Game creators and streamers already know Rode. The company and make good options for those who tune in to OBS, YouTube, Twitch, and anywhere else you might “go live.” But as of today, there’s a whole new sub-brand that caters specifically to their needs: Rode X.
The first three products under the new brand include two microphones and a full desktop application for stream routing and mixing. The mics will sound eerily familiar to fans of Rode products, but the company assures us that they’ve been “re-engineered in-house for optimal performance for streaming and gaming”.
The new mics are the XDM-100 ($249) and XCM-50 ($150). The clue to the difference between them is in the name – D for dynamic, C for condenser (you can read about the difference). The XDM-100, at least physically, resembles Rode’s with a splash of red at the top. The XCM-50 is a condenser microphone that appears to be built on the same platform as the and features a distinct red button on the front.
Both microphones are USB only (no XLR), meaning you won’t need an audio interface to use them, and they have built-in headphone ports for latency-free monitoring. Which of the two you might be more interested in will depend on both your preferences and the room you’re streaming from.
The XCM-50 has a bright sound that will work well for those who live in acoustically treated or “softer” rooms. When tested side-by-side with its NT-USB Mini lookalike, they sound incredibly close, but to my ears the XCM-50 sounds a bit brighter. The NT-USB Mini seems a bit “closer” in comparison.
The XDM-100 has a more classic “dynamic” microphone sound. While perhaps not as well rounded as something like the Shure SM7B or even Rode’s own Podmic, it does sound cleaner than the Podcaster it shares its physical appearance with. If you want a good dynamic USB option, this seems like a competitive choice for the price. Especially once coupled with the new Unify software.
The only thing a lot of gamers and streamers really need isn’t so much a microphone – there are plenty of options for that – it’s a reliable tool to route all the sounds in your stream, usually a mix of sounds from game, chat, music and effects. With Unify, you have a simple software solution akin to the routing matrices found with the GoXLR, or Elgato.
Unify creates a few virtual audio interfaces on your PC and then you can control which app uses what and where that sound goes. For example, you probably want your intro music playing on the stream, but maybe you don’t want it in your headphones? Or maybe you want your audience to hear a YouTube video you’re playing, but not the music you’re streaming. With Unify, you can direct most things to most places, then change levels, or “shuffle” for each destination as well.
Rode has also added the ability to record all your audio files directly into the app. This makes it appealing to more than just streamers. For example, you can use it to record both sides of a Zoom call and be able to feed audio into that call, which would otherwise be tricky. The fact that Unify has sound pads for intros and effects means that it also works great as “Rodecaster Pro” software.
Unify is most similar to Wave Link but offers much finer control. The app isn’t as simple as BEACN’s, which lets you access every mix matrix at any time and has a slightly cleaner user interface. BEACN also benefits from the hardware mixer, but there is no option to record in this app or trigger sound effects.
Where Unify differs from most of its rivals is that you have buy the company’s equipment to use it. If you just wanted the features of the software, you could pay $5 per month or $45 per year for the app alone. This means you can easily use it with any microphone you have, you don’t have to use a Rode (unlike Wave Link which requires an Elgato mic). If you do buy a Rode X microphone, then the software is free. Unfortunately, if you already own a Rode USB mic, it won’t unlock the software, you’ll pay like everyone else.
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