Whether perched atop your camera or sitting on a tripod, the Vidpro XM-50 camera-mount shotgun microphone lets you upgrade your sound without weighing you down. This compact and lightweight condenser mic includes indoor and outdoor wind protection along with an integrated vibration-reducing shockmount to aid in achieving quality audio with minimal residual noise.

Unlike the omnidirectional mics built into most cameras, the XM-50's supercardioid polar pattern delivers focused frontal pickup with less ambient noise. It runs for up to 120 hours on two AA batteries (available separately) and connects to your camera via its attached 3.5mm TRS cable. It incorporates onboard switches for gain control and high-pass filtering, allowing you to optimize signal quality at the mic rather than in postproduction.

Mobile Journalist, Vlogger, Run & Gun    For Cameras and Portable Recorders    120-Hour Run Time via AA Batteries    3-Stage Gain Control and Bass Roll-Off    Attached 3.5mm TRS Output Cable    3.5mm Headphone Port    Power Switch with LED    Compact and Lightweight    Indoor and Outdoor Wind Protection    Integrated Shoe/Tripod Shockmount

Compared to the omnidirectional mics built into most cameras, the supercardioid condenser capsule of the XM-50 provides more focused, directional, and detailed sound pickup. This helps you achieve more intelligible speech capture with less ambience and noise.

The XM-50's cable is permanently attached to the mic for fast hookup to your camera, and you don't have to worry about misplacing the cable. It utilizes a 3.5mm TRS mini plug to ensure compatibility with most DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, camcorders, and portable audio recorders.

Plug your headphones into the XM-50's 3.5mm headphone port to monitor the quality of the microphone signal. This is crucial for verifying that your audio is clear and free of distortion before recording it to your camera.

Grab two AA batteries (available separately) and pop them into the XM-50. They will provide up to 120 hours of operating time, so you can do plenty of gigs before swapping them out for fresh batteries. The LED power indicator is useful for confirming operating status and the On/Off switch helps you conserve battery life; simply turn off the mic between shoots.

The XM-50's On/Off switch features a third position, which activates the 80 Hz high-pass filter. High-pass filtering is recommended when you need to reduce low-frequency noise from common sources such as traffic and hum from machinery.

Diving into camera menus to adjust input gain can be cumbersome and inefficient, so the XM-50 has a gain control with three positions—flat, +20 dB, and -10 dB. The -10 dB option helps avoid distortion when recording loud sound sources, whereas the +20 dB setting is ideal for boosting the level of quieter signals. Switch to the flat setting when using a separate high-quality preamp.

The XM-50 incorporates an integrated shockmount to streamline setup of the mic and decouple the mic from noise caused by camera handling and stand-borne vibrations. The bottom of the shockmount features a camera shoe mount with a 1/4" thread, ensuring easy attachment to your camera or a tripod stand (available separately).

Two forms of wind protection are supplied with the XM-50. The foam windscreen is designed to attenuate noise from light wind and indoor HVAC systems such as fans and air conditioners. Slip the furry windshield on the mic to achieve increased reduction of wind noise in outdoor environments.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. I tested this mic at home a few days ago and all was great, but then I recorded a very important concert with it yesterday, everything was set up perfectly, and now all I am hearing in playback on my computer after uploading the videos is static. No recorded audio whatsoever. It is absolutely imperative that I get this audio. Please help me. Is there any way to retrieve the audio??

A: this mic becausethe frequency response is better for interviews

Q: 2. Hi I just got this and it is working ok but I'm getting a small sequel in my headphones when connecting to a rodecaster. Not sure if it is the rodecaster setup? I tried different headphones.

A: Make sure that phantom power on the RodeCaster Pro is turned off since the Vidpro XM-55 is powered by a battery. Also make sure that the mic is not picking up audio from a speaker. If neither of these issues are the source of the noise, please contact us by phone or through live chat on the website and we can help you to troubleshoot.

Q: 3. Are there two types of Xm - 55 mics? Because I see some with a low cut filter and others with the red light... Are they the same mic?

A: The product we are offering is the genuine article from Vidpro which includes the red operating LED and the sensitivity switch.

Q: 4. In assembling the kit, where does the battery go? It came without instructions.

A: Grip your hands around the top and lower portions of the microphone and twist the bottom portion to the left to unscrew the bottom portion and expose the battery compartment. Install the battery and then screw the bottom back onto the mic. Slide the power button on, and a red light will appear to signify that the mic is powered.

Q: 5. Will this work with Pentax K-30 & K-3?

A: This mic will work with the Pentax K-3 but not the K-30, which has no microphone input.

Q: 6. I want to use a rode boomple but it doesnt say wether the shockmount it is 3/8 or not, what can the shockmount take?

A: All the mounts included in this package are 5/8 however a 5/8 to 3/8 thread adapter is included in the kit.

Q: 7. How does this mic compare to the Rode VideoMicro ($59)?On a boom pole and mounted on the camera?

A: The XM-55 is a traditional shotgun mic with higher directionality than the VideoMicro. Will be compatible with more devices as it is able to be battery powered, and will ship with mounting hardware and cables to connect to most cameras and recorders.

Q: 8. Can i use this mic on a Black magic cinema camera?

A: Using an XLR to 1/4 cable the XM-55 Shotgun Mic will be compatible with the Blackmagic Cinema Camera.

Q: 9. Will this work with the Canon PowerShot SX60?

A: The VidPro XM-55 ships with multiple output cables including a 1/8 cable that will connect to the mic input on the Canon PowerShot SX60.

Q: 10. what does the 3rd position of the on/off switch do?

A: The XM 55 switch, in addition to power offers a low cut filter setting. This setting will reduce the low frequency information received by the mic and is effective in reducing some low frequency room noise such as AC rumble, light wind and popping P sounds from speech.