Rode Wireless Go II

I'm going to contact Rode about 32bit in a future firmware update (if it's possible from a tech standpoint) If Zoom can do 32bit @$149 Rode can @ $300 (albeit for two TX + RX). That would make the WGII nearly perfect...
 
well, good luck: obviously we don't know what's inside the TX units yet. Really odd, though, to offer 32-bit export of a 24-bit file at the mo, as if that would be of use to anyone: we can only hope that it reflects the as yet untapped capability of the hardware. That said, it is equally odd that you can export a wav file from the compressed audio too, so it may well just reflect the rather poor Rode Central program! Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Roland
 
Throwback said:
well, good luck: obviously we don't know what's inside the TX units yet. Really odd, though, to offer 32-bit export of a 24-bit file at the mo, as if that would be of use to anyone: we can only hope that it reflects the as yet untapped capability of the hardware. That said, it is equally odd that you can export a wav file from the compressed audio too, so it may well just reflect the rather poor Rode Central program! Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Roland
Click to expand...

It’s kind of like cameras that offer the up-rez option in-camera... You aren’t really gaining anything, because, well, you didn’t start with more rez, but it’s making someone feel good because you are giving them a file in the “format” they want.

And I’m guessing NO on the GO II’s actually being able to record 32-bit float. I’m sure the hardware has to be built to do it and if they really could record 32-bit float, they would have shipped with that feature enabled and they would have had that listed at the top of the spec sheet in bold print, as that is the feature du-jour.
 
I suspect that you are right that there isn't any 32-bit hardware. Anyway aside from such guesses, Rode have got back to me re the latest firmware (v.1.4.8) to say that besides unspecified bug fixes it now includes a factory reset function via Rode Central (get to this via the File/Menu symbol at the top-left) 'to iron out any anomalies which might be occurring': they sent a PDF guide for this, but it is straightforward. Not quite sure what the implications are for those of us not experiencing any obvious problems - don't bother I'd assume.

Cheers,

Roland
 
So, just a follow up on my reaching out to Rode re: 32bit float. They responded thus: "Thanks for the message. The Wireless Go II can operate in WAV 32 bit float: This gives an upscaled 32 bit float format file, great for compatibility with similar files in a DAW environment. It also offers possibilities for feature expansion via future firmware updates." Sounds hopeful...
 
Most technology in this day and age is built to have firmware updates for improvements and additions.

A lot of companies like to get something out and improve it over time, especially if it's doing well for them.

The customer feedback and overall response usually gauges their development goals...for the product in question and for others (including second generation models).
 
I have the fancier Rode lav... it's fine, but I really don't love it compared to even the pack-in ME2. I'd imagine the GO is even lesser quality.
 
KarlSutton said:
Was thinking about getting this kit;

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1625910-REG/rode_wireless_go_ii_2_person.html

Does anyone know if the lav's are comparable to the ME2 the G3 Sennheiser's came with?
Click to expand...

I think the ME2s are a better mic. I don't have ME2s but I can add that I do have MKE2s the older version which has a very similar specs to the ME2. To my old ears, they do sound a little better overall than both the base Rode Lavalier GO mic that comes with the GO II expanded kits. But the difference is so minor. In all honesty, it might also be the fact that I'm so used to the sound of the MKE2s having used them so often over the years that I may subconsciously just prefer that sound. IMHO in extreme conditions like interviews in motorsports like in pit lane, I think the Sennys sound a little better. I also prefer their sound to the more expensive Rode 'Lavalier' which comes with Rode's proprietary 'MiCon' connector. I have a number of both of the Rode lavs that I have used here and abroad and have never any performance issues. In 99% of cases all three mics are hard to tell apart in my opinion. I've mixed both of the Rode models with the Sennheisers and nobody has ever commented on any difference. When editing I always think to myself about the mixed mics but soon forget about them as no differences seem to stand out.

