Long gone are the days when being a streamer was just a case of whacking on your 720p integrated webcam and speaking through a pin-prick mic that captures the sound of the washing machine next door. That’s largely thanks to RØDE, which over the last 15 has been a go-to for streamers using XLR and USB microphones due to their combo of high quality and affordability.
The Australian company has been in business since 1967, revolutionizing everything—from home studio recording to audio for filmmaking to podcasting—with iconic products that continue to serve creators around the world. Now, for the first time, the Australian innovator is blending that powerful audio tech with video capture. Down in their Sydney lab, they have created the Streamer X, an all-in-one streaming interface that drastically reduces the amount of gadgetry you need on your desk.
In a single small device, the Streamer X integrates an audio interface, wireless receiver, video capture card, super-convenient control pad with a bunch of preset commands, as well as a Smart Pads that lets you set custom MIDI messages (more on those later).
The video functionality is pro-grade, capable of processing streams up to 4K30 (or 60Hz in the super-popular 1440p resolution). Using HDMI passthrough from your PC, you can attain that pristine 4K60 streaming quality too. The feature set is topped off with Variable Refresh Rate support, making for a low-latency, screen-tear-free video output.
Normally, such a video capture card would require a separate audio driver, but that’s all onboard the Streamer X too. You can connect RØDE wireless microphones using the onboard wireless receiver, which lets you make presentations standing a good distance away from the camera for that ‘TV studio’ feel. On the wired front, you have 3.5mm TRRS headset input and dual USB, allowing you to connect two separate PCs—for instance one for gaming and one for streaming.
Sending a clear signal
Talking through your mic connected to the Streamer X, your voice will pass through the ultra low noise high-gain Revolution Preamp to improve the audio signal, before getting put through the powerful DSP (digital signal processing) onboard the device itself. DSP digitises your real-world audio input (i.e. your voice), allowing you to clean up, equalise and optimise your stream’s audio, then decodes your voice back to output, ready to share with your followers.
Now onto the really fun part: those smooth, softly lit buttons. First up, you have your basic controls like muting mic input and turning video input on and off with the press of two buttons, but then there are the customizable Smart Pads too. You use the RØDE Central app to tailor these buttons to your exact needs, assigning them to trigger sounds, music, apply voice FX including reverb and pitch-shifting, and—best of all—send MIDI messages to your computer.
The MIDI messaging basically lets you assign whatever PC function you want to these pads. You can change slides in presentations, shift the scene in streaming software, open apps, close apps, run complex scripts, you name it. Beneath that pad there are two arrow buttons too, giving you even more granular control. The Smart Pads quite literally put your production at your fingertips.
Further helping out is the UNIFY software, which lets you route all your audio sources (HDMI input, Discord, browser, game audio, Streamer X input, and so on) through one place. Once you’ve done that, you can individually set what you hear while streaming, what your audience hears on Twitch, and what your friends hear from you over comms. Pairing this with a RØDE or RØDE X mic (both of which process the audio using internal chips), you can use Unify to process your microphone audio, giving your voice that rich professional quality.
The Streamer X is the next step on RØDE’s streaming journey, but it doesn’t stop there. To keep up with other events over at the RØDE lab, you can follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Vimeo.
