Mastering Audio: Røde VXLR Pro Adapter Review - Balanced vs. Unbalanced 3.5mm Mini Jack to XLR

[@MikkoRantalainen]

The "plug-in power" for electret microphones (most of the lavalier mics) is officially called "bias voltage". These Røde devices seem to be the only high quality adapters that can provide XLR adapter with bias voltage without introducing lots of noise. All the cheaper models available cause lots of noise as far as I know. Thank you for *clearly* explaining the difference between VXLR+ and VXLR Pro. In short, you want VXLR Pro only if you need a long XLR cable between the adapter and the audio interface. I'm planning to use electret microphone connected to nearby audio interface so VXLR+ is the best option for me because I can plug the adapter directly to the interface. For dynamic mics you can usually connect the 6.3 mm connector directly to the audio interface, too.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you for the clarification and helpful comment 👍 that's awesome.

[@damsakhanda5043]

I came here to learn about VXLR Pro but more than half the video is gone, you are still talking about the basic VXLR. I hope you take a note on this for your next video.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Hello DamSak Handa, there are time markers, those probably help in finding the information you are looking for. This is a comparison video for the Røde VXLR series, so it makes sense to talk about all three of them. Anyways, thanks for your feedback and have a great day 🌸.

[@damsakhanda5043]

@@ChrisSpiegl Okay, That is fine if you don't get what I am talking about. Still, what I am saying is video is titled on Pro version, but more than half is on basic version. why not shorting the time for basic and give us more on what we came for?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@damsakhanda5043 I’ll consider it next time. 👍

[@davidalanmedia]

A super helpful explanation of the VXLR Pro adapter.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you 🌸 I appreciate your comment here.

[@TheVelvetvoicecoach]

This is another brilliant video Chris. I very much appreciate it.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment 🌸.

[@user-ez4kd3vw8m]

it really helps a lot, thank you Chris for the great job, i was looking for this comparison video everywhere

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you, I appreciate your comment a lot 🌸.

[@jelly8594]

Sehr schönes Ambiente! Das lässt die Präsentation tatsächlich so wirken, als würdest du es mir persönlich am Tisch gegenüber erklären. Top!👍

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Vielen Dank, das freut mich sehr dass es so rüber kommt. Ich experimentiere ein wenig immer wieder mal was anders. Mit zwei Kameras lässt sich das aber viel besser verwirklichen als vorher.

[@ElVeleroDePapel]

Hello, this adapter is also suitable for the Tascam DR 40X

[@AloweeInteractive]

Finally i understand why my rode mics doesn't work with my audio interface. Nice man, thank's.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

You're welcome 👍

[@ElVeleroDePapel]

Hola, este adaptador le sirve también a la Tascam DR 40X

[@JasonVriends]

Would the XLR Pro be the right application to take 3.55 mm TRS output of a wireless microphone system (i.e., Hollyland Lark M1, Djii Mic, etc.) and brining it into a XLR input of a wireless mixer? Or it should only be used as an input microphone to such a system.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

For this type of purpose you could use any of the three.

[@semilumi]

Thanks for the thorough video. I was disappointed to find out that my VXLR+ does NOT convert the signal to balanced. Oh well, need to buy even more stuff... By the way: i would not consider 9m cable run as long. General advice is that unbalanced runs can be used up to 10m, and balanced can go easily to 300m.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Hi Semi Lumi, I had a similar reaction back when I got the VXLR+; but at last, Røde now makes a balanced version. In terms of length of the XLR cable… I totally understand that, the only problem is I don't have that long an XLR cable 🙈. Otherwise, I would have tested it for sure. This video was intended more as an explanation of the differences. Thank you for your comment 🌸.

[@arnoldsnodgrass2953]

@Semi Lumi That’s a slightly misleading statement about cable length; it needs clarification with regard to the type of signal you’re sending. Balancing doesn’t inherently mean you can use a long cable, as there is always signal loss the longer a cable is, so for example you’d be most unwise to send a mic level signal 300m even if it’s balanced. A line level signal might be fine. The point of balancing is its resistance to interference hence you can use longer cables without fear of picking up electrical interference but you still need to ensure the signal itself is suitable for the distance you’re sending it.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@arnoldsnodgrass2953 thank you for these insights. Great.

