Podcasting Tutorial: Recording iPhone Call-in Guest With RODECaster Pro II

This tutorial assumes you are using an iPhone 15 (or later) with a USB-C port. Although the core setup is the same with Android phones, please scroll toward the bottom of this tutorial to find important information if you are using an Android phone to record call-in guests.

Overview of the Rodecaster Pro II

Get Started Recording Your Audio

What you need:

• Your iPhone
• Ask a staff person for the (purple) USB-C to USB-C RODE cable.

How to Record

1. Power on the Rodecaster Pro by pushing the red button on the back (circled in yellow). 
   
   
2. Plug one end of the USB-C to USB-C data transfer cable cable into your phone's USB-C port.
   
   
3. Plug the other end into the USB-C 1 port on the back of the Rodecaster. 
   
   
4. Regarding your storage device. If using a USB-C flash drive or MicroSD card, insert that now. USB-C flash drive plugs into USB 2 port (circled in green). MicroSD goes into card slot (circled in pink). NOTE: If you have a flash drive and microSD card plugged in, the Rodecaster will record to both storage devices.
   
   Note: We are not using a bluetooth device in this tutorial, so we'll repurpose ("assign") that channel (circled in yellow) to USB 1 to control the volume of the phone call using that channel fader ("physical fader"). This also allows us to leave the first four channels for podcast microphones. 
    
   
5. Assign USB 1 to Channel 5.
   To access the channel set-up screen for a fader, tap the button above the fader (circled in yellow).
   
   Then tap the settings cog (circled in red) to access the channel assignment screen.
   
   Select USB 1 (circled in red), then tap the green check icon (circled in green) to save the settings.
   
   
6. You might get this message. If so, tap on the Re-assign button. 
    
   Note: The channel fader button might change color. That's fine. 
7. You might then get this screen. If so, just tap on the home icon (circled in red).
   
8. Notice that channel five is now USB 1 (circled in red). 
   
9. Now let's enable Mix-Minus for USB 1.
   Note: Mix-minus prevents the caller from hearing their own voice fed back to them. Without it, the caller may hear an echo or delayed version of themselves during the conversation. When Mix-Minus is enabled, the caller hears everyone else in the podcast mix, but their own audio is removed from the signal sent back to their device.
   
10. Tap the USB 1 channel button on the Rodecaster, which has probably changed color to orange (circled in white).
     
    
11. Tap on Output Routing (circled in red).
    
    
12. Select Mix-Minus. 
    
    
13. Make sure red mute buttons (circled in yellow) are off, not lit up, for the tracks you're using for your podcast. That includes the USB-1 track.
    I typically make sure all mute buttons and listen buttons (the green buttons), are off (not lit up). 
    
    
14. With your iPhone already connected to the Rodecaster, verify that the iPhone is routing audio through the Rodecaster. iOS usually switches audio routing automatically when connected to the Rodecaster. You can test this by playing audio on the iPhone and confirming that the corresponding USB channel on the Rodecaster shows a signal jumping in response to the audio.
    Note: Make sure the silver channel fader on the USB-1 channel, and your headphone volume, is turned up so you can hear the audio. Headphone volume is controlled by the four dials on the Rodecaster (image below). 
    
    
15. Perform a test call.
    1. Call your guest or have them call you.
    2. Ask the call-in guest to speak (I've had callers recite the alphabet), then adjust the USB 1 fader so their voice is at a similar level to the in-studio participants.
    3. Confirm that everyone can hear each other clearly and that there is no echo, distortion, or excessive background noise.
       Note: The goal is to achieve a balanced conversation where no participant sounds significantly louder or quieter than the others. Use the green level meters jumping on the Rodecaster screen to help monitor signal levels.
16. When everyone is ready and the audio levels have been verified, press the Rec button (circled in yellow) on the Rodecaster to begin recording the podcast. The button will change color. Note: A quick tap on the record button will pause recording.
    
    
17. When the interview is complete, press and hold the record button to stop the recording. Verify that the recording has been saved successfully before disconnecting any equipment or ending the call.

How to verify the recording has saved

1. Stop the Recording - Press Stop and wait a few seconds for the file to finalize. 
2. Locate the Recording - Tap the RØDE icon (Ø) in the top-left corner, then select Recordings. Confirm your latest session appears with the correct duration (not 0 seconds).
3. Play It Back - Select the recording and tap Play. Listen briefly to confirm all expected audio is present.
4. Safely Disconnect - Once confirmed, you can end the call, disconnect devices, or power down.

Troubleshooting

If your iPhone doesn't automatically route audio to the Rodecaster, the first thing to determine is whether the phone is actually recognizing the Rodecaster as a USB audio device.

Check iPhone audio routing

• Open Control Center while audio is playing.
• Tap the AirPlay/audio output icon in the media controls.
• See whether the RØDECaster appears as an available audio device.

Reconnect everything

• Disconnect the cable.
• Restart the iPhone.
• Reconnect to the RØDECaster.
• Test again.

Does your iPhone have a Lightning port instead of a USB-C port? If so, ask a staff person for the Lightning to USB-3 adapter.

Android Compatibility Notes

Android phones can work with the Rodecaster Pro II in the same way as iPhones, but behavior may vary depending on the device.

• Connect your phone using a USB-C data cable to the USB port on the Rodecaster.
• Most Android phones will recognize the RØDECaster as a USB audio device.

Important differences between iPhone and Android recordings

• Native phone calls may not always route audio through USB.
• If this happens, use apps like Zoom or Discord, which are more reliable.
• You may need to unplug and reconnect the phone for it to be recognized.

Before recording:

• Do a quick test call.
• Confirm you can hear the guest and they can hear you.
• Check that your USB channel is receiving audio.