Rode NT1 or AKG 2000B??

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sondriven

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Im looking for an inexspensive vocal and acoustic guitar mic. Im thinking about the NT1 or AKG 2000B. My vocals are not the loudest, so I need a mic to pick up soft vocals clearly. Im looking in the $300 range.

Please help me!

-sondriven
 
coincidentally,I just went shopping...

I demo'd both mikes at Guitar Center last week and bought the Rode NTi for $199 over the $250 AKG 2000B. I have been very happy with the Rode (my first large diaphragm condenser)and I've used it so far on voice, acoustic guitar, tablas and xylophone. Compared to the small diaphragm electret condenser I was using, the Rode has a big,clean,warm sound with good transient response. A pop screen is definately required for vocals.
regards
Tom
 
TOM!

Quick! I'm going to save you $30...go to zzounds.com and look up the Rode NT1, it's $169 there. Print it out and take it to Guitar Center with your receipt. They have a 30 day lowest price guarantee, and they WILL price match from zzounds. They did for me on the NT1. Oh, and yes the NT1 is awesome, I'm really enjoying mine.
 
Tom go to Zzounds if your not in a hurry to get the NT1. Barto's right the price is cheaper but they have about an 8 week backorder. I went through MF to get mine 199.00 and I had it in two days. Hey I promise you wont be dissapointed the Nt1 produce no noticable floor noise... and like sondriven I too have some weak spots in my voice... the NT1 takes care of that problem. It creates really professional sounding vocals. I haven't tried it on acoustic guitar yet...but I'll bet it works just as good... I'm currently hooked on the SM94 for my acoustic work. Hey keep me posted on your progress...good luck guys.
DL.
 
Your right!
The NT1 is great for acoustic instruments, guitar, mandolin, bass, and banjo, as well as vocals. I have been using one for a while and have gotten great sounds from it.
It's your best buy!
 
I'm gonna save you some earache...dont buy the NT1. Save up a little more money and go for an AT 4050, you'll be much happier..just my opinion.


ametth
 
I like my NT1, too. DEFINITELY GET A SHOCKMOUNT SUSPENSION! Or, since you mentioned you had about $300 budget, just get the NT2 and it'll come with shockmount and case.
 
Hey Ametth

So why dont you like the NT1? Is it not worth $200.00
 
In my opinion, no, it's not worth $200. I think they sound very boxy, grainy and generally hard to listen to. I think they can be used for some tasks as I do have one. But as an *only* all-round mic..this would not be my first choice.
 
I am with ametth on this one dudes....

I have found that anyone who has actually used a wide range of large diaphram condensors would definately NOT recommend that NT1, because the NT1 does not stack up too well against the likes of a even a 4033 in most cases.

A 4050 is an excellent sounding mic for the money. I still know many professional engineers that would rather use one on vocals then a Nuemann U-87, or a AKG 414.

I found the NT1 to have a sort of cheap sound to it. A very hard edged hollowed out mids sound. I am sure that through not so great monitors that this type of sound would be appealing, but through a really good monitoring system, it is hard to listen to.

If you are stuck in that price range, I think the 4033 is a mic that you won't be selling off down the road, so it would be a better investment.

Good luck.

Ed

P.S. Before anyone give me the ol' "I get great results with my NT1 thing, ask yourself first how much REAL LIFE experience to you have with other large diaphram condensors. If you haven't used a whole slew of different expensive mics that are normally synonomis with quality, then you have little to compare too, and certainly the NT1 is a step up from a SM-57, or a C-1000S, but that still doesn't mean that it is worth even $200 when for $100 more you can get into mics that you will see in professional studio's equipment lists.

Also, just because everyone else is using a NT1 is hardly a reason to go out and buy one. You will find that if you start downloading a bunch of MP3's that many just don't have a very good sounds going on. If anyone really thinks that it stacks up against the better mics, then I want to hear stuff recorded with it that doesn't have the kind of sound that ametth states in his last thread. I use a 4033 and 4050 on most every large diaphram application, with ART mic pre's recording to ADAT. Feel free to download my work from my website to hear what this sounds like. Cheers....:)

[Edited by sonusman on 10-26-2000 at 10:01]
 
it is worth the $200 though

The Nt-1 is good. For me, I hate that I pretty much have to go to it as my all-around mic. On my voice it is a little boxy and sibilant, hard to place in the mix. The mic was absolutly perfect for my first "clients" voice. on acoustic guitar I think it leaves much to be desired, I end of compressing the hell out of the signal to get something "nice" to listen to. On upright bass i find it pretty good though, the sort of boxyness pulls the sound forward. (not that i've recorded much upright bass though) It's kinda of trashy as a drum overhead. But for certain things i am sure that the NT-1 is THE mic.

Myself, I'm saving for a 4050. Until then, I have to live with the RodeNT and my other limited choices.

-jhe
 
and yeah ed....

I will be posting something (give me a day or two) where the NT-1 is so wonderfull. I only wish that it sounded as nice on my voice!

-jhe
 
Hey James...

What you are describing of that mic is exactly what most every engineer I have talked to says about it. That was my point, and ametth's point I believe.

There are much better mics out there. Sure, the NT1 COULD be THE mic in certain situations, but many have favored other mics over it. In some cases, the other mics do not cost that much more.

Mics are an important investment. It really does you no good to buy something that sounds cheap. I suppose some people don't know what the difference in sound is between a NT1 and a 4033, or 4050, or ever the RTT because they have never compared them in their own environment.

