The Rodecaster sequence of podcast mixers have turn out to be a mainstay amongst audio creatives. Final yr, the corporate expanded the road with its first multimedia mannequin — the Rodecaster Video. It was a extra area of interest proposition, geared toward streamers, video podcasters and stay producers, and, at $1,200, folks with deeper pockets. At present, Rode returns with the Rodecaster Video S (RCV-S), a streamlined model that gives a lot of the identical performance for lower than half the price of the unique ($499).
In the event you presently use Ecamm Dwell, OBS, a Stream Deck, a Rodecaster Professional/Duo, a video seize card or Blackmagic Atem kind switcher, then there’s probability the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Possibly it might change all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s a little bit sophisticated, however inside that complication is numerous versatility.
With three HDMI inputs, one USB webcam/mic enter and as much as 4 NDI/wi-fi digicam inputs, video is clearly the main target right here. However there are additionally two XLR/Combo ports for studio microphones and devices and the choice to attach as much as two of Rode’s wi-fi lav mics (such because the Wi-fi Go) straight with out the necessity for a receiver. The RCV-S, like Blackmagic’s standard Atem Mini, outputs over HDMI at 1080p/60 (no 4K) or can be utilized over USB as a digital digicam identical to you’d discover in Zoom or Groups.
In contrast to the Rodecaster Professional or Duo, there are not any faders; as an alternative, there are two rows of pads for switching between video sources and scenes. There’s 20GB of onboard storage for media — corresponding to overlays, graphics and audio/video clips — and you may file reveals straight onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms through RTMP/S. There’s rather a lot occurring, and the way you wish to use all of it is essentially as much as you. Whereas the RCV-S leans extra towards “stay” productions corresponding to streaming or podcasts, you need to use it for typical YouTube-style video manufacturing, relying in your workflow or video preferences.
Rodecaster Video versus Rodecaster Video S
The large worth distinction between the unique Rodecaster Video and the brand new S mannequin may lead you to count on some critical function trimming this time round, however Rode’s backyard shears have been pretty type. Most notably, the variety of sources you may join has been lowered from six to 4. In the meantime, the variety of “scenes” you may create is now 5, down from seven. As talked about above, there are three HDMI inputs, not 4, and just one USB webcam/mic enter, down from two on the unique. There are nonetheless 9 channels of audio with two headphone outputs, however the line outputs on the unique are not right here. The SD card slot for media has additionally been eliminated in favor of inner storage. Briefly, there’s a little bit bit much less connectivity, however not sufficient for it to really feel hobbled, particularly for the extra informal customers that is clearly geared toward.
In-use
At its most elementary, the RCV-S is an all-in-one video switcher. You don’t want to attach it to a PC, simply plug in your video and audio sources and you may bounce between them in actual time with a selection of transitions. For a extra polished manufacturing you may create “scenes” through the menu with a number of layouts for a number of cameras, picture-in-picture and so forth. That may very well be two speaking heads for a podcast, overlaying your net digicam on high of your gameplay or a top-down digicam blended with a distinct perspective for cooking tutorials or shows.
You may create scenes straight on the system prematurely or stay through templates, however issues get rather a lot simpler and extra inventive while you use Rode’s companion Rodecaster app. Right here, you’ll discover a “scene creator” instrument that’s each visible and intuitive, plus it has the choice to make customized layouts the place you may freely resize and place all of your completely different media wherever you need, add borders or rounded corners and so forth.
Whereas the principle pads are primarily for switching between sources and scenes, they will additionally set off media — pre-made video clips, overlays and graphics, for instance. You may assign media to them with out lowering the variety of sources/scenes which might be obtainable to change between, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to briefly change the performance of the pads. You can even arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening straight on the system or through the Rodecaster App, too.
After you have all the things arrange, you may straight file output onto a USB SSD, once more, with out the necessity for a PC. There’s even the choice to file solely the principle output (“program”) or a multi-track model which can export a recording of each enter as a separate file that you could edit as you see match. That is useful in the event you’re utilizing apps like Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. In the event you shoot multi-camera dance tutorials, for instance, you may bounce between your predominant and huge digicam after which to a detailed up with out having to hunt-down the best half from every file you recorded on completely different reminiscence playing cards.
