Trying to choose between two microphones can be difficult. When it comes to podcasting, you’re going to want to find something that has clear recording quality, something that’s easy to set up and use on the fly.
Two popular choices for podcasters, streamers, and YouTubers are the Rode Podcaster and the Blue Yeti.
Depending on who you ask, either can be one of the best microphones they’ve ever used or a total waste of money.
But how can you know what the best one is for you?
In this article, we’re going to give you a total overview of both USB microphones, comparing their technical capability, sound quality, weight, size, and other key features (also see, ‘Best USB Podcasting Mics‘).
We’ve also made sure to include a short Frequently Asked Questions section to clear up some of the more technical terms used in this article.
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| Primary Rating: 3.5 | Primary Rating: 3.5 |
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Rode Podcaster: A Total Overview
The Rode Podcaster is one of the most popular microphones for podcasting because of its sound quality, simplicity, and affordable price point.
It is Rode’s first attempt at making a USB mic, and they do a lot right with it.
If you’re looking for a compact and high-quality podcasting mic then this is going to be a great choice for you.
It can be set up in a matter of minutes, simply by clicking it into a USB slot on whatever device you’re using (also see, ‘USB vs XLR‘).
In the sections below, we’re going to be giving you an overview of some of its key features.
Design
Lightweight and simplistic was clearly a design goal with the Rode Podcaster, and you can see it right out of the box.
It has a classic radio-broadcasting style, with an included pop shield and a tough grille that looks great, and works very well for sensitivity control.
It has a certain aesthetic style that is understated but looks great on camera without being gaudy or over the top.
It’s fairly lightweight, at 1.44 pounds, making it somewhere in the middle of what you can expect from other microphones around the same price point and sound quality.
We also need to highlight its inbuilt pop filter that helps to guard your recordings against additional pop or plosives.
ALSO SEE: Microphone Pop Filter
It’s a small feature but one that does wonders for sound quality without you having to do anything.
Another thing to highlight here is its simple LED light at the side of the microphone, which will allow you to monitor your recording process.
This light turns red whenever your microphone’s signal is peaking, which can do wonders for your monitoring process.
Sound Quality And Polar Patterns
One of the most impressive things about the Rode Podcaster is how it’s able to give high-quality sound while being a USB microphone.
Because it’s a dynamic microphone, it’s been designed to create high-quality sound and block out white noise (also see, ‘Best Dynamic Microphones‘).
This is especially important for recording conversations with multiple microphones and voices speaking, as it will be able to isolate your voice and give you nothing else.
The Rode Podcaster has been designed to use a cardioid pattern—if you want to know more about exactly what this means, check our FAQ at the end of this article—with a short frequency range that allows your voice to be recorded as clear and isolated.
If there are ever any issues with white noise, you’ll be able to correct them with audio editing software.
Portability And Accessories
The life of a content creator on YouTube or a Podcaster can often require you to travel around. Because of this, you’re going to want a microphone that can easily travel around with you.
If this is something that matters to you, the Rode Podcaster has been designed with this in mind. It’s really easy to pack down and is compatible with a variety of different devices.
For example, you can easily remove the pop shield and store the whole microphone in a bag or case when traveling.
Main Downsides
Probably the main downside of the Rode Podcaster is its starting price point.
You can expect to pay upwards of $200, but this is only a downside if you consider it without looking at the alternatives. It’s actually rather cheap considering its capabilities.
Another issue you might run into is when using it to record in other situations that aren’t podcasting, or voice-based situations.
The Rode Podcaster works well best when it’s focusing on one sound that is close to it.
Blue Yeti: A Total Overview
Blue has made its name making high-quality microphones that are unmatched at their price point.
The Blue Yeti is one of the best they have to offer and has become a favorite condenser microphone for years since its release in September 2019 (also see, ‘What Is A Condenser Microphone‘).
