Are Mic Boosters Obsolete? Rodecaster Pro II vs. Shure SM7B

[@FootDoctorZach]

Early congrats on 100k - well deserved

[@tombuck]

Thanks Doc! ❤️

[@marsgizmo]

I also retired my FetHead ‘cause of the new RCP II, amazing device! 😎

[@tombuck]

There should be a support group for all of these out of work boosters 😁

[@marsgizmo]

@@tombuck agree! 😅

[@EarthworksAudio]

Congrats on 100k Tom!! The work you're doing for creators is invaluable. (And ya sound great on our mics too 😉)

[@tombuck]

It's easy to sound great on such an awesome mic 😎

[@mrdereksutton]

Thank you so much for all of your videos about the RCP II. Your videos have saved me so much time from trial and erroring things myself!

[@tombuck]

So glad to hear it! The RCP is such an awesome tool.

[@BellaMason888]

You just convinced me to get the RCP 2. I truly love this upgrade. A complete game changer coming from a 2ch scarlet. Match with a SM7B give a total professional sounding voice. Thanks to your videos. Keep Em coming.

[@tombuck]

It's a world of difference! Glad the video was helpful and hope you enjoy your RCP2!

[@elt2477]

Always so concise, Thanks!

[@tombuck]

Thanks so much for the kindness!

[@DanCBearded]

Let’s gooo 100k Tom!!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Good one. Had the SM7B for years and still my fav.

[@tombuck]

You're definitely a huge reason why I gave it another shot. Always sounds awesome on your channel.

[@ClintEastonz]

Buy the Earthworks Ethos and you might just change your mind on the SM7B.

[@mattwruff]

Breakfast with Tom again on location. I took the RCP2 to a studio that has testing equipment and we can confirm the RCP2 is ‘cleaner’ without a Clouldlifter (which is the best of the Boosters). 300 more to 100K, I don’t know why I so excited for you to get to 100K but I am! Congrats!! Ok I got to get ready for my show, Blessings…

[@tombuck]

Good luck on the show! I remember Rode said they took the RCP2 to some studios in Australia to test and compare clean signals, but I’m REALLY glad to know you were able to confirm it independently 👍

[@skorpers]

I just plugged a Q2U into my MOTU M2 with the switch set to off and cranked the preamp to max. No audible noise until it was amplified by another 20+ DB And before I even amplified it the signal was too hot and already clipping for actual recording. These things are for sure obsolete and adding additional resistance into your signal chain only serves to increase noise or end up back at square one where the noise floor is equal to your (by todays standards, average) preamp. The Behringer 202HD and 204HD both have extremely similar preamp noise to the MOTO M2 -129.1 vs -129.3 dBFS EIN. This is within -2dBFS of the absolute best noise level possible. And by all means even the best condenser mics will have noise above and beyond these preamp self noise.

[@Wbc1811]

it's just crazy to see how far we have come in terms of audio technology over the past years, great video as always tom!

[@tombuck]

Isn't it absolutely crazy?! Everything is SO GOOD now.

[@JoseOnTheAir]

Enjoyed this topic! Makes me think about what my next interface will be. Right now I have a Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen (actually handed down!) and just upgraded my Rode Podmic to an SE Electronics Dynacaster. The interesting thing about the Dynacaster that sold me on it besides just the sound and EQ capability from the switches is the built in Dynamite PreAmp to use with 48v of phantom power. All of that for $289 and it gets really close to SM7B quality IMHO. Would be cool to see if you got your hands on it and see how it would apply either with your current use cases or just a general sense for someone who may not have a great interface like the RODECaster Pro II

[@tombuck]

The Scarlett is a really great little interface! I had no idea the Dynacaster had a built in booster! That's so cool. 🤯

[@DUANEYAISER]

Tom is a booster for all content creators, and will never go obsolete.

[@FynnOliverEmonSill]

👁 🍬 2

[@tombuck]

🥸

[@markvandenberg4606]

Even the witty puns.

[@mattthomastaylor]

Tom your channel is so dang good, and you better sm7Believe you deserve all the success! I was hooked after seeing your school studio setup in 2017, and just got my rodecaster pro II in the mail yesterday!

[@ROBOTRIX_eu]

That, for me, more than other features, is the biggest cost/ratio advantage... ..for now, i will keep the "original" barely used one i have..try to "extract" the most of it.. next month i will finaly have a new laptop, and start creating some content ideas that have been boiling and getting shaped in my head for some time.. What i noticed, spending so much time listening podcasts and channels, is that there are times, when there is barely no envirement noise, it becomes a bit "claustrofobic" and i get tired hearing.. Wish you all a good weekend!

