Rode VIDEOMIC PRO User manual

VIDEOMIC PRO

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

www.rodemic.com

INTRODUCTION CONTENTS

Thank you for investing in the RØDE VideoMic Pro.

When RØDE released the original VideoMic in 2004 it was the only mic of
its kind on the market. Just like many great innovations it was born from
a personal need. At the time MiniDV cameras were the latest technology,
offering consumers and independent fi lmmakers unprecedented freedom
and creativity for their video, but neglecting audio quality. I went shopping
for a solution but found that the only offerings were either cheap inferior
quality or high cost shotgun microphones not designed to integrate easily
with the cameras.

Thus the VideoMic was born. Almost a decade later its broadcast audio
quality, integrated shock mounting and accessible price tag has made it the
world’s largest selling microphone for consumer cameras.

However in this time there have been numerous innovations in video cameras,
from hard drive, solid state and network cameras, through to high defi nition
Digital SLR and onwards to large sensor video cameras. The technology has
gotten larger but of course the form factor much smaller, thus the decision
to create the high performance, yet conveniently compact VideoMic Pro.

Creating a high performance microphone as lightweight and manageable
as the VideoMic Pro was quite a technical challenge. Other companies have
attempted and failed, simply because a directional microphone depends on
the length of the microphone barrel to reject the surrounding ambient noise
that you don’t want to pick up.

INTRODUCTION

SPECIFICATIONS

FEATURES

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

VIDEOMIC PRO STRUCTURE

SETUP AND USE

Installing the battery

Mounting and connecting

VideoMic Pro controls

Replacing shock mount bands

Recording Tips

2.

3.

4.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

10.

12.

Leveraging the technology developed alongside our award winning NTG1,
NTG2 and NTG3 shotgun microphones we’ve fi nally realised a professional
microphone with a much smaller form factor.

Please take the time to visit www.rodemic.com and register your mic for a
full ten year warranty.

Peter Freedman
RØDE Microphones

Sydney, Australia

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

SAFETY / CARE INSTRUCTIONS

TROUBLESHOOTING / FAQ

PRODUCT WARRANTY

SUPPORT AND SERVICE

13.

15.

16.

18.

18.

2.

SPECIFICATIONS

Acoustic Principle:

Polar Pattern

Frequency Range:

Frequency Range:
(High Pass Filter)

Variable Level:

Output Impedence

Signal to Noise Ratio:

Equivalent Noise:

Maximum SPL:

Maximum Output:

Sensitivity:

Dynamic Range:

Power requirements:

Output Connection:

Battery Life:

Weight (No Battery):

Dimension (W x L x H):

Line gradient

Super Cardioid

40 Hz ~ 20 000 Hz

Selectable HPF
@ 80 Hz / 12 dB /octave

3 position switch
(-10 dB, 0 dB, +20 dB)

200

74 dB

20 dBA SPL
(A-weighted as per IEC651)

134 dB

+6.9 dBu
(@ 1% THD into 1K  load)

-38 dB re 1V/Pa
(12.6mV @ 94 dB SPL)
± 2 dB @ 1kHz

114 dB SPL (as per IEC651)

9V alkaline battery
(Current 7.8mA)

3.5 Stereo mini jack plug
(dual mono)
Tip – left channel
Ring – right channel

> 70 hours

86g (3oz)

43mm x 150mm x 95mm
(1.69” x 6” x 3.74”)

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

10

0

-10

-20

-30

dB re 1 V./Pa

-40

20 Hz 100 1000 10 000 20 000

POLAR PATTERN

+5.0

0.0

-2.0

-4.0

-6.0

-8.0

-10.0

-12.0

-14.0

-16.0

-18.0

-20.0

-22.0

-24.0

-25.0

90˚ 270˚

dB rel. 1V/Pa

Frequency:

500 Hz:
1000 Hz:
2000 Hz:
8000 Hz:

14000 Hz:

0˚

-2.0

-10.0

-20.0

180˚

3.

FEATURES WHAT’S IN THE BOX

COMPACT SHOTGUN MICROPHONE

• Compact, lightweight body

• Broadcast recording quality

• Condenser microphone

• Integrated shock mount provides isolation

from handling / mechanical noise

• Integrated foam windshield

• 3.5mm stereo mini jack output (dual mono)

• Rugged construction

DETAILED CONTROL

• Two step high-pass fi lter (0, 80 Hz)

• Three position level control (-10dB, 0dB, +20dB)

• LED on / off power indicator

• Integrated billeted metal camera shoe mount

with 3/8” thread for easy boompole mounting

HIGH QUALITY PERFORMANCE

• 9V battery powered – over 70 hours use (alkaline)

• Low noise circuitry

• Flexible and lightweight cable to minimise

handling noise and ensure isolation

• Australian designed and manufactured

• 10 Year Warranty*

*Online product registr ation required.

• VideoMic Pro

• Spare shock mount bands (4 pieces)

• VideoMic Pro quick start guide

• Moisture absorbent crystals

4.

VIDEOMIC PRO STRUCTURE

6

4

1

3

1. Foam windshield

2. Shock mount cradle

3. Shock mount band

4. Power / High Pass Filter switch

5. Level attenuation / boost switch

6. Power on / off LED indicator

7. Battery cover

7

2

8. Billeted metal
camera shoe mount

9. Fastening ring

10. 3/8” thread mount

11. Signal output cable

12. 3.5mm stereo mini jack

5

11

9

10 12

8

5.

SETUP AND USE

INSTALLING THE BATTERY

Before you can record with your VideoMic Pro, you will need
to install a standard 9V battery (ANS1:1604A or IEC:6LR61).
RØDE recommends using a high quality lithium or alkaline battery
to achieve the best possible battery life.

To install the battery, open the battery cover that is located on the
front of the VideoMic Pro, just under the windshield foam.

To remove the cover, hold the sides of the cover with your thumb
and third fi nger, and push up on the indentation with your index
fi nger, then pivot the bottom of the cover away.

Insert the battery with the negative terminal on top

Replace the cover by fi rst hooking the top clips in, then press the
bottom clips into place. The cover will push the battery against its
spring terminal during installation.

Push up on the indentation with your index fi nger then pivot the bottom of

the cover away

Insert the battery with the negative terminal (-) on top as shown in
the next diagram. The correct battery orientation is also shown on
the inside of the battery cover. If the battery orientation is incorrect
the cover will not close fully.

6.