Compact and complete video manufacturing

The Rodecaster sequence of podcast mixers have turn into 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, aimed toward streamers, video podcasters and stay producers, and, at $1,200, individuals with deeper pockets. At the moment, 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 case you at present use Ecamm Dwell, OBS, a Stream Deck, a Rodecaster Pro/Duo, a video capture card or Blackmagic Atem kind switcher, then there’s probability the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Perhaps it may possibly exchange all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s a bit difficult, however inside that complication is plenty of 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 Wireless Go) instantly with out the necessity for a receiver. The RCV-S, like Blackmagic’s in style Atem Mini, outputs over HDMI at 1080p/60 (no 4K) or can be utilized over USB as a digital digicam similar to you’d discover in Zoom or Groups.

Not like the Rodecaster Professional or Duo, there are not any faders; as a substitute, there are two rows of pads for switching between video sources and scenes. There’s 20GB of onboard storage for media — comparable to overlays, graphics and audio/video clips — and you’ll file exhibits instantly onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms through RTMP/S. There’s so much happening, 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 comparable 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 would possibly lead you to anticipate some severe 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 inside storage. In brief, there’s a bit bit much less connectivity, however not sufficient for it to really feel hobbled, particularly for the extra informal customers that is clearly aimed toward.

In-use

At its most simple, 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’ll 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 collection 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 prime of your gameplay or a top-down digicam blended with a distinct perspective for cooking tutorials or displays.

You’ll be able to create scenes instantly on the system prematurely or stay through templates, however issues get so much simpler and extra artistic if 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’ll additionally set off media — pre-made video clips, overlays and graphics, for instance. You’ll be able to assign media to them with out decreasing 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 too arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening instantly on the system or through the Rodecaster App, too.

After you have the whole lot arrange, you may instantly 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 which you can edit as you see match. That is useful in case you’re utilizing apps like Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. In case you shoot multi-camera dance tutorials, for instance, you may bounce between your fundamental and extensive digicam after which to an in depth up with out having to hunt-down the precise 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 extra sources. Sometimes these are distant or security-style cameras, however Rode’s Seize cellular app additionally helps NDI streaming, which means you need to use your cellphone wirelessly as one other digicam which you can change to, which is especially helpful. Although do word, the Rodecaster Video will must be hard-wired to your router on the identical community as your cellphone for this to work.

Audio

Whereas the RCV-S presents 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 an alternative, it’s important to entry completely different channels through the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s plenty of looking and pecking. In case you’re related to a PC, the Rodecaster app does provide 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, comparable to Depth, Sparkle and Punch have been carried over from the Rodecaster Professional/Duo, providing you with a bit extra fine-grained management over the way you or your visitors sound.

There’s a slight disadvantage when utilizing the RCV-S as a standalone unit, in that you have to bodily push the buttons to alter the scene, which could not be best in case you’re making an attempt to make a refined recording or can’t all the time 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 primarily based on which one has the strongest audio or primarily based on user-defined precedence. Sometimes, that may be whoever is speaking in a podcast, however it is also in-game sound or if you change to taking part in a musical instrument.

Auto switching works effectively, however it’s not fairly reliable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in knowledgeable atmosphere — say whereas recording a panel at a convention — however it solves an issue in case you’re by yourself, and it may no less than save a while in an off-the-cuff podcast state of affairs.

Issues to contemplate

It’s clear that the RCV-S, regardless of having fewer inputs than the unique Rodecaster Video, remains 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 shall be down as to whether it may possibly do what you want extra effectively. For stay video manufacturing, it’s a better 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 in style, 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 value of the unique Rodecaster Video. The RCV-S now presents comparable connectivity, onboard recording, extra expansive audio options and multi-track export for $50 much less.

For normal content material creators it’s a bit trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the enchantment to me is the prospect to consolidate a couple 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 fundamental 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 continuously doing a dance of unplugging issues and juggling media or completely different recordings earlier than I get the whole lot able to edit.

With the RCV-S I can ditch my standalone seize card and completely go away a number of cameras related 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 would like extra instant management over a number of sources of audio (which is typically, however not usually). The enchantment in my case is fewer units on my desk, and the flexibility 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 truly get extra work executed.

There are, in fact, some limitations. Not least of all is the shortage of 4K. I’m nonetheless inclined to file on digicam for my main shot to make sure I nonetheless have a 4K copy for YouTube after which use the Rodecaster Video S for the whole lot 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 may little doubt turn into the central hub for a lot of creators.

The true kicker right here is the value. Let’s be clear, $500 remains to be important cash. However at lower than half the value of the unique Rodecaster with respectable connectivity and principally the identical performance, it is a straightforward advice to those that have been holding off primarily based on worth alone. Likewise, in case you’re simply beginning out with content material creation and wish one thing with strong video credentials and audio chops, Rode makes case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.