Rode Ai-1 Single-Channel USB-C Audio Interface Studio Recording Bundle with SC17 5-Foot USB-C to USB-C Flat Microphone Cable

Rode Ai-1 USB-C Audio Interface Bundle: A Complete Single-Mic Recording Chain for the Modern Laptop

This bundle is built for the buyer moving up from a USB microphone to a real XLR signal chain, or for the Rode mic owner whose laptop has no USB-A port left. The Rode Ai-1 is a single-channel USB-C audio interface engineered around one XLR microphone, with 48V phantom power, discrete studio-quality headphone monitoring, and class-compliant operation on Mac and Windows. The Rode SC17 is the cable Rode ships for its USB-C audio gear — Hi-Speed USB 2.0 certified, EMI/RFI shielded, flat-profile and tangle-resistant. One purchase, one cable, one interface — every connector you need to plug an XLR mic into a USB-C MacBook, Windows ultrabook, or USB-C tablet and start recording.

One XLR Input, 48V Phantom Power, and a Headphone Output Built Like the Rest of the Interface

The Ai-1's front-panel Neutrik-style combo jack accepts XLR for condenser microphones, balanced TRS for line sources like a synth or preamp, and unbalanced 1/4" for an instrument cable. A front-panel button switches 48V phantom on for condensers like the Rode NT1, Rode NT1-A, or any other XLR condenser that needs power. Gain is set with a single dedicated knob — generous range with a clean peak indicator so you can dial in level without guesswork. The discrete headphone amplifier has its own level control independent of the monitor outputs and easily drives 32–250 ohm tracking cans without distortion. The 2 balanced 1/4" TRS monitor outputs feed studio reference monitors with no adapter or workaround required.

USB-C Bus-Powered, Class Compliant on Mac and Windows, 24-Bit / 96 kHz

The Ai-1 connects to a computer over USB-C and draws all of its power from the bus — no wall wart, no separate power supply, no batteries. It is class compliant on both Mac and Windows, so there are no drivers to install, no manufacturer software to keep updated. Conversion runs at 24-bit resolution across 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz sample rates, which covers everything from podcast workflows to high-resolution music recording. Zero-latency direct monitoring is built into the hardware: the preamp signal feeds the headphone output directly, in parallel with the digital path to the computer, so the performer hears their voice with no delay even when the DAW buffer is set high for mixing.

The SC17 Is the USB-C Cable Rode Built for the Ai-1

The Rode SC17 is a 5 ft (1.5 m) USB-C to USB-C cable purpose-built for Rode's USB-C audio products. It is Hi-Speed USB 2.0 certified, has EMI and RFI shielding through the run for clean signal in studio environments, and uses a flat profile that resists tangling and lies cleanly on the desktop. The connectors are reinforced for daily plug-and-unplug cycles. 1.6 oz (46 g) of total weight makes the cable travel-friendly for mobile recording rigs. Every modern Mac, Windows ultrabook, iPad Pro, and Android tablet ships with a USB-C port — the SC17 connects the Ai-1 to any of them with no adapter and no dongle.

How the Ai-1 and SC17 Work Together as a Recording System

The Ai-1 has a USB-C port on the back. The SC17 plugs into it on one end and into the laptop on the other. From there, an XLR microphone connects to the front-panel combo jack, headphones connect to the 1/4" headphone output, and (optionally) powered monitors connect to the rear 1/4" TRS outputs. The signal path is short and the connections are familiar: capsule, XLR cable, interface, USB-C cable, computer. Phantom power switches on at the front. Gain comes up on the front knob. Direct monitoring switches in on the front button. The whole signal chain is built around one performer at a desk with one microphone — exactly the buyer this kit was assembled for.

Who This Bundle Is For

This kit is for the buyer building a real recording chain around a single XLR microphone on a modern USB-C laptop. The first-timer moving up from a USB-only microphone wants studio-grade conversion, phantom power for the next condenser they buy, and zero-latency monitoring while tracking — the Ai-1 covers all three. The upgrader who already owns a Rode NT1 or PodMic XLR wants an interface that matches the build quality of the mic and that plugs into a USB-C MacBook without a dongle — the Ai-1 plus the SC17 is exactly that signal chain. The comparison shopper wants discrete headphone monitoring, balanced TRS outputs, class-compliant Mac and Windows operation, and an Ableton Live Lite license in the box — the Ai-1 has every line item on that list. Order yours and start recording.