RODE X Streaming Video Podcasting Kit with Limelight Mic, Boom Arm, Headphones, and Cable

There's a false review that claims it does not actually work well on Mac. Rode made this to use Rode Central on the Mac. Unify is for Windows. All functionality works great using Rode Central on Mac.

My external display 3440x1440 and RodeX in pass-through mode providing misshaped blur image. I need to try it with 1080p display and it is probably gonna work fine. But this is huge disappointment. Main reason I took it, - to have mute button and multiple microphone options + amplifier. But might need to downshift to simplier version. Windows software is also kinda look ugly.

I was a happy user of the now somewhat dated GoXLR Mini. However, TC Helicon recently announced that they've disbanded the support team for their entire line of GoXLR products...meaning that, while my trusty GoXLR Mini still works at the moment...it will slowly rot and cease to function properly as new versions of Microsoft Windows debut, etc. So, with this move from TC Helicon, it seemed a good time to upgrade...especially since Rode recently launched their Streamer X, a device that replicates most of the GoXLR Minis' capabilities, incorporates better pre-amps, ads some very cool additional onboard DSP functionality, and tosses in HDMI capture to boot. That said, the real-world experience with this device in August 2023 is hit-and-miss...prepare for some undue frustration . Not unlike TC Helicon's line of GoXLR products early on, this Streamer X device could desperately benefit from additional firmware updates, and Rode's Unify software for Windows is likewise in dire need of additional updates. After installing, uninstalling, and reinstalling the Unify software, the audio interface portion of this device seems to work reliably now. After the first install, I had a few bizarre issues. The most notable was that the Windows operating system would register an audio signal from the Chat sub-mix, but apps like Zoom Slack could not receive any audio from the Chat sub-mix. After hours of tweaking settings in both Unify Windows to no avail...in addition to restarting the computer multiple times...I followed a suggestion on Reddit, which advised to uninstall Unify, restart the computer, re-install Unify, restart the computer, and then check to see if the audio routing would work properly. So, that's what I did, and it was successful. Now that the audio interface seems to be functioning reliably, I think the Streamer X is going to be a more than suitable replacement for my old GoXLR Mini (despite lacking the four physical faders, which I do miss but not as much as I thought I would). The last thing I'll note about the audio functionality of this device is that there's both confusing redundancy and functional dissonance between Rode's two different software platforms for this device. On one hand, there's Rode Central. This software is aimed more at the podcasting crowd. However, there are things you can only do in Rode Central - like adjusting the illumination brightness of the Stream X's SMART Pads/input rotary encoders. On the other hand, there's Rode Unify. This software is aimed more at live streamers. Likewise, there are things you can only do in Rode Unify - like advanced audio routing. I don't think it's terrible that Rode has two different software platforms for this device that seek to serve different audiences, but if that's the approach they're going to take, all basic functionality should be replicated in both platforms (like the ability to adjust the brightness of the pads). Now...that brings us to the HDMI video capture functionality......COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE (at least for now). After hours of tinkering, I haven't been able to get HDMI video capture to work reliably. On two occasions, when I unplugged and replugged the Streamer X's USB-C cable, the HDMI capture did inexplicably start working. In both cases, it worked until I needed to unplug the Streamer X's USB-C cable...upon plugging the USB-C cable back into the device, the HDMI capture did not resume working (it did not even appear in the Windows Device Manager). So, for now, I've reverted back to using my Roland UVC-01 for HDMI video capture. Notably, while experiencing the aforementioned issues, I was plugging the USB-C cable directly into the computer (so my experience was not the result of connecting the Streamer X through a USB hub, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, etc.). Moreover, I also tried using an alternate USB-C cable just in case the supplied Rode USB-C cable were faulty - but no dice. I'm not too worried. As I mentioned earlier, the GoXLR Mini had its own fair share of bugs early in its lifecycle, but TC Helicon eventually addressed most of them through firmware and software updates, and the GoXLR Mini evolved to become a dependable device. Rode is a great company with a solid track record supporting its products. So, I'm confident that Rode will address these issues in time. When the wrinkles get ironed out, the Streamer X will be a freaking amazing little powerhouse of a device . However, in the meantime, expect a level of frustration with some aspects of the Streamer X that are downright shocking at the €399 price point (especially as it relates to the completely unreliable HDMI video capture functionality).

I returned item, cause this product doesn't make any sense.It is simply awful.Software is awful.It is not 4k.Also hoto gave only 40%.My last buy from his store.

It functions but without their Rode Unify software it is essentially worthless on a Mac. Stay away if you're a Mac user until Unify is available.