Design

The RodeCaster Pro II is a sleek bit of kit which is comprehensive yet understandable on the face of it. From a top-down point of view, you’ve got a 5.5-inch HD touchscreen with haptic feedback, six channel fading sliders with corresponding channel buttons above them (with dedicated mute and monitoring below), as well as a rotary encoder dial, dedicated recording button, and eight physical smart pads on the right-hand side. Suffice to say, you’re certainly getting the full gallery experience here, with this setup proving immediately familiar to anyone who has ever been inside a recording studio or radio desk. 

Turning the RodeCaster Pro II around and you’re presented with all the connectivity options that you would hope to find in a premium mixing desk / interface combo such as this. Power is delivered through USB-C, and there are two dedicated further USB-C ports for connectivity for devices such as your computer, and phone as well as iPad or other gaming tablets.

There’s also an Ethernet port for those wanting a wired connection. As far as outputs are concerned, you’re spoiled for choice here with 4x 1/4-inch outputs for headphone monitoring and left and right outputs for speakers or external devices. You can even record directly to Micro SD.

The aesthetics of the RodeCaster Pro II match the overall clean and straightforward design language that the Australian audio brand is known for and, on the surface, isn’t immediately too different from the first model from nearly four years ago. My particular review unit came with a specially engineered plastic hard cover that lightly sits on top of the interface (which retails for $50). While certainly a nice to have and non-essential add-on, I’d recommend the cover to anyone wanting to keep the various buttons, dials, pads, and sliders dust-free.

Features

Living up to the promise of being the ‘world’s most powerful all-in-one audio production solution’, you won’t be surprised to hear that the RodeCaster Pro II is full to bursting with features for just about any use you can think of. The quad-core audio engine, complete with 512MB of internal flash memory, powers the Studio-grade Aphex audio processing and Resolution preamps for low noise to high gain pickup which I’ll explain in detail a little further on.

For PC streamers, you’re also to connect to two computers at once through USB-C running separate audio sources which will no doubt be ideal for the hardcore streamers using the main rig and a laptop for chat monitoring, too. This is also useful for those wanting specific control over their volume mixers for the likes of Discord, Apple Music, your game audio, and microphone input, but more on that later. 

One of the most useful features of the Rodecaster Pro II is how it integrates with the Rode Central desktop application which can be used to tweak your settings, customize the RGB lighting, and save your specified presets as well as download firmware updates. New features are coming all the time, with a major update being released in my time testing the unit, so you’ll want to be connected to the internet if possible here for the best software version possible. For maximum compatibility, the device is also MFi certified for iOS devices, and can connect through Bluetooth as well.

Performance

In my extensive testing with the RodeCaster Pro II, I’ve been continuously impressed with what this all-in-one production interface can do. I should clarify that while the main purpose of this device may be aimed at podcasters, I have been using it in everything from streaming across Twitch and YouTube, to recording music, and as my main setup for voice calls alongside the Rode NTH 100 and Rode PodMic. If you’re already immersed in the Rode ecosystem for any of the Australian brand’s gear, then you’ll be well catered to with this interface. 

There’s a level of versatility and control to the RodeCaster Pro II that makes it ideal for streaming, and that’s perhaps going to be the greatest strength of this device when compared to some other audio interfaces. For example, while the unit has six physical sliders which can be dialed to your desired level, you can then further fine-tune more specifically with options in the touchscreen interface. I found in my testing that using the specifically engineered ‘PodMic’ setting in the operating system made by mic be picked up cleanly with strong control over the pre-amp and dampening settings. It’s worth noting that other Condensor / cardioid microphones, such as the Shure SM7B are included, too, so you’re not just limited to Rode-only gear here. 

You can make things as easy or as complicated as you want here, and for me, that meant moving the gallery-style slider up roughly 3/4 of the way to avoid any clipping, and then scaling back the sensitivity in the software. This is where those Revolution preamps come into their own, with an accurate, and clean sound profile meaning I didn’t have to use a booster or crank the gain to be heard accurately. A small touch, but one that in all my years of using interfaces and XLR microphones is certainly appreciated here as a quality of life upgrade. 

