RØDE - VideoMicro

I have used a Rode VideoMic Go II for years with great results. The VideoMicro gets similar results for less money, but I would spend the difference.

Depending on you budget, on the lower end, I’d do with the Rode VideoMicro with a type connector. Midrange would be a Shure MV88 or MV88+, on the higher end connecting a powered on camera shotgun like the Rode VideoMic NTG. You could also consider a real audio interface with an XLR microphone, but that will take up more space.

I bite, who doesn't like gear? :D Main camera: FujiFilm X-H2. Lenses: Fuji 16 mm f/2.8 (small kit for vlogs). Fuji 50 mm f/2 for talking head. Fuji 16-80 mm f/4 when I need versatility. 2nd cameras: DJI Action 3, Dji Pocket 2 and Pixel 7a. Tripods: Manfrotto Befree Alu as videotripod in the field. Manfrotto X190Pro Alu for in the office. Ulanzi mini carbon fibre tripod. Ulanzi MT-44 selfie stick/tripod. 2 small generic bendy leg tripods. Sound: Zoom F2 w. standard lav. Elgato Wave:1 (w. Shock mount and pop-filter) for talking heads. Zoom H2n for ambiance sound. Røde VideoMicro as backup and on camera sound Lighting: Main: Ulanzi 40W Pro. Soft boxes: Ulanzi Fold DS60 and AS-D30. 2 generic led light panels, used before I got the ulanzi now as second light sources. 2 small pocket lights. A couple of generic light stands, that double as mic stands. Editing sodtware: DaVinci the free version. Canva for thumbnails. DxO software for image editing. I run a photography channel, I do photo vlogs and talking heads from the office. All gear is of course very essential and not at all overkill ;) Honestly the X-h2 was my biggest game changer, and the piece of kit I consider most essential for my kind of videos. It made it both easier and more fun to create my videos.

Røde VideoMicro should do the trick. It’s inexpensive, compact, and doesn’t require batteries.

I made a sound test video of the RODE VideoMic Go II Helix aimed for indoor gaming / streaming / podcasting and compared it to the VideoMicro in the same enviroment. Here is the list of tests: [3:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=182s) VideoMicro | FX: On | Distance: 20 cm | 3.5 mm [3:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=190s) VideoMicro | FX: off | Distance: 20 cm | 3.5 mm [3:22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=202s) VideoMicro | FX: off | Distance: 40 cm | 3.5 mm [3:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=213s) VideoMic Go 2 | FX: off | Distance: 40 cm | 3.5 mm [3:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=221s) VideoMic Go 2 | FX: ON | Distance: 40 cm | 3.5 mm [3:47](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=227s) VideoMic Go 2 | FX: ON | Distance: 20 cm [3:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=238s) VideoMic Go 2 | FX: ON | Distance: 20 cm | USB [4:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=250s) VideoMic Go 2 | FX: ON | Distance: 40 cm | USB [4:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYM74eiLSJU&t=258s) VideoMic Go 2 | FX: ON | Distance: 30 cm | 3.5 mm Hope this helps :)

Hey sorry to necropost, but I just got my CS 8 and tried plugging in a Rhode VideoMicro and I hear a bit of beeping when I play back the video. Is this a known issue?

It's a Rhode VideoMicro. It only has one 3.5 jack.

Rode video micro is great for a small mirrorless camera. I run them on all of my mirrorless for scratch audio. Sounds pretty good when you’re within interview distance to a subject too, if you know what you’re doing with a channel strip. Perfectly adequate for ambient sounds. I normally love Sennheiser but avoid the MKE 200. Bought two for a project a while back and they were so bad I had to return them. Terrible sound quality.

You can record to a camera too with a decent (cheap) mic. The Røde Video Micro is a great price of gear for around 50 euro. Then just drag the audio track into your timeline.

Rode mic videomicro, small, compact, quick setup.

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.