[@ClayJarvisGuitar]

I was getting ready to purchase either the $10 or $25 adapter and I’m really glad I found your video to help me. I thought this was a really great video and a very clear comparison of the adapters. For me, I’m using a different scenario. I have a Movo VXR10 mic and I would like to connect it to a Behringer studio mixer. My purpose for this is because I run the mic along with a guitar and another audio source into the mixer then I have a sub out from mixer that goes straight to my iPhone or iPad while I’m recording video. The mixer will provide phantom power but I’m still not sure if the $25 adapter will accomplish this and I will be using it as a boom mic so would need a 10’ or so cable. Can you tell me if the $25 adapter will work for this?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

The options are VXLR / VXLR Plus / VXLR Pro. For what you are describing the VXLR Plus and VXLR Pro would work since the mic needs plugin power you need an adapter that takes Phantom Power and transforms it into plugin power which both of these do. The Pro has some more electronics to minimize electric static and interferences which can be picked up by the cable. But to make use of that the VXLR Pro has to be as close to the mic as possible (so a long XLR cable, then the adapter, then the mic). If you are tight on cash, I'd go with the VXLR Plus and hope my setup does not provide too much interferences.

[@YuvakTuladhar]

Really clear and detailed description of three converters. I use vxlr (not plus or pro) with lav mic that doen not need plug in power. with Sound Devices Mix Pre ii in one of the mic channels. But one thing one must remember is to turn off the phantom power in the channel one is using. If you forget that you are likely to blow your lav mic and making it useless.

[@helmanfrow]

Another benefit of the VXLR Pro is broader compatibility compared to the VXLR Plus. This is because its transformer-balanced outputs can be used with transformer-balanced inputs, which will not accept a signal from an unbalanced output.

[@gumptionsong3891]

Brilliant. I'm a complete luddite but you made this very clear and simple. Very useful. Thank you so much!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it .🌸

[@imark7777777]

Finally Somebody who gets plug in power correct it's amazing and not 48V phantom. Excellent! I think Rode does a poor job of explaining the difference between their adapters then again pretty much everybody does. I spent almost 5 years looking for a 48v to plug in power converter it was really difficult as I kept getting the passive adapters in my searches. The 3.5 mm TRRS cables have really complicated things. Traditionally that connector was used for left right and ground and some other variations. prior to that it was just a tip and sleeve left and ground with right on a separate Second connector since we started with mono and added stereo later. There are many other variations like with video cameras and audio / video or stereo audio / video and there's the iPod audio and video which morphed into the iPhone headset standard with the microphone. Which of course completed with The Other TRRS Standard which we should've ended up with because it would have solved so many other issues swapping microphone and ground on the 4 pole connector. Speaking of which if you ever plug in a 4P connection into a headphone jack and have low signal but get better signal with it slightly out it's because the Jack is not aware of the 4 pole connection and it's treating the very bottom one as ground which it is not it it's the microphone and this can be very annoying. And most people don't understand why.

[@JoshPostVlogs]

Great video. Maybe you mentioned and I missed it, but what about using an XLR mic and then converting to 3.5 to go into your camera directly. Does the Pro model work for that?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

No, XLR has male and female, and you'd end up with exactly the wrong one when using it with a mic. There are different adapters for this. However, in the realm of connecting XLR mics directly to a camera with 3.5 mm, you have to make sure that you don't use a mic which needs Phantom Power - since your camera probably can't provide that. Generally, I'd advise not to do it this way and use mics that are made to connect to a camera or use an audio interface / recorder in between mic and camera.

[@frankbierschneider8785]

Bravo, gut gemacht! Doch informativer und kurzweiliger, als ich anfangs dachte! :)

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Vielen Dank. Das freut mich.

[@Brucelabvideos]

Wow. Pretty lengthy video/explanation however the last two and a half minutes were all that was really needed. That said, Thanks for the time and effort that went into the production.

[@xcnevents]

Thanks, it's a very useful info, great vid!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad it was helpful!

[@leoneventicinque6731]

Thanks Chris, very useful video!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

That's awesome, I am glad this video was helpful for you 🌸.

[@raygodwin68]

KZbin is degenerating into a horrible greedy entity. Thank goodness for excellent KZbinrs like you who still offer some public interest quality and make it worthwhile usisng it. It doesnt have to be this way KZbin. Great work.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you for your feedback and I am glad this video was helpful for you. May I ask what you mean with the "Greedy Entity"? What are you not liking?

[@raygodwin68]

@@ChrisSpiegl KZbin is packing the platform with adverts to denegrate the experience in order to pressure people into paying for a subscription. They get their content for free from brilliant folk like you and already make a good profit. Squeezing more out of the platform by making the status quo less enjoyable is I think a greedy and selfish approach.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@raygodwin68 Do you mean the KZbin Premium subscription? I'd actually argue that people watching ads is more profitable for KZbin (because with the Premium Subscription you get rid of Ads). I personally use the KZbin Premium subscription and I love it. Great experience, no ads, offline and background video watching on mobile, and some exclusive content. Sounds good to me. One thing where I think they could improve is the percentage that they take from the ads placed on our channels. But then again, if it wasn't for KZbin there would be thousands if not hundreds of thousand of people without a job (or at least with a less passionate job). Oh and one more thing: some of the ads that are running on the platform are simply scams. That's bad and it seems getting worse.

