Rode NT1-A vs AT4040?

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Creepy Crawlies

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Basically I live in the UK and the Microphone prices work out more expensive here in the UK.

I can get two Rode NT1-A Mics brand new for cheaper then one AT4040. How much better is the AT4040 then the Rode NT1-A?

Should I get the two Rode NT1-A why they are on offer or get the AT4040?

For Male, Rap Vocals.
 
NT1-A vote for me or step up to AT4060, i love the 4060 tube sound but i like nt1-a better than 4040.
 
Look at the fact that you will never see a Rode in a real studio, while you should see plenty of audio technicas.

If you just want something that will work you should go with the Rode...but if it really matters go for the AT4040.

It must kinda suck trying to get certain gear in the UK...its like they are trying to keep people down.

One word of advice...if you want to mic a male for hip-hop or rap vocals the Dynamic mics are much more flattering...you dont really want something that is more renowned for micing acoustic instruments than vocals anyway.
 
my nt1a has started a new life of gathering dust,,,in favour of mic dynamics..


can't comment on audio technica mics, but for most vocals, i find the rode to be to pronounced/harsh in the high end.

have to disagree with darren to some extent, but for your sure, you're unlikely to see an nt1a in a pro outfit.

he's right about buying gear in the UK tho,

i have roughly 20 mics, and i think 17 of them came from USA.......even with import tax, they were cheaper than buyin them here...


personally, i'd look at a used re20, md421 or sm7b...something like that.
 
For the price either choice is a descent deal.

If you're only ever going to be recording vocals get the Audio Technica. It will be nicer than that Rode. It also works really great on other acoustic instruments.

If you think you might need to record something in stereo at some point getting a pair of NT-1a's might work out well for you.

Charlie
www.intuneaudio.ca
 
Steenamaroo said:
my nt1a has started a new life of gathering dust,,,in favour of mic dynamics..


can't comment on audio technica mics, but for most vocals, i find the rode to be to pronounced/harsh in the high end.

have to disagree with darren to some extent, but for your sure, you're unlikely to see an nt1a in a pro outfit.

he's right about buying gear in the UK tho,

i have roughly 20 mics, and i think 17 of them came from USA.......even with import tax, they were cheaper than buyin them here...


personally, i'd look at a used re20, md421 or sm7b...something like that.
Click to expand...

I agree with most of what you said...cept where you disagreed with me...lol.

Ive never seen a Rode in a studio before...I had the nt1 and it wasnt a very good mic...but Ive heard good things about the K2...Id see myself ponying up the diff for the AT4060 though.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Look at the fact that you will never see a Rode in a real studio, while you should see plenty of audio technicas.
Click to expand...

We luv ya Darrin but sometimes you're just plain wrong;

Here's a list of Rode's in use at some of the big studio's in this town;

Big Studio #1 - Trackdown

16 x Rode NT5 (8 x Matched pairs), 6 x Rode NT1000, 5 x Rode NT2, 1 x Rode NT4 (Stereo), 2 x Rode NTG-2, 2 x Rode Classic II.

Some film soundtracks, DVD's & albums out of there you might know; 'Australia' Feature Film Baz Luhrmann, 'Happy Feet' Feature Film George Miller, 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' Feature Film Peter Weir, 'Hearts In Atlantis' Feature Film Scott Hicks, 'Moulin Rouge!' Feature Film Baz Luhrmann, 'The E.N.D' Black Eyed Peas, 'Eagles Farewell Tour: Live From Melbourne 2005' Live Concert DVD, etc, etc, etc.

Big Studio #2 - BJB

1 x Rode NTK, 2 x Rode Classic II, 2 x Rode K2, 3 x Rode NT55, 2 x Rode M3.

Recordings for; Architecture In Helsinki, Natalie Imbruglia, Portishead, Sliverchair, The Vines, The Violent Femmes, etc, etc, etc.

Big Studio #3 - Sydney Opera House Recording Studio

Neumann, AKG, DPA, Scheops, Sennheiser, Shure, SE, Røde.

