This is my evaluation of the PodMic USB (US$199) from RØDE, a hybrid dynamic studio microphone with a strong DSP. The PodMic USB is probably the most versatile hybrid dynamic microphone I’ve ever recognized thus far, despite the fact that it’s the one hybrid dynamic microphone I’ve ever encountered which permits EITHER utilizing USB OR XLR, however not each on the identical time, not like all different hybrid dynamic mics I’ve ever examined to date. However, its USB connection is versatile sufficient to work with computer systems working the free RØDE Connect program, in addition to Android, iOS and iPad units working the free RØDE Reporter app and even latest RØDECaster fashions through XLR or USB, as I’ve lined in earlier articles. The take a look at recordings I made for this evaluation embrace the uncooked mic and each mixture of the DSP results. I’ll additionally clarify why, contemplating that it really works with the free RØDE Connect and RØDE Unify software program, the PodMic is an incredible worth proposition, since these applications are virtually like a free RØDECaster mixer/recorder, whereas occupying a fraction of the area with an individually managed, latency-free headphone output for every PodMic USB participant, whether or not linked to a pc or to a latest RØDECaster through USB.
In this text
- Benefits of a dynamic microphone just like the PodMic USB
- Advantages of being one of many few mics that work with RØDE Connect and RØDE Unify
- Test recordings
- My opinion about every DSP impact within the PodMic USB
- PodMic USB’s bodily mute
- About the WS14 windscreen/pop filter
- How to decide on between a PodMic USB and an NT-USB+
- How the PodMic USB can prevent cash
- What RØDE might or ought to enhance within the PodMic USB or its potential successor
- Ratings
- Conclusions
Benefits of a dynamic microphone just like the PodMic USB
Traditional logic says that we must always all the time select and use a dynamic microphone in an untreated room, because the decrease sensitivity of dynamic microphones means that we’ll hear extra of the particular person talking and fewer of the room sound (together with noise and reverb), assuming each forms of microphones are very near the mouth of the particular person talking.
Having mentioned that, some individuals favor the sound of a condenser microphone even for the human voice, since usually talking, condenser microphones have a wider frequency vary and might present extra intelligibility with increased frequencies. Simple and pretty cheap expertise is now leveling the enjoying subject between dynamic microphones and condenser microphones, as I wrote in my article Descript’s «Studio Sound» makes dynamic mics sound like condensers & condensers behave like dynamics. Despite its one click on ease of use, I clarified within the article that Descript’s «Studio Sound» is presently a post-process, not for reside broadcasting. The different kind of expertise that’s leveling the enjoying subject are the DSP results now constructed into sure microphones, together with the PodMic USB we’re reviewing right here (and the NT-USB+ condenser we reviewed previously). The built-in DSP results just like the Big Bottom and Aural Exciter (each from Aphex) within the PodMic USB could make it behave extra like a condenser microphone when it comes to perceived frequency response.
However, the opposite benefit of dynamic microphones nonetheless stays: Dynamic mics are nonetheless much less vulnerable to spill/crosstalk from one participant’s voice spilling into one other participant’s microphone situated in the identical room (or the identical radio sales space), even after correct positioning of cardioid microphones to reject the opposite participant’s voice.
Advantages of being one of many few mics that work with RØDE Connect and RØDE Unify
The free applications RØDE Connect or RØDE Unify for macOS and Windows certainly are virtually like having a free RØDECaster mixer/recorder in software program. They can document audio, multitrack or stereo. They can play again sound results or soundbites to get a response from an interviewee, native or distant. They can management the extent and different DSP choices obtainable within the PodMic USB and some different microphones from RØDE.
Another extraordinarily invaluable function included in these two applications is the truth that they provide a number of, bulletproof/foolproof mix-minus with appropriate native microphones (those that embrace a 3.5 mm headphone jack) plus as much as two simultaneous distant communication providers concurrently, be they Call in Studio, Cleanfeed (lined in many other articles), SquadCast (now included with Descript) and even (yikes) Skype and Zoom.us. Even although the final two examples (Skype and Zoom.us) aren’t the primary selection for audio or video high quality for an expert program (because the prior providers certainly are), they’re nice when it’s the one means we to succeed in a specific particular person or group, i.e. SkypeOut (now renamed Calls to mobiles and landlines) to name a person who doesn’t personal a pc or an organization or embassy. The prospects with these two applications (Connect and Unify) and people patched providers are almost infinite.
