Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone with Rycote Lyre Shock Mount, Auxiliary, Black

We bought the Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone to use with our GoPro Hero 8. We had a TASCAM Micro Portable Digital Audio Recorder and it was a nightmare to use.We did some research and came across the Rode and decided to purchase it. Boy what a change, I wish we had purchased the Rode first.Things I like:1. The Rode captures quality sound.2. It is easy to use, just hook it to the camera.3. It is powered from the camera so you don't need batteries for it.4. When recording outside the "dead cat" blocks the wind sound.5. Good quality overall.6. Good price point.7. Compact8. Works good indoors, but also good for when recording outside.We have had it for two years and haven't had any problems with it. We would buy one again, if needed.I can't think of anything right at the moment that I don't like.

This mic blocks sound from the back REALLY WELL. For example, it's great if you are trying to record music being played live on a stage, and you don't want all the crowd noise behind you to be recorded.On the other hand, if you are using it to vlog, you have to talk louder than normal if you're behind the mic, otherwise your voice will come in soft.In comparison, the much more expensive Rode Video Mic Pro and Pro+ mics are good at picking up sound from the front and the rear, while rejecting sound only from the side. But they pick up sound well from the rear which make them great for vlogging, if you don't mind the larger size and having to use a battery.In any case, this Rode VideoMicro mic is literally one of the best condenser mics you can buy at any price when it comes to blocking sound from the rear. I've used dozens of condenser mics all the way up to $1,000 mics and very few are as good at blocking sound from the rear. (Dynamic mics are better at blocking sound from the rear, but they are a completely different kind of mic.)As far as condenser mics go that can be used for vlogging, the only vlogging mic as good as this one at blocking sound from the rear is the much more expensive Sennheiser MKE 440.Long story short, this Rode VideoMicro is a bargain. Small, cheap, sounds pretty good, comes with a shock mount and a windscreen, and no battery needed. It's a really good deal!

First testing impressions:I was pretty skeptical at first when it comes to adding a external mic and how it would affect my videos. I wanted to primarily use this on my LGv20 phone on a mobile rig to get some family shots and just some quality footage of my family and friends.Back up plan, since my LGv20 already has a set of hd audio mics and if it doesn't make much of a difference, I still have my Panasonic LX-7 or Canon RF40 i can use it on that i know doesn't have great audio.My original concerns:1. Will the directional mic on focus forward and completely block out everywhere else.2. Will it function on my Lgv20?3. How will it fair against the LGv20 3mics?The LGv20 already has a set of amazing mics built in to record HD quality audio - voice recording, video recording and so on.So once i got the VideoMicro i set it all up put my phone on the rig and shot a video with it then shot one without it. On the phone speaker, you really can't hear the difference. Then i plugged in a pair of headphones, then you are really hear the subtleties. Both audio came out really nice - but you can hear a clear distinction between the two when it comes to the clarity. The VideoMicro's was more clean and clear and the Built in Mics were clear but wasn't as clean when it fell to silence, you could hear some digital noise where as the VideoMicro you didn't hear the compensation.My original concerns:1. Will the directional mic on focus forward and completely block out everywhere else. (It picked up voices in multiple directions very clearly but focused on the front)2. Will it function on my Lgv20? (it was a plug and play)3. How will it fair against the LGv20 3mics? (it was close but the video micro felt more focused)The build was solid - doesn't feel like it'll fall apart at all. I'll go into further testing and video sample when i have a moment but i wanted to share my first impression with everyone on the VideoMicro and my LGv20-

I love how compact it is. The fact that it needs no battery is amazing. The sound quality is good. I think it’s definitely worth the price. At $60 price point it’s a great buy to enhance your video quality.Now some things i don’t like. The connection cord is only compatible with cameras (dslr or Point and shoot) i was hoping i could get a connection cord that worked on my cellphone. But i didn’t. And i have to pay $15 for it. That ain’t happening.Probably the most critical complaint is the audio quality. I will say it improved my overall audio quite a bit but it didn’t do everything i thought it would. When using the on board mic on my devices it got pretty good audio (if i yelled) but there was this annoying hissing sound (white noise). I had hoped the RODE VideoMicro would eliminate this issue but it didn’t. It did reduce the sound a little but it’s still noticeable to me, especially when outside.This mic performs its best when doing a vlog style recording. When holding the mic at about arms length u get a great deep audio with a richness that the on board can’t provide. When doing an interview style video it performs well. This is best at about 2 to 3ft away from the mic. Anything further away it’s just an ok quality.Is it worth it? Yes! If you are like me looking to make content for YouTube or whatever and you want a better audio quality get this mic. I plan to upgrade when my budget increases but for now this RODE VideoMicro will do just fine.