3 Powerful Portable Podcasting Setups For Recording On The Road

Have you ever thought about taking your podcast on the road, but don’t really have the gear or know-how to make it happen?

The good news is that there are lots of portable recording options available and it’s never been easier to take your podcast out of the studio.

Whether you want to travel light or take a full setup with you, below we’ll show you three powerful portable podcasting setups featuring RØDE gear that will let you record anywhere you like without sacrificing audio quality.

Pocket-sized Portability: Podcasting with a Smartphone

If you’re after a convenient and easy-to-use setup that fits in your pocket, look no further than your smartphone, a couple of lavalier microphones, and the ultra-compact AI-Micro audio interface.

Smaller than a box of matches, the AI-Micro allows you to record any two 3.5mm microphones – such as the Lavalier GO or the Lavalier II – into an iOS or Android mobile device with professional audio quality. It also features a high-quality headphone output for crystal-clear monitoring.

This is a great solution for recording a two-person podcast on the go, or for recording interviews and other remote content for your show.

You’ll have complete control over your mics via the RØDE Central Mobile app, which allows you to switch between ‘Merged’ and ‘Split’ recording modes and access advanced processing such as fine gain control, a high-pass filter, high-frequency boost and an input pad, so your recordings will sound excellent right from the get-go.

Just connect the AI-Micro to your smartphone or tablet using the correct cable for your device (SC16 or SC17 for USB-C devices; SC15 or SC19 for iOS devices with a Lightning connector), and it will automatically recognise and set the AI-Micro as your default audio input and output.

If you’re looking for an app to record your podcast on a smartphone or tablet, the RØDE Reporter app is free, easy to use, and offers broadcast-quality (24-bit, 48kHz) recording at the touch of a button – perfect for recording on the road. From there, just plug in your mics and a pair of headphones, adjust your recording levels and you’re ready to go.

Find out more about the AI-Micro here.

The Power of USB: Podcasting with a Computer

If you want to step up your recordings without sacrificing portability, RØDE Connect is for you.

RØDE Connect is our powerful, easy-to-use podcasting software, which is compatible with a range of RØDE products. Being software-based, using RØDE Connect allows you to record professional-quality podcasts without the need for a physical mixer or audio interface.

All you need is a Mac or PC laptop, as many compatible RØDE microphones as required (up to four) and a pair of headphones for you and your guests, making it a great portable solution for podcasting on the road.

RØDE Connect features an intuitive, easy-to-use digital mixer complete with level controls, solo and mute buttons, as well as podcast-perfect features like customisable sound pads and virtual channels for seamlessly connecting remote guests. RØDE Connect also gives you one-click access to studio-quality audio processors, including a compressor and the APHEX Aural Exciter and Big Bottom.

You can use RØDE Connect with a range of RØDE microphones, including the NT-USB+, NT-USB Mini, VideoMic NTG, VideoMic GO II and Wireless GO II. When using most of these mics, you can also plug in a pair of headphones for monitoring your audio with no latency.

If you’re going to record with more microphones than there are USB ports on your computer, we recommend using a powered USB hub to ensure that these additional microphones have enough power to operate. When using a microphone that requires a stand or mount like the VideoMic GO II or the VideoMic NTG, the Tripod 2 or DS1 are great compact options that you can take with you anywhere.

Once you're ready, all you need to do is fire up RØDE Connect, plug in your microphones, adjust your levels and add processing if desired, and you’re ready to start recording. This entire setup will fit inside a backpack, making it a great full-featured yet portable podcasting solution.

Find out more about RØDE Connect here.

The Portable Studio: Podcasting with the RØDECaster Pro II

The RØDECaster Pro II is the world's most powerful podcasting console and it's ideal for both beginners and pros alike.

It features four studio-grade microphone inputs with Revolution Preamps™ for recording crystal-clear audio, as well as dual USB-C interfaces, Bluetooth channels for seamlessly integrating remote guests, eight sound pads for triggering music and sound effects, powerful audio processing and so much more. It's the perfect all-in-one recording solution that's made its way into countless podcast studios, but it's also great for taking on the road and can even be used without access to mains power.

The RØDECaster Pro II can be powered using a USB power bank (so long as it supports at least 30W PD and can provide 15V, 2A), making it entirely portable whilst still offering the same broadcast-quality audio that you would get if using it in the studio. Just because you're on the road, it doesn't mean you can't use your favourite XLR mics too. The RØDECaster Pro II can power everything from dynamic mics like the PodMic or Procaster to condenser mics like the NT1-A or Broadcaster, even when running off USB power.

You can even choose to record to a computer or on-board to a microSD if you want to go fully off-grid. This entire setup will fit into a large backpack or small suitcase, so it’s easily transportable wherever you plan on heading. If you’re looking to protect your RØDECaster Pro II when travelling, the RØDECover 2 is a great option for ensuring both internal and external components are protected.

Podcasting and recording on the road is no longer an unrealistic idea that requires tons of heavy, expensive gear or messy cables. With the three setups above, you can record just about anywhere you want without sacrificing audio quality.