In the past year or so, you may have found yourself with a little more time to spare. What is the best motivation to start that fitness vlog (or self-isolation suffering diary)? Sure, your phone already has everything you need to get started, but it’s 2021, and the internet requires a certain level of quality if you want someone to actually see or hear it. Rode, a pillar of the microphone game for decades, knows this and recently unveiled his Vlogger Kit to help him on his way. I also think that this may be of interest to those who like podcasting on the move, which I will talk about later.
The kit comes in three versions: Android (USB-C), iOS (Lightning) and universal (3.5 mm). Inside, you’ll have a shotgun microphone, a strap for your phone, an LED light cube and a tripod, along with some accessories. All three cost $ 149, but if you choose the universal kit, you will receive a double cold shoe (instead of a single one) and a Rycote Lyre shock mount – something to consider if you plan on moving around a lot.
The main difference between the microphone in each version is the connector at the end of it. But there is another important consideration: the “universal” (3.5 mm version) does not allow you to monitor your audio with wired headsets – so while you get the shock mount, it comes with a trade-off. You can use Bluetooth headsets / Airpods, but it will depend on the application, as not everything has the necessary advanced audio options (but something like Filmic Pro, for example, does).
James Trew / Engadget
Whether you make videos with your phone for social sharing, work or just for your own memories, an external microphone is one of the easiest ways to improve it. A few years ago, I could have said that a gimbal was the right thing to get, but video stabilization built into phones (especially on the iPhone and high-end Android models) has come a long way since then. Of course, the ultimate combination would be both, but audio is so often overlooked that it is worth investing.
This is easily demonstrated in the two audio samples below. Both were recorded in a very hostile environment – a large room with high ceilings and no upholstered furniture. The recording was made about two meters away from the speaker and the difference is stark (don’t worry if you don’t speak Spanish, what matters is the quality). What was recorded only on the iPhone’s internal microphone appears to have been recorded in a cave. The other one sounds much clearer, cleaner and focused on the speaker.
If you’re making videos for your small business or social account, the difference in quality can usually be what takes you most seriously. Of course, the vlogger kit is more than just a microphone (especially considering that you can already buy the 3.5 mm and Lightning versions of this same microphone, only the USB-C option is technically new, it seems). There is the light and, to a lesser extent, the tripod to consider as well.
Good light is probably the next easy win in terms of overall updating your videos without a lot of money. There’s nothing worse than looking sideways at a poorly lit clip to find out what’s going on. Now, you could get one of those huge luminous rings that are in fashion, but it’s not exactly portable, so Rode chose something a little more practical.
The LED cube included in the kit is about an inch and a half square, or almost exactly the size of the GoPro Hero 4 Session without the case, if you remember them. Of course, GoPro also makes an LED light that is about half the size of the Rode, but reaches a maximum of 200 Lumens (for 300 Rode). The light that the LED cube emits is enough to animate the videos I shot indoors, which really helped them stand out. In the dead of night, it will certainly be enough to illuminate you, if you like to photograph outdoors in the dark.
You will also find some diffuser filters in the box in a variety of colors, if white is not appropriate or if you just want to change things to a deep red or cold green. I’m not a big fan of how the filters fit into the light frame, it’s complicated, but they do the job very well, so it doesn’t look like you’re looking at the sun.
Complicated filters are also not the only peculiarity. If you are using the USB-C or Lightning models, the shotgun microphone is connected directly to the base of the phone. On an iPhone, this places the microphone just below the home indicator, which makes navigating your phone a little tricky, especially if you’re using the front camera (so have the microphone pointing at you). It also means that if you are holding your phone in your hand while recording, you need to be more careful to avoid hitting it or risking dull sounds.
One last little complaint, I promise, so I’ll go on the bright side: the shotgun microphone doesn’t connect to my phone while the case is on, I have to take it out first. The case I have is not very thick (it’s one of Apple’s MagSafe cases on an iPhone 12). I can’t speak for your case or the Androids, but it was obviously the first thing I noticed. If you don’t use a case, then you’re good to go, or if you use one that has a big cutout around the loading door, then you’re probably fine, it’s just something to keep in mind.
