When we reviewed the RODECaster Pro II, we found that it was one of the best podcast and content creation solutions out there. With four separate inputs, it was large and for many streamers and home creators, it left you paying for connectivity you might not need — in both space and dollars. The RODECaster Duo is the solution. Smaller, cheaper, but no less feature-rich and powerful, it’s a tremendous option if you only need two mic inputs. Find out more in this review!
Specifications
- Current Price: $499 (Amazon)
- Frequency Range: Mic Inputs: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Monitor Outputs: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Microphone Input Impedance: 4K Ohms
- Instrument Input Impedance: 1M Ohms
- Preamplifier Gain Range: 0 - 76dB
- Equivalent Noise: -131.5dBV (A-weighted)
- Line Output Maximum Level: 4dBu
- Headphone Output Power: 250mW
- Power Requirements: USB-C PD (9V, 3A)
- Analogue Audio Output Connectivity
- 2 x combo jack (mic, instrument, line)
- 1 x 3.5 TRRS headset jack (I/O)
- USB Interface 1
- 1 x 2-in/14-out multichannel device
- 1 x 2-in/2-out with mix-minus
- USB Interface 2: 1 x 2-in/2-out with mix-minus
- Bit Depth: 24-bit
- Sample Rate: 48kHz
- Recording Storage: microSDHC, microSDXC, USB-C removable drive (exFAT — minimum 100MB/s)
- Data Transfer: USB 3.0 SD card reader 130MB/s
- Network Connectivity: WiFi 802.11g/n/ac 2.4GHz and 5GHz, Ethernet 100/100
- Internal Storage (GB): 4GB (SMART pads)
- OS Requirements: macOS 10.15 or later, Windows 10 Version 1803 or later, Windows 11
- Weight: 1131 grams (2.49 pounds)
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 235 x 225 x 76mm (9.25 x 8.9 x 3 inches)
RODECaster Duo - Less Desk Space, More Affordable
The RODECaster Pro line-up has been one of the most venerable options since the original was released in 2018. At the time, it was at the cutting edge of home production consoles for average, bedroom content creators. It could drive just about any microphone, was an excellent mixer, had built-in vocal FX, a physical soundboard, wide connectivity, software support… the list goes on. It was, to put keep it brief, as one of the best consoles you could buy around and even well above its price point.
Then last year, RODE one-upped itself with the RODECaster Pro II, a console that took virtually every aspect of the original and improved upon it. Better connectivity, better pre-amps, more power, better sound, better FX, multiple audio device support within Windows, Bluetooth audio support, WiFi networking for easy upgrades, and a processor much more powerful than it actually needed to support a long life of free feature expansions that have already expanded functionality, particularly for game streamers.
The RODECaster Pros were fantastic — few people argue that — but they weren’t perfect. For the podcaster and streamer recording at home, they were big and expensive. With four mic inputs and headphone jacks, dedicated knobs, and faders for each, they had to be. But it was hard to ignore the fact that if you weren’t recording with four separate mics or line-ins, you were paying for features that were just going to waste.
That’s where the RODECaster Duo comes in. It’s a pared-back RODECaster Pro II, but not in features or output power. It shaves the inputs down to two, a duo, and removes the faders and knobs that went with them (plus two SMART pads). It measures 9.25 x 8.9 x 3 inches, which is nearly three inches narrower and almost two inches shorter. It’s ever so slightly taller, but RODE has managed to decrease the footprint by an impressive 35% compared to the RODECaster Pro II. That’s a meaningful decrease that puts the Duo much closer to the GoXLR in size (two inches narrower but also two inches wider) while being far more capable in every way.
RODE also added a feature: a new TRRS (3.5mm) jack to the front of the console. This allows you to connect headphones or even a headset directly to the front, which is especially useful for streamers. If you’re using a gaming headset, the cable may not be long enough to route around the back of the unit and still leave you with room to move. It’s also able to accept audio from this input too, making for another mic input. It’s a small but meaningful upgrade.
This smaller footprint is the result of removing inputs, and RODE returns that with a $200 price reduction. That’s a major price cut, and while the Duo still isn’t cheap (MSRP: $499), it’s much better than paying $699 for the RODECaster Pro II when you may never need those additional inputs.
This pricing and feature list also make it especially compelling against the competition. Taking an overview of Sweetwater, none of the competition offers nearly as much capability. The GoXLR? Significantly less powerful, one XLR input. Boss Gigcaster 5? No sound pads, no WiFi, smaller screen, only $20 cheaper. Roland Bridgecast? One XLR. Zoom PodTrak P8? Way bigger, more expensive, fewer features. These are all pricey additions to your streaming setup, but the Duo offers the most bang for the buck.
RODECaster Duo - Not So Large, Just As In Charge
The biggest reason for this is that it is, in every way, the RODECaster Pro II just with two fewer inputs and pads. That’s it. It has just as much power out. Just as much capability. Identical routing. Identical processing. Its preamps are just as clean. Its FX are just as capable. If you’re anything like me, you probably doubted that its internals were exactly the same; mini models usually have quiet scale backs, after all. But RODE didn’t do that here. It’s just a cheaper version of their $700 podcasting console for people who don’t need four inputs.
