Setting Up USB Connections

The RØDECaster Pro II is an incredibly versatile audio production tool with a plethora of powerful features for improving workflows for podcasting, livestreaming, and music production. This includes two USB interfaces with three available USB audio devices, and a host of configurable options for mix-minus, sub-mixes and multitrack recording.


Whilst these features offer a lot of flexibility, they are quite unique. In this guide, we’ll explain how the RØDECaster Pro II mixer and USB architecture works, the different features and uses for each USB interface, how multitrack recording works, routing audio for remote calls, sub-mixes, mix-minus, and more.

Man wearing NTH-100 and talking into PodMic whilst using RØDECaster Pro II for video call
USB 1 USB 2
USB Audio Device(s) RØDECaster Pro II Main
RØDECaster Pro II Chat
RØDECaster Pro II Secondary
Data Transfer From microSD Card Yes No
iOS Connectivity (with RØDE SC15 or SC19 cable) No Yes
Android Connectivity Yes Yes
Multitrack Output Yes (Main device only) No
Mix-minus Yes  Yes
Custom Routing Yes Yes
RØDE Central Connectivity Yes  No
Connect USB storage device Yes Yes

Understanding the capabilities of each interface can help determine the best setup for you. In general, USB 1 should be connected to your primary computer. USB 2 can then be connected to a secondary device (such as a smartphone, another computer, or the same computer).


In a dual-PC setup, you can use the appropriate USB port for each computer’s role in your setup, depending on which computer runs your stream, which runs your chat, and which runs your content or gameplay.

Pro Tip

If you are using the RØDECaster Pro II with a single computer, connecting both the USB 1 and USB 2 interfaces simultaneously will give you access to all the above features without the need to disconnect and reconnect while creating content.

Note

You will also see ‘RØDECaster Pro II Chat’ appear, as this is also available via the USB 1 port (see below for more info on how to use USB Chat).

Pro Tip

If you use a Mac computer, sometimes the list of devices you can see when you click on the speaker icon in the Menu Bar does not update straight away when new devices are plugged in. If you have connected your RØDECaster Pro II but can’t select it from the Menu Bar, go to your Audio Preferences, where all available devices will be listed.

If you set ‘RØDECaster Pro II Main’ as the default audio device for your computer, audio from your computer will be sent to the RØDECaster Pro II via the USB 1 audio input, which you can allocate to any fader you choose.


Your entire audio mix (unless otherwise specified using custom routing; see below) will also be sent from the RØDECaster Pro II to your computer via the same audio interface and will be available on any software that you are using – for example, a digital audio workstation (DAW), streaming software, or a communications app.


By default, ‘RØDECaster Pro II Main’ is a stereo USB output, but it can be set to multitrack by going to settings > ‘Outputs’ > ‘Multitrack’ > ‘USB’ and deselecting ‘Off’. When in multitrack mode, you will be able to record each track you have set up on your RØDECaster Pro II individually in recording software such as a DAW.


There are 16 different audio channels available on the ‘RØDECaster Pro II Main Multitrack’ audio device, which are organised as follows.

Note

When Multitrack mode is off, the ‘RØDECaster Pro II Main’ audio device will appear as ‘RØDECaster Pro II Main Stereo’; when it is on, it will appear as ‘RØDECaster Pro II Main Multitrack’ (Mac) or just ‘RØDECaster Pro II Main’ (Windows).

1Mix L

2Mix R

3XLR/TRS 1

4XLR/TRS 2

5XLR/TRS 3

6XLR/TRS 4

7Bluetooth L

8Bluetooth R

9SMART Pads L

10SMART Pads R

11USB Main L

12USB Main R

13USB Chat L

14USB Chat R

15USB Secondary L

16USB Secondary R

If you are using software or an application that does not allow you to select which channel(s) you want to use, we recommend turning off multitrack mode. This is because some software (such as Ecamm Live) automatically mixes all 16 channels together if it detects a multitrack audio device, which can cause unexpected results when muting or fading, or using voice effects.


We also recommend switching off multitrack mode when using a browser-based streaming platform (such as restream.io) on a Windows PC, as the streaming platform may not accept ‘RØDECaster Pro Main Multitrack’ as an audio source. This is a limitation of browser-based software due to multitrack audio devices not being properly recognised.


Check out the RØDECaster Pro II User Guide to find out more about setting up multitrack recording.

Pro Tip

If you are using a browser-based streaming platform (such as restream.io) on a Windows PC, the streaming platform will not accept ‘RØDECaster Pro Main’ as an audio source. This is a limitation of browser-based software due to multitrack audio devices not being properly recognised. If you are using an online streaming platform, connect your RØDECaster Pro II to your computer using the USB 2 port instead of USB 1 and use the ‘RØDECaster Pro Secondary’ audio device as your input and output device (see below for more info).

Pro Tip

If you are running out of USB ports on your computer, you can use a USB hub. We recommend using a high-quality USB3.0 hub for best results.

‘RØDECaster Pro II Secondary’ is useful in a range of applications. For example, if you are using ‘RØDECaster Pro II Chat’ for your communications application, you can route additional audio from an app such as Spotify to ‘RØDECaster Pro II Secondary’ (simply select ‘RØDECaster Pro II Secondary’ as the output device in the app settings), which will then be sent to the fader that USB 2 is allocated to.


Remember, if you are using the ‘RØDECaster Pro II Secondary’ device to connect to a communications app, your caller will hear the main output mix – including any audio sources connected to the ‘RØDECaster Pro II Main’ and ‘RØDECaster Pro II Chat’ devices via the USB 1 port – unless you create a custom output mix (see below).


It is also important to note that the ‘RØDECaster Pro II Secondary’ output device is not a multitrack output – only the full output mix will be sent to your computer. The USB 2 port should also be used for connecting smartphones and tablets to the RØDECaster Pro II as it is MFi-certified, meaning it will interact seamlessly with iOS devices (you will need to connect iOS devices with a Lightning Accessory Cable such as the SC19; a standard charging cable will not work), and it has mix-minus available, which is important when making calls.

Note

In order to achieve zero-latency monitoring with the USB microphone, you will need to connect headphones directly to the microphone. You can then adjust headphone monitoring levels with the microphone's on-board controls.