Like much of the podcasting world, we loved the Rodecaster Pro when it launched toward the end of 2018. It’s taken a half-dozen years, but microphone maker Rode is finally extending the user-friendly line into the world of video.
The Rodecaster Video faces much stiffer competition than the original Pro board did. In this post-pandemic age of video-first, plenty have launched similar devices. It also has a high price tag to contend with at $1,119 — nearly double the Pro’s $600 asking price.
Rode is looking to loop in the same novice category it attracted with the first Pro: Effectively those who are interested in upping their video production game but not ready to commit a full pro rig.
Whereas the Pro focuses entirely on in-person audio podcasts, however, the Video casts a wider net, ranging from solo Twitch streamers to multi-person in-studio video productions. The new model is more compact than the original, as it’s meant to be sat in front of a computer, rather than the middle of a podcasting table.
It features a pair of Neutrik jacks with pre-amps for XLR mics, coupled with four HDMI and two USB-C inputs, allowing users to switch between video sources in real time. Audio processing, meanwhile, includes EQ, along with a compressor, high-pass filter, de-esser, and noise gate.
It can automatically cue out green and blue screens, switch audio between video sources, and stream to “all major platforms” via Wi-Fi or hardwired through Ethernet and USB. It can also record directly to a connected external hard drive.
“For decades, our mission has been to empower creators with professional yet accessible audio equipment,“ CEO Damien Wilson says in a release. “Groundbreaking innovations like the Rodecaster Pro and Wireless GO have changed the way that people approach creating content across multiple categories, placing studio-grade audio solutions within the reach of today’s creators. With the Rodecaster Video, we are doing the same for video production.”
The Rodecaster Video is up for preorder starting today. It ships October 10.