Recordings for: Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony, Michael Bublé, Australian Chamber Orchestra, etc, etc, etc.

Big Studio #4 - Neil Finn's (Crowded House) Roundhead Studios Auckland

2 x Rode Classic II, 3 x Rode NT-2

Recordings by Joe Chiccarelli, Wilco, etc, etc, etc.

All these guy's have the usual array of Neumanns, AKG's, Sennheisers, Coles, Royers, RCA's et al. They also have Rodes. And that's without going down into the mid range studio guys, all of who probably have a Rode or two in their locker. I can't be bothered looking at who's got what in Melbourne or further afield than this lot.

I'm typing this into the forum via a Dell computer - that is a fact, a bald fact in fact.

"Look at the fact that you will never see a Rode in a real studio" that is an opinion.

:spank:
 
jedblue said:
We luv ya Darrin but sometimes you're just plain wrong;

Here's a list of Rode's in use at some of the big studio's in this town;
Click to expand...

I mean real studios like where AC/DC...Men at Work...Rose Tattoo...Midnight Oil...etc. recorded.

I actually have one of the front ends of the mixers used at the Sydney Opera house...Im using it as 8 channel preamp.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
I mean real studios like where AC/DC...Men at Work...Rose Tattoo...Midnight Oil...etc. recorded.
Click to expand...

Sigh... if you must Darrin:- Most of the artists you quote recorded the great body of their work before Rode existed. Many of the bands you mention recorded at Alberts in Sydney at some time in their careers. Alberts was set up initially in the 70's, are still going and have recorded AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Rose Tattoo, The Angels & a whole host of others. Alberts have a Rode Classic II in their mic locker.

All of the studios I mentioned earlier seem to me to be 'real' studios. Maybe you should check them out and compare them to yours? Here is a picture of Trackdown's main room so you get the idea...

index.jpg


I'd kind of like to have a studio in the Sydney Opera House :).
 
Well...I was just joking a bit...you only listed OZ bands...so I listed some...Id have to guess that the environment would be different in Australia where cheap chinese mics are your only choice...I noticed that there wasnt any AT or Shures on your list...and those are what would tend to be used all over the US studios.
 
we have one nt-1 at the studio where i work. Which is a BIG studio, but for VO work not music. Anyways, it has its time and place and for the price i wouldn't say it is worthless.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Id have to guess that the environment would be different in Australia where cheap chinese mics are your only choice...I noticed that there wasnt any AT or Shures on your list...and those are what would tend to be used all over the US studios.
Click to expand...

No, not really just Chinese mikes and Rode's down here mate, I just put the Rode's on and left out the rest. Here's their full mike lists if you like

Trackdown; 5 x Schoeps CMC6-U (Body), 5 x Schoeps NK2H (Capsule), 3 x DPA 4006, 1 x Neumann TLM 170, 2 x Neumann KM184 (Matched pair), 1 x Neumann U87, 1 x Neumann U89, 1 x Neumann KMR81, 2 x Microtech Gefell M930 (Matched pair), 1 x Microtech Gefell MKG1Y (Stereo), 2 x AKG C414B (Matched pair), 2 x AKG 451E (Matched pair), 16 x Rode NT5 (8 x Matched pairs), 6 x Rode NT1000, 5 x Rode NT2, 1 x Rode NT4 (Stereo), 2 x Rode NTG-2, 1 x Audio Technica AT4033, 1 x Sony ECM22, 1 x Rode NT6, 1 x AKG D190, 1 x Audio Technica ATM21, 1 x Beyer Dynamic M88, 3 x Beyer Dynamic M201, 1 x Beyer Dynamic M55, 2 x Sennheiser MD211, 1 x Sennheiser MD421, 3 x Sennheiser MD441, 3 x Shure SM57, 1 x Shure 545, 2 x Rode Classic II, 1 x EMI 2351E.

