Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone

  • Price: $249.00
  • B&H # ROSVM
  • Mfr# STEREO VIDEOMIC

Product Highlights

  • Integrated Shock Mount
  • Camera Mountable

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The Rode Stereo VideoMic delivers true stereo X/Y recording in a compact, camera mountable microphone. The Stereo VideoMic accurately captures stereo ambiance while exhibiting excellent off-axis rejection and signal-to-noise ratio. The small, light weight profile allows quick and unobtrusive mounting on DV and HDV cameras without appearing in the frame.

The shock-mount is attached to the microphone and a versatile shoe mount allows the entire microphone to be mounted to a hot-shoe on a camcorder, boom pole or stand. Replaceable rubber O-rings suspend the microphone on the shock-mount and protect against noise due to movement and handling. A coiled cable terminates to a stereo TRS 1/8" (3.5mm) mini output connection. The Rode Stereo VideoMic is powered with a standard 9 Volt battery. The Stereo VideoMic is an excellent choice for weddings, Electronic News Gathering (ENG), interviews and more.

Stereo X/Y Recording
The Rode Stereo VideoMic features true X/Y stereo pick up for accurate ambiance reproduction. Excellent off-axis rejection minimizes residual noise.
-10dB Pad
The Stereo VideoMic features a -10dB Pad switch for enhanced headroom and minimal distortion.
Camera and Boom Pole Mountable
The versatile shoe mount allows the microphone to be mounted to camcorders, stands or boom poles.
Integrated Shock-Mount
The Stereo VideoMic features a permanently attached shock mount with a camera mounting shoe underneath. The shock mount features replaceable rubber o-rings that protect against noise caused by abrupt movement and shock.
High Pass Filter Switch
A high-pass filter switch eliminates room ambiance and noise below 80Hz. This results in improved intelligibility while recording around machinery, wind or close proximity.
Internal Power
The condenser element is powered with a standard 9-volt battery.
Transducer Condenser
Polar Pattern Supercardioid
Frequency Response 40Hz - 20kHz Selectable HPF @ 80Hz / 12dB /octave
Dynamic Range (Typical) 115dB (per IEC651)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 79dB (A-weighted per IEC651)
Maximum Input Sound Level 130dB (@ 1kHz. 1% THD into 1 ohm load)
Power Requirements 9 Volt DC Alkaline
Output Impedance 200 ohms
Output Connectors Stereo mini jack - 1/8" (3.5mm)
Right Channel - Ring
Pad -10dB
Low Frequency Roll-Off 80Hz / 12dB octave
Dimensions 6.85 x 3.93 x 2.51" (172 x 100 x 64mm) (Length x Height x Diameter)
Weight 11.64 oz (330g)

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone
 
4.5

(based on 86 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (56)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (21)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (6)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (2)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (1)

95%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Great sound quality (42)
  • Lightweight (41)
  • Easy to use (37)
  • Durable (35)
  • Simple use (32)

Cons

  • Heavy (5)
  • Noisy (4)

Best Uses

  • Professional (27)
  • Shooting indoors (17)
  • Shooting outdoors (15)
  • Home movies (14)
  • Productivity (12)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Tech savvy (48), Gearhead (14), Aspiring film maker (9), Film professional (6), Parent (6)
    • Primary use:
    • Personal (26), Business (24)
    • Was this a gift?:
    • No (16)

Most Liked Positive Review

 

Small Priced Mic Can Take Big Hits

Let me start off by saying that I have examples of this mics performance in a very loud and very active live band setting.
Youtube username is:
bluefishswims

There you w...Read complete review

Let me start off by saying that I have examples of this mics performance in a very loud and very active live band setting.
Youtube username is:
bluefishswims

There you will find 10 examples of this mic in action. :) The ten videos are the ones with the acronym "DATH" in the titles.
Hope that helps.

Now, onto the review....

