TASCAM Mixcast 4 vs Rodecaster Pro – Comparing two great podcast studio desks

When the Rodecaster Pro was revealed and reviewed it changed the game of podcasting for ever, and now the competition is hitting the market thick and fast with the TASCAM Mixcast 4 putting forward a solid case to take buying dollars from RODE.

I saw this online and immediately reached out to the local Tascam team in Australia – Keen to get a look given the popularity of the Rodecaster here at EFTM.

Don’t be fooled by the name, the Mixcast 4 isn’t the 4th generation, at best that refers to the four microphone inputs.

This is certainly a device created by the reputable audio brand Tascam to ensure they didn’t miss out on a booming market – Rodecaster stood alone, now there’s some solid competition.

Tascam Mixcast 4 Price in Australia

I’ve seen it listed as an RRP as $1049, but available at $899. The Rodecaster has an RRP of $949 and I’ve seen it at $829 or less.

So, you’re paying more for the Tascam Mixcast 4 – no doubt, is it worth it?

What is better about the Mixcast 4 vs the Rodecaster Pro

As a physical device they are very, very similar. But the Mixcast 4 does have some advantages.

Firstly, you can plug in XLR microphones as well as TRS 6.3mm microphone cables – you can’t do that on the Rodecaster. Rodecaster has clips stopping XLR removal, Tascam doesn’t – that may be good or bad.

Line in can be TRRS or two 6.3mm TRS which is a good option too.

Tascam also used a full-sized SD card slot on the Mixcast 4, which frankly I prefer!

But for me it’s the software on board that really ramps it up for the Mixcast. You can name your files as you finish them using an on-screen keyboard – works bloody well.

And in each microphone setting you can change voice settings so you can be in a wet room, or even change the pitch of your voice. Great for True Crime podcast producers.

Finally, there’s the TALKBACK button. Strange one, but some real credibility to it.

On the Mic 1 channel, you can be not recorded but the other headphone outputs will hear what you say – so a producer could get in the ear of the guests, telling them to wrap it up!

I like that!

Software is the real advantage

I’m not talking about the software that drives that little touch-screen. I’m talking about the PC/Mac software here.

Tascam Podcast Editor is a nifty, powerful, easy to use multi-track editor. It’s not an audio editor per se, because I can’t drop a bunch of random files into a timeline so I personally won’t be switching from Adobe Audition any time soon.

But if you’re using Audacity – welcome to a more user friendly experience. If you record a multi-track podcast, it appears on screen in an instant, and you can clip and delete loads of the ifs and ums in your show if that’s your thing.

You ain’t getting editing software with the Rodecaster – so there’s a big tick here.

However I suggest someone that knows their stuff won’t be twisted by the software offer – for some though it would be a cracker.

Which should you buy? Mixcast 4 or Rodecaster?

In many ways, it’s a matter of which one can you get the best deal on? I do think the Rodecaster feels a stronger build and material, but the Tascam Mixcast 4 is hardly cheap, it’s got a good design just a bit of plastic around it that I think cheapens it.

For me, the Tascam probably wins by a hair given the SD card slot, and the naming of the files as you finish recording.

Buy: Turramurra Music