Rode lately up to date the Rodecaster Video firmware so as to add assist for as much as 4 “NDI” wi-fi cameras as further sources. Usually these are distant or security-style cameras, however Rode’s Seize cellular app additionally helps NDI streaming, that means you need to use your cellphone wirelessly as one other digicam that you could change to, which is especially helpful. Although do observe, the Rodecaster Video will have to be hard-wired to your router on the identical community as your cellphone for this to work.
Audio
Whereas the RCV-S affords 9 audio tracks, it’s truthful to say it isn’t actually designed for stay audio mixing within the pure sense since there are not any faders. As a substitute, you need to entry completely different channels through the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s numerous looking and pecking. In the event you’re linked to a PC, the Rodecaster app does supply a software program mixer with faders although, which makes adjusting ranges on the fly a lot simpler.
The excellent news is that some voice enhancement instruments, corresponding to Depth, Sparkle and Punch have been carried over from the Rodecaster Professional/Duo, providing you with a little bit extra fine-grained management over the way you or your visitors sound.
There’s a slight downside when utilizing the RCV-S as a standalone unit, in that that you must bodily push the buttons to vary the scene, which could not be ultimate in the event you’re attempting to make a sophisticated recording or can’t at all times be close to the console. Fortunately, Rode has an answer in “auto switching.” I’m mentioning it right here, within the audio part, because the RCV-S can change cameras based mostly on which one has the strongest audio or based mostly on user-defined precedence. Usually, that might be whoever is speaking in a podcast, however it may be in-game sound or while you change to taking part in a musical instrument.
Auto switching works properly, however it’s not fairly reliable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in an expert atmosphere — say whereas recording a panel at a convention — however it solves an issue in the event you’re by yourself, and it may at the least save a while in an off-the-cuff podcast state of affairs.
Issues to think about
It’s clear that the RCV-S, regardless of having fewer inputs than the unique Rodecaster Video, continues to be fairly a posh, open-ended instrument. If you have already got a streaming setup you want and the software program and interfaces you want, then the enchantment of the RCV-S will likely be down as to if it might do what you want extra effectively. For stay video manufacturing, it’s a neater promote, as there aren’t many all-in-one units to compete with it that can be utilized standalone.
For instance, Blackmagic’s Atem sequence is extremely standard, and till now, had the benefit on worth with the Mini Professional costing simply $330. Even the Mini Professional ISO ($550) that exports multi-track video was half the worth of the unique Rodecaster Video. The RCV-S now affords comparable connectivity, onboard recording, extra expansive audio options and multi-track export for $50 much less.
For basic content material creators it’s a little bit trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the enchantment to me is the possibility to consolidate a number of units into one and take away some friction in my recordings. Proper now, I’ve a Rodecaster Duo dealing with my audio, a seize card for my predominant digicam and I swap out that digicam for a smaller one if I’m capturing top-down footage or want a second angle. Which means I’ve a number of completely different units on my desk, and I’m continually doing a dance of unplugging issues and juggling media or completely different recordings earlier than I get all the things able to edit.
With the RCV-S I can ditch my standalone seize card and completely depart a number of cameras linked to the Rodecaster in order that they’re able to go at any time. I may even take away the Rodecaster Duo and convey it again out once more on the events I want extra rapid management over a number of sources of audio (which is typically, however not typically). The enchantment in my case is fewer units on my desk, and the power to file multi-camera video with out having to arrange each shot, each single time, which saves important time that I can then use to really get extra work achieved.
There are, in fact, some limitations. Not least of all is the dearth of 4K. I’m nonetheless inclined to file on digicam for my major shot to make sure I nonetheless have a 4K copy for YouTube after which use the Rodecaster Video S for all the things else, however as a small creator, comfort and suppleness may be very interesting. For streamers and stay video manufacturing, the Rodecaster Video S is a really succesful instrument that gives a variety of performance for an accessible worth that can little doubt turn out to be the central hub for a lot of creators.
The true kicker right here is the worth. Let’s be clear, $500 continues to be important cash. However at lower than half the worth of the unique Rodecaster with first rate connectivity and principally the identical performance, it's a straightforward suggestion to those that had been holding off based mostly on worth alone. Likewise, in the event you’re simply beginning out with content material creation and want one thing with strong video credentials and audio chops, Rode makes case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/basic/rodecaster-video-s-review-compact-and-comprehensive-video-production-230000221.html?src=rss