Reocrding vocals with a Rode Nt1a

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digaudio

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Hello All,

I'm fairly new to the recording scene and would like to get some inputs about recording vocals using a Rode Nt1a. I got Rode NT1a full kit (with cable and pop filter),Lexicon Alpha (2x2x2 Desktop Recording Studio) and a windows laptop. After reading a couple of articles I understood that the mic requires a 48V phantom power which is not provided by Lexicon Alpha.

I want to build a setup to record vocals (only vocals no instruments). Could someone please tell me how to achieve this feat?

Thanks in advance.
 
Sell your Alpha and buy a better USB interface with phantom power.
 
+1 to either pickup up an inline phantom power supply, or trading your interface for one with phantom built in.
 
digaudio said:
Hello All,

I'm fairly new to the recording scene and would like to get some inputs about recording vocals using a Rode Nt1a. I got Rode NT1a full kit (with cable and pop filter),Lexicon Alpha (2x2x2 Desktop Recording Studio) and a windows laptop. After reading a couple of articles I understood that the mic requires a 48V phantom power which is not provided by Lexicon Alpha.

I want to build a setup to record vocals (only vocals no instruments). Could someone please tell me how to achieve this feat?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

There are a lot of USB audio interface with phantom power, before you buy one....bring along your microphone, laptop and xlr to xlr cable to the store...and test your audio interface right there...make sure you have audacity or any DAW installed..... I recommend this because...you need to check the preamps quality for your RODE NT-1A..especially noise....check setup :
1. Check audio interface preamp noise with unplugged mic...
2. Check audio interface preamp noise with plugged mic....

NB: Some USB audio interface brands : Steinberg, Yamaha, Focusrite, Presonus, M-AUDIO, native instruments,...etc.

that's all
 
Thank you all for the inputs. I'm thinking of trading off the Lexicon Alpha for a USB interface card with phantom power. What is your opinion about M-Audio Fast track Pro?
 
johanbudiman said:
1. Check audio interface preamp noise with unplugged mic...
2. Check audio interface preamp noise with plugged mic....

NB: Some USB audio interface brands : Steinberg, Yamaha, Focusrite, Presonus, M-AUDIO, native instruments,...etc.

that's all
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Johanbudiman. Could you please tell me what would be the acceptable noise level with & without the mic plugged?
 
There is no point in "checking" a preamp noise level with nothing connected to complete the circuit and provide proper source impedance. That is not how you are ever going to use a preamp or interface. If you try that the preamp will amplify the noise of the preamp's internal bias resistors, resulting in higher noise than in any real world application.

The NT1A's rated spec makes it one of the lowest self-noise mics available. In the real world use of that mic the noise of your room is going to be a much larger factor than either the noise of the mic or the preamp. The NT1A has about a 5dB peak at 12kHz so it is a fairly bright-sounding mic to begin with.

Measuring Mic-Preamp Noise | Benchmark Media

RØDE NT1-A | RecordingHacks.com
 
Last edited:
I never use it, however you can do the check in store..., you can try Focusrite as well....

if you have big budget and going to build a "serious" business i recommend RME (Babyface or Fireface UCX) RME: Home
 
You mentioned the Fast Track pro Digs?

A very reliable AI if a bit long in the tooth now. It does have some useful features......
Inserts on the mic inputs which means you could jack in FX devices but more importantly they allow you to bypass the so-so mic pres with something better. That said the pre amps are ok but gain shy, ok on the NT1a tho..

The Pros other feature is that it can work as a "standalone" AD/DA converter if you put 9V up its jaxy. Bottom line, if you can get one cheap, 50quid, go for it but I would not pay more. Newer better AIs can be had form Steinberg, Native Instruments and Focusrite among others.

BTW an unterminated mic pre is not as noisy as you might at first suppose because most these day are loaded by 13.6k of phantom power resistors which produce around -111dBu. If the pre were perfectly noiseless a 200R termination would drop this to -131dBu, way out of the league of any converter and -111dBu is beyond the noise floor of all but the best. Academic in this noisy world anyway!

