RØDE Wireless PRO User Guide & Support

System Overview

The Wireless PRO system includes a receiver (RX) and two transmitters (TX), along with a smart charging case, lavalier microphones, windshields, magnetic clips, and necessary cables. It enables broadcast-grade wireless audio recording.

Receiver (RX) Components:

• 1 LCD Display: Shows critical information like audio levels, connectivity, and settings.
• 2 USB C Connector: For charging and digital audio connection.
• 3 3.5mm TRRS Connector: For analog audio output/input (headphones, headsets, cameras, smartphones).
• 4 Power/Function Button (): Powers the unit on/off and performs various functions.
• 5 Left Navigation Button: Navigates menus and adjusts settings.
• 6 Right Navigation Button: Navigates menus and adjusts settings.
• 7 Routing Mode Selector: Physical switch for selecting audio routing modes.

Transmitter (TX) Components:

• 1 Connectivity Indicator LED: Shows connection status.
• 2 Recording Status LED: Indicates recording status.
• 3 Battery Indicator LED: Shows battery level (Green: full, Amber: low, Red: critical). Flashes green when charging.
• 4 USB C Connector: For charging and firmware updates.
• 5 Power/Function Button (): Powers the unit on/off and performs various functions.
• 6 Locking 3.5mm TRS Input: For connecting external microphones with locking connectors.
• 7 In-built Microphone: Captures audio directly.
• 8 Record Button: Manually starts/stops on-board recording.

Getting Started

Powering On/Off: Long-press the Power/Function button () on each unit. Transmitters may auto-power off if unpaired and not recording (configurable via RØDE Central). The receiver does not auto-power off.

Navigating the Display: Use the Left and Right Navigation buttons on the receiver to cycle through menus and settings. Short-presses (< 1 second) and long-presses (>= 1 second) perform different actions. Buttons correspond to on-screen symbols for intuitive control.

Pairing:

Units pair automatically on first power-up. For manual pairing:

1. On the receiver, short-press the Right Navigation button to reach the transmitter screen.
2. Long-press the Right Navigation button to enter pairing mode ('PAIR TX NOW').
3. Short-press the Power/Function button () on the transmitter. Its LED will flash blue rapidly.
4. Once paired, the transmitter LED turns solid blue. Repeat for the second transmitter.

To unpair, navigate to the transmitter screen and long-press the Right Navigation button. Pairing can also be managed via RØDE Central software.

Battery and Charging:

Each unit has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery offering up to 7 hours of use. Units can be charged individually via USB-C or, more conveniently, using the included smart charging case.

The charging case holds over two full recharges for the system (2 TX + 1 RX). Place units in their designated slots (RX in 'RX' slot) and align USB-C ports. The case's LED indicates its charging status (solid blue when charging units). Pressing the button next to the LED shows the case's internal battery status (Green: healthy, Amber: low, Red: critical).

Note on USB Accessories Disabled Error: Some computers (e.g., certain Intel MacBooks) may show this error due to simultaneous high-speed data transfer and fast charging. Use the standard SC22 USB-C cable instead of the SuperSpeed SC34 cable in such cases.

Battery Level Indicators: The receiver's LCD displays battery levels for all units. Transmitter LEDs also indicate battery status (Green -> Amber -> Red -> Flashing Red for critical). Charging LEDs flash green until solid green when fully charged.

Attaching and Mounting:

Both transmitters and the receiver have integrated clips for attaching to clothing or camera cold shoes. The included MagClip GO accessories offer magnetic mounting options for transmitters to clothing or for the receiver to magnetic surfaces like iPhones.

Connecting External Microphones:

Transmitters feature 3.5mm TRS inputs for external microphones (e.g., included Lavalier II, RØDE VideoMics). Connecting an external mic replaces the built-in microphone input. The 3.5mm inputs have locking threads for secure connections.

Connecting to Devices:

• Cameras: Connect via 3.5mm TRS output (using the included TRS to TRS cable) or USB-C (if the camera has USB audio input). Ensure output gain mode is set to 'Manual' or 'Camera Preset' for 3.5mm output.
• Smartphones/Tablets: Connect via USB-C using the appropriate cable (USB-C to Lightning or USB-C to USB-C).
• Computers: Connect via USB-C to use as a wireless audio interface. Select 'Wireless PRO RX' as the input device in system and software audio settings. Use a USB-C to USB-A cable (like SC18) if the computer has only USB-A ports. Connecting to a computer also allows exporting on-board recordings, adjusting settings, and charging via the charge case.

Note on Simultaneous Outputs: Simultaneous use of 3.5mm analog and USB-C digital outputs is not recommended due to potential ground loop issues causing digital noise.

