Australian audio specialist RØDE has revealed three brand-new products at this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas. The first item to be unveiled was the Interview PRO, a broadcast-quality wireless handheld microphone that works with RØDE’s Series IV wireless systems. The other two products are premium smartphone accessories, the Phone Cage and Magnetic Mount, designed for mobile filmmaking.
The Interview PRO is a broadcast-quality condenser microphone for handheld use and it works with any RØDE Series IV wireless system. This includes the Wireless PRO, Wireless ME and Wireless GO II compact wireless systems for recording audio into a camera, smartphone or even computer.
The new mic can be paired directly with the RØDECaster Pro II, RØDECaster Duo and Streamer X just like an XLR microphone, making it ideal for podcasting, small presentations or streaming applications where creators need to move around.
Using RØDE’s Series IV 2.4GHz digital transmission with 128-bit encryption, the Interview PRO can broadcast up to 200m by line of sight. The mic has a professional-grade condenser capsule and RØDE says it produces a rich and detailed voice sound. The Interview PRO’s omnidirectional polar pattern means it’s easy to place and ideal for interviews, presentations and other voice applications.
RØDE’s GainAssist technology – which uses intelligent algorithms to automatically control the mic’s audio levels on the fly – provides a balanced signal with little risk of clipping. The mic also features 32-bit float, on-board recording, enabling direct capture without any chance of clipping. There is also a 32GB internal memory which can capture more than 40 hours of audio.
The provision of the onboard memory means users can always have a clean backup copy of an interview. However, more importantly, the memory enables the Interview PRO to be used as a standalone field recorder without the need to connect o a receiver. There is a dedicated button for stopping and starting recordings.
RØDE says its Interview PRO has all the features of its Wireless PRO product with the audio quality of a professional handheld microphone. Internal shock mounting of the capsule means there’s little handling noise, an essential feature for any interview mic. Finally, an internal pop filter reduces the risk of plosives and a high-quality windshield is provided for outdoor use.
The next product from RØDE to be unveiled at NAB 2024 is the new Phone Cage. This magnetic smartphone mounting system is designed for content creators looking to produce more professional mobile content. The Phone Cage is made from high-grade aluminum and has professional audio, lighting and mounting solutions, including 33 mounting threads and five cold shoe slots.
At the heart of the Phone Cage there’s a powerful magnetic mounting disc for attaching any MagSafe-compatible iPhone or case. This magnet lets users instantly transform a smartphone into a professional filmmaking rig, with the option to add microphones and other accessories. Integrated cable management slots make it easy to keep everything neat.
On its own, the Phone Cage can be used as an ergonomic grip for handheld filming, but with its choice of attachment points, it is easy to add additional handles or grips or mount onto tripods or desk mounts. The Phone Cage can be used in both portrait and landscape orientations and is ideal for capturing cinematic footage in traditional horizontal aspect ratios as well as vertical content for TikTok, YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels.
Finally, RØDE’s Magnetic Mount is the third new product to be unveiled at NAB 2024. This is another magnetic mounting system for attaching microphones, lights and other accessories to any MagSafe iPhone, smartphone case or accessory. It uses the same ultra-strong magnet as the Phone Cage for attaching a phone.
Instead of the cage, the Magnetic Mount has three removable arms: short and long cold shoe arms for shooting in landscape or portrait mode, plus a long arm with ¼-inch thread for mounting onto a tripod, handle or desktop arm for use in a wide range of video or content creation applications.
The Magnetic Mount is portable and its modular design makes it easy to transport and set up. The lightweight and compact Magnetic Mount slots into RØDE’s ecosystem of microphones and mounting solutions for smartphones. RØDE says that when the Phone Cage and Magnetic Mount are used with RØDE’s wireless or shotgun microphones, makes it easy for creators to produce great-looking and sounding video content just using a smartphone.
Pricing & Availability: The RØDE Interview PRO will be available in early May while the Phone Cage and Magnetic Mount go on sale in late April. The Interview PRO costs $249, while the Phone Cage sells for $120 and the Magnetic Mount $80.
More info: You can check out the three new RØDE products at rode.com