We’ve briefly touched on Smart Pads above, innovating on the original’s sound pads with a new level of customizability here. Not unlike the Elgato Stream Deck and other powerful live streaming shorthand bits of kit, these colored pads can be programmed to do a wide range of different things. Through the Rode Central software, you can upload and program your own sound effects, modulation, and sound bites onto these. While I cannot speak as to what other people will use them for, I used these pads with a fade-in and out feature as well as utilizing the Back Channel Mode to cleanly check in on my feed without having to mess around with my physical settings. You could very easily use them as hotkeys for donation notifications, bits, subscriber jingles, or whatever else appeals in a pinch. 

The four Neutrik combo inputs on the front (either for XLR or 1/4-inch jack) proved to be very effective for tracking electric guitar. I was surprised to find specified settings for running instruments through the RodeCaster Pro II, and the same extent in volume, gain, and level control very much applies to direct signal as well. The suite of preamps and post-processing effects can be tailored to your preferences, but in my testing, I choose to keep things as clean and ‘dry’ as possible. I did notice that the Revolution pre-amp made by guitar sound a fair bit brighter and louder without coming in too hot when tracking through Cockos Reaper and using plugins like Bias FX 2, Bias AMP 2, and EZ Mix 2. My previous interfaces to the RodeCaster Pro II, a Behringer U-phoria UMC202 HD, and before that the Focusrite Scarlett Solo really do pale in comparison here.

What’s particularly powerful about the Rodecaster Pro II for musicians is how you can use the deck’s physical and software-based mixing features to delicately balance the sound of your instruments and vocals being tracked at the same time. While many audio interfaces do give you options to plug both (or more) in at once, I’ve never felt the confidence to mix on the fly so effortlessly as what I’ve heard through this unit.

Should you buy the Rode Rodecaster Pro II? 

If you’re someone who wants to take content creation in any form to the next level then the Rode Rodecaster Pro II is an easy recommendation for musicians, podcasters, live streamers, and anyone else who wants more control over their audio. If you’re someone who already has experience with the original Rodecaster Pro from December 2018, I personally believe that there’s enough new here to justify an upgrade to the latest and greatest, too. 

How we tested the Rode RodeCaster Pro II

I’ve been using the RodeCaster Pro II for around three weeks in everything from producing music in programs such as Reaper using plugins from Bias and Toontrack, to live streaming in OBS Streamlabs. I have also been using the RodeCaster Pro II to power my PodMic microphone through the 48V Phantom Power to talk with friends on various desktop applications as well as speak to colleagues through Google Meet. 

Complete your setup with one of the best webcams, best green screens, and best ring lights on the market. 

The Verdict

5

5 out of 5

Rode Rodecaster Pro II

The RodeCaster Pro II innovates on the original model as an all-in-one powerhouse interface and audio production studio. Whether you’re a streamer, musician, or podcaster, the brand’s latest effort is an encompassing solution for all creators.

The post Rode RodeCaster Pro II review: “An encompassing solution for all creators” appeared first on Game News.

Wondering how to watch South Park: The Streaming Wars online? It’s simple in certain parts of the world (US, Australian, and Canadian fans can watch it on Paramount Plus (opens in new tab)), but not quite as straightforward in places where the streaming service isn’t yet available, such as the UK.

The trailer and synopsis for the feature-length entry give little away, except that the entire existence of South Park is under threat from an epic conflict! Might that be the brouhaha that’s brewing between Cartman and his mom, who looks like she’s finally had enough of the conniving little weasel? Or is it all an elaborately disguised dig at this strange new entertainment multiverse, one that has cut great scars into the landscape of South Park itself?

Ready to read between the lines? Here’s how to watch South Park: The Streaming Wars online where you are.

Watch South Park: The Streaming Wars – USA

(opens in new tab)

Paramount Plus | 7-day free trial (opens in new tab)
Viewers based in the USA can stream South Park: The Streaming Wars on Paramount Plus, with the show set to land on the streaming service at 3am ET / 12am PT on Wednesday, June 1. Better still, you can take advantage of the seven-day free trial to watch it for nothing. If you like what Paramount Plus has to offer, (it’s also the home of all things Star Trek), a subscription costs $4.99 per month with ads or $9.99 without. 

View Deal (opens in new tab)

Watch South Park: The Streaming Wars from anywhere in the world

(opens in new tab)

ExpressVPN | Try 100% risk free for 30 days (opens in new tab)
If you’re away from home when The Streaming Wars airs, a VPN is your best option for tuning in. A VPN gets around geo-restrictions allowing you to access Paramount Plus from anywhere as if you were in the US. Try it for 30 days and get your money back if you’re not happy.

