Rode is an Australian microphone brand that manufactures good-looking, quality condenser mics for a fraction of the price high-quality models often sell for.
Thus, its entry into the USB mic realm is a natural progression.
The only irony here is that, at $229, the Rode Podcaster is among the more expensive USB options we've tested.
The other slight surprise is that the Podcaster is a dynamic USB mic, not a condenser mic like many of the competing models.
And while we've seen 16-bit and 24-bit resolutions thus far, the Podcaster utilizes a less common 18-bit.
In terms of audio quality, the Rode is a cardioid-pattern mic, with no digital signal processing (DSP), making it a solid choice for radio broadcast-style vocals.
Honest, Objective Reviews
Daxdi.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services.
Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
Design
The Podcaster comes in a familiar, broadcast-style shape, with a grille wrapping around the top end of the mic.
But the body feels less typical—it has a heavy 1.5-pound build with a glossy white exterior rather than the metallic tones I often see.
While the mic, which measures roughly 8.5 by 2.2 by 2.1 inches (HWD)—has a handsome, spare, professional look—there are some nifty tricks up its sleeve.
Internally, it employs a shock mount to keep the 28mm neodymium dynamic capsule from picking up vibrations, as well as an internal pop filter.
In other words, the two most important accessories that are typically outside the body of the mic—and not always included in the base price—are internal here, and part of the mic itself.
An LED on the side panel is thoughtfully located facing the speaker when addressing the mic—it lights up red when the mic signal is peaking, and orange when levels are just below peaking (green is the default color when the mic is receiving power via USB).
The (very long) included USB cable connects to a port on the base of the microphone.
Above the headphone jack, there's a volume knob to dial in ideal zero-latency monitoring levels.
The cardioid-pattern Podcaster's frequency range is from 40Hz to 14kHz, with a fixed 18-bit resolution and a sampling rate range of 8 to 48kHz—you can adjust it in your computer's or software's settings menu.
What's missing? That's easy: a mic stand.
Rode would do well to include a desktop stand, or even integrate a kickstand into the mic itself.
If the assumption is that anyone buying a mic already has a stand, well, that's not always going to be the case when someone is purchasing a USB mic.
In fact, it might be more likely that USB mic shoppers don't already have stands.
The Podcaster is an end-address mic, so the stand you use will need to be sturdy enough to handle its weight when it's angled in the direction of the speaker's mouth.
Beyond the stand, an onboard gain knob would be nice.
You have to adjust the mic's recording levels on your computer instead.
Because Rode includes a pop filter and a shock mount internally, there aren't any accessories like those included, either.
But Rode does manufacture both a windscreen and a shock mount for its mics, should you find either to be necessary.
Performance
So, does the internal pop filter mean you don't need an external pop filter for unruly or plosive-prone vocals? No.
It's still quite possible to set this capsule off with some plosives.
Your best bet, if there's no pop screen or filter available, is to record slightly off-axis—this eliminated plosives during testing for the most part.
Of course, the trade-off is a less direct-sounding signal, even when close to the mic.
And does the internal shock mount mean that buying an external one is unnecessary? That's more debatable, and it depends on how and where you use the mic.
I don't feel the mic is missing basic stabilization and vibration control that a shock mount would provide, but I was testing it in a stable environment.
If your home studio rattles when the subway trains rumble below your apartment, an actual shock mount might be necessary.
I recorded with the Podcaster on a Mac Pro in GarageBand, which recognized the mic immediately.
I found that, from a distance of roughly four to five inches, it offers a solid, clear signal that sounds a bit less crisp and somewhat softer than some of the other mics I've tested.
The internal pop filter really does some work—it sounds like the signal is coming through a windscreen.
In short, it sounds a lot like a talk radio DJ's mic, with a professional, controlled, and somewhat rich signal.
While there is no DSP, Rode uses "analog signal conditioning," a somewhat vague term.
I can attest that, as long as you set a solid signal, the mic seems to stave off most peaks from distorting, almost as if there's some built-in compression like you hear with mics that employ DSP in the signal chain.
But it's quite possible that the combination of the internal pop filter and the use of a dynamic capsule is the reason for the clean-but-controlled signal.
