Compact and complete video manufacturing

The Rodecaster sequence of podcast mixers have grow to be 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 reside producers, and, at $1,200, folks with deeper pockets. Right this moment, Rode returns with the Rodecaster Video S (RCV-S), a streamlined model that provides a lot of the identical performance for lower than half the price of the unique ($499).

For those who 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 very good probability the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Possibly it may well substitute all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s a bit of difficult, however inside that complication is a whole lot 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 standard Atem Mini, outputs over HDMI at 1080p/60 (no 4K) or can be utilized over USB as a digital digicam 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 — corresponding to overlays, graphics and audio/video clips — and you’ll file reveals instantly onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms through RTMP/S. There’s quite a bit happening, and the way you wish to use all of it is basically as much as you. Whereas the RCV-S leans extra towards “reside” productions corresponding to streaming or podcasts, you should use it for standard 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 may lead you to count on some critical function trimming this time round, however Rode’s backyard shears have been pretty type. Most notably, the variety of sources you’ll be able to join has been decreased from six to 4. In the meantime, the variety of “scenes” you’ll be able to 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 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 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 soar between them in actual time with a selection of transitions. For a extra polished manufacturing you’ll be able to create “scenes” through the menu with a number of layouts for a number of cameras, picture-in-picture and so forth. That might be two speaking heads for a podcast, overlaying your net digicam on high of your gameplay or a top-down digicam combined with a special perspective for cooking tutorials or displays.

You possibly can create scenes instantly on the gadget prematurely or reside through templates, however issues get quite a bit simpler and extra inventive 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’ll be able to freely resize and place all of your completely 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’ll additionally set off media — pre-made video clips, overlays and graphics, for instance. You possibly can assign media to them with out lowering the variety of sources/scenes which might be accessible to change between, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to briefly change the performance of the pads. You may also arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening instantly on the gadget or through the Rodecaster App, too.

After getting every thing arrange, you’ll be able to 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 primary 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 if you happen to’re utilizing apps like Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. For those who shoot multi-camera dance tutorials, for instance, you’ll be able to soar between your essential and vast digicam after which to a detailed up with out having to hunt-down the suitable half from every file you recorded on completely different reminiscence playing cards.

Rode not too long ago up to date the Rodecaster Video firmware so as to add help for as much as 4 “NDI” wi-fi cameras as further sources. Sometimes these are distant or security-style cameras, however Rode’s Seize cell app additionally helps NDI streaming, that means you should use your cellphone wirelessly as one other digicam which you can change to, which is especially helpful. Although do word, the Rodecaster Video will have to 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 reside audio mixing within the pure sense since there aren’t any faders. As a substitute, you need to entry completely different channels through the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s a whole lot of searching and pecking. For those who’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, corresponding 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 company sound.

There’s a slight disadvantage when utilizing the RCV-S as a standalone unit, in that it’s essential to bodily push the buttons to alter the scene, which could not be ultimate if you happen to’re making an attempt to make a elegant 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 based mostly on which one has the strongest audio or based mostly on user-defined precedence. Sometimes, that will be whoever is speaking in a podcast, but it surely may be in-game sound or if you change to enjoying a musical instrument.

Auto switching works effectively, but it surely’s not fairly reliable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in an expert surroundings — say whereas recording a panel at a convention — but it surely solves an issue if you happen to’re by yourself, and it might at the very least save a while in an informal 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 attraction of the RCV-S will likely be down as to if it may well do what you want extra effectively. For reside video manufacturing, it’s a neater promote, as there aren’t many all-in-one gadgets to compete with it that can be utilized standalone.

For instance, Blackmagic’s Atem sequence is extremely standard, 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 common content material creators it’s a bit of trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the attraction to me is the prospect to consolidate a couple of gadgets 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 essential digicam and I swap out that digicam for a smaller one if I’m capturing top-down footage or want a second angle. Meaning I’ve a number of completely different gadgets on my desk, and I’m continuously doing a dance of unplugging issues and juggling media or completely 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 produce it again out once more on the events I want extra speedy management over a number of sources of audio (which is typically, however not usually). The attraction in my case is fewer gadgets on my desk, and the flexibility to file multi-camera video with out having to arrange each shot, each single time, which saves vital time that I can then use to truly get extra work finished.

There are, after all, 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 every thing else, however as a small creator, comfort and suppleness may be very interesting. For streamers and reside video manufacturing, the Rodecaster Video S is a really succesful instrument that provides a variety of performance for an accessible worth that can little question grow to be the central hub for a lot of creators.

The actual kicker right here is the worth. Let’s be clear, $500 remains to be vital 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 based mostly on worth alone. Likewise, if you happen to’re simply beginning out with content material creation and want one thing with strong video credentials and audio chops, Rode makes a very good case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.