Rode are well-known in the audio industry for offering high-quality equipment at an affordable price. Entry-level kit like the PodMic and Rodecaster Pro show that you can sound professional, all within budget. Although the Rode Procaster has been around for a while, this heavyweight of a microphone is still popular among podcasters and audio enthusiasts alike. Does the broadcast quality dynamic microphone live up to its reputation or fall short of being something great?
Subscribe!
How Does the Rode Procaster Sound?
By design, the Rode Procaster is a broadcast quality dynamic microphone, but that doesn’t tell us how it actually sounds. You can judge for yourself from our sound test:
Rode claims the Procaster is designed to offer no-compromise on performance in a broadcast environment. We believe that’s true.
Despite being a dynamic microphone, the Procaster does a good job at picking up all the nuances you would often find within sensitive condenser mics, all the while keeping out overpowering background noises.
The Rode Procaster’s long slender body is designed for solo recordings. Speaking directly into the top, the cardioid polar pattern puts the presenter centre stage. Noises from the sides and back are reduced significantly, making it ideal for noisy environments.
Rode Procaster in Noisy Environments
Busy environments aren’t always the best place for recording your shows. But some podcasters like to record episodes on location, like Luya’s Lowdown podcast.
Many microphones tend to pick up lots of background noise, but not the Rode Procaster. Capable of filtering out noise from a distance, dynamic microphones like this are ideal for environments that are not sound treated. Bedrooms, offices, and even cafes aren’t off limits.
Unlike its brother, the USB enabled Rode Podcaster, the Procaster is power-hungry, requiring a little bit more gain from your mixer or preamp to run it. The trade-off is all the better for it. Recordings sound clear and punchy, without post-processing editing.
Recording in a Professional Podcast Studio
Microphones suffer in bad recording environments. Professional podcast studios are the best place for making your shows sound great. The Rode Procaster sounds miles better in a sound-treated room, rather than a back-bedroom or office.
The internal pop filter is an extra layer of protection. Audio doesn’t get muddied with pops and plosives, even when you get get devilishly close to the front of the mic.
Rode Procaster: Final Thoughts
There’s a reason why the Rode Procaster is well regarded. High-end audio from a mid-range mic is rare, but the Procaster pulls it off. Although there are more affordable alternatives like the Devine M-Mic and Rode PodMic, it's still a fraction of the price in comparison to mid-range mics like the Ashton Stealth. Not one for absolute beginners, the Rode Procaster is a good stepping stone if you're looking to improve your sound quality and setup.
Pros
- Diverse: Ideal for most recording environments, even in a busy cafe.
- Extras: Comes with a sturdy ring-mount to keep it in place on stands, zip travel pouch, and internal pop filter.
- Price: $215 / £139 is an attractive price for powerful and top-quality microphone.
Cons
- Extra Gain: The Rode Procaster is power-hungry and needs levels turned up to run properly.