I've read a lot of reviews and seen a lot of reviews in which people put down the mics performance indoors by saying that it doesn't pick up their voices all too well and picks up too much surrounding noise. Well, that's what this mic is meant to do; it's meant to pick up surrounding noise, which is why it's a "Stereo" mic.
So, ambient sound and surrounding noise is what the SVM picks up best and if that's what you're looking for then this does that perfectly both indoors and outdoors.
If you're trying to use this as a shotgun mic for interviews outside or for interviews inside then you will be disappointed because you will hear the A/C turning on, the hum of the television, and just every other noise alongside your voice. Your voice will not be isolated.
This mic is not meant to isolate noise, it's meant to take in all noise.

That out of the way, it performs Great if you're using it for Live Bands, big events, choir concerts, etc. It allows you to relive the entire "Live Show" experience to the fullest with Full Sound and just very clear audio.
Just be sure to keep it pointed at the source though because it is a very directional mic. If you move it around then you'll hear the sounds shifting to your left and right ears and, as with any other mic, whatever is in front of it is loudest.

It's great for vacations if you want something that is better than the built in mic on your camera. This is one that you can trust not to get distorted if any unexpected noises come into play.

All-in-all it's a great buy and if there're enough sounds going on in the recording (as in a live band setting) then you'll hear no distortion, hissing, or buzzing. But when there's very little going on and you're just recording ambiance in an empty room then yes, there is some hissing and noise.

The only other accessory I bought was an extension for it along with a boom pole.
I use this mounted on top of my Canon Vixia HV30 and with the boom pole. works great.
I plan on buying an extra shotgun mic just to have the best of both worlds (stereo and shotgun).
The shotgun mic i'm going to get will probably be the Rode NTG-2.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

 

Not For 5D Mark II in Quiet Environments

I bought this because it seemed on paper the best solution for the Canon 5D Mark II.

I am no expert on sound, but from what I have read, the mic doe...Read complete review

I bought this because it seemed on paper the best solution for the Canon 5D Mark II.

I am no expert on sound, but from what I have read, the mic doesn't have sufficient amplification, which results in the 5D increasing the gain to compensate. This results in a low level hissing sound.

I tested the mic with the TV on a normal volume and the hissing sound basically makes the audio unusable, even when using the high-pass filter. I didn't test in a louder environment, such on the street.

The sound out of the mic is great, but the lack of preamp, and flaw in the autogain of the 5D means it is not the ideal solution.

I am going to try the Zoom H4n, which isn't as an elegant solution as this, and quite a bit more expensive, but will give more flexibility and hopefully better audio.

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 86 customers

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5.0

Amazing sound quality

By jlopez

from Chandler, AZ

About Me Parent, Tech Savvy, Video recording beginer

Verified Buyer

Pros

  • Easy To Use
  • Good Interface With Camcorder
  • Quality Construction
  • Quality stereo sound

Cons

  • Heavy

Best Uses

  • Home Movies
  • Shooting Indoors
  • Shooting Outdoors

Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

This mic produces excellent quality stereo sound. It has a very solid body. The size is a little larger than I expected and a little heavier, but still a great product.

  • Was this a gift?:
  • No

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5.0

Great mic, but beware of noise on DSLRs!

By howl

from Moscow, Russia

About Me Technically Challenged

Pros

  • Easy To Use
  • Great sensitivity
  • Quality Construction
  • Rich sound

Cons

  • No preamp
  • Not so good for DSLR

Best Uses

  • Live shows
  • Replacement

Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

I use this mic with Canon Rebel t2i (EOS 550d) to record live classic concerts. You can find examples of the live organ concerts recordings (EOS 550d+StereoVideoMic) at http://youtube.com/organmsu. The only problem is the noise, which canon preamp generates. Still, the sound is very deep and rich, so is the sensitivity. For me, the quality is sufficient for youtube, besides that there's little choice - external preamp+MagicLantern is not an option for me, too much bother. Things which are not so great it captures every noise from the sides (as it's not directional), so you have to stand as close as possible.

