Rode recently shrunk a full video production studio into a desktop gadget
Rode has announced a new addition to its creator hardware lineup, the RodeCaster Video Core, a compact console designed to handle both video and audio production from a single device.
The unit sits somewhere between a traditional broadcast switcher and a podcast mixer, bringing tools usually reserved for professional studios into a small desktop box.
A small box with big studio ambitions
RodeCaster Video Core is designed to help creators manage multiple cameras, microphones and broadcast platforms without requiring a complex studio setup.
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It supports up to four (!) video sources simultaneously, including three HDMI cameras and one USB video input, allowing users to switch between different angles during live recording or streaming.
(Photo credit: Rode)
That means a setup can include a main camera, a secondary angle, an overhead shot, and a web camera feed, all controlled from one system.
The device can also create up to five custom scenes, allowing you to move between formats such as full-screen video, split-screen chats or picture-in-picture viewing.
Audio is as important as image
Video Core includes two studio-grade combo inputs for microphones or instruments, as well as built-in audio processing, such as EQ, compression, noise gate, and de-essing, to help recordings sound more polished quickly.
The console is powered by an octa-core processor designed to handle switching, recording and streaming at the same time.
(Photo credit: Rode)
Users can broadcast directly to platforms such as YouTube, Twitch and Facebook Live over Ethernet, or record videos to an external USB drive or SSD for later editing.
The system also supports network cameras with NDI, which allows video sources to be sent over a local network rather than using cables.
This makes it possible to add additional cameras from across the studio or event space without using long HDMI lines.
One ecosystem, many creators
One of the most interesting features is how Video Core integrates with Rode’s existing podcast hardware.
Using a feature called RodeCaster Sync, the device can connect directly to audio consoles such as RodeCaster Pro II or RodeCaster Duo.
When connected via a USB-C cable, both devices behave as a single production system, sharing audio channels, controls and outputs.
This means that creators who already use Rode gear for podcasting can expand to produce videos without rebuilding their studio from scratch.
(Photo credit: Rode)
The company says the program is designed to make professional video production more accessible, especially for video podcasts, interviews and live shows where multiple cameras and microphones need to work together.
With its mix of camera switching, built-in audio mixing and direct streaming support, RodeCaster Video Core essentially squeezes a small broadcast studio into a device small enough to sit next to a laptop.
The RodeCaster Video Core is now available for pre-order from Rode US, Rode UK, Rode AU and Rode EU for $599 / £529.99 / AU$940 / €619.99.
