Let’s face it, the microphones built into camcorders are pretty rubbish. The cameras might be able to push out HD resolution but they can end up sounding like a tumble-dried cassette tape if people aren’t close to the camera. R�DE feels your camcorder pain and have come up with the VideoMic, a professional grade video camera microphone designed for use with amateur consumer grade cameras.
The microphone itself is a stereo shotgun condenser capable of recording 40Hz – 20kHz. There’s also a switchable high-pass filter that will knock out everything below 80Hz in case you’ve got some rumbles coming from somewhere. The microphone is made of plastic so it’s lightweight but it’s high impact ABS so it should last. It also comes with a foam windscreen and it’s secured to a shock resistant mount just like the professional ones. This isolates it from any sounds the camera or you might make as you grope for the zoom button.
The mounting fits the flash-like cold shoe mount found on most consumer camcorders and it can also be screwed into a camera tripod. Or if you have a monopod you could attach it to that and use it as a boom mic. The VideoMic needs a 9V battery to run, but it has a low battery indicator to avoid nasty surprises and it should last around 100 hours. It connects to the camera via a 3.5mm stereo jack and curly cord so it should fit pretty much any camera.
There’s also a range of accessories for the VideoMic, including boom poles, desk stands, an extension lead and adapters to turn the 3.5mm jack into a mono XLR jack for use with big boy cameras or audio gear. Looks like a microphone for all people.
The R�DE VideoMic is a professional grade shotgun microphone. Based on the latest ‘Film industry’ technology, the VideoMic is designed specifically for use with high quality Digital Video Cameras. The microphone exhibits low noise and an unusually wide bandwidth for its size. It is ultra lightweight, yet rugged due to it’s ABS construction. The VideoMic is powered by a standard 9V battery and offers a Low Battery LED status indicator and a switchable high pass filter to reduce unwanted low frequency rumble.
Tags: videomic, camcorder+microphone, video+camera+microphone, gadget
*Ahem* "Professional quality video camera microphone"? This mic is half decent, but is by no means professional quality. Definitely a step up from on-board sound, but still a step down from BUDGET audio gear. I think another text strikethrough may be in order…