Every podcaster or musician needs a way to help record their thoughts or their latest song, and using a small and powerful microphone that plugs into the computer to allow them to record is the best way to do this. Instead of having to rent out a recording studio or worry about feedback or background noise lowering the quality of the recording, using an external USB microphone improves the sound quality while making it much easier to produce the podcasts and recordings you desire.
No matter if you are in your room at home or out on the road when inspiration hits, being able to plug your microphone into the USB port on your computer makes recording fast and easy.
Beginning songwriters and podcasters can benefit from this equipment, as can seasoned artists. When you choose a quality external USB microphone, you can rest easy that your ultimate product, the sound recording, will impress your listeners.
To help you accomplish your goal, we have placed the Rode Podcaster head-to-head with the Rode NT USB so you can more easily compare the Rode Podcaster vs. Rode NT USB.
Microphone Type
The two most common types of USB microphones that you’re going to be able to buy are condenser and dynamic. While they may look the same, they operate very differently.
Dynamic microphones are great for use in live situations as they are not as sensitive as condenser mics so that they won’t pick up as much background noise. They do a great job recording percussive sounds and instruments due to their narrow frequency response.
Condenser microphones, on the other hand, are great for vocals and acoustic instruments. They have a broader frequency response range but are a lot more sensitive to louder noises.
Rode Podcaster
The dynamic external USB microphone in the comparison, the Road Podcaster offers a broadcast-quality sound that, while it is ideal for individual singers and podcasters, also works great for recording larger groups and bands at the same time.
There’s no concern about compromising sound quality with the Rode Podcaster, and although many people worry about choosing a dynamic microphone over a condenser, this is a compelling option that can easily record any loud sounds that you want while at the same time is sensitive enough to pick up quieter noises.
Rode NT USB
Another condenser external USB microphone, the Rode NT USB ensures good sound because of how sensitive the microphone is and how quickly it can pick up the softest singing or the quietest acoustic guitar.
While this microphone won’t do a perfect job recording live music or multiple sound sources, the condenser is strong enough to give you good quality audio from a single source.
Score
Rode Podcaster – 85
Rode NT USB – 80
Deciding between a condenser and dynamic microphone is essential but is generally a personal decision that you will have to make based on what kind of recording you’re going to be doing. Even so, choosing a microphone that is high-quality is best, as you want to get the most out of your recording time.
If you want a microphone that will be able to easily record any music, singing, or podcast that you want to make, you should consider a Blue Yeti Pro.
However, if you are OK with just podcasting or recording a single voice or instrument, then either one of these microphones will do an excellent job for you.
Recording Resolution
CD-quality recording is 44.1 kHz and 16-Bit. Most USB microphones are going to record at this rate, which is just fine for quality home recordings, but if you want something that will sound a little more professional, then you will want to make sure that the microphone you choose has a higher recording resolution.
In this case, you may have to opt for a professional microphone, but with careful consideration, you can still choose a basic one that will sound more professional.
Rode Podcaster
The Rode Podcaster’s resolution is 18-bit, with a sampling of 8-48 kHz. This is not nearly as high as some other microphone we have compared, but it’s important to remember that this is a dynamic microphone, and that is going to have some effect on the overall sound recording quality.
This mic won’t work as well if you want to record a single source and have it be the highest quality but is great for recording at a venue.
Rode NT USB
Able to produce sample rates of 16-bit and 48kHz, the Rode NT USB is has a little less recording resolution than the Rode Podcaster.
This means that it will create lesser quality sound and recordings. Depending on your use, this will work well for podcasts and other less strenuous recording jobs, but it will not be as professional in quality.
Score
Rode Podcaster – 65
Rode NT USB – 50
The Rode Podcaster is the winner in this regard by having a better recording resolution than the Rode NT USB.
This means that you will produce the highest-quality sound recordings that you can in your home and you won’t have to wonder if you sacrificed quality when opting for this microphone. You can rely on it to do a great job picking up nuances in speech and recording single instruments so that your listeners get the full experience when they are listening to you.
With the Rode Podcaster, you’ll be blown away by how professional you can sound.
Polar Pattern
You have to consider how your microphone is going to pick up the sound before you buy one, as some microphones will do a much better job picking up sounds from specific directions than others will.
Being able to choose between different polar patterns when recording allows you to cancel out noises that you don’t want to be included in your recording and improve the overall sound of your final recording.
This means that you will have a more professional final product that is focused on the speaker or musician without very much unwanted ambient noise.
Rode Podcaster
With a cardioid polar pattern, this powerful microphone ensures that you get the perfect sound from one location, but doesn’t offer other patterns to pick up different sound patterns.
This can be frustrating when you want to include ambient noise from a live show, especially as this is a dynamic microphone and in general more able to handle louder and more robust sounds.
Rode NT USB
The Rode NT USB is very easy to plug in and use, and part of the ease of use is that it only records in a cardioid polar pattern. When using this pattern, you will enjoy the precise quality of your vocals or music, but it can be challenging to get a full, rich feeling, especially if you are playing with other people.
If you are going to share the microphone with another user, you will need to be side by side for the best possible result.
Score
Rode Podcaster – 50
Rode NT USB – 50
To ensure that you get the best possible sound no matter what or where you are recording, you will want to make sure that you have different polar patterns to choose from.
Both of these microphones have only a single cardioid polar pattern. They will do an excellent job for what they are designed to do. But don’t try to record multiple sources. You will be disappointed.
Final Score
Rode Podcaster = 200 points.
Rode NT USB = 180 points.
Overall, the microphone that is going to give you the best recording possible when comparing the Rode Podcaster VS Rode NT USB is the Rode Podcaster by a hair. There is no doubt this is a superior microphone with more features
When you compare microphone type, recording resolution, and polar patterns, it is evident that the Rode Podcaster is incredibly powerful and able to complete any task that you need.
From single recording instruments to podcasting, when you opt for the Rode Podcaster, you can be sure that it will exceed your expectations each time you use it.
Our Choice:
As people who love great-sounding music and podcasts, we choose the Rode Podcaster as our choice when choosing between the Rode Podcaster VS Rode NT USB.
This article originally appeared here, and is used by permission.