Remote Location Podcasting with RODE Connect and NT USB Mini Microphones

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Rode Connect Robert’s Tips:
If you record remote podcasts or documentary-style interviews, then Rode Connect is the elegant solution you’ve been waiting for.
About a year ago, when we were all suddenly locked down and communicating online, I did a review of the Rode NT USB Mini microphone and how it can improve the audio of your podcasts, live streams and Zoom calls. I’ll put a link in the description.
This new Rode Connect set up is a game changer for people like me who need to travel to remote expeditionary environments and conduct interviews with explorers, filmmakers and other adventurers.
No need to pack a separate audio field mixer or other recording gear - Now, with the NT USB Mini and the FREE Rode Connect software, you can record remote professional-level audio using the laptop you already have in your back pack.
The first step is to download the software - there is a link in the description.
Then, connect your NT USB mini into your computer, and also connect your headphones to the port at the back of the mic.
When you connect your mic, you may get a prompt to update the firmware on your NT USB mini - go ahead and do that.
Now you are ready to record.
Click and drag the NT USB mini icon onto an open channel. If you are using more than one mic, do the same for all the other mics too. You can connect up to 4 NT USB mini mics to your computer without any complicated wiring or additional audio software.
As an added feature, Rode is now offering a set of color-coded mic and cable covers so you can assign the mics to the corresponding color on the Rode Connect software. This eliminates the need to figure out which person is on which channel - a nice touch when there are several people on your podcast, especially out in the field.
Next, you’ll want to click on each microphone to activate them, and drag the mic icons to the channel where you want to assign them.
Before you begin recording, you will want to set the levels of the mics - this is as easy as clicking on the channel number and increasing or decreasing the gain until you have the green meter levels at about 75% - leaving a bit of room for louder sounds like laughter or very dynamic interviews.
You may notice when you click on the channel number that a series of audio effects is also displayed. This is what really sets the Rode Connect software apart - the ability to modify the sound of each mic based on the person’s speaking voice. Before this you’d have to have additional hardware like a professional audio mixer to add effects to each channel. We have a Rodecaster Pro mixer in our production studio for when we are recording podcasts and documentary narration, but having almost the same capabilities while on an expedition is just amazing.
On each channel, you can choose a noise gate, compressor, aural exciter and big bottom effect.
The noise gate reduces background noise when not speaking into the mic. The compressor, processes the loudest and softest parts of speech, adjusting it to a nice, clear, even sounding level. The aural exciter gives the higher tones a crisp, clean sound, and the big bottom adds that nice, bass-y radio broadcasting sound.
By default, these effects are all turned on but on some channels you may need only one or two of these effects to get the best sound. Take a few minutes before recording to get everyone's voice sounding as good as possible.
You may notice there are two additional channels - System and Virtual. These are for adding additional audio sources to your podcast - things like intro music, pre-recorded segments, or remote phone calls. I’m not going to get into them here because I’m focusing on recording in-person interviews and podcasts in the field - but I’ll post a link to the Rode video where they explain this in detail.
The last thing you want to do before beginning your recording is to select whether you want your output to be a stereo mix or a multi-track - using the drop down preference menu on the right of the Rode Connect window.
If you are going to use the recording as it is, then stereo mix is your best bet. If you are going to apply a lot of additional mixing and post processing using a digital audio work station, then choose multi track. For most podcasting users the stereo mix is more than adequate.
So, now you are ready to record - just hit the big red button and make some expedition podcast magic.

[@CritterHunter]

I liked your doc about vortex springs. I reacted to it on my channel

[@JillHeinerth]

Thank you. We watched a few of your diving videos also - looks like you are having fun! Cheers.

[@JP-wn4jn]

Thanks this is very useful information.

[@nadieselgirl]

I use the same microphone. It is fantastic, heavy enough but not too heavy and sounds great! If I start including others into my work, this will be a game changer.

[@JillHeinerth]

Totally agree!