[@tombuck]

Ooh, the new laptop will be so exciting! I'm happy for you to get that.

[@MSladekPhoto]

Nice! I love it when the marketing hype about a feature is not hype, but real. Thanks for sharing this real world experience of the quality of the pre amps in the Rodecaster Pro 2. Now, I just "need" to start that podcast...

[@tombuck]

I was nervous when they made this claim because if they didn't live up to it, it would be very bad. Super glad it's legit!

[@Filosofuerza]

From the boosters, the Klark Teknik was surprisingly quiet in comparison to the others. Great video Thanks

[@tombuck]

For the price it's REALLY tough to beat.

[@markvandenberg4606]

Here’s to hoping Focusrite will upgrade its Scarlett series with preamps good enough to support my dynamic mics, like they did with their Vocaster series. The RCPII is way overkill for many, including myself. Great video as always. Thanks!

[@tombuck]

I feel like that's definitely a worthwhile upgrade for them to stay competitive. The Scarlett's are really handy tools to have.

[@markvandenberg4606]

@@tombuck I like being able to mount them under my desk, which cannot be said of many interfaces.

[@Retailleadership]

Great Video Tom! Congrats on 100K Dude, well deserved!

[@tombuck]

Thanks so much Steve!

[@bulcub]

Congrats on 100k subs! bro You earned and deserve IT!!!

[@tombuck]

Thank you so much! It’s so crazy and exciting!

[@StrongLatinas]

Love the hand held desktop mic look. I have the original RCP and can't upgrade for the time being. So I have Fetheads -- I didn't know that they have cleaner gain if I connect them directly to the mic. Thank you!! Excited for your 100 K Pasa!

[@tombuck]

Thank you! I've noticed the "handheld mic look" becoming more and more popular. Honestly, I don't hate it 😁

[@StrongLatinas]

@@tombuck Rock and Roll🕺🏽!

[@PeteBreen]

Push to 100K! Should only be a few more days. Congrats Tom.

[@tombuck]

So close yet so far at the same time 😁

[@INFOXlive]

Great comparison! Thank you for effort! Those good preamps make this product really desirable compared to other options. Especially DUO, as is less expensive and suits better on this case when 4 ports are just a waste.

[@tombuck]

I think the Duo is really the perfect choice for most people. It's like the Goldilocks mixer 😁

[@INFOXlive]

@@tombuck, Rode is unquestionably a good technology firm. I don't think they're any worse than Neumann. Obviously, they are aiming at different market sectors. You simply cannot create 300£ devices out of 3000£ components. However, in recent years, Rode products have been duplicated in the same manner as Neumann items have. They have offered better products even to individuals who have not purchased any Rode equipment, just because Rode has moulded market demand.

[@JasonTaylor-po5xc]

Really wish RCP would support 32-bit float recording. My Zoom F6 does and it can drive the SM7B as well - but near the top of its gain output. I'll have to do some testing to see if the F6 natively is cleaner than adding the FetHeat back in.

[@rexxxar24]

The results of that test will be interesting for a lot of us.

[@iodainsoneoficial]

Thanks for the video, Mr. Buck! I repeatedly listened two of the samples. The one with the FetHead and the other with direct-mic on RodCaster II. It seemed to me that the former had a little more richness in the mid sounds.

[@tombuck]

It could be! Especially if you're listening on a decent set of speakers or headphones. Overall I've been super happy with the RCP2 quality and I love not having the booster, but over the years I've definitely noticed that boosters can bring out different qualities in a mic. 👍

[@EdgardB]

Great Review Tom, maybe you can make a video on how you color grade your video and with pp you use. Your colors are on point.

[@tombuck]

Got you covered: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpO0kp6Cj7mKjac It's actually nothing too crazy, but there's a link in the video if you want to use my Final Cut preset for yourself (it's free).

[@HowiSpangler]

Always great videos ! This helped a lot. Thank you

[@tombuck]

Thanks for the kind words Howi!

[@cuttingcorny]

Congrats Tom ! 100.000

[@tombuck]

Thank you so much!

