The Rode Streamer X is a promising, all-in-one capture card that also acts as a mini production studio. How does it fare? We break it down.
Rode’s push into the gaming space has been a little dull so far. Two great USB-C microphones kicked off the Rode X brand, but outside the Unify software, not much else. It’s partially why the Streamer X piqued my interest.
An all-in-one semi-studio production to handle the core elements of streaming or recording content in the modern age. All are backed by the same excellent tech found in the Rodecaster Pro II and its smaller Duo counterpart.
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It’s also the first real video product that Rode has put out. So, is it all bark and no bite, or does the Rode Streamer X manage to cement Rode’s place in the capture card world?
Key specs
- Input: HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm port, 1/4-inch port
- Output: HDMI 2.0, up to 4K60 passthrough
- Video output: Up to 4K30 (with VRR supported)
- Max Capture Resolution: 2160p30
- Supported Resolution: 1440p60, 1080p120, 1080p60 HDR
Design
Following the successful and easy-to-read design of the Rodecaster series, Rode has made no real changes to the formula. While small on the desk, it’s got enough weight to ensure only you dragging it to change HDMI cables could move it.
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Massive pad buttons make up the interface, with a clear RGB light through them for glances as to what’s what.
The four colored pads produce sounds that feel great as you slap them to play the generic introduction music, or, as I found out, hilarious when you put a sound clip of Vince McMahon saying “Paul…” as he lays crushed under some of the WWE set.
I do miss the physical sliders, but the compact size and dial replacements are enough to make me forget about it. Everything is so clear and to the point with the Streamer X, and I also appreciate it being built angled upwards. Reducing the risk of strains for repetitive tasks is always a plus.
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Features
Before I jump into the video, the Streamer X has excellent sound. It houses the same preamp as the Rodecaster Pro 2, as well as three possible audio ports to create with. While I preferred using the XLR port, you can just as easily use a headset over 3.5mm and plug in instruments or other devices over the larger port.
While Rode might be focusing on gaming with the Streamer X, it does still care for its primary audience, and making it open to more people is excellent.
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Capture and Passthrough
However, Rode and sound is a boring topic. It’s excellent, there’s not much more to say. How does their first foray at a gaming-centric video product go? Well, I enjoyed my time with it. The HDMI passthrough will top out at 4K60, while the recorded output can only go as high as 4K30. While not a major issue, it does mean that only on-camera recorded footage would be any good at that resolution.
Capture resolutions include up to 1080p120, or 1440p60. During my time I noticed no dropped frames and the hardware never really taxed the machines I connected it to. It also uses USB-C Gen 3.1, so if you’ve got no spare monitor to pass through to, the latency is minimal enough to be played via the PC itself.
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Software and HDR
I was running it through macOS on an M1 Pro and discovered a strange issue. As I record in 1080p, this gives me access to the HDR features. I often tend to turn HDR off when recording, but for the sake of the review, left it on with Alan Wake 2.
Rode doesn’t supply any kind of recording software on its own. You’re relying on third-party software like OBS or an alternative like QuickTime Player. As there’s no real software to handle the video itself, with neither Unify nor Central providing much outside of sound settings, you’re left at the whims of your chosen software developer.
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I recommend HDR be turned off at the source, as some software won’t tone map automatically or correctly. I found that regardless of where I recorded, the HDR option would regularly present us with crushed colors or a nasty contrast issue. While fixable in post, for live streaming it can wreck your entire output.
With Elgato’s software, it will at least try to color-match it through tone mapping, which is fairly successful to the untrained eye.
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While I appreciate being able to slot the Streamer X into my workflow quite quickly, the lack of first-party app support on the video end of things leaves a lot to be desired.
Recording and streaming
This all said, once these small issues were dealt with, the Streamer X became a joy to use. Mario Wonder and Alan Wake 2 were the guinea pigs, offering two opposite ends of the tone spectrum. The harsh blacks and rich effects looked great from Alan Wake 2, while Mario Wonder’s joyful charm was captured to its fullest potential.
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The quick way that the Streamer X manages to integrate into any app that supports a webcam made it super easy to capture quick clips for sharing too.
there is a moment in mario wonder where you get to play a super advanced level way earlier than intended. at every juncture in wonder, Nintendo flirts with saying fuck you and i love it pic.twitter.com/YlJadTYCHp
— joel (@itsbazx) October 18, 2023
While recording is only part of the product here, it’s where I focus most of my time. That said, streaming to a private few, the Streamer X seriously impressed. Having everything all at my fingertips, it just clicked together. Outside of remembering that the tools are now there for you to use, the Streamer X made everything so much easier.
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Take note for next time, Rode
As the programmable pads can house a few pages of sounds, it also means you’re not hamstrung in terms of providing irritating noises for a potential audience. What I wish the pads could be assigned to is more video production. There’s a whole ecosystem waiting to be tapped into, and it’s something I hope Rode takes into consideration next time. Perhaps a larger device to compete with the Blackmagic ATEM Mini and its four HDMI ports, with switching built in.
Verdict – 4/5
Rode has constructed the full package. From the excellent sound quality they provide to the flexibility in terms of what kind of microphone or headset you use, it seems that the Streamer X has been thoroughly thought about. It’s not a simple “first try”, it feels like a feature-complete device that I can fully recommend.
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It not only allows you to bring the best out of yourself in terms of sound quality but also has the capture card baked in and properly routes your audio through Rode’s software, in one package, it’s finally kicked off the HD60S from Elgato from its position on my desk.
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