Rode introduced the M3 last year to rave reviews, and now they've introduced the M2; think of it as the Phantom Menace to the M3's A New Hope. Let's hope is doesn't share the same box-office fate.

The M2 is a hand held condenser mic int the vein of the Shure SM87a. It's intended for vocals in a live performance setting, and as such, sports the kind of features that you'd want and expect (unlike Episode II: Attack Of The Clones, which had neither). The capsule is internally shock mounted to reduce handling noise, and the frequency response is tailored for high rejection of feedback (like George Lucas, I'm assuming.)

The mic's basic features:

• Live condenser vocal microphone
• Feedback rejecting super-cardioid pick up pattern
• Locking on/off switch
• Heavy duty metal body
• High level of RF rejection
• Low handling noise
• Designed and manufactured in Australia
• Ten year warranty