[@SimplyAubs]

Thanks for making this video! As others have said, I was rocking the Fethead as well and I am GLAD to NOT have to use it anymore! NOW...my only 'problem' is remembering to unplug my unused guitar inputs and other stuff...🤪 (I am SOOO happy that I can plug in guitars, keyboards, and other stuff now!!! I just have to figure out my crackling problem...)

[@tombuck]

I've been playing bass through the RCP2 literally every day since I got it. It's amazing for online lessons!

[@UnfFaithwithMartyandMolly]

HOPEFULLY ORDERING THE RODECASTER PRO 2 TONIGHT FROM B&H. UPGRADING FROM THE RCP1 BECAUSE I CAN USE IT AS AN INTERFACE FOR INSTRUMENTS AS WELL.

[@tombuck]

Good luck, I hope you enjoy it! I've been using mine every day for online bass lessons and it works great. I'm hoping they add virtual amps and modeling at some point if possible.

[@UnfFaithwithMartyandMolly]

@@tombuck so we spoke on instagram but i have since deleted my IG account. i was runing a left and right audio to 3.5mm out of my tv and into my original rodecaster. i do a wrestling watch along show and this allowed me to "mute/solo" the tv audio into my ears and the ears of my cohost without being able to hear it on the stream. im assuming i can do the same now with the RCP2 by using a 3.5mm TRS to 1/4" TRS and plugging it into one of the inputs on the back of the board?

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

I'm thinking about finally switching from my Rode Podmics to the Shure SM7B. Seeing as I'm running a Rodecaster Pro 2, this is the video I needed when I need it. Watching now, thanks Tom!

[@tombuck]

The SM7B definitely lives up to the hype. My only hesitation in recommending it has always been the gain issue (not that it's a problem, but it's one more layer of complexity and a bit more cost). Now if someone is using the RCP2, it's super easy to recommend the Shure.

[@ErnestoAcosta]

I have both and my favorite is the Podmic so far. Believe me, the SM7B not sound $300 dollars better than the Podmic.

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

@@ErnestoAcosta I've heard that opinion a lot. Nearly every time I get close to buying the SM7B, Ii wonder about exactly what you said; could it really sound $300 better?

[@ErnestoAcosta]

@@InfectiousGroovePodcast Not IMO. The Podmic sounds amazing, and if you want something more, you can always tinker with the audio processing options on the RCPII. The thing about the SM7B is the Joe Rohan effect, and everyone thinks that by having it they're going to make a better quality podcast.

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

@@ErnestoAcosta I hear ya on that. Our KZbin content is completely different from our audio podcast content. I feel like the audio quality of our show has been excellent since switching to Podmics. So with input like yours, I may just not try to fix what ain't broke. Thanks for the opinions :)

[@simonswiss]

Haha of course after my comment from yesterday about the Earthworks Icon Pro, I see it in action in another of your videos 😅 Looks great with the blue foam!

[@tombuck]

It's such a great mic. I do like how the windscreen tames some of the highs a bit.

[@simonswiss]

@@tombuck Yep, used it for plosives initially, but I noticed the subtle high-end roll-off which is a really welcome "EQ" with this mic. But is this the SM7B foam, or the actual Earthworks foam (the one used on the Ethos)? My SM7B one is not snug with the mic, slightly too big. Still works great but looks a bit hacked together 😅

[@Zdravko100]

I am sitting on the edge of my seat. Waiting for the counter to go 100k. Thanks for the great content, Tom!

[@tombuck]

Haha me too! Thank you for the kind words!

[@tooeztv760]

Thanks you covered the exact question I had from watching a previous video of yours.

[@tombuck]

Happy to hear it! I was kind of skeptical at first about Rode's claims, but yeah, with the RCP2 there's absolutely no need for boosters.

[@serious_about_men]

i have an ssl 2+ interface and an sm7b and i’ve noticed that when I use a cloudlifter it honestly just adds more noise. when i don’t use the cloudlifter i have to set my gain pretty high but it’s way cleaner. i don’t know maybe there’s something wrong with the cloudlifter that i have but i just don’t use it and i’ve been fine

[@tombuck]

I would bet the SSL is just really clean, which is awesome. 👍

[@luke_1234]

Tom could you please consider doing a ‘minimalist podcast setup’ video? Laptop, which camera to use, and which UBS mic to use?

