Compact and complete video manufacturing

The Rodecaster sequence of podcast mixers have grow to be 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, folks with deeper pockets. At the 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).

In the event you 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 great likelihood the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Perhaps it may possibly substitute all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s just a little sophisticated, however inside that complication is plenty 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 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) immediately 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.

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 — reminiscent of overlays, graphics and audio/video clips — and you may report exhibits immediately onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms by way of RTMP/S. There’s rather a lot happening, 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 reminiscent of 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 would possibly lead you to count on some severe function trimming this time round, however Rode’s backyard shears have been pretty form. Most notably, the variety of sources you may join has been diminished from six to 4. In the meantime, the variety of “scenes” you may 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. In brief, 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 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 leap between them in actual time with a alternative of transitions. For a extra polished manufacturing you may create “scenes” by way of the menu with a choice 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 digital camera on high of your gameplay or a top-down digital camera blended with a unique perspective for cooking tutorials or displays.

You’ll be able to create scenes immediately on the system prematurely or reside by way of templates, however issues get rather a lot 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 may 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’ll be able to assign media to them with out lowering the variety of sources/scenes which can be accessible to modify between, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to briefly change the performance of the pads. You too can arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening immediately on the system or by way of the Rodecaster App, too.

After you have every thing arrange, you may immediately report output onto a USB SSD, once more, with out the necessity for a PC. There’s even the choice to report solely the principle output (“program”) or a multi-track model which can export a recording of each enter as a separate file which you could 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 may leap between your principal and large digital camera after which to a detailed up with out having to hunt-down the precise half from every file you recorded on totally 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 further sources. Sometimes these are distant or security-style cameras, however Rode’s Seize cell app additionally helps NDI streaming, which means you should use your telephone wirelessly as one other digital camera which you could 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 telephone for this to work.

Audio

Whereas the RCV-S affords 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, you need to entry totally different channels by way of the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s plenty of looking and pecking. In the event you’re related 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, reminiscent of 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 visitors sound.

There’s a slight disadvantage when utilizing the RCV-S as a standalone unit, in that it is advisable bodily push the buttons to alter the scene, which could not be ultimate in the event you’re making an attempt 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 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, however it may be in-game sound or if you change to taking part in a musical instrument.

Auto switching works properly, however it’s not fairly reliable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in knowledgeable surroundings — say whereas recording a panel at a convention — however it solves an issue in the event you’re by yourself, and it might not 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, continues 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 shall be down as to if it may possibly 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 sequence is extremely widespread, 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 affords comparable connectivity, onboard recording, extra expansive audio options and multi-track export for $50 much less.

For normal content material creators it’s just a little trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the attraction 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 principal 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 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 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 want extra quick management over a number of sources of audio (which is usually, however not typically). The attraction 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 vital time that I can then use to really get extra work completed.

There are, after all, 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 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 gives a variety of performance for an accessible worth that may little question grow to be the central hub for a lot of creators.

The true kicker right here is the worth. Let’s be clear, $500 continues 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, in the event you’re simply beginning out with content material creation and wish one thing with stable video credentials and audio chops, Rode makes a great case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.