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RØDE AI-Micro Interface Review

Rate this headphone/microphone interface:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 19 18.1%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 37 35.2%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 43 41.0%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 6 5.7%

  • Total voters
    105

PeteL

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There are at least twenty other wireless microphone systems just like the Rode Wireless GO.
Can you name a few? Rode really took over this market and they are the one we see everywhere. They do have an extraordinary marketing force and the reputation to back it off tough, leaving everybody else far far behind. I think I seen a product from sony similar to wireless go, but even Sony, in that Segment is getting crumbs of the market shares compare to Rode. "At least 20" seem to me far fetch but I don't know all these Asian copycats.
 

peniku8

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index.php


I'd say it's a LR type filter at 100Hz, that makes me feel better than having a BW at 144Hz :p
 

Multicore

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There are at least twenty other wireless microphone systems just like the Rode Wireless GO.
I know. It's an important market.

By "alternative" I meant the technology product type/category, which I segment into three:
  1. phone only
  2. this kind of mobile device add-on, throw it in a back pack, probably costs less than the travel to the event
  3. pro gear, needs special packaging for transport, checked in at the airport, takes ages to set up and test, costs so much it's probably better to rent at the destination or a hire a specialist to do the recording for you with their gear
When I look at the AI-Micro performance, I consider what it would take to get a mic signal into it that's so good it could be noticeably harmed by the device. It can be done getting really nice, clean mic signals is a lot of trouble. So it makes sense that so-so audio quality fits the middle category.
 
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Multicore

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Can you name a few? Rode really took over this market and they are the one we see everywhere. They do have an extraordinary marketing force and the reputation to back it off tough, leaving everybody else far far behind. I think I seen a product from sony similar to wireless go, but even Sony, in that Segment is getting crumbs of the market shares compare to Rode. "At least 20" seem to me far fetch but I don't know all these Asian copycats.
Rode has done a good job establishing themselves as the brand for innovation in value engineering pro audio products. Their stuff is competitively priced, performs well, offers the confidence of a brand you see all over, customer support, software updates, warranty. There's plenty of competition on Amazon from brand names you've never heard of but if pro audio gear and recording engineering isn't your specialism the choosing the same brand and model everyone else uses has its advantages.
 

Rja4000

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Rode has done a good job establishing themselves as the brand for innovation in value engineering pro audio products. Their stuff is competitively priced, performs well, offers the confidence of a brand you see all over, customer support, software updates, warranty. There's plenty of competition on Amazon from brand names you've never heard of but if pro audio gear and recording engineering isn't your specialism the choosing the same brand and model everyone else uses has its advantages.
I wouldn't really name that "Pro audio".
Rather "(semi) Pro video accessories".
 

Multicore

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I wouldn't really name that "Pro audio".
Rather "(semi) Pro video accessories".
Suit yourself. I categorize pro audio products in relation to consumer audio products and I would put the following into pro audio...

 

SMJ

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Fills a niche market. Røde are very good at pulling in design and development skills from all over the world and producing products aimed at the semi-pro user. but with an Aussie slant. As said before the HPF is an essential when dealing with body worn personals or hand held mics, indoor or out - it's not just about wind.

As an idea the Røde AiMicro works because all journos have a mobile phone anyway and if the interface gets left behind, nicked or broken it's not a major loss. Only 15 years ago to do the same with a portable recorder would have cost you about about £500, a Nagra ARES m is still near to £700 today and only offers 2 channels of input. At least portable recording has become more affordable now with the likes of Sony, Roland, Zoom etc.

At a push can be used as a separate sound recorder (sep sound) as the speed stability just about OK. Do the video on another phone and with a simple hand clap as the sync marker. You can then manually re-sync in post or get PluralEyes to do it for you. A very useful technique at events where the use of radio microphones may be restricted due to interference, range or licensing issues.

SMJ
 

PeteL

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I wouldn't really name that "Pro audio".
Rather "(semi) Pro video accessories".
Are you a Hockey fan? If so look at post game players dressing room interview, those thingies are all over. I can confirm that those reporters are getting paid by large broadcaster, hence "professionals", not some kind of youtube hobbyists.
 

Rja4000

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Are you a Hockey fan? If so look at post game players dressing room interview, those thingies are all over. I can confirm that those reporters are getting paid by large broadcaster, hence "professionals", not some kind of youtube hobbyists.
My comment was not about the "Pro" label.
But the people you describe, and that's my point, don't use (or need) pro audio hardware.
They just need some complementary accessories to do their videos correctly.
 

