Gearank

The Rode Podcaster is a Large-diaphragm Dynamic USB mic.

Applications

The design is based on the more expensive Rode Broadcaster, and as the name implies, this version has been specifically designed by Rode for use in podcasting. It is also used for voiceover work.

Features

It comes with both a stand mount and USB cable. It has a headphone jack for zero latency monitoring with volume control.

It has both an internal shock mount and internal pop filter - you can use this right out of the box with no need for additional pop filters or shock mounts in most situations.

It's important to note that this doesn't come with a mic stand, just the stand mount for attaching it to a mic stand. Popular accessories include the Rode PSA1 Swivel Mount Boom Stand and the Rode PSM 1 Shockmount.

Compatibility

Works with both Mac OSX and Windows.

Specifications:

• Type: Dynamic
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 40 Hz to 14 kHz
• Sampling Rate: Up to 48 kHz
• Bit Depth: 18 bits
• Maximum SPL: 115 dB
• Power Requirements: 5V USB

Pros

Many customer reviews point out that the Podcaster is excellent at rejecting unwanted background noise - this is due to its fairly tight polar pattern. Many reviewers point out that this mic is very easy to use and produces a broadcast quality sound right out of the box with no post production improvements necessary.

Cons

There were no consistent negatives reported. A couple of expert recording engineers pointed out that this mic doesn't work well recording music or singing, but it wasn't designed for that purpose.

Overall

This is a very good mic for podcasting or any kind of voiceover work.

The Apogee Rode Podcaster is not currently on our highest rated list - you can see that in our guide to The Best USB Microphones for Recording & Podcasting.