SHOULD YOU UPGRADE TO THE RODECASTER PRO II??
This is a very common question these days.
Someone already has the original Rodecaster Pro, or similar, and they want to know - should I upgrade?
This is NOT a simple answer!
There are a lot of variables in play here, and despite all the rah-rah-rahing of reviewers, much like myself, this thing is a big investment, and probably not necessary for a lot of people.
So, lets go over a few different scenarios to see when is the best time for this upgrade.
Also a key point, I will be approaching this from more of a moderate perspective, instead of just trying to sell you on the unit.
Aren't I nice?
As well, we are going to assume you have the money in the bank for the investment.
Sound good?
THE INTERMEDIATE USER
This isn’t someone getting into audio for the first time. This is that person that is looking into expanding from something outside of a "podcast" interface.
We will cover the "First Timer" a bit later on.
But lets say you are moving up from a Scarlett, or something similar. This is the time to ask yourself ONE THING.
Will the money you spend on this unit be paid back over the next while, either from a monetary perspective or time.
Let's not kid ourselves, if you are NOT making money on your content, the money you spend on this unit will be a complete loss.
If you are in the "no-money" camp, you are going to have to get creative with how you sell this idea, and even worse, perhaps to your husband or wife.
So in this situation, you can justify it by using this purchase to save your time.
Perhaps by having better audio with remote guests will free up your post production time, or just all around better audio.
Maybe the multichannel recording option is what you are looking for to speed up your editing as well.
Yes this thing does have great specs, and utility, but if you are hoping that this thing will take you over that line to making money, it wont do that.
So if you are one of these intermediate users, plan accordingly, and be realistic about how much this is going to impact your life.
Already has RODECASTER PRO
This is probably the most common version of the question.
I already have a Rodecaster Pro. Is it worth it to upgrade?
My first thought is - Does the Rodecaster Pro you already own, actually get the job done for you?
And be honest.
Because if it does, then you are talking about just owning it for the sake of the extra bells and whistles.
And no matter how cool those bells and whistles are, if you have gotten by for this long without them, this might not be the best use of your money.
Again, as superhuman cool as this thing is, it may not be the only thing in your setup that might need an upgrade.
You can buy a lot of things with the money you would spend on this.
So if you are in this boat, and still on the fence, do an honest review of the audio you are getting, and ask yourself if there are any other upgrades you think would help more than what the RCP2 offers.
New mics?
How about some acoustic treatment to clean up your audio?
How about a new laptop that doesnt crash everytime you open your DAW?
If you can answer all this honestly and you find you are still left wanting that new shiny toy - giv'r.
The upgrades you DO get are a nice touch, but remember, outside of some cleaner gain, this thing wont make you sound better if the audio you are putting in is trash.
THE BROADCASTER
These are current or former broadcasters who know what they need.
Still though, I wouldnt be jumping online with your money in hand quite yet.
Do your homework, and make sure you arent going to be just fine with the first RCP, or perhaps one of the alternatives.
The Tascam Mixcast 4 is still a great option.
But going back to the OG RCP, it was a huge go-to for a lot of at home broadcasters, and is still a very valuable unit.
In fact, Rode has committed to continually updating it. And with a lot of early adopters moving towards the RCPII, that means you can probably find one of the OG pretty cheap used.
That said, if there are some features in the latest rodecaster that you can't live without...well you know what to do.
At this stage of your career, you know what you need best - so go get em' tiger.
THE PRO
This is the one time I can actually say YES - this is a great buy.
These are the people that are doing their content on a professional level, and need a bit more versatility out of their board.
And that is the coolest feature of the RODECASTER PRO II - the versatility.
Whether it is the multiple storage options for redundancy, or the ability to change the actual inputs on the mixer itself, this thing may be the next level for you.
The little things like talkback, headphone routing, etc, that just makes your whole operation a bit more fluid.
This thing SHOULD pay itself off in no time at all.
So if you are in this group and hesitating to pull that trigger, I can say this thing is a fantastic option for your next new trophy gear.
THE NOOB
And lets finish this off with some advice that probably will fall on deaf ears, But hey...I get it.
If you are NEW to the whole recording thing, and this is YOUR FIRST FORAY INTO RECORDING, I would probably recommend against getting this unit.
While it is the coolest and newest shiny object to catch your eye, there are a tonne of cheaper and easier units you can purchase to get your feet wet.
Also, as mentioned before, this thing isnt a guarantee to great audio, and definitely not for good content.
THAT is up to you.
An initial investment into recording voice generally includes
A decent mic
An interface
And some sort of treatment for your space.
Now that last one doesnt have to be top priority for everyone, in fact there are a lot of rooms that have decent acoustics, but it is worth keeping in mind that a lot of the functionality can be found in much cheaper gear.
For instance, a Zoom Podtrak P4, while no where near as powerful as this beast, will get you started, and wont kill your pocketbook right away.
But who are we kidding?!?!
You are sitting there with the money, and sometimes just having that shiny new toy is all we ever need.
So in this instance, let me just say this.
You do you...you special butterfly!
