The new VideoMic NTG by RØDE is like a Swiss Army knife — and other microphone manufacturers should be scared.
Most microphones are for fairly specific uses and, as a result, many creators will own several mics.
(I personally own a shotgun mic for filmmaking, an on-camera mic for general videography, a lavaliere mic for interviews, and two large diaphragm condenser mics for music/voiceovers).
Now, the new Rode VideoMic NTG promises to simplify audio recording by eliminating the need for at least half of those microphones.
Three Mics in One
Incorporating design elements from both of its namesakes (specifically the VideoMic GO and new NTG5 shotgun mic), the VideoMic NTG is at home mounted on your camera, on a boom or even desk mounted on a mic stand.
It can record to your camera, an audio recorder, or a smartphone via the 3.5mm jack as well as via USB if you plug it into a computer.
This is a major first when it comes to shotgun or on-camera microphones which almost always have been strictly XLR or 3.5mm.
And while shotgun microphones aren’t typically used for recording voiceovers or podcasts, being able to also use your camera/boom mic with your computer for narration is a definite plus to beginner and seasoned creators alike.
Easy, reliable power
A lot of shotgun microphones require a AA or AAA battery which can be a major pain, even if you go with rechargeable ones.
The VideoMic NTG improves user experience by utilizing a built-in battery to provide an impressive 30hrs runtime per charge.
Oh, and speaking of charging, the new Rode mic uses that aforementioned USB port for simple quick charging while in the field or at home.
Other features
Rounding out Rode’s new mic set of features and accessories are some of the standard ones you’d expect to see with any microphone: a windscreen, bass roll-off, shock mount, and -20 dB pad.
However, the VideoMic NTG also includes some new features which could be really helpful to creators such as dual-level recording to a safety track, headphone monitoring when using USB, and automatic power detection.
Price and availability
Forgetting the versatility and features of the VideoMic NTG, its price of $249 seems slightly on the expensive side.
But taking into account the cost of the three mics it could replace (shotgun: $200, vocal: $100, & on-camera: $100), Rode’s newest VideoMic really starts to look like a deal.
We’ll have to see just how it performs (stay tuned for my full review) but until then you can pick it up from B&H with 2-day shipping if you’re already sold on it.
Personally, I think this would make a great combination with the Rode Wireless GO.