[@raygodwin68]

@@ChrisSpiegl yes, Premium. The scam ad prevalence is more evidence of the greed I feel. Profit is being put before the welfare of the platform users. They could stop them easily I’m sure if they didn’t prioritise the revenue.

[@Alexisdc11]

Thank you for this video! This was very clear and helpful :)

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you I appreciate that. 😊 Hope you can now get the adapter you need. 👍

[@Alexisdc11]

@@ChrisSpiegl I just ordered the VXLR pro. This way I shouldn't have any bad surprise.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@Alexisdc11 That's probably a good idea. Definitely, the one that provides the most features. Even though it's crazy to think what other devices one could buy for $50 🙈.

[@BarefootMediaTV]

So i have a rode wireless go and a rode ntg. Which adapter should i get for those to go into the tascam x8?

[@StuTech2]

Great explanations in this video and it’s well worth watching to the end as I picked up a great tip which I would have missed if I had switched off. Thank you

[@tallerdeficcion]

aw my gawd, thank you very much, this is pretty much what I´ve been waiting for! you are a lifesaver! now I know which one to purchase!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you, I appreciate your comment 🌸.

[@dreamcatchertrainer5836]

Thanks for the video. One ( dumb) Question with answer ( from RODE)..Is One pin of VXLR PLUS longer than the other two? Why is one pin of the XLR connector longer than the other two? is this normal? Yes, this is perfectly normal and is a design feature of the RØDE microphone. The ground XLR pin (pin 1) is designed to be slightly longer than the other two pins. This is to ensure that when an XLR is plugged into the mic XLR socket the first pin that comes into contact is the ground pin. This feature is implemented in all RØDE microphones to protect the microphone circuitry from a static electricity short that could potentially damage the microphone circuitry.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

That's absolutely right. I wondered the same for a while. But read this info on their Instagram at some point. So good, they make it safe(r) for us to use.

[@drakegostream]

Wow you're fast! They just announced them :D Also, you're working on your room treatment, aren't ya? I hear almost no reverb in late videos, good job!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you @drakegostream, yes they just announced them and I was lucky to get in contact soon after and get these shipped to me from Australia. The communication with them was great as well. And in terms of the room, I am trying to get closer to the mic as much as I can, I am also using iZotope RX8 recently to run a slight de-reverb. I was given a chance to get a review copy from them as I plan on doing more podcast editing and audio cleanup videos. So that's probably part of the reason 🙈. Thanks again for leaving a comment, I appreciate that.

[@drakegostream]

@@ChrisSpiegl well, honestly I was a little suspicious in terms of you might have used RX De-Reverb 😂 but still wanted to get things clear. These plugins are awesome, and from what I understand, if use it mildly, you’ll have pretty natural sound as a result, like you did here. The only drawback is obviously the price, so it’s a good thing that you managed to get that review copy! By the way, at some time you might want to make a video about relationship with PR-departments of companies may be? In terms of getting review samples, ethics, caveats etc. This topic might be extremely interesting to aspiring tech-tubers who might be established enough to apply for such things, but have no idea how that works! Also, really appreciate you sociability!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you. It’s a definitely a privilege to be able to reach out to companies. But honestly, I am just learning the ropes of these relationships myself. But some day I’ll probably get into that in a video as you suggested. About the RX De-Reverb: it sure is pricy and yet so damn powerful. 👍 Definitely has to be done minimal but that’s what they are doing really well with the presets and such. Lastly, I still would prefer better room treatment. But that really is a not an easy feat. The ceilings are high and the apartment rented. You never know how much you want to fix upon leaving. 😅 Really enjoy the comment section. ☺️ the interaction is great and seeing the community grow is the best. 👍

[@hhh6816]

Thanks for the awesome explanation. May I ask can I use 3.5 to xlr cable and will work, or I must buy Røde VXLR Adapter

[@chrisquigley]

Thank you for your hard work. This explanation was well done.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

You're very welcome!

