Rode unveiled a trio of brand-new products today, April 14, at NAB 2024 in Las Vegas. The Rode Interview Pro broadcast mic is joined by two smartphone products, the Phone Cage and Magnetic Mount.
Kicking things off with the Interview Pro, Rode calls it a broadcast-quality wireless handheld mic designed for use with Rode’s existing wireless audio system products. The handheld condenser mic works with any of Rode’s Series IV wireless system products, including the RodeCaster Pro II, RodeCaster Duo, and Streamer X.
The Australian audio company says the Interview Pro is ideal for podcasting, small presentations, and streaming applications where creators require a wireless mic. The mic features 2.4GHz digital transmission with 128-bit encryption, promising secure, stable performance with a range of up to 200 meters with line of sight.
The Interview Pro has a pro-grade condenser capsule, ensuring rich, detailed voice reproduction. Its omnidirectional polar pattern ensures that it works well even without ideal mic placement.
Rode’s GainAssist technology, which uses intelligent algorithms to control the mic’s audio levels automatically, helps the signal stay balanced and prevents clipping. The mic also features 32-bit float onboard recording, allowing users to record directly onboard with no risk of audio clipping. It sports 32GB of internal memory, enough for over 40 hours of record time.
The mic includes physical controls and can also be used as a standalone field recorder, eliminating the need for a receiver.
The Rode Interview Pro will ship in early May. It is available to preorder now for $249.
Rode’s other two new products are designed for mobile content creators who use smartphones in their audio and video workflows.
The Rode Phone Cage is a premium magnetic smartphone mounting system with 33 mounting threads and five cold shoe slots. It allows users to attach a wide range of audio, lighting, and mounting solutions to their smartphone rig.
At the heart of the Phone Cage is a MagSafe-compatible magnetic mounting disc. Rode promises the mounting point is “incredibly secure.” Integrated cable management slots make it easy for users to run cables from their iPhone to different accessories.
The Phone Cage can also be used as an ergonomic grip for more stable handheld filming, and it is easy to mount onto tripods or desks.
Rode’s Phone Cage will begin shipping on April 24. It is available to preorder now for $120.
Also leveraging the MagSafe tech on iPhone is Rode’s new Magnetic Mount. This mounting system makes it easy for users to attach microphones, lights, or other accessories to their iPhone when shooting.
It uses the same ultra-strong magnetic as the Phone Cage, although it has three removable arms instead of a cage. These arms include cold shoes. There is also a long arm that attaches to a tripod or desk mount.
Rode says the Magnetic Mount will be available later this month, and users can order it now for $90.
“We are extremely excited to reveal these three new products at NAB today,” says Rode’s CEO, Damien Wilson. “Rode has been helping creators capture incredible content with their phones since the early days of smartphone technology. We pioneered the plug-and-play smartphone mic category with innovations like the VideoMic Me and iXY, and more recently, with the VideoMic NTG and VideoMic GO II. Last year we released Rode Capture, the first video app designed specifically for today’s creators. And we invented the world’s first wireless microphone that was universally compatible with mobile devices, the Wireless GO II, which kickstarted a revolution in smartphone content creation.”
Wilson cites the new Phone Cage and Magnetic Mount as exciting additions to Rode’s offerings for mobile creators, while also calling the Interview Pro mic the “ultimate solution” for street interviews, run-and-gun presentations, and a wide range of content creation applications.
Image credits: Rode