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The original Rode VideoMic has been one of the most popular on-camera microphones in video production for several years. It greatly improves the sound quality of a camera, making it one of the best options for video shooters who need to upgrade their sound on a budget. However, one downside that this mic always had was its wobbly shockmount. The new Rode VideoMic with Rycote Lyre Suspension System, however, equips this microphone with one of the most celebrated shockmounts in the industry.

Elastic bands provide the suspension in most shockmounts, however, all elastics suffer from the same shortcomings. One of the main gripes with elastic suspenders is that they tend to pop out of their mounts, and often need to be refastened. This eats up valuable time during a video shoot, and it’s a distraction that most videographers can do without. Elastic bands are also more susceptible to wear and tear. They lose their elasticity over time, and they’re prone to break and snap. The Rycote Lyre system on the new VideoMic doesn’t suffer from any of these issues.

Shaped and named after the ancient Greek musical instrument, Rycote Lyres are made out of a thermoplastic called Hytrel, which provides the flexibility of rubber and the strength of plastic. Unlike elastic suspenders, Lyres never wear out, and they provide a more effective suspension that helps to reduce unwanted vibration and handling noise. Coupled with the excellent performance of the Rode VideoMic, shooters of HDSLRs and camcorders alike have a potent new sound-gathering tool at their disposal.

This new microphone is more than just an original Rode VideoMic that’s been affixed to a Rycote Lyre shockmount; the mic itself has been redesigned to be more user-friendly in this configuration. The original VideoMic stood up on its shockmount slightly diagonally, whereas the new Rode VideoMic with Rycote Lyre Suspension System sits flat on the shockmount, achieving a more low-profile design. The Power/High-Pass Filter switch has been reoriented to be easier to use in this position.

The base of the shockmount features a metal camera shoe, so it can easily be mounted on top of a camera. There is also a 3/8" thread at the base of the shockmount, so the mic can be attached to a boompole. The mic requires a 9-volt battery for operation, and features a 1/8" mini-plug output. It can be attached to cameras and recorders that feature XLR inputs with the separately available Rode VXLR adapter.      

If you have any questions about the new Rode VideoMic with Rycote Lyre Suspension System, we encouraged you to submit a Comment below. You can also stop by our SuperStore in New York City and speak to a B&H Sales Professional, give us a call at 1-800-606-6969, or join us online for a Live Chat.