Quick Look : RODE Wireless GO (Tip - you want the GO II)
/
This is the second version and what I should have bought originally, thank goodness for return policies
Folks will know that I have a lot of confidence well earned in RODE equipment. I was in my local music store and found the Wireless GO transmitter / receiver on sale at a price that I thought was fair and bought it.
I really should have checked the box, hence this quick look
The original Wireless GO, which is what I bought was designed as a low cost radio microphone to use with your interchangeable lens camera. The transmitter and receiver are small and contain rechargeable Lithium ion batteries offering up to 7 hours of function then recharge by USB, and even include the cables, little furball windscreens, (call them dead mice) and a cable to connect the receiver to your camera microphone input. Yes the system is high impedance, but I am not expecting studio grade audio, especially if it going through the preamp in the camera, which we know to be mostly lousy.
The receiver clip will also sit in the hot shoe if you wish.
Overall it is a nice design, but I was initially unimpressed because the transmitter is also the microphone and while only the size of a matchbook and twice as thick, I thought it would be distracting in a video. I have learned that perhaps the rest of the world is not as demanding in this regard as me.
What was not well documented in the ads, is that if you prefer, you can plug in a high impedance lavalier microphone into the transmitter. One is not included, but they are not ridiculously expensive.
So why should I have checked the box?
Well, I quickly discovered that while there is a USB connection on the receiver, it can only act as a charging port, so I could not use the system as an audio source if doing a quick one up video where I wanted to run the microphone into USB on the computer where I could work with the audio into an NLE editor. Not all video cameras have a microphone input and most of those inputs are used for scratch audio, not the good kind.
A quick visit to the RODE site revealed the Wireless GO II. In fact I had to jump through its pages to find the documentation for the original Wireless GO. The Wireless GO II brings the ability to use the USB connection not just for charging on the receiver but as an audio input. The receiver can also support two concurrent transmitters, so if you are shooting a two up, you can get separate (or merged) audio from your two presenters into the audio track. Very useful and the two pack is less expensive than two separate sets. There is also the capability with a RODE made (not included) cable that allows you to record directly into your iPhone or other handheld by connecting the receiver to it. With the growth of video shot entirely on mobile, this is a serious benefit.
I returned the one that I bought and my other regret was that opening the package involves tearing box parts because everything is glued in place. Despite my significant efforts, it looks opened. So it goes. When I got home, I ordered the Wireless GO II kit with two transmitters and the receiver and expect it in a few days.
Because I could record now direct to an interchangeable lens camera, to an iPhone or to a USB port on the computer, I find the version II to be a very credible solution and look forward to receiving and using it.
Thanks for reading and until next time, peace.
