If you’re a part of the gaming and streaming community, or even content creation, video production and everything in between, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ve heard of the brand Rode and how impeccable the quality of their products is.
However, being someone that isn’t from the music industry at all, I quickly found myself overwhelmed when looking at Rode products for my small little streaming hobby. XLR connectors and interfaces and monitor cables and dynamic this and a condensing what? I’m a gamer, and I’m lazy, haven’t you watched literally any movie ever?
The Rode X microphones take all that complexity away and deliver easy-to-use USB microphones that work as well as their XLR counterparts.
Introducing Rode X, the first-ever sub-brand that Rode has released. It’s aimed at gamers and streamers, and I suppose anyone else who also wants really awesome-looking microphones with a banging piece of software and a simple plug-and-play setup.
Rode X has three new products lined up for us to rub all over our faces, and boy, oh boy, are they face-rubbable.
They’ve released the XCM-50, a capsule-like condenser microphone, very similar looking to the USB-NT-Mini, and the XDM-100, a big, long and hefty dynamic microphone, similar looking to the Podcaster mic from Rode. The third and possibly best product from the Rode X range, is Unify.
Unify is a software-based mixer that comes free with any Rode X product. It allows you to fine-tune your voice to sound even more on live stream, whether you’re holding back bronchitis or not. Imagine a Pro Caster II, but on your screen and even more simple to set up.
On the outside, the XCM-50 and the XDM-100 are stunning; I love the red and black paint job that Rode has opted for in their new X range. Yet, they are also similar enough to older Rode products, so you don’t feel like you have to re-learn how to drive a Rode vehicle, and I feel like that is the approach that Rode is taking with the X range. A premium piece of hardware that delivers on all fronts but is as easy to use as plugging in your mouse.
Essentially, the XCM-50 and the XDM-100 aren’t anything new, but what sets them apart from the rest of the Rode range is the Unify software that comes “bundled” with the devices. I say “bundled” because I spent about an hour looking for some sort of product key code in the box, then tried to Google what to do and realised the software automatically picks up when you have a Rode X device connected.
Unify is the major player here from the X range. Just plugging in and using your mic is fine; I mean, I’ve been doing it like that for a while now but being able to absolutely fine-tune almost every aspect of how the microphone uses the audio that it hears is next level. Below I’ve got snippets of my current microphone, the XCM-50 and the XDM-100. All three devices were recorded through the Unify software, the difference being what the Unify Software can do with the Rode X microphones.
All in all, I’m super impressed with how easy these microphones were to use and not only that but how instantly better my recordings got. If you’re using microphones to create content, the Rode X range is precisely where you should look.
Yes, they only have two USB mics out now, but the Unify software and the promise that more time and development will be going into gaming and content creation products from Rode have me salivating.