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 reside producers, and, at $1,200, folks with deeper pockets. At present, 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).

In the event you at the moment use Ecamm Stay, OBS, a Stream Deck, a Rodecaster Pro/Duo, a video capture card or Blackmagic Atem sort switcher, then there’s a great likelihood the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Perhaps it might substitute all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s a little bit difficult, 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) instantly with out the necessity for a receiver. The RCV-S, like Blackmagic’s widespread Atem Mini, outputs over HDMI at 1080p/60 (no 4K) or can be utilized over USB as a digital digital camera similar 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 — reminiscent of overlays, graphics and audio/video clips — and you’ll report reveals instantly onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms through RTMP/S. There’s quite a bit occurring, and the way you need to use all of it is essentially as much as you. Whereas the RCV-S leans extra towards “reside” productions reminiscent of 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 value distinction between the unique Rodecaster Video and the brand new S mannequin may lead you to count on some severe characteristic 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 inside storage. Briefly, there’s a little bit 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 bounce 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 could possibly be two speaking heads for a podcast, overlaying your internet digital camera on prime of your gameplay or a top-down digital camera combined with a unique perspective for cooking tutorials or displays.

You may create scenes instantly on the machine upfront or reside through templates, however issues get quite a bit simpler and extra artistic whenever 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 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’ll 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 are obtainable to modify between, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to quickly change the performance of the pads. You too can arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening instantly on the machine or through the Rodecaster App, too.

Upon getting every part arrange, you’ll be able to instantly report output onto a USB SSD, once more, with out the necessity for a PC. There’s even the choice to report solely the primary output (“program”) or a multi-track model which can export a recording of each enter as a separate file that you would be able to edit as you see match. That is useful in the event you’re utilizing apps like Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. In the event you shoot multi-camera dance tutorials, for instance, you’ll be able to bounce between your most important and vast 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 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 extra sources. Sometimes these are distant or security-style cameras, however Rode’s Seize cell app additionally helps NDI streaming, which 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 notice, the Rodecaster Video will must 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 honest to say it isn’t actually designed for reside 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. In the event you’re linked 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, reminiscent of Depth, Sparkle and Punch have been carried over from the Rodecaster Professional/Duo, supplying you with a little bit 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 you could bodily push the buttons to vary the scene, which could not be excellent in the event you’re making an attempt to make a sophisticated 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, nevertheless it is also in-game sound or whenever you swap to taking part in a musical instrument.

Auto switching works effectively, nevertheless it’s not fairly reliable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in an expert setting — say whereas recording a panel at a convention — nevertheless it solves an issue in the event you’re by yourself, and it might no less than save a while in an informal 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 fancy, 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 probably be down as to whether it might do what you want extra effectively. For reside 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 widespread, and till now, had the benefit on value with the Mini Professional costing simply $330. Even the Mini Professional ISO ($550) that exports multi-track video was half the value 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 a little bit trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the enchantment to me is the possibility 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 capturing top-down footage or want a second angle. Meaning I’ve a number of totally different units on my desk, and I’m always doing a dance of unplugging issues and juggling media or totally different recordings earlier than I get every part able to edit.

With the RCV-S I can ditch my standalone seize card and completely depart 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 would like 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 flexibility to report 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, in fact, some limitations. Not least of all is the dearth of 4K. I’m nonetheless inclined to report 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 part else, however as a small creator, comfort and adaptability may be very interesting. For streamers and reside video manufacturing, the Rodecaster Video S is a really succesful device that provides a variety of performance for an accessible value that may little doubt develop into the central hub for a lot of creators.

The actual kicker right here is the value. Let’s be clear, $500 remains to be important cash. However at lower than half the value of the unique Rodecaster with respectable connectivity and principally the identical performance, it is a straightforward suggestion to those that had been holding off primarily based on value alone. Likewise, in the event you’re simply beginning out with content material creation and want one thing with strong video credentials and audio chops, Rode makes a great case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.