If you’re new to the RODECaster Pro line-up, let’s break down exactly what makes it special. The Duo is designed to be an all-in-one solution for all of your podcasting and streaming needs. It features a powerful processor that essentially makes it a purpose-built computer, driving an intuitive, touch-based user interface and a suite of studio-grade APHEX vocal FX. It can connect to your PC as two separate audio devices, allowing you to intelligently route audio within Windows and then create custom mixes for yourself, your teammates/co-hosts, and the audience, so everyone can hear something different. It’s WiFi upgradeable, can accept Bluetooth audio for call-ins or as another audio source, and can be run on a power bank to use on the go. It’s pads come ready with sound effects or can be loaded with your own samples or clips. It is, in essence, a radio station, podcast mixer, and powerful FX processor all rolled into one.
One of its most defining features are its Revolution preamps. RODE struck gold with these and has been rolling them into its product lines ever since and for good reason. They’re incredibly powerful and ultra-quiet. If you want to run a demanding dynamic microphone, like the Shure SM7B or Electro-Voice RE20, most interfaces and consoles will force you to invest in a separate, expensive signal booster (usually running between $75-150) to get achieve a usable volume. The preamps aren’t just powerful enough to run those mics, they run them with headroom to spare and a silent, hiss-free signal. In fact, if you add a signal booster, you’ll find that audio quality degrades as they actually introduce noise to the Duo. If you’re considering either of those mics, it’s worth deducting the cost of the booster you would have had to purchase from the total value.
The Duo (and RODECaster Pro II) is also the most intelligent, user-friendly console I’ve ever used for dialing in settings and FX. RODE has put tons of effort into making its hardware and software as intuitive as possible. Every channel is color-coded and simply tapping the colored button above each fader takes you into the settings for that channel. There are graphics and full titles for different types of microphones, including presets many of RODE’s own (including a paired RODE Wireless GO), as well as the Shure SM7B and Electro-Voice RE-20. If you’re using one of these mics, you can simply tap it and go with preset gain, EQ, and FX that match its unique characteristics.
If you’re using a different mic, or aren’t happy with the sound, you can manually adjust its settings with intuitive menus. Adjusting gain is a simple plus or minus and speaking into the mic until you level lands in the green area of the level meter on the same page. Phantom power is also a tap away. To the right are your vocal FX. By default, there are three simple knobs for Depth, Sparkle, and Punch that you can use to dial in your sound. Or, if you’re familiar with different FX, you can click the Advanced button and adjust eight separate studio FX: a high-pass filter, a de-esser, a noise gate, a compressor, an equalizer, and an exciter that utilizes APHEX’s Big Bottom and Aural Exciter effects.
Working in the advanced menu is, well, advanced. You’ll need to understand what each of the different adjustable knobs does and the the Duo doesn’t have a tooltip system to explain them. What it does have is a very useful set of real-time meters and graphs for each effect on the left. For some parameters, this compensates for the lack of a tooltip as you can visually see what each does. This is especially useful for dialing in the noise gate as you can see the difference between the room noise (or gaming sounds from your mouse and keyboard) on a graph, compare that to the level of your speaking voice, and adjust the gate up so it’s just above the room. With proper open and close settings, it sounds very natural and works exceptionally well.
As an audiophile, I also appreciate the headphone output settings. Its headphone amp is powerful and can drive headphones up to 250 ohms with ease. You can select whether you’re using high or low-sensitivity headphones so your volumes are in check, and the output is clean. Honestly, it sounds great, even just for listening to music and games. I’ve used it as a dedicated headphone amp before and it doesn’t leave sound quality to the side to focus on recording.
Where things get complicated is when you dig into the advanced settings, but that’s also where you can really begin to see just how capable this console really is. Routing is the most confusing, typing sources to faders and creating mixes. It supports sub-mixes and mix-minus, when you need to have a source subtracted. Those mixes can then be redirected to its different outputs. The challenging nature of this isn’t unique to the Duo, it’s endemic to the task itself. If every audio source is a thread, you’re weaving different tapestries and then feeding them into separate channels for different purposes. You have to figure out how to weave everything together to create the mix you want, which just takes time and some trial and error.
The Duo can also be used for multi-track recording. This is very useful if you need to make adjustments after the fact because each source will be recorded as a separate input. It’s also useful for recording music, both to scratch out song outlines on the device itself, and if you want to sing and play an instrument at the same time. Sending those two inputs into a DAW allows you to edit and master them independently of one another.
At this point, there’s only a handful of things I could add to a personal wishlist for a device like this. Even cheaper pricing so more people could experience it. Maybe some built-in instrument FX for recording to answer the Boss Gigcaster. My biggest wish currently is the most practical: some kind of cover. The Pro II sold an acrylic cover to protect it and keep it dust free. Right now there’s nothing like that for the Duo, so I’ve taken to covering it with a microfiber cloth. Hopefully, this is in the works.
RODECaster Duo - Wholeheartedly Worth It
I could go on. The RODECaster Duo is an incredibly capable audio console that earns its price. It’s not for everyone: this is a piece of gear for people who want to step up to XLR mics and professional quality, but if that describes you, it’s a great value for everything you’re getting here and the doors it opens to professional caliber content.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Some articles may contain affiliate links and purchases made through this will result in a small commission for the site. Commissions are not directed to the author or related to compensation in any way.