Indeed, the ability and compatibility with RØDE Connect and RØDE Unify can’t be emphasised sufficient. In my opinion, if any of these functions sound attention-grabbing to you, then it is best to most likely slim down your shortlist of microphone candidates to these that are appropriate with RØDE Connect and/or RØDE Unify, or another microphone along with the AI-Micro, the one interface presently appropriate with Connect and Unify as of publication date of this text.
Test recordings
^First recording, the uncooked recording, with none DSP from the microphone or any postprocessing aside from leveling.
^First recording, this time processed in publish. This recording is identical one you heard above, after the one-click «StudioSound» from Descript at 88% (reviewed here) along with Descript’s compressor set to Classic Voiceover.
^Second recording, DSP (digital sign processing) results assessments from the PodMic USB, in sequence:
- Without DSP, with out air conditioner
- Without DSP, with air conditioner
- With 60Hz low reduce/excessive cross filter, with air conditioner
- With noise gate and air conditioner
- With dynamic compressor
- With Big Bottom
- With aural exciter
- With all three collectively: dynamic compressor, Big Bottom and aural exciter
^Second recording, processed in publish. This recording is identical one you heard above, after the one-click «StudioSound» from Descript at 88% (reviewed here) along with Descript’s dynamic compressor set to Classic Voiceover.
My opinion about every DSP impact within the PodMic USB
Dynamic Compressor
I discover the dynamic compressor to be nice and would most likely use it any time you aren’t planning so as to add compression later. I might undoubtedly use it for reside broadcasting. However, if you might want to do each reside and on-demand, the post-process (Descript Studio Sound at 88% plus the Descript dynamic compressor set to Classic Voiceover) appears to enrich the preliminary work executed by the dynamic compressor within the PodMic USB fairly effectively.
High-pass filters (aka low-cut filters)
To my ears, I didn’t discover something with or with out the filter. It was most likely due to the kind of noise I used (a loud air conditioner). The excessive cross filter within the PodMic appeared to do nothing to cut back mechanical motion noise with the PodMic USB both.
Big Bottom
I would definitely use it for a brief industrial spot, opening, bumper, closing, or for a radio present the place there’s principally music and little discuss. Using the Big Bottom for a full discuss present or audiobook could be a query of non-public style.
Aural Exciter
I might use it wherever it really works together with your voice, any kind of content material.
Noise Gate
I might use it for basic teleconferencing in case you have a loud air conditioner or for a reside broadcast if completely crucial. I might not use it for an expert program that’s prerecorded for later consumption solely, since at this time’s software program primarily based noise discount works significantly better, and does so even when the particular person is talking, not simply when s/he’s silent. However, if you might want to do each reside and on-demand, the post-process (Descript Studio Sound) appears to enrich the work executed by the noise gate within the PodMic USB fairly effectively. Despite many individuals’s fears about utilizing a noise gate, no less than with the one included within the PodMic USB with its default settings, no portion of my phrases bought reduce off 🙂
Please observe that any DSP settings are saved within the PodMic USB microphone, which is able to bear in mind them even when you later join that very same microphone to a unique laptop or cell system which has no RØDE software program put in.
PodMic USB’s bodily mute take a look at
^The bodily mute button (constructed into the PodMic USB’s quantity management) makes a few of the loudest mute-clicks I’ve ever heard thus far. As a consequence, I like to recommend muting the PodMic USB elsewhere for now, i.e. in RØDE Connect or in a RØDECaster.
About the WS14 windscreen/pop filter
The WS14 is a trendy and efficient windscreen/pop filter. One (1) WS14 comes included with the PodMic USB in black with black. In addition, RØDE now gives the WS14 windscreen/pop filter individually in 8 completely different shade combos: Black with black (as you see above),
Blue with black,
Green with black,
Orange with black,
Pink with black,
Purple with black,
Red with black
and White with black.
The WS14 is efficient with the PodMic USB when used at a forty five diploma angle. If you need a kind of WS14 equipment by itself, they’re presently obtainable for US$20 every. They match the unique PodMic, the PodMic USB and a number of other third-party microphones too.
How to decide on between a PodMic USB and an NT-USB+
If you intend to have a number of microphones working concurrently in the identical room/studio, I might select the PodMic USB to cut back crosstalk, along with the standard suggestion of pointing the rear of any cardioid microphone on the supply being averted (the opposite particular person or individuals being spoken).
If you might be certain that you’ll solely use a single microphone, I might select both the NT-USB+ with the elective WS2 windscreen (as an alternative of its included pop filter) or the PodMic USB.