Connecting Headphones or Headsets:

The receiver's 3.5mm TRRS connector can be used for monitoring audio with headphones (e.g., RØDE NTH-100) or for using a headset (e.g., NTH-100M) which allows both monitoring and recording via the headset microphone. Ensure the output gain mode is set to 'Headphones' or 'Headset'. Adjust headphone output level from the home screen.

The Wireless PRO features a high-power headphone amplifier suitable for high-impedance headphones.

Using Windshields:

Furry windshields are included to reduce wind noise and protect the sensitive in-built microphones, especially when recording outdoors. Attach by aligning white dots on the windshield with black dots on the transmitter, then push down and twist to lock.

Audio Routing

The Wireless PRO can record three audio sources simultaneously: two transmitters and a headset mic (RX Mic). The receiver outputs a stereo signal (two discrete channels) via USB-C and 3.5mm connections. Several routing modes are available:

• Merged Mode: Combines audio from transmitters (and RX Mic, if used) into a single summed output. Useful for single-speaker setups or when audio needs to be on both channels.
• Split Mode: Records each transmitter's output onto separate channels (left/right). Ideal for interviews where independent post-production editing is needed. If RX Mic is used, it's routed to the right channel while transmitters are merged to the left.
• Safety Channel Mode: Available in Merged mode. Outputs a second channel 10dB lower than the main channel. This acts as a backup in case the main audio clips due to sudden loudness. All inputs are merged to the left channel, and the safety channel is output to the right.

Split Mode Routing Table:

Note: Timecode configuration options are also found in the routing menu.

Gain Control

The receiver's 3.5mm output offers flexible gain modes:

• Manual: Default mode, provides appropriate gain for cameras and similar devices. Gain can be adjusted in 3dB increments.
• Camera Preset: Allows cycling through pre-loaded camera-specific gain presets.
• Headphones: Activates the headphone amplifier for monitoring audio. Output gain defaults to a safe listening level and likely needs to be increased.
• Headset: Uses the headphone amplifier and allows recording from a connected headset microphone (requires USB output for recording RX Mic audio).

Adjusting Output Gain Levels: Access the gain adjustment screen from the home screen by pressing the Left Navigation button. Use Left/Right Navigation buttons to decrease/increase gain (3dB increments for Manual mode). In Camera Preset mode, these buttons cycle through presets.

Note: Gain adjustment does not affect the digital USB output.

GainAssist and Input Gain:

GainAssist technology automatically balances microphone levels. Modes include Auto (smoother, consistent sound) and Dynamic (balances while maintaining natural dynamics). GainAssist does not apply to on-board recordings.

Manual Input Gain: If GainAssist is disabled, input gain for the built-in or external mic can be manually adjusted (1dB increments) on the transmitter screens via RØDE Central.

RØDE Central Configuration

RØDE Central is a companion app (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android) for configuring Wireless PRO settings, accessing on-board recordings (desktop), pairing/unpairing, and updating firmware.

• Configuring Routing Modes: Select routing modes via the 'Routing' menu in RØDE Central.
• Configuring Camera Presets: Load presets for popular camera models to automatically set optimal gain levels. Up to 10 presets can be stored. Custom presets can also be created.
• Selecting a Camera Preset on Receiver: While in Camera Preset gain mode, use the receiver's navigation buttons to cycle through saved presets. A 'RØDE' default preset is also available.
• Configuring Backlight and LED Dimming: The receiver's backlight can be set to auto-dim. Transmitter LED brightness can be adjusted for discreet use.
• Configuring the Power/Function Button (): Customize short-press functions for the button on both transmitters and receiver (e.g., place marker, start/stop recording, mute).
• High-Pass Filters: Each transmitter has a two-stage high-pass filter (75Hz, 100Hz, or off) to reduce low-frequency rumble. Applies to both built-in and external mics.

On-Board Recording and 32-bit Float

Transmitters feature on-board recording capabilities, storing over 40 hours of 32-bit float audio. This provides a backup in case of wireless signal loss or audio clipping, or can serve as the primary audio source.

32-bit Float Audio: This format captures a wide range of volume levels without clipping or introducing noise, allowing for significant post-production adjustments. This benefit applies only to on-board recordings.

On-board Recording Modes:

• Manual: Recordings start/stop with the transmitter's record button.
• Always: Recordings run continuously when the transmitter is powered on.

The receiver's button can also control recording start/stop in 'Record' mode.

