I'm also in Canada and I pre ordered the Mixcast 4 after doing a lot of reading on the Rodecaster Pro and the Zoom P8. I picked my unit up a little over a week ago. The 66.5 db of gain from the Tascam is a bonus for me because I really didn't want to use a mic activator, and an early review video I saw had the Mixcast 4 running an SM7B on its own with no issues. And I will be the first to admit that DAW's intimidate me. I'm still relatively new to podcasting (1 year) and I have yet to edit a single episode myself. The free DAW from Tascam was a major part of my decision to buy the Mixcast 4 as they work in concert. Don't forget that Mixcast 4 owners need that software to load the other sound banks if they want more than the 8 pre loaded. Great review! Thanks for doing this.
Clicked on the link for the Tascam... we had some luck with some ad rev on RUclips shorts and starting to pivot into an industry focused podcast. The video sold me on the Tascam.
I've used both the Rodecaster and Mixcast, other than the superior build quality of the Tascam, the mic pres in the Mixcast are far superior (you get almost an extra 10dB of gain and they're very transparent). If you have an RE20, PR40, or SM7B (all of which I've tested with the Mixcast), I did not find a need for an in-line preamp such as a CloudLifter. It's a great 1.0 product, but there are areas I'd like to see improvement in future firmware updates. I'd like to see properly marked dBFS meters, a separate gain reduction meter for compression and expansion, and customizable headphone cue mixes. Lastly, I think it's a little odd that it doesn't show up as two separate audio interfaces, a multi-track and stereo (for live streaming) like the Rodecaster. On a Mac, I did notice if you go into Audio Midi settings, you can go to the "Input" tab and switch it from multi-track to two channel stereo mode for recording purposes.
I use rodecaster for a radio station and this broke sounds, i mean i put music via usb from imac and with no processing on rode, missing the bas line under 80khz. What do you think about that ? Maybe Tascam work more good with music ? Thank you and sorry for my bad english 🙏
As a sound engineer, I am more and more tempted by one of those mixers. For the same money, we simply do not have any unit made for music with faders, a touch-screens, pads and so on. Talkback is a rare luxury and almost non-existent on interfaces; you also need a headphone matrix amp when you have multiple people in your home studio collaborating. Forget about AFL and PFL : you have no fader anyway, so you only get AFL with like 4 LEDs. Individually adressable phantom is also for some reason super-rare, and for people who use ribbon microphones can be a life saver since ribbon microphones will quite literally explode inside if you have 48 volts leaking into them. The DSP EQ and comp is quite nice. Sure the noise isn't the best but for todays signal chains which are virtually noiseless, and for streaming a band this is fantastic!
Good Video. When you do an updated comparison of the mackie and the rode, you should consider throwing this in. It had some updates since your last video and I believe a price change.
Thanks for your review. However, I have 2 comments. 1. The firmware update process using the SD Card is quite standard for standalone hardware. Many cameras or audio equipment such as CDJ's use this method. I don't see any problem here. 2. Tracks 1 are 2 provide the stereo mix which is actually a good thing. This way you can use the device with a Windows PC with a program that doesn't support ASIO drivers such as Audacity. You can also easily use the Mixcast as a source for OBS or other streaming software.
Completely disagree. This isnt a "standalone" unit...it is an INTERFACE...and what does it interface with? A computer!! Even the tech from Tascam thought it was dumb...because it is Also...with channel 1&2 you can still use it with Audacity...but WHY WOULD YOU?? YOU GET A BLOODY DAW WITH IT?!?!?!
@@DarkCornerStudios you should probably review some Pioneer CDJ units and complaint about their firmware update process as well. This is both an interface and a standalone unit. I'd use mine either as a standalone unit to record podcasts or as an interface for Livestreams with a DJ mixer plugged in. The stereo mix is very handy from this perspective. I'm no music maker and DAW software are far too advanced for me. I'm not skilled enough not have the willing to master them. I believe I'm not the only one, that's why such products exist
@@DarkCornerStudios Last time I checked, my RodeCaster Pro also had track 1 & 2 as Stereo mix in my DAW. So mic channel 1 was on track 3. Does your RCP behave differently? Cheers :)
@@DarkCornerStudios I‘m only using Mac‘s and that is how OS X handles it as we don‘t need extra drivers. I‘m wondering if this is a choice to handle basic USB interaction to ensure other programs (like Skype/Zoom/OBS) automatically grab the whole mix instead of one channel? To put channel 1 on 1 would probably throw more general users off than us who deal with DAW‘s an can figure this out quicker ;)
I had to take a moment to thank you for your transparency, and your honesty. This is definitely something that we lack in today's day and age. A lot of people are "bought." With your current approach to comparing, people can Make well informed decisions. Loved your video, and I look forward to more.
One of these just got delivered to my house today and I’m excited to use it. I’ve been podcasting using an old tascam dp32-sd for the past 4 years. It’s what my brother had laying around so he gave it to me. I’m excited about the upgrade. Great video.
We have both. They equally do a great job but I really do have to agree with your conclusions. The DAW sets the Tascam apart. I also think the faders on the tascam are better quality and the talk back clinches it for me, but I suppose it depends what you use it for. We're using it in a broadcast environment. In fact,we're expecting our second unit in the post this week 🙂 Can't wait to see what future firmware updates bring to both units.