[@waveland]

Please write scripts. You know what you’re talking about, but the video keeps going in circles, and becomes unnecessarily repetitive. With a little care you could get this down to about 5 minutes and really have a potent explainer video that I could recommend to others.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thanks for your feedback. That may be a different style of video I could consider foe the future. 👍

[@waveland]

@@ChrisSpiegl You can explain three XLR dongles with no settings or moving parts in a much more direct way. In the first 90 seconds, explain the primary difference between all three. For some of us who understand sound, but who don’t know what the new Pro does, you’ve answered our question quickly and we will be grateful for the saved time and much more likely to recommend your channel to others. Then for those unfamiliar with microphone differences, demo the dongles in use-show rather than tell. This after all is a visual medium. Plug things together for people to see. Show what a Lav mic with a threaded connector looks like and how it would attach. And demo the downsides as well. These Rode adapters do come in very handy, but they don’t meet everyone’s needs. Fundamentally Chris you’re doing great, way ahead of so many others. You got the channel going. Good job! Now get good at refining your style, and as they say in the news business, don’t bury your lede. Get all the basics in front of your audience right up front, then expand on the story from there. Whereas in this video, I stopped watching around the 12 minute mark and you still hadn’t explained why the Pro matters. You’ll get there. Good luck.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@waveland thanks, I appreciate the insights. I am working on getting to the point faster. That’s for sure one of my things right now. 👍 good to hear opinions and ideas about how I may adjust.

[@coachangeln]

I love the video, but the repetitions of the same information was distracting. I found myself scrolling a lot to get to the point. Very drawn out. I agree with a few others that have made a similar statement. This video could have been less than half the time, and you would get a whole lot more views. That said production value is great. I did not subscribe, but I will check back again for sure.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@coachangeln Thank you for your feedback. I am working on getting to the point and giving the information more compressed. It's not easy though 🙈.

[@PendakwahTeknologi]

Great video

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.

[@AutoAuctionRebuilds]

Thank you for an informative video. I appreciate it!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you, always great to hear my videos help 👍.

[@jelly8594]

Awesome review!🌟🌟🌟 👍 Congrats for getting stuff sent to - soon you will need extra storage-space 🙃

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Can't wait! That time will be awesome 🙈 and exciting. Thank you for your comment @Jelly 🌸.

[@jelly8594]

@@ChrisSpiegl If you run out of space, give me a call 😇😇😇

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Will do 😂 for now I’m in a good position though. 👍

[@FATBS]

Huge thank you for such a deep and detailed explanation!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad it was helpful!

[@semion.tsysaruk]

Very helpful comparison and explanations! Thank you, Chris!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you, I appreciate that 🌸.

[@mavs8888]

Gut und sehr deutlich erklärt! Super! Danke und ciao ciao!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Vielen Dank, das freut mich. Gerne wieder. 🌸

[@jpawlowski]

Glaub es war kehr ein “tschau tschau” ☺️ So wie bei “mono” 😁 Ne aber im Ernst, wünschte ich hätte so eine deutliche Aussprache. Die zwei Erkennungsmarken für gut geübte Ohren find ich sympathisch 🙃

[@TransplantHelper]

Wet well explained you saved me from getting the wrong one thank you

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thanks, that's always the best.

[@TomasSandanusGuitar]

Hi @ChrisSpiegl Thank you so much for the detailed video! Based on your explanation, I confirmed that my workflow will be correct - Focusrite Clarett 2pre - > 48v Phantom Power - > Rode VXLR Pro - > Rode SC1 6 meters long cord- > RODE Lavalier II I think that for this home setup should be enough Rode VXLR+ however, I want to be sure that signal is best as good as possible :) Thank you Tomas

[@daedalusjones4228]

EXCELLENT explanation re balanced versus unbalanced signals! Thanks!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@orhanyenici5691]

This video is really helpful. This information is very valuable. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@banzobeans]

It might have been helpful for greenhorns like myself to point out that the signal balancing provided by the VXLR Pro is only relevant for the length of the XLR cable between the adapter and the mixer. It has no impact on the mic cable itself (between the mic and the adapter). I.e. if I plug in my lavalier mic directly to a zoom recorder input there is no use in using a VXLR Pro, correct?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

I thought I mentioned this at some point in the video. You are correct: it's best to make sure the cable between the VXLR Pro and the Mic is as short as possible. The Signal Balancing is only between the VXLR Pro and the audio recorder. If you plug in the lavalier into the VXLR and then directly into the audio recorder you would not "need" this feature of balancing. However, I would probably still go for the VXLR Pro since a lavalier would need Plug-In Power and so you already are going to buy the VXLR Plus and then having the Pro would just make it so it's more versatile in future setups.

[@Lokaminiac]

Very clear explanation. Good info. Thanks!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

You're welcome! I appreciate you.

[@jakekeele]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

I appreciate that 🌸.

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

I need to match up with TS mono connectors from a cheap wireless set. To use them I think I need yet another adapter. NOT having a good time with this, but your mini-seminar did provide a good refresher on what a balanced signal is. Also, I read the comments, and even though nothing is balanced in the chain, and the shielding will only work if it's grounded on both ends - I hadn't considered using an XLR cable on the deck/recorder end. That may still be better than using a 3.5mm stereo extension.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Glad you could take something from it 👍.