Of course, since there's no DSP here, if you're really trying, you can make the mic distort, so setting the proper level for whatever you're recording is a must, as always.
Compared with the Blue Raspberry, the Podcaster sounds a little richer, and perhaps a little more inclined to use the proximity effect to its advantage.
Neither mic relies on the EQ and controlled dynamics of DSP.
The Podcaster sounds less bright, and a little darker and softer, but we're not talking about night and day—it's plenty clear and crisp enough, it just seems to incorporate a little more of the lows and low-mids into the signal.
The Podcaster signal seems more similar to the Sennheiser MK 4 Digital, another DSP-free (and accessory-light) mic.
Both offer a more mids-focused, less bright sound than the Raspberry, but the MK 4 Digital is a bit cleaner—I don't hear that built-in pop filter that does color the sound, albeit pleasantly, with the Podcaster.
Conclusions
From a sound quality perspective, the Rode Podcaster is a solid mic.
It gets that radio DJ sound: clean and clear, with some nice richness to it.
But the lack of a stand means that the $229 price doesn't tell the whole story—at the very least, you'll need to spend $15 to $20 more on a stand of some sort.
I like that the mic has internal shock mounting for the capsule, as well as a built-in pop filter, but the images of it online show it inside a Rode external shock mount—in other words, you're looking at spending more like an extra $40 to $75.
Some of our favorite USB mics also lack necessary accessories, like the more expensive Sennheiser MK 4 Digital, so this isn't a deal breaker, especially if you're looking to record broadcast-syle vocals.
If all of the mics mentioned here are more expensive than what you have in mind, consider the Blue Yeti Nano and the Shure MV5, both solid options under $100.
Pros
Provides a solid signal with rich low-mids, smooth mids, and crisp presence in the highs.
Zero-latency headphone jack.
No DSP.
Internal pop filter and shock mount for capsule.
View More
Cons
Expensive.
No Gain knob.
No included mic stand.
The Bottom Line
The Rode Podcaster is a somewhat rare dynamic (rather than condenser) USB microphone.
It offers a broadcast-style design and signal without digital signal processing.
Rode is an Australian microphone brand that manufactures good-looking, quality condenser mics for a fraction of the price high-quality models often sell for.
Thus, its entry into the USB mic realm is a natural progression.
The only irony here is that, at $229, the Rode Podcaster is among the more expensive USB options we've tested.
The other slight surprise is that the Podcaster is a dynamic USB mic, not a condenser mic like many of the competing models.
And while we've seen 16-bit and 24-bit resolutions thus far, the Podcaster utilizes a less common 18-bit.
In terms of audio quality, the Rode is a cardioid-pattern mic, with no digital signal processing (DSP), making it a solid choice for radio broadcast-style vocals.
Honest, Objective Reviews
Daxdi.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services.
Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
Design
The Podcaster comes in a familiar, broadcast-style shape, with a grille wrapping around the top end of the mic.
But the body feels less typical—it has a heavy 1.5-pound build with a glossy white exterior rather than the metallic tones I often see.
While the mic, which measures roughly 8.5 by 2.2 by 2.1 inches (HWD)—has a handsome, spare, professional look—there are some nifty tricks up its sleeve.
Internally, it employs a shock mount to keep the 28mm neodymium dynamic capsule from picking up vibrations, as well as an internal pop filter.
In other words, the two most important accessories that are typically outside the body of the mic—and not always included in the base price—are internal here, and part of the mic itself.
An LED on the side panel is thoughtfully located facing the speaker when addressing the mic—it lights up red when the mic signal is peaking, and orange when levels are just below peaking (green is the default color when the mic is receiving power via USB).
The (very long) included USB cable connects to a port on the base of the microphone.
Above the headphone jack, there's a volume knob to dial in ideal zero-latency monitoring levels.
The cardioid-pattern Podcaster's frequency range is from 40Hz to 14kHz, with a fixed 18-bit resolution and a sampling rate range of 8 to 48kHz—you can adjust it in your computer's or software's settings menu.
What's missing? That's easy: a mic stand.
Rode would do well to include a desktop stand, or even integrate a kickstand into the mic itself.
