CADm177 and Rode NT1A

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monkey Allen
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Monkey Allen

Monkey Allen

Fork and spoon operator
Hello...for people with experience with both these mics...I own the CADm177....I have heard good info about the Rode NT1A...would I be wasting my money if I bought the Rode?

I mean, is the CADm177 roughly as good or better?

thanks
 
I've been using both lately. The Rode is a little harsher sounding and it's not as much of a workhorse as the Cad is, but when you match it with the right voice it sounds great. Unfortunately it doesn't really shine with most vocals I've tried it with. The Cad is just a great all around "grab it when you don't know what else to use" mic.
 
Ah huh...so I am not going to hear amazing improvements or differences with the Rode over the 177...
 
The CAD is more versatile, imo, as it is not as bright as the Rode. The brightness of the NT1 is more love-it or hate-it. Good for some voices (deep male, or breathy/whispery female), but I haven't found anything else I like it on.
 
Big Kenny said:
what does the rest of your set up look like?
Click to expand...

Well...it's like this...I'll be recording vocals and a Martin Dx1 acoustic guitar through an ART MPA Gold run through a Presonus Firebox, into my PC into Sonar 6...and I'll hear the results and mix on Mackie MR5's.

I'm gonna swap out one of the default tubes on one channel and put in a Mullard 12ax7 remake...just to see if my ears can tell a difference (which I am highly doubting).

So yeah...that's basically my rig.

I suppose that gear isn't too bad...it's not great but it's not shit...the worst thing (and unfortunately the most important probably) is the room...I'm basically in a hotel room for the next couple of years.

Anyway...the above is the gear
 
Starting to sound like a skipping record but, with a questionable room and that preamp(plenty of gain) you are in the market for a Shure SM7. Never Sux. Get a Pair of Naiants for your Martin and you will be fine, maybe even better than fine..
 
I have the 57...which of the Naiants would be suitable? Do you suggest them because they are cheap? Is it worth getting Niants if I already have the cheap Behringer C2 matched pair?
 
Rode NT1-a

I'm not saying to not get a matched pair but the Rode NT1-a through my apogee duet does a pretty sweet job with Martin DX-1. I've gotten quite a few compliments on my nice, full guitar sound and I usually only track one or two acoustic tracks my mix. I think you could do better than the Rode and you could use the Cad for other applications such as drums but its not a bad choice. It does pretty well on the vocals too but it does lack warmth. It is crisp and clear though.

Lank
 
If you want a large diaphragm condenser, IMO don't get the Rode, get this:

(tried to post a link but not allowed yet... it's an AT4040. Right now there's one on Ebay's "buy it now" for a lower than normal price but it's not new)

It is what I use now and I like it infinitely better (for vocals(had an nt1a and got rid of it)). I used it in combination with an SM7B to record stereo, then doubled it and split the tracks it and panned one of each to each side for Acoustic guitar and got a nice full sound too on the last track I recorded at home.
 
I agree that you'd probably like a 4040 or 4050. Unless you're doing a lot of female vocal or bass male recording, the NT1A would probably be a step down, though it's always hard to say without trying it.

I'm not sure how much of step up the 4040 or 4050 would be over an M177. Depends on the voice. The AT4040's presence peak extends at a significant level down to a bit lower frequency than the CAD (though at a lower level, the CAD presence peak extends lower than the 4040), and the 4040 has a bass roll-off switch, though you can always take care of that with EQ afterwards, so it's not a particularly big deal. I doubt you'll hear a huge difference on most voices, judging by how similar the response curves look. Just a gut feeling.

M177 response curve
m177_response.gif


4040 response curve
dump_file.pl
 
Thanks for the info...sounds ilke I should stick with my 177
 
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