The Rode Podcast and Blue Yeti are some of the most popular podcast microphones on the market. As is the case with USB mics, you can simply plug in either of them into your computer and broadcast away. However, which of these two is the best choice for a video studio?
Rode Podcaster is the best microphone for a video studio because it’s highly directional and rejects sounds outside its polar pattern. With this dynamic microphone, you produce professional-grade recordings in a studio without sound treatment, which the Blue Yeti needs.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at both USB podcast microphones and highlight some of their best features and shortcomings.
Rode Podcaster
: A Basic Review
Rode Podcaster is a USB microphone from R
ode, an Australian company renowned for building superior quality but affordable condenser mics. The Rode podcaster is their first foray into the dynamic USB mic scene, and they have done a great job with it.
- Dynamic microphone for podcasting, radio production and voice-overs
- Internal pop filter
- High Output Dynamic Capsule And Balanced Low Impedance Output Make It An Ideal Broadcast And Voice...
Last update on 2024-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This USB microphone is a traveling YouTuber or a podcaster dream come true as it’s portable and boasts a durable metallic construction. Its setup boils down to a single USB cable, and the mic itself is small enough to fit snugly in your laptop bag. Plug the mic into your Window or MacOS computer, plop it on a stand, and you’re ready to go in seconds.
Specs
| Size | 8.5 x 2.2 x 2.1 inches (21.5 x 5.6 x 5.2 cm) |
| Weight | 1.44 pounds (655 grams) |
| Connector Type | USB |
| Voltage | – |
| Capsule | Dynamic |
| Compatible Devices | Windows and macOS devices |
Pros
- Classy and lightweight
- Superior sound quality and noise-canceling
- Inbuilt shock mount and pop filter
- Mountable pop filter
- Cardioid polar patterns
- Headphone jack with zero latency
Cons
- High price tag
- Lacks a Gain knob
For more information, check out my picks for the Best Podcasting Laptop and Best Podcasting Headphones
Rode Podcast Features
Classy Design
The Rode Podcaster boasts the standard broadcast-style shape and features a pop shield on the mic’s upper end. The grille boasts a sturdy built and maintains a constant distance from the mic regardless of its orientation.
But this mic is a tad different from most models in its class because it weighs 1.44 pounds (655 grams). It comes with a white exterior, which further sets it apart from the familiar metallic tones.
The Rode podcaster comes with a sleek and beautiful professional look and measures 8.5 by 2.2 by 2.1 inches (21.5 x 5.6 x 5.2 cm). The elegant design belies some of the key features that let the mic hold its own against more expensive models.
The Podcaster comes with an internal shock mount that ensures that the 28 mm (0.04 inches) neodymium dynamic capsule doesn’t pick vibrations as you record.
The mic also boasts an inbuilt pop filter to help keep the annoying plosives and pops from your recordings. By minimizing these sounds, the filter keeps them from overloading the capsule and distorting the audio output.
It’s important to note that most microphone brands offer these inbuilt features as separate accessories and are not included in the base price.
A handy LED light is thoughtfully installed on the side panel facing the speaker. The light remains green when the mic is plugged into your PC but will turn orange when the mic signal is just below peaking and turn red when the signal is peaking.
Cardioid Polar Patterns
The Rode Podcaster is a dynamic USB mic that delivers broadcast-quality audio while recording directly into your computer without requiring additional software.
Dynamic microphones record louder sounds since they’re very directional and have a superb ability to reject background noises. They’re a staple in stage performances where they filter out noise from the audience.
The Podcaster captures sound from the front of the mic and on both sides while rejecting background noise. By canceling background noise, this mic lets you record professional-grade video and Podcaster in a hotel room.
The Rode Podcaster uses a cardioid pattern with a frequency range of 40HZ to 14kHZ. The narrow frequency makes your voice sound fuller while enhancing the bass.
Coupling an 18-bit quality resolution and a 48KHZ sampling A/D converter allows for seamless analog-to-digital conversion bypassing the inferior onboard sound controller on your computer.
Headphone Jack and Volume Control
This USB mic comes with a headphone jack to let you monitor and hear precisely what you’re recording. A volume knob lets you set your ideal zero-latency monitoring levels, making the Podcaster an excellent demo microphone for musicians and songwriters.
The mic enables you to listen to a recording in real-time while eliminating any echoes that could distort the sound quality.
The volume dial above the headphone jack controls the volume of the sound playing through the headphones. Unfortunately, you can’t control the volume of the audio recording on the Podcaster microphone.
Plug and Play
Since Rode Podcaster is crafted for convenience, it plugs into your Windows and macOS devices through a USB cable. As a plug and play devices, you don’t need any additional software installation or customization to use the microphone.
Simply plug in the mic and set it as the default recording device for your PC, and you’re ready to go.
