Rode PodMic Review: USB vs XLR Input - Your Ultimate Audio Quality Guide

I often get asked, “What’s the difference between USB microphones and XLR microphones?” And my topline answer is always the quality of an XLR input will deliver a better audio result. I have been working in the audio industry for 15 years, and have a Bachelors Degree in Audio Production so for me the love of XLR microphones runs deep. 

But I wanted to know whether USB could be “good enough” as a solution for podcasters that want to forego some of the expense of a new podcast setup and provide a professional product to their audiences.

In comes the new Rode Podmic USB XLR microphone. This is a microphone that I’ve been eager to try since its release, and it felt like the perfect companion to explore my thoughts on the subject. 

A note before I get going, this microphone was not gifted. I purchased this microphone myself to conduct this test. The provided links are Amazon affiliate links, and any purchases made through them support my show. Despite this affiliation, the review was conducted with the sole aim of benefiting my listeners and was not driven by affiliate marketing.

Testing Methodology

In my pursuit to test the microphone thoroughly, I recorded the same passage from the book "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse" under various setups. These included: 

XLR input with and without a pop filter

USB input with and without a pop filter

USB input connecting the microphone directly to an iPad using the cable that comes with the microphone in the box

USB input connecting the microphone directly to an iPhone 14 Pro using the RØDE SC19 cable.

I found it to be an important part of the test to see how the USB faired using an IPad or iPhone, as this could make the barrier to entry for podcasting even lower and also ensure that podcasters (and influencers) could deliver high-quality audio for their “live” chats on socials also.

The Rode PodMic USB XLR Edition

I found the Rode PodMic USB XLR edition to be a superb upgrade to the original XLR-only PodMic. With the added USB option, it has become more versatile and is an excellent choice for podcasters starting with a USB setup and considering an upgrade to XLR in the future.

Results

Interestingly, the audio quality across each setup was strikingly similar. While there were minor differences, such as slightly higher frequencies present in the iPhone or iPad recordings, these nuances did not overshadow the overall excellent sound quality. I ensured that the levels were adjusted to achieve a similar sound across all the recordings and I performed no post-production. No EQ or compression was applied. What you hear is exactly as it came out of the microphone.

Software

To further optimize your setup, you can also download the RØDE Central app, which allows you to perform some processing 

Why Recommend the Rode PodMic USB XLR?

I was so impressed with the Rode PodMic's performance and sound quality, even in the USB setup, that it has become my new favourite microphone to recommend to our podcasting clients looking for a minimal setup. I also appreciate the affordability of the microphone and it’s perfect when paired with the Rode PSA1 +  boom arm.

A Competitive Edge

The Rode PodMic USB XLR edition not only stands out as an excellent device in its own right, but it also goes...