You’ve really helped me deciding between the two. Since I use audition, I went with Rode since I won’t benefit from the Included DAW. I feel like Rode really listens to their customers and send software updates to address issues. Maybe tascam does that too but I’m not sure. Regardless, I appreciate you.
@@DarkCornerStudios After watching your video I was under the impression the Tascam Mixcast 4 can work as a multi-track audio interface when using Adobe Audition. That being said I am thinking about switching over to Cakewalk for my main DAW.
@@DarkCornerStudios I feel safer going with the Mixcast 4 as opposed to the Rodecaster Pro because Tascam has made good multi-track recording equipment for decades.
@@DarkCornerStudios is the noise gate suppose to reduce the background noise or other type of noise? is there anything thats better than tascam for noise reduction, a good all in one for recording podcast, phone call in, ambience sound, voice over and video recording?
First off, Really nice review! I'm a DJ looking to create a DJ live stream/Podcast setup and the tipping point for me is the line in on the Tascam, now I can comfortably have my DJ console, 4 mics & a phone. With the included DAW, Tascam for the win for me.
Have been waiting for this one. I saw you mention it was coming. Using a Podtrak P4 and thinking of an upgrade for the desk. The P4 is great as a mobile solution.
is there an updated comparison using the Mixcaster 4 vs Rodecaster Pro 2? I've heard that there are big differences in the Rode Procaster and the Rode Procaster 2.
1:02 - They are most likely designed to operate without that "click" noise for a very good reason. So that the "click" noise wont get picked up on the recorded audio. 10:42 - That's because he's trying to sound like a "radio announcer", sweetie.
Love your videos brother. Do you think I will have any connection issues if I use this with MacBook Pro? I only have usb-c ports, so I will have to use an adapter.
I currently have 2 RodeCaster Pros and am waiting for my Mixcast4 to arrive. One thing I cannot get an answer on from either the manual or tech service.......does bringing up a mike channel mute the monitor speakers like the Rode does? That is a very important feature for me since I use the unit for broadcast and need the mic to kill the speakers to avoid feedback.
Good comparison. I think both of these are, as you say, niche products, but either one can instantly help a podcaster in a variety of areas, including simplifying workflow. Nice to see more of this stuff making it to market.
Dark Corner Studios, if the included DAW didn't matter to you because you'd rather use your own DAW, which one would you choose if you could only choose one? Why?
Hello! Anyone know in Tascam menu/hardware settings/audio, what mean "auto mixer" "feedback prevention" and "solo mode" ? I cant found this in user manual. Thank you !
I'm trying to find a sample of the poly wav file produced by the Mixcast 4. Specifically, I would like to determine if I am able to open the multitrack file in Audacity. I know there is a Tascam podcast editor, but I would like to migrate to a new board without impacting pre-existing production workflow. Thanks.
How's that headphone amp? Loud? Clean? I hate the sound on the Rodecaster. Also, had to return multiple units - weird noise they attributed to maybe the power supply? They just told me to send them in. Nope. Returned to the store I purchased at. Thanks! Like your stuff!
Glad you enjoy! Yeah...I liked the headphone amps on this...clear...some decent power... That said I didnt have any issues with the RCP headphone amps... There do seem to be some odd QC issues with it though.
That DAW is very appealing certainly. Rode have blazed the trail though and in terms of function I'm not sure there's a huge plus here other than the DAW. Also of course I remain a Rode fan because they manufacture in Australia rather than dodgy far east one party states! And neither of these are pro broadcast desks. I know they're not meant to be and the price reflects that. Nice review Aiden.
The non-intuitive routing problem you address at 13:00 min has been my constant complaint about the otherwise brilliant Model 12 since I started using it 2 years ago. This is where Rode has really excelled - appealing to broad, first-time users with intuitive settings and design. Tascam traditionally has superior audio quality, but poor user experience. They'd crush it if they could fix that problem. I'm getting my hands on the Mixcast 4 soon to put it up against the Model 12 as the hub of a content creator's studio. Curious if they've solved the problem since you posted this video.
Awesome and proficient videos as always.I’m referring to your latest video of the Rode Procaster 2. Do you think it’s worth the extra $200? I had the Tascam Mixcast 4 in mind. I’m a novice at this sort of thing.Do you think the Mixcast 4 is a bit more simplistic? Keep up the splendid work Dark Corner Studios.
Great review. What really surprised me in Rodecaster Pro is the absence of line out. Why or why did Rode omit this feature? It's just impossible to use it with other media decks and the signal on the monitors is really noisy. Tascam on the other hand should have used 32-bit recording. I don't understand how it happens that often companies release hardware without basic core features required for the job the gadgets are to do-as if they have no experience with tasks their clients do daily.
32bit would be overkill and a (small) tax on your computer especially if it’s crappy. 24bit would have more than enough headroom. I guess the only advantage I can think of it not needing to set your gain to a T since there’s so much resolution but explaining the difference to your average Podcaster would just add to the confusion.
Great Video. If I missed this please forgive, but is it plug-and-play as an Audio Interface? Can it drive high impedance headphones? Can you control how much of the mics vs playback from the computer you hear in the headphones? Thanks
@@DarkCornerStudios Maybe a better way is comparing it to another device. How close is it to the power of the headphone jack on the Arturia AudioFuse Studio? Same question for the output power on the Monitor Out jacks. Thanks again
@@patbollin Arturia's is going to be better...but if it makes you feel better, I have yet to find a set of headphones that couldnt be driven by the Mixcast. Generally it is bus powered devices that have anemic outputs on the headphones.