[@fernandafernandex]

Thank you very much for this video! I've been looking for a way to record better with a Zoom H5, but I live in Brazil - everything here costs twice than in USA, when we find the device we want. Yesterday I bought a cheap adapter to connect a Boya BY M1, just to see if it works well enough for what I need... I learned a lot with you. Now I'll watch the video again and read carefully the comments.

[@sidvicious3129]

This was outstanding, long but if you actually think about what was actually covered, it was about right. You covered areas that most, even the manufacturers didn’t and you made the assumption, rightfully so that everyone was a beginner, which did more to validate your points. You have to remember for some, they want quick answers and when things go wrong, they look to blame others. The old saying is to measure twice and drill or cut once, which is what you did in your video. This is a video that anyone that sees it will walk away with the knowledge of making a confident, specific purchase, which should be the point of these videos in the first place. Great job done and you reiterated that point at the end. All new tech should devices should be explained this way because you gave answers and left no questions.

[@hoodaffairstv]

i want to get the vxlr pro to set up a lav with the zoom f3.... do those tentacle lavs have a high noise floor or do lavs just sound noisier connected to these adapters...

[@ChrisSpiegl]

The tentacle lavs are not the best. They are equivalent to lavs that costa round 30-50$.

[@wolfamri]

Fantastic. I learned a lot that I didn't even knew I wanted to learn. May I ask a question: when you had 4 lavaliers that need power, and you used VXLR plus or pro to get into for example a zoom H6 for live streaming. How would you deal with the added noise? Thanks in advance for your help!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

I think the noise should be relatively minimal. But if you have a lot of (and distracting noise), the best removal I know of is the iZotopes RX9 suite ( crsp.li/izotope ). Their Voice-Denoising is incredibly powerful and yet transparent (has very few artifacts).

[@matoflynn]

Loved this thorough video, thank you

[@oscarvfernandez]

Great job! Very useful! Thanks a lot, it saved me a lot of time (and may be a mic). 👍

[@aricshuford9095]

Very informative video. Thank you for putting this together. So for my Rode Video Mic NTG...the VXLR Pro is the way to go (provides cleanest signal path) when connecting it to my Zoom H6 and Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre? If so, would that be with or without the 48v button on the interface engaged?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you. Generally, I would say the VXLR Pro would be my fav choice. However, the signal may actually be a bit cleaner with the VXLR base model IF the cables are really short (since the base model does not have any electronics and thus introduces less noise). In terms of Phantom Power: you do not need Phantom Power for the Video Mic NTG… but, it makes your life easier if you engage the 48v since then the mic actually will turn on by itself when the audio recorder is turned on.

[@tienmhkimo]

Can i plug 3.5mm dynamic microphone without phantom power converter? Does it work just by xlr to 3.5mm convertor?

[@ReelFilm2016]

Super Helpful. I have a Sony HVR-Z5E and I was trying to find the best workaround for audio. I was using a Rode Wireless Go in conjunction with a Tascam recorder (DR-05) which works great but knowing I can buy a Standard VXLR adapter for my Wireless GO which fits into my camera is great.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad it helped!

[@ReelFilm2016]

@@ChrisSpiegl it did

[@JoeCastellon]

Incredibly helpful video. I learned a lot! Thank you so much!!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you for your comment, that's a great way to start the dayy.

[@thefullsetup]

Hi Chris great video I have just ordered the VXLR Pro to go with my videomic NTG and the odd use with my lab mic. For the nth tests what gain do you set on the mic? I normally have it set to 10 for overhead use. But as I will be adding gain from my preamp is it better to run the ntg at a lower gain setting than I normally use???

[@ChrisSpiegl]

In my experience it is best to run the VideoMic NTG (and most other mics) at the highest gain setting possible so that you get as loud a signal as you can out of it to begin with (unless the mic capsule is clipping, then it would be better to use the -20db feature since the gain knob actually does not really fix that anyways).

[@thefullsetup]

@@ChrisSpiegl thanks for the speedy reply never thought to run it like that will give it a try.

[@andrew.e.s]

Most dynamic and condenser microphones operate at very low voltages, typically between 1 and 10 millivolts (mV). Therefore, the sound console's XLR input will provide enough voltage to power these microphones without the need for phantom power.

[@TH-lo8mq]

So basically the same noise floor with the + and Pro. I hope that can be improved one day.