View Deal (opens in new tab)

How to use a VPN

There are three simple steps to follow:

1: Get a VPN installed. There are plenty of options, but we’d point you in the direction of ExpressVPN. There’s even an offer on right now where you can get an additional three months FREE on a 12-month package and save 49% (opens in new tab). Happily, ExpressVPN is also compatible with pretty much every device you can think of too.

2: Connect to an appropriate server. Select a server located back in your home country and you’ll be in and away. And if there’s any sniff of an issue, Express’s handy 24/7 live chat customer support can come to your rescue.

3: Head over to the service you want. Here you can shop as normal and once you set your location, visit the service you’re interested in and sign up as normal or log in, and start watching. And if you don’t get along with it, you can always cancel without issue within 30 days and get a full refund. Easy!

Watch South Park: The Streaming Wars – Canada

(opens in new tab)

Paramount Plus | 7-day free trial (opens in new tab)
Canadian fans can stream South Park: The Streaming Wars at the same time and in the same place – that’s 3am ET / 12am PT on Wednesday, June 1, on the Paramount Plus streaming service. And just like in the US, there’s a 7-day free trial available to new users. After that, a subscription will cost CA$5.99 per month. 

View Deal (opens in new tab)

Watch South Park: The Streaming Wars – Australia

(opens in new tab)

Paramount Plus | 7-day free trial (opens in new tab)
As you might have deduced from the rest of this article, viewers in Australia can watch South Park: The Streaming Wars by signing up to Paramount Plus. At the time of writing an official release date is yet to be revealed for Australia, but if it arrives at the same time it’s released in the US, you’re looking at 5pm AEST on Wednesday, June 1. A 7-day free Paramount Plus trial is available to new users, and after that it’ll cost AU$8.99 per month. 

View Deal (opens in new tab)

Can you watch South Park: The Streaming Wars in the UK?

(opens in new tab)

Considering the subject matter, it’s painfully poetic that South Park: The Streaming Wars doesn’t have a release date at the time of publication. The reason? Paramount Plus is yet to roll out in the UK. However, South park fans based in the UK shouldn’t have much longer to wait, as Paramount Plus’ UK launch is set for Wednesday, June 22, with pricing set at £6.99 per month or £69.90 for the year, after a 7-day free trial.

Want to sign up to a different streaming service instead? Check out the best Disney Plus sign-up deals with our dedicated guide, or see the cheapest HBO Max prices here. Alternatively, you can spruce up your screen with the best gaming TVs.

The post How to watch South Park: The Streaming Wars online from anywhere appeared first on Game News.

Disney Plus is set to release the TV movie, which is officially titled The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, later this year – presumably in December. As it stands, its line-up of characters is unclear, but we do know that the space-loving superheroes who do turn up in it will be spreading the festive cheer. 

Gearing fans up for the absences, though, Gunn took to Twitter to share a fan-made poster for the special, stating alongside it: “The above is not an official image. Not all of those characters are even in the Holiday special.”

He also explained that its story will be set between the events of yet-to-be-released movies Thor: Love and Thunder and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

There will be a soundtrack yes, including original music. 🎅🏽👽 #GotGHolidaySpecial https://t.co/mNMxntjU6tMay 16, 2022

See more

“There will be a soundtrack yes, including original music,” Gunn told a curious fan in the replies, before adding: “It’s a TV Special (not a feature-length film) on Disney Plus. It’s part of MCU canon, & contains some important new elements in the Guardians’ story.”

The likes of Nebula, Gamora, or Star-Lord may not wind up being in it but Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will feature Cosmo the telepathic dog, and “one of the greatest MCU characters of all time”. So far, there have been no clues as to who the big cameo will be from yet, though. It has also been confirmed that some of the action will take place on Earth, as Atlanta, Georgia – where they filmed Vol. 3 – masquerades as California’s Beverly Hills.

While we wait for Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special to land on Disney Plus, check out our breakdown of the Marvel timeline to get you up to speed on the MCU.  

The post Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will be missing a few key heroes, confirms James Gunn appeared first on Game News.