  • Was this a gift?:
  • No

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5.0

Works great with my Nikon D7000

By SpiderWayne

from Walnut Creek, CA

About Me Tech Savvy

See all my reviews

Verified Buyer

Pros

  • Easy To Use
  • Good Interface With Camcorder
  • Improves Performance
  • Lightweight
  • Quality Construction

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Home Movies
    • Shooting Indoors
    • Shooting Outdoors
    • Travel

    Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

    I use this on my Nikon D7000 and it works great directly into the camera. I also use it by plugging it directly into my Zoom H1 line in input. Either way is great.

    Outside, throw on the dead kitten that comes with it and your ready to go.

    I've only had it a couple of weeks now and so far can't find anything wrong with it.

    • Was this a gift?:
    • No

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    5.0

    Don't buy for Nikon D7000

    By fastv10

    from Lake Tahoe

    About Me Tech Savvy

    Pros

    • Easy To Use
    • Good Interface With Camcorder
    • Quality Construction

    Cons

    • No Performance Improvement

    Best Uses

    • Home Movies

    Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

    This Mic has excellent performance and low noise; however, I purchased it to use with my Nikon D7000 and discovered the Nikon external mic pre-amp input stage is too noisy for an external mic connection. I initially tested the mic with an Apogee Duet 2 with Wave Lab 7 and found the mic to be very low noise with excellent stereo performance. The Nikon D7000 internal mic has very little noise; however, connecting a high quality external mic is not an option due to it's poor external mic input noise performance.

    • Was this a gift?:
    • No

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    5.0

    Gooooddd stuff, fo' sho!

    By @indiestarTV

    from Tampa, FL

    About Me Aspiring Film Maker

    Verified Buyer

    Pros

    • Easy To Use
    • Good Interface With Camcorder
    • Improves Performance
    • Lightweight
    • Quality Construction

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Shooting Indoors

      Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

      Works awesome in my video interviews. The dead kitten should be worn at all times because it cancels out mostly all unwanted noise. I say "mostly" because if you're on a bus, ummm... you're gonna hear it in the background. I love the mic, its a great upgrade from the VideoMic! I've used it sidestage to record live bands and it gets some clear stuff, just depends on how "heavy/hardcore" the band is.

      • Was this a gift?:
      • No

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      5.0

      Rode - Australian quality microphone

      By Jerryr

      from Toronto, Ontario

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Easy To Use
      • Improves Performance
      • Quality Construction

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Home Movies
        • Shooting Indoors
        • Shooting Outdoors
        • Travel

        Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

        So far I am very happy with this mic. I am using it with Panasonic HDC-TM900 camcorder and there is only one small problem. When installed with Windbreaker - there is interference in max zoom position. Solved this with installing hot shoe extension - this lifted the mic a bit and no more problems.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

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        5.0

        Better than even the commercials!

        By Sorcha

        from Halifax, Canada

        About Me Retired Photographer, Tech Savvy

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Easy To Use
        • Improves Performance
        • Quality Construction

        Cons

        • Heavy if in the hot shoe

        Best Uses

        • Home Movies
        • Live music recording
        • Shooting Indoors
        • Shooting Outdoors
        • Travel

        Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

        For recording a concert, it's perfect. For a train going by, it's perfect. But for a river rolling bye, it is no better than the on-camera mic because directional sensitivity means little in that case. Great at a party too.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

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        5.0

        Works Well with my Panasonic Lumix FZ150

        By Patiio

        from Fort Collins, CO

        About Me Parent

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Easy To Use
        • Improves Performance
        • Quality Construction

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Home Movies
          • Shooting Indoors
          • Shooting Outdoors

          Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

          I have used the stereo Rode VideoMic to tape an indoor musical production. The sound is clear and doesn't appear to have much distortion. I am pleased with how it works. The camera prompts you to make sure you turn on the external microphone. One does need an adaptor to make it work.

