DONNER PC-02 Podcast Workstation

In the world of content creation, sometimes simplicity is key, but when you want to up your game, there are definitely some great (and more feature-rich) options out there. Enter the new Donner PC-02. Now, obviously this unit is meant to compete with podcast solutions from the likes of RODE, Mackie and TASCAM, to name a few, so how does it stack up?

Let’s start with the layout. It’s dead-simple to navigate your way around – the front panel features a colorful main screen that’s easy to get around, control knobs that feel great, and motorized faders that move very smoothly. Plus a bunch of colorful, assignable pads that feel great if you want to punch in your show’s sound clips or samples. Hell, you could even record an entire band’s demo using just this unit, if you wanted. Or livestream a show – it’s incredibly versatile.

Around the rear is your USB-C connection along with a host of line inputs and outputs, a micro-SD card slot, headphone outputs and several XLR inputs for dynamic and condenser mics. It’s essentially everything you’d need to get a podcast with a host and multiple guests up and running quickly.

Recording is simple, too – as you have options to go straight into a PC or tablet/phone and use either the Donner software that’s specifically set up to work with the PC-02, or your recording software of choice. You can also record a session onboard using a micro-SD card, which means you don’t even need a PC at all, and this makes it invaluable for field recording and mobile productions and podcasts. Toss this in your backpack rig, and now you’ve got a mobile studio at your fingertips no matter where life takes you. Record your band’s rehearsal and listen back to those inspiring ideas you came up with during practice.

At $599, it sits in the sweet spot, pricing-wise, as it’s not gonna break the bank, but it’s not so low that it cuts out all the useful features, either. We dug our time with the PC-02, and plan to record all of our future podcast episodes using it.

Highly recommended.

Benjamin Ricci

Great sound quality, dead simple to use, affordable

None.

$599