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When Rode introduced the original Rodecaster Pro, it was something unusual: a capable mixer with a unique focus on podcasting. It made it easy to record multiple guests in person or over the web/phone while adding background music and audio enhancements in real-time or with minimal post-processing. A mini radio station in a box, if you will.
Today Rode announces its successor, the Rodecaster Pro II, and the message this time is that it’s for it everything Developers, be it podcasting, streaming or music production. The new hardware looks familiar, but it brings some changes that should improve your audio wherever and whatever you release.
The most obvious difference you’ll see here is the smaller footprint. The Rodecaster Pro II loses two physical fader strips to take up less desk space. You still have so many channels available, but some are assigned to virtual controls and it seems like the right move to save desktop space.
Other external hardware tweaks include an all-new contextual rotary control and the move to combo connectors on the rear panel, rather than just straight XLR connectors like the original. This opens up the Rodecaster Pro II for things like guitars and synths without using other inputs or needing adapters.
James Trew / Engadget
Whatever you put in the new Rodecaster must sounds better as it features new preamps capable of driving even the hungriest of mics (see SM7B). Rode claims that the new preamps are so powerful and quiet that using an in-line signal amplifier like a FetHed or Cloudlifter would technically be detrimental, not beneficial, to your audio quality. This has yet to be tested, of course, but it’s good news either way if you’ve got a mic that needs a lot of gain.
On the listening side, Bluetooth on the Rodecaster Pro II supports both audio out and in, meaning you can get funky and monitor your show wirelessly through speakers or headphones. Rode also claims that if you’re recording call-in guests over Bluetooth, the sound quality should also improve (at least between the phone and the mixer — not the cellular network, obviously).
Semi-related, there’s no longer a 3.5mm headphone jack on the front edge. The original allowed the show’s host/producer to plug their headphones into either the back panel (with the other headphone jacks) or via the dedicated front-panel jack if that was more convenient. Unfortunately, that option is now gone and Headphone 1 is only accessible via the 1/4-inch ports on the back. A slight pain if you have a shorter/uncoiled cord.
More conveniently, the new hardware has built-in WiFi and Ethernet connectivity, making it easy to upgrade (without having to keep your computer on). You can also connect it to two PCs at the same time, or even your phone, making it perfect for podcasters on the go or game streamers who have a separate gaming rig. You can also record directly to SSDs and memory cards. And with this dual PC connectivity, you have endless options for routing where your audio goes.
James Trew / Engadget
Perhaps the secret recipe here is how customizable the workflow is. This starts with simple things like the Rodecaster Pro II’s eight pads, which can trigger audio or send MIDI as before, but can also be assigned “mixer actions” like a fade out or used to switch cameras in your stream. You can also reassign mixer channels to your liking, e.g. B. Assign two inputs to a fader and save them as profiles if you don’t like the default settings.
There’s also a range of new audio effects, including stereo panning, echo, and reverb. But perhaps the most unexpected addition here is some fun voice effects. That might make podcasters cringe, but voicemod has proven popular… so the squeaky voices are on everyone’s minds, somewhere.
Overall, there’s a lot that’s new here. The new audio internals and connectivity should make this a more viable option for all types of developers, and the ways to connect, configure and process the audio will likely make this much more flexible. Details important to streamers like OBS control, dual PC connectivity, and the ability to sync/delay audio to match video suggest this is a genuine attempt at being more powerful , and not just some busy marketing terms.
Whatever your use case, the Rodecaster Pro II is available to pre-order starting today for $699. Rode assumes that shipping will begin “early to mid-June”.
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