RØDE – VLOGGER KIT iOS Edition Mobile Filmmaking Kit for iOS Devices

If you ever tried to vlog or do a livestream on YouTube or Instagram – you know that your phone is an awesome all inclusive device to do it. It has a great camera and a very decent microphone, but you have to find a way to hold it real steady, shield from wind (to avoid wind noise) and make sure you are not in the dark or not against the bright light source behind you.
RODE Vlogger Kit is a perfect solution for all these problems!
It comes as 3 major parts:
Tripod – which is adjustable for 2 different height settings (by twisting the plastic ring just above the legs) or can be used as a handle with all 3 legs folded. It comes with a ball mount already attached, however it’s easily removable and if you like – you can add an extension rod between the tripod and a ball mount (for example Invisible Selfie Stick works great) to extend the height. Phone mounting bracket is equipped with rubber pads to hold your phone gently but firmly in place, just tighten the screw and your phone is not going nowhere even if you shake or bump ip pretty hard. Ball mount allows for pretty much any angle or even a portrait mode.
Top of the phone holder comes equipped with a cold shoe mount for a light and conveniently there is a little light cube in the kit! It’s amazingly bright for it’s size and light output can be adjusted in 4 steps (however it does not remember previous setting and always starts with the dimmest one) 60/160/230/300 lumens. Not only this light comes with a diffusor, but also with 8 colored gel filters to change the light color (or match ambient light temperature for a correct white balance for example).
And of course – microphone. It’s a cardioid pattern directional microphone capable of picking up frequencies from 20Hz to 20kHz, powered by the Lightning port from your device and also features 3.5mm jack for headphones. Noise rejection from off-axis makes your recordings sound professional (no “all around noise” as if you would used an internal phone microphone) and almost eliminates wind noise with included wind filter (aka dead cat). The only problem I had with the mic is that my phone’s Lightning port is kinda deep when I use phone case, so I had to find a little Lightning port extension. Mic needs to be unplugged and re-plugged if you would like to change it’s direction.
Overall – it’s all you need to start vlogging/streaming with your phone, it’s lightweight enough to take it anywhere and makes it so much easier and safer (it’s less likely that you drop your phone!).

I honestly have no idea how this kit is as cheap as it is. I have used this thing daily sense i bought it and I am continually blown away. First the tripod itself is extremely solid and well built. the legs feel plastic but the rest of the construction is metal and solid. The included light is very heavy duty, of good quality, and again is solidly built. The microphone also is of amazing quality, both in terms of the audio you can record with it but the build quality as well. The only issue that I have with the mic is there is really no way to use it with a case, at least not one that I have tried and I have now bought 4 different ones with no luck. The filters are kinda hard to use at times, especially in low light or if there is even a slight breeze so beware of that, but that has nothing to do with Rode at all. Just a minor inconvenience that I have found. If you do any kind of video work or content creation and you have been entertaining the idea of getting this, stop weighing the pros and cons and just get it. I very seriously doubt that you will be disappointed, especially if you are just starting out.

The Røde iOS Edition Vlogger Kit is a great addition to any iPhone users video arsenal. The kit includes everything you need to create high quality, professional looking videos::
1x VideoMic Me-L Microphone
1x Rubber Clip (pre installed on the microphone)
1x WS9 Windshield
1x Smartgrip
1x Tripod 2
1x MicroLED On-Camera Light
1x Clip-On Diffuser
8x Colored Filters
1x USB Charging Cable
The kit is compatible with iPhone/iPod touch 6th Generation up to the iPhone 12 range, with the lightning port.
Set up is incredibly easy, attach the iPhone clip to the tripod, charge and attach the LED light to the top of the iPhone mount, and plug in the microphone to the bottom of your iPhone and you are up and running. The LED light is bright, it has 4 light settings, long press the button on top to turn on and off, short press to switch between the light intensity settings. There is a light diffuser case and 8 different gels that you can use with it, meaning that the light can not only be used on top of the camera to light you/your subject, but you can also place colored gels on the LED light and use it as ambient lighting for a scene you are shooting. The light provides a nice full cast on the face, giving an even light without being to harsh, but I do wish it’s angle could be adjustable. The 8 light gels come in their own little carry case so they remain clean and undamaged. The charge of the LED light lasts for approximately 1 hour before needing to be recharged again.
The VideoMic Me-L is a nice, compact, direct connect, directional microphone that has a great sound field pick-up, that is only enhanced by adding the WS9 Windshield. This eliminated almost all background noise and interference and provided crisp, clear, intentional sound, helping make videos feel a lot more professionally finished. I did have an issue accessing the on-screen video button with the windshield on, but this can be overcome by using the volume up button on the iPhone (12 Pro in my case) to start and stop your video. You do need to remove your case from your phone in order to use the microphone in the lightning port.
The iPhone clip is aluminum, with a spring actuator to keep it open as you place your phone in there, a nice touch, makes it easier to position the iPhone in the cradle. The handle of the tripod is heavy duty plastic/rubber and has a gimble on top to enable you to get the iPhone at just the right angle for your video. The handle has 3 legs on it to provide a stable base for the camera to rest on, and adjust as needed. There are not adjustable legs in themselves, they do not extent, retract or bend into other settings.
Overall, very happy with the Røde Vlogger Kit for iPhone, it’s elevated my content, giving a much more professional look and feel to it. If I were to change anything about it, I would like for the mount on top of the iPhone holder to have a small gimble on it so that you can rotate the LED up or down, away from the subject slightly, it would be nice if the handle could extend a little to give a little more versatility, and if the windshield was a little more sculpted to allow better access to the on-screen recording button, but again, these are ‘nice-to-have’s’ on an already great product.

Bought this to simply try it out and have an easier audio set up than a full boom system for on-the-go. Audio is very crisp, but the tripod is a little finicky. It has to be on a surface that will catch with the rubber edges, otherwise it just slides down…
Also- you can only plug in the mic without a phone case on, so that’s a little unfortunate..