Compact and comprehensive video production
The Rodecaster collection of podcast mixers have turn out to be a mainstay amongst audio creators. Final yr, the corporate expanded the road with its first multimedia mannequin – Video Rodecaster. It was a extra area of interest proposition, geared toward broadcasters, video podcasters and dwell producers, and, at $1,200, individuals with deeper pockets. In the present day, Rode returns with the Rodecaster Video S (RCV-S), a stripped-down model that provides a lot of the identical performance for lower than half the price of the unique ($499).
n
When you at the moment use Ecamm Reside, OBS, a Flowing deckor Rodecaster Professional/Duoor video seize card OR Blackmagic Atom kind switcher, then there’s a good likelihood that the RCV-S will do one thing, or many issues, helpful for you. Possibly it could actually exchange all of these merchandise, a few of them, or enhance your workflow. It is just a little difficult, however inside that complexity is lots of versatility.
n
n
n
With three HDMI inputs, one USB webcam/microphone enter, and as much as 4 NDI/wi-fi digicam inputs, video is clearly the main focus right here. However there are additionally two XLR/Combo ports for studio mics and devices, and the choice to attach as much as two of Rode’s wi-fi lava mics (such because the Go wi-fi) straight with out the necessity for a receiver. RCV-S, as Blackmagic’s well-liked Atem Miniit outputs by way of HDMI in 1080p/60 (no 4K) or can be utilized by way of USB as a digital digicam similar to you’d discover in Zoom or Groups.
n
In contrast to the Rodecaster Professional or Duo, there are not any faders; as an alternative, there are two rows of blocks 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’ll file reveals on to USB drives or stream natively to Twitch, YouTube and different platforms by way of RTMP/S. There’s loads happening and the way you need to use all of it is basically as much as you. Whereas the RCV-S leans extra in the direction of “dwell” productions like streaming or podcasts, you should utilize it for typical YouTube-style video manufacturing, relying in your workflow or video preferences.
n
Rodecaster Video vs. Rodecaster Video S
n
The large value distinction between the unique Rodecaster Video and the brand new S mannequin may lead you to anticipate some critical function cuts this time round, however Rode’s backyard shears have been fairly form. Extra importantly, the variety of sources you may join has been decreased from six to 4. In the meantime, the variety of “scenes” you may create is now 5, up from seven. As talked about above, there are three HDMI inputs, not 4, and just one USB webcam/microphone enter, down from two on the unique. There are nonetheless 9 audio channels with two headphone outputs, however the unique line outputs are not right here. The SD card slot for media has additionally been eliminated in favor of inside storage. In brief, there’s rather less connectivity, however not sufficient to really feel clunky, particularly for extra informal customers that is clearly supposed.
n
In use
n
n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY-4x7dAbdYn
n
At its core, the RCV-S is an all-in-one video switcher. You need not join it to a pc, simply plug in your video and audio sources and you’ll swap between them in actual time with a alternative of transitions. For a extra polished manufacturing, you may create “scenes” via the menu with a number of layouts for a number of cameras, picture-in-picture, and so on. This might be two speaking heads for a podcast, overlaying your webcam over your recreation, or a top-down digicam combined with a unique perspective on cooking classes or shows.
n
You may create scenes straight on the machine upfront or straight via templates, however issues get loads simpler and extra inventive if you use Rode’s companion Rodecaster app. Right here you may discover a “scene creator” instrument that is visible and intuitive, plus it has the choice to make customized layouts the place you may freely resize and place all of your completely different media wherever you need, add borders or rounded corners, and so forth.
n
Whereas most important tables are primarily for transitioning between sources and scenes, they’ll additionally activate media – for instance, video clips, overlays and pre-made graphics. You may assign media with out lowering the variety of sources/scenes which might be out there for switching, simply faucet the Media/Overlay button to quickly change the performance of the tables. You too can arrange chromakey/inexperienced display screen straight on the machine or by way of the Rodecaster app.
n
After you have all the pieces arrange, you may file the output on to a USB SSD, once more, with out the necessity for a PC. There’s additionally the choice to file simply the primary output (“program”) or a multi-track model, which is able to export a recording of every enter as a separate file that you could edit as desired. That is helpful if you’re utilizing functions similar to Adobe Premier or Davinci Resolve. When you shoot multi-camera dance classes, for instance, you may swap between the primary and extensive digicam after which a close-up with out having to trace down the fitting half from every file you’ve got recorded on completely different reminiscence playing cards.
