Rode’s all-in-one video production console is now smaller and cheaper

Rode’s caller console is somewhat smaller and much than fractional the terms of past year’s version. | Image: Rode

Rode has announced a caller mentation of the Rodecaster Video portable accumulation console it launched conscionable implicit a twelvemonth ago, but the Rodecaster Video S isn’t a replacement. The Rodecaster Video S offers akin functionality to the original, including switching and mixing aggregate video and audio sources and replacing bluish oregon greenish screens, but with an adjacent smaller footprint and price. 

The Rodecaster Video launched astatine $1,199 successful precocious September 2024, portion the caller S mentation is disposable for preorder present for little than fractional that, astatine $499. The smaller mentation can’t accommodate arsenic galore video sources arsenic the original, which itself was designed to beryllium a constricted but much affordable alternate to nonrecreational video switchers utilized successful dedicated studios. 

At astir $500, the Rodecaster Video S inactive isn’t a inexpensive instrumentality for amateur streamers. But for established podcasters looking to trial the waters with video versions of their content, it’s an adjacent much affordable and accessible all-in-one solution erstwhile you origin successful the built-in functionality similar chroma keying and compatibility with some nonrecreational and consumer-grade audio and video gear.

The Rodecaster Video S is powered by the aforesaid unnamed “high-performance octa-core processor” arsenic the erstwhile version, with video capabilities that max retired astatine 1080p. It’s a mates inches shorter and astir 400 grams lighter, but the improved portability does travel with immoderate sacrifices. The Rodecaster Video featured 4 HDMI inputs, 2 HDMI outputs, and a brace of multifunction USB-C inputs for connecting mics and webcams. This caller mentation has conscionable 3 HDMI inputs, a azygous multifunction USB-C larboard for audio and video devices, and 1 HDMI video output.

The Video S does transportation guardant the original’s brace of combo XLR/1/4” jack inputs, truthful it’s inactive compatible with professional-grade microphones, but you tin alternately link USB mics oregon Rode’s Series IV wireless mics utilizing 2 built-in wireless receivers. A brace of 1/4” jacks supply customized mixes and levels to 2 sets of wired headphones, but the dedicated talker outputs recovered connected the archetypal person been removed.

You’ll inactive find a two-inch touchscreen connected the Rodecaster Video S with its ain dial controller for navigating settings and making adjustments, but the fig of ample buttons utilized to power betwixt video sources oregon load up to 5 preset scenes configurable utilizing Rode’s desktop app has been reduced from 14 to 10.

Other features carried implicit from the archetypal Rodecaster Video see livestreaming to desktop bundle oregon straight to platforms similar YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. Or you tin grounds broadcasts, including the idiosyncratic video and audio sources separately, to an outer USB retention thrust for editing later. And due to the fact that the Rodecaster Video S is designed for smaller productions, if you don’t person the fund for a dedicated operator, the console itself tin automatically power betwixt aggregate camera angles based connected who’s speaking.