RØDE released Lavalier II. RØDE stated that Lavalier II is a high-quality lavalier microphone, ideal for demanding audio and video applications. It uses a new low-key design and better sound quality.
One of my complaints about the original RØDELink Lavalier microphone is that the microphone head is very large and it is difficult to hide it. It is also difficult to get it to work with industry-standard third-party accessories.
The new Lavalier II has a better low-key design. RØDE claims that it uses a new capsule technology and a unique shape. I'm not sure if the external dimensions are unique.
In the past, there were many lavalier microphones with very similar designs and shapes, such as the Lectrosonics M152/5P omnidirectional lavalier microphone.
According to RØDE, this new shape allows users to align the microphone flush with clothing and other mounting surfaces. The potential problem I see is that since the actual pole is on the side rather than the top, hiding the microphone may mean that you will end up covering the pole. Lavalier II also has a new mounting clip, much smaller than the original one, and a flat cable.
I don't know why they insist on putting a very obvious RØDE logo on the microphone clip. There is absolutely no need to do this. Most professionals I know don’t use clips with big brand logos.
It is said that Lavalier II can provide broadcast-quality sound suitable for various recording applications. It has a very flat frequency response and low noise performance. It uses an omnidirectional directivity mode, which is very common in lavalier microphones.
Lavalier II can be used with a variety of audio equipment, including RØDE Wireless GO II and the newly released AI-Micro. It has a 3.5 mm locking connector and can be used with professional wireless microphone systems.
Lavalier II comes with an advanced accessory kit. This includes a high-quality pop filter and a mini furry windshield. There is also a compact mounting clip (including a simple cable management slot) and a set of color identification rings for tracking microphones in multi-camera situations.
The RØDE Lavalier II retails for US$99.
Matthew Allard is an award-winning, ACS-certified freelance photography director with 30 years of work experience in more than 50 countries around the world. He is the editor of Newsshooter.com and has been writing articles on the site since 2010. Matthew has won 42 ACS awards, including four prestigious golden tripods. In 2016, he won the Best Photography Award at the 21st Asian Television Awards. Matthew can work as a DP in Japan or anywhere else in the world.
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