I've already got Logic so the DAW included isn't such a big deal, but I've been using Tascams since the 80s, anybody remembers 4 channel Porta Studios with "da kazetta"?? Incredible stuff, my first multi channel recordings bounced back and forth, hiss included... But fast forward to today and I'm a happy user of the Tascam DR-70D and into the Atem Mini Pro for my current livestreaming setup. I'm not really shopping yet, but the Tascam would be my choice. A bit worried by the more noisy zero gain than on the Roadcaster though, will need to investigate that. Thanks for a good review, and now we know who's doing the laundry at that house ;-)
@@DarkCornerStudios Hi again! An issue when using the USB Delay - it produces .... a delay, two of my voices. The amount assigned is just the time lapse before my words get repeated. It's like when I'm playing my guitar and using a delay pedal. It's not what I expected. In the Ecamm software there's an Audio Delay function that works flawlessly, but I don't use Ecamm every time I go on ZOOM for example. Am I missing something?
@@DarkCornerStudios Sorry, non native English speaker here... What do you mean by "the board isn't doing that"? Thanks very much in advance, you're not the Tascam support person....
So I have a rodecaster pro on order...Is there a daw you recommend to people who wanna move away from audacity? I'm overwhelmed with how many other ones exist. Thanks
Ty for your info, I've done the update smoothly. I'm on windows when it asked to unmount the drive at the end i think somehow that made it to where my Mixcast 4 doesn't fully read. I've tried short and long type c cords. So when im in the podcast editor trying to edit the sound pads it says mixcast not connected. Anything you may know to fix would help.
I owned over half a dozen RodeCaster Pro units, sent them ALL away on RMA until I was eventually given a refund. Six months of units and extensive testing between Rode and myself: all my units had an awful hissing/buzzing noise floor for the headphone jacks. All monitor-outs (for headphones 1-4) and the master monitor had the hissing/buzzing noise. Can you please test the Mixcast 4 headphone audio jacks and listen in absolute silence for any buzzing? Plug in only the power, you do not need any mics plugged in. Just the power brick, turn on the unit, and insert a pair of headphones into each jack and listen for any buzzing/hissing or a high noise floor. I owned a US-2x2 and a Series 208i that did *not* have this problem and produced absolute-zero sound to the headphone jacks when used.
@@DarkCornerStudios for the Mixcast 4 eh? Guess I'll look into if I can levy that into work use. I've been using the Series 208i but I think the Mixcast 4 would be a better fit. Too bad it doesn't have batteries like the Podtrak P8 does...
Dunno! Some companies aren't keen to send a tonne of them out. Honestly the reviews are very long and take a lot of work...I can see that being the issue too
@@XX99XXL to be honest...I KNOW there are no payments going out from any reputable company. The Rodecaser was a huge release...and it instantly answered a big need. That said it wasn't perfect...and I love seeing more companies like Tascam taking them on!
Has anyone had success using the MixCast 4 sound pads in Xsplit Broadcaster? When I did it came out totally garbled and unusable. Would appreciate any guidance.
Another reviewer has indicated that you’re limited to just one bank of sound pads when you start recording. On my Rode I regularly use multiple banks. If this is true, it’s a deal breaker for me.
Thanks mate. I was in two minds over which to buy. I don’t know about on your side of the pond, but here in the UK, the Tascam is a fair amount more expensive. No by a bank breaking amount, but every penny counts for a lot of people right now.
@@DarkCornerStudios right now we’ve been having serious issues with truck drivers abs the ports due to leaving Europe. That BS is pushing the prices up here.
@@DarkCornerStudios do you know what would be a good video (for me, but hopefully for all your subs)? What boom arm to get if at all. Apologies if you’ve done it. Now I know your Canadian, shall I say “eh” after each sentence? Lol. Only joking. I had a Canadian gf back in the day and a couple of Canadian friends. Good, polite people.
Okay watched to the end. Still haven’t seen a parametric eq on this which will make it not adaptable for a live event mixer. It’s weird how there isn’t a decent 10 channel mixer for the live market.
I had to google, it says there’s a two band semi-parametric eq which probably means the frequency is sweepable but the bandwidth is fixed. And I’m guessing the high and low pass are separate so it’s like having 4 parameters, which is pretty good. So it’s slightly better than something like a ZED10, and a ZED10 doesn’t have inserts on each mic channel, so you can forget about gating and compressing each mic individually. I’m not a fan of interfacing dials on the touch screen though, but maybe I need to get over this fear since everything is moving in that direction.
@@DarkCornerStudios yeah I see that. I actually just discovered the Behringer Flow 8, which basically has everything I’m looking for, but the supply chain problem has made it jump up almost double in price. Guess I’m gonna have to wait to go digital on my small format mixers.
You DEFINITELY DON’T want to update firmware over USB if you can avoid it. Not stable enough. Plus a USB cable ain’t a USB cable ain’t a USB cable ain’t a……. One jiggle and you’ll brick the thing. You’ll have to get it fla$hed $omewhere el$e. If audio Interface designers could they’d probably put an SD slot for such things but we know that’s ridiculous. They most likely have a memory to store it then update the hardware. Cheap ones most likely not. I tried to update my Digidesign mBox from back in the day. I remember updating firmware and it took hours upon hours without any task bar or indication. It just had a pop up window that said don’t unplug when you’re updating firmware! With an (ok) button. It was there before I started it and during the process. I couldn’t tell if it was working or not. After hours of guessing, I restarted my machine and plugged in my mBox…. Bricked it.
