Compact and comprehensive video production

The Rodecaster collection 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 reside producers, and, at $1,200, individuals with deeper pockets. At the 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 Reside, OBS, a Stream Deck, a Rodecaster Pro/Duo, a video capture card or Blackmagic Atem kind switcher, then there’s a very good probability the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Possibly it will probably exchange all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s somewhat sophisticated, however inside that complication is numerous 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 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 well-liked 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.

Not like the Rodecaster Professional or Duo, there are not any faders; as an alternative, 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 may file reveals instantly onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms through RTMP/S. There’s lots occurring, and the way you need to use all of it is basically as much as you. Whereas the RCV-S leans extra towards “reside” 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 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 diminished 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 inner storage. Briefly, there’s somewhat 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 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 may bounce between them in actual time with a selection of transitions. For a extra polished manufacturing you possibly can create “scenes” through the menu with a choice 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 high of your gameplay or a top-down digital camera blended with a special perspective for cooking tutorials or displays.

You may create scenes instantly on the gadget prematurely or reside through templates, however issues get lots 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 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 may assign media to them with out decreasing the variety of sources/scenes which are accessible to modify 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 all the things arrange, you possibly can 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 principle output (“program”) or a multi-track model which is able to export a recording of each enter as a separate file that you could edit as you see match. That is useful for those who’re utilizing apps like Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. For those who shoot multi-camera dance tutorials, for instance, you possibly can bounce between your predominant and large digital camera after which to an in depth up with out having to hunt-down the suitable 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 cell app additionally helps NDI streaming, that means you should utilize your cellphone wirelessly as one other digital camera that you could swap to, which is especially helpful. Although do observe, 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 presents 9 audio tracks, it’s truthful to say it isn’t actually designed for reside audio mixing within the pure sense since there are not any faders. As an alternative, it’s a must to entry totally different channels through the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s numerous 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, akin to Depth, Sparkle and Punch have been carried over from the Rodecaster Professional/Duo, supplying you with somewhat extra fine-grained management over the way you or your company sound.

There’s a slight downside when utilizing the RCV-S as a standalone unit, in that you must bodily push the buttons to alter the scene, which could not be supreme for those who’re attempting to make a cultured recording or can’t at all times 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. Usually, that may be whoever is speaking in a podcast, but it surely is also in-game sound or if 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 an expert surroundings — say whereas recording a panel at a convention — but it surely solves an issue for those who’re by yourself, and it may at the very least save a while in an off-the-cuff podcast scenario.

Issues to think about

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 can be down as to if it will probably 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 collection is extremely well-liked, 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 presents comparable connectivity, onboard recording, extra expansive audio options and multi-track export for $50 much less.

For common content material creators it’s somewhat 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 predominant 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. Which means I’ve a number of totally different gadgets on my desk, and I’m continually doing a dance of unplugging issues and juggling media or totally different recordings earlier than I get all the things 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 would like extra instant management over a number of sources of audio (which is typically, however not typically). 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 important time that I can then use to truly get extra work carried out.

There are, in fact, some limitations. Not least of all is the dearth of 4K. I’m nonetheless inclined to file 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 all the things else, however as a small creator, comfort and adaptability could 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 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 first rate connectivity and principally the identical performance, it is a simple advice to those that had been holding off primarily based on worth alone. Likewise, for those who’re simply beginning out with content material creation and wish one thing with strong video credentials and audio chops, Rode makes a very good case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.