Exporting On-board Recordings:

• Direct WAV Export: Place the Wireless PRO in the charge case, connect to a computer via USB-C. Transmitters appear as removable storage devices for direct file copying. Files are saved in 32-bit float WAV format.
• Via RØDE Central: Connect the charge case to a computer. Open RØDE Central, select the transmitter, and export recordings. This method allows access to markers and various export settings (normalization, file format, sample rate, bit depth, loudness).

Adjusting or Normalizing 32-bit Float Files:

Normalizing adjusts volume levels to prevent clipping. This can be done:

• Within RØDE Central: Select 'Custom' export, choose '24 bits PCM' bit depth to automatically normalize and export.
• Within Editing Software: Import files and use the software's normalize function or manual volume adjustment.

32-bit Float Compatible Software: DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Reaper, Ableton Live, Adobe Audition, Audacity, Pro Tools.

Markers:

Waveforms display manually dropped markers (green), signal dropouts (red flags), and dropout regions (red sections). Markers help pinpoint specific audio sections for export. User markers can be manually dropped via the receiver or transmitters.

Batch Export and Export Selection:

Multiple files can be exported by checking boxes. Specific sections of a recording can be highlighted using the selection tool or by selecting between markers.

Deleting Recordings:

When transmitter storage is full, new recordings overwrite the oldest. Export audio before deleting. Mass deletion of all recordings on a transmitter is available via RØDE Central settings. Individual recordings cannot be deleted.

Using Timecode with the Wireless PRO

Timecode synchronizes audio and video recordings, saving editing time. The Wireless PRO uses the SMPTE standard with LTC encoding. The receiver acts as the 'Source' generating timecode, which is sent to 'Sync' devices like cameras.

Timecode is output as an audio signal. Cameras that accept timecode record it as metadata. If a camera doesn't, the timecode audio signal can be recorded into a mic/aux input. The receiver automatically sends timecode to transmitters for synchronized on-board recordings. Timecode must be recorded onto the camera to sync video files.

Enabling Timecode:

Connect the receiver to RØDE Central, toggle 'Timecode' on, and select desired 'Timecode Modes'. Apply changes and select modes on the receiver by pressing and holding Left/Right Navigation buttons.

Note: The receiver must be powered on for timecode generation. On-board recordings contain timecode if enabled and started while transmitters are paired.

Timecode Modes:

• Mode 1 (3.5mm and USB, Merged): Summed transmitter audio on the left channel, timecode on the right. For cameras that don't accept native timecode but can record it as audio.
• Mode 2 (USB with Headset, Split): Headset mic audio on the left USB channel, timecode on the right. All sources summed to the 3.5mm output for monitoring in the headset.
• Mode 3 (USB with Headset, Merged): Similar to Mode 2, but the left USB channel is a summed output of all three microphones (TX1, TX2, headset mic).
• Mode 4 (USB with Headphones, Merged): Optimized for headphone monitoring. Left USB channel: summed output of TX1 and TX2. Right USB channel: timecode. 3.5mm output for headphones.
• Mode 5 (Timecode Only / Jam Sync): Sends only a timecode signal on all outputs. Use with cameras that accept native timecode. Allows 'jam syncing' multiple devices. Recommended to jam sync every 4 hours due to potential 'drift'. Important: Do not connect headphones or monitor the signal directly in this mode as it is very loud.

Frame Rate:

Set timecode frame rate to match your project's shooting frame rate (e.g., 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 DF, 29.97, 30 fps). If your project frame rate isn't listed, choose a divisor.

Real Time vs. Continuous:

Real Time: Timecode reflects actual current time (HH MM SS FF format).

Connecting to Devices that Accept Timecode:

Use Timecode Mode 5 for cameras that accept native timecode. Use appropriate adapters for proprietary camera ports. Ensure the Wireless PRO has the latest firmware and try increasing output gain if the camera doesn't recognize the signal.

Supported Cameras (examples): Arri Alexa Mini LF, Arri Alexa 35, Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro 12K, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K/6K/6K Pro, Canon EOS R5/R5C/C70/C300 Mk II/Mk III/C500 Mk II, RED KOMODO 6K/X, Sony A7S III/FX3/FX30.

Connecting to Devices that Don't Accept Timecode:

Record timecode as audio. Use Timecode Mode 1 with the SC2 cable for 3.5mm camera inputs. Use Timecode Modes 2, 3, or 4 for USB audio recording (e.g., smartphones).

Syncing Video and Audio in Editing Software:

If your camera doesn't natively support timecode, use software like DaVinci Resolve to interpret audio timecode and sync files before importing into other editors like Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.

Guides available for: DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro.

Timecode Limitations:

Minor sync disparities (1-2 frames) may occur due to variables in other equipment. Recording a visible/audible clap on all devices is recommended for reference nudging.