@@DarkCornerStudios Thank you for the response. I have a Rodecaster Pro and use it as streaming radio mixer, because it has close features to a radio station console, like mute button for each channel, etc etc. I am wondering about Mixcast and have question about one of its features. Is there any menu like on Rodecaster called "Automatically Mute Outputs'? It's very useful when we connect the Rodecaster to studio monitors. It will automatically mute the output signal when the mic is open/active. Awaiting your response. Thank you.
@@DarkCornerStudios Before watching the review. I had come close to settling for this to be my comment. "Is the screw on cord feature to protect during the casting? So that means you attach the hook & bait to the other end of the cord? It would have been helpful to see the casting process demonstrated." Then your daughter stepped in & stole the show. All credit must go, where credit is due. Daughter, standing O from the cheap seats.
![ROSÉ (로제) - number one girl [더 시즌즈-이영지의 레인보우] | KBS 241129 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A9oByH9Ci24/mqdefault.jpg)
Awesome comparison! 🙌
Thanks Tom!
I'm a hardcore Rode guy but this Tascam did a great job...... Staying with my Rode😉
I'm also in Canada and I pre ordered the Mixcast 4 after doing a lot of reading on the Rodecaster Pro and the Zoom P8. I picked my unit up a little over a week ago.
The 66.5 db of gain from the Tascam is a bonus for me because I really didn't want to use a mic activator, and an early review video I saw had the Mixcast 4 running an SM7B on its own with no issues.
And I will be the first to admit that DAW's intimidate me. I'm still relatively new to podcasting (1 year) and I have yet to edit a single episode myself. The free DAW from Tascam was a major part of my decision to buy the Mixcast 4 as they work in concert.
Don't forget that Mixcast 4 owners need that software to load the other sound banks if they want more than the 8 pre loaded.
Great review! Thanks for doing this.
Clicked on the link for the Tascam... we had some luck with some ad rev on RUclips shorts and starting to pivot into an industry focused podcast. The video sold me on the Tascam.
Cheers!
Hope you like it!!
I've used both the Rodecaster and Mixcast, other than the superior build quality of the Tascam, the mic pres in the Mixcast are far superior (you get almost an extra 10dB of gain and they're very transparent). If you have an RE20, PR40, or SM7B (all of which I've tested with the Mixcast), I did not find a need for an in-line preamp such as a CloudLifter. It's a great 1.0 product, but there are areas I'd like to see improvement in future firmware updates. I'd like to see properly marked dBFS meters, a separate gain reduction meter for compression and expansion, and customizable headphone cue mixes. Lastly, I think it's a little odd that it doesn't show up as two separate audio interfaces, a multi-track and stereo (for live streaming) like the Rodecaster. On a Mac, I did notice if you go into Audio Midi settings, you can go to the "Input" tab and switch it from multi-track to two channel stereo mode for recording purposes.
I use rodecaster for a radio station and this broke sounds, i mean i put music via usb from imac and with no processing on rode, missing the bas line under 80khz. What do you think about that ? Maybe Tascam work more good with music ? Thank you and sorry for my bad english 🙏
There are dBfs meters in the "broadcast meters" mode.
@@radioprobromania *80Hz I’m assuming?
As a sound engineer, I am more and more tempted by one of those mixers. For the same money, we simply do not have any unit made for music with faders, a touch-screens, pads and so on. Talkback is a rare luxury and almost non-existent on interfaces; you also need a headphone matrix amp when you have multiple people in your home studio collaborating. Forget about AFL and PFL : you have no fader anyway, so you only get AFL with like 4 LEDs. Individually adressable phantom is also for some reason super-rare, and for people who use ribbon microphones can be a life saver since ribbon microphones will quite literally explode inside if you have 48 volts leaking into them. The DSP EQ and comp is quite nice. Sure the noise isn't the best but for todays signal chains which are virtually noiseless, and for streaming a band this is fantastic!
Good Video. When you do an updated comparison of the mackie and the rode, you should consider throwing this in. It had some updates since your last video and I believe a price change.
Thanks for your review. However, I have 2 comments.
1. The firmware update process using the SD Card is quite standard for standalone hardware. Many cameras or audio equipment such as CDJ's use this method. I don't see any problem here.
2. Tracks 1 are 2 provide the stereo mix which is actually a good thing. This way you can use the device with a Windows PC with a program that doesn't support ASIO drivers such as Audacity. You can also easily use the Mixcast as a source for OBS or other streaming software.
Completely disagree.
This isnt a "standalone" unit...it is an INTERFACE...and what does it interface with?
A computer!!
Even the tech from Tascam thought it was dumb...because it is
Also...with channel 1&2 you can still use it with Audacity...but WHY WOULD YOU??
YOU GET A BLOODY DAW WITH IT?!?!?!
@@DarkCornerStudios you should probably review some Pioneer CDJ units and complaint about their firmware update process as well.
