Review Of The Rode Ai-1 Audio Interface: “A Studio Experience Without The Heavy Price Tag”

Overview

RDE audio hardware has been used in professional studios around the world for over 50 years, and the Australian brand is now trying to find a place in your music studio as well.

The RDE AI-1 audio mixer has a mid-range price tag of around $100/£100 but promises top-tier performance in streaming for game players setup. If you’re looking to upgrade from a USB microphone to an XLR setup, the AI-1 is an excellent companion for their excellent Podmic dynamic microphone.

Design and characteristics

The AI-1, like the rest of RDE’s line, has a premium feel to it. It’s a small stealth bomber with an all-metal matte black case and RDE’s signature gold dot inlay.

The tiny things make the difference here, leaving you with the impression that you’re handling a specialist piece of machinery. The RDE logo is engraved on top, the base is rubberized to prevent it from sliding around your desk, and there is a single subtle LED to suggest levels and peaking.

The I/O layout is straightforward, with a single XLR input on the front, a 14″ headphone jack, and USB Type-C and speaker outputs on the back.

RDE also does not provide any software to supplement the AI-1. While you can download the ‘RDE Central’ app, it offers little beyond checking for firmware upgrades, so it’s not something you should rush to install. It’s actually a welcome relief to have a truly plug-and-play device. The Razer Audio Mixer requires their Synapse providing to get started, but the RDE AI-1 was ready to go in seconds.

Performance

There’s nothing to grumble about in terms of performance with the RDE AI-1, but there’s also nothing to get excited about. It’s your hands-off, set-and-forget solution that tries to hide in the back of your work station.

Unlike competitors such as the Razer Audio Mixer or the Go XLR Mini, the RDE AI-1 does not encourage you to experiment with it. There are no interactive mute or censor buttons, no dynamic volume faders, and no RGB customisation. It’s content to be a bridge among your mic for broadcasting and your PC.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, and there’s certainly a case to be made for sticking to the basics well. When you plug in a microphone, the RDE AI-1 can deliver studio-quality audio at up to 96kHz, would be more than enough with most streamers. Twitch only endorses 44.1kHz or 48kHz sample rates, so the AI-1 won’t be able to keep up with your information.

RDE also has no real software offering to complement the AI-1. While you can download the ‘RDE Central’ app, it only checks for firmware updates and isn’t something you should rush to install. It’s extremely comforting to have a plug-and-play device that actually works. The Razer Audio Mixer requires the Synapse offering to get started, whereas the RDE AI-1 was ready to go in seconds.