The Rode Podcaster is the USB version of the Rode Procaster, which requires additional equipment to run. The Procaster is an XLR mic, meaning you need to connect it to a digital recorder or a mixer before recording audio.
Although the Rode Podcaster and Rode Procaster microphones have virtually features, the latter requires an XLR setup to run. You’re better off with the Podcaster if looking for a portable mic that you can take with you anywhere.
Portability
The Podcaster weighs a mere 1.44 pounds (655 grams), making it the perfect travel companion for the traveling Podcaster, musician, or YouTube personality. The mic has a long solid metallic body that gives it a durable feel. It comes with a 10 feet (3 meters) USB type B cable and a ring stand.
If you wish to use a Rode Podcaster mic with an iPad, you’d need to purchase a Lightning USB Type B cable.
The pop shield on the Podcaster is removable, making for easy packing and storage. Separating the shield, mic, and stand ensures that the mic doesn’t take too much space in your bag.
Accessories
While each Rode Podcaster ships with a DS1 Desktop microphone stand, you can benefit from using a shock mount and a boom arm. You can opt for a PSA1 Microphone Swivel Boom Arm and a PSM1 Shock Mount for a professional feel.
Warranty
Each Rode Podcaster ships with a one year warranty buy you can extend it up to 10 years by registering your purchase with the manufacturer. An extended warranty is a manufacturer’s vote of confidence in the quality of their products.
Blue Yeti: A Basic Review
Despite being named after a mythical abominable snowman, Blue Yeti is another excellent product from the Blue Microphone stable. It’s probably the most popular USB condenser microphone with podcasters and Youtubers with a big audience.
- Custom three-capsule array: This professional USB mic produces clear, powerful, broadcast-quality...
- Blue VOICE software: Elevate your streamings and recordings with clear broadcast vocal sound and...
- Four pickup patterns: Flexible cardioid, omni, bidirectional, and stereo pickup patterns allow you...
Last update on 2024-12-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Blue Yeti became a hit with online creators since making its debut on the market in 2009. Its excellent sound quality and legendary versatility allow users to record a diverse range of products and from multiple directions.
Since it’s a condenser microphone, the Blue Yeti captures speech nuances exceptionally well, saving you the hassle of post-production adjustment. Such microphones capture a broad range of audio, from the super-loud sounds to the very quiet.
Specs
| Size | 4.92 x 4.72 x 11.61 inches |
| Weight | 2.82 pounds (1.28 kilograms) |
| Connector Type | USB |
| Voltage | 5 Volts |
| Capsule | Condensers |
| Compatible Devices | PC, PS4, Laptops, & Xbox |
Pros
- Three condenser capsules
- THX-certified
- Superior sound quality with four settings
- Fancy retro design
- Gain and volume control
- Desktop mounted
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- The control buttons are a tad delicate
Blue Yeti Features
A Retro Design
The Blue Yeti boasts a heavy metal construction reminiscent of the mics from the 50s. It comes with an appealing large footprint table stand to exude a retro charm that might seem out of place in the modern technology scene.
The huge USB mic is the sequel to the ground-breaking USB mic, the Blue Snowball, and so packs better and improved features. Yeti’s multi-pattern and three-capsule design is a first in the USB microphone scene.
It comes with three 14 mm (0.02 inch) mic capsules that form a triangular layout to allow four recording patterns. The capsule array enables the mic to produce broadcast-quality sound for your conference calls, podcasts, YouTube, and music.
Dynamic Polar Patterns
One of the most outstanding features of the Blue Yeti USB microphone is the unparalleled ability to customize the polar patterns. An innovative tri-capsule microphone array enables you to customize how the mic picks sounds. The Blue Yeti lets you choose from 4 different polar patterns:
- Cardioid mode – In this mode, the microphone focuses on picking the sound from the front. Cardioid mode is the most widely used as it’s perfect for gaming, podcasting, calls, streaming, or webinars.
- Bidirectional mode – In this mode, the mic pulls sounds from two directions – directly in front and behind the mic. That makes it great for a two-person, face-to-face interview.
- Omnidirectional mode – As the name suggests, this mode allows the mic to pick sound from all directions. While the recording might sound a tad distant, it’s excellent for making conference calls or recordings where sound quality isn’t a primary concern. You can use this mode when you need to record multiple people in the same room.
- Stereo mode – This mode is great if you’re looking to separate the right and left channels or using recording instruments in your studio. You can also achieve the same effect in cardioid mode.
Blue Yeti mic is an excellent choice if you’re seeking the flexibility to record using different sound pick up patterns and control onboard gain. However, you need a quiet space to make the most of these versatile features on this microphone.
You can switch between the four modes with a simple twist of the handy multiple pattern selector switch below the gain dial.
Check out this article about whether the Blue Yeti microphone is good for singing here!
