Each filmmaker and content material creator wants exterior microphones for good audio high quality, and these are available many sorts, together with directional on-camera mics, clip-on lavalier microphones, desktop USB mics and extra. For greatest outcomes, the purpose is to have the microphone proper subsequent to the supply of the sound, and if you wish to do that at vary, with out the muddle and journey hazard of cables, then you definitely want a wi-fi mic setup just like the RODE Wi-fi Professional.
Wi-fi mics work utilizing paired transmitters and receivers, and the best system makes use of considered one of every. You connect the receiver to your digicam or sensible system and the transmitter to your topic, and the RODE Wi-fi Me is a chief instance.
RODE additionally makes dual-channel wi-fi mic programs with two transmitters feeding a single receiver, and the Wi-fi GO and Wi-fi GO II will already be well-known to filmmakers and content material creators.
The brand new RODE Wi-fi Professional takes this to the subsequent degree, each with extra highly effective options and a extra full equipment with cost case, accent case, extra lavalier mics and in reality every little thing a professional filmmaker may need in a single bundle.
In comparison with different wi-fi mic programs in the marketplace, the RODE Wi-fi Professional just isn’t precisely low cost, however you get so much on your cash. It is among the finest wi-fi microphone kits you may get proper now, among the finest iPhone microphones and the most effective microphones all spherical.
RODE Wi-fi Professional: Specs
| Acoustic Precept | Pre-polarised stress transducer |
| Polar Sample | Omnidirectional |
| Frequency Vary | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Most SPL | 123.5 dB SPL |
| Equal Noise (A-Weighted) | 22 dBA |
| Sign-to-noise Ratio | 72 dB |
| Analog Inputs | 3.5mm locking TRS (TX) |
| Analog Outputs | 3.5mm TRRS (RX) |
| Transmission Vary | 260m (line of sight) |
| Digital Connectivity | USB-C |
| Working Time | As much as 7 hours |
RODE Wi-fi Professional: Key options
For these questioning whether or not to improve, the Wi-fi Professional does deliver some technical advances over the Wi-fi GO II, together with a raised most frequency response as much as 50Hz, an elevated most SDL, and 32-bit ‘float’ recording to permit restoration of clipped or quiet audio, barely elevated transmission vary and timecode compatibility in order that audio syncing can be simpler within the modifying section.
These are the technical variations to the prevailing RODE Wi-fi GO II, however what does the RODE Wi-fi Professional provide to new customers contemplating a wi-fi mic system, and the way does it justify its fairly steep worth level?
First, you might be getting a really properly thought out and really full equipment. You don’t simply get a pair of transmitters and a receiver. They arrive with a cost case which shops and protects them in transit, expenses all three concurrently by way of a single USB cable, and has its personal energy supply to cost the 2 TX and one RX unit two instances over.
There’s extra. RODE additionally provides an adjunct case that shops two good high quality Lavalier II mics to be used with the transmitter items if required, every with a small furry windshield, and cables to attach the receiver to cameras by way of its 3.5mm analog port, to an iOS system by way of a USB-C to Lightning cable and to different gadgets and computer systems by way of a USB-C to USB-C cable. The accent case additionally holds three furry bayonet-fit wind shields for the transmitter items.
You may clip the transmitters on to your topics’ clothes and use their in-built mics, or join the lav mics to the transmitters for even nearer speech pick-up.
RODE has included every little thing however the kitchen sink right here however has additionally offered handy charging and accent instances to maintain all of it organized. Anybody who’s used wi-fi mic programs will know simply what number of cables, windshields, and different fine details are wanted, so RODE’s helpful twin-case organizing is a serious plus level.
RODE Wi-fi Professional: Construct and dealing with
Every thing within the Wi-fi Professional equipment feels not solely high-quality but in addition very well thought out and designed. The receiver has a sprung clip that’s additionally hotshoe-width so it will probably clip straight on to the digicam. The transmitters have a twist-lock 3.5mm lav socket that received’t pull out by chance, and whereas the bayonet-fit wind shields generally is a little bit of a fiddle to line up with the mics on the transmitters, they’re not going to fall off in use.
The Lavalier II mics really feel premium high quality with a easy push-twist match into the clips offered and the furry wind shields are straightforward to connect.
The receiver, in the meantime, reveals the audio degree and cost indicators for each mics, has an audio monitoring jack, and might even be arrange with its personal ‘narrator’ mic.
You should utilize one mic/transmitter for easy setups or, if you’re utilizing each mic/transmitter items, you may choose to have their output merged right into a single stereo audio channel or recorded as two separate channels.
There are a number of choices, and lots of require the RODE Central software program. It is a very subtle system and the choices can turn out to be extra daunting as you dig deeper. Whereas specialists will marvel what the fuss is about, negotiating the Clever GainAssist, versatile output acquire management, and your recording system’s personal auto-gain controls can rapidly turn out to be complicated for brand new customers.
RODE Wi-fi Professional: Efficiency
The audio high quality from the Wi-fi Professional is great. We examined it outdoor in a light-weight breeze, the place the furry wind shields for the transmitters labored completely. Circumstances can fluctuate, although, so it’s necessary to observe the audio as you movie to verify there’s not an excessive amount of wind buffeting or background noise.
The plug-in Lavalier II mics provide extra focused speech pickup, although the ‘bare’ mics on the TX (transmitter) items appeared to have a barely nicer sound.
The important thing factor to notice is that wi-fi mics want line-of-sight communication past a sure vary. We’ve little doubt the RODE Wi-fi Professional can obtain its 250m most vary, however that’s going through the digicam. In the event you flip your again or stroll away from the digicam whereas talking, the audio can drop out even only a few meters from the digicam outdoor. It’s not a fault with the RODE Wi-fi Professional, it’s simply how radio waves work. If you wish to report audio at vary, be certain the receiver can at all times ‘see’ the transmitter.
In the event you’re filming your self for a vlog or a YouTube video it’s very straightforward to neglect this straightforward rule. However there may be a solution. The RODE Wi-fi Professional TX items additionally provide inner recording by way of a single button-press (it may also be activated from the receiver unit), so you may have recorded audio even when the receiver loses its connection.
RODE Wi-fi Professional: Verdict
The RODE Wi-fi Professional equipment is ideal for filmmakers or content material creators who want a whole, sensible and dependable wi-fi mic setup. There are cheaper options, to make certain, however not every little thing is about value. Filmmaking is a time-consuming, effortful enterprise, and for those who scrimp on audio equipment you’re taking dangers for the sake of financial system.
The RODE Wi-fi Professional prices greater than many similar-looking two-mic wi-fi kits just like the Joby Wavo Air, for instance, nevertheless it’s nonetheless lower than the price of a really odd lens or a good tripod. And with its cost case and accent case, its 32-bit float recording, on-board recording, security channel recording (sure, it has that too), bundled lav mics and wind shields and cables – properly, it simply has every little thing.
It can save you cash all you want, however when issues are difficult sufficient already and also you simply must get the job carried out, there’s this.
Learn extra: take a look at our prime picks of the greatest wi-fi microphones and the greatest microphones for vlogging and filmmaking.
