I recorded high-quality audio with this tiny USB-C mic – no experience needed

The RØDE Wireless GO was a revolutionary wireless microphone system when it first launched, and several generations later, with the Wireless GO II enabling dual microphones and ultra-high-quality audio recording in a compact form, the original microphones have now become a common sight for videographers as well as broadcast professionals. You often see those small units appearing on TV.

The RØDE Wireless Micro is a step down, at least when it comes to features, although we found through this test that the audio quality is absolutely superb. So, whereas the RØDE Wireless GO is designed to work with both your mobile phone and cameras or camcorders, the Wireless Micro is designed solely for use with your mobile phone and utilises the popular USB Type-C connector in order to plug directly into your smartphone.

Like many other wireless microphone systems that have been designed for use with a smartphone, the kit comes with two compact wireless microphones and an equally compact receiver. RØDE has aimed to make everything as quick and easy to use as possible, so when you open up the case, remove the two microphones and the transmitter, everything will automatically pair. What’s more, there’s Auto Gain Assist technology, which essentially adjusts the levels of the two microphones so that when you get your audio recording, it should be nice and level.

Another really nice feature about the RØDE Micro is that it’s available in two different colours, so you can get it in black or grey to match whatever clothes you’re wearing or, indeed, your interviewee.

So, the RØDE Wireless Micro is a compact wireless microphone solution designed for use with your smartphone.

RØDE has made a name for their professional audio gear, and as such, even though the RØDE Wireless Micro has been designed for use with your smartphone, that same quality of build comes across. The unit arrives in a really compact charging case, which enables two additional charges on top of the seven-hour charge that the wireless microphones are capable of with the internal battery.

I found that the design was incredibly compact and lightweight, very similar to that of standard wireless headphone sets that you might already use with your smartphone. As such, they fit in a trouser pocket or backpack without adding too much weight or bulk. When it comes to size and weight, the transmitter measures 20 × 40 × 17 mm and weighs just 12 g, whilst the receiver measures 24 × 9 × 44 mm and weighs 26 g, so having it connected to the base of your mobile phone is barely noticeable.

While the receiver and transmitter are, of course, the main focus of this wireless microphone system, another part of the setup is the charging case. Now, as standard, the wireless microphones are capable of up to seven hours of power using the internal battery, and the charging case will then supply up to two further charges for each of the microphones, so you can get up to 21 hours of use out of a single charge of the case.

When it comes to the design of the actual microphones, they are quite standard, although you won’t have any of those additional features such as a 3.5 mm lavalier connector or any form of adjustment or screen on the wireless microphones themselves. Instead, all you have is a very neat little microphone with a clip that can be clipped onto a lapel or jacket.
Alternatively, part of that clip is actually a magnet that can be removed and connected through fabric in order to hold them in place. This magnetic feature has become very common with small mic systems and does increase the different options for neatly mounting microphones.

As these are from RØDE, and RØDE has a big understanding of how their equipment is used out in the field, they have ensured that while these microphones are not waterproof, they are splashproof. So, if you are caught out in a winter shower or you live in the UK, then they should survive a splash or two.

Along with the microphones and the charging case, in the box there are two furry windshields that clip over the top of the units. It’s a shame that these come external to the rest of the kit, but again, they’re only small, and they will fit nice and neatly in with the charging case in your bag.

While small, these microphones are from RØDE, so they are big on features. Interestingly, all of these features are designed to make them as easy to use as possible. Unlike some other systems that require a little bit of audio knowledge, these microphones are essentially designed for anyone to be able to pick up, use, and get professional-level audio without any pro knowledge.

First and foremost, both of the microphones are wireless and feature built-in omnidirectional microphones, which will give you that lovely experience that is so common in interview situations—ideal if you’re presenting to camera.

Out of the box, there’s no need to pair or configure the microphones. They will automatically pair with each other and the receiver, so again, no prior knowledge is required. One of the things that is unique about the two wireless transmitting mics is that there are no actual buttons on them, just one small LED that highlights when they are switched on. This means that all adjustments to the levels are done automatically, and even through the RØDE Capture app that you use to record the audio, there’s no ability to adjust the audio levels—everything is set automatically.

While we’ve already gone over most of the other features in the Build and Handling section, there is the USB Type-C connector at the bottom, which is specifically designed for connection to smartphones. There is also a patent-pending acoustic chamber design, which essentially increases the depth and quality of the audio, giving you that professional-level sound compared with some cheaper units. Then there’s the battery, which provides seven hours per unit or 21 hours with the charging case, giving both a top-up when placed back in the case.

When it comes to recording, this is all done through the RØDE Capture app, which essentially handles all the audio recording. It’s really nice and simple to use and can be used in combination with other video applications that you might be using.

As already mentioned, the units are available in two different colours, either white or black, to match what you or your interviewees are wearing.

Starting out with the setup, it really couldn’t be easier, with the two microphones neatly laid out either side of the small transmitter in the charging case. The case itself charges via a simple USB Type-C connector, which means it can be charged up through your laptop, or you can use a power station or power bank such as the UGREEN, which makes them nice and portable, with no other charging unit or adapters needed.
Once the case is charged, which in turn charges the transmitter microphones, you’re ready to get started. The small receiver that plugs into the base of your smartphone’s charging port draws power from the phone, and as it’s small and lightweight, it doesn’t draw a huge amount, so it won’t drain your smartphone battery in a noticeable way.