[@tombuck]

My "Live-streaming Basics" video is pretty close to that. Ultimately just about any USB mic can get the job done. It's incredible how many great options there are out there! But maybe a podcast-specific video is a good idea 🤔

[@LionsFanSyndicate]

Hey Tom, hope you’re well. I just got the SM7B and the RCP2. The mic some background noise and I thought that to be weird. Some after some testing, I noticed that the Shure picks up Sound EVEN WHILE MUTED ON THE RCP2! Any ideas? Thanks

[@tombuck]

My guess is that this has to do with pre/post fader options in the settings menu. I forget exactly which menu it's under, but either in the Output or Monitoring options, be sure that "post fader" is selected and then you'll only hear what's being adjusted by the faders/buttons.

[@LionsFanSyndicate]

@@tombuck ok! Thank a ton

[@TheBrandonLeeCook]

Thanks Tom!!!! I think i'll save up for this! And buy through your link :)

[@tombuck]

Thanks Brandon! That really does help out!

[@TheBrandonLeeCook]

@@tombuck no prob man! Also if you can make a short “difference between ride caster pro vs rode caster pro II video that would be great! Or a should you still buy the rode caster pro in 2022 that would be great! Haha thanks man!

[@MichaelW.1980]

Fun fact: Any Preamp introduces noise. That being said, the noise coming from a properly working inline preamplifier (doesn’t matter if it’s a Fethead, Cloudlifter or DM1 Dynamite) is almost always going to be quieter, even if it doesn’t make too much of a difference. It’s important to not here: The noise that is always being amplified is not the self noise of the equipment, but the room noise. It doesn’t matter what preamp you use there. Room noise is simply what the microphone picks up and as such is obviously going to be amplified the same as the sound you want to record.

[@Johnwick-07]

I hope that this new video will boost your subscribers to 100,000. Thank you for the info!

[@tombuck]

Haha, this video about not needing boosters can, in fact, be a booster 😁

[@jmelapette6194]

CONGRATS !!!! 100K 😎😎😎

[@tombuck]

THANK YOU! It's been a super exciting day!

[@instagramthegiovee3849]

I’m waiting to join the discord server! I’m using mkh 50 xlr mic-> xlr-k3m adapter -> Sony a7iii to record videos and so that my audio can be integrated in the same file when I upload to premiere pro. When I have this integrated file on premiere pro, the video and audio on the timeline is the color blue. Am I only allowed to edit the audio on premiere and not on audition? I’ve noticed that other videos on KZbin with tutorials on how to edit an audio file shows the audio as it’s own .wav file because they used a recorder and the file is the color green on the timeline. But what about in my case when I used the xlr-k3m so that I can have my Audio integrated into the same file as the video…am I only limited to edit the audio on premiere pro?

[@tombuck]

Right now the Discord server is set to channel members and patrons (I swear that's not a cheap plug, it's just how I've got the permissions running 😁 ). As for the Premiere issue, I think you can select your clip and then choose an option to detach the audio, which should give you more flexibility in how you edit it. I also think Audition does accept video files if that's easier too!

[@TheHonestTruth]

well jeesh! Boosters were short lived! Idk... i spent a hundred for my clark tekniks so i'm using them till i'm satisfied lol. I will say, that the "Fethead" specifically sounded exceptionally bad. Bold claim from rode tho... and it looks like they are spot on! wow. I'd like to say that the dynamic sound of the mic is radically different without the booster in the signal chain! I like the sound of the 7b better without the added coloration of a booster.

[@tombuck]

Boosters are still handy for most other interfaces (especially in the consumer/prosumer sphere), but it's REALLY nice not to have to rely on them.

[@nicktayloriv310]

I haven't needed my Klark Technik since I got a dbx 286s last year. And now I jut got the same RCPii and it also has plenty of gain. "now I can do something really stupid!" 😆 I'm still feeling my way around the processing even though it has preset for the RE20 that I'm using but I want a little more "bottom end" than the factory setting.

[@tombuck]

You can start with the presets and then modify them and save them as new presets- it's super helpful 👍

[@gabovalora]

Where can I get those color filters for the shure sm7b?

[@tombuck]

Reporterstore.com 👍

[@bullboykennels]

I have a low voice so I run my SM7B at 63db, works great very clean & the headset port will push my HD600 headphones. Where as the original RCP could not.

[@tombuck]

That's awesome! Definitely a key thing to make sure and do what's best for your individual voice since we're all a bit different.