If the assumption is that anyone buying a mic already has a stand, well, that's not always going to be the case when someone is purchasing a USB mic.
In fact, it might be more likely that USB mic shoppers don't already have stands.
The Podcaster is an end-address mic, so the stand you use will need to be sturdy enough to handle its weight when it's angled in the direction of the speaker's mouth.
Beyond the stand, an onboard gain knob would be nice.
You have to adjust the mic's recording levels on your computer instead.
Because Rode includes a pop filter and a shock mount internally, there aren't any accessories like those included, either.
But Rode does manufacture both a windscreen and a shock mount for its mics, should you find either to be necessary.
Performance
So, does the internal pop filter mean you don't need an external pop filter for unruly or plosive-prone vocals? No.
It's still quite possible to set this capsule off with some plosives.
Your best bet, if there's no pop screen or filter available, is to record slightly off-axis—this eliminated plosives during testing for the most part.
Of course, the trade-off is a less direct-sounding signal, even when close to the mic.
And does the internal shock mount mean that buying an external one is unnecessary? That's more debatable, and it depends on how and where you use the mic.
I don't feel the mic is missing basic stabilization and vibration control that a shock mount would provide, but I was testing it in a stable environment.
If your home studio rattles when the subway trains rumble below your apartment, an actual shock mount might be necessary.
I recorded with the Podcaster on a Mac Pro in GarageBand, which recognized the mic immediately.
I found that, from a distance of roughly four to five inches, it offers a solid, clear signal that sounds a bit less crisp and somewhat softer than some of the other mics I've tested.
The internal pop filter really does some work—it sounds like the signal is coming through a windscreen.
In short, it sounds a lot like a talk radio DJ's mic, with a professional, controlled, and somewhat rich signal.
While there is no DSP, Rode uses "analog signal conditioning," a somewhat vague term.
I can attest that, as long as you set a solid signal, the mic seems to stave off most peaks from distorting, almost as if there's some built-in compression like you hear with mics that employ DSP in the signal chain.
But it's quite possible that the combination of the internal pop filter and the use of a dynamic capsule is the reason for the clean-but-controlled signal.
Of course, since there's no DSP here, if you're really trying, you can make the mic distort, so setting the proper level for whatever you're recording is a must, as always.
Compared with the Blue Raspberry, the Podcaster sounds a little richer, and perhaps a little more inclined to use the proximity effect to its advantage.
Neither mic relies on the EQ and controlled dynamics of DSP.
The Podcaster sounds less bright, and a little darker and softer, but we're not talking about night and day—it's plenty clear and crisp enough, it just seems to incorporate a little more of the lows and low-mids into the signal.
The Podcaster signal seems more similar to the Sennheiser MK 4 Digital, another DSP-free (and accessory-light) mic.
Both offer a more mids-focused, less bright sound than the Raspberry, but the MK 4 Digital is a bit cleaner—I don't hear that built-in pop filter that does color the sound, albeit pleasantly, with the Podcaster.
Conclusions
From a sound quality perspective, the Rode Podcaster is a solid mic.
It gets that radio DJ sound: clean and clear, with some nice richness to it.
But the lack of a stand means that the $229 price doesn't tell the whole story—at the very least, you'll need to spend $15 to $20 more on a stand of some sort.
I like that the mic has internal shock mounting for the capsule, as well as a built-in pop filter, but the images of it online show it inside a Rode external shock mount—in other words, you're looking at spending more like an extra $40 to $75.
Some of our favorite USB mics also lack necessary accessories, like the more expensive Sennheiser MK 4 Digital, so this isn't a deal breaker, especially if you're looking to record broadcast-syle vocals.
If all of the mics mentioned here are more expensive than what you have in mind, consider the Blue Yeti Nano and the Shure MV5, both solid options under $100.
Pros
Provides a solid signal with rich low-mids, smooth mids, and crisp presence in the highs.
Zero-latency headphone jack.
No DSP.
Internal pop filter and shock mount for capsule.
View More
Cons
Expensive.
No Gain knob.
No included mic stand.
The Bottom Line
The Rode Podcaster is a somewhat rare dynamic (rather than condenser) USB microphone.
It offers a broadcast-style design and signal without digital signal processing.
