Microphone is a basic audio equipment and you will need them when working with audio or video. There are plenty to choose from depending on which seems more ideal for the application such as rode PodMic Vs Procaster. These microphones are designed for streamers or podcasters who want the convenience but also still getting a good audio quality out of their input. For those wondering which of them will be the better option, let’s see below about what they can offer.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Why a Good Microphone is Important
- What are Rode PodMic and Procaster
- How are the Design of Rode PodMic and Procaster
- How are the Setup of Rode PodMic and Procaster
- How are the Sound Quality of Rode PodMic and Procaster
- What else Rode PodMic and Procaster can offer
- Rode PodMic Vs Procaster
The Role of a Good Microphone
Working with audio no matter what it is for often requires you to have a good input as well and this is through a good microphone. Before being able to be recorded and processed further, we have to capture the sound first and this is the job of your microphone. Streamers, podcasters, video content makers, and musicians need a good microphone to convey the message of their content or work. The further quality may be decided by the program or how you process it but the basics are on the microphone.
We are sure most of us have heard an audio recording or video with bad audio that sometimes it is uncomfortable to listen to or just difficult to understand and while it can be due to the sound system that you are using, it can be from the inferior microphone used to record the audio. Including video content makers or creative who focus on capturing the best scenery or extensively editing the video for it to look great, we need a reliable microphone to work.
Similar to podcasters, the quality of their microphone is very important. People will be listening to your voice and while in general we may have different preferences on how a “good” voice sounds like, the microphone will decide how it sounds as well for your audience. The message we want to convey may be super important and need to be heard by a lot of people with the same concerns but it can be unbearable if they find the audio to be annoying to listen to.
You can opt for a dynamic or condenser microphone especially for this type of application and when asked which is best, it all depends on what you want to achieve or the type of setup you have. In general dynamic is great for recording in a noisy environment or untreated room and best when used close to the sound source. It is also more durable if you will have to travel or can’t treat the microphone delicately which makes it an ideal choice for live performances as well.
On the other hand, a condenser microphone is more sensitive but is also precise. This microphone is like capacitors and needs phantom power to work whether it is built in the microphone itself like Shure MV88 Vs Rode Videomicro or we need to provide it separately. It is more sensitive so it is ideal for high fidelity sound recording as it has a good frequency response. Since it is sensitive, you will need a quiet room however to prevent it capturing too much of the ambient or noise in the room.
| Rode Podmic | Rode Procaster | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 9 x 6 x 4 inches | 10.4 x 4.5 x 3 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 2.07 pounds | 1.64 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | click here | click here |
About Rode PodMic and Procaster
We can have good content but the quality of video, audio, or even both are important to consider. The same like video, having good audio is just convenient when you need to edit the footage later. Now when you are ready to shop for a new microphone, it is time to see what the market has to offer because we have so many of them out there. The fact that a good microphone doesn’t need to be expensive allows for more users to get a better audio quality.
When it comes to the microphone, we can rely on various brands on the market that are known to offer good quality products and one of them is Rode. We are sure most people are familiar with this brand because they have been around for quite some time and they do carry both entry-level and professional options depending on what you want to achieve and how much to spend. While in general they are great, different models will also produce different results.
For applications that require you to mount the microphone or in a still setup, the Rode PodMic and Procaster are two promising options to consider. They are not exactly the same and the latter is more than twice as expensive which is why people are wondering which of the two they should go with. But, just like most products, you will get more from the high-end choices yet it doesn’t mean that the more expensive they are, the better for your application.
Both Rode PodMic and Procaster are dynamic microphones and they are ideal for podcasting or voice overs where you don’t have a treated room and don’t want to be bothered by the noise that may be present in the room. In comparison, we do think the Procaster is slightly better in terms of achieving more from your voice but it all depends on whether you need it or not because if not the PodMic sounds just as good and is much more affordable.
Rode PodMic and Procaster Design
Before checking what these microphones can offer, let’s see the unit first and what is attractive from the outside is that they are built like a tank and surprisingly the PodMic is heavier than Procaster. Starting from the PodMic, this unit is very sturdy, it has an all-metal body with a metal grill that feels like it will last forever. It comes with the mounting ready for the typical mic stand threading. The mounting is swiveling and there is no button or physical control on the body.
Similarly, the Procaster is also very sturdy and the mounting has no similar feeling since it is all plastic so there is no shock absorption. However, the internal mechanism is featured with a pop filter and shock mount. It is lighter than PodMic and also has a different shape to it so depending on which seems to fit best in your setup, our choice may differ and personally we do love how Rode built these microphones.
Rode PodMic and Procaster Setup
Next let’s see the setup needed for Rode PodMic and Procaster. In this part since both are dynamic microphones, there is no need to add phantom power to use them. However, you will still need to add an interface because they are a regular XLR microphone and even an entry-level interface will do its job for these mics. We can also tweak the settings here before sending it to the computer whether you want to put it in a video or song recording.
Rode PodMic and Procaster Sound Quality
Moving further, let’s see what Rode PodMic and Procaster can offer and the most important part is always their sound quality. First, we want to mention that they already have a different frequency range in which the Procaster is from 75 Hz to 18kHz while the PodMic is 20Hz to 20kHz, more commonly found in typical dynamic microphone. The two sound really good but the Procaster is just slightly more sensitive. We do think the two are great for voice overs and for recording your voice with the latter gives a slightly more nuance to it.
The off-axis response is good for both microphones but the Procaster probably gives more presence to your voice both on the low and high-end. The PodMic is clean and clear so your voice will be pleasant to listen to with easy to understand pronunciation as well. For the price point, none are for instruments but you can get away with PodMic for electric guitar at least. Additionally we also think the Procaster is the better choice if you are recording vocals with these microphones.
Rode PodMic and Procaster Features
On the features, unfortunately both Rode PodMic and Procaster are basic models or probably more of a straightforward solid microphones which is why everything is done from the interface or software that you have on the computer. Chances are you will need to adjust the settings to achieve the best result which is why it is probably best to get a good interface as well. Out of the box the microphones have good noise rejection and are built for a stationary setup.
Rode Podmic vs Procaster
Both are good microphones and they are designed for this type of application such as voice overs or podcasting. The mics are very simple, easy to set up, and also only need you to have a good interface to work on. The comparison in sound quality is showing the Procaster producing a better high and low end on your voice, giving it brightness and warm nuance that makes it more attractive on the details while the PodMic is clean and straightforward. It doesn’t handle plosives well but still manageable.
Unfortunately none of them are made for instruments but the PodMic is still good for electric guitar if you will only use them for demo or recording your own song at home. Another best part is they don’t pick up much noise from the surroundings.
Conclusion
You can go well with any of the two based on which seems to fit you the most. The difference is not very prominent but it is there and if you are on the budget or don’t really need the extra that Procaster is capturing, we highly recommend choosing the PodMic.