Compact and complete video manufacturing

The Rodecaster collection of podcast mixers have develop into 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 stay producers, and, at $1,200, individuals with deeper pockets. Right this moment, 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).

When you at present use Ecamm Stay, 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. Perhaps it could actually exchange all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s just a little sophisticated, however inside that complication is lots 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 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.

In contrast to 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 — resembling overlays, graphics and audio/video clips — and you may file reveals straight onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms through RTMP/S. There’s so much occurring, and the way you wish to use all of it is essentially as much as you. Whereas the RCV-S leans extra towards “stay” productions resembling streaming or podcasts, you need to use 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 may 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’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 now not right here. The SD card slot for media has additionally been eliminated in favor of inner storage. Briefly, there’s just a little 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 may leap between them in actual time with a alternative of transitions. For a extra polished manufacturing you’ll be able to 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 internet digital camera on high of your gameplay or a top-down digital camera blended with a unique perspective for cooking tutorials or shows.

You may create scenes straight on the gadget upfront or stay through templates, however issues get so much simpler and extra artistic while 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’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 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 might be obtainable to modify between, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to quickly change the performance of the pads. You can even arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening straight on the gadget or through the Rodecaster App, too.

After you have every thing arrange, you’ll be able to straight 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 can export a recording of each enter as a separate file which you can edit as you see match. That is useful for those who’re utilizing apps like Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. When you shoot multi-camera dance tutorials, for instance, you’ll be able to leap between your essential and large digital camera 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 lately up to date the Rodecaster Video firmware so as to add assist 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 need to use your cellphone wirelessly as one other digital camera which you can change to, which is especially helpful. Although do word, 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 provides 9 audio tracks, it’s honest 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 important to entry completely different channels through the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s lots of looking and pecking. When you’re related to a PC, the Rodecaster app does provide 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, resembling Depth, Sparkle and Punch have been carried over from the Rodecaster Professional/Duo, providing you with just a little 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 it’s worthwhile to bodily push the buttons to alter the scene, which could not be very best for those who’re attempting to make a refined 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 change cameras based mostly on which one has the strongest audio or based mostly on user-defined precedence. Usually, that might be whoever is speaking in a podcast, but it surely is also in-game sound or while 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 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 at the very least 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 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 whether it could actually do what you want extra effectively. For stay 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 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 provides comparable connectivity, onboard recording, extra expansive audio options and multi-track export for $50 much less.

For common content material creators it’s just a little trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the enchantment to me is the prospect to consolidate a number of 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 essential 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 completely different units on my desk, and I’m consistently 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 depart a number of cameras related 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 quick 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 vital 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 major 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 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 develop into 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 mainly the identical performance, it is a straightforward suggestion to those that have been holding off based mostly 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 a very good case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.