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 construction in a couple of in their microphone releases. At least, they’ve with microphones most certainly destined for life next to a computer. It began with the 5th Era Rode NT1 (acquire proper right here), and now they’re imposing it all over again with the new Rode PodMic USB. Yup, the newly presented PodMic USB (acquire proper right here) offers each and every USB and XLR connectivity.

For the reason that successor to the original Rode PodMic, the new PodMic USB offers the identical great sound you’re used to from the original, then again with further versatility. As a USB microphone, it choices Rode’s Revolution Preamps and accommodates all the usual APHEX audio processing choices we’ve started seeing in Rode’s other digital USB-capable microphones, such since the Rode Wireless GO II (acquire proper right here) and Rode NT-USB+ (acquire proper right here).

Rode PodMic USB – Each and every USB and XLR

While this is not the principle Rode microphone to offer 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 layout is concerned. Whether or not or no longer or now not it affects capacity is another matter only. Inside the Rode 5th Era NT1, the USB socket used to be as soon as embedded deep within the XLR socket. This meant that you simply were forced to choose each one or the other. If a USB cable used to be as soon as plugged in, it used to be as soon as physically not possible to position 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 obtrusive question. Does it indicate 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 decide additional and we’ll exchange proper right here if and once we download a response.

The XLR and USB sockets of the Rode NT1 5th Era (left) and the Rode PodMic USB (correct)

Even though the two outputs are ready to artwork similtaneously, any APHEX effects applied will most likely now not carry without delay to the XLR socket and most effective practice to the digital USB output. It’s imaginable that Rode would most likely’ve discovered a way to apply it to the analogue XLR signal, then again I wouldn’t get my hopes up. We however don’t know if the two sockets can be used similtaneously – although I’m leaning towards the answer being certain. Else why separate the two sockets out instead of going with the NT1’s design?

0-latency headphone output

You’ll remember the fact 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 life any such lot simpler when the use of this type of microphone in a podcast situation. Everybody is able to pay attention themselves at once from their own microphones as they keep up a correspondence to make sure 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 right microphone to the right pair of headphones. Proper right here, every speaker merely needs to sit down down, plug in their cans and they’re in a position to go.

It moreover makes it easier for things like voiceovers, particularly YouTubers. It implies that you are able to plug the microphone in an instant into your computer, document your voiceover in Audition or Reaper, or even at once within video bettering methods very similar to DaVinci Unravel without dealing with any lag that might most likely had been led to throughout the process. You are able to pay attention yourself in real-time without the usual prolong you get going via instrument.

No 32-Bit float recording

Now not just like the Rode NT1 5th Era, the PodMic USB is not an “unclippable” microphone. There doesn’t appear to be any toughen 32-Bit float 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 to your instrument to prevent it from peaking and dropping the loudest sounds.

On the bright side, the PodMic USB is a broadcast-quality dynamic microphone and now 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 go. It moreover choices an interior pop clear out to help minimise or eliminate plosives.