If thought-provoking documentaries are more your jam, then Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood may be the pick for you, or maybe you’re a comic book enthusiast and Catwoman: Hunted might tickle your fancy.

Whatever your personal tastes, there’s bound to be something for everyone. Ahead of the new month, we’ve rounded up a list of everything that will find its way onto the service by the time May 31 rolls around. Check it out…

The Staircase – May 5

Colin Firth and Toni Collette star in The Staircase, a new miniseries based on a grisly real-life murder trial and Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s French show of the same name, which was released in 2004. 

In 2003, novelist Michael Petersen was convicted of killing his wife, Katherine, after she was found dead in their North Carolina home. This eight-parter examines whether Katherine really did fall down the stairs, as Petersen claims, or whether he bludgeoned her to death and staged the accident.

Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner, Michael Stuhlbarg, Dane DeHaan, Tim Guinee, Juliette Binoche, and Parker Posey also feature, while The Devil All the Time helmer Antonio Campos directs. 

The Matrix Resurrections – May 10

Directed by Lana Wachowski, The Matrix Resurrections sees Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves reprise their iconic roles as Trinity and Neo, respectively. Set sixty years after Revolutions, it reintroduces the latter as a video game developer who is struggling to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

His seemingly ordinary life is disrupted, though, when a group of rebels, led by a programmed version of Morpheus (Ambulance’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), free Neo from a new version of the Matrix, and task him with saving Trinity from a new enemy. Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick, Priyanka Chopra, Jonathan Groff, and Jada Pinkett Smith round out the star-studded cast.

Hacks season 2 – May 12

Hacks, a new comedy series starring Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart, came out of nowhere last year, and wound up being one of HBO Max’s most beloved releases of 2021. It earned SAG, Critic’s Choice and Primetime Emmy awards for Smart, and gongs for its creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, too, so it’s hardly surprising that the streaming platform is wasting no time bringing out another season.

In it, Smart stars as Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas stand-up, whose diva tendencies lead her employers to team her up with Ava Daniels, a down-on-her-luck writer who just might have what it takes to calm Deborah down.

Teasing season 2 at the SCAD TVFest, Downs said: “What we were most interested in exploring was what it’s like for someone like her to keep bombing. What is it like when you’re on the road in small venues and not doing well? What does that do to your spirit, and what does that do to your relationship, and what does that do to your psyche?”

New on HBO Max in May 2022

New on HBO Max: May 1

• 47 Ronin
• Assassins
• At Close Range
• An Autumn Afternoon
• Back to School
• The Big Sleep
• Bottle Rocket
• Calladita
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• Child 44
• Chungking Express
• The Color Purple 
• Conan the Barbarian (2011)
• Devil in a Blue Dress
• Dodes ‘Ka-Den
• Domino 
• Downhill (1927)
• Dragnet Girl
• Early Spring
• Early Summer
• The End of Summer
• Equinox Flower
• Eraser
• Fallen Angels
• Floating Weeds
• FRIDA
• The Fugitive
• Furry Vengeance
• Gang Related
• Good Morning
• Hard Rain
• Hart’s War
• High and Low
• Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius
• Julie
• Killers
• Language Lessons
• Love and Baseball
• The Machine That Kills Bad People
• Masters of the Universe (1987)
• The Missing
• The New Guy
• North Dallas Forty
• Not Easily Broken
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• Poseidon
• Red Beard
• Ringo and His Golden Pistol
• Rugrats Go Wild
• Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
• The Rugrats Movie
• The Sapphires
• Sense and Sensibility 
• Sliding Doors
• St. Elmo’s Fire
• The Stepford Wives (2004)
• Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day
• Tokyo Twilight
• Top Secret!
• Transporter 3
• Unbroken
• Underworld
• Underworld: Awakening
• Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
• Welcome to the Dollhouse
• W.E.
• What To Expect When You’re Expecting
• The Wild Thornberrys Movie
• Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
• You, Me and Dupree
• Young Adult
• Zathura

New on HBO Max: May 3

• Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Know

New on HBO Max: May 5

• Las Bravas F.C.
• Queen Stars Brazil
• The Staircase, episodes 1, 2 and 3

New on HBO Max: May 6

• Dear Evan Hansen
• Entre Nos: Carmen and Alfred
• La Afinadora De Árboles

New on HBO Max: May 7

• We Baby Bears season 1, Part C

New on HBO Max: May 9

• Get Hard

New on HBO Max: May 10

• Catwoman: Hunted
• The Matrix Resurrections
• Sesame Street Mecha Builders season 1, Part A
• Robot Chicken season 11, Part B