[@danclarkeuk]

I have the Shure SM7B plugged into the Rodecaster Pro 2 - so the exact same setup as you're demoing. I don't get anything like the gain you're getting. If I have it on 58dB - the Rodecaster calibration display thing doesn't reach the green bar. To get it into the calibrated (mid-way through the green calibration bar) spot - I need to turn it right up to about 71dB, which brings in backgrond noise. I certainly don't get the "yikes, too loud, need to move back away from mic" loudness that you got when you turned yours up. I have my headphone volume dial exactly how you have it too. My mouth is a similar distance from the mic, and I'm not a quiet speaker. Any ideas why it would be so different?

[@tombuck]

Hey Dan! That definitely sounds strange to me. I would recommend resetting everything and starting rom scratch. I recently found this video about setting up the SM7B with the RCP2 and it helped me to get the best sound quality yet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2XLh3qqmdRog7s

[@danclarkeuk]

Thanks Tom! Just watched it, thanks for sharing. Yeah, he's definitely seeing more gain than I am too. Maybe I don't speak as loud as I think I do! 😂 I'll try a factory reset a bit later too, as you suggest.

[@Rjpianist]

This video gave me the confidence for getting rodecaster pro 2 I'm gonna get it Now!

[@tombuck]

Awesome! I hope you enjoy it! I love the original RCP, but the new one has been on an entirely different level, plus they keep pumping out firmware updates to make it even better. It's crazy.

[@cherostv8799]

Excellent content, one question Where did you buy the blue sponges for the microphones, thanks

[@tombuck]

reporterstore.com 👍

[@Griffomedia]

I was using a mic cut on the Neumann TLM 103 by -25 db. Will I still need this? I am cutting not boosting. Thanks

[@tombuck]

I haven't used that specific mic, but you shouldn't need anything extra.

[@tonys_room]

Probably with Rodecaster Pro works diferently, but normally the booster helps to eliminate noise since you don't need to add more gain to the input, keeping the faders lower.

[@tombuck]

Right and that's been my experience until now. The RCP's preamps are just so clean that it seems adding something like that to the signal chain reduces the quality. Pretty crazy to see (or hear) how far things have come!

[@LaloRacer1]

Would you recommend a cloud lifter at all for the PodMic with the RodeCaster Pro 2? I bought one but after watching this video, I am considering returning it if it doesn’t have any benefits.

[@tombuck]

Nope! You definitely don’t need one, so I say return it and save the money 👍 (Unless you plan to use your mic with other interfaces from time to time)

[@LaloRacer1]

@@tombuck Awesome! I did start my return for the CL-1 already. Here’s one more follow-up question (last one, I promise!) - Do you advice unplugging the RCP2’s power supply after powering off? I find that if I turn it off, but leave plugged in, a Rode screen just stays static on the display and never goes away. Not really sure how to adequately power it off for better overall longevity.

[@RafaelLudwig]

Stop making me want to buy the rodecaster! Actually, never stop! Best sounding vids on youtube!

[@tombuck]

100% buy it! I apologize for nothing 😁

[@Prydario]

Hello please make a guide how u install and set up the rode caster pro 2 and please show the windows settings for it i dont know what i do wrong i cant put the lvl up to 100% then the qualitiy is not good bit im not loud enough in the stream i use the rode caster pro 2 and the rode procaster

[@RexxReviews]

1:29 So you would say the audio wasn't faded...

[@tombuck]

This comment needs the air horn sound effect 😁

[@elt2477]

Thoughts on sound of Rodecaster Pro + SM7B + booster vs Rodecaster pro II + SM7B w/ no booster?

[@tombuck]

With no processing I personally think they're really close. However I REALLY like the SM7B preset (and it's super easy to fine tune too), so I've been really happy with results from the RCP2.

[@njet212]

I hope on the upcoming new studio grade soundcards in the future, they will also have lots of gain and clean signal just like Rodecaster Pro II. Really don't like the idea spending extra money to get in-line booster to get micrphone works at optimal gain.

[@tombuck]

That would be absolutely awesome! In the past few years it seems like there have been a lot more high-gain options becoming available. The next step is just making them super quiet, but we're definitely getting there.

[@njet212]

@@tombuck Yes! i feel before content creation era, generally speaking sound cards ( 1 or 2 channel ) were design to drive most condenser mics. But with content creation era, lots of people were using dynamic mic ( Sm7b is the popular one ) and generally those basic sound cards just don't have enough power to drive such hungry gain mic and needs to crank the knob all the way up.

[@davinchewk]

Even with all of the KZbin compression, you can still definitively hear that the RCP2 produces a cleaner sound.