[@heimizhou450]

so detail introduction. Thanks a lot

[@aroncontinuousconversation]

A lot to take in. I was trying to figure out which one would work with my video mic Audio Technica AT8024. Can you give me a hint? because I couldn't find if this thing is balanced or not.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

The Røde VXLR Pro (crsp.li/RodeVxlrPro) which is the newest of the three (and most expensive) is balanced and can be used on long distances. Important to note is that the cable between the mic and the adapter should be as short as possible and then the XLR cable is the one that can be longer.

[@TheWatchFrogs]

Fantastic! God bless from the states:)

[@StevenScholten]

Thanks for posting this. I guess with the Rode Go II system you do not have this problem because the power is delivered by the transimitter (even with the Lapel mic attached)

[@ChrisSpiegl]

For systems that have their own power you can go with the cheapest option which is the Rode VXLR.

[@pjsagnia]

Hi i’m still not clear. I’m about to purchase the rode wireless go ii. Can I buy the sc11 splitter cable plug into the transmitter and get 2 of the cheap adapters and be okay? Just asking as rode website is saying I should get the plus or pro adapter. I’m a bit confused. I want to plug the receiver into my zoom f6

[@StevenScholten]

@@pjsagnia i would suggest looking online for a Y cable with a stereo mini jack on one side and 2 xlrs on the other side. No need for Rode stuff

[@pjsagnia]

@@StevenScholten thanks Steven. Yes that’s what Curtis Judd suggested. Do you have any cable recommendation links?

[@StevenScholten]

@@pjsagnia i am in the Netherlands. Allekabels I think, but e quick search wiil point you in a usefull direction.

[@vextakes]

20:30 isn’t trs balanced? Ts is unbalanced. Though idk if this works the same for 3.5 mm (mini jack) as 1/4 inch

[@ChrisSpiegl]

From my understanding: TRS is stereo but not balanced. And XLR cables usually are more robust and better shielded.

[@CameraRay]

If I plug a single plug stereo 3.5mm (Clippy EM272Z1 Stereo Microphone) into the Rode VXLR+ mounted on a Zoom F3. Will the Zoom be able to recognize that as a two channel stereo file or will it become a mono signal? Thanks.

[@RivuSouravBanerjeeVideoEditor]

So can i use the Rode Video Mic NTG with the rode vxlr connected to a focusrite 2i2 audio interface/sound card ?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

In that case I would recommend using the Pro or Plus. Singly because otherwise you loose the auto power on / off feature and you’d also need a specific TRS to TRS cable since if you use the VXLR standard with the TRRS you may run into sound artifacts as I have found in other tests with the VideoMic NTG.

[@RivuSouravBanerjeeVideoEditor]

@@ChrisSpiegl Thank u fr ur suggestions 😊, so can i use a normal trs to trs cable provided by rode, with mics like video mic go( the red short cable) with a VXLR plus or pro, or can i get the work done by vxlr only with i use a specific cable like u mentioned ..( trs to trs) ? Getting bit confused here, The vxlr pro is really expensive and so i am considering the alternatives 🤔. ( akso I don’t want the auto on/off feature, will do it manually) My focusrite 2i2 audio interface had the option to turn the phantom power on and off. . I hv the trs - trs cable by rode which o got with my rode wireless go 2 , and also another one with the rode video mic go. By specific cables, did u meant with a cable like this ?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

@@RivuSouravBanerjeeVideoEditor Yes, when using the TRS to TRS cable with the mics like VideoMic NTG and Wireless Go then you should be good with the Røde VXLR adapter 👍. Just try to keep the cables short or at least make a test recording and listen for any possible in interferences.

[@RivuSouravBanerjeeVideoEditor]

@@ChrisSpiegl thanks Chris fr the suggestions, i will keep it short. at a max i may use the RODE VC-1 3 meters cabel with it. i am a professional online video editor in India, and i even edit videos for other youtube channel around the world.. started my youtube journey too 1.5 years ago. previously i hv worked in a recording studio in a film production house and learnt how important these small detals matter. i hv connected wt u on instagram too @rivu_sourav. will be discussing about few more things with you..... the quality of information you r providing in your videos is awesome. Stay safe.. we r still in covid lockdown here in india, i hope things r different there

[@ChrisSpiegl]

​@@RivuSouravBanerjeeVideoEditor That's awesome to see. You got a great channel. In terms of cable: i'd try to stay even shorter (under 1 meter if possible). But just listen into it and see if you pick up any unwanted noise. Looking forward to connecting with you on the other mediums.

[@kaede_jing]

I have the Rode lavalier omnidirectional lapel mic, with trs output. I am not sure if Rode lavelier mic need phantom power. I would like to connect to my Mackie Profx10 mixer with phantom power button. Will VXLR do the job well?

[@benantell5452]

I bought the pro model, it made a lot of noise (like rain). It didn't work on the M-Audio Fast track pro. And It did not work on the SSL+ 2 either. Seems to probably have been a dud?

