Røde Microphones
Røde Microphones is an Australian audio-technology brand known for microphones, podcasting equipment, wireless systems, headphones, interfaces, and audio software.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Røde Microphones is the consumer-facing brand of Freedman Electronics Pty Ltd, an Australian audio-technology company associated with the design and manufacture of microphones and related recording equipment. Its products serve a broad range of users, including musicians, recording engineers, broadcasters, filmmakers, podcasters, location-sound crews, streamers, and other content creators. The company operates across both professional and consumer segments, with a portfolio that has expanded from conventional studio microphones into USB audio, podcast-production systems, compact wireless equipment, headphones, audio interfaces, and software-supported workflows. The business began in Sydney in 1967 when London-born sound engineer Henry Freedman and his Swedish-born wife, Astrid, established Freedman Electronics. Before moving to Australia, Henry worked in telecommunications and performed servicing and modifications for equipment associated with Dynacord. After the family emigrated to Australia in 1966, Freedman Electronics developed as an audio-service and manufacturing business in Ashfield, where it designed, installed, and serviced loudspeakers, amplifiers, microphones, and other sound equipment. The Røde brand emerged from a period of financial difficulty and strategic redirection in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After Henry Freedman's death in 1987, their son Peter Freedman took control. The company expanded its sound-installation activities, but difficult economic conditions and Peter's limited business experience created substantial financial pressure. While exploring new commercial opportunities, Peter revisited the potential of a large-diaphragm condenser microphone that he had encountered at a trade show in China. Freedman Electronics imported a small quantity for market testing, modified the design, and found strong demand. The resulting product was initially informally associated with the name “Rodent-1” before being relaunched as the Røde NT1. The brand's distinctive Scandinavian-style character was intended to reflect the Freedman family's heritage. The NT1 and NT2 established Røde in the microphone market and provided a platform for international growth. The company later developed products for broadcasters and home-recording users, including the Podcaster, a USB dynamic microphone introduced as podcasting began to emerge as a distinct medium. Additional products such as the NT-USB and Procaster broadened the brand's appeal among podcasters and online creators. Røde also benefited from its relationship with Event Electronics, a loudspeaker company that helped establish its United States distribution channel; Freedman Electronics acquired Event Electronics in 2006. Røde subsequently moved beyond standalone microphones. The 2018 RødeCaster Pro combined a mixer, microphone inputs, headphone outputs, sound pads, and remote-caller facilities in a dedicated podcast-production system. In 2019, Wireless GO introduced a compact wireless microphone format in which the transmitter itself contained a microphone, allowing users to record without a traditional wired connection between a lavalier microphone and a bodypack. The system built on related technology from the earlier RødeLink range and helped position Røde in filmmaking, mobile production, video, and creator markets. In 2023, Freedman Electronics acquired the American professional-audio company Mackie. This extended the group's presence beyond microphones and creator equipment into a broader professional-audio portfolio. Røde remains an active Australian audio brand whose identity combines accessible creator tools with products aimed at studio, broadcast, film, and professional production applications.
