RØDE Podcaster End-address Broadcast Dynamic USB Microphone for Podcasting, Streaming, Gaming, and Voice Recording

Before purchasing this mic I spent a good few days reading reviews of different microphones. I needed it to make video tutorials and do podcasts but I also needed a mic that produced great quality sound out of the box without having to edit it and improve the sound quality. I first bought the Audio Technica AT2020 USB + mic and tested it out. Since my home is on a main road and the sound indoors is not very well insulated the mic was picking up a lot of background noise like cars and buses driving by. In fact it was very sensitive to background noise and I had to turn down the gain quite a bit so much that the recording volume was really low when I played it back. Obviously, I decided that the AT2020 USB + mic was not for me. I then read some more reviews and decided to try out the RODE Podcaster USB mic as I have seen some very successful internet marketers using this mic in their videos. Since it was the priciest out of the USB mics I thought that maybe it's due to the high quality that it is so pricey. In my very first test I was impressed by the RODE Podcaster USB mic as my voice sounded so clear when I listened to the recording and it hardly picked up any background noise (even though there is a lot of background noise in my home). I was also able to turn the gain up to almost 70% without it picking up much background noise. I've only had to test this mic out twice before deciding that this is the mic for me. I know that the price of this mic might put some people off but if you are planning to use a mic a lot for whatever reason then it is worth investing in a good quality mic as it will sound more professional and with this mic you don't have to worry about improving the sound quality after recording (unless you want to of course). It also comes with a 10 year warranty which is incredible.

As others have noted this is good quality construction and great sound. The microphone is plug and play with most computers (including those running recent-ish versions of linux). This is a mic you'll want to use quite close up. As a minimum you will need a mic stand. After a few weeks I also added a spider mount to eliminate noise caused by vibration. I also picked up a pop shield to reduce plosive 'p' and 'b' noises. Neither of these additions are strictly necessary but they enhance a quality product. The only thing that would improve the mic would be a gain control. However, it seems to be set to quite a sensible level so I haven't found this to be a limitation in use.

Great mics. I bought 2 for a studio that I built. Perfect for podcasting. No noticeable hiss/hum and the built in pop shield works well. The green 'on' LED is so dim you can't actually see it so not sure what that's about. Also the built in jack for audio monitoring doesn't sound anything like the actual recording. It's gives the illusion that the mic is far more sensitive than it is. 5* because they look gorgeous, are superb quality and give a great sound when used with the right hardware. They're really solid and are a larger and heavier than they look in the photos. This is all a good thing.

I bought the Podcaster as an upgrade from the Blue Yeti I had been using up until now and while I am decently happy with the new mic, it is not the unquestionable upgrade I was hoping for and has actually given me a new found respect for the Yeti. Advantages of the Podcaster: Being a dynamic microphone, the Podcaster is much less sensitive to ambient noise and reverb compared to the Yeti. The slimmer design of the Podcaster means that it can fit standard shock mounts which the Yeti cannot. The built-in pop filter that works pretty well most of the time although it can be overwhelmed if you are very close to the mic. Both microphones are ridiculously heavy and I even had to buy a new boom arm since my old one (which could just about manage the Yeti) could not carry the Podcatser. Disadvantages of the Podcaster: There is no physical gain control knob on the microphone and since it is a USB mic, there is no gain boost option in the windows 10 recording settings. This means that I need to get pretty close to be able to record at the volume I am used to. No physical mute button. Headphone jack is vastly inferior to that of the Yeti. a) it's mono only, playing both channels to both ears at all times and b) it causes a constant and very audible white noise in your headphones (even with the physical volume knob turned to 0 and the volume turned off on the PC). The Podcaster only has one polar pattern while the Yeti can be switched between four different ones. The voice recording quality of both microphones is pretty much the same to my ears. I was expecting to sound better over the Podcaster, given that it boasts about its professional recording quality but to me, this is not the case. Taking all of these factors into account, I think the only advantage that the Podcaster has going for it is that a dynamic mic fits my current needs more than a condenser mic does. The significantly higher price is not justified by the generally inferior versatility and equivalent recording quality compared to the Yeti. Nevertheless, both mics are great and therefore, four stars.

This is a brilliant microphone. I bought this one for a work project and captures the voice very well. Its not as full sounding as a condenser microphone, but it also doesn't pick up as much background noise, little to no hiss, and has a headphone jack for lag free monitoring. Would recommend this to anyone looking for a mic in this price range.

It took a fair amount of research, trial and error but I am at last ever so pleased with my new Rode Podcaster. It is perfect because it filters out the background noise well and static is as minimal as it can get. I bought a Samson first but returned it because even in a super quiet room, it picked up way too much static. This was a perfect solution and now when I call my granny, she says she doesn't need a hearing aid! Hahaha... Really recommend this product for basic every-day use and first-time podcasting. 5 stars!

I have worked as a disc jokey for five years and this is as clear as the mics I used years ago. I bought the podcaster after a lot of research for something that would connect straight to my Apple Mac without using audio interfaces. I am no expert but it is working well, it is immediately recognised by the device, and when I launch Garage Band I can use it and record my Hypnotherapy tracks with ease. The headphones attach to the microphone so I can hear how I sound like. Clear sound, no technical issues, and doesn’t pick up much of the noises around me, if I stay close it will focus on me. Definitely going to use it for podcasting when I get to it. I bought the little stand for it but I have to put it on a box to keep my head straight when recording, so next I will have to buy an extendable arm and drill my table....Sorry no technical specs for the audio experts. As good as Blue Yeti....

I ordered this for my podcast and it's been a disaster since the start. Problem #1 I ordered this on the morning of the 18th of October for £179. I checked back a little later this SAME DAY, and the price had miraculously dropped down to £143. That's a difference of £36 that just was randomly shaved off seemingly immediately after I ordered. Problem #2 I tried to cancel with Amazon (the item hadn't even been dispatched yet) but they refused to do so. I realised I'd have to take the hit, but was ok with it if the mic turned out to be great. Problem #3 This supposedly brand new Mic arrived the morning of October 19th (credit for fast delivery) but the bottom of the microphone had blatant SCUFF marks. It might seem minor, but for a microphone I was already overcharged for, this is literally unacceptable. Pictures attached. Problem #4 After everything, I hoped this microphone would at least sound good and be an upgrade on my condenser microphone that I've been using for nearly a year now. This Rode mic is triple the price, so I'd expect a good standard and I specifically bought this mic because I wanted a dynamic microphone. Needless to say, after testing with it relentlessly, I can't help but feel scammed. The audio quality isn't the upgrade I expected and I just feel disappointed all round.