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DJ Tech Reviews

RØDE PodMic

A cheap XLR dynamic with a heavy metal build and a warm voice sound; it is quiet, so check your interface's gain.

RØDE PodMic in black at an angle on its swing mount

Photos: RØDE Microphones

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6 of 6 professional reviews recommend it4.8/5 from 511 Thomann owners
Best for
Podcasters with an interface already who want broadcast sound for little money.
Skip it if
You have no XLR interface: the PodMic USB adds USB-C for that.

The Internet’s Opinion

From 6 professional reviews and 35 owner reviews: a fair amount of evidence.

All six professional reviews recommend it as a cheap broadcast-style dynamic with a heavy metal build and a warm voice sound, and most of the 35 owner reviews read at Thomann and Guitar Center agree. The repeated caveat is output: it is XLR-only and quiet, so a weaker interface needs the gain up or a booster, and there is no cable or stand in the box.

6 recommend0 mixed0 avoid

What people praise

  • Warm, clear voice sound for the price
  • Heavy all-metal build
  • Internal pop filter and shock mount do their job
Show 3 more
  • A budget alternative to the Shure SM7B
  • Rejects off-axis and room noise
  • Integrated swing mount fits boom arms and stands

What to know first

  • Low output: a weaker interface needs the gain up or a booster
  • No cable, stand or case in the box
  • Picks up knocks and electrical interference
Show 4 more
  • XLR only, so it needs an audio interface
  • Too heavy for a light desk stand
  • Pops up close without an external filter
  • Mids can sound harsh or need EQ

Owner ratings, as the retailers publish them

See the 6 reviews behind this

6 professional reviews (6 recommend, 0 mixed, 0 avoid); 35 owner reviews read at Thomann (30 read, 6 under 20 words skipped) and Guitar Center (18 posted, 7 under 20 words skipped)Compiled 2026-10-15How this is compiled

Video reviews

  • PodcastageApr 2019Recommends

    Rode PodMic Dynamic Mic Review / Test

Plays from YouTube when you press play. Picked from the reviews counted above, including one that disagrees where there is one.

Prices

Before you buy

Released
December 2018
Status
Current

Works with

  • Any XLR audio interface or mixerXLR only

    RØDE tuned it for the RØDECaster Pro, which has a preset for it, and says it delivers impeccable results with any XLR-USB interface Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE), checked 2026-10-15

  • No phantom power neededDynamic

    RØDE's datasheet lists phantom power as not required, so it works on any mic input Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (PodMic datasheet)), checked 2026-10-15

  • RØDE PSA1+, DS1 and DS2Compatible mounts

    The swing mount is integrated; RØDE lists its PSA1+ boom arm and DS1 and DS2 desk stands as compatible accessories Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (PodMic datasheet)), checked 2026-10-15

  • An interface with gain to spare-57 dBV output

    RØDE rates sensitivity at -57 dBV (1.4 mV at 94 dB SPL); like other broadcast dynamics it needs more gain than a USB mic supplies on its own Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (PodMic datasheet)), checked 2026-10-15

You’ll also need

  • An XLR cableNot in the box

    RØDE's datasheet lists the box contents as the PodMic alone Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (PodMic datasheet)), checked 2026-10-15

  • A boom arm or desk standNot in the box

    The integrated swing mount fits RØDE's PSA1+ arm and DS1 and DS2 stands; none is supplied Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (PodMic datasheet)), checked 2026-10-15

  • An audio interface or mixerXLR only

    It has an XLR output and no USB, so it needs an interface, mixer or console such as the RØDECaster Pro to reach a computer Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE), checked 2026-10-15

Key specs

Capsule
Dynamic
Polar pattern
Cardioid, end-address
Output
XLR only (no USB, no headphone output)
Frequency range
50 Hz to 15 kHz
Sensitivity
-57 dBV (1.4 mV at 94 dB SPL) ±2 dB at 1 kHz
Output impedance
320 Ω
All 14 specifications
Phantom power
Not required
Pop filter and shock mount
Internal pop filter; internal shock mount
Body
All-metal body with stainless steel mesh grille; black or white
Mount
Integrated swing mount; RØDE lists the PSA1+ arm and DS1 and DS2 stands as compatible
Weight
937 g
Dimensions
172 x 109 x 62 mm
Warranty
2 years
In the box
PodMic only; no cable or stand

14 of 14 figures sourced; hover one for its source

Our take

Rory TassellWritten from the sources on this page, not from a loan unit.

All six professional reviews recommend it, and most of the 35 owner reviews read agree: a heavy all-metal build, a warm voice sound and an internal pop filter in a mic reviewers call aggressively priced. The caveat nine sources repeat is output: it is XLR-only and quiet, so a weaker interface needs the gain up or a booster, and the box holds the mic alone. Buy it if you own an interface; if not, the PodMic USB adds USB-C.

What it is

Status, October 2026: current. RØDE still lists the PodMic.

What it is

The PodMic is a dynamic microphone from RØDE for podcasting, streaming, voice-over and gaming, announced on 18 December 2018 as a companion to the RØDECaster Pro console (RØDE announcement, RØDE product page). It has an XLR output and nothing else: no USB, no headphone socket and no processing, so gain and tone are set on the interface or mixer it plugs into. In May 2023 RØDE added the PodMic USB, which keeps the same body and adds a USB-C output with on-board processing; the original stays on sale beside it.

It is end-address with a tight cardioid pattern, and an internal pop filter and internal shock mount sit behind the stainless steel mesh grille. RØDE tuned it for the RØDECaster Pro, which has a preset for it, and says it works with any XLR interface. As a dynamic it needs no phantom power. RØDE rates its sensitivity at -57 dBV, its frequency range at 50 Hz to 15 kHz and its output impedance at 320 Ω (PodMic datasheet).

The all-metal body weighs 937 g and measures 172 x 109 x 62 mm, and the integrated swing mount fits stands and boom arms; RØDE lists its PSA1+ arm and DS1 and DS2 desk stands as compatible. It comes in black or white. The box holds the microphone alone, so a cable and a stand or arm are extra. Shure's SM7B is the dearer broadcast dynamic reviewers set it against, and the streaming microphone guide compares the alternatives.

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