History
Freedman Electronics was founded in Sydney in 1967 by Henry Freedman, a London-born sound engineer, and Astrid Freedman, who was born in Sweden. The couple had moved to Stockholm in 1952. Henry worked for a telecommunications company and, outside his regular employment, serviced and modified equipment for an Australian agent representing the German professional-audio manufacturer Dynacord. He eventually received Australian distribution rights for Dynacord products, helping motivate the family's move to Australia in 1966. The company established a shop in Ashfield, near Sydney, and became involved in the design, manufacture, installation, and servicing of audio equipment. Its early work included loudspeakers, amplifiers, and microphones. This service and installation background gave Freedman Electronics practical experience across the audio chain before the company became identified primarily with the Røde brand. After Henry Freedman died in 1987, his son Peter Freedman assumed control. He invested heavily in expanding the company's sound-installation services, but the business encountered difficult economic conditions and Peter had limited prior business experience. The combination placed Freedman Electronics under significant financial strain and brought it close to bankruptcy. During the early 1990s, Peter explored alternatives to the company's existing activities. He recalled a large-diaphragm condenser microphone that he had seen at a trade show in China and imported 20 units to test the Australian market. After modification, the microphone attracted immediate interest. It was informally known as the “Rodent-1” before being rebranded as the Røde NT1. The unusual letter “ø” referred to the Freedman family's Scandinavian background and gave the brand a distinctive visual identity, although Swedish orthography uses “ö” rather than “ø”. Røde followed the NT1 with the NT2 in 1992. These large-diaphragm condenser microphones established the brand's identity in recording and helped transform Freedman Electronics from a local audio-service company into an internationally recognized microphone manufacturer. The company also developed distribution and commercial relationships outside Australia. Event Electronics played an important role in establishing Røde's United States distribution channel during the early 1990s, and Freedman Electronics acquired Event in 2006. As podcasting expanded, Røde adapted its product strategy to serve creators who needed simple computer-connected recording equipment. In 2007 it introduced the Podcaster, a dedicated dynamic USB microphone. Later products, including the NT-USB and Procaster, reinforced the brand's presence in podcasting and online broadcasting while retaining connections to conventional studio and broadcast use. Røde's product scope widened further with integrated systems. In 2018, the company introduced the RødeCaster Pro, a podcast-production console incorporating microphone inputs, headphone outputs, sound pads, and facilities for remote callers. The product represented a move from selling individual microphones to providing a complete workflow for podcast production. Wireless audio became another important area. Røde had previously developed the RødeLink range in the mid-2000s. In 2019 it launched Wireless GO, a compact system whose transmitter included its own microphone. This design allowed users to operate without a separate wired microphone and was suited to video, filmmaking, mobile production, and online content creation. In 2023, Freedman Electronics acquired Mackie, an American professional-audio company. The transaction expanded the broader group's professional-audio presence and complemented Røde's microphone, podcasting, wireless, and creator-oriented businesses. Røde continues to operate as an active Australian audio brand serving consumer, producer, and professional markets.
- 2023
Mackie is acquired
[1]Freedman Electronics acquires Mackie, expanding the group's professional-audio portfolio.
- 2019
Wireless GO launches
[1]Røde introduces a compact wireless microphone system with a transmitter containing a built-in microphone.
- 2018
RødeCaster Pro launches
[1]Røde introduces an integrated podcast-production studio combining mixing, monitoring, sound pads, and remote-caller connectivity.
- 2007
Entry into dedicated podcasting hardware
[1]Røde launches the Podcaster, a dynamic USB microphone aimed at podcast and computer-based recording.
- 2006
Event Electronics is acquired
[1]Freedman Electronics purchases Event Electronics, a loudspeaker manufacturer associated with Røde's early United States distribution development.
- 1992
Røde introduces the NT2
[1]The NT2 follows the NT1 and strengthens Røde's position in studio condenser microphones.
- 1990
The NT1 establishes the Røde brand
[1]After testing and modifying imported large-diaphragm condenser microphones, Freedman Electronics introduces the product later known as the Røde NT1.
- 1987
Peter Freedman takes control
[1]Peter Freedman assumes control of the company after the death of his father, Henry Freedman.
- 1967
Freedman Electronics is founded
[1]Henry and Astrid Freedman establish Freedman Electronics in Sydney, beginning a business focused on audio design, installation, manufacture, and servicing.
Products and positioning
An Australian audio brand positioned between professional production equipment and accessible tools for musicians, broadcasters, podcasters, filmmakers, and online creators. Røde is particularly associated with practical, relatively easy-to-deploy microphone and content-production systems.
Large-diaphragm condenser microphone · 1990
NT1
The NT1 was the product that established the Røde brand after Freedman Electronics imported and modified a small batch of large-diaphragm condenser microphones. It connected Røde with studio recording and helped turn the Sydney audio-services company into an internationally recognized microphone manufacturer.