This is both an interface and a standalone unit. I'd use mine either as a standalone unit to record podcasts or as an interface for Livestreams with a DJ mixer plugged in. The stereo mix is very handy from this perspective.
I'm no music maker and DAW software are far too advanced for me. I'm not skilled enough not have the willing to master them. I believe I'm not the only one, that's why such products exist
@@DarkCornerStudios Last time I checked, my RodeCaster Pro also had track 1 & 2 as Stereo mix in my DAW. So mic channel 1 was on track 3. Does your RCP behave differently? Cheers :)
@@podcastconsult8409 I thought that changed when they introduced their own drivers.
It is a really odd choice...and I know ASIO4all does it...
@@DarkCornerStudios I‘m only using Mac‘s and that is how OS X handles it as we don‘t need extra drivers. I‘m wondering if this is a choice to handle basic USB interaction to ensure other programs (like Skype/Zoom/OBS) automatically grab the whole mix instead of one channel? To put channel 1 on 1 would probably throw more general users off than us who deal with DAW‘s an can figure this out quicker ;)
Would love to see a comparison between this and the RCP2
I had to take a moment to thank you for your transparency, and your honesty. This is definitely something that we lack in today's day and age. A lot of people are "bought."
With your current approach to comparing, people can Make well informed decisions.
Loved your video, and I look forward to more.
Thank you for your kind words!
Cheers!!
One of these just got delivered to my house today and I’m excited to use it. I’ve been podcasting using an old tascam dp32-sd for the past 4 years. It’s what my brother had laying around so he gave it to me. I’m excited about the upgrade. Great video.
We have both. They equally do a great job but I really do have to agree with your conclusions. The DAW sets the Tascam apart. I also think the faders on the tascam are better quality and the talk back clinches it for me, but I suppose it depends what you use it for. We're using it in a broadcast environment. In fact,we're expecting our second unit in the post this week 🙂 Can't wait to see what future firmware updates bring to both units.
You’ve really helped me deciding between the two. Since I use audition, I went with Rode since I won’t benefit from the Included DAW. I feel like Rode really listens to their customers and send software updates to address issues. Maybe tascam does that too but I’m not sure. Regardless, I appreciate you.
Cheers!
Glad the review helped either way.
Both are amazing machines...good luck with the RODE!!
@@DarkCornerStudios After watching your video I was under the impression the Tascam Mixcast 4 can work as a multi-track audio interface when using Adobe Audition. That being said I am thinking about switching over to Cakewalk for my main DAW.
@@TechTVusa Yep!
Full multitracking ability with ANY DAW
@@DarkCornerStudios I feel safer going with the Mixcast 4 as opposed to the Rodecaster Pro because Tascam has made good multi-track recording equipment for decades.
@@TechTVusa that is very true.
The Roadcaster Pro 2 has the same setup as the Tascam for the inputs in the DAW. (i.e. mic 1 is mono input 3)
Nice one. Is it true that the talkback button doesn't go out over bluetooth/TRRS? Is Tascams "Noise Reduction" just a gate or is it smarter than that?
It's a gate...not much smarter
The world's collide!
@@DarkCornerStudios is the noise gate suppose to reduce the background noise or other type of noise? is there anything thats better than tascam for noise reduction, a good all in one for recording podcast, phone call in, ambience sound, voice over and video recording?
First off, Really nice review! I'm a DJ looking to create a DJ live stream/Podcast setup and the tipping point for me is the line in on the Tascam, now I can comfortably have my DJ console, 4 mics & a phone. With the included DAW, Tascam for the win for me.
Cheers!
Hope you really like it.
Thanks for the kind words as well!!
I didn't know the rodecaster pro doesn't have a line in.
@@AskAW it has, but in the the format of a 3.5mm jack which runs on the same channel as the phone/bluetooth channel
@@kerronaf it’s the phone channel not the Bluetooth channel. Rhodecaster has 2 phone channels. 1 is Bluetooth and the other is line in via TRS cable.
I'm a beginner & gonna go with Tascam...
Thank you for helping me out😎🙌🏾🙌🏻😎
Cheers and thanks for watching!!
Have been waiting for this one. I saw you mention it was coming. Using a Podtrak P4 and thinking of an upgrade for the desk. The P4 is great as a mobile solution.
Yeah...that thing is a home run...this does make for a nice desk solution for sure!
is there an updated comparison using the Mixcaster 4 vs Rodecaster Pro 2? I've heard that there are big differences in the Rode Procaster and the Rode Procaster 2.
Excellent video. Not even in the market for one of these but found your insights highly informative. That’s how to do a comparison review!
1:02 - They are most likely designed to operate without that "click" noise for a very good reason. So that the "click" noise wont get picked up on the recorded audio. 10:42 - That's because he's trying to sound like a "radio announcer", sweetie.
Yeah but you can still have a tactile feel without the "click"
Love your videos brother. Do you think I will have any connection issues if I use this with MacBook Pro? I only have usb-c ports, so I will have to use an adapter.
I dont think so...but check the owners manual to be sure.
I was rocking pc back in those days!
Glad you like the content!!
The Tascam has Combo jacks and also line level inputs. The Rodecaster does not.
In Windows, when you connect this, what inputs and outputs do you see in Windows that you can use individually as you please in stuff like OBS?