          • Was this a gift?:
          • No

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          (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

           
          1.0

          Great mic, Poor quality mount

          By Peter

          from New York City

          About Me Film Professional, Tech Savvy

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Easy To Use

          Cons

          • Flimsy Design

          Best Uses

            Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

            I used this attached to a 5d Mark II at a concert. Within 3 hours of usage, the mount was loose and getting worse. The connection point is aluminum, and not engineered for an active environment.

            It's too bad too, as the mic itself was great. I just need it to handle the same level of activity as my 580 flash has taken over the past years without difficulty.

            I returned it.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

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            5.0

            Rode built tough/quality sound

            By Clive carrying Canon

            from Philadelphia PA

            About Me Parent, Tech Savvy

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Easy To Use
            • Improves Performance
            • Quality Construction

            Cons

            • Not light weight

            Best Uses

            • Home Movies
            • Music
            • Shooting Indoors
            • Upgrade

            Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

            I use this to record audio of live music concerts, not The Rolling Stones but rather music school (of rock). I use a Canon 5D mark 2 HDSLR camera, and
            purchased this based on other reviews that commented on it's effectiveness in such settings and it fully lived up to my expectations. It is solidly built with aluminum frame - feels like a "pro" piece of kit. It is somewhat expensive, however quality of audio picked up by the mic, and construction quality seem to be in line with price. It is not a light weight mic, other mics may be, but this one is 1960s era weight. It feels like something that could take a hit and not be damaged. Overall this mic is of solid construction but more importantly delivers high quality audio recording capability to an HDSLR camera.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

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            5.0

            great!

            By jane

            from new york

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Easy To Use
            • Good Interface With Camcorder
            • Improves Performance
            • Lightweight
            • Quality Construction

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Shooting Indoors

              Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

              superb sound quality

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Share this review

               
              4.0

              excellent

              By bobD

              from suburban Chicago, IL

              About Me Tech Savvy

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Easy To Use
              • Improves Performance
              • Long battery life
              • Quality Construction

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Upgrade

                Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                use this with panasonic HMC40 for recording live music.

                nice clear mic with good dynamic range. used it outdoors during band practice, inside a gym, and indoors in a home. none of these are acoustically ideal, but the rode mic performed well given the situation.

                i like the 9V battery because i can carry some spares and not worry about running out of juice.

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

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                5.0

                Great for recording live music!

                By Matt

                from Austin, TX

                About Me Tech Savvy

                Verified Buyer

                Pros

                • Easy To Use
                • Good Interface With Camcorder
                • Improves Performance
                • Quality Construction

                Cons

                • Heavy

                Best Uses

                • Replacement
                • Upgrade

                Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                I bought this mic to aid in capturing videos of my wife's bands live performances, and I must say, I think it was a good decision. It caused me to spend a little more than I wanted to for the whole camcorder package, but the results are sounding very good so far. I've tried capturing videos in the past, and the bottleneck has always been the audio quality. The small, built-in mics on today's cameras are too easily overpowered by the audio levels at live rock music shows, but the combo of this mic with a camera that has the ability to attenuate the incoming audio signal worked out beautifully! the mic, itself, also has a high-pass filter option, that helps attenuate low frequency sounds, and there is also a -10dB attenuation switch that helped bring the audio into a range that could be recorded with good quality. The only negative thing I can say is that, with a wind screen attached, the wind screen is somewhat visible in wide angle shots, but this is probably more to do with the mounting setup on the camera than the mic itself. I would definitely recommend this mic to someone looking to record stereo sound at live music performances.

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

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                4.0

                Rode microphone

                By Ben-jangles

                from Lafayette, LA

                Verified Buyer

                Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                It has great sound quality for it's price. And a good sound range. Couldn't complain about it.

