One interesting thing that has been happening on the market for some time now is that many people seem to use Zoom H4N as an alternative to Rode VideoMic Pro for recording the audio in videography projects. Zoom H4N is actually a digital multi-track recorder with a pair of X/Y mics, and it has been used quite frequently for capturing stereo sounds. On the other hand, Rode VideoMic Pro is a shotgun mic, more expensive,able to effectively isolate the audio from environmental noise. See the considerations of Rode VideoMic Pro vs Zoom H4N below to determine which product to get.
Comparing the Sound Quality and Performance
The very first reason of using an external mic is because you want to get the best sound quality that is unachievable by the built-in mic in your DSLR camera. So, when choosing between Rode VideoMic Pro vs Zoom H4N, you definitely want to know which one actually has the best sound quality.
Rode VideoMic Pro has a frequency response range of 40 Hz – 20 kHz, and it is sensitive enough to capture every detail from the audio source. The sound output is crisp, clear, and accurate. The shotgun mic’s polar pattern effectively focuses on the direction of the mic so that it only captures the sounds from that direction while blocking other sounds from other directions. In addition, it has a selectable high-pass filter at 80 Hz which you can activate to attenuate low-end noise from traffic or air conditioners. Don’t forget to see our previous comparison about Rode NTG 1 vs Videomic Pro, too.
On the other hand, Zoom H4N is equipped with configurable X/Y mics. You and adjust the angles of the mics as needed. With the mic pair, you can record better stereo sound that emulates three-dimensional sound very well. However, it will not isolate the audio from environmental noise, which can be problematic if you are recording in a noisy place.
Nevertheless, Zoom H4N has very good sound quality. It records in 24-bit/96kHz. If there is no environmental noise, it also produces crisp and clear sound output.
Technical Specs
| Rode VideoMic Pro | Zoom H4N |
|---|---|
| - Frequency Range : 40Hz - 20kHz (selected HPF @80) | - Sampling frequency: 44.1 / 48 kHz |
| - Output Impedance : 200Ω | - Input impedance: (Using balanced input) 1 kΩ balanced, pin 2 hot (Using unbalanced input) 480 kΩ unbalanced |
| - Sensitivity : -32.0dB re 1 Volt/Pascal (20.00mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1kHz | - Variable beat : 1/4 - 8/4, 6/8, unaccentuated |
Features
Rode VideoMic Pro is powered by a 9V battery, which can last for about 70 hours. The mic has an integrated foam windscreen which is very useful and effective for reducing noise. It also has an integrated shock mount and a camera shoe mount. The cable ends in a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack output.
Zoom H4N works with two AA batteries. It also has a camera shoe mount so that you can mount it directly on your DSLR camera. Of course, as a multi-track audio recorder, it has various capabilities. It has two XLR/TRS inputs so that you can connect additional mics or instruments. It can function as an audio interface, and it has built-in effects and programs for editing. Included in the bundle is the Cubase LE software.
Rode VideoMic Pro Vs Zoom H4N
Conclusion
If you need to isolate your audio from environmental noise, you have to choose Rode VideoMic Pro. As a shotgun mic, it offers superior noise isolation so that you can capture the audio with great clarity. However, if you don’t need to worry about environmental noise, Zoom H4N would be great. The mic pair can create better stereo sound. As a multi-track audio recorder, Zoom H4N also offers various capabilities such as the audio interface mode and built-in effects.