Nicely done ! I got a lot out of it. Thank you 😎
I currently have 2 RodeCaster Pros and am waiting for my Mixcast4 to arrive. One thing I cannot get an answer on from either the manual or tech service.......does bringing up a mike channel mute the monitor speakers like the Rode does? That is a very important feature for me since I use the unit for broadcast and need the mic to kill the speakers to avoid feedback.
Not automatically...but there is a simple know to turn down
@@DarkCornerStudios I’m going to refuse the delivery then. That is a definite deal breaker
Too much work every 2 or 3 minutes potting speakers up and down
@@ronraven5819 so have u found other solutions?
@@senecaoak7173 no. I returned it and got a third Rodecaster
Good comparison. I think both of these are, as you say, niche products, but either one can instantly help a podcaster in a variety of areas, including simplifying workflow. Nice to see more of this stuff making it to market.
Dark Corner Studios, if the included DAW didn't matter to you because you'd rather use your own DAW, which one would you choose if you could only choose one? Why?
I lean towards the Tascam
Hello! Anyone know in Tascam menu/hardware settings/audio, what mean "auto mixer" "feedback prevention" and "solo mode" ? I cant found this in user manual. Thank you !
My Co-Host is remote, how does this unit fit into that type of scenario? Great Video! You are giving me a lot to consider! Thanks!
Perfectly fits in....shouldn't have any issue at all. Several options
Looks like I may get one in a few days, a free replacement for my zoom livetrack L12 that went bad
Thank you Mr. Dr. Corner.
I prefer Dr Mr
@@DarkCornerStudios That was suppose to be Mr. Dark Corner. I'm keyboarding at a low level today.
I'm trying to find a sample of the poly wav file produced by the Mixcast 4. Specifically, I would like to determine if I am able to open the multitrack file in Audacity. I know there is a Tascam podcast editor, but I would like to migrate to a new board without impacting pre-existing production workflow. Thanks.
All these devices are missing one main thing.....A MAIN volume knob for all the channels.
Did they update "the cons" by now?
Thanks!
Can u use that DAW with the Rode Podcaster 2?
Hi, great review. Are all the issues you discribed on the tascam mix cast 4 resolved now?
Not really...though I can't say I am fully up to date on the drivers.
Which issues concerned you the most?
I can check
@@DarkCornerStudios The multitrack labels, have they been relabeled?
Excellent review. Thank you for doing this.
How's that headphone amp? Loud? Clean? I hate the sound on the Rodecaster. Also, had to return multiple units - weird noise they attributed to maybe the power supply? They just told me to send them in. Nope. Returned to the store I purchased at. Thanks! Like your stuff!
Glad you enjoy!
Yeah...I liked the headphone amps on this...clear...some decent power...
That said I didnt have any issues with the RCP headphone amps...
There do seem to be some odd QC issues with it though.
@@DarkCornerStudios Thanks! Appreciate it!
That DAW is very appealing certainly. Rode have blazed the trail though and in terms of function I'm not sure there's a huge plus here other than the DAW. Also of course I remain a Rode fan because they manufacture in Australia rather than dodgy far east one party states! And neither of these are pro broadcast desks. I know they're not meant to be and the price reflects that. Nice review Aiden.
The non-intuitive routing problem you address at 13:00 min has been my constant complaint about the otherwise brilliant Model 12 since I started using it 2 years ago. This is where Rode has really excelled - appealing to broad, first-time users with intuitive settings and design. Tascam traditionally has superior audio quality, but poor user experience. They'd crush it if they could fix that problem. I'm getting my hands on the Mixcast 4 soon to put it up against the Model 12 as the hub of a content creator's studio. Curious if they've solved the problem since you posted this video.
Have you tried using the RCP with Tascam's included DAW?
Awesome and proficient videos as always.I’m referring to your latest video of the Rode Procaster 2.
Do you think it’s worth the extra $200?
I had the Tascam Mixcast 4 in mind.
I’m a novice at this sort of thing.Do you think the Mixcast 4 is a bit more simplistic?
Keep up the splendid work Dark Corner Studios.
Great review. What really surprised me in Rodecaster Pro is the absence of line out. Why or why did Rode omit this feature? It's just impossible to use it with other media decks and the signal on the monitors is really noisy. Tascam on the other hand should have used 32-bit recording. I don't understand how it happens that often companies release hardware without basic core features required for the job the gadgets are to do-as if they have no experience with tasks their clients do daily.
32bit would be overkill and a (small) tax on your computer especially if it’s crappy. 24bit would have more than enough headroom. I guess the only advantage I can think of it not needing to set your gain to a T since there’s so much resolution but explaining the difference to your average Podcaster would just add to the confusion.
Great Video. If I missed this please forgive, but is it plug-and-play as an Audio Interface? Can it drive high impedance headphones? Can you control how much of the mics vs playback from the computer you hear in the headphones? Thanks
What do you consider high impedance?
Yes as an interface...and it does do some headphone mixing yes
@@DarkCornerStudios 250ohms or more
@@DarkCornerStudios Maybe a better way is comparing it to another device. How close is it to the power of the headphone jack on the Arturia AudioFuse Studio? Same question for the output power on the Monitor Out jacks. Thanks again
@@patbollin Arturia's is going to be better...but if it makes you feel better, I have yet to find a set of headphones that couldnt be driven by the Mixcast.
Generally it is bus powered devices that have anemic outputs on the headphones.