It’s fairly similar to the Rode Podcaster in some ways but much different in others. Let’s take a look at some of its key features:
Design
The first thing to note is that the Blue Yeti condenser mic is a much bulkier, but sturdy and good-looking microphone than the Rode Podcaster.
With a weight of 1.27kg and dimensions of 11×12.2×28.9cm, it looks much larger in real life than it does in a picture, but it’s been designed to look great, especially in its native deep blue color.
Aesthetically, it looks most similar to a 1950s studio mic, but with a new finish that makes it seem modern and slick.
Like the Rode Podcaster, it’s a USB-based mic and has been designed with a three-capsule design.
This means that it contains three mic capsules that allow for a dynamic list of recording patterns.
This is one of the key design choices that make the Blue Yeti so impressive when it comes to sound quality.
This also allows you to easily customize your polar patterns, meaning you can decide where your mic picks up sound, and create a more isolated, or broader sound.
It offers you four different modes that you can switch between Cardioid Polar Pattern, Bidirectional, Stereo, and Omnidirectional.
These offer you a lot of versatility and a simple series of buttons allow you to navigate between them without the use of external software.
Sound Quality
The excellent sound quality of the Blue Yeti is impressive considering its price point.
You may have to fiddle a little more with the polar patterns to get a sound profile that better reflects what you’re recording, but it offers a level of versatility that you won’t find when looking at its competitors.
It also features significant gain control, which you can operate with a small dial at the back of the microphone.
This makes monitoring levels easy, and you can always turn it up or down as you’re recording should you need to make small changes.
Background noise is also kept to a minimum, thanks to the noise-cancellation technology implemented. Condenser mics like the Blue Yeti tend to pick up a lot of background noise, but its impedance settings help keep it under control.
In addition, there’s a mute button that you can use if you need to take a break in the middle of recording and don’t want your audience or listeners to hear any accidental sounds that may be picked up by the mic.
Headphone volume, on the other hand, can be adjusted via a knob located at the front of the mic.
Main Downsides
Portability is one of the main problems with the Blue Yeti. It’s a large, bulky microphone that can be difficult to transport.
If you find yourself going on a long journey to do an audio recording, you’ll definitely notice the weight of it in your bag or case. That said, this is the price you pay for its three-capsule design.
Another thing that you might find difficult–-especially if you’re new to sound recording—is the options you have available, and how to hone in on the right sound pattern for the project you’re working on.
We’d say that you should probably use a Blue Yeti alongside sound editing software to get perfect sound; especially if you’re going to be recording something like an Audiobook.
Which Is Better? The Final Verdict
The Rode Podcaster is going to be your best choice for simplicity when it comes to setting up a mic and getting high-quality sound right off the bat.
While you can do a little more with the Blue Yeti, it’s much more complicated to manage when it comes to sound patterns and you might have to learn a bit about recording before you can get a good sound.
In short, both are amazing USB mics and the one you pick might come down to a few individual preferences.
We’d recommend going for the Rode Podcaster if you want something simple, and the Blue Yeti if you don’t mind the additional weight and want the versatility that it offers.
We hope that this article has given you a fair understanding of each microphone and what both of them do good and bad.
Trying to decide between them can be difficult, but just know that both are great and used by countless podcasters across the world to create professional-sounding audio.
If you still have some questions, check below for our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Cardioid Recording Pattern?
This mode refers to a microphone pattern that will focus on picking up sound directly from the front of the grill. It’s a very simplistic recording pattern that is perfect for directly recording voice.
What Is The Stereo Recording Pattern?
This allows you to easily separate different channels within a recording and can be very handy for recording different instruments when composing a piece of music.
What Is Omnidirectional Recording Pattern?
This allows your mic to pick up sound from different directions and can be very useful depending on the type of content you’re recording.
More Rode Podcaster Comparison Articles
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- Elgato Wave 3 vs Blue Yeti
- Samson Q2U vs Blue Yeti
- Audio Technica ATR2100 vs Blue Yeti
