Rode mics: looking to buy/who has used?

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n8tron

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Need a new mic... large diaphragm for mainly vocals.

I've heard nothing but good things about rode mics. I may want to buy one but don't know which to buy! If any of you have used 1 or more of these mics, please give your comments.

NT-1A $200-cheap which is nice..i'm on a budget.
NT1000 $300-don't know much about this one
NT-2A $400-is this the same as the 1a but with different polar patterns and roll offs? If so, is it with an extra 200?(I'm very poor)
NT2000 $600-i've heard nothing good things about this one... are they true? if this mic is 100x better than the other rode mics I'd consider saving up for it. And again...is this the same as the NT1000 but now with variable polar patterns and roll offs.
 
I've got an NT3, and it's excellent. It was on clearance at GC for $100.
 
The NT-1a is a very descent mic, especially in that price range. I used to have 2 NT-1. They weren't amazing, but they worked well on everything.

The NT-2 is fairly large step up. Yes it has different polar patterns, but I've had the oppurtunity to use one quite a bit, and its a fairly large step up.

The NT 1000, is a very dark mic. Works great on the voices it works with, but sucks big time on ones it doesn't.

The NT 2000 is another great mic. If your new to recording it may have too many features on it for you. But its sounds great and is very quiet. Once in that price range you might want to look at the K2. Same mic but tube. But an incredibly quiet tube mic. I really like mine.


Best value would be the NT2 or the new NT2-a (Haven't used it yet). They will work well on pretty much everything, and substantially better than the NT1a. There will be a difference between the NT2 and the NT2000, but not nearly as substantial from the NT1 to the NT2.
 
I have, and use, the original NT-1. It's a very solid mic for many voices. If you have a little more to spend, I hear great things about the NTK as a vocal mic, as well.
 
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have an nt2-a
and i love it on vox, it's not the nt1 with more polar patterns,
it's the ntk without a tube.

(someone please correct me if i got that mixed up)
 
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In Tune Audio said:
The NT 1000, is a very dark mic. Works great on the voices it works with, but sucks big time on ones it doesn't.
Click to expand...

Well... I wouldn't exactly call the NT1000 a dark mic. At least not the one I have.

Compared to the SP B1 or even more C1, it is darker.

But it is certainly a bit brighter than e.g. the M179 or even more so than the Oktava MC012 -- partly because it has more presence (4-6k), but there is also more high end.

The presense peak can help on some voices (since it makes it cut better through the mix). Depending on the voice, it can also emphasize the wrong frequencies. So yes, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't -- like many (if not most) other mics in this range. The peak is easily removed with a bit of subtractive EQ, though.

I find it a pretty good allround mic, albeit a bit more coloured than the M179. Has a substantial and "solid" sound. And it has a good build quality.

It has the same capsule as the NTK, and is -- in my humble opinion -- one of the better mics in its price range. One of my friends calls it "the most overlooked Røde mic", as it is not so wellknown apparently.

It has, as more or less all Røde mics, the "Røde signature sound". Sounds quite different when compared to e.g. the Studio Projects mics. Not worse or better, just different.


-- Per.
 
I just picked up a used NT2 last week. Tracked a couple of female vocalists with it yesterday and it worked very well.
 
I have an NT-2 as well and have used it on various things like vocals, acoustic guitar and even as a single overhead before I got my pair of NT-5. The NT-2 is a pretty solid mic. I don't know too much about the newer models NT-2 models ( NT-2A , NT-2000 ).
 
scrubs said:
Yes, it is wise to take advice from men in powdered wigs. :p
Click to expand...
He said the mic made him sound like Barry White! Who could argue with that?
 
I believed that review too, at one time. Then I bought a Rode NTK and it was essy as all get-out. Used it for about a year and then sold it.
 
i bought an NT1a a while back and still use it as my main vocal mic. its a little hot on the high end but thats ok because it helps my falsetto punch through when i need it. it also sounds good on acoustic guitar and amps. definitely a good buy at 200.
 
...and you might want to watch Ebay where the Rode NTK's (the NT1000's big brother, with a tube and external power supply) have been going for around $300. used...probably Rode's most respected/popular mic...at $300 or so, they're a real bargain!...
 
I have the NT1000 and use it for acoustic guitar and male vocals only. It sounds fantastic! I have recommended them to many friends who have all been blown away with the sound!


Get one!

***but if you have the money and you know where to find one, check out the NTK - that's my next pay packet already mentally spent!*** ;)
 
I bought an NTK a couple years ago and used it for a long time. Works very well but you will need to pop filter it and I always used a de esser.
 
Have an original NT1 (see classifieds) and an NTK. NT1 worked well enough, but I love the NTK. Have had no probs with sibilance. I found it worked quite well on both vox, and acoustic guitars. Even got a good tone using it to mic my amp.

:cool:
 
i've heard that the ntk doesn't come with a case or shock mount. is this true?
 
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