When the original RødeCaster Pro was launched in 2018, the Australian company was basically expanding a legacy that traces all the way back to the release of the world’s first podcasting microphone, the Podcaster, in 2004. At the same time, the RødeCaster Pro consolidated the company's credibility in the audio industry, beyond being "just" a microphone company. Røde had done audio interfaces and other electronics before, but with the RødeCaster Pro, there was a larger vision of creating hardware as an extension of a creative process that obviously started with microphone, lived through constantly updatable software and firmware, and enabled microphones to be used in completely new and innovative ways.
The RødeCaster also helped the Freedman Group consolidate a series of investments that it had made previously, by acquiring the assets of audio processing company APHEX, which obviously had firm roots in the radio and broadcast market. And that was exactly the secret recipe needed to make the RødeCaster Pro an instant hit within a community that was eager to leverage the Internet to spread content, and which was familiar with the Australian brand for its great microphones.
The RødeCaster Pro didn't "made" podcasting, but it certainly helped promoting the concept to whole new levels and of course, the pandemic in 2020 just took its possibilities for remote production to the stratosphere. More important, the user community got used to receive important updates and innovations that added great value to their investments. As always, the best type of marketing there is, simply getting a user based happy, faithful and eager for more.
The challenge to replace the original hardware would never be something to take mildly. Røde was already seeing multiple competing designs inspired in its original concept in the market. Including from companies who actually designed the original products that Røde simply merged into something that made sense for users today. Therefore, a complete redesign of the original RødeCaster would not only demand better audio quality - which no one complained about in the original - or just adding more features. It really needed to be an improvement that would convince the original owners of the RødeCaster Pro to buy a new RødeCaster Pro II now.
And inside the RødeCaster Pro II, the team specified a new high-performance quad-core audio engine that delivers significantly more processing power, making the studio-quality APHEX audio processing sound even more useful and convenient, as with the powerful on-board effects, including reverb, echo, robot, pitch shifting and more. The APHEX audio processors have been completely overhauled from the original, and the highly innovative VoxLab processing editor now allows anyone, even with no prior audio experience, to obtain better results.
Then the team improved the things that made the RødeCaster Pro so appreciated, improving the eight SMART pads for triggering sounds, voice effects, MIDI commands and mixer actions (which are actually eight banks of quickly accessible functions). And while the RødeCaster Pro II was designed to be familiar as an audio mixer, it actually offers nine individually assignable channels that are endlessly customizable, with on-board granular editing, allowing users to define their perfect setup.
Front and center in the new design, the RødeCaster Pro II now features a 5.5-inch high-definition touchscreen (with haptic feedback) and rotary encoder for easy navigation and control. A great evolution compared with the original screen, which was originally mostly designed as a visual extension and meter, and now becomes an essential part of operation. All these years of asian manufacturers copying Apple's iPhone touchscreens and interfaces resulted in very high quality panels that are now available to the audio industry.
And of course, another major reason to upgrade is to improve connectivity, wired and wireless. The new RødeCaster Pro II now offers advanced Bluetooth connectivity with wide-band speech for ultra-high-quality phone call integration and audio streaming, wireless monitoring, and more. And on the wired side, it offers dual USB-C interfaces for connecting two computers or mobile devices, studio-grade Neutrik combo inputs for connecting microphones and instruments, plus Wi-Fi (802.11g/n/ac 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Ethernet and more. MFi certification ensures seamless integration with iOS devices.
Because it can be powered now through USB Power Delivery, Røde updated the design to receive 30W directly through the USB-C PD connector (15V, 2A), instead of just the external DC power supply. This allows much greater versatility in "anywhere" applications and the RødeCaster Pro already comes with a USB-C Power Adaptor.
"The RødeCaster Pro marked a monumental step forward in creative audio technology,” says Røde CEO Damien Wilson. “It was a truly groundbreaking innovation, the likes of which had never been seen before, and it has had a significant impact on the growth of podcasting over the last four years. When developing the RødeCaster Pro II, we went in with a similar mindset to the original: we wanted to create something truly revolutionary once again, but this time our focus was all creators, not just podcasters. We designed it completely from the ground up to deliver unprecedented performance and complete adaptability in any creative application, from gaming and streaming to music production. And, of course, it’s still the most powerful podcasting console available. This is not simply an evolution of the RødeCaster Pro. It’s a completely new beast unlike anything you’ve seen before."
With that goal in mind, the new RødeCaster Pro II is now even more adaptable to multiple applications, from livestreaming and gaming to podcasting or even music production. Every setting, from the mixer configuration to SMART pads, as well as entire recordings, can be saved on-board as a ‘Show,’ allowing users to get set up and recording in seconds. This also makes the RødeCaster Pro II ideal for creators who make different types of content, multi-functional studios, or production or education facilities that require different setups for different users.
And like it did with the original unit, Røde already anticipates the new RødeCaster Pro II to grow exponentially with more updates. The new quad-core audio engine "unlocks huge potential for feature upgrades and enhancements, and the console will continue to evolve with future updates," the company says. The new chassis, designed and made in Røde’s state-of-the-art facilities in Sydney, Australia, is also an improved structure and comes with a complete suite of accessories, including the RødeCover 2, a high-quality protective cover, as well as a VESA mount, carry bags, colored cables, and more.
Røde Central will be available to use with the RødeCaster Pro II on its official release on Wednesday June 15, 2022. The RødeCaster Pro II is available to pre-order now for US$699.
www.rode.com
