TRS to XLR Adapters - VXLR vs VXLR+ vs VXLR Pro from Røde

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Adapting TRS microphones to an XLR audio interface, recorder, or mixer is easy. But you have to know about the differences between an adapter that only switches connectors around and those that actually do a voltage transformation as well as using balanced vs. unbalanced signals. This video will clear all that up for you so you make the right choice for you.
⚡️ Product Links:
Røde VXLR Pro: crsp.li/vxlrpro
Røde VXLR Plus: crsp.li/vxlr+
Røde VXLR: crsp.li/vxlr
Røde VideoMic NTG: crsp.li/videomicntg
Røde VideoMic GO II: crsp.li/RodeVideoMicGoII
Røde Lavalier Go: crsp.li/lavaliergo
Røde Wireless Go II: crsp.li/RodeWirelessGOII
XLR Cable: crsp.li/xlrcable3m
Note: Commissions may be earned from the links above.
🔗 Relevant Links:
Previous Video about these Adapters: • Mastering Audio: Røde ...
Note: Commissions may be earned from the links above.
🎧 Chapters / Show Notes:
00:00 Intro
00:30 This might break your mic - IF DONE WRONG!
01:53 The VXLR - Rewiring TRS to XLR
02:56 Need Stereo?
03:28 Mics with Power - VXLR vs. the Others?
04:22 The VXLR Solution - Transforming Phantom Power to Plug-In Power
05:19 VXLR+ vs. VXLR Pro?
06:27 Explanation of Balanced vs. Unbalanced XLR Signals
07:24 Where to place the adapter (recorder or mic)?
09:16 Which one should you buy?
#RodeVXLR #TRStoXLR #MicAdapter
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[@basvanloovere4750]

Thank you so much. As an amateur, I couldn't figure out why my mic was giving such a terrible buzz. It needs plug-in power, not phantom.

[@JakobSagatowski]

Thanks for information, just what I needed to know. Have exactly the Rode NTG and needed to know what adapter I needed to connect it to my AI-1. Thanks!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

That's great. Than you for your comment.

[@hello-lb3vf]

This is an amazing video. Thank you.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pedrosanchez4035]

Perfect video on this subject, I wish I had seen it before I bought two supposedly Rode compatible adaptors, now I understand why they didn't work with a basic Rode VideoMicro II, I had worked out the cause but I assumed they were just crap. They will come in useful for other things I am sure, they were cheap so I'll keep them. I have already ordered the VXLR Pro, not taking any chances, I actually need it for a shoot tomorrow. Thank you very much 🙂

[@ChrisSpiegl]

You're welcome. Glad you found my video helpful.

[@dhyundias5201]

From RODE website: The VXLR Pro is specifically designed to convert a 3.5mm TRS output to a standard XLR input. This is particularly helpful when connecting the Wireless Go II to professional audio equipment such as mixers, cameras, audio interfaces, or recorders that have XLR inputs. Please note: For a clean signal with the Wireless GO II, you'll need to use +48v phantom power with the VXLR Pro.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

That may be true, but they are also trying to sell you on the most expensive adapter. I've tested the adapters and found the Røde VXLR to be enough if you just want to connect an already self-powered mic like the Wireless Go II to it.

[@jorishendrix]

Found this video when researching the same statement by Rode. I was wondering if I really needed the most expensive adapter they sell or could just use the cheaper ones. Would there be any benefit of using the VXLR Pro instead of the VXLR in your opinion @@ChrisSpiegl?

[@Shalin.S.Shah.]

This is incorrect. Curtis Judd, very respected audio specialist, has stated that for vxlr plus to run balance signal, the mic has to be balanced first. Its like if your mic is not capable to produce high end audio quality, hooking it to 32 bit recorder is not going to do much good

[@jefferson.castillo]

Awesome video! Would you recommend 1/4 to XLR cable to hook up a recorder to the Rode Go? Is it safe? Will the 1/4 cable (not xlr) damage the 3.5mm jack on the TX?

[@birajadas293]

Ur explanation is fine, its explains the power of part. But what about the audio signal:trs sends a stereo signal but the xlris amino signal:how does it react⁉️

[@jeffz5789]

Will VXLR PRO work same as VXLR if there is no phantom power involved and using as line in? - Say with Go II receiver? Would there still be more noise than just VXLR?

[@francescob.3019]

I'm having noise issue with my vxlr+, I've pretty much narrowed it down to it since there's the noise with it plugged in my audio card even without a mic and there's no noise with it unplugged. I've found other people who report this issue as well even with other brands of audio interface (I have focusrite) so it's a bit random. I just don't know what to do at this point. I'm thinking of trying the vxlr pro which as you explained well, doesn't do its thing when connected directly to the audio card but I'm wondering if it maybe has different electronics that don't make that noise... so this is just to say that maybe there might be other reasons to buy the pro lol

[@siyamakghaffari2949]

Hi ChrisThank you so much for sharing your Informative and professional video with us. I have Rode Videomic Pro Plus and zoom H4n pro. I order for Rode VXLR Pro adapter. I just Wandering If I Connect Videomic Pro Plus to XLR zoom Recorder, I have to turn off Phantom Power or not ? Because I Scared using Phantom Power same time and burning my Microphone? I grateful for help. good luck.cheers

[@ChrisSpiegl]

WIth the VXLR Pro you can leave it on or off. The Adapter will make sure the mic is safe. WIth Phantom Power turned on, the mic will turn on by itself (I think the Video Mic Pro Plus has that "standby" feature). Without Phantom Power, you'll have to turn on the mic manually.