[@GaffedTappedGlasses]

thanks for the video very informative.!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dronebuzz]

Just ordered the Pro! Thank you! T :-)

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@banzobeans]

Fantastic content. Thank you!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thanks I appreciate it.

[@m.sabir21]

Thanks for an excellent and thorough explanation. Can i connect a microphone 3.5mm jack to rode vxlr pro adapter, hook the adapter with a xlr female side of the cable and hook the audio recorder with this cable? Does this effect any sound quality? And does this transfer the plug in power?

[@auraultra86]

To connect Wireless GO II to a mixer, can I use VXLR+? ( I know VXLR+ is used while using microphones which need phantom power) But I am asking this since I already have VXLR+ and do I need ot again buy VXLR to use with Wireless GO II.

[@francoisperras8186]

Thanks for this great information ! Could a Rode NTG4+ be connected to a Rode Go2 with a female XLR adapter to TRS connector? The adapters shown here seemed to have only male XLR connection.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

You need a different kind of adapter to do this. But they do exist.

[@EnricoColacillo]

Sorry man, great video and you put al lot of work but I agree with other users: this narration is way too long. I feel a real push to go the point. Hope you can welcome this comment as a kind suggestion. Thank you anyways for your great work 🙏

[@tomascruz4843]

What about if i connect a xlr micro to an 3.5 receiver?

[@kees2616]

Nice video, thank you. I was just wondering, can I connect my 'rode wireless go' to my Panasonic UX 90 camcorder with the 'Røde VXLR'. Kees from the Netherlands.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

As described in the video, a Rode Wirreless Go needs no Phantom Power or Plug In power so yes the Røde VXLR would be enough (crsp.li/RodeVXLR)

[@kees2616]

@@ChrisSpiegl Thanks Chris. Bless you. Kees

[@dezfyah]

So which one do I use for the Rode VideoMicro to plug into my Rodecaster Duo?

[@Panotaker]

Personally, I didn't hear any difference in your test when you switched from the cheap one, to the more expensive ones.

[@garretttekampe9564]

You answered all my questions. Thank you so much. Going to try setting up the RodeCaster Pro with the Rode Wireless Go II and speakers. I'll need one of these basic adapters without the electronics if I'm hearing you correctly? Hoping it works

[@ChrisSpiegl]

With the Wireless Go II you are fine with the basic one.

[@HOPEUSMAXIMUS]

Great video my friend. Could I ask... I have a KZbin channel and use my "Rode Wireless Go" with my GoPro to create videos. However, I have been recently been asked to give some presentations to an audience about my hobby and I need to amplify my voice. The venue has an amplifier and I want to connect my "Rode Wireless Go" to it as the amplifier obviously has an XLR (female) input for a microphone. As the "Wireless Go" has a built in battery to transmit and receive the audio from rx to tx, would I just use the cheapest basic VXLR adaptor and plug the TRS mini jack into it and then plug the VXLR into the amp for sound output? Thanks in anticipation. Hopeus Maximus

[@daedalusjones4228]

The VXLR Plus is a good thing to have around to use with the PodTrak 4. Haven't tried it yet, but assume it will work. Plugged the VXLR+ into Zoom LiveTrak L-8, connected lavalier mic. Works great.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thanks for the info!

[@themdg]

Your Lav mic was a TRS type, correct? Seems like a TRRS mic would need to be converted/replaced to TRS before it would work with either the VXLR+/pro.

[@David_Schwarz_DOP]

Question: I have a Rode Wireless Go II (Which doesn't need phantom power) and i want to connect it via the XLR Port on the top handle of my Sony FX3. But it's very important that i get a STEREO signal because those two transmitters have to be split so i get both mics recorded on the one channel. Is that guaranteed with the cheap adapter which should fit my purpose? Sry if i sound dumb i am really not an audio guy. :-/ Thank you for the great video!

[@RGMGFitness]

First..great info. Question if anyone can answer. Just bought the RodeCaster Pro (which has 48-v phantom power). Wanted to plug my RODE NTG MIC into it so am going to need one of these adapters. However, I want the MIC to automatically power up when I power on the RodeCaster Pro. So, I’m not sure if I need the power converter versions. Just double checking I’ll be okay with the basic Rode VXLR ( which doesn’t convert power). Don’t want to damage the MIC. Anyone know if I’ll be okay with that setup?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

To be able to use the auto power on/off feature of the Røde mics, you will have to go with either the Pro or the Plus. Then activate phantom power on the channel and the mic will turn on by itself.

[@RGMGFitness]

@@ChrisSpiegl Thank you!

[@KE010101]

Very good video

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you 🌸.

