Nt1-A Vs. At3035

[Patrick3g]

I'm currently building a home studio and I not sure which mic would sound better with male low, mid, & high rap and R&b vocals. I trying to stay in the $200 range and I'm planning on using the m-audio mobil pre with a Mac g4 and cubase. I heard that the rode nt1-a is pretty good for its price with warmth and versitility but its very sensative(is sensativity good or bad ?) and harsh on high female voicals; I also heard that the audio technica at-3035 has warmth, a flat response, and durability. Although its hard to tell, does anyone know which one is better, or atleast whats the diffrence between the two? Also, is there huge diffrence with the nt1000 when compared to the nt1-a and the at-4040.Lastly, are tube condensers just that much better than diaphram cardioid condensers regardless of price?

 

[billisa]

Someone here did a comparison of several mics -- one of which was the NT1a. Folks were surprised how well it stood up against some much more expensive competitors. Do a search and you can find this test.

Strong sensitivity is generally a good thing, unless you're working in an environment where creaks, crickets and rustling leaves can be easily heard in your studio... The NT1a will pick these things up very nicely. Also, it's one of the quietest mics you can buy (5.5db self-noise) in that it's own "hiss" is barely noticeable at all. People say the NT1a is so quiet they forget it's even on.

 

[Patrick3g]

thanks alot I think I going to go with the nt1-a

 

[paranoid]

i have an nt1-a

it is true that the nt1-a can get harsh in the high frequencies. To me, the mic has a very clinical sound with a "steely" high end. I'm sure either mic will serve you well though...

 

[Patrick3g]

Clinical sound with steely high end, do you mean that the mic sounds crisp & clean but dull with a cold and direct presence ?
Also do you know if the at3035 is harsh on high vocals, and what if any mic do you prefer?

 

[paranoid]

Clinical sound with steely high end, do you mean that the mic sounds crisp & clean but dull with a cold and direct presence ?
Also do you know if the at3035 is harsh on high vocals, and what if any mic do you prefer?

Does sound crisp and clean , but definitely not dull or lifeless. I have and use the NT1-A alot. What I mean is that on sources with alot of presence already, it can sound overtly bright and sometimes thin. Works beautifully on micing ambient rooms, lower-pitched vox, voice over, distant guitar and bass cabs, and is killer on overheads. I have probs with it on certain female vocalists where it gets overly sibilant and harsh on the ears. Not very good up close on a distorted guitar amps in my experience either. Like alot of mics, it has a certain color and it is all in how you use it. Sometimes i blend the NT1-a with another mic (like an sm-57 or d112, and the resulting mix erradicates the harshness, like a built-in EQ).

I Have never used a 3035, but their 4047SV is amazing on almost everything i tried it on....

I guess the answer to what mic i prefer on high vocals is a 1/2,1/2 mix of NT1-a clean to tape, and SM-57 heavily compressed to tape.

If I owned them, I would bust out either a 4047SV, RE-20 or Coles 4038 ribbon. I love dreaming!!!

 

[Patrick3g]

I found the audio comparision thread by justharold on the nt1-a with the nt1000, at 3035, tlm103 and etc, so I can see how the nt1-a sounds brighter than other mics in its price class; overall its pretty good when compared to the at 3035, which sounds great with a slightly darker feel, and the c1, which is less live in my opinion. Unfortunately, out of all the mics in the comparision, the nt1-a was the worst on highs, almost soundding distorted. My top choices regardless of price are 4,6,2,3.

Thanks for everyones help

 

[Patrick3g]

Thanks for all your help, after auditioning a few mics I went with the at4047

 

[paranoid]

right on

nice move!

 

[Patrick3g]

Yes, I agree, after a long and stressfull search to find the best mic under $700 for my bright and slightly thin voice (several article reveiws, thread mic comparisions, and 2 mic auditions later) I chose the at4047 becuse its extremely crisp & clear while producing a natrual sound with a smooth and warm prescence to my voice.
Although most of the mics I auditioned, and where planning to purchase are a little cheaper then the at4047, I was easily willing to put up the extra $200-$300

Mics I auditioned:
1.) Rode Nt1-A (overall good and versatile but to bright for me and harsh on highs)
2.) Rode Nt1000 (same without the harshness; both pick up everything pretty good )
3.) Audio Technica at3035 (great, nice presence, crisp but not as natrual and live as thier 40 line)
4.) Akg C-2000B ( to muddy for my voice)
5.) Akg C-3000B ( same)
6.) Shure Ksm27/sl (surprisingly great definitly holds its own for a dynamic but not as natrual or warm as the 4047)
7.) Audio Technica at4040 (as with the 3035 its a really great mic but the 4047 is just that much better with an overall similar sound.)

I would recomend the at4047 to anyone with a mid to high voice who desires more prescence doing rap,r&b, and even rock vocals on a tight budget.

 

[baekgaard]

Thanks for coming back and letting us know what you did.

Now, since you auditioned all these difference mics, maybe you could also spend a few minutes to comment each of the mics, compared to the others and to the 4047 that you chose? Just a few lines for each mic would be interesting -- just to see how you felt about the other options.

Thanks in advance,

[Edit: Just saw you updated your post with this info -- thanks!]


-- Per.

 

[Mark7]

6.) Shure Ksm27/sl (surprisingly great definitly holds its own for a dynamic but not as natrual or warm as the 4047)

Erm... not to rain on your parade, or anything, but the KSM27 is also a condenser mic.

 

[Patrick3g]

My fault, the guy at samash told me that since shure was famous for their dynamic mics (sm-57 & 58) they developed and patend the ksm models to be cardioid dynamic studio mics but obviously he does not know what he is talking about because I just checked and your right.