[@siyamakghaffari2949]

@@ChrisSpiegl Chris Thank you so much for your help. I am so Happy I watched your Video and find The answer for my question Because when I connect my rode videomic pro Plus to my Canon C100 mark II, the Auto off and on option on mic is not working and I have to do it manually but with this Adaptor I believe this option will be work. thanks again and cheers from Canada

[@a.matusiak2202]

Thx for explanation. Anyone try Boya adapters?

[@Gonejack]

it's bad

[@jonasdekeyser3181]

Hello! I have just purchased the VXLR basic one to connect a Rode Videomic Pro Rycote to a Scarlett Focusrite. It sounds horrible but the mic has it's own power, so I can't understand why. On the rode site they only list the VXLR Pro as accessory for this mic and i just don't get why. Will it sound better with the pro?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

I'd say there is something else going on. A few things: - If the cables are very long you may introduce interferences - Make sure to disable Phantom Power on the Focusrite since it is not needed - Mic placement matters a lot, maybe it's that?

[@Shalin.S.Shah.]

What would be the best choice for someone looking into acquiring a shotgun microphone which will work best for on camera and off camera through Boom pole to an external audio recorder (zoom H6)? From looking at your video and others, I have understood that TRS to XLR is better option than to from XLR to TRS as TRS to XLR has better adapter options than cable options from TRS to XLR where these cables may not convert balanced to unbalanced signal properly and the camera always expects unbalanced signal. I was looking into MKE600 per Curtis Judd's recommendation as it comes with XLR to TRS cable but I am afraid about RF interference over long distance and in vicinity of such devices, lower sound quality, inability to check battery power level. I am on a budget on contemplating whether to get Rode Videomic Go ii as a dedicated on camera shotgun mic and Rode NTG2 as a Boom pole external recording mic or get just one mic: Sennheiser MKE600. Any advice will go long way, thank you!

[@ChrisSpiegl]

It's difficult to give a recommendation since you described a lot but didn't say what your desired shooting scenario would be. The MKE600 is likely a good choice, and connecting it to a H6 via XLR is 👍. But connecting it to the Camera is something I'd only do with a very short cable (like 50cm / if the camera input is TRS). If you want to use a boom pole, then XLR is the way to go.

[@Shalin.S.Shah.]

@@ChrisSpiegl Hi Chris, apologies for being all over the place. My desire shooting scenario would be to carry a single shotgun microphone for outdoor use which will allow me to connect it to camera for sync audio and also give me an XLR option to connect to zoom H6. I intend to use this mic for outdoor interviews and field recording. My hope is for an XLR mic recommendation (even though knowing that zoom h6 allows TRS input through the XY capsule). This is so I can get one higher quality microphone capable of providing superior quality audio than buying one TRS and XLR microphones that are inferior. I was hoping to buy Deity V Mic D3 pro as an on-camera shotgun microphone and Rode NTG1/NTG2 as an XLR microphone but I am hoping to just single high-quality microphone capable of doing both. I hope this helps answering my question.

[@QQKamran]

Hi, Which lapel microphone would you recommend for shooting asmr cooking videos?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

I do not have experience with ASMR. But I have tested the Deity W.Lav Pro and Micro and those sounds very good for normal voice recordings. Might be good for your use case as well.

[@pedrosanchez4035]

I must be really dense, how do you connect the microphone to the XLR adaptor? It has a 3.5mm socket on the end, you have to use another cable between the mic I would have thought, unless there is an adaptor for the adaptor. Does using a TRS to TRS cause any problems for the balanced signal. Is it just the length of TRS cable that matters for interference? In which case using and XLR cable with adapter and linking TRS cable could start looking a bit ugly on the business end of a camera rig. Essentially it is unnecessary would you say?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Yes, you still use a TRS to TRS cable between the mic and the VXLR adapter. And yes, the idea is that you reduce the length of these TRS cables to the bare minimum (10-20 cm) so that you get less interference.

[@liceafilms]

Can I use the Sennheiser MKE 400 with the VXLR?

[@rsmith02]

Sure it's self powered.

[@liceafilms]

@@rsmith02 yea I went ahead and bought one and figured it out lol

[@DigiDriftZone]

With modern mics being so fantastic over usb-c and 3.5mm and even wireless mic kits now starting to get 32bit float, is there any advantage for bothering with XLR and audio interfaces? - a tiny rode wireless pro with 32bit float connected to a great shotgun mic with a clean 3.5mm output and you’ve outperformed all of this bulky XLR equipment, no?

[@ChrisSpiegl]

There are many cases where this is true. However, there are also professional sets where you don’t want to use a small wireless system like the new (and yet to be sold) Rode Wireless Pro Kit.

[@DigiDriftZone]

@@ChrisSpieglJust out of interest, why not? - and in a typical KZbinr single person talking head studio, are there any advantages really for going XLR+audio interface? (nothing complicated like say music production). I'm seeing some KZbinrs using external recorders and XLR mics but with these latest innovations and options, are there tangible advantages?

[@Gonejack]

No if I hate battries

[@jarrodbarker]

External timecode. That is why.

[@DigiDriftZone]

@@jarrodbarker what does XLR vs wireless and USB-C/3.5mm mics have to do with time code?

[@DanielaTocan]

Rode is not something I would spent money. Quality is mostly to much poor.

[@ChrisSpiegl]

Not sure where you get that from. In my experience their quality is very high.

[@DanielaTocan]

@@ChrisSpiegl main problem Rode quality is only ok if you have realy high quality if you have extreme good and expensive preamps. Yours videos are realy good but most time you use Rode (I have an absolute earring and can hear you use Rode) and I am very sensible to this and do not look them long… I just switch to another video… Main problem I see that people with Rode regulär push their Gain to much up and than they got distortion…

[@BiblicalAngels]

Clearly you haven’t had the fun of using the disaster that’s the NTG5. Horrible RF and quality control issues. Work bought four and we returned all of them, after the replacements all had the exact same issues.