Rode NT1A - Vs - SP C1

  • Thread starter Thread starter S.C.U.D
  • Start date Start date

Rode NT1 -Vs- SPc1

  • NT1

    Votes: 62 60.2%

  • C1

    Votes: 41 39.8%
  • Total voters
    103
Good info, baekgaard. I didn't realize this was an old thread and was surprised to see I'd even posted to it... How much we forget! And here we are still today - me and DJL babbling on about microphones. ;)

High end condensers like the Neumanns, etc... impart yet another sