Rode VideoMic Pro+

Condenser directional microphone for camera mounting

The "plus" in the name of the 17 cm VideoMic Pro+ stands for a multitude of switching options and innovative special functions that are equally interesting for professionals and ambitious hobby filmmakers: e.g. Auto-On/Off, Presence Boost and Safety Mode.

The "VMP+" can easily be slid into the standard hot shoe of a camera and locked with the integrated knurled nut. Alternatively, it can be mounted on a tripod, handle or boom, with a 3/8" thread embedded in the base. Thanks to the Rycote double "lyre", a special thermoplastic swing mount, the VMP+ is optimally decoupled from the camera. This prevents structure-borne noise or handling noise from reaching the sensitive 1/2" condenser capsule of the microphone.

The VMP+ is powered by the included LB1 compact battery, which provides 100 hours of operation and can be recharged via USB. It does not need to be removed from the microphone for this purpose; a charging cable is included. Alternatively, you can also use two conventional AA batteries to power the microphone. To connect to the camera, one connects the TRS output jack of the microphone to the microphone input of the camera using the included coiled cable. The tip ("T") and ring ("R") of the plug carry the exact same signal, so the camera records in double mono and the sound comes out of the exact center when playing back the video.

As a directional microphone with a supercardioid pickup pattern, it has a relatively narrow pickup angle to the front (about 45°). If you open both your hands to the front at a half right angle, you can easily see which sound sources are within the pickup range and thus are recorded with priority. The frequency response ranges from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. To make the sound slimmer, you can switch on the integrated rumble filter, which optionally takes effect at 75 or 150 Hz and thus reduces unwanted low frequencies.

Auto-On/Off

The VMP+ switches itself on and off together with the camera. It is then no longer possible to start filming without having switched on the microphone first. Conversely, there is no danger of accidentally leaving the microphone on after filming and unnecessarily depleting the battery. The prerequisite for this is that the camera provides a supply voltage, also called "plug-in power", at the microphone input, which is also the case with the vast majority of models.

Safety mode

Most DSLR cameras and camcorders record the sound on two tracks. For stereo microphones, these are the left and right channels. With mono microphones, double mono is recorded, which means the identical signal is recorded on both channels, which means that it is later reproduced exactly in the middle. If you switch the VMP+ to safety mode, the same signal is still recorded on both tracks, but it is lowered by 12 dB on the right channel of the camera. If an unexpectedly loud signal should occur during filming and lead to an ugly overload, you can fall back on the undistorted safety track in post-processing at this point.

Presence boost

On the VMP+, the range at 7 kHz can be boosted by a flat 5 dB. This increases the intelligibility of speech and detail without increasing the noise. In addition, the unavoidable loss of high frequencies when using a fur windscreen can be elegantly compensated for in the microphone.

3-position level switch

Thanks to the low self-noise (14dBA) and the high limiting sound pressure level (133 dB), the VMP+ can also process very quiet and very loud signals perfectly and without noise. Many cameras, on the other hand, cannot do this and add either ugly noise (when the input signal is too quiet due to high level control or the automatic level control) or distortion (when the signal is too loud) to the recording signal. This can be counteracted by setting the level switch to "+20" to get quiet signals (e.g. speech) into a healthy range or to "-10" to attenuate very loud signals so that the camera's microphone input is not overdriven.

The VMP+ comes with a pre-mounted foam windscreen. For outdoor recordings, it is recommended to purchase the optional "Dead VMP+" fur windscreen.

Features:

• 1/2" condenser capsule
• Polar pattern: supercardioid
• Angle of incidence: approx. 45
• Auto-On/Off function selectable
• Selectable safety mode
• Pushbutton for pre-attenuation (-10 dB) and level boost (+20 dB)
• Pushbutton for high-pass filter (75 Hz/150 Hz)
• Push button for presence boost (5 kHz/+6 dB)
• Power supply via rechargeable battery (>100 hours), 2x AA battery or USB
• Battery charging via USB
• effective structure-borne sound decoupling via Rycote®-Lyre® vibration mount
• standard flash shoe adapter
• 3/8" thread recessed in the base for tripod or boom mounting
• incl. pre-mounted foam windscreen and battery LB-1
• incl. micro USB charging cable and TRS connection cable

Technical data:

• Polar pattern: supercardioid
• Limiting sound pressure level: 133 dB
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Inherent noise: 14 dBA
• Sensitivity: 21.2 mV/Pa
• Output impedance: 200 Ohm
• Level switch: -10 dB, 0 dB, +20 dB
• High-pass filter: Flat, 75 Hz, 150 Hz (switchable)
• Presence boost: 5 kHz/+6 dB (switchable)
• Safety mode: -10 dB on right channel, switchable
• Connection type: 3.5 mm mini jack, TRS (double mono)
• Power supply: LB-1 rechargeable battery, 2x AA battery or Micro USB
• Battery capacity: more than 100 hours
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 170 x 111 x 66 mm
• Weight: 154 g (with battery)

Specs:

• Color: Black
• Set Offer: no
• Converter: Condenser
• Type: Microphone
• Theme: PA and Sonication

Instruction manual / Safety instructions:

• Manual (1.6 MB)

Further links:

• Print View