The new RØDE Video Mic GO II is a brilliant little shotgun mic for using on top of a video camera or ... [+] DSLR.

Some companies experience success without a massive marketing budget or lavish advertising. Some companies make products that become a byword for what they do. For example, the name Hoover has entered the dictionary as a term for vacuuming, no matter what brand of cleaner is being used. 

Another company that has become a common noun for what it does is RØDE. The Australia-based electronics brand specializes in making microphones, particularly for newsgathering with video cameras. Countless video journalists slap a RØDE mic on their camera to pick up audio even when the sound is some distance away. Just look at footage fromofalmost any press conference on the planet and you’ll see video cameras with microphones sporting foam windshields emblazoned with the letters R-Ø-D-E. The brand gets incredible daily media exposure and doesn't even need to pay a penny for it.

The latest product to be launched by this innovative company from ‘Down Under” is the Video Mic GO II. This brand-new compact shotgun microphone features an annular line tube design and is light enough and sufficiently compact to be used on top of a traditional video camera or even a DSLR. The design is draws on the technology of RØDE’s flagship NTG5 microphone and is a major upgrade from the original Video Mic GO. Annular line tube technology features acoustic perforations that run along the length of the microphone in place of the more usual linear slots found in other shotgun and on-camera mics. The technology delivers unmatched transparency and produces a natural and uncoloured sound. 

The RØDE Video Mic GO II is supplied with a foam windshield and a claver shockmount with a hotshot ... [+] and regular microphone thread.

As well as offering the traditional 3.5mm output for plugging into the host camera, the Video Mic GO II has a USB-C port that outputs a digital signal and also turns the 3.5mm jack into a monitoring port so the camera operator can plug in a pair of headphones and hear the sound coming live from the microphone.

The RØDE Video Mic GO II is superbly light at just 89 grams and nestles in its red shock mounts that isolate the mic from any knocks or camera-handling sound. The mic uses plug-in power and so doesn’t need any batteries, which makes it nice and light and one less bit of kit to buy batteries for.

The Video Mic GO II is a sensitive design that’s ideal for fast-paced filming situations. It’s polar pickup pattern means it won’t pick up sounds from the camera operator as they adjust controls on the go. It’s an incredibly directional mic and can zoom in on sound while ignoring other off-camera noises. The sound captured matches perfectly with the direction the camera is pointing.

The new RØDE Video Mic GO II is small enough to mount on any DSLR and makes for an excellent mic to ... [+] capture fast moving action without losing any of the sound.

I managed to get my hands on a production sample of the new RØDE Video Mic GO II before its launch and it felt like a wonderfully sturdy design despite its light weight. The mic can either be used with its shock mount – which has a built-in hot shoe connector for mounting on a video camera, DSLR, iPhone or iPad – or it can be removed for handheld use as an interview mic or mounted on a mini tripod

The user can choose whether to connect the mic via USB or the analog 3.5mm connection. This will depend on what type of job the mic is used for and the type of camera used. The digital connection is best for connecting to smartphones, tablets or computers, while the 3.5mm analog connection is ideal for using with DSLRs and video cameras. I particularly like the USB mode because it’s possible to plug in a pair of headphones and monitor the sound in real time with zero latency. That’s a nice touch that wasn’t available with the previous model.

The RØDE Video Mic GO II is compatible with the entire RØDE suite of apps and up to four of the mics can be used together over USB. I tried the system out on my iPhone, using a USB-C to Lightning cable, and recorded audio with RØDE’s excellent Reporter smartphone app. The VideoMic GO II mades for an excellent little interview mic and provided high-quality audio. The mic also works with RØDE Connect and RØDE Central software and both offer access to the Video Mic GO II’s built-in high-pass filter, high-frequency boost and pad functions.

As well as being great for using in video cameras, the RØDE Video Mic Go II microphone is ideal for ... [+] using with RØDE's superb RØDE Connect software which enables up to four mics to be used simultaneously and gives access to sophisticate filters built in to the microphone.

Verdict: With this latest update, the RØDE Video Mic GO II is a versatile microphone for filmmakers, as well as for vlogger, podcasters, streamers and anyone involved in audio and visual production. The addition of the USB output, which gives access to all the advanced filters baked into the microphone, is a big leap forward and you can activate the filters and monitor the output in real-time using a pair of headphones plugged into the 3.5mm jack. For anyone shooting on location who needs a sensitive and lightweight microphone that’s ideal for picking up dialog with the utmost clarity, this is the one for you. It’s well priced, well made and reproduces impeccable sound quality. Highly Recommended.

Pricing & Availability: The RØDE VideoMic GO II is available now and costs $100.

More info: www.rode.com

The RØDE Video Mic GO II works with iOS devices and is a perfect mic for use with an iPhone or iPad.