Jim Shaw

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This little device may solve important issues for podcasters, etc., who use USB mics. It's a penalty to haul a larger interface along with your phone to do a two-mic interview. And phones can only handle one USB mic, directly. As others have stated, SOTA SINAD isn't a requirement for the use case.
Nevertheless, it's useful to obtain some test data on the device.

As is so often the case, 'perfect is the enemy of good.'
iu
 

HarmonicTHD

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Rode has done a good job establishing themselves as the brand for innovation in value engineering pro audio products. Their stuff is competitively priced, performs well, offers the confidence of a brand you see all over, customer support, software updates, warranty. There's plenty of competition on Amazon from brand names you've never heard of but if pro audio gear and recording engineering isn't your specialism the choosing the same brand and model everyone else uses has its advantages.
Love their NT1 and NT1A condenser mics. Low noise, quiet flat, well regarded even among pros and below ca 160 last time I checked. I have the NT1.
 

Multicore

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Are you a Hockey fan? If so look at post game players dressing room interview, those thingies are all over. I can confirm that those reporters are getting paid by large broadcaster, hence "professionals", not some kind of youtube hobbyists.
I've decided unilaterally to decree that the "pro" in pro audio is and, by the miraculous power vested in me, always was an abbreviation of "producer" as opposed to "consumer".

Making a point of describing this gear as semi pro (as opposed to, I guess, full pro) suggests to me a need to put something, either the equipment, the people that use it, or maybe both, in its place, that is, to belittle.

Love their NT1 and NT1A condenser mics. Low noise, quiet flat, well regarded even among pros and below ca 160 last time I checked. I have the NT1.
I bought an NT USB and a stand for a friend a year ago. He's an orchestral musician and is hopeless with tech but he makes it work with his phone and his computer. The simplicity of not having to set up and adjust a mic preamp is a huge practical advantage. It sounds very clean and fairly neutral.
 

Rja4000

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Making a point of describing this gear as semi pro (as opposed to, I guess, full pro) suggests to me a need to put something, either the equipment, the people that use it, or maybe both, in its place, that is, to belittle.
As I explained above, that was not my point.

"Pro" videographer are not less "pro" than professional audio engineers or professional carpenters.
They just use different "Pro" tools.
And I put not hierarchy in it.

This is an (entry level) accessory to record on-the-fly audio, usually used to attach sound to a video.

I don't see what's wrong with this definition.

As someone else described, real pro audio hardware (hardware that a pro sound engineer would use to earn a living) is usually not adapted to this purpose.

I just try to clarify the category this tool belongs to.

The problem is that "Pro" has become more a marketing word than anything.
 
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PeteL

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My comment was not about the "Pro" label.
But the people you describe, and that's my point, don't use (or need) pro audio hardware.
They just need some complementary accessories to do their videos correctly.
I was using the TV exemple because you can visually see the device and witness the state of the broadcasting business but radio reporters use the same kind of tools.In broadcasting the profession of audio engineers are a dying breed, everybody use their phone for pretty much everything.
 

Axo1989

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Good to see someone send in a RØDE device to test. And kudos to Amir for a) measuring and characterising device performance (as usual) and b) being aware he isn't familiar with the use case and asking for input (rather than recommending/rejecting based on assumptions).
 

phoenixdogfan

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One mic for the one asking questions, One mic for the one answering questions. Typically the one asking question is the one with the headphone on.
So the interviewer wears headphones, stick out a mic to the interviewee, and wears a GoPro Hero 11 on his head?
 

PeteL

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So the interviewer wears headphones, stick out a mic to the interviewee, and wears a GoPro Hero 11 on his head?
Sure, that would be one of a million differnt ways. In the end, it’s just a 2 ins one out with USB Interface, I gave an example, but you can do all kind of stuff.
 

kemmler3D

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For the intended use cases, ADC performance seems pretty damn good, for a USB powered dongle for your phone.

Won't replace desktop gear or real mics (I have an NT2-A hooked up to my Motu M2, vast overkill for Zoom meetings) but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better one in this form factor and price range.
 

dr0ss

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Can you name a few? Rode really took over this market and they are the one we see everywhere.
I use a Sennheiser. I don't know how the wireless transfer fidelity compares, but the microphone is well regarded for a lapel mic. (I think the microphone is very much the fidelity bottleneck for these systems, though to be honest I also have a condenser lapel mic from Moukey that cost me around $15 and I can't hear the difference from the expensive Sennheiser.) It doesn't have its own DAC, but I have a portable interface from Roland (actually, a box full of them) that work well.
 
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