Rode VideoMicro II super-compact shotgun mic announced, price confirmed

Rode has announced the next generation of its incredibly popular and super-compact shotgun microphone. According to Rode, the VideoMicro II is the first microphone to offer professional sound quality from such a compact unit.

The Rode VideoMicro II is also designed to be very easy to use and can be connected directly to a camera or smartphone. It features a supercardioid polar pattern to make its audio capture highly directional and reduce background noise. Its body has also been redesigned, using Rode’s annular line tube technology for better transparency and natural, full-bodied sound. Rode has also reworked the circuitry to make the mic more sensitive and have lower self-noise.

No batteries are required to operate the VideoMicro II and there are no complicated controls.

What’s in the box?

Rode supplies the VideoMicro II with a new red suspension mount called the HELIX isolation mount. Rode developed the mount in-house specifically for the new mic to solve some of the problems of other shock mounts with small, light microphones.

The mount is moulded from a single piece of Hytrel thermoplastic and it’s said to isolate the capsule completely from vibrations that occur as a result of knocks, bumps and handling the camera. It also has cable management slots and a standard mount for attaching to a camera’s shoe. In addition, there’s a 3/8-inch thread to enable it to be mounted on a boom or other accessory.

Rode also supplies the VideoMicro II with deluxe foam and furry windshields, which means it can be used indoors and out.

There’s also a 3.5mm TRS to TRS cable for connecting the microphone to a camera and a 3.5mm TRS to TRRS cable for connecting it to a smartphone.

Compact and lightweight

The Rode VideoMicro II weighs just 39g, so it’s highly-portable and doesn’t take up much room in your kit bag. Also, thanks to is all-metal body and the use of premium components, including a broadcast-grade capsule, it’s claimed to be very rugged.

Rode VideoMicro II price and availability

The Rode VideoMic II is available to buy now for £82 / $79.