n
Rode lately up to date the Rodecaster Video firmware so as to add assist for as much as 4 wi-fi “NDI” cameras as further sources. These are normally distant or security-style cameras, however Rode’s Seize cell app additionally helps NDI streaming, that means you should utilize your cellphone wirelessly as one other digicam to change to, which is especially helpful. Observe although, Rodecaster Video will have to be wired to your router on the identical community as your cellphone for this to work.
n
Audio
n
n
Whereas the RCV-S presents 9 audio tracks, it is truthful to say that it is probably not designed for dwell audio mixing within the pure sense because it has no faders. As a substitute, it’s a must to entry completely different channels by way of the menu on a small display screen and a dial – It is lots of searching and pecking. When you’re related to a PC, the Rodecaster app presents a software program mixer with faders, which makes it a lot simpler to regulate ranges on the fly.
n
The excellent news is that some sound enhancement instruments similar to Depth, Sparkle and Punch have been carried over from the Rodecaster Professional/Duo, supplying you with a bit extra fine-grained management over the way you or your friends sound.
n
There’s a slight downside when utilizing the RCV-S as a standalone unit, in that it’s a must to bodily press the buttons to vary the scene, which will not be superb if you happen to’re making an attempt to make a clean recording or cannot all the time be close to the keyboard. Fortunately, Rode has an answer in “auto shift”. I am mentioning it right here, within the audio part, because the RCV-S can swap cameras primarily based on which one has the loudest audio or primarily based on a user-defined precedence. Sometimes, that will be whoever is talking in a podcast, nevertheless it can be the sound within the recreation or if you swap to enjoying a musical instrument.
n
Auto-switching works nicely, nevertheless it’s not dependable sufficient to depend on for full autonomy in an expert setting—say, whereas recording a panel at a convention—nevertheless it solves an issue if you happen to’re alone and may at the least save a while within the occasional podcast scenario.
n
Issues to think about
n
n
It is clear that the RCV-S, regardless of having fewer inputs than the unique Rodecaster video, remains to be fairly a fancy and open instrument. 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 come down as to if it could actually do what you want extra effectively. For dwell video manufacturing, it is a better promote, as there aren’t many stand-alone all-in-ones to compete with.
n
For instance, Blackmagic’s Atem collection is extraordinarily well-liked and till now, had the value benefit 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 in depth audio options and multi-track export for $50 much less.
n
For common content material creators it is just a little extra difficult. As somebody who makes movies on YouTube, the enchantment for me is the power to consolidate a number of units into one and take away some friction from my recordings. Proper now, I’ve a Rodecaster Duo dealing with my audio, a seize card for my most important digicam, and I swap that digicam out for a smaller one if I am capturing top-down footage or want a second angle. This implies I’ve a number of completely different units on my desk and I am continually leaping round unplugging issues and manipulating completely different media or recordings earlier than I get all the pieces able to edit.
n
n
With the RCV-S I can take away my standalone seize card and go away a number of cameras completely related to the Rodecaster so they’re able to go at any time. I may even take away the Rodecaster Duo and pop it again out in instances the place I would like extra fast management over a number of audio sources (which is typically, however not typically). The enchantment in my case is much less gear on my desk and the power to shoot multi-camera video with out having to arrange each shot, each single time, which saves important time that I can then use to get extra work performed.
n
There are, in fact, some limitations. Not least of all is the shortage of 4K. I nonetheless are likely to file in-camera for my most important shot to verify I nonetheless have a 4K copy for YouTube after which use the Rodecaster Video S for all the pieces else, however as a small creator the comfort and adaptability could be very interesting. For broadcasters and dwell video manufacturing, the Rodecaster Video S is a really succesful instrument that provides a variety of features for an inexpensive value that may little doubt turn out to be the central hub for a lot of creators.
n
The true problem right here is the value. Let’s be clear, $500 remains to be important cash. However at lower than half the value of the well-connected unique Rodecaster and basically the identical performance, it is a simple advice for individuals who have been holding again primarily based on value alone. Likewise, if you happen to’re simply getting began with content material creation and wish one thing with robust video and audio chopping credentials, Rode makes a very good case for itself with the Rodecaster Video S.