How the PodMic USB can prevent cash
Some individuals suppose that US$199 is an excessive amount of in contrast with the US$99 authentic PodMic. Wait only a minute! Below I’ll show how the US$199 PodMic USB (along with the free RØDE Connect or free RØDE Unify in your laptop) can prevent a whole lot of {dollars} or euros, in contrast with getting the identical variety of XLR-only microphone(s). I’m excluding the worth of headphones and a mic stand/growth, since that will be the identical in any state of affairs:
Four-microphone finances system
If you buy 4 PodMic USB microphones, you’ll pay solely US$199 x 4 = US$796 together with the free RØDE Connect or free RØDE Unify.
On the opposite hand, when you bought 4 authentic PodMic microphones for US$99, the full shall be US$1,175. That’s as a result of along with US$99 x 4 = US$396, you’ll additionally purchase 4 WS2 windscreens (US$20 x 4 = US$80) plus a RØDECaster Pro II (US$699) for a complete of US$1,175.
Three-microphone finances system
If you buy three PodMic USB microphones, you’ll pay solely US$199 x 3 = US$597 together with the free RØDE Connect or free RØDE Unify.
On the opposite hand, when you bought three authentic PodMic microphones for US$99, the full shall be US$1,056. That’s as a result of along with US$99 x 3 = US$297, you’ll additionally purchase 3 WS14 windscreens (US$20 x 3 = US$60) plus a RØDECaster Pro II (US$699) for a complete of US$1,056.
Two-microphone finances system
If you buy two PodMic USB microphones, you’ll pay solely US$199 x 2 = US$399 together with the free RØDE Connect or free RØDE Unify.
On the opposite hand, when you bought two authentic PodMic microphones for US$99, the full shall be US$737. That’s as a result of along with US$99 x 2 = US$198, you’ll additionally purchase 2 WS14 windscreens (US$20 x 2 = US$40) plus a RØDECaster Duo (US$499) for a complete of US$737.
Single microphone comparability
A single PodMic USB microphones will value solely US$199 together with the free RØDE Connect or free RØDE Unify.
On the opposite hand, when you bought 1 authentic PodMic microphones for US$99, the full shall be US$418. That’s as a result of along with US$99, you’ll additionally purchase a WS14 windscreen (US$20) plus a StreamerX (US$299) for a complete of US$418.
Of course, the above budgeting assumes you might be doing audio solely. If you need to have a multicam video studio, you then could be finest served with a RØDECaster Video and two authentic PodMic microphones + WS14 windscreens, after which one or two extra PodMic USB microphones.
What RØDE might or ought to enhance within the PodMic USB or its potential successor
- As heard within the take a look at recording above, the bodily mute button (constructed into the PodMic USB’s quantity management) makes a few of the loudest mute-clicks I’ve ever heard thus far. As a consequence, I like to recommend muting the PodMic USB elsewhere for now, i.e. in RØDE Connect or in a RØDECaster.
- The PodMic USB crew ought to study from the Interview PRO crew, because the Interview PRO has the most effective shock absorption (to withstand dealing with noise) I’ve ever heard.
Ratings
Build high quality and look:
Sound high quality with out DSP results:
Sound high quality with DSP results:
Latency-free monitoring:
Value proposition given compatibility with RØDE Connect & RØDE Unify:
Modest branding:
Handling noise:
Internal mute button on quantity management:
Conclusions
The RØDE PodMic USB gives an important worth proposition for its worth of U$199. Its DSP results enable tuning it for the best sound, particularly for reside broadcasting (or live-to-drive). Its compatibility with RØDE Connect and RØDE Unify is like getting a free RØDECaster mixer/recorder in software program. The most necessary determination is between the RØDE NT-USB+ and the RØDE PodMic USB, because it has an identical worth and comparable options, in a dynamic mic. I additionally enormously respect the modest branding on the PodMic, in contrast with some aggressive manufacturers
Many RØDE merchandise can be found from Filmtools. ProVideo Coalition is a Filmtools firm.
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FTC disclosure
RØDE has not paid for this text. RØDE has despatched Allan Tépper items for evaluation, together with the RØDECaster Video. Some of the producers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to hold out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. So far, not one of the producers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur, BeyondPodcasting, CapicúaFM or TuSaludSecreta applications, though they’re welcome to take action, and a few are, could also be (or could have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition journal. Some hyperlinks to 3rd events listed on this article and/or on this internet web page could not directly profit TecnoTur LLC through affiliate applications. Allan Tépper’s opinions are his personal. Allan Tépper isn’t responsible for misuse or misunderstanding of data he shares.