Dave.
 
c7sus said:
There is no point in "checking" a preamp noise level with nothing connected to complete the circuit and provide proper source impedance. That is not how you are ever going to use a preamp or interface. If you try that the preamp will amplify the noise of the preamp's internal bias resistors, resulting in much higher noise than in any real world application.

The NT1A's rated spec makes it one of the lowest self-noise mics available. In the real world use of that mic the noise of your room is going to be a much larger factor than either the noise of the mic or the preamp. The NT1A has about a 5dB peak at 12kHz so it is a fairly bright-sounding mic to begin with.

Measuring Mic-Preamp Noise | Benchmark Media

RØDE NT1-A | RecordingHacks.com
Click to expand...

Thanks c7sus. Will keep those in mind.
 
ecc83 said:
You mentioned the Fast Track pro Digs?

A very reliable AI if a bit long in the tooth now. It does have some useful features......
Inserts on the mic inputs which means you could jack in FX devices but more importantly they allow you to bypass the so-so mic pres with something better. That said the pre amps are ok but gain shy, ok on the NT1a tho..

The Pros other feature is that it can work as a "standalone" AD/DA converter if you put 9V up its jaxy. Bottom line, if you can get one cheap, 50quid, go for it but I would not pay more. Newer better AIs can be had form Steinberg, Native Instruments and Focusrite among others.

BTW an unterminated mic pre is not as noisy as you might at first suppose because most these day are loaded by 13.6k of phantom power resistors which produce around -111dBu. If the pre were perfectly noiseless a 200R termination would drop this to -131dBu, way out of the league of any converter and -111dBu is beyond the noise floor of all but the best. Academic in this noisy world anyway!

Dave.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight, Dave. I need to find out which other brands would be available in my country. What are your suggestions if I use my existing setup with a phanton power source? (Rode NT1a + Lexicon Alpha + phantom power source) I would like to know if Fast track pro has a built in pre-amp or is it just a interface card. Also, Is a pre-amp essential for voice recording with a condensor mic? Appreciate your help.
 
digaudio said:
Thanks for the insight, Dave. I need to find out which other brands would be available in my country. What are your suggestions if I use my existing setup with a phanton power source? (Rode NT1a + Lexicon Alpha + phantom power source) I would like to know if Fast track pro has a built in pre-amp or is it just a interface card. Also, Is a pre-amp essential for voice recording with a condensor mic? Appreciate your help.
Click to expand...

Yes, you could just use a phantom power unit but I have no experience of them and a cheap one might introduce noise into the signal path.

The Pro does have built in pre amps (they can also be configured as line inputs or high Z instrument input. Also have a 20dB pad which might be useful with the Rode if you start recording guitarists!). As I said, they do not have a lot of gain but with a good, high sensitivity very low noise mic such as the NT1a this will not be a problem. I have used a Pro with AKG P150 small D capacitors that are not as good as the Rode and they work fine on say acoustic guitar.

And yes, you need a pre amp of some sort even for a capacitor mic because although they deliver a much hotter signal than a dynamic, typically 10x the level, 10 times nearly bugger all is still not a lot! Then of course a pre USUALLY provides spook juice.

If you are asking "do I need a boooteeek, expensive separate mic amp?" No.

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
Yes, you could just use a phantom power unit but I have no experience of them and a cheap one might introduce noise into the signal path.

The Pro does have built in pre amps (they can also be configured as line inputs or high Z instrument input. Also have a 20dB pad which might be useful with the Rode if you start recording guitarists!). As I said, they do not have a lot of gain but with a good, high sensitivity very low noise mic such as this will not be a problem. I have used a Pro with AKG P150 small D capacitors that are not as good as the Rode and they work fine on say acoustic guitar.

And yes, you need a pre amp of some sort even for a capacitor mic because although they deliver a much hotter signal than a dynamic, typically 10x the level, 10 times nearly bugger all is still not a lot! Then of course a pre USUALLY provides spook juice.

If you are asking "do I need a boooteeek, expensive separate mic amp?" No.

Dave.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot Dave.
 
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