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, aimed toward streamers, video podcasters and dwell producers, and, at $1,200, individuals with deeper pockets. In the present day, 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).

If you happen to at the moment use Ecamm Dwell, OBS, a Stream Deck, a Rodecaster Pro/Duo, a video capture card or Blackmagic Atem sort switcher, then there’s likelihood the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Possibly it could possibly exchange all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s a bit of sophisticated, 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) immediately 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 digital camera identical to you’d discover in Zoom or Groups.

In contrast to the Rodecaster Professional or Duo, there aren’t 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 file reveals immediately 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 basically as much as you. Whereas the RCV-S leans extra towards “dwell” productions akin to streaming or podcasts, you should utilize it for typical YouTube-style video manufacturing, relying in your workflow or video preferences.

Rodecaster Video versus Rodecaster Video S

The massive worth distinction between the unique Rodecaster Video and the brand new S mannequin would possibly lead you to anticipate some critical function 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 now not right here. The SD card slot for media has additionally been eliminated in favor of inside storage. Briefly, there’s a bit of 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 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’ll bounce between them in actual time with a alternative of transitions. For a extra polished manufacturing you possibly can 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 digital camera on prime of your gameplay or a top-down digital camera combined with a distinct perspective for cooking tutorials or shows.

You may create scenes immediately on the machine prematurely or dwell through templates, however issues get so much simpler and extra artistic whenever 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 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 primary 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 out there to modify between, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to briefly change the performance of the pads. You may also arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening immediately on the machine or through the Rodecaster App, too.

After you have every thing arrange, you possibly can immediately file output onto a USB SSD, once more, with out the necessity for a PC. There’s even the choice to file solely the primary output (“program”) or a multi-track model which is able to export a recording of each enter as a separate file that you would be able to edit as you see match. That is useful for those who’re utilizing apps like Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. If you happen to shoot multi-camera dance tutorials, for instance, you possibly can bounce between your most important and vast digital camera after which to a detailed up with out having to hunt-down the suitable half from every file you recorded on totally different reminiscence playing cards.

Rode not too long ago 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, that means you should utilize your cellphone wirelessly as one other digital camera that you would be able to swap to, which is especially helpful. Although do be aware, the Rodecaster Video will should be hard-wired to your router on the identical community as your cellphone for this to work.

Audio

Whereas the RCV-S gives 9 audio tracks, it’s truthful to say it isn’t actually designed for dwell audio mixing within the pure sense since there aren’t any faders. As a substitute, it’s important to entry totally different channels through the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s a number of looking and pecking. If you happen to’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 bit of extra fine-grained management over the way you or your friends 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 supreme for those who’re attempting 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 swap cameras primarily based on which one has the strongest audio or primarily based on user-defined precedence. Sometimes, that might be whoever is speaking in a podcast, but it surely is also in-game sound or whenever you swap to taking part in a musical instrument.

Auto switching works nicely, but it surely’s not fairly reliable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in knowledgeable setting — say whereas recording a panel at a convention — but it surely solves an issue for those who’re by yourself, and it might not less than save a while in an informal podcast scenario.

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 fancy, 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 whether it could possibly do what you want extra effectively. For dwell 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 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 worth of the unique Rodecaster Video. The RCV-S now gives 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 of trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the enchantment to me is the prospect 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 most important digital camera and I swap out that digital camera for a smaller one if I’m taking pictures top-down footage or want a second angle. Which means I’ve a number of totally different units on my desk, and I’m continuously doing a dance of unplugging issues and juggling media or totally different recordings earlier than I get every 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 want extra instant 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 truly get extra work achieved.

There are, after all, some limitations. Not least of all is the shortage of 4K. I’m nonetheless inclined to file on digital camera for my main shot to make sure I nonetheless have a 4K copy for YouTube after which use the Rodecaster Video S for every thing else, however as a small creator, comfort and suppleness may be very interesting. For streamers and dwell video manufacturing, the Rodecaster Video S is a really succesful instrument that gives a variety of performance for an accessible worth that may little question turn into the central hub for a lot of creators.

The true kicker right here is the worth. Let’s be clear, $500 remains to be important cash. However at lower than half the worth 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, for those who’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.