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Today we're diving into the world of
audio interface design specifically for
streamers and content creators, or as I
like to call them, hybrid capture cards.
We've got two popular
contenders in the ring today.
The road Streamer X and the
Mackey mainstream both promises
to simplify your streaming setup,
but which one reigns supreme.
We're going to break down their
features, compare their performance,
and help you decide which is
the perfect fit for your need.
First impressions matter, and both
these interfaces have a distinct look.
The roach Treater X boasts
a sleek, minimalist design.
With its integrated mixer and customizable
RGB buttons, the Mackey mainstream.
On the other hand, leans towards a
more classic, robust aesthetic with
its prominent knobs and meters.
Let's start with connectivity.
The Road Trimmer X offers a single
XLR input for your microphone, along
with line level inputs and outputs
with their high gain revolution.
Preamps with 70.
DB of game, which pretty much can handle
things like this microphone that I
have right here, but it's not plugged
into this at the moment, but I digress.
It connects to your computer via
USBC and has an external power brick.
The road streamer X dual USBC output
allows for easy dual PC setups.
Moving on to the Mackey mainstream.
This one gives you a bit more flexibility
with two mic inputs, a combo XLR Port
and A TRS input, making it suitable
for those who might want to record with
multiple microphones or instruments.
But be warned, it's limited to
60 DB of gain, which may not be
enough for some dynamic mics.
The Mackey mainstream
offers more versatility.
With its ability to connect USB
mics and webcams via its USB hub.
Now let's check out the
back of these devices.
As you can see with the streamer X, it
has limited physical outputs, primarily
aimed at headphones and monitors.
The mainstream, provides more options
including dedicated outputs for studio
monitors and more flexibility around.
Routing possibilities.
Now let's talk about the software.
Road.
Software is intuitive and user-friendly,
offering easy controls over your
audio settings, including effects
like compression and noise gating.
That's very important.
Trust me on this.
It's a great option for beginners.
Whereas the Mackey software,
while powerful, might have a
steeper learning curve for some.
However, it offers more advanced
audio routing and mixing
capabilities for experienced users.
And trust me, if you're better
at that, you're gonna love it.
The road software emphasized simplicity
and ease of use, perfect for getting
up and running really quickly while
the Mackey software allows for
deeper customization and control.
Which can be beneficial for complex
setup and shines more in PCs than Max.
This is probably one of the most
important parts about these uh, devices.
Sound quality is crucial, and both
these interfaces deliver the roach.
Streamer X provides clean
and transparent audio.
Ideal for vocal recordings and streaming.
The Mackey mainstream also offers
excellent audio quality with its preamp
handling a variety of microphones
very well, and I can attest to that.
Now let's talk about some of the
pros of the streamer X. You do get
4K video capture up to 30 frames
per second and 60 frame per second.
With HDR pass through, so to explain what
I'm talking about there, it means you can
record in 4K 30, but you can also, you
know, pass it through to like a monitor
or a television that can handle 4K 60.
So you can still play your games in
high frame rates and stuff like that.
You do get the really good, what they call
the high gain revolution preamp, which
is around 70, as I said earlier, before,
that can handle things like a dynamic mic,
like the one I'm speaking into as well.
Customizable buttons, like
all these buttons here.
Actually no, I'm lying.
The actual buttons that are customizable
are these four buttons here.
Um, the rest are pretty much, um,
hardwired in certain ways, and these
buttons down here would have you.
Page through a bunch of different
customizable setups that
you may have for your setup.
On the back of it as well is a
dual USBC connection for dual PCs.
If you got the scratch, go right ahead.
, it's a, it's a pretty of a, it's
a pretty interesting setup and
it also is compact and small.
What has a, you know, a mountain
point at the ba at the bottom of
this, so you can put this on like you.
Production, uh, tripods or whatever,
which makes whatever makes you
feel better for that sort of thing.
The cons about this stream of X, it's
relatively expensive at A-M-S-R-P
around $400, but if you look around
for like used versions or maybe do
price match on Amazon or Best Buy,
you can probably get it for little
around half the price of this thing.
One other con is that it does
heavily rely on its software.
So, plus you're gonna need a second
screen to run this thing because of
the pass through, um, portion of it,
which if you like, again, if you're
gonna have two computers, you're
gonna have a second screen, right?
. So anyway, and it also comes with only
one USBC cable in the box, which as you
can see on the back of it, it has three,
but one of them is only used for power,
which is their power brick overall.
Moving on to the Mackey
mainstream, the pros.
Our, it's versatile connectivity, robust
build, quality, and powerful software.
Its cons could be potentially, uh,
because of the steeper learning curve
for beginners and less streamlined
design compared to the streamer acts.
Here are some more pros about
the mainstream from Mackey.
Um.
Physical controls for all audio inputs.
Very, very cool.
Nice, tactile and everything.
I really love them.
Also, monitor outputs for external
speakers, meaning you can buy speakers
from wherever you get your speakers from,
from a music store, wherever, and you can
plug them in via a quarter inch connector,
and you can have that, you know, just
have the order go through that org.
Just two headphones if you
prefer, whichever is, you know,
it's your budget and your setup.
Um, and also the ability to use
USBC, um, microphones and webcams.
So, to explain a little bit about what I
mean by that is that you can potentially,
I don't know this, I haven't really
tried this out, but you can potentially.
Hook up a actual DSLR camera
or video camera that has HDMI
out that has the pass through.
And also a um, A-U-S-B-C webcam.
So you can technically have two cameras
running at the same time, like an OBS
or something like that, or whatever
is your, um, you know, software of
choice whenever you're streaming.
Moving on to the cons.
It is limited to 60 db uh, of gain, which
may not be enough to run certain mics,
like dynamic mics such as the sure SMB.
Um, I, but I did test this a
little bit, but I will say that
it did run it, but yeah, it did,
it did kind of struggle a bit.
You do have to kind of like turn the
knob up a little bit more 'cause this
mic is pretty heavy, uh, in, in silence.
I would say.
It's a pretty quiet mic.
But you do have 48 volts on the
back of both of these, so you
can . Pretty much, you know, get
a little extra if you need to.
Also, you will not be able to
capture in 4K from the Mackey.
Um, although you can output through
the pass through in 4K, so you
can still play your game in 4K.
You just won't be able to
record in that unfortunately.
So.
Which one should you choose?
If you're a beginner streamer looking
for a simple and easy way to set
up your interfaces, um, the road,
streamer X is a fantastic choice.
If you need more connectivity options,
advanced routing capabilities,
and don't mind, as you know, a bit
of a steep, uh, learning curve.
Well, it's not that steep, but.
You do have to spend more time with
the software and the Mackey, so the
Mackey mainstream may be the way to go.
But remember, consider your
specific needs and budget.
Think about the type of content
you want to create and the
level of control you require.
Over said content.
I hope this comparison has been helpful.
Let me know in the comments.
Which interface you prefer and why?
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Thank you for watching.