[@tombuck]

I'm glad it comes across via KZbin- definitely was worried about that.

[@BlackDirk-d9d]

Rodecaster Pro II simplifies everything (with your video)

[@AnchorSnake]

Did you do any audio adjustments in post or is this just the raw sound from the SM7B? I recently picked up the SM7B currently running through a Focusrite Scarlet Solo 3rd gen and a cloud lifter. I'm not thrilled with sound quality and have to do a lot of tweaking in Adobe to make it sound remotely decent. Your SM7B sounds really great on the Rodecaster Pro 2 and even better when you turn on the processing. My original mic was a Samson G Track Pro USB condenser that sounded pretty good, it just picks up too much of the background sounds etc. and reason I wanted to try the Shure out. I'm a noob to all this and would love to make this mic sound as good as yours does. Thanks for the great videos and content I'm learning a lot! New Subscriber!

[@AnchorSnake]

Guess I missed the part at 1:54 where you said you it was raw sound. Cheers

[@tombuck]

This is interesting. I love the SM7B paired with the RCP, but I've used it many times with the Scarlett and a Cloudlifter. It should sound pretty darn decent. I wish I had a more concrete answer, but at least I can confirm that that setup should give good results.

[@AnchorSnake]

@@tombuck Thanks Tom! I ordered the RCPII.

[@AnchorSnake]

@@tombuck You was right the RCP II is awesome! Thanks Tom!

[@SimoneZanetti]

Hey Tom, how did you remove the RØDE PSA-1 Plus brand? 😃

[@tombuck]

I used this stuff called VLR, which is for removing vinyl letters from fabrics. Just wear gloves, use a lot of it, and add some elbow grease with an alcohol wipe. Takes about 10 minutes per logo to remove them entirely 👍

[@ItsRyukin]

I see you are so close to 100k now, Come on! and keep 'em up! =) (Why the time pass so fast?)

[@tombuck]

Time really does fly! And it’s terrifying.

[@ItsRyukin]

@@tombuck Yes, I do believe that.

[@ClintEastonz]

What are you using to mount your RC2 ? It appears you have a mount on the side of a light tripod.

[@tombuck]

And VESA arm will work- I just found a generic one on Amazon 👍

[@sushitatsujin]

I'm a newbie, so would the Rode Caster PRO 2 replace the booster and the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface? Thanks

[@sushitatsujin]

All in one solution i'm gathering?

[@tombuck]

Yes, it can take the place of that setup and then adds in the functionality of a full one mixer with more inputs/features/etc. 👍

[@sushitatsujin]

@@tombuck Thanks Tom. Keep up the awesome work!!

[@YoungSinai]

Man, you have a video for everything

[@1x1e1]

Can you check out Elgato's boomarm, so I can se if i shoud buy psa1 or Elgato boomarm

[@tombuck]

I've only used their low profile arm, and it's pretty great. Not as nice as the Rode, but definitely awesome for keeping a low profile. I've heard great things about their regular arm but haven't had a chance to use it myself.

[@Hassanakora]

Please make comparison video of latest Blue sona mic

[@tombuck]

I’m really interested in that mic! I saw Harris Heller’s review and it sounded fantastic there.

[@fits]

Hey! How did you get the branding off the PSA1+, Did you buy a custom sleeve or something? I've been looking for something like that!

[@tombuck]

I used some solvent for taking vinyl letters off t-shirts. Takes some elbow grease, but it works.

[@nata.sasmita]

Hi Tom. I have RCP1. The limited mic gain level (especially for SM7B) maybe the only thing I hate. Is a good investment if I move to the RCP2? How if I use dbx 286s combined with an analogue mixer or RCP1 with Fethead? Which one sounds better? Please tell me frankly. Thank you.

[@tombuck]

If you've already got the other gear like the dbx and you don't mind using them all together, then there's probably no need to upgrade. If you don't have those things, or don't like having to combine multiple pieces of gear, then the RCP2 will make a huge difference.

[@nata.sasmita]

@@tombuck Thank you for the advise, Tom. God bless you.

[@mr_reborn]

Saved me 250 bucks. Thanks, man.

[@tombuck]

Glad to hear it!

[@raedumthad]

Good to see how Tom sets up his SM7B. One issue. I am having trouble finding how to control where the sound from the RCP2 goes. Anyone know how I can easily choose between monitoring the sound with the connected speaker, line connected headphones or bluetooth connected headphones?

