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. 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).

Should you at the moment use Ecamm Reside, OBS, a Stream Deck, a Rodecaster Pro/Duo, a video capture card or Blackmagic Atem sort switcher, then there’s a superb likelihood the RCV-S does one thing, or many issues, helpful to you. Perhaps it might probably exchange all these merchandise, a few of them or improve your workflow. It’s slightly sophisticated, 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) straight 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 digicam similar 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 — similar to overlays, graphics and audio/video clips — and you may file exhibits straight onto USB hard-drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms through RTMP/S. There’s rather a lot happening, 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 similar to streaming or podcasts, you need to use 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 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 now not right here. The SD card slot for media has additionally been eliminated in favor of inner storage. Briefly, there’s slightly 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 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 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 internet digicam on high of your gameplay or a top-down digicam blended with a special perspective for cooking tutorials or shows.

You’ll be able to create scenes straight on the gadget upfront or reside through templates, however issues get rather a lot simpler and extra artistic while you use Rode’s companion Rodecaster app. Right here, you’ll discover a “scene creator” software 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 will additionally set off media — pre-made video clips, overlays and graphics, for instance. You’ll be able to assign media to them with out decreasing the variety of sources/scenes which can be accessible to change between, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to quickly change the performance of the pads. It’s also possible to arrange chromakey/inexperienced screening straight on the gadget or through the Rodecaster App, too.

After getting all the things 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 is able to 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. Should you 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 appropriate half from every file you recorded on completely 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. Sometimes these are distant or security-style cameras, however Rode’s Seize cellular app additionally helps NDI streaming, which means you need to use your cellphone wirelessly as one other digicam that you would be able to change to, which is especially helpful. Although do notice, 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 presents 9 audio tracks, it’s honest to say it isn’t actually designed for reside audio mixing within the pure sense since there are not any faders. As a substitute, you must entry completely different channels through the menu on a small show and a dial — It’s a whole lot of searching and pecking. Should 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, similar to Depth, Sparkle and Punch have been carried over from the Rodecaster Professional/Duo, supplying you with slightly 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 vary the scene, which could not be excellent in the event you’re making an attempt 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. Sometimes, that will be whoever is speaking in a podcast, however it may be in-game sound or while you change to enjoying a musical instrument.

Auto switching works properly, however it’s not fairly reliable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in an expert setting — 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 off-the-cuff 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 fancy, open-ended software. 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 might be down as to if it might probably do what you want extra effectively. For reside video manufacturing, it’s a better 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 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 presents comparable connectivity, onboard recording, extra expansive audio options and multi-track export for $50 much less.

For basic content material creators it’s slightly trickier. As somebody that makes YouTube movies, the enchantment to me is the possibility to consolidate a number 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. Which means I’ve a number of completely different gadgets on my desk, and I’m consistently doing a dance of unplugging issues and juggling media or completely 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 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 speedy management over a number of sources of audio (which is typically, however not typically). The enchantment 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 really get extra work finished.

There are, in fact, some limitations. Not least of all is the shortage of 4K. I’m nonetheless inclined to file on digicam 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 software that gives a variety of performance for an accessible worth that can little doubt develop 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 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 strong video credentials and audio chops, Rode makes a superb case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.