RØDECaster Pro Review
Long-Term Test
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RØDE recently introduced the RØDECaster Pro all-in-one podcasting audio interface and their market timing could not have been better. With podcasting’s popularity at an all time high, there are more and more individuals, companies and media concerns jumping into this vibrant new outlet. The RØDECaster Pro was also joined by RØDE’s new PodMic, a dynamic microphone specifically designed to work with the RØDECaster Pro. We sent both units to five different reviewers for our long-term test, their comments in quotes below.
The RØDECaster Pro is a big step for RØDE in terms of not only a new product category, but this is the first audio interface / mixer the company has developed to date. With the audio market saturated with computer audio interface products, RØDE looked at the landscape and decided to not just develop another “me too” product. The RØDECaster Pro is quite a sophisticated endeavor. Our reviewers were composed of first time podcasters, part timers and expert users, providing a balanced and objective evaluation of the RØDECaster Pro and PodMic. In addition, we actually had to perform this long-term test twice, since an issue arose with our first preproduction unit and had to be swapped out with a replacement.
Right out of the gate, all of our reviewers commented on the build quality of the RØDECaster Pro and the PodMic. “Personally, I was quite surprised at how well built the PodMic was when I inspected the unit. I brought over my RØDE NTA-1 to a friend’s studio many years ago, and it basically fell apart in my hands when attaching a XLR cable, rendering it useless…the PodMic was an entirely different story and it only costs $99 bucks,” commented one of our evaluators. The PodMic does have a great feel with all metal construction and weighing in at about 2 lbs. RØDE didn’t just leave the user to deal with how to mount this dynamic either, it comes with a nice bracket with a threaded receptor to attach to any standard mic stand. It also houses an internal pop filter, but both of our expert testers found that employing an external pop filter “helped curtail plosives more effectively.”
The PodMic is a dynamic mic with cardioid pattern, to help reject environmental sound. RØDE tuned the mic specifically for spoken word recording with bumps at 150, 900 and 9000 Hz and some scoops at 400-500 and 1000-2000. The spectrum analysis revealed that the bottom end completely drops out at about 30 and the high-end nose dives after 9500. This “takes away some of the beef for males” and “clarity and air” for others. In fact, our reviewers thought the mic was most useful on female voices based on their test results. “The mic’s sound signature was very well suited for women, smoothing out and rounding off the high end in a natural manner without dullness.” Deep voiced men on the other hand would miss out below 100 Hz since this mic sacrifices the richness that characteristically defines male vocals in this realm for more clarity and definition. One reviewer put it this way: “[The] PodMic is more for a James Corden rather than a Sam Elliot.” However, the RØDECaster Pro has some tricks up its sleeve to address these issues, so read on.
While the RØDECaster Pro looks like a basic mixer or a mild mannered Digital Audio Workstation controller, “it’s a podcasting powerhouse.” Every evaluator who put the RØDECaster Pro through its paces came away impressed on how well RØDE executed on this all-in-one solution. The unit has a ton of savvy features, yet is very simple to use. This is a key competitive advantage for RØDE, making it very attractive to anyone just getting into podcasting or someone doing a daily show. Its form factor also makes it perfect for location recording, alleviating the need to drag out a bunch of equipment, each with only a single-focus.
RØDECaster Pro Features:
» Four microphone channels: Class A, servo based inputs able to power studio condenser microphones as well as conventional dynamic microphones.
» 3.5mm TRRS (phone or device) input
» Bluetooth (phone or device) input
» USB (for music/audio or app calls) input
» Programmable sound effects pads: 8 color-coded sound effects triggers for programmable jingles and sound effects.
— Programmable in the RØDECaster Pro or from your computer via the software.
» APHEX Exciter and Big Bottom patented processing
» Multistage dynamics:
— Compression
— Limiting
— Noise-gating.
» Full color, high-resolution touch-screen: allows easy control of all settings, including EQ presets for a range of professional voicings.
» Four high-power headphone outputs and stereo speaker out, each with independent volume controls.
» Records direct to microSD Card for completely self-contained operation, or to your preferred computer and software via USB.
» Live streaming capability
» Multichannel recording via:
— USB output: stereo mix + individual sources
— On-board microSD card: polyWAV file format, stereo live mix + individual sources
» Multichannel outputs can be switched to be pre or post audio processing
» Color-coded microphone channel selection, which simplifies the input selection and effects/settings modification
» Switchable mix-minus on USB main output, for eliminating feedback loops when using computer-based communication apps.