Gain Control
Gain control is crucial because it determines the mic’s sensitivity when picking up sound. The Blue Yeti stands apart from other USB microphones because it has a gain control dial on the back. Most models require you to adjust gain levels using software, which might prove a tad challenging in the middle of a recording.
Gain control lets you turn the gain control down if an interview subject starts getting loud to avoid peaking and overloading the mic. Such issues aren’t fixable with the software once you’ve finished recording.
Headphone Jack
A headphone jack is crucial in a USB mic because it allows you to monitor your recording and streaming in real-time. The Blue Yeti boasts zero-latency headphone monitoring to let you deliver superior quality sounds with each podcast.
Volume Control and Mute Button
A volume knob at the front of the mic allows you to monitor the headphones amp in real-time as well.
Unlike most USB mics, the Blue Yeti comes with a mute button to let you mute the mic when you need to clear your throat. The ability to mute the microphone whenever you need to give your podcasts or video recording a professional feel.
A red LED light will flash when the mic is muted to let you know when it is in mute mode. The light stays red without flashing when the mic isn’t muted.
Plug and Play
As a plug and play USB mic, the Blue Yeti requires no drivers or configuration. You only need to plug the USB cable into your Windows or macOS and choose the Blue Yeti as your microphone, and you’re ready to go.
For a full audio recording when streaming games on Twitch, recording on Audacity, or meet on Zoom, you need to select the Blue Yeti as the default recording mic on your PC and in the respective software.
However, the manufacturer introduced Blue Sherpa, optional software to let users adjust settings and access updates. With this software, you can update firmware, monitor volume, control gain, mute, and control headphone volume.
Mount
This USB mic comes with a handy desktop stand that gives it some level of rigidity and heft. You can be sure that the mic won’t topple over easily during recording and ruin your podcast.
The stand allows you to tilt and rotate the mic to have it at the most convenient position in relation to the sound source. The adjustable design is crucial in optimizing the mic’s sound quality as you can orient it in any direction you choose.
THX Certification
The Blue Yeti once again towers over its competition by being the first microphone to snag the coveted THX certification. The certification considers many factors, including signal-to-noise ratio, frequency response, and, most importantly, performance consistency across product batches.
The THX certification is proof that the Blue Yeti USB microphone has superior sound quality and will deliver excellent service to every user.
A Broad Range of Accessories
It’s highly advisable to pair a Blue Yeti USB microphone with a quality boom arm and shock mount due to its high audio sensitivity. You can pair your Blue Yeti mic with a host of accessories from the same brand to give your set up a professional polish.
You can opt for the Pro Broadcast Bundle that comprises a Radius III Shock Mount and Compass Premium Boom and transform your desktop into the ultimate broadcast studio.
Warranty
Each Blue Yeti USB microphone ships with a 2-year limited warranty from the manufacturer. In contrast, that pales compared to the 10-year extended warranty on the Rode Podcaster. You must remember that Blue Microphones is a THX-certified brand.
Which One Should You Choose?
Rode Podcaster and the Blue Yeti are excellent USB microphones, but they have significant differences that influence their uses. Since the Rode Podcaster is a dynamic microphone, it’s more forgiving in sub-optimal recording conditions. That makes it the perfect pick when setting up a video studio at home. It has excellent noise rejection ability to let you record professional-grade videos and podcasts.
As a condenser microphone, the Blue Yeti is better suited for a quiet, sound-treated environment. The mic is likely to pick up background noises such as mouse and keyboard clicks or fans as you broadcast. The sensitivity of these mics makes them a choice pick for professional-grade studios with proper sound treatment.
Conclusion
Rode Podcaster and the Blue Yeti USB are some of the best podcast-grade microphones on the market. They provide superior quality sound recordings without requiring a huge cash outlay. They let you record directly to your computer and smart devices without needing additional equipment such as mixers.
Since the Rode Podcaster is a dynamic USB microphone, it has excellent noise rejection capacity, which is incredible if recording in an area with background noise. On the other hand, the Blue Yeti is a condenser microphone, making it a tad more sensitive to background noise.
On a budget? Check out these two budget alternatives (Blue Snowball vs. Razer Seiren Mini) here!
Sources
- Podcast Insights: Blue Yeti Microphone Review: Should You Get One?
- Tech Radar: Blue Yeti Microphone Review
- Music Radar: Blue Microphone Yeti Review
- Cnet: Blue Microphones Yeti USB Mic review: Blue Microphones Yeti USB Mic
- The Podcast Host: The Best Podcast Microphones to Sound your Best: For Every Budget & Level
- Music Radar: Rode Procaster review
- The Verge: The best Microphones to Start Podcasting with
- Podcast Official: Rode Podcaster Review
- PC Mag: Rode Podcaster Review
- The Podcast Host: Rode Podcaster Review | a Top of the Range USB Mic
- MMORPG: Rode Procaster/Podcaster Broadcast Microphone Review
- Rode: Podcaster
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