Røde

The Story of RØDE Microphones

RØDE Microphones is an Australian audio technology company, which is one of the world's leading manufacturers of audio products for both amateurs and professionals.

RØDE is a subsidiary of Freedman Electronics, established in 1967, and was an expert in speakers, amplifiers, and custom audio gear.

The name RØDE is remarkable for an Australian company, but the story behind the name is that Peter Freedman modified a microphone he had bought 10 years earlier, and this modified microphone became a huge success.

Sales skyrocketed like "a rat up a drainpipe", which is Australian slang meaning "like a rat climbing a drainpipe"..

This saying led to the unit being informally called RODENT-1.

It further led to the more official name RØDE NT1, where the Ø was a tribute to Peter's parents' Scandinavian heritage.

By 1990, significant technological advancements occurred, and the price of audio equipment decreased, making it easier for the average consumer to afford audio gear.

Many people started to invest in equipment for recording sound, creating a market for quality microphones at prices accessible even to the average consumer.

Until then, the quality of recording equipment had been at a level where primarily professionals, such as radio and TV stations, could participate.

But now Peter Freedman, son of Henry, began to develop, design, and manufacture high-quality microphones at affordable prices.

RØDE Microphones was established as a subsidiary of Freedman Electronics.

Up to the year 2000, RØDE microphones were developed in many variations and the products became especially popular and recognized in the professional world of radio stations, TV stations, and professional audio studios for recording albums.

In 2001, RØDE began to expand their foreign activities and established, among other things, a production in the USA, while the company invested heavily in production technology, so microphones could be more accessible price-wise for the average consumer.

In 2004, RØDE developed the video microphone that could record sound while you filmed.

This invention was further developed, becoming the first on-camera microphone that catered to the rising trend of amateur photographers and filmmakers.

From around 2010, development accelerated significantly, and RØDE expanded their product range for both private and professional users.

The company gradually became the preferred brand among many professional musicians, podcasters, radio and TV stations, filmmakers, and even ordinary private consumers.

RØDE has since become synonymous with microphones, whether you are a professional or an amateur, RØDE remains a microphone of very high quality at affordable prices.

Below are some milestones in RØDE’s history:

• 1967 Freedman Electronics is founded in Australia
• 1990 RØDE microphones are founded by Peter Freedman as a subsidiary of Freedman Electronics
• 2001 RØDE establishes its first overseas production in the USA and invests heavily in production technology
• 2004 The video microphone is introduced and becomes the first on-camera microphone
• 2010 RØDE expands its product range and ventures into new markets, developing microphones for smartphones
• 2015 RØDE introduces the first wireless WiFi setup with RØDElink
• 2017 RØDE celebrates its 50th anniversary
• 2018 RØDE releases the first professional Podcast microphone, RØDEcaster Pro
• 2020’s RØDE continues to develop microphones for a hungry market of podcasters, YouTubers, and professional sound engineers

RØDE - known for high-quality microphones

RØDE microphones have become a brand that guarantees you a microphone of high quality.

RØDE is known for making outstanding microphones and audio equipment, and equipment that can be used for everything from podcasts to film recordings.

RØDE microphones are known for being robust and having fantastic sound, with good spaciousness, and even without noise.

But the company does not just make microphones; RØDE also makes:

• Headphones
• Software for their products
• Interfaces
• Mixers
• Adapters
• Batteries and chargers
• Stands
• Mounts
• and much more

You can find a microphone for almost any purpose from RØDE and in nearly all price ranges, but always in the same high quality.

Microphones are available for, among other things:

• Mounting on a camera
• Connecting to a mobile phone
• Podcasts
• Studio recordings
• YouTube recordings
• Gaming
• Mounting on clothing
• Wireless connection
• And much more

6 reasons to choose RØDE

There are countless good reasons to choose RØDE microphones, and here we have gathered the 6 best reasons.

#1 - High Quality

RØDE has a reputation for making microphones of exceptional quality that can both be felt and heard.

When you get a RØDE microphone in your hand, you can immediately feel that it's quality; the materials are exquisite and detailed, the weight tells you that it's not a device made of plastic, but of sturdy materials, and everything feels good and solid.

The quality is also audible and supported by the many tests conducted by various independent consumer organizations, which repeatedly name RØDE as the best in tests.

Even though you might think that the microphones are not accessible for money, you would be mistaken.

The quality is consistent across the many price ranges in which the microphones are available.

So if you want a good microphone that you can be sure is also of exceptional quality, you can choose RØDE.

#2 - Design

RØDE microphones are always executed in a sleek design, and they always have something red somewhere, for example, the pop filter, label, or a small ring around the microphone, so you are never in doubt that you are holding a RØDE Microphone.

The design is crafted from strong and beautiful materials, signifying that the product has a high quality, there is no plastic in the casing, and the units are made of nice metal, which gives a heavy feel in the hand.

Visually, the microphones look sleek and professional, even the more affordable microphones.

#3 - Sound

The sound in a RØDE microphone is always tailored to the purpose it is purchased for.

If you buy a microphone for podcasting or gaming, you will experience a microphone that is specially designed and adapted for speech and broadcasting.

This means it is focused on your voice and not background noise, which it effectively filters out.

A microphone for mounting on a camera is directional, meaning it primarily picks up sound from where the camera is pointing.

And an interview microphone can typically capture sounds at a 360-degree angle, allowing you to sit across from the person you are interviewing.

The sound in a RØDE microphone is therefore always optimal for the purpose you buy it for.

#4 - Features

A microphone from RØDE can have many other features or settings than those it comes with from the factory.

On most microphones, you can adjust the sound pattern using accompanying software or interface, adding more bass, more reverb, and so on.

There can also be features where you have the option to choose which directions the microphone should capture from, or the volume on the microphone.

One feature could also be that the microphone is equipped with a clip, allowing it to sit in your shirt collar or be placed on a stand without the need for screwing or clipping.

#5 - Accessories

For a RØDE microphone, there is an abundance of accessories available, so you can always find the perfect gear when, for example, you need a windscreen or a mount for a stand.

This way, you can set up your home studio or music studio just right for you, with a wide range of mounts, grips, stands, spare parts, various shock mounts, and much more.

You can also find plugs and cables for many different devices, allowing you to connect your microphone to almost any device, speakers, computers, phones, and the like.

#6 - Warranty

RØDE makes equipment of such high quality that they are the only ones on the market to offer a 5 - 10 year warranty on their products.

This means that you have a guarantee of being able to get help if, contrary to expectations, problems arise with the microphone.

The only thing the company requires is that the product is registered on their website, so you don't have to worry about anything for the first many years.