What I will add is even though Rode says they have Kevlar reinforced mic cables that can withstand a 10Kg load I am always aware of the fact when mic'ing up talent that the Rode mic cables feel quite skinny and vulnerable compared to the good old Sennheiser MK series cables that are thicker and are metal reinforced.

To sum up I think price-wise the Rode GO II kits with their Rode Lavalier GO mics are a great value pack when you think of what you get for that price along with the performance you can get out of them. Unthinkable a few years back. My first dual receiver kit was a Sony 'V' Mount WRR-862 RX with two WRT-8B TX units and two ECM-70 mics. Size of a butter box! Bought one of the very first kits for shooting one-out during the Sydney Olympics in 2000. In today's terms that kit would be US$7,600! How much is a GO II kit? I have compared the GO II kit with the Rode Lavs against my old 862 kit as it was always one of my yard-stick levels to judge kits by, including my Lectros. To put it bluntly, I cannot really pick the difference between them. The major difference technically between the brands is that Senny claims a Max. SPL at 1 kHz of 142 dB on the MKE mics whereas Rode claims a Max. SPL at 1 kHz of 110 dB. Which is a considerable difference but how often are you going to put them under those sorts of ambient pressure loads. In a mosh pit in front of some heavy metal maybe? I think to sum up I'd only suggest going for the Senny mics if you really felt there was a noticeable difference, which I personally don't hear in most conditions. Have a listen to this short video from early 2018. Either brand of mc will deliver the goods IMHO.

Chris Young

EDIT:

Just added a clip where I used the supplied Lav mic that came with the Rodelink kit. Same mic as the GO II kit with mics. This guy was pretty expressive and lent on some of his words with a bit of weight and was very close mic'd because of what he was wearing. I was was happy with the results. This audio is straight out of camera with no adjustments. A fair example of what the kit mic delivers I think.


 
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Yet another firmware update (with usual odd numbering: now 1.6.0), this time with a video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXuewOlvecg

The standalone recording doesn't seem hugely appealing to me (why not monitor if you can: clothes noise is such an issue with lavs), but the pad is of use. Not sure what level of pad it is though: nothing in the video and still no firmware info. But good that Rode are increasing the functionality, and, indeed, they promise more.

Cheers,

Roland
 
So I was using my units yesterday - with the new firmware - and have run into an odd and somewhat concerning problem

On one of the units I'm getting a frequent faint but noticeable click.

You can hear it on this clip here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pl9kcQ8W1DcJArhh6L_SBGSF48R3U6LP/view?usp=sharing

It's particularly noticeable when it's quiet (eg the other person is speaking).

It only happened on one unit but happened repeatedly through the day, and seemed to happen whether I used a plug in lav or the built-in mic.
It's never happened before and when I tested it again today it didn't seem to happen.

Zooming into the wave form it seems to be an incredibly brief click - as if a single byte was going wrong.

Anyone else experienced anything like this?
 
But I'm getting the clicks on the backup recording on the TX unit.
I know that RF can cause problems with wireless transmissions but can it cause issues with an internal recording?
 
Good question. I know that wired mics can sometimes get RF interference from poor cable shielding but this scenario is different. You might want to post this in the audio section and let the experts there take a crack at it (Alex H, Rick R, Paul F. etc.)
 
It sounds more like dropped bits or corrupted bits in the digital domain rather than RF hits. Meaning once the analog has been converted to digital, somewhere along the path, a bit(s) gets corrupted.
 
nathankw said:
But I'm getting the clicks on the backup recording on the TX unit.
I know that RF can cause problems with wireless transmissions but can it cause issues with an internal recording?
Click to expand...

The short answer is that it is possible. All the stuff housed together in that little unit - pre-amp, A/D converter, recorder, transmitter - can be problematic if they aren’t all properly shielded from each other. But your recording, as Paul mentioned, sounds more like sample rate error. With this being a new issue since the update, it’s possible the new firmware mucked with the A/D conversion or the recording function and it’s dropping bits here and there.
 
Good question. I should have made a note of which unit it was that had the glitch before.

I think it was the same one but can't be 100% sure.
 
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