Getting started is really easy—just plug the receiver into the base of your smartphone. What RØDE has done here is great, as they have designed the socket in such a way that if your phone has a smartphone case on, it should still fit without the need to remove the case, which is a great feature and something many others forget to do.

Equally, the two transmitting mics are just as easy to use. Once removed from the case, they will automatically pair with the receiver, which is highlighted by small lights. Essentially, once the connection is made, you’re ready to go once the mics are clipped onto yourself or an interviewee.

What’s nice here is that you can use the microphones either individually or as a pair. So, if you’re a content creator working alone, you have one mic, but if you need to interview someone, then you have the second mic ready to go.

Another useful feature is that you can record in either mono or stereo mode, and this is all accessible through the RØDE Capture app. Although it doesn’t offer much flexibility over recording settings such as levels, it does offer this one extremely important feature.

The RØDE Capture app, while simple, does take things to another level. First and foremost, you have the option to use the wireless microphones straight out of the box, capturing simple video footage with the audio being supplied directly from the wireless micro transmitters. But there’s also a decent amount of adjustment available. If you push the small microphone button, you can go in and adjust the audio levels of the two microphones. So, if one person is louder and the other quieter, you can adjust the levels accordingly to even them out—although the system does a pretty good job of doing that automatically.

Then, to get stereo recording, you have the split option, which allows you to separate the microphones into dual channels—microphone one on channel one and microphone two on channel two. This gives you much more flexibility in editing, allowing you to even out any differences in audio volume and also mute one person while the other is talking, which can often be useful. Another option within the audio settings is the output gain, which can be changed between low, medium, and high, all in simple, easy-to-understand English with no technical jargon involved.

Alongside the audio options within the Capture app, there are several video options, including the ability to select the aspect ratio, ranging from 1:1 to 16:9 and everything in between. You have Full HD and 4K recording, as well as the ability to change the frame rate, from the popular 24 or 25 frames per second all the way up to 60 fps at HD or 4K.

One of the other features I really like is that you can actually change the way the video is captured. If you hit the dual-cam option at the bottom of the screen, you can split the screen half and half, with the front-facing camera showing you while the rear-facing camera captures the subject. You can do this in either portrait or landscape orientation.

Alternatively, if you’re doing a product review and want a small picture of yourself next to the product, you can push the PIP (picture-in-picture) button to overlay a small video window of yourself on the main footage. This is a great option, or you can just stick to standard video recording and flip between the front-facing or rear camera, depending on what you need.

You also have the option to zoom in from 0.5x to 3x zoom, so overall, the Capture app gives you plenty of flexibility, which is really useful.
However, one odd thing about the app is that, on top of the RØDE Capture app, you also have the RØDE Central app. This allows you to monitor all of the connected devices, in this case, the Wireless Micro system, and separate out the transmitters and receivers. This app essentially enables firmware updates and provides a quick way to check device settings.

However, having a secondary app to do this instead of integrating it into one app seems unnecessary, though it doesn’t hinder usability in any way.
Now, while the Capture app is superb for capturing great video, you might prefer to switch to something like Blackmagic Camera or the built-in camera app on a cinema-focused smartphone like the iPhone. If that’s the case, the RØDE Wireless Micro will still work, as it will be picked up as a wireless microphone system via USB Type-C support. This makes it equally as flexible, though switching between apps can be a bit of a hassle.

When it comes to the actual audio quality, the RØDE Wireless Micro is a level up from most other compact microphone systems of this type. The audio is clear and of incredibly high quality. Through several weeks of testing, it proved to be highly effective, and when wind noise did pick up, the included windshields could be quickly mounted if required.

When it comes to the clip system and mounting, I did have a few issues. While the clip is compact and lightweight, the magnets on the back aren’t overly strong. They will hold well through a T-shirt or shirt, but if you try to clip them through a jumper, the fabric’s thickness pushes the system a little too far, so that’s something to be aware of.

Another thing I really liked was the automatic gain adjustment, which did a really good job, and the fact that you have some manual adjustment as well adds to the ease of use and the professional nature of this compact wireless microphone system. I also appreciated that the audio remained consistent, whether indoors, outdoors, or in a busy location—the quality of the audio pickup was always excellent.

Overall, for a compact wireless microphone system, I have to say this is one of the best I’ve used, with only the DJI Mic Wireless Microphone System coming anywhere close.

Once again, RØDE shows that they are leaders in the field and have produced a wireless microphone system that is incredibly easy to use while still being able to produce professional-level audio without needing any of the expertise that used to be required to do so.

They really are ideal for any mobile content creator or anyone wanting to create video using their smartphone. While they are limited to smartphone use, when combined with the superb Capture app and the quality of cameras found on devices like the iPhone 16 Pro and Vivo X100, you can achieve some stunning results.

While more advanced users may find limitations—such as no option for an external lav mic, no on-device display, and no manual settings adjustments—most of what you need can be accessed directly through the RØDE Capture app. That Capture app is one of the best-designed audio apps I’ve come across, enabling users to achieve professional-level quality with ease. It requires no prior knowledge, and what’s more, it is extremely easy to navigate and use.

While there are plenty of micro wireless microphone systems on the market, few are as easy to use or as high in audio recording quality as the RØDE Wireless Micro. You are paying a premium, but if audio quality—and, therefore, the quality of the videos you produce—is paramount, then this is an excellent option, with only the DJI Mic coming close to what’s on offer.