Rode's new PodMic USB additionally sports activities an XLR socket

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It seems like Rode has started a brand spanking new design building in a couple of in their microphone releases. At least, they’ve with microphones most certainly destined for existence next to a computer. It began with the fifth Technology Rode NT1 (purchase right here), and now they’re implementing it yet again with the new Rode PodMic USB. Yup, the newly presented PodMic USB (purchase right here) provides each and every USB and XLR connectivity.

Since the successor to the original Rode PodMic, the new PodMic USB provides the equivalent great sound you’re used to from the original, on the other hand with further versatility. As a USB microphone, it choices Rode’s Revolution Preamps and contains all the standard APHEX audio processing choices we’ve started seeing in Rode’s other digital USB-capable microphones, such since the Rode Wi-fi GO II (purchase right here) and Rode NT-USB+ (purchase right here).

Rode PodMic USB – Every USB and XLR

While this is not the principle Rode microphone to provide each and every XLR and USB output, its use proper right here differs rather from its previous implementation. At least, it differs as far as the structure is concerned. Whether or not or now not or not it affects capacity is every other topic only. Throughout the Rode 5th Generation NT1, the USB socket was once as soon as embedded deep within the XLR socket. This supposed that you simply were forced to make a choice each one or the other. If a USB cable was once as soon as plugged in, it was once as soon as physically unimaginable to place in an XLR cable – and vice versa.

On the new Rode PodMic USB, the affiliation of the sockets allows for each and every XLR and USB to be plugged in similtaneously. This raises an glaring question. Does it suggest you are able to digitally transmit into your computer over USB and similtaneously send an analogue signal to a mixer, audio interface or field recorder? We’ve reached out to Rode to resolve further and we’ll exchange proper right here if and once we download a response.

The XLR and USB sockets of the Rode NT1 5th Generation (left) and the Rode PodMic USB (right kind)

Even though the two outputs are ready to artwork similtaneously, any APHEX effects carried out will probably not lift without delay to the XLR socket and best observe to the digital USB output. It’s imaginable that Rode would most likely’ve discovered a option to apply it to the analogue XLR signal, on the other hand I wouldn’t get my hopes up. We nevertheless don’t know if the two sockets can be used similtaneously – although I’m leaning in opposition to the answer being positive. Else why separate the two sockets out instead of going with the NT1’s design?

0-latency headphone output

You’ll keep in mind that there’s moreover a headphone socket on the bottom end of the microphone, next to the XLR and USB sockets, along with a big gold dial. That’s the zero-latency headphone output, providing realtime feedback in an instant to the listener.

This makes existence this kind of lot simpler when using this type of microphone in a podcast situation. Everybody is able to concentrate themselves immediately from their own microphones as they keep up a correspondence to ensure they’re all the time in a number one speaking position. There’s no messing spherical with headphone amplifiers and taking a look to trail the best microphone to the best pair of headphones. Proper right here, each speaker merely needs to sit down, plug in their cans and they’re in a position to move.

It moreover makes it more uncomplicated for things like voiceovers, particularly YouTubers. It means that you are able to plug the microphone in an instant into your computer, file your voiceover in Audition or Reaper, or even immediately inside video improving methods very similar to DaVinci Resolve without dealing with any lag that might most likely had been caused throughout the process. You are able to concentrate yourself in real-time without the usual extend you get going through software.

No 32-Bit flow recording

No longer just like the Rode NT1 5th Generation, the PodMic USB is not an “unclippable” microphone. There doesn’t appear to be any enhance 32-Bit flow over USB – they don’t explicitly say there’s no 32-Bit, but if it had it, I’d expect Rode to be making a big deal of it – so you will have to set your levels accordingly for your software to stop it from peaking and dropping the loudest sounds.

On the bright aspect, the PodMic USB is a broadcast-quality dynamic microphone and not a condenser microphone, because of this that it is tricky to clip the microphone into distortion faster than it’s going into your computer or audio interface. So, as long as your levels are set neatly, you’ll have to be superb to move. It moreover choices an internal pop filter to help minimise or get rid of plosives.