                Share this review

                 
                5.0

                Good quality Audio for DSLR

                By Charleston Multimedia

                from Charleston SC

                About Me Film Professional

                Verified Buyer

                Pros

                • Easy To Use
                • Good Interface With Camcorder
                • Improves Performance
                • Quality Construction

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                    Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                    Works well with DSLR and isolation is a plus. DSLR is a different animal from a shoulder mount camera and isolating the mic helps immensely. You will need to purchase a screw in hot shoe mount.

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • No

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                    5.0

                    best on-camera mic for mini jack input

                    By unspoken

                    from New York, NY

                    About Me Film Professional

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                    • Audio quality
                    • Improves Performance
                    • Lightweight

                    Cons

                    • Non-detachable cable

                    Best Uses

                    • DSLR

                    Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                    Even with cameras with no audio level controls (like the Canon 7D), this mic manages to deliver amazing sound quality. The size and weight are minimal, the shock mount is excellent. My only minor quibble is the non-detachable audio cable, which is the only weak link in an otherwise rugged design. While it's no substitute for shotgun or lav mics close to subject, it at least gives usable audio as backup and to sync double system audio much more easily.

                    Share this review

                    (0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    3.0

                    Rode Stereo VideoMic

                    By Sharon

                    from Massachusetts

                    About Me Tech Savvy

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                    • Easy To Use

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                      • Home Movies

                      Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                      Worked fine but wasn't suitable for our camera. [...]

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

                      Share this review

                       
                      5.0

                      Absolutely amazing!

                      By Manix

                      from Montreal, Canada

                      About Me Film Professional

                      Verified Buyer

                      Pros

                      • Easy To Use
                      • Good Interface With Camcorder
                      • Improves Performance
                      • Lightweight
                      • Quality Construction

                      Cons

                        Best Uses

                          Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                          I use this product mainly on Reception footages on weddings. It will filter loud music and no more audio clipping for my video camera sound recording.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Share this review

                           
                          5.0

                          RODE Stereo Video Mic

                          By Dchex

                          from Dana Point, CA

                          About Me Tech Savvy

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Easy To Use
                          • Great Sound Quality
                          • Lightweight

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                            • Professional

                            Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                            This little mic is super easy to use, very light, mounts easily onto your hot shoe and records great stereo sound. I use it for my Canon 5D Mark II, and since built0in mic is horrible, I needed to buy something more powerful. RODE solved all my sound issues and I am very happy with the purchase!

                            • Primary use:
                            • Business

                            Share this review

                            (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                             
                            3.0

                            Not Bad But Very Noisy.

                            By Cody The Filmmaker

                            from Montreal,Quebec

                            About Me Filmmaker

                            Verified Reviewer

                            Pros

                            • Durable
                            • Easy To Use
                            • Great Sound Quality

                            Cons

                            • High Hiss
                            • Noisy

                            Best Uses

                            • Indipendant FIlms
                            • Professional

                            Comments about Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone:

                            This mic is very good.It is easy to use and can make you look and sound more professional. However the hiss and the noise takes away the hype.
                            This mic is great and looks awesome!

                            • Primary use:
                            • Business

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                            Wind Protection

                            Rode -  Dead Kitten WindMuff for the Rode Stereo VideoMic
                            • Price: $24.99
                             

                            Stands & Support

                            Pearstone -  Universal Microphone Hand Grip
                            • Price: $34.95
                             

                            Shock Mounts

                            Rode -  SVM Bands - Set of Eight Elastic Shock Mount Bands
                            • Price: $5.99
                             
                            View all Accessories

                            What's in the Box

                            Rode Stereo VideoMic Camera-Mounted Stereo Microphone
                            • Dead Kitten WindMuff
                            • 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo Cable
                            • Suspension Shock Mount
                            • Accessory Shoe
                            • 3/8" Thread Adaptor
                            • 10 Year Warranty
                             
                             
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