Rode RodeCaster Pro II Review: Is It the Best All-in-One Podcast Studio?
The RodeCaster Pro II packs a professional broadcast mixing desk, multi-track recorder, effects processor and podcast production suite into one unit. Here's whether it's worth £455.
The original RodeCaster Pro was a revelation when it launched: an all-in-one solution that packaged broadcast-quality preamps, a multi-pad sound library, phone call recording and USB audio interface functionality into something that could sit on a desk and be used by someone without extensive audio engineering knowledge. The Pro II takes everything the original did well and makes it significantly more capable.
Who is the RodeCaster Pro II actually for?
Before getting into specifications, it's worth being honest about who benefits from a device like this. The RodeCaster Pro II is excellent value if you're:
- Running a regular podcast with two or more in-person hosts or frequent guests
- Producing video content where multiple audio sources need to be mixed and processed in real time
- Streaming with multiple microphone inputs and audio sources simultaneously
- Working in a broadcast or radio environment that needs reliable, simple-to-operate equipment
If you're a solo podcaster who records once a week and does their editing in a DAW, the RodeCaster Pro II is overkill. A single USB microphone or a Focusrite Scarlett with one XLR mic will give you equally good or better results at a fraction of the price.
The preamps
The RodeCaster Pro II has four XLR/TRS combination inputs, each with Rode's Evolution Series preamps. These are genuinely excellent by any standard - they're quiet, linear, and provide enough gain for even high-gain-demand dynamic microphones like the Shure SM7B without introducing significant noise. This matters because the SM7B requires a lot of gain (around 60dB) and cheap preamps become audibly noisy at those gain settings. The RodeCaster Pro II handles the SM7B comfortably.
The processing
Each channel has a full suite of broadcast processing built in: a noise gate that cuts the signal when you're not speaking, a high-pass filter that removes low-frequency rumble, a compressor/limiter, and a de-esser. In a professional context, all of these would require separate hardware or plugin processing in post-production. The RodeCaster Pro II applies them in real time, which means your recorded signal is already processed - saving significant editing time.
The processing quality is broadcast-grade. The compressor sounds natural at moderate settings, and the noise gate is responsive without cutting your voice on soft syllables. This isn't the processing you'd use for music production, where you generally want the cleanest possible signal for maximum flexibility in post, but for spoken word content it's genuinely excellent.
The SMART pads
The eight SMART pads can be assigned to sound effects, music beds, jingles, video conferencing channels, Bluetooth audio, or device playback. In previous versions of the RodeCaster concept, the pads were fixed to pre-loaded sounds. The Pro II makes them fully customisable and adds the ability to loop audio, fade in/out smoothly, and chain sounds together. For a live show format, this is significantly more flexible than what came before.
Multi-track recording
Recording to a microSD card, the RodeCaster Pro II captures each channel on a separate track plus a stereo mix. This means you can record a four-person podcast with each participant on their own track and mix them individually in post-production if needed - for removing coughs, adjusting levels per speaker, or applying different processing to different voices. This flexibility is why professional podcast producers favour the RodeCaster Pro II over simpler interfaces.
USB functionality
The RodeCaster Pro II functions as a USB audio interface when connected to a computer, with each channel appearing as a separate input in your DAW. This makes it compatible with virtually any recording software and allows you to use it as a professional multi-channel interface for music recording or video production beyond podcast use.
Build quality
The build quality is excellent. The faders are smooth and well-weighted, the pads are satisfyingly tactile, and the touchscreen is responsive and clear. It's a device designed for professional environments where reliability is non-negotiable, and it feels like it.
The verdict
At £455, the RodeCaster Pro II is genuinely excellent value for what it is. Assembling an equivalent setup from separate components - four-channel interface, external processing for each channel, multi-track recorder, sound board - would cost significantly more and require considerably more knowledge to operate. For professional content creators who value simplicity and consistency, the RodeCaster Pro II is one of the best purchases available at this price point.
Check the Thomann price - they regularly have the best deal on this in the UK.