[@tombuck]

The output options in the menu lets you make a bunch of selections, but for the most part, it's just about turning the dial you want (headphone for headphones and the green one for monitors). Bluetooth will show up as an option near the regular monitor levels when it's connected and you cna press the knob to switch to it and adjust 👍

[@raedumthad]

@@tombuck Thank you Tom. Much appreciated. Best, Andrés (long time viewer, first time commenter :)"

[@MunroDoctrine]

How does the Rodecaster Pro do with 300ohms headphones?

[@tombuck]

I can't say for sure, but it does have high/low sensitivity settings for headphones, so according to the specs it's supposed to work with just about everything.

[@LucaDePazzi]

Amazinf video as always Tom! And your shirt… man! Haha I need to rewatch with better headphones but as for now you can hear a slightly difference ( and i’m using powerbeats pro xD). I have a question and maybe you can help me out. Is there a way to lift up the microphone monitor volume on the RCP2 without lifting all the volumes? Thanks

[@tombuck]

I think you can adjust the output levels in the settings. IF you're using headphones you can try switching between the high/low sensitivity options to see if that helps. I'm still figuring this all out myself, so I'm not 100% sure.

[@LucaDePazzi]

@@tombuck yeah I’ve checked also the user guide but it doesn’t say anything specific about it. I’m using Røde headphones like you but sometimes when I’m streaming all the system sounds makes it difficult to hear my voice and I find myself with pitch effects not switched off( because I forget that I’ve turned them on😅). Haven’t found anything in the beta firmware that suggests a monitoring level. Will send a question to Røde. Keep you updated if I find something :)

Is it the same for streamer x? Thanks for this and all your other videos by the way.

[@tombuck]

Yes! It has the same preamps inside 👍

[@DJYagga]

I put my SE Dynamics away when I received my unit 😁🙏🏾

[@tombuck]

I now have a drawer full of boosters 😁

[@JoeRalabate]

What windscreen did you use for that earthworks icon pro? I looked at the site that you posted and I'm not sure which one to get

[@tombuck]

It's just the SM7B one. It's not a super tight fit, but it works great and won't fall off or anything.

[@alfierosselli3809]

How do I get my cloudlifter to work on the podcast pro 2

[@tombuck]

You don't need it 👍

[@keithbennett5179]

Thanks that was great to hear…. And see! :)

[@tombuck]

And it's great to see you here!

[@themollyberry]

Love this video, love your 'tude, glad to have found you, ty!

[@itsmeJonB.]

Do you recommend a boost in dB even within the factory presets? I use the rode procaster with my rodecaster pro 2 for example

[@tombuck]

Ultimately I like to go by the audio meters. I know that my ears can play tricks on me, but the meters never lie (exceptsometimestheydobutlet’s nottalkaboutit).

[@exouw]

where do i get these popfilters ??

[@tombuck]

reporterstore.com 👍

[@matatoto9805]

Great video Tom. Thanks for all the information. I have a question, why in the graduation metrics next to each mixer faders, you got like a thick and large white dash at the top of a column of smaller and thinner dashes, and on top of this you got a second graduation metric with a thicker and larger dash at the top of it? How should I read it?

[@ahfimiwonawun]

How many dbs of gain did the first rodecaster have?

[@tombuck]

It was 56dB

[@ahfimiwonawun]

@@tombuck, thank you.

[@EliseoWay]

Man this is golden bro! I have 3 Mic boosters I need to offload now. Lol

[@tombuck]

They’re always handy to have! But it’s great not to need them all the time.

[@quiztasiarocks]

Hey Tom, would you recommend dynamic mics like Shure SM7B over a condenser for a deeply untreated room. Struggling a little with echo in my recordings with my condenser.

[@xyzct]

Definitely.

[@omaralshami3239]

Thanks, this helped me a lot.

[@tombuck]

Happy to hear that!

[@gabriel189]

Congrats on 100k Tom!! I did have a question that’ll help me eventually get to 100k as well. This might be totally off topic or slightly on topic, but for the audio used on your podcasts do you use a noise gate or expander of any kind? If so where do you normally set your threshold? I know it’ll vary given the speaker’s voice but maybe I can’t get a nice starting ground from you.

