Gaming creators and streamers will already be aware of Rode. The firm’s microphones and podcasting merchandise make good choices for these plugging into OBS, YouTube, Twitch and anyplace else you may “go live.” But as of right this moment, there’s an entire new sub model particularly catering to their wants: Rode X.
The first three merchandise beneath the brand new mark embrace two microphones and a complete desktop app for stream routing and mixing. The mics will look eerily acquainted to followers of Rode merchandise, however the firm assures us they’ve been “redesigned internally for optimal performance for streaming and gaming.”
The new mics are the XDM-100 ($249) and XCM-50 ($150). The clue to the distinction between them is within the identify – D for dynamic, C for condenser (you possibly can learn concerning the distinction right here). The XDM-100, at the least bodily, appears to be like like Rode’s Podcaster with a splash of pink on the prime. The XCM-50 is a condenser microphone that seems to be constructed on the identical platform because the NT-USB Mini and includes a distinct pink button on the entrance.
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Both microphones are USB solely (no XLR), which implies you gained’t want an audio interface to make use of them, they usually have built-in headphone ports for latency-free monitoring. Which of the 2 may curiosity you most will rely on each your preferences and the room the place you stream from.
The XCM-50 has a vivid sound that can work properly for these in acoustically handled, or “softer” rooms. When examined facet by facet with its NT-USB Mini doppelganger, they do sound extremely shut, however to my ears the XCM-50 is a tiny bit brighter sounding. The NT-USB Mini sounds a shade “closer” by comparability.
The XDM-100 has a extra traditional “dynamic” microphone sound. While maybe not fairly as properly rounded as one thing just like the Shure SM7B and even Rode’s personal Podmic, it feels cleaner than the Podcaster that it shares its bodily look with. If you desire a good USB dynamic possibility, this seems like a aggressive selection for the value. Especially as soon as coupled with the brand new Unify software program.
The one factor that plenty of avid gamers and streamers actually need isn’t a lot a microphone – there are numerous choices for that – it’s a dependable instrument to route all of the sounds in your stream, normally some mixture of recreation sounds, chat, music and results. With Unify, you could have a easy software program answer that’s just like the routing matrices you discover with the GoXLR, the BEACN Mix Create or Elgato’s Wave Link.
Unify creates a few digital audio interfaces in your PC and you’ll then management which app makes use of what, and the place that sound goes. For instance, you most likely need your intro music to exit on the stream, however possibly you don’t need it in your headphones? Or possibly you need your viewers to listen to a YouTube video you’re enjoying, however not the music you’re streaming. With Unify, you possibly can pipe most issues to most locations, after which change the degrees, or “mix” for every vacation spot additionally.
Rode has added the flexibility to report all of your audio immediately inside the app, too. This makes it interesting to extra than simply streamers. For instance, you can use it to report either side of a Zoom name and have the ability to feed audio into that decision that might in any other case be tough. The incontrovertible fact that Unify has sound pads for intros and results means it additionally works fairly properly as a software program “Rodecaster Pro.”
Unify appears to be like most just like Wave Link however gives way more fine-grained management. The app isn’t fairly so simple as BEACN’s, which helps you to entry every combine matrix always and has a barely clearer UI. BEACN additionally advantages from the {hardware} mixer, too, however there’s no choice to report inside that app or set off sound results.
Where Unify differs from most of its rivals is that you just don’t have to purchase the corporate’s {hardware} to make use of it. If you simply wished the software program options you possibly can pay $5 a month or $45 a yr for the app alone. This means you possibly can simply use it with any microphone you could have, you’re not beholden to utilizing a Rode (in contrast to, Wave Link that requires an Elgato mic). If you do purchase a Rode X mic, then the software program is free. Sadly, when you already personal a Rode USB mic, it gained’t unlock the software program, you will be paying like all people else.