mic like this one [here](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VideoMicGo2H--rode-videomic-go-ii-camera-mounted-shotgun-microphone) as an affordable option. Best of luck with find a solution so your dad continue his podcast! *Disclaimer: I own a production company*

I use a RODE VideoMic Go II in a pretty static environment (in my kitchen). Not sure if my camera is the problem, but anytime I move just a little, it records a low rumble that ruins the audio. I sent a sample to Rode, they said it's not at all normal, sent me another mic. This one has the same problem, but less noticeable. If you plan on shooting while moving and if you use a TRS cable, I'd probably avoid RODE VideoMic Go II. When I use a USB-C cable through the app, the sound is great. I use this as workaround, connect the mic to the phone, then the phone to the camera for "direct monitoring". The sound passes through the phone, cleans up, then ends up in my camera. If you're not mounting it directly on a handheld camera, then it's a great option.

Sony a6700 with a Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 lens, two led panels for lighting, a rode videomic go II mic on a boom arm. Cooking videos. A slider for smooth end product footage, but I regret having bought it, I almost never use it.

I am recording some talking head videos with a Rode VideoMic Go II via USB, directly into my MacBook. Normally, it's really good quality and once I've moved it 45 degrees to the side I think I got plosives under control. My problem are these artifacts, which appear from time to time (shared below). Can you tell me what are these? It cannot be clipping, as the recording is -14 to -17 dB, how can it clip in this range? The Rode app has an "Input Pad" settings, which I didn't enable, as it'd get so quiet that the noise goes up after normalizing. Normally I'm using the +9 to +12 dB range for input level in the app and no input pad and things are clean, but now I get these artifacts. Or do you think it is related to the recording app I'm using (OBS)? Buffer settings maybe? Here is the file: https://share.hyperknot.com/2025-11/recording.flac

Came here to say this. My 2 buzzy Videomic GO II's annoy me! Now if this was Sennheiser vs DJI, it'd be more of a toss up for me

If you insist on 3.5mm, Sennheiser MKE 600 is the best but takes 1x AA battery. Still preferable to Rode Videomic NTG, etc., with built in rechargeables. For batteryless, I would go with the Videomicro or VideoMic GO II (if you also want a USB mic) for grab and go event stuff and EQ to your taste. It will be smaller with wider cardioid pattern but fine for documentary. But getting the Sony XLR module or, say, a Zoom F3, will open up many more XLR choices from the cheap and good AT 875R to rugged RF-bias options like NTG5 or NTG3.