[@tombuck]

Thanks Gabe! Lately I've just been using the SM7B preset on the RCP2 with the noise gate set to the default setting. I've tried adjusting it myself, but I can't make it sound better than how they already have it. Before the RCP2 I would sometimes use the denoise option on Adobe Audition if something was sounding really funky, but that's about it. 👍

[@CreativeNotJustYet]

where is everyone getting their sm7b windshield colored ? :D

[@tombuck]

reporterstore.com 👍

[@cresshead]

curve ball time - could it be that the rodecaster pro II isn't designed to use signal boosters AT ALL so the rodecaster gives poor results compared to other interfaces? .. just a thought :)

[@tombuck]

In a way yes, but not I don't think in a nefarious "anti-booster" way. It's kind of like when someone runs the RCP into their camera to record- the camera's preamps are nowhere near as good as the RCP, so there's probably going to be a reduction in quality. The RCP preamps really are just that great where a booster reduces the quality. On lots of other interfaces (especially at the consumer level), the preamps aren't always the best, so a booster stops you from having to max them out and introduce a bunch of noise.

[@JohnDoe-fu4qd]

it still sounds better w signal booster fethead. Its like adding loudness, it has more umph to your voice.

[@binskibub]

So cool ! Want it!

[@tombarnett283]

Legend, thank you.

[@tombuck]

You're welcome!

[@kevinvanderlei3271]

Thanks, Tom.

[@DanielTolson1]

Awesome 👏

[@onocoffee]

"Currently, I'm using the EarthWorks Icon." *FLEX* As with anything, boosters have their place - but when it comes to the SM7B, it seems to me that most of this obsession with boosters has more to do with KZbinr Worship rather than actual need. Meaning that people have watched their favorite KZbinr, who made a video about needing a booster because their own gear couldn't handle that low an output and now it just gets applied across the board without understanding why. We need more videos like this to "pull back the curtain" and help people to save that extra hundred bucks!

[@tombuck]

There’s definitely a lack of guidance when it comes to all the different options of what you can run microphones into. I love the RCP because it simplifies everything, but lots of people just go with a 2i2 and then wonder why a mic like the SM7B doesn’t sound amazing right away (definitely what I wasn’t a fan of the mic for a long time).

[@onocoffee]

@@tombuck Haha, the 2i2... I've grown an aversion to the 2i2 and Focusrite in general because I've seen it be the de rigueur interface of KZbin! I'm trying to overcome that prejudice, but it's tough! The RCP has been a great mixer and I'm looking forward to the RCP2, just waiting a bit for the updates to catch up, and because I bought a new flight sim controller yesterday!

[@markvandenberg4606]

@@onocoffee Some prefer the simplicity of a device without 50 knobs and dials (not to mention the price tag). I’m a busy guy and for me this is just hobby. I started watching Tom’s long tutorial on the RCPII and turned it off after 10 minutes (sorry Tom, no offense!). There’s just too much there that I’ll never use and have no desire to get into. My 2i2 serves me well, even if the preamps aren’t great and I need to stick a Fethead into the back of my mics. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@onocoffee]

@@markvandenberg4606 I hear you. And I don't have issue with people in your situation. The ones that turn my eyebrow are the ones who shout out for everyone to get certain gear (ie. cloudlifter) without really understanding why. Certainly boosters have a place and a need, and what I'm calling for is that people learn and understand their needs and the gear. In one of my setups, I use the UA Volt 1 - a $140 interface with an RE20. Clean and no need for a booster. Many people buy the booster without really understanding if they truly need it.

[@brittany6429]

The chipmunk voice cracked me up 🤣

[@tombuck]

Is that not worth the price alone?

[@NateNakao]

Since my RCP2 arrived, my FetHead has stayed in the carrying case for my SM7B. As much as I love the FetHead, it's a bit of an eye sore on my streams. Obviously, it didn't make any visual difference on my podcasts, but it does kinda take away from the clean look I was going for.

[@tombuck]

I figure it’s always nice to streamline things and remove potential points of failure whenever possible. It’s always nice to have a booster handy, but it’s AWESOME not to have to use it 👍

[@clash1469]

My ADD is troubled by the fact that, for your various tests, you don’t have the fader exactly at unity gain, but instead slightly below unity gain. WHY NOT JUST PUT IT AT UNITY GAIN?????

[@tombuck]

Don't worry, the "actual" gain levels as displayed on the screen were at unity. 👍

[@danielschaller-digitalcrealab]

Really cool given that my cloud lifter never returned from its trip to the Matterhorn 😉

[@tombuck]

It literally lives in the clouds.

[@blackjohnny0]

It has amazing presets.