Rode Dead Wombat Artificial Fur Microphone Wind Shield for Blimp

I tried out the standard VideoMic (not Pro) before and was unimpressed by the build-quality and overall bulkiness. I've also tried a DSLR-geared XLR shotgun mic running into a Tascam DR-40, but found the sound to be tinny and full of hiss (I'd suggest using the Tascam's built-in mic instead). I decided to try the Pro model of the RODE VideoMic when I saw the cross promotion that RODE was running with Red Giant for a free copy of PluralEyes. If you need a compact, high-quality shotgun mic for DSLR video work, I'd say this is definitely the one to get. The +20dB gain feature on the mic is a huge asset – as others have noted, if you turn the camera's audio level down to about four clicks from the bottom and turn on the +20dB gain on the mic, the resulting audio is nice and clear. The Pro is considerably more compact than the standard VideoMic and seems better made overall. I've not had the chance to try the windscreen in appropriate conditions yet, but I can definitely vouch for the mic itself. If you need a versatile, easy to set up audio solution for DSLR video, I'd say this is the microphone to buy.

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I ordered this product in March 2012 for use on a camcorder and DSLR. I realized from past experience that the on-board microphone for either camera is not suitable for capturing quality sound. What I needed was a microphone that was suitable for loud concert music to a quiet seminar. I searched the 'net and found Rode to be the answer. It is able to capture clear and crisp sound and having the Deadcat helps in windy situations. This product is worth the money.

I'm using it to cover a pair of SeElectronics 4400 LDC mics for stereo field recording. Works great!

My main reason for buying the mic was to take advantage of the free offer for PluralEyes 3.0, and get a very good mic for almost nothing. Just a quick FYI, PluralEyes 3 does not work with Windows, yet, so I have to settle for the older version that doesn't integrate as smoothly with my editing platform, Adobe Premiere CS6. The program has already saved me a few hours of synching sound though. As for the mic itself, it is a solid recording device. I couple it with my Panasonic GH2. Obviously, there is no comparison with the onboard mic and this one. The sound recorded with this mic is actually useable, very useable to be precise. My general workflow is to record sound with my Zoom H4N and sometimes a lav attached to my Zoom H1 for interviews. If my subject is close enough to the camera, the Rode mic is the way to go, saving that step of having to sync sound later. One practical use example: I was shooting a scene for a reality show in a very crowded restaurant. My main focus was on 5 ladies talking over drinks. The general crowd noise was a moderate to high level of interference. I was sitting 4 feet from the ladies with the Rode mounted on my camera cage pointed directly at whoever was talking. Upon review later at home, the dialog from the ladies was quite clean and audible and the background chatter and music was quite soft and not intrusive. I've also used it at weddings to get the general ambience. I've had it one foot from the speaker where the party music was emitting and I got a decent recording. The deadcat wind muff is essential is you take one step outside. The slightest hint of wind will ruin sound on any mic. I leave the wind muff on at all times in case an air conditioning vent happens to be shooting air straight at the mic. My 4 star rating is due to the mount. I did read that the little rubber band like things holding it in place were quite susceptible to popping off if enough rigorous activity is applied to the mic. I was traveling from one room to another and the mic got snagged on a curtain. I looked up at the mic and it was sticking straight up. The front two rubber bands had popped off. I was able to find them and reassemble the mic, but the bands did come off quite easily. The mic does come with extra rubber bands, but I think doing a bit of a re-design will solve the issue of having to even think about needing replacement bands. Overall, this mic is a huge step up in audio capturing directly into your DSLR. In most instances, you will get very good sound that you can use right off your video clips. If you act now on this mic and get PluralEyes, you are getting a very good deal for just about any videographer out there.