BJB; 1 x AKG D12, 1 x AKG D112, 4 x AKG 451 EB w/ 2 X CK1, 2 X CK2, 1 Audio Technica AT4033, 1 x Audio Technica ATM25, 1 x Beyerdynamic M69N(C), 1 x Beyerdynamic TG-X 50, 3 x Coles 4038 Ribbon (1 X Vintage, 1 X Matched Pair*), 1 x Electro-Voice RE20, 1 x Neumann KM84i, 1 x Neumann U87ai*, 2 x Neumann U47 (Wagner - Matched Pair), 2 x Schoeps CMC6 w/ MK4 (Matched Pair)*, 1 x Sennheiser MD421-U5, 5 x Shure SM57, 1 x Shure SM7b *, 1 x Rode NTK, 2 x Rode Classic II, 2 x Rode K2, 3 x Rode NT55, 2 x Rode M3, 2 x Josephson e22S, 1 x Mojave Audio MA-200, 2 x Octava MC 012, 2 x Reslosound Ribbons (matched pair), 1 x Reslosound Type VMC2, 1 x Royer 121 Ribbon, 1 x RCA 44 BX Ribbon, 1 x RCA 74 Jnr Ribbon, 1 x RCA 77 DX Ribbon, 2 x STC 4021 (Apple & Biscuit), 1 x Philips EL3757/00 Stereo Mic, 2 x Takstar PCM 6100, 1 x Yamaha Subkick.

Roundhead; 1 x Telefunken 251, 1 x Neumann U47 Long body Valve, 3 x Neumann U67 Valve, 2 x Neumann KM56 Valve, 4 x Neumann U47 FET, 6 x Neumann U87, 1 x Neuman U89, 2 x Neumann TLM170, 2 x Neumann KM100, 1 x Neumann U69 stereo, 2 x Neumann TLM49, 2 x Coles 4038, 2 x Royer 121, 2 x Royer 122, 2 x Crowely and Tripp Ribbons, 6 x AKG 460, 2 x AKG 451, 2 x AKG D112, 2 x Beyer M88, 1 x Sennheiser 441, 5 x Sennheiser 609, 1 x Sennheiser 509, 6 x Sennheiser 421, 16 x Shure SM57, 2 x Shure KSM32, 2 x Shure SM7, 4 x Audix OM6, 2 x Rode Classic, 3 x Rode NT-2, 1 x Avantone CV12 Tube.

Alberts; Neumann U47 Valve + Power Supply, U87 x3, U47 FET, TLM 170 x3, KM 84, B&K 4003 x 2, 4011 x 2, 4006 x 2, Sennheiser MD421 x 10, 441 x 5, AKG C414 x4, D12, D12E, D112, C12A, C451eb, Shure SM57 x 6, Beta 57A, Beta 52, SM58 x 2, SM81, M106N, KSM27, KSM137, KSM109, RODE Classic, NAKAMICHI CM300, Octavia MC-012, Beyer M69 x 3, M88, Electro Voice RE20 x 2, CO15E.

Don't know if I can see a Chinese one at all in there?

Anyway, we've probably hijacked Creepy Crawlies thread enough over this. Nothing wrong with Rode or Audio Technica condensers in my opinion.

:)
 
Seems that going for a AT MIC would be better for me, no point getting two MICs that are the same when I only need one.

I would upgrade to the AT4060 however there is a MASSIVE difference between that and a AT4040 in price.

Would paying an extra £100 GBP be better to get the AT4050 instead of the AT4040?
 
thats because the 4060 sounds great and the 4040 sounds "aight".
 
I had an AT4033a, which I liked and the 4040 was intended to replace. I'd rather have the AT4050. I'm not sure I'd want the 4060 (tube mic?). Not because it's not a good mic, it just seems a bit high maintenance from a certain POV. Not really a fan of Rode mics, they all seem a bit tinny to me. Not that I've used any, but most peoples results with them are a bit frail sounding to me. Which is probably useful in the right circumstance. But for music based things there are probably much better choices. Just my opinion.
 
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