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(Pocket-lint) – Rode has been pleasing podcasters for some time now with the Rodecaster Professional, however the firm realised folks needed extra. Enter, then, the Rodecaster Professional 2.It is a machine the corporate pitches as a “revolution” in comparison with the unique Rodecaster Professional, and one which’s so feature-packed that it can be described as an “built-in audio manufacturing console”.What does that really imply? Effectively, this can be a machine that can be utilized for all kinds of issues and by all kinds of individuals. The Rodecaster Professional 2 is designed for content material creators, streamers, podcasts, musicians and extra.It is an all-singing, all-dancing machine that may do all kinds of issues, and, if you happen to’re trying to create audio content material or enhance the standard of your manufacturing, this would possibly nicely be the machine you want. So we have been placing the Rodecaster Professional 2 by means of its paces in numerous methods to see what it is able to – and whether or not it is well worth the hefty price ticket.
Our fast take
It is perhaps costly, however the Rodecaster Professional 2 is an immense piece of audio {hardware} that opens up a world of potentialities for content material creation and audio seize.
We love how simple it’s to choose up and use for inexperienced persons, with it additionally providing a mess of customisation choices to make it match your personal particular wants.
The pre-amp setup and processing assist ship the perfect sound we have ever heard from such a tool, and it is exhausting to overstate how unbelievable that’s.
Except for its value, there are only a few, if any, detrimental issues we will say about this audio interface. So, if you happen to’re searching for the perfect answer to enhance your manufacturing high quality, that is it.
Rodecaster Professional 2
5 stars – Pocket-lint editors selection
For
Very good customisation choices
Incredible noise elimination
Simple setup for inexperienced persons
In opposition to
Worth
Lacks digital audio routing like GoXLR
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Not only for podcasters anymoreThe Rodecaster Professional 2 is an attention-grabbing and versatile audio machine in numerous other ways.It has 4 high-quality combo inputs that you need to use for connecting XLR microphones, devices and line-level gadgets. The apparent use case right here is to attach up a number of completely different microphones and use them in a podcasting state of affairs, or for high-quality interviews. You then have {hardware} sliders for controlling ranges and the power so as to add audio enhancements, combine in some FX and even file reveals on-the-fly and not using a PC hooked up utilizing a microSD card or USB drive. Pocket-lintIt has 9 completely different channels, with six {hardware} faders and three digital faders and offers you the power to route audio from a number of sources together with Bluetooth gadgets, 3.5mm connections, smartphones and extra, then management the audio of every supply individually. It additionally has two USB-C connections so you’ll be able to join up a PC or two and pull in audio from there too.All which means that you are able to do a lot extra than simply file a regular podcast. It can be used for at-home music manufacturing, voice-over work and streaming too. Pocket-lintWe additionally discovered that it is versatile sufficient to permit for a mess of various use instances. Plug in two XLR microphones like these Rode Podmics and you’ll set one to the left channel and one to the correct channel and seize some attention-grabbing stereo audio to your viewers. We have additionally been utilizing it for streaming on YouTube. As soon as it is linked to a gaming PC through USB-C you have got entry to a few USB channels.One is USB Chat which can be utilized for voice chat packages like Discord and the opposite is the primary USB channel for different feels like music and recreation sound. Pocket-lintYou can then output all of the audio right into a single customized combine which you need to use in OBS Studio or Streamlabs to then stream on YouTube or Twitch. A premium different to the GoXLRAs you’ll be able to see, the Rodecaster Professional 2 is an attention-grabbing different to the much-loved TC Helicon GoXLR.It is fairly a bit dearer, but additionally has extra potential use instances in numerous other ways.The GoXLR can solely management one XLR microphone, in comparison with the 4 potential ones with the Rodecaster Professional 2.Pocket-lintThough we are going to say that the GoXLR provides extra by way of digital sound channels than the Rodecaster Professional 2 in the meanwhile.You possibly can’t at the moment set recreation audio to a particular audio slider, for instance, and simply modify that on-the-fly and you are able to do that with the GoXLR. However Rode is recurrently engaged on firmware updates, so this would possibly change sooner or later. One other means the Rodecaster Professional 2 pleases is in its handy setup and user-friendly design. Straight-forward mic and sound setupOne of the issues that struck us in regards to the Rodecaster Professional 2 is simply how simple it’s to arrange. Whenever you’ve plugged in your microphone and headphones, the setup wizard guides you thru numerous settings. The primary of those is deciding on a microphone. Rode has pre-programmed numerous completely different microphones that you may select from. Naturally, this features a collection of Rode mics however others can be found too. Whenever you’ve chosen the mic you’re utilizing numerous processing results are utilized as default, together with a noise gate, compressor settings and rather more apart from.Pocket-lintAs you’d anticipate you’ll be able to tweak the acquire and modify every of the settings individually as you could however we discovered we actually did not should and that is the enjoyment of this machine.It provides a clear sound with very minimal fuss. With a GoXLR or related machine, you normally should do loads of tweaking with the intention to get the perfect sound and there is usually a steep studying curve in figuring out what settings to regulate and why. The Rodecaster Professional 2 takes all that problem away and is a blessing for inexperienced persons. There’s even a setting for the Shure SM7B which is a famend gain-hungry microphone that may be a faff to get sounding proper.You need to use it with this interface with no fuss and it even sounds higher than different pre-amps we have used as nicely.Pocket-lintThat’s as a result of Rode has crafted the Rodecaster Professional 2 with an industry-leading pre-amp that guarantees extra acquire than the unique Rodecaster Professional however with ultra-low noise pick-up. This ends in a nicer high quality of audio and a a lot cleaner sound, too. As if that wasn’t sufficient, there’s additionally a 1.5Ghz quad-core audio engine inside so it may well deal with processing a number of issues on the similar time and Aphex processing for settings that embody Aural Exciter, Huge Backside, Compeller, Noise Gate, Excessive-Move Filter, Equaliser and quite a few onboard results. All this implies you’ll be able to tweak the audio to your coronary heart’s content material. However you additionally needn’t and that is one motive it is unbelievable. Helpful sensible pads and easy interfaceOn the right-hand facet of the Rodecaster Professional 2, you will discover a row of eight massive buttons. These are so-called “sensible pads” these pads can be utilized in numerous methods together with including results to your microphone, taking part in numerous sound results and different issues – like bleeping out unintentional or intentional swears in your audio. You are not simply restricted to the usual settings right here as you’ll be able to re-program the sensible pads and the 2 buttons on the backside can be utilized to change between different pages of them. You possibly can see which button does what from the touch-screen show on the high of the interface and it is very easy to edit the buttons from there as nicely. With the accompanying Rodecaster Central app, you may as well switch information simply to it which means that you may add in additional sound results and audio information. So there’s a world of potentialities. Pocket-lintAs you’ve got gathered, the Rodecaster Professional 2 is very customisable. Even to the project of the sliders. You possibly can select which audio goes the place, whether or not you are utilizing mics, devices, USB audio or extra.This logic can be saved to reveals, so you’ll be able to select export and you may as well change what you are doing with ease for various use instances too.Podcasting one minute with one lot of settings after which streaming one other with completely different inputs and settings? No drawback.
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To recap
The Rodecaster Professional 2 is an built-in audio manufacturing console like no different. A marvellous machine with many potential makes use of and options galore.
Writing by Adrian Willings. Modifying by Conor Allison.
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