My only point is that a lot of people seem to buy the NT1 based upon "recommendations" rather then really checking it out first. Just about anybody who has put that mic against a 4033 hears the difference right away.

Many hits have been recorded with a 4033 on the vocals. If you compared that mic to a NT1 and thought the NT1 sounded better, then I would suspect the monitoring environment, or, sorry to say, you ears. The AT 40 series mics are a very very good deal for the sound quality. Yes, a bit more expensive the the Rodes products, but, at least you will keep your AT mics for years to come because as your hearing becomes more accute, you will find that these mics continue to provide a very nice sound in many different applications. Most who use a NT1 for awhile grow tired of it and sell it, at a loss in money obviously.

Buy mics that are proven in the big arena, even if they cost a few extra bucks. You will be very happy you did down the road.

Oh, I am not saying though that you shouldn't give a new mic a try. Hell, at some point, Nuemann was a new company, so was AKG, and AT. Same with Electro Voice and Shure. Just evaluate the mic as well as you can BEFORE you purchase. A little short test in the music store is not sufficient. Neither is many recommendations you will hear or read in magazines, BBS's, etc......

I know of many studios using AT 4033's and 4050 and making clients sound great. I don't really know of any using a NT1....:( That should tell you something right there....

Anyway....

Ed
 
yeah if I walked into a "real" studio and they set up an NT-1 in front of me I'd probably leave! I was just simply disagreing that it wasen't worth the money. Not that I'd buy another one anyway :D

-jhe
 
I agree that the 4033 is a lot better mic than the Rode NT1, however for home studio applications I have found nothing wrong with how the NT1 performs. Keep in mind that the NT1 runs about $250 with all the shipping and warranties as compared to about $400+ for the At4033. I have found that larger amounts of compression is needed when recording the NT1 but the sound quality is not compromised as with other mics I've used. I still would recommend the NT1 as very decent starting professional mic... remember you can always beef-up your mic line down the road and you will find that you can always use the NT1 for most any application... Most home recorders operate on a shoestring budget, and if used properly, the NT1 will produce quality home recordings for an affordable price... but if I had the extra money to spend I would certainly shoot for the AT 4033... thanks for the input folks...
DL.
 
AT-4033s sell brand new for $289 at 8th St. Music.
Here's a tip: The "bulk pac" mikes are IDENTICAL in every way to the "regular" mikes.
I know because I bought two there.

Peace,
Rick
 
Hey all,

The vocals on my song "Dead Alibis" were recorded with the NT1. I think they sound great. Maybe the mic is just "THE mic", as Sonusman says, for my voice. A few of the guitars were also recorded with the NT1.

Check out the song at http://mp3.com/37point5. You can probably make out the vocals more clearly on the sparser remix, which is called "Dead Alibis (loopz remix).

For the price, I'm extraordinarily happy with the NT1. And, as I've said before on this board, I've tried out a few other large diaphragm mics (including the 414), and just didn't like the sound of them, at least not on the material I was working with.

Ryan
 
Just checked out 8th street music prices on the At 4033. I thought if they were $289, I might get one... but here's how the prices break down... To buy the two-pac from 8th street your buying the 4033 and the 4041 for $650 minus shipping, freight and any insurances. Okay that makes each one of these mics about $325 ea... Now to buy the 4033 by itself was quoted at $329. Musicians Freind has their 4033's for $349 minus shipping and so forth... there's a $20 difference between the two and I suppose that's okay... but even the NT1 only sells for $10 cheaper and MF has them in stock... JFYI...
DL.

[Edited by DLockwood on 10-28-2000 at 03:41]
 
Well, Well, Well

What do you know? It seems I, of course, agree with ametth and sonusman. Suprised? I hope not.

But, of course, if you just don't see yourself being able to save that extra $100-200US or so for a 4033 or something in the next 6months-year and it already took you 6months-years to save for the cost of an NT-1, PLEASE do yourself a favor buy the NT-1 and NOT the 2001/JM47/A-51 if you're not going to listen AND compare to a few of the same the same model AND different brands, FIRST, multiple times, preferably.

And then if you DO listen AND compare to a few of the same model AND different brands, FIRST, multiple times, preferably (an extra-"ESPECIALLY" with the 2001/JM47/A-51), whatever you do, PLEASE don't then go buy that model you liked over all the other brands you compared to from somewhere else.

And if just can't refrain yourself from buying an SCM900, the only thing I can say is: You should have saved youself even more money and bought yourself a/another SM57.
 
Yesterday, a friend and I went to the music store to demo a bunch of the large diaphragm condensers in the $200-400 range. Quickly, I think we hit the NT1, NT2, AKG2000, AKG3000, Marshall ?, AT 4033, and some Alesis FET mic.

I don't really have the energy to describe all the mics, but it came down to the AT and the AKG 3000. I'll mention that I did like the NT1 well enough, but it seemed a little harsh for all-around purposes. I should also mention that I have a terrible head-cold. I should also mention that the friend was the one putting down the cash, otherwise I wouldn't have gone mic testing on such a day. In the end, we/he went with the AT 4033. This being the first time I've demo'd condensers, I don't have the vocab to really describe what it was that made me like it better than the AKG, but I did. I'll keep you posted as we really start to use it.

Oh, and RE I bought another 57 too!
 
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