I've already got Logic so the DAW included isn't such a big deal, but I've been using Tascams since the 80s, anybody remembers 4 channel Porta Studios with "da kazetta"?? Incredible stuff, my first multi channel recordings bounced back and forth, hiss included... But fast forward to today and I'm a happy user of the Tascam DR-70D and into the Atem Mini Pro for my current livestreaming setup. I'm not really shopping yet, but the Tascam would be my choice. A bit worried by the more noisy zero gain than on the Roadcaster though, will need to investigate that. Thanks for a good review, and now we know who's doing the laundry at that house ;-)
Yeah...no kidding.
Also yeah...the preamps are no where near good enough for music production or voiceover...but more than enough for podcasting
@@DarkCornerStudios I'm giving it a try, just ordered :-) Cheers!
@@DarkCornerStudios Hi again! An issue when using the USB Delay - it produces .... a delay, two of my voices. The amount assigned is just the time lapse before my words get repeated. It's like when I'm playing my guitar and using a delay pedal. It's not what I expected. In the Ecamm software there's an Audio Delay function that works flawlessly, but I don't use Ecamm every time I go on ZOOM for example. Am I missing something?
@@HomesickMac I have no idea.
That isn't the board doing that
@@DarkCornerStudios Sorry, non native English speaker here... What do you mean by "the board isn't doing that"? Thanks very much in advance, you're not the Tascam support person....
you can label the inputs in pro tools in the DAW!!! i'm sellin my p8, i'll be able to provide feedback to developers with you!
So I have a rodecaster pro on order...Is there a daw you recommend to people who wanna move away from audacity? I'm overwhelmed with how many other ones exist. Thanks
Audition is fantastic.
The price isn't...though they really have perfected it
for podcasting you don't want clicks when pressing buttons though
Ty for your info, I've done the update smoothly. I'm on windows when it asked to unmount the drive at the end i think somehow that made it to where my Mixcast 4 doesn't fully read. I've tried short and long type c cords. So when im in the podcast editor trying to edit the sound pads it says mixcast not connected. Anything you may know to fix would help.
Can you help me figure out how to connect this to my phone so I can stream online?
Usb cable that came with mixcast is too small it does not fit my pc usb. Please help
So the included DAW is more powerful than Fairlight?
I owned over half a dozen RodeCaster Pro units, sent them ALL away on RMA until I was eventually given a refund. Six months of units and extensive testing between Rode and myself: all my units had an awful hissing/buzzing noise floor for the headphone jacks. All monitor-outs (for headphones 1-4) and the master monitor had the hissing/buzzing noise.
Can you please test the Mixcast 4 headphone audio jacks and listen in absolute silence for any buzzing? Plug in only the power, you do not need any mics plugged in. Just the power brick, turn on the unit, and insert a pair of headphones into each jack and listen for any buzzing/hissing or a high noise floor. I owned a US-2x2 and a Series 208i that did *not* have this problem and produced absolute-zero sound to the headphone jacks when used.
I had no noise on the headphone jacks.
@@DarkCornerStudios for the Mixcast 4 eh? Guess I'll look into if I can levy that into work use. I've been using the Series 208i but I think the Mixcast 4 would be a better fit. Too bad it doesn't have batteries like the Podtrak P8 does...
Why aren't more audio-tech reviewers talking about this product? It's amazing!
Dunno!
Some companies aren't keen to send a tonne of them out.
Honestly the reviews are very long and take a lot of work...I can see that being the issue too
@@XX99XXL to be honest...I KNOW there are no payments going out from any reputable company.
The Rodecaser was a huge release...and it instantly answered a big need.
That said it wasn't perfect...and I love seeing more companies like Tascam taking them on!
Has anyone had success using the MixCast 4 sound pads in Xsplit Broadcaster? When I did it came out totally garbled and unusable. Would appreciate any guidance.
I purchased the mixcaster but I am completely lost on operating it. Looking to hire someone to tutor me on this thing. Any ideas?
Mine keeps disconnect from the Bluetooth. Mine has Bluetooth connection problems so l have to return it
I will wait for the video to finish before I do my laundry.
That is true dedication.
My metrics thank you
Another reviewer has indicated that you’re limited to just one bank of sound pads when you start recording. On my Rode I regularly use multiple banks. If this is true, it’s a deal breaker for me.
Please, is Mixcast 4 compatible with Linux when using it as an audio interface?
Thanks.
Sorry...I have no idea.
Not a Linux user
@@DarkCornerStudios Thanks
What if you only have usb mics and used a USB adapter would it still be just as effective or no
No
The mixer has frozen twice and makes a buzzing sound. The only way to fix the problem is to restart it by disconnecting the power cord.
Oh thats no good.
I would contact tascam. Get a replacement unit
Jim Gaffigan does gear reviews? Cool!
I used to prefer being compared to Joss Whedon...
But now I guess this is ok.....
@@DarkCornerStudios Hey I love it! Very informative and impressive channel! Keep it up! 👍
Thanks for the video!
Can we output all of audio from the console out for like a live show ?
Of course
I am trying to do the firmware update but it says the file is corrupt. does anyone have a solution for this?
Call Tascam tech support.
Great service and they will know what to do.
Probably use another card with another version of the firmware
6:56 did you ever try Reaper?
Yep...love Reaper...not my go to DAW...but hard to beat for the price
just found you and subed. great work.
