View Full Version : Rode Video Mic in Stereo????


Steve Witt
May 14th, 2006, 06:15 PM
I recorded some video with my Panasonic GS400 and a Rode Videomic attatched and turned on. I listened thru headphones to ensure the sound was being recorded too. I then downloaded the video into my brand new Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 NLE sofware. When I look at the "clip info" for each clip recorded above...it says that the sound is in "stereo" and not mono. How could this be??

Tony Tibbetts
May 14th, 2006, 06:35 PM
I don't think it's true stereo, it's the same audio on both channels

Stu Holmes
May 14th, 2006, 06:58 PM
yes the Rode Videomic is wired so it delivers the mono soundtrack to BOTH channels. So it's the same signal for both channels, therefore not true stereo. But it's quite a nice thing if you're listening/reviewing/watching the tape before any editing as you get sound out of both earpieces (for headphones) or both speakers (for twin-speaker TV). I think that's good attention to detail by Rode, thinking about the target market.

Steve Witt
May 15th, 2006, 06:06 AM
Thanks for the responses. So there is nothing wrong with my software? It has been fooled into thinking this "double channeled mono audio" is a stereo recording? This is good.

Steve House
May 15th, 2006, 06:48 AM
Just one caution if you're using a cable adapter to plug the Rode mic into an XLR input. The Rode connects the tip to the ring to send the mono signal to both channels. In an unbalanced to balanced adapter that takes a TS or TRS miniplug and adapts it to an XLR input, the ring is connected to the sleeve. That means if you plug the Rode mic into, say, a Canon XL2's XLR input using a conventional adapter, the tip, ring, and sleeve are all shorted together and grounded with a result of no sound.

Guy Cochran
May 24th, 2006, 06:26 PM
The new RODE SVM (Stereo VideoMic) is becoming a reality. It's taking on a slightly different design and will now include a -10dB pad switch. Here's the preliminary photo http://www.dvcreators.net/rode-svm-stereo-videomic/

Darin Boville
May 24th, 2006, 06:39 PM
Hi Guy,

Will the SVM fit better on the FX-1? My Videomic is about a 1/4 inch too far back and interferes with the LCD panel opening/closing. I have to fiddle with it a bit to mount it 3/4ths the way onto the show to avoid this problem...

--Darin

Guy Cochran
May 24th, 2006, 06:43 PM
I haven't got my hands on one yet, but judging from the photo the SVM sits higher. For now you can pick up a Rycote hot shoe extender to push it out of the way. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rycote+hot+shoe+extender&btnG=Google+Search