[@NYUncle]

Hi Chris, I noticed that in this video at the time around 17:50 you might have used the TRRS to TRRS cable which was shown at the time around 13:20. Could you please confirm that these three adapters does work fine with TRRS? Thanks a lot.🙏🙏😊😊

[@ChrisSpiegl]

You are right, at 17:50 I do use a TRRS cable connected to the Røde VideoMic NTG. However, this does only work because the VideoMic NTG auto detects if the connection is TRRS or TRS. So, if you have a mic that only does TRRS, then you would have to adapt it with a TRRS to TRS adapter.

[@NYUncle]

Got it. Thank you so much, Chris@@ChrisSpiegl

[@TristanMorelle]

20:37 ok but TRS can be balanced if you send a mono signal over it if you treat it as an xlr? this is how lavs are balanced and hopefully the Pro keeps it that way though the transformer ? This is why all lavs seem to have a stereo TRS connection instead of just a mono TS connection but produce a mono signal in the end, no ?

[@ChoicesHabitsAttitudeLuck]

was wondering if this set up will work. 2 rode transmitter 1 rode receiver with rode sc 11 cable sple splitter connected to 2 vxlr+ to a zoom f3 the ouput to the camera? will the ouput be a 2 channel or 1?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

If you use a stereo splitter cable you can get the signal to two VXLR adapters => two channels on the Zoom F3.

[@navalshastri]

Thanks for in depth information

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you, I appreciate that 👍.

[@tanpingaratan]

Whith this adapter, can i use a Sennheiser 908B ew wired on a mixer with 48V on?

[@koenignero]

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

You're very welcome 🌸.

[@Christopher-iq1fm]

Can we enable phantom power with vxlr plus connection?

[@zogun]

thanks for the video Chris, its awesome even though it's a bit long Can I conclude we can use the PRO version for all situation?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Thank you. I’ve actually been thinking about making a shorter version. And Absolutely - you are correct. The Pro covers all the basis.

[@winfilms3681]

Great info, thanks

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@2917mushtak]

Brilliant Comparison video 😀. I have a large house and have a "balanced" microphone PA system in my house. I also have in my system wall microphones placed around the house with long cable runs away from my XLR capable mixer and separate amp (Placed in a cabinet in a dedicated separate data room). The mixer has an input of 48v. I will be purchasing the Rode XLR Pro adapter for the reason of having a balanced system and also because of the long run of cabelling. Can you please confirm that, do I place the Rode XLR Pro adapter at the connection just rear of the wall microphone as oppose to at the mixer end? as I'm guessing the power conversion (5V) if done, will not carry such a long distance to the wall microphone. Please confirm. Many thanks in advance 😉

[@googoos15]

Do I understand correctly: you normalized all the noise samples to the same level? I would like to know if there's a noise level difference between the Plus and Pro when you normalize both by using a reference signal and than comparing the noise levels. Or did you test that already? I'd like to know if the Pro version produces more noise since it has more electronics inside.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

I usually do always normalize the levels to -16dbfs and then compare. However, I have since found that sometimes the samples I normalized are with speaking parts before or after which kind of muddies the result again because the normalization would then also take those potentially different sections into account. I will probably do these tests better next time (not for these adapters though). Generally I found them all three to be relatively close together but the one without electronics does have a bit less noise if you don't need it. The other two where basically indistinguishable to my ears. 🌸

[@googoos15]

@@ChrisSpiegl Many thanks for the additional details of the comparison.

[@vlasihinn]

Thank you. So. If i understand correctly. I can use the Rode VXLR+ to connect my 3,5 mm jack mic on my gaming headset to my audio interface (Audient Id4). And it should work. Right?

[@markluxton3402]

I think you are incorrect at the end where you say that TRS 3.5mm extension cables are not balanced. 3.5mm condenser mic's have a TRS plug! Some have TRRS plugs. Clearly if the signal from the mic can be balanced...the reason for three connectors, then the cable can be a balanced cable, so long as the device being input to, can use a balanced signal. I am just learning BTW. Some of your video was helpful. I also think you got things backwards. The VLXR Pro receives a balanced signal from, for example, a Lavalier Go TRS 3.5mm, AND/OR extended with a SHIELDED TRS extension cable, then passes onto the XLR receiver a balanced signal. This seems to be how Rode suggests to use this adapter; going into their AI-1 audio interface. I think your cables just need the correct number of wires and be shielded well so as to not act like an antenna picking up noise everywhere, the balancing act is done at the other ends. IMO

[@hishammubarak3421]

Wow! Great video!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ZanyGeek]

Thanks for the video

[@ChrisSpiegl]

No problem!

[@alishankhans]

very informative .......... thank you

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad it was helpful!