Compact and complete video manufacturing

The Rodecaster sequence of podcast mixers have turn into a mainstay amongst audio creatives. Final 12 months, 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 this time, 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 at present use Ecamm Dwell, OBS, a Stream Deck, a Rodecaster Pro/Duo, a video capture card or Blackmagic Atem sort switcher, then there’s a great likelihood the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Possibly it could actually change all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s a little bit difficult, however inside that complication is a number of versatility.

With three HDMI inputs, one USB webcam/mic enter and as much as 4 NDI/wi-fi digital camera inputs, video is clearly the main focus 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) straight with out the necessity for a receiver. The RCV-S, like Blackmagic’s common Atem Mini, outputs over HDMI at 1080p/60 (no 4K) or can be utilized over USB as a digital digital camera 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 — akin to overlays, graphics and audio/video clips — and you’ll document exhibits straight onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms by way of RTMP/S. There’s quite a bit occurring, and the way you need to use all of it is basically as much as you. Whereas the RCV-S leans extra towards “stay” productions akin to streaming or podcasts, you should utilize it for standard 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 critical characteristic trimming this time round, however Rode’s backyard shears have been pretty type. Most notably, the variety of sources you possibly can join has been lowered from six to 4. In the meantime, the variety of “scenes” you possibly can 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. 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 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 alternative of transitions. For a extra polished manufacturing you possibly can create “scenes” by way of the menu with a number of layouts for a number of cameras, picture-in-picture and so forth. That could possibly be two speaking heads for a podcast, overlaying your net digital camera on high of your gameplay or a top-down digital camera combined with a distinct perspective for cooking tutorials or shows.

You possibly can create scenes straight on the gadget prematurely or stay by way of templates, however issues get quite a bit simpler and extra artistic if you use Rode’s companion Rodecaster app. Right here, you’ll discover a “scene creator” device that’s each visible and intuitive, plus it has the choice to make customized layouts the place you possibly can freely resize and place all of your totally 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 possibly can assign media to them with out decreasing the variety of sources/scenes which can be accessible to modify between, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to briefly change the performance of the pads. It’s also possible to arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening straight on the gadget or by way of the Rodecaster App, too.

After you have every little thing arrange, you possibly can straight document output onto a USB SSD, once more, with out the necessity for a PC. There’s even the choice to document solely the principle output (“program”) or a multi-track model which is able to export a recording of each enter as a separate file you can edit as you see match. That is useful when you’re utilizing apps like Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. In the event you shoot multi-camera dance tutorials, for instance, you possibly can bounce between your foremost and extensive digital camera after which to an in depth up with out having to hunt-down the best half from every file you recorded on totally different reminiscence playing cards.

Rode just lately up to date the Rodecaster Video firmware so as to add help for as much as 4 “NDI” wi-fi cameras as extra sources. Usually these are distant or security-style cameras, however Rode’s Seize cellular app additionally helps NDI streaming, which means you should utilize your telephone wirelessly as one other digital camera you can change to, which is especially helpful. Although do be aware, the Rodecaster Video will must be hard-wired to your router on the identical community as your telephone 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, it’s a must to entry totally different channels by way of the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s a number of 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, akin 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 company sound.

There’s a slight disadvantage when utilizing the RCV-S as a standalone unit, in that you should bodily push the buttons to vary the scene, which could not be ideally suited when you’re making an attempt to make a cultured 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. Usually, that will be whoever is speaking in a podcast, nevertheless it may be in-game sound or if you change to enjoying a musical instrument.

Auto switching works properly, nevertheless it’s not fairly reliable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in an expert surroundings — say whereas recording a panel at a convention — nevertheless it solves an issue when you’re by yourself, and it might not less than save a while in an off-the-cuff podcast scenario.

Issues to contemplate

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 device. 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 could actually 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 common, 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 normal content material creators it’s a little bit trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the enchantment to me is the possibility to consolidate just a few 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 foremost digital camera and I swap out that digital camera for a smaller one if I’m capturing top-down footage or want a second angle. Meaning I’ve a number of totally different units on my desk, and I’m always doing a dance of unplugging issues and juggling media or totally different recordings earlier than I get every little thing able to edit.

With the RCV-S I can ditch my standalone seize card and completely go away 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 would like extra rapid management over a number of sources of audio (which is usually, however not usually). The enchantment in my case is fewer units on my desk, and the flexibility to document 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 carried out.

There are, after all, some limitations. Not least of all is the shortage of 4K. I’m nonetheless inclined to document on digital camera for my major shot to make sure I nonetheless have a 4K copy for YouTube after which use the Rodecaster Video S for every little thing else, however as a small creator, comfort and adaptability could be very interesting. For streamers and stay video manufacturing, the Rodecaster Video S is a really succesful device 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 actual 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 is a straightforward suggestion to those that have been holding off primarily based on worth alone. Likewise, when you’re simply beginning out with content material creation and wish one thing with strong video credentials and audio chops, Rode makes a great case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.