Røde Microphones

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Australian audio technology company

title: "Røde Microphones" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["audio-equipment-manufacturers-of-australia", "microphone-manufacturers", "manufacturing-companies-based-in-sydney", "electronics-companies-established-in-1967", "australian-companies-established-in-1967", "australian-brands", "privately-held-companies-of-australia"] description: "Australian audio technology company" topic_path: "engineering" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Røde_Microphones" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Australian audio technology company ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

Field	Value
name	{{Nowrap

| name = {{Nowrap|Freedman Electronics Pty Ltd

t/a RØDE Freedman Electronics Pty Ltd}} | logo = RØDE logo.svg | logo_size = 170px | type = Private | foundation = | former_name = Freedman Electronics (1967–1990) | founders = | location_city = Silverwater, Sydney | location_country = Australia | locations = | key_people = | area_served = Global | industry = Consumer and professional audio equipment | products = Microphones, audio mixers | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = 800+ | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = | dissolved = | footnotes = Røde Microphones (/ˈroʊd/), officially Freedman Electronics Pty Ltd, is an Australian audio technology company specialising in the design and manufacture of microphones, headphones, audio interfaces, and audio software. The company's product range focuses on applications such as music recording, location sound recordings, broadcast and podcasting, filmmaking, and content creation, for the consumer, producer, and professional markets.

History

Freedman Electronics was founded in 1967 by Henry Freedman, a London-born sound engineer, and his Swedish-born wife, Astrid.{{cite web |url= https://rode.com/en-us/about/about-rode |title= About RØDE |author= |publisher= rode.com |access-date=October 10, 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20251010144509/https://rode.com/en-us/about/about-rode|archive-date=October 10, 2025 }} The couple moved to Stockholm in 1952. While working for a telecommunications company, Freedman provided after-hours servicing and modifications for a local agent representing the German pro-audio manufacturer Dynacord.{{Citation | last = Schoepe | first = Zenon | title = Meet your Maker – Rode Microphones | newspaper = Resolution | pages = 56–61 | date = March 2011}} Eventually, he was granted the distribution rights in Australia to sell the brand, which led to them emigrating to Australia in 1966 with their family, which included their son, Peter.{{Citation | last = Holder | first = Christopher | title = The Name behind the Name | newspaper = AudioTechnology | pages =56–61 | year = 2004 | url = https://www.audiotechnology.com.au/PDF/REGULARS/NAME_BEHIND_THE_NAME/AT33_NBN_Peter_Freedman.pdf | last = White | first = Paul | title = The Wizard of Oz | newspaper = Sound on Sound | date = August 2005 | url = https://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug05/articles/rodevisit.htm

Establishing a shop in the suburb of Ashfield near Sydney, Freedman Electronics became one of the earliest companies in the city to design, manufacture, install, and service audio products, such as loudspeakers, amplifiers, and microphones.{{cite podcast | url = http://themodernvocalistworld.com/2009/10/27/peter-freedman_founder-ceo-of-rode-microphones/ | title = Peter Freedman AM, Founder & CEO of Røde Microphones | website = The Modern Vocalist World | host = | date = 27 October 2009 | time = | accessdate = 3 April 2013

Peter Freedman took control of the business after Henry died in 1987. Peter made substantial investments in expanding Freedman Electronics sound installation services. However, his limited business experience, coupled with the challenging economic conditions of the late 1980s, nearly pushed the company to bankruptcy and left Peter burdened with significant financial debt.{{Citation | last = Grafton | first = Julius | title = Peter's Long and Winding Rode | newspaper = CX Magazine | pages = 16–24

| date = July 2005

As the 1990s dawned, Freedman Electronics faced financial challenges. While exploring other ventures, he recalled a large-diaphragm condenser microphone he had encountered a decade earlier at a trade show in China. After assessing local market interest, he imported 20 of these microphones.

The modified microphone achieved immediate success. This led to the informal nickname 'Rodent-1' for the microphone, which was later rebranded as the Røde NT1, thereby establishing the Røde Microphones brand. The addition of the 'Ø' character paid homage to the Freedman family's Scandinavian heritage (although Swedish itself uses the 'Ö' character) to impart a European flair to the brand. In 1992, Røde introduced the NT2 large-diaphragm condenser microphone following the release of the NT1.[[File:Rode VideoMic Pro.jpg|thumb|alt=Rode VideoMic Pro]] In 2006, Freedman Electronics purchased loudspeaker manufacturer Event Electronics, a company that had been instrumental in establishing RØDE's US distribution channel in the early 1990s. In 2007, in response to the growing podcasting industry, Røde introduced its first dedicated podcasting product, the Podcaster—a dynamic USB microphone. Røde has released additional podcast-focused products, such as the NT-USB and Procaster microphones, which have become popular choices among podcasters.

In 2018, Røde unveiled the RødeCaster Pro, an 'integrated podcast production studio.' This system incorporates several components including a mixer with microphone inputs and headphone outputs, sound pads, and channels designed for seamless integration with remote callers.

In 2019, Røde launched the Wireless Go compact wireless microphone system. Building upon technology initially introduced in the mid-2000s with the RødeLink range of wireless microphones, the Wireless Go received positive reviews. Its compact size and form factor, featuring a built-in microphone within the transmitter pack, enabled entirely wireless operation.

In 2023, Røde acquired the American professional audio company Mackie.

References

"RØDE Microphones - Jobs".
Yasiejko, Christopher. (1 Nov 2023). "Zaxcom Sues Rode Microphones for Wireless-Tech Patent Damages".
Koziol, Michael. (2014-10-14). "RODE microphones: the world hears them now".
Dow, Steve. (2021-01-13). "'Unprecedented': Sydney festival receives $5m donation from electronics entrepreneur". The Guardian.
(2022-05-26). "The high school dropout who built an audio empire lands on Rich List".
(2024-08-07). "Swedish word of the day: ö".
Murphy, Daniel. (2017). "RØDE Trip: Inside 50 Years of Freedman Electronics and RØDE Microphones". Freedman Electronics Pty Ltd.
Corfield 07, Chris. (2021-06-07). "The 12 best podcasting microphones 2021: our pick of podcast mics for every level and budget".
"Rode RodeCaster Pro v2".
Domanski 07, Harry. (2021-05-07). "Rode Wireless Go II review".
Sparrow, Mark. "RØDE Microphones LLC Acquires Iconic US Pro Audio Brand Mackie".

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