Okay, with that done, let me be clear: the microphone is the star of the show here. You have already heard the difference between the built-in microphone and the Rode VideoMic ME-L in the examples above. But that was just a scenario. It works great in almost every situation I have experienced. Unfortunately, the current restrictions mean I can’t test it in a crowded place, like a coffee shop, so I took some initiative / cheated and picked up a YouTube video with an hour of sound from a busy brewery playing for an hour (gotta love it) the Internet). This test is not the same, as the ambient noise is coming from only one direction, not from all sides as in real life, but you can hear the results of the built-in microphone and the Rode below.
Now, the good news is that, once again, Rode’s microphone wins. As I said, this is not a real test for a noisy environment, but the most important thing is that it is much less annoying to hear than what my phone could do alone, which seems to compress everything, so that the background noise really penetrates.
The same is true for my external tests. The Rode includes a windshield / dead cat cover for the kit’s microphone, and it’s fantastically large, making it look like you have an overweight gerbil plugged into your phone – I love it. And it does exactly what you want, removing all that noise from the wild wind, leaving you with a clear recording. Again, the contrast between the Rode microphone and the phone is stark.
Another thing I like about the Lightning and USB-C versions of the kit is that you can also use the 3.5mm port on the back to record sound quickly. It is mainly there for headphones / monitoring, and the signal is much lower than that obtained with the Lightning / USB connection, but I managed to record decent enough audio in the 3.5 mm port with a headphone cable and a lightning adapter. The signal can be also down for some things, anything with an Aux-in, for example, is going to be a push. But I tried to feed it to a GoPro with a media mod and it worked perfectly.
GoPro cameras have an option to increase input from external microphones, and I expected to need it here, but the levels were really better in Standard mode for close-up work. On Standard + (where GoPro adds 20db of gain) it was a little hot while holding the microphone close to my mouth, but it can be useful for when you are further away, say, if you have the camera on a tripod and want to record a shot talking to the camera. Either way, it works, which means that you have a little more flexibility with this microphone in addition to connecting it to your iPhone.
James Trew / Engadget
I must share a few words about the supplied tripod. It’s all right. I like that it has the ball and socket joint, as this facilitates positioning, although it is a pity that you cannot extend it, even if it is only a few centimeters. And there are only two height settings: regular and low. Of course, you can also use it as a fist. On the plus side, the top mount is bolted, so you can connect it to a variety of other things, including GoPro accessories, if you have the screw mount adapter.
This brings us to one of Rode’s main competitors here: Shure. Both companies realized that vloggers and podcasters are looking for lightweight / mobile solutions and both have several products in this category. Shure also sells an offer similar to the Vlogger Kit – the MV88 +. Shure’s approach is similar, you will have a microphone, a tripod and a stand for your phone, but there is no light and the package costs just over $ 200. That makes Rode a better deal, right? Well, it depends. The Shure microphone looks a little more robust with a metal body (the Rode is plastic) and you don’t have to choose which connection to use, as you can simply swap the cables, which come in the box – so there is more flexibility there. Both microphones are excellent, so it will depend a lot on your use case and budget.
GoPro deserves another mention, too, as it has a series of tripods and tons of third-party mounts. It also sells a light and a media mod so you can connect your own external microphones. The obvious difference is that you need a GoPro (although you probably already have a phone). You will also need to bring your own microphone if you don’t have the media mod, so the two proposals will appeal to different audiences and budgets. Although with GoPro you have more flexibility in the camera compared to your phone, its HyperSmooth stabilization is perfect.
If, like me, you are really more interested in the kit for audio purposes (like many, I took this time to finally start that documentary podcast), then Rode’s solution is a solid bet if you want something hyper portable that also has solid video cuts. Being able to support my phone on the tripod and record an interview in real time is something I’ve been wanting a solution for a while, and that seems like a good option. I tried several other microphones, and many even compare to Rode in terms of audio quality (like Shure’s), but things like monitoring or direct connection to the phone are missing (as is the case with Shure’s MV88 +). I love how simple the Rode kit is, which works with other devices at a glance and the complete package with the light, tripod and accessories is there if I need them.