Rode has been in the tech industry for the longest time but the brand has yet to dip its toes into the gaming space. While you could use some products for gaming, up to now you haven’t had the opportunity to buy a dedicated gaming microphone. The new Rode X range is about to change that. Firstly, these microphones are USB which is a strange direction for the brand. Rode prides itself on its XLR lineup due to the sheer versatility of technology but that doesn’t mean the new Rode X range is lacking. The new lineup includes two new mics. There’s the Rode X XCM-50 and Rode X XDM-100. Both aim to provide the so-called “new generation” of microphone tech for gamers.
What’s In The Box?
The Rode X range comes with everything you need in the box to get you started. Rode really went out of its way to make the unboxing experience as premium as possible on this Rode X range and you definitely see and feel the price during the unboxing experience. Inside the Rode X XDM-100 box, you’ll get a handful of boxes. Each box contains a neat component for the microphone. In one box there’s the PSM1 Shock mount that acts as the makeshift stand. There’s also a pop filter and a 3-meter Rode SC29 to USB cable. Of course, you’ll also get the mic itself.
As for the Rode X XCM-50, the box contains the microphone itself, a Ride SC29 to USB cable, a 3-meter headphone extension cable and a tripod. The same multi-box arrangement can be found in the main box and everything is neatly packed and presented.
Rode X XCM-50 and Rode X XDM-100 Tech Specs
Rode X XDM-100
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Capsule: Dynamic
- Frequency Range: 20 Hz — 20,000kHz
- Analog Outputs: 3.5mm Headphone Output
- Sample Rate: 48kHz
- Bit Depth: 24-bit
Rode X XCM-50
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Capsule: Condenser
- Frequency Range: 20 Hz — 20,000 kHz
- Analog Outputs: 3.5mm Headphone Output
- Sample Rate: 48kHz
- Bit Depth: 24-bit
Rode X XCM-50 and Rode X XDM-100 Design
If you’ve seen a microphone in the past decade you won’t be surprised by the overall design of both the XCM-50 and XDM-100. However, the microphones pack some cool red finishes that add to the gamerfied style Rode is going for here. The XCM features an off-red mesh, for example, that portrays the same iconic red style found on the range’s packaging, knobs and decals.
The XCM is a smaller microphone that is designed to fit on your desk. The tripod helps with this and you can adjust the angle and positioning to your liking. I thought the tripod was a bit too big for my desk as the legs stretch out all over the place. You’ll likely have to design your layout to specifically cater to the mic’s space. The ball joint let me tilt the microphone once installed and the arms on both sides of the microphone let me control the angle. The two combined create a lot of room to fiddle with the style you need.
The metallic finishes on the XCM are nice and premium. It feels heavy and expensive and the cold surface helps make your wallet feel better after splurging on this microphone. There’s also a level dial on the front that can be turned up and down to control the gain. At the back, you’ll find the headphone jack and USB C port.
As for the Rode X XDM-100, it also packs some neat red finishes. This is found on the condenser rim and around the inner port for the headphones. The entire thing is metal and feels heavy and premium. The USB C port is found at the bottom of the device and the headphone jack is located underneath the gain dial. Even with the pop filter installed, both the headphone slot and the gain dial were easily accessible.
You don’t get a desk stand with the Rode X XDM-100 so if you don’t have one or an arm, you’re pretty screwed. The included shock mount is made for an arm so you’ll need one in order to prop this microphone up. If you’re paying R6,000 for a microphone, I would expect one or the other included in the box, to be honest. Surely Rode could have done something here to help gamers and streamers who are investing in the product but don’t have the full setup yet.
That aside, the design of both microphones definitely left me impressed. They might not have all the crazy RGB you can find on other mics but they get the job done. It all looks premium and feels premium too.
Rode X XCM-50 and Rode X XDM-100 Performance
Both microphones are designed to work on Rode’s new UNIFY software. The app is meant to be similar to what other microphone makers are doing nowadays and the UNIFY app works for the most part. Don’t expect to just jump into the software and know what’s cracking from the get-go. There’s a lot to understand when it comes to managing virtual mixing and dual streaming. I suggest you make some time to read through the manuals and maybe watch some videos to fully understand what all the knobs and dials do.
It is also important to mention that the software makes it easy to control all audio sources on your platform. Whatever can make a noise and either input or output sound can be found on the app. It will definitely come in handy for streamers (not so much gamers). You’ll be able to control the microphone level, what music is playing in the background, what sound level your videos are playing at and of course, the game input too. It is definitely the ultimate app for these mics.
There’s also some cool presets on the app that add advanced APHEX audio processing to your mix. These include compressor, noise gate, high-pass filter and other effects. You’ll also be able to use some popular effects like the awesome Aural Exciter and Big Bottom effects. You can also trigger sound effects like applause, laughs and other sounds. However, the best part is being able to import your own WAV files to add unlimited variety to your streams.
When it comes to the overall performance of these two mics they definitely deliver enough bang for your buck. They feature rich sound and clear and clean recordings. The quality is some of the best I have ever experienced from a USB microphone and while the format lacks the versatility of XLR, once you nail down your workflow, you won’t even need to tweak anything you record or stream. The UNIFY software definitely adds another level of creativity to the microphones too.
Rode X XCM-50 and Rode X XDM-100 Verdict
Both the new Rode X microphones are stellar first attempts to touch a new market and I think Rode is in the right direction. They are a bit pricey for USB mics but the quality isn’t lacking here at all. They are likely some of the best microphones you can get on the market and their gamer focus makes this even better.
The Rode X XCM-50 and Rode X-XDM are available from Takealot. You can find out more about these microphones here.
