The Zoom Podtrak P8 Vs Rodecaster Pro

Your Podcast is A Steam Train

I often say that when you start out, your show is rolling slow. As it keeps moving, it gets faster and faster. It just takes time, consistency (of schedule, and value). Kim Krajci of Toastmasters 101 pointed me toward this YouTube video from Box Angeles. This video shows Mellisa Hunter who has a hilarious series of Adult Wednesday Adams and how one video in that series went viral and her back episodes starting taking off with the original video.

More Cool Podcast Gear For Podcasters

One of the great things about podcasting getting more and more popular, is more and more products are coming to the marketing Specifically for podcasters. Zoom Recently came out with the Podtrak P4 (for me this is THE go-to piece of equipment). Now they've come out with the Podtrak P8 which is a direct competitor of the Rodecaster Pro from Rode.

Neither one of these units is a bad purchase. They both make it easier to create great sounding podcasts.

Who Is This For?

The Zoom Podtrak P8 (and the Rodecaster Pro) allow you to:

Record up to six people in the same room.

Report a remote interview via SB

Connect and record a smartphone

Play live sounds via touch buttons.

Comparing Different Features of the Units.

For me, I am always connected to my computer via a USB cable. This is for zoom calls, or recording directing into software. Keep this in mind when I talk about different tests. I do one live show on Saturday morning where I record to the internal card, or if I'm doing an interview (I use it as a back up).

Power

Both the Zoom and Rode can be operated via batteries (The Rodecaster has an optional DC-USB-1 cable that enables you to plug in a USB battery). The Zoom P8 uses double-A batteries or can be powered via a USB cable. So with the Rode, you will have a USB and a power cable. With the Zoom P8, you can power it with just your USB cable. Advantage Zoom P8

Price

The Rodecaster Pro currently lists for $599. USB Power Cable for RODECaster Pro $20 Total: $619

The Zoom P8 is listing for $499. Zoom BTA-2 Bluetooth Adapter $49 Total: $548

Advantage Zoom P8

Input Channels

ZOOM P8

This is an interesting one, as the Zoom P8 has six XLR inputs. It has a dedicated channel to the phone input.

This means you have a total of seven inputs. The USB interface on the zoom is used in place of one of the XLR inputs. You could have five XLR inputs, one USB, and One phone.

Rodcaster Pro

The rodecaster pro has four XLR inputs. Then it has a dedicated channel for a phone. It has a dedicated channel for the USB interface. It has another channel for Bluetooth.

This means you have a total of seven inputs. You could have four XLR, one USB, One Phone and one bluetooth.

Comments: The blue tooth is built into the Rodecaster, and the P8 has the ability to have one more XLR input. Advantage? Tie.

Number of Outputs

The Zoom has six headphone outputs, and a stereo output. The Rodecaster has four headphone outputs and a stereo output. The plugs are on the back of the Rodecaster where the inputs on the Zoom are on the face. Advantage: Zoom.

Marker Feature

Both units have the ability to add markers. Advantage? Tie

Normalization

While there is no normalization in the hardware of the Rodecaster, using the...

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