GH3 Rode Videomic GO

S

Stab

Well-known member
Hey everyone,

I was looking at the well praised Rode Videomic Pro when I encountered a new mic from Rode, the Rode Videomic GO. The sound quality is about 10% less (to my ears) but it doesn't need a battery! It drains power from the camera's 3.5mm input! This is huge for me as I shoot long weddings and don't want to fiddle around with batteries with all devices. On top of that it is half of the price of the Pro. Furthermore you can take the cable out and plug in a longer cable if preferred.

So far so good, but a possible problem is that it doesn't have the +20 DB setting that the Pro version has. So I was wondering if anyone here with a GH3 or GH4 has any experience with this mic. Does it feed the camera a 'hot enough' signal? At which gain setting is the volume loud enough? And how does it sound?

Bonus question: If I use a 5-10m long cable, will it still be powered by the GH3? Does that affect the sound quality?

Thanks guys!

Link:
http://www.rodemic.com/videomicgo
 
Recently I've been using the VideoMic GO onboard the GH4 because it can be powered by the camera. Previously I was using Panasonic's mic for the same reason but it doesn't come with a shock mount & fitting a 3rd party version isn't elegant, especially when using the DeadCat. The GO's shock mount is quite good & it's easy to swap on a DeadKitten when needed.

I'm far from an audio expert but feel the VideoMic GO sounds OK & at least on par with Panasonic's, but I never expect too much from any onboard mic, & almost always work with a SoundPerson. Forum Member TheDingo has tested the GH4's audio, & unlike the GH3, it doesn't need the +20 dB boost provided by mics such as the VideoMic Pro, or LensHoppers, so I've shelved mine.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...ange-!&p=1986477033&viewfull=1#post1986477033

The VideoMic Go is also much shorter than Panasonic's, which I like, but while the GO can be adjusted to sit a bit further forward on it's cold shoe foot it will still hit your forehead when using the EVF if it's mounted in the camera's hot shoe. I usually mount the GO horizontally to a cage's top handle where this is not issue.
 
Thanks Bern!

I didn't know that the GH4 has a substantially different build-in amp than the GH3. I wonder if the signal of the Videomic GO is strong enough for the GH3, without the + 20 DB boost.
 
Bonus question: I also have a Panasonic G6. What are these preamps like? Comparable to the GH3 or GH4?
 
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