V1.2 firmware for the popular RØDECaster Video all-in-one production console adds a host of new features including support for NDI, PTZ camera control, new keying tools, and more.
The RØDECaster Video all-in-one production console is just coming up to a year old now, and the company seems to be marking the occasion with a new firmware update that adds some excellent new capabiities to what was already a pretty powerful compact unit.
The main draw is undoubtedly the addiiton of NDI support and the way that it enables professional-grade video-over-IP at no extra cost. RØDECaster Video now features up to four NDI inputs and one NDI output via Ethernet, meaning that you can now connect cameras, iOS devices, and other NDI-compatible sources all on the same network without the need for video cabling.
Very usefully, that NDI support also extends to the RØDE Capture app for iOS. Effectively this turns your iPhone’s front and rear cameras into a wireless multi-angle camera that can just be dropped onto the network and instantly integrated into your production.
Alongside this, PTZ control for compatible NDI cameras has also been introduced. This means you can adjust framing in real time, save presets to your camera, and recall them instantly within scenes on on the console, making it more of an all-in-one tool than ever.
A couple of new things here
You are now able to use any input as an overlay, which is going to be a useful feature for permanent picture-in-picture or persistent graphics. RØDE also says that the new ability to apply rounded corners to scene layers and overlays was a highly requested feature, while you can also now stretch or squash scene layers for extra layout versatility.
Again this is all about bringing more capabilities into the console without having to lean on other systems, in this case external graphics.
This is a RØDE ecosystem benefit. When paired with a RØDECaster Pro II or RØDECaster Duo, you can now link specific audio channels to camera angles, enabling automatic video switching based on who’s speaking. Potentially, this is a huge time-saver for podcasts, panel shows, and live interviews, and should both reduce editing time and enhance production flow.
Finally the update also includes a few refinements elsewhere. You can now grey pre-mute meters, so you can still monitor input signal activity on muted channels. You can also separate output mixers for HDMI and NDI outputs, giving you more control over your routing.
The latest RØDECaster Video firmware is available to download now via the RØDECaster App. The RØDECaster Video console itself is widely avaiiable for around the $999 or local equivalent.