AudioChainsDB
Rode

PodMic USB

microphone

$199

Used market: $155*

Manufacturer datasheet

Specifications

8 of 9 values have a recorded source
Adc Specs
Bit Depth: 24 · Sample Rate kHz: 48·
Connectors
XLR 3-Pin Male, USB-C, 3.5 mm Headphone Jack·
Has Built In ADC
yes·
Self Noise d BA
26✓
Transducer Type
Dynamic Moving Coil✓
Sensitivity dBV
-57✓
Output Impedance ohms
460✓
Phantom Power Required
no✓
Connection Architecture
Hybrid-USB-XLR✓

Expert Audio Engineering Commentary

Tonal Profile

A PodMic capsule with a converter and Rode's own preamp bolted behind it, so the same microphone is either a passive dynamic on XLR or a self-contained USB device. Cardioid, internal pop filter and shock mount, rated to 148 dB SPL.

Gain Staging Advice

On XLR this is a hungry dynamic: -57 dBV/Pa, 2.5 dB below an SM58 and a decibel below an SM57, with a 460 ohm output that is high for a moving coil - it wants a preamp with at least a 3 kilohm input and 60 dB of clean gain. Over USB none of that applies, because the gain and the load are inside the microphone. Rode publishes both noise figures, 26 dBA analogue and 19 dBA digital, and the 7 dB between them is the measure of what the internal preamp saves you over a cheap external one.

* Estimated with the depreciation fallback (~78% retained value). · checked on 8/5/2026