New on HBO Max: May 12

• Hacks, season 2 episodes 1 and 2
• Who’s By Your Side 

New on HBO Max: May 13

• Hank Zipzer
• Old
• Smalls, season 4

New on HBO Max: May 15

• The Time Traveler’s Wife, episode 1

New on HBO Max: May 17

• Sesame Street Mecha Builders season 1, Part B
• The Mule

New on HBO Max: May 20

• Identidad Tomada

New on HBO Max: May 22

• Fast Foodies, season 2

New on HBO Max: May 23

• Teen Titans Go! season 7, Part B

New on HBO Max: May 26

• Navalny
• That Damn Michael Che season 2, episode 1
• Tig n’ Seek season 4, episode 1

New on HBO Max: May 27

• Blippi Special
• Blippi Visits
• Blippi Wonders
• Blippi: Learn With Blippi
• Ghost, Season 1
• Ghost, Season 2
• Stath Lets Flats

New on HBO Max: May 29

• The Misery Index season 3, Part B

New on HBO Max: May 31

• Miami Vice

If HBO Max isn’t the only streaming service you’re currently subscribed to, then make sure to check out our lists on what new titles are set to arrive on Netflix and Disney Plus in May, too. 

The post New on HBO Max in May 2022: All the new movies and shows appeared first on Game News.

Created by Sarah Streicher and executive produced by showrunner Amy Harris, the show – which follows multiple timelines – centers on a group of teenagers, all from different backgrounds, who sign up for a young women’s empowerment retreat. They find themselves stranded, though, after the plane that was supposedly taking them to Hawaii crashes into the ocean. 

Soon, it becomes clear that the girls are test subjects in a potentially deadly social experiment – only they don’t know it yet. As the fight to survive, flashbacks provide insight into each of their lives before the accident, while flashforwards see the ultimate survivors recount the ordeal to two men claiming to be FBI agents.

The Wilds’ season 1 finale saw flashforward Leah (Sarah Pidgeon) discover a room of monitors that revealed that the organization behind the social experiment has also been running a boys-only version, too. In the season 2 trailer, the girls can be seen making contact with their male counterparts, but will their union prove to be a good thing or not?

“We all started wanting to be things,” new character Rafael (Zack Calderon) can be heard saying in the promo. “We wanted to be men but the truth is… some of us were becoming monsters.”

“We couldn’t see them, we could hear them,” Toni (Erana James) states in another scene, as puppet master Gretchen Klein (Rachel Griffiths) argues that the boys “were the perfect control group” and that “there’s no question they imploded”. Given all the shots of them fighting, we think she might be right…

The video ends with Dot (Shannon Berry) creeping up behind Rafael and grabbing his mouth, as she whispers forcefully: “Don’t scream.” 

Sophia Ali, Jenna Clause, Mia Healey, and Reign Edwards also reprise their roles as Fatin, Martha, Shelby, and Rachel respectively. Other new names joining the cast this season include Aidan Laprete, Charles Alexander, Nicholas Coombe, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Tanner Ray Rook, Reed Shannon, and Alex Fitzalan. 

The Wilds season 2 is set to premiere on Prime Video on May 6. In the meantime, why not check out our roundup of the best shows on Amazon Prime available to stream right now, and pad out your to-watch list.

The post The Wilds season 2 trailer sees the island girls discover that they are not alone appeared first on Game News.

PS4 and PS Vita owners can start streaming from a library of backwards compatible titles in 2014, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida told IGN this week. North American players will be the first to get access to the cloud of PS3 titles.

The streaming service built on Gaikai will launch with a decent selection of titles and expand over time, Yoshida said, much like Netflix. The games will be playable through PS4, PS Vita, and PS Vita TV, though Sony has no current plans to launch the latter in North America.

Yoshida said PS3 streaming will likely launch in Europe after the North American service gets up and running. He didn’t specify how the games will be accessed; i.e., for previous owners, available for purchase a la carte, or as part of an all-in-one subscription like PlayStation Plus.

The post Start streaming PS3 games to PS4 and PS Vita in 2014 appeared first on Game News.