Large-diaphragm condenser microphone · 1992
NT2
Introduced after the NT1, the NT2 extended Røde's early studio-microphone range and reinforced the brand's focus on recording applications.
USB dynamic microphone · 2007
Podcaster
The Podcaster was Røde's first dedicated podcasting product. Its dynamic microphone design and USB connection targeted direct computer recording and helped the company address the emerging podcast-production market.
Broadcast dynamic microphone
Procaster
The Procaster is a broadcast-oriented dynamic microphone associated with spoken-word production, including podcasting and voice recording.
USB condenser microphone
NT-USB
The NT-USB extends Røde's condenser-microphone expertise into a computer-connected format suitable for podcasting, voice recording, music, and other creator workflows.
Podcast-production system · 2018
RødeCaster Pro
The RødeCaster Pro is an integrated podcast-production studio combining a mixer, microphone inputs, headphone outputs, sound pads, and channels or facilities for remote callers. It represents Røde's move toward complete production workflows rather than standalone microphones.
Wireless microphone system · 2019
Wireless GO
Wireless GO is a compact wireless system designed for video, filmmaking, mobile production, and creator applications. Its transmitter incorporates a built-in microphone, allowing operation without a separate wired microphone.
Wireless microphone system
RødeLink
RødeLink is an earlier wireless-microphone range that provided technical and product-development groundwork for Røde's later compact Wireless GO system.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire MackieM&ABackground
Freedman Electronics sought to broaden its position in professional audio beyond the Røde microphone and creator-equipment portfolio.
Action taken
Freedman Electronics acquired the American professional-audio company Mackie.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the group's professional-audio holdings, although the referenced material does not provide financial terms or detailed integration plans.
2019
Launch Wireless GOProduct launchBackground
Røde sought to make wireless audio more compact and practical for filmmakers, video producers, and online creators.
Action taken
The company introduced Wireless GO, whose transmitter included a built-in microphone and could operate without a separate wired microphone.
Aftermath
The system strengthened Røde's presence in compact wireless production audio and received positive reviews according to the referenced account.
2018
Launch the RødeCaster ProProduct launchBackground
Røde's podcasting business had expanded beyond the need for a single microphone toward complete, easy-to-operate production workflows.
Action taken
The company launched an integrated podcast-production studio with mixing, microphone inputs, headphone outputs, sound pads, and support for remote callers.
Aftermath
Røde expanded from microphone supply into dedicated podcast-production hardware.
2007
Enter dedicated podcasting hardwareProduct launchBackground
Podcasting was developing into a distinct audio-production and broadcasting category.
Action taken
Røde introduced the Podcaster, a dynamic USB microphone designed for direct computer recording.
Aftermath
The product helped Røde build a stronger position among podcasters and later supported expansion into integrated podcast-production systems.
2006
Acquire Event ElectronicsM&ABackground
Event Electronics had been instrumental in establishing Røde's United States distribution channel in the early 1990s.
Action taken
Freedman Electronics acquired the loudspeaker manufacturer.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened the group's audio portfolio and consolidated a business relationship connected with Røde's United States market development.
1990
Convert an imported microphone into the NT1Product launchBackground
Freedman Electronics was under financial pressure and was exploring opportunities outside its established installation business. Peter Freedman remembered a large-diaphragm condenser microphone seen at a Chinese trade show.
Action taken
The company imported 20 microphones, modified the design, tested demand, and rebranded the successful product as the Røde NT1.
Aftermath
The NT1 established Røde as a microphone brand and created the foundation for subsequent studio, broadcast, podcasting, and creator products.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
RØDE introduces Lavalier II microphone[2]
Reported:
RØDE introduced the Lavalier II, a compact wearable lavalier microphone. The article says it is shipping worldwide.
RØDE launches Wireless GO II[3]
Reported:
RØDE introduced Wireless GO II, a second-generation dual-channel wireless microphone system that can record two audio sources simultaneously.
Sources3 sources
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