Cheers and WELCOME!!!
Thank for the video, very good info
Thanks mate. I was in two minds over which to buy. I don’t know about on your side of the pond, but here in the UK, the Tascam is a fair amount more expensive. No by a bank breaking amount, but every penny counts for a lot of people right now.
I hear ya...and yeah...supply/demand over there is legit
@@DarkCornerStudios right now we’ve been having serious issues with truck drivers abs the ports due to leaving Europe. That BS is pushing the prices up here.
Yeah...I hear ya.
I am in Canada...I know ALL about it.
RCP is 900 bucks here.
This thing is just under
@@DarkCornerStudios do you know what would be a good video (for me, but hopefully for all your subs)? What boom arm to get if at all. Apologies if you’ve done it. Now I know your Canadian, shall I say “eh” after each sentence? Lol. Only joking. I had a Canadian gf back in the day and a couple of Canadian friends. Good, polite people.
We are sturdy too...lol.
I LOVE the Rode PSA1.
Really hard to beat...even if it breaks...rode just replaces it
Bluetooth is not working properly. Is on and off. I have to send it back. The whole system is fine but the Bluetooth is not working properly
I heard the RodeCaster Pro can control OBS scenes via the Sound FX buttons. Is this true for the Mixcast 4 as well? Pretty cool feature.
Not that I know of right now...but the more people requesting stuff like that...the quicker it WILL happen
Does this have gate, compress and parametric eq?
Okay watched to the end. Still haven’t seen a parametric eq on this which will make it not adaptable for a live event mixer. It’s weird how there isn’t a decent 10 channel mixer for the live market.
I had to google, it says there’s a two band semi-parametric eq which probably means the frequency is sweepable but the bandwidth is fixed. And I’m guessing the high and low pass are separate so it’s like having 4 parameters, which is pretty good. So it’s slightly better than something like a ZED10, and a ZED10 doesn’t have inserts on each mic channel, so you can forget about gating and compressing each mic individually.
I’m not a fan of interfacing dials on the touch screen though, but maybe I need to get over this fear since everything is moving in that direction.
This isn't really designed to be a live event mixer.
It's quite literally a podcasting mixer.
@@DarkCornerStudios yeah I see that. I actually just discovered the Behringer Flow 8, which basically has everything I’m looking for, but the supply chain problem has made it jump up almost double in price. Guess I’m gonna have to wait to go digital on my small format mixers.
@@DarkCornerStudios thanks for the reply
Have a question should a beginner start off his first podcast using it
Yeah sure!
There is a bit of a learning curve.
If the Podtrak P4 isn't enough for you...this is a great unit!!
@@DarkCornerStudios I don't know which one to get
The mixcast 4 seems like something I would like to have
Have one more question both of my mics Re USB, so what do I need to hook up to the mixcast 4
@@Riddick-qp1hz you can't.
It only takes XLR mics
Great job
Great video thank you, u helped with my decision.
Cheers!
Glad I could help
Because of the label issue, I will be going with a Rode
i love this guy! great review!
Thanks and cheers!
Nice 1 top notch review 🙌🏿
Awesome review
Thanks for watching!!
Nailed it
You DEFINITELY DON’T want to update firmware over USB if you can avoid it. Not stable enough. Plus a USB cable ain’t a USB cable ain’t a USB cable ain’t a……. One jiggle and you’ll brick the thing. You’ll have to get it fla$hed $omewhere el$e.
If audio Interface designers could they’d probably put an SD slot for such things but we know that’s ridiculous. They most likely have a memory to store it then update the hardware. Cheap ones most likely not. I tried to update my Digidesign mBox from back in the day. I remember updating firmware and it took hours upon hours without any task bar or indication. It just had a pop up window that said don’t unplug when you’re updating firmware! With an (ok) button. It was there before I started it and during the process. I couldn’t tell if it was working or not. After hours of guessing, I restarted my machine and plugged in my mBox…. Bricked it.
I set a reminder.
Both are identical. Just different layout and design.
No...there are significant differences...in both build and feature sets
@@DarkCornerStudios Thank you for the response. I have a Rodecaster Pro and use it as streaming radio mixer, because it has close features to a radio station console, like mute button for each channel, etc etc. I am wondering about Mixcast and have question about one of its features. Is there any menu like on Rodecaster called "Automatically Mute Outputs'? It's very useful when we connect the Rodecaster to studio monitors. It will automatically mute the output signal when the mic is open/active. Awaiting your response. Thank you.
@@nata.sasmita no.
There is a knob to control the outs though.
@@DarkCornerStudios Thank you for the information and prompt reply. God bless you and your family.
Well talked to my Sweetwater guy, and their sold out of the Rodecaster soooooo I guess I have to go with the Tascam.
Pretty sweet second choice though
"You don't sound like Dad."
Is that a negative, or positive endorsement for the MIXCAST 4?
Ah my smart assed daughter.
She is such a treat.
@@DarkCornerStudios
Before watching the review. I had come close to settling for this to be my comment. "Is the screw on cord feature to protect during the casting? So that means you attach the hook & bait to the other end of the cord? It would have been helpful to see the casting process demonstrated."
Then your daughter stepped in & stole the show. All credit must go, where credit is due.
Daughter, standing O from the cheap seats.
Correction,RodeCaster Pro 2.
Nooooo, I got both and Podcaster pro is much better