» Frequency Range
— Mic Inputs: 20 Hz – 20 kHz, -3dB at 20 Hz (high-pass filter)
— Monitor Outputs: 20 Hz – 20 kHz better than ±0.5dB
» Input Impedance: 600? (Mic Preamplifiers)
» Equivalent Noise: –125dBA (A-Weighted, measured as per IEC651)
» Maximum Output Level: +3dBu (Monitor Outputs)
» Headphone Output Power: Max output power at 1% THD: 32? –> 220mW | 300? –> 31mW
» Dynamic Range: 100 dBA (Mic Preamplifiers)
» Gain Range: 0dB – 55dB (Mic Preamplifiers)
» Power Requirements: External DC power supply 12 – 15v DC, 1A
» Output Connection: USB-C, 1/4″ Balanced TRS STEREO (Monitor Outputs)
» Computer Connectivity: USB
» Bit Depth: 24-Bit
» Sample Rates: 48 kHz
» Storage microSD card slot, 512MB internal memory for storing sounds for programmable pads
» OS Requirements: macOS 10.11 / Windows 10
» Weight: 1980g
» Dimensions: (L x W x H, mm) 350 x 275 x 82
It has four XLR inputs backed by Class-A servo-based preamps, plus a USB input, a mobile phone input and a Bluetooth input, all having their own long-throw fader to precisely set and/or ride levels. Four individual headphone 1/4″ outputs are provided, each with their own dedicated gain knob for dialing in each participant’s personalized level preference. This is a great feature, and our reviewers all loved the feel of the knobs. The RØDECaster Pro includes a mobile phone minijack, as well as a Bluetooth connection, which allows you to add two callers into the show. Our reviewers found the Bluetooth “worked seamlessly” and “took only one try to pair an iPhone.” The USB input is for incorporating a computer into the show, offering a wealth of added flexibility. Supply music, pre-recorded audio, or even effects directly into your show with a simple connection. Speaking of effects, the RØDECaster Pro contains eight trigger pads for adding sound effects, audio commentary, intro/outro music and even commercials. Simply launch the RØDECaster Pro app on your computer and click-and-drag a sound onto a pad. It’s that easy. You can even name each pad and customize its color. Best of all, “it all worked the first time I tried using it. Awesome!” and RØDE gives you 500MB of onboard storage for your own triggers.
“Very Impressed”
It can simultaneously record four different people on locations with designated XLR inputs, each having their own dedicated headphone mix, so anyone who has fantasized about having their own “Morning Zoo” can make that dream a reality. And if you really want to go all-in on the Zoo vibe, you can assign all sorts of wacky sounds to the RØDECaster Pro’s eight programmable pads mentioned above. In fact, RØDE preloads some zany sound effects, laugh tracks, and a show intro/ outdo to get you started.
Our reviewers found the 500 MB of onboard storage to be plenty of space for their productions. “This is such a great feature and I love how incredibly simple it is to use,” stated one of our mid-level users. “I tried it for my intro and outro song segments, as well as for commercials during the show to see if I could do it live without having to add those things in post and it worked flawlessly. Very impressed.”
While RØDE nailed the hardware, “it’s the software that takes the RØDECaster Pro to the next level.” RØDE obviously spent considerable time and effort on the interface and audio processing features. Tapping the gear icon on the touchscreen allows you to get “underneath the hood,” giving you access to various parameters to fine-tune the sonic characteristics. Choose one of the four audio channels and you’re met with four options, Microphone, Level, Voice and Advanced. Microphone allows you to choose between “several prebaked profiles” of RØDE’s own microphone offerings, or the more generic Dynamic and Condenser for non-RØDE microphones. Level allows you to boost the preamp gain on each channel, as well as add Phantom Power to juice condenser mics. Voice features two options, Tone and Strength. Tone contains three EQ profiles, Deep, Medium and High, that you can apply to each podcast participant to best showcase their vocal character. Strength allows you to specify what type of volume, Soft, Medium and Strong. The Advanced arena is where things get quite interesting.
By far, the most praised attribute was the Noise Gate in the Advanced processing section. “Noise Gate is a tremendous addition,” stated a Podcast pro, “it is very, very effective at eliminating cross talk, curtailing unwanted sounds from poisoning a channel, and killing each channel’s noise floor.” In addition, to the Noise Gate, there is a built-in Compressor, High-Pass Filter, De-Esser and Ducking. All received solid marks across the board by our evaluators and found them to be “useful and effective.” However, all of our reviewers wanted some additional control beyond an on / off switch.
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That said, RØDE wasn’t finished and incorporated Aphex’s Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processors as well. The Exciter can be a nice fix if the sound is slightly muddy and needs some clarity. “It’s not a magic wand, but the Aural Exciter can certainly help when you have a mumbler,” one of our testers commented. Big Bottom “adds some beef” to a tinny vocal, but our pro’s felt that it should be used with caution. First off, if your deep-voiced guest doesn’t enunciate their words clearly, it can make them harder to understand. Second, many podcasts are delivered in compressed formats, which eliminate many of the frequencies that Big Bottom boosts, negating its effectiveness on some platforms.
Conclusion
It takes no time to get up to speed with the RØDECaster Pro and users will find that they “won’t even have to think about how to do something” when recording their show. With the most recent firmware update (1.2.0), you can record multitrack to the SD card, or your computer’s DAW for additional tweaking in post. RØDE deserves real praise for the RØDECaster Pro and how they executed on their value proposition. For $99, RØDE’s PodMic is also seriously worth considering if you want to add to your mic cabinet without breaking the bank. Highly Recommended!
Rating: 97%
Cheers:
+ All-In-One Execution
+ Build Quality
+ Value
+ Features
+ Processing
+ Trigger Pads
+ Individual Headphone Outputs & Levels
+ Bluetooth Integration
+ Cellphone Integration
+ 1/4″ Outputs
+ Colored LED Indicators
+ Noise Gate
Jeers:
– Some Channel Noise [***Easily Addressed With Noise Gate Feature]
RØDE’s RØDECaster Pro costs $899 and the PodMic costs $99.
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The Future:
When you score a 97% and earn a FutureMusic Power Award, there’s not much room for improvement. We do hope that RØDE continues to enhance the features with firmware updates. There have been two thus far, and each has been a welcomed addition to the RØDECaster Pro’s workflow and recording options. We’d love to see various levels of RØDE podcasting packages with a selection of their podcasting microphones, pop-screens and microphone arms.
