Along with an eye-catching range of colors, RØDE has added 32-bit float recording, intelligent GainAssist technology, improved built-in mics, and a host of new features and enhancements to the third generation of its popular Wireless GO wireless mics.
Wireless mics seem to be a bit of a boom area of the industry at the moment, with some seriously impressive models from the likes of DJI muscling in on territory that was traditionally occupied by specialists in the field.
It was RØDE that started us down this path with the original Wireless Go though, and it is RØDE that is happy to pick up the baton again and try to reassert its market position with a new third generation of what it claims is the world’s most popular wireless microphone
The Wireless Go (Gen 3) is available for the time being in an impressive 14 colors, though the way the company describes these as limited edition suggests that we will be back to the regular black or white before too long. Possibly more important is the fact that each of the two transmitters it ships with features 40-hours of 32-bit float on-board recording.
RØDE says that is going to allow you to capture your audio directly to each transmitter without having to worry about it clipping or being too quiet – both can be recovered in post.
Both transmitters feature professional built-in microphones with an omnidirectional pickup pattern and the same improved design and upgraded preamp circuitry as found in the Wireless PRO system. This makes them ideal for recording clear and intelligible speech from all around – even if placement is less than ideal – while minimising the risk of plosives and other audio artifacts.
For those who prefer to record straight into camera, the Wireless GO boasts a suite of features designed to make it as seamless as possible, with little-to-no editing required after. At its core is RØDE’s GainAssist technology, which uses intelligent algorithms to dynamically balance audio levels on-the-fly, delivering “a silky-smooth output” without the wild fluctuations typically found in a raw recording.
GainAssist is available in two distinct modes – Auto and Dynamic, the latter of which produces a well-balanced signal while retaining nuanced dynamics. Or users can turn the feature off if they would prefer to rely on manually adjusting the 30dB of flexible output gain control. To round it all out, the Wireless GO also features a safety channel that records a second copy of the audio track at a lower volume, protecting audio from being lost to hot signals.
The Wireless GO (Gen 3) features both digital (USB-C) and analog (3.5mm TRRS) outputs, allowing you to record pristine wireless audio directly into your camera, phone, laptop, tablet or just about any device imaginable. In fact, the transmitters can even pair directly to a range of other RØDE Series IV compatible products, such as the RØDECaster Pro II and Duo, the recently released RØDECaster Video, and other wireless receivers in the Series IV lineup.
The Wireless GO also marks the return of RØDE’s unique wireless form factor, with its integrated clip design that allows for quick and easy attachment to belts, collars, clothing and cold shoe mounts.
Both transmitters also feature locking connectors that ensure total security when using an external lavalier or another microphone with a locking connector. The intelligent plug-in power detect feature extends battery life in the field by automatically powering the Wireless GO on and off in sync with a connected camera, making sure you’re always ready to record.
The receiver is also equipped with a 3.5mm TRRS jack, enabling headphone monitoring with adjustable output levels as well as compatibility with TRRS microphones, such as headsets or lavaliers. Additional features, including merged and split recording modes, marker dropping, customisable buttons and flexible recording options.
“The original Wireless GO established an entirely new category when it was released in 2019,” says RØDE CEO, Damien Wilson. “It completely changed the game for creators, giving them a compact and simple solution to recording wireless audio without sacrificing the quality and stability that their craft demands. The Wireless GO II took this even further, adding a host of new features that quickly established itself as a new standard in the industry. And now, with the third generation of the iconic wireless mic system, the Wireless GO is more powerful, more colourful and more feature-packed than ever and ready to raise the bar once again. We can’t wait to see what you create.”
To coincide with the launch of the Wireless GO, RØDE is also releasing a dedicated charging and travel case accessory – the Charge Case+. This is a compact case for the Wireless GO (Gen 3) that keeps the entire system safe and secure when storing or taking it out on the road. It features an integrated battery that delivers two full recharges for up to 21 hours of use and allows simultaneous data access to the complete system for transferring recordings, adjusting settings and updating firmware. The Charge Case+ is available separately.
The RØDE Wireless GO (Gen 3) is $299 (two transmitters and one receiver) and the RØDE Charge Case+ is $89. Pre-orders are open now.