Rode X XCM-50 is Rode’s first step toward the gaming market and from their reputation as a premium microphone manufacturer, it wasn’t relatively complicated for them to build up the hype. But, as good as they are, they apparently have some giant shoes to fill, since Blue Yeti dominates the industry, and Blue Yeti X is almost considered the gold standard of gaming microphones.
- But the question is, can Rode X XCM-50 be a better alternative to the Blue Yeti X?
In short – “The Blue Yeti X is considered the better choice between the Rode X XCM-50 and Blue Yeti X. The Blue Yeti X offers a DSP-free signal, versatile polar patterns, and customizable presets through the Blue VO!CE software.”
Rode X XCM-50 vs Blue Yeti X
Rode X XCM-50 Vs. Blue Yeti X will pit these two premium microphones against each other to figure out which one among them you should pick to win, stream and communicate better overall. Having almost similar specs and price tags, here’s our comparison between the Rode X XCM-50 Vs. Blue Yeti X!
| Specification | Rode X XCM-50 | Blue Yeti X |
| Polar Patterns | Cardioid | Cardioid, Omni, Bidirectional, Stereo |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| App Support | Rode Unify app | Blue VO!CE software (requires Logitech G-Hub/Sherpa) |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, iOS | Windows, Mac |
| Stand | Tripod | Built-in desktop stand |
Design
The X Series from Rode, specifically the XCM-50 sports the signature Rode Design on a smaller, more compact, almost fight-night-themed aesthetic. And when combined with the tripod that fortunately comes with the package, it stays in place like a camper playing Rainbow Six Siege. The shock mount also comes with a pretty handy Dual-Thread Mount to support the comparatively thinner or thicker mounts you might currently possess without having to adjust too much.
On the flip side, coming in an attractive and elegant black and silver design, the Yeti X comes with a relatively sturdy and built-in desktop stand, thus eliminating the reliance on tripods or anything like that. The microphone also has the ability to swivel and can be angled upward while the stand, while also being able to remove itself, can be used in tandem with a standard, more traditional microphone stand like his Rode Counterpart. However, you will be needing an adapter.
Features
The Rode X XCM-50 is, as a USB microphone should be, pretty neat and clean in terms of features. With simple and basic plug-n-play, the only line of complexity you’ll get, that is IF you find things like that complicated, is the operation and customization through Rode’s dedicated app called “Unify”. However, it’s not a requirement and the microphone is able to perform flawlessly right out of the box. The microphone acts as its own headphone jack, enabling flawless monitoring through basic plug-ins and separating the two as individual devices.
For the Yeti X, the Top Panel comes covered in a mesh, metallic grille in front of the 14mm Capsule Array. Below that, lies a multi-purpose knob that controls gain and headphone volume, with visual indication through LEDs. The back panel holds the button that changes the microphone pattern, which can easily switch between cardioid, figure-8, omnidirectional, and stereo. However, do keep in mind that accidentally switching between the patterns while trying to operate the microphone is not an uncommon issue, though it gives the Yeti a great advantage over Rode, which is not in any manner a small feat.
Audio Acquisition Quality
In this criteria, Rode, as expected passes with flying colors. Rode can acquire a rich amount of details in the sound, especially when combined with a MacBook Pro and its audio engine, making them easily comparable to XLR-powered microphones in a cinch! The microphone CAN be a bit quiet straight out of the box, however, this can be mitigated and adjusted to your liking through the use of the Unify App.
With the Blue Yeti X, you can easily record up to 48kHz/24-bit audio with a frequency range of 20hz-20khz. And since there’s no DSP involved, do keep in mind how tinkering with the gain knob might yield results that are less than satisfactory. The LED metering does make things a bit easy, but we’d advise trusting your hearing more than your vision since it’s possible and not a rare occurrence to have the microphone capsule overloaded.
App Support
As for the app support, you’re getting access to Rode’s proprietary “UNIFY” app that basically attempts to do what Elgato attempted to do in the first place, but better and more simplified. Being almost identical to the interface you’d get from the Rodecaster, the Unify app will effectively install a plethora of new audio interfaces, all of which can be controlled through Unify effectively. However, Unify can be a bit complicated when swapping menus.
With the Blue Yeti X, you’re getting the battle-ready, almost legendary Blue VO!CE Software requires to have Logitech’s G-Hub or Sherpa Software in order to perform properly. BlueVoice comes included with a ton of useful presets that make your streaming on twitch particularly effective and easily customizable. However, you can make do with basically any recording software, since the microphone will perform just the same.
Our Takeaway
Rode’s Rode X Brand has easily and effortlessly managed to do what the competition has been trying to figure out for years now and as their first attempt at coming up with a gaming-centered microphone that’s above average and does a solid job! But, with all that being said, the microphone still has some room to improve upon, which is why, in our own opinion, we think the Blue Yeti X is a much, much better choice since it’s DSP-free while providing a signal with basically no EQ or compression whatsoever. The Blue Voice Presets are a lot of fun to tinker with in general, and even without it, the microphone offers a clear signal, four different polar patterns, and a warm, nice recording tone as you’d expect from Blue Yeti. So that was our comparison between the Rode X XCM-50 Vs. Blue Yeti X.
