RØDE Wireless PRO wireless microphone review

RØDE Wireless PRO Review: Unboxing, Every Accessory and What It Can Do

The interview went perfectly. Then you open the file at home and the best answer is ruined: your guest laughed, the level jumped, and the audio is a wall of distortion. There is no second take.

That fear is what the RØDE Wireless PRO is built to remove. It is a wireless microphone kit for two people that also records a backup inside each transmitter, in a format that can be rescued even when the sound was far too loud or too quiet. It adds timecode to keep sound and picture together, and it arrives with more accessories than most kits at this size.

We unboxed a new Wireless PRO and laid out everything in it. This review goes through the full kit piece by piece, shows how it connects to a camera, a phone and a computer, explains the headline features without the jargon, and lists RØDE’s official specifications.

Problem 1: clipped audio

32-bit float on-board recording keeps a backup that can be recovered if it was too loud or too quiet.

Problem 2: sound out of sync

Built-in timecode lines up your audio and video without an external timecode box.

Problem 3: uneven levels

GainAssist smooths the level automatically, and a safety channel adds a second layer of protection.

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The Quick Answer

The Wireless PRO is for people who record sound they cannot repeat: interviews, weddings, events, documentaries and paid client work. The backup recording and timecode are what you pay for. If you make casual videos and can simply record again when something goes wrong, a simpler and cheaper wireless kit will do.

RØDE Wireless PRO wireless microphone system

 RØDE WIRELESS PRO 

RØDE Wireless PRO Compact Wireless Microphone System

✔ 32-bit float backup recording   ✔ Timecode sync   ✔ Two lavalier mics included

Price and stock change often. The button shows today’s price on Amazon.

Unboxing the Wireless PRO

RØDE Wireless PRO retail box showing the receiver and two transmitters

The front of the box shows the three units at actual size, the receiver with its screen and the two transmitters, and names three features under them: RØDE Series IV wireless, 32-bit float recording and timecode sync.

Two zip cases inside the RØDE Wireless PRO box

Open it and you find two black zip cases sitting side by side. One is the charge case that holds the three units. The other is an accessory case for the cables, clips and microphones. Under them are the guides.

Everything in the Box

Full contents of the RØDE Wireless PRO kit laid out on a desk

This is where the Wireless PRO stands apart. Many wireless kits give you the transmitters, a receiver and a cable. This one is closer to a complete recording kit. RØDE’s official contents list:

ItemQtyWhat it is for
Wireless PRO TX2Transmitters. Each has a built-in microphone and clips to clothing.
Wireless PRO RX1Receiver. Connects to your camera, phone or computer.
Charge Case+1Stores and charges all three units.
Accessory case1Holds the microphones, cables and clips.
Lavalier II2Clip-on microphones for when you want the transmitter hidden.
MagClip GO2Magnetic clips to attach a transmitter where there is nothing to clip onto.
Furry windshields3Cut wind noise outdoors.
3.5mm TRS cable (red, 20 cm)1Receiver to camera.
Lightning cable (30 cm)1Receiver to an iPhone with a Lightning port.
USB-C cable (30 cm)1Receiver to a USB-C phone or a computer.
SC34 cable1Included USB cable.

RØDE’s list shows three furry windshields. Our box held more than three, so you may find spares in yours.

A Tour of the Kit

The charge case

RØDE Wireless PRO charge case closed

The charge case is a semi-hard zip case with a textured shell and a RØDE badge on the lid. It is small enough to hold in one hand.

RØDE Wireless PRO charge case open showing the TX1, TX2 and RX slots

Inside are three slots labelled TX1, TX2 and RX, each with its own USB-C connector. Drop the units in and they charge. RØDE says the case also allows fast data transfer, so you can copy the backup recordings off the transmitters without taking them out.

The transmitters and receiver

A RØDE Wireless PRO unit held in hand showing the Wireless PRO label

Each unit is a small black square, light enough to forget it is clipped to a shirt. They carry the same compact design RØDE used for the Wireless GO series.

Back of a RØDE Wireless PRO unit showing the RØDE clip

The back of each unit is a clip with the RØDE name moulded into it. It grips a collar, a pocket edge or a camera’s cold shoe.

Top of a RØDE Wireless PRO transmitter with built-in microphone and locking 3.5mm input

On top of a transmitter you find the built-in microphone, a button and a 3.5mm input. That input is a locking type: the lavalier screws on, so it cannot be pulled out halfway through a shoot.

USB-C port on the bottom of a RØDE Wireless PRO unit

The bottom edge has a USB-C port. It charges the unit, connects it to a phone or computer, and is how the units sit in the charge case.

The Lavalier II microphones

RØDE Lavalier II microphone with gold locking connector

Two Lavalier II microphones come in the kit, each with a gold threaded connector that locks into a transmitter. Sold separately, lavaliers of this kind add a real cost, so having two in the box matters. Use them when you want the small black square out of the shot.

Cables, clips and windshields

RØDE Wireless PRO accessories: cables, furry windshields and clips

The accessory case holds the rest: the furry windshields, the magnetic clips and the short cables. Each cable is about a hand’s length, which keeps a camera rig tidy.

Red coiled 3.5mm TRS cable from the RØDE Wireless PRO kit

The red coiled cable is the one most people use first. It runs from the receiver’s 3.5mm output to the microphone input on a camera.

How It Connects to Your Gear

You are recording onUse
A cameraThe red 3.5mm TRS cable from the receiver to the camera’s mic input.
An iPhone with LightningThe Lightning cable from the receiver.
A USB-C phone or tabletThe USB-C cable from the receiver.
A computerThe USB-C cable. The receiver appears as an audio device.
An iPhone with no receiverDirect Connect in the RØDE Capture app pairs the transmitters over Bluetooth.

The receiver also has a headphone output with its own level control, so you can listen while you record. The same socket can take a headset or a third microphone for a narrator track. For monitoring, a closed-back pair such as the one in our Audio-Technica ATH-M30x review works well.

The Big Features, Without the Jargon

What is 32-bit float recording?

Normal recordings have a ceiling. Go over it and the sound distorts for good. A 32-bit float file has so much room that a recording made too loud or too quiet can be pulled back to a clean level when you edit. On the Wireless PRO, each transmitter records this way to its own memory while it also sends the sound wirelessly. You always have a second copy.

What is timecode?

Timecode is a running clock stamped onto a recording. When your audio and your video carry the same clock, editing software can line them up exactly. RØDE built it into the Wireless PRO, so you do not need a separate timecode device.

What is GainAssist?

GainAssist watches the level and adjusts it for you, so a quiet speaker and a loud laugh both come out balanced. You can also set the gain by hand and use presets made to match the receiver to your camera.

What is the safety channel?

RØDE describes it as an extra layer of protection for your recording, alongside the on-board backup.

How good is the wireless link?

The kit uses RØDE’s Series IV 2.4GHz digital transmission with 128-bit encryption. RØDE gives a range of up to 260 m in line of sight. Walls, bodies and busy Wi-Fi will shorten that in real use, which is one more reason the on-board backup is valuable.

Official Specifications

Microphone typePre-polarised pressure transducer
Polar patternOmnidirectional
Frequency range20 Hz – 20 kHz
Maximum SPL123.5 dB SPL
Equivalent noise22 dBA
Signal-to-noise ratio72 dB
Transmitter input3.5mm locking TRS
Receiver output3.5mm TRRS
Digital connectionUSB-C
TransmissionSeries IV 2.4GHz digital, 128-bit encryption
Range260 m (line of sight)
BatteryBuilt-in rechargeable lithium-ion, charged by USB-C
Operating timeUp to 7 hours
Works withmacOS 10.15, Windows 10, iOS 14 and Android 11, and above
WarrantyRØDE states a 5-year warranty on its wireless products

Source: RØDE, Wireless PRO product page.

Pros and Cons

👍 WHAT WE LIKE

✔ Backup in every transmitter. 32-bit float recording you can rescue later.

✔ Timecode built in. No extra box to buy or carry.

✔ A complete kit. Two lavaliers, clips, windshields and cables included.

✔ Charge case. Stores, charges and transfers files.

✔ Locking connectors. Lavaliers screw in and stay in.

✔ Works with everything. Cameras, phones and computers.

👎 WHAT TO KNOW

✘ More than casual users need. You pay for backup and timecode.

✘ Seven hours per charge. A long shoot day needs a top-up in the case.

✘ Range is line of sight. 260 m is a best case, not an indoor figure.

✘ Direct Connect is for iOS. It runs through the RØDE Capture app.

✘ Settings live in an app. Advanced options need RØDE Central.

Is the Wireless PRO Right for You?

If you are a…Our view
Wedding or event filmmakerYes. One chance to record, so the backup earns its place.
Interviewer or documentary makerYes. Two transmitters, two lavaliers and timecode cover the job.
YouTuber with paid client workYes. It removes the most common audio failures.
Multi-camera shooterYes. Timecode saves hours in the edit.
Casual vloggerProbably more than you need. A simpler wireless kit costs less.
Podcaster at a deskNo. A wired microphone is the better tool.

For a fixed desk setup, see our RØDE PodMic review. For a moving camera to go with wireless sound, see our DJI RS 4 review.

Questions People Ask About the RØDE Wireless PRO

What comes in the RØDE Wireless PRO box?
Two transmitters, one receiver, a charge case, an accessory case, two Lavalier II microphones, two MagClip GO clips, furry windshields and cables for cameras, iPhones and USB-C devices.

Does the Wireless PRO record without the receiver?
Yes. Each transmitter makes its own 32-bit float recording on board, as a backup to the wireless signal.

What is the range of the RØDE Wireless PRO?
RØDE states up to 260 m in line of sight.

How long does the battery last?
Up to 7 hours, according to RØDE. The charge case recharges the units between uses.

Does the Wireless PRO work with a phone?
Yes. Lightning and USB-C cables are in the box. On iOS, Direct Connect in the RØDE Capture app can also pair the transmitters with no receiver.

Does it have timecode?
Yes. Timecode is built in, so audio and video can be synchronised without an external system.

Are lavalier microphones included?
Yes. Two RØDE Lavalier II microphones with locking connectors are in the box.

The Bottom Line

Most wireless microphones do one thing: send sound from a person to a camera. The RØDE Wireless PRO does that and then guards against the three ways audio usually fails. It keeps a recoverable backup in each transmitter, it stamps timecode so nothing drifts out of sync, and it levels the sound for you. Add two lavaliers, a charge case and a full set of cables, and you have a kit that is ready for paid work the day it arrives. If your recordings can never be repeated, it is worth the money. If they can, save it and buy something simpler.

RØDE Wireless PRO wireless microphone system

 RØDE WIRELESS PRO 

RØDE Wireless PRO Compact Wireless Microphone System

✔ 32-bit float backup recording   ✔ Timecode sync   ✔ Two lavalier mics included

Price and stock change often. The button shows today’s price on Amazon.

Jason Avatar

About the Author: Jason

I am a tech enthusiast and the reviewer behind Tech Buying Today. I unboxed and photographed this RØDE Wireless PRO kit myself, and the features and specifications in this review come from RØDE’s official product page. Before I recommend anything, I compare the specifications, read the fine print and look for the trade-offs, then write it up in plain language so you can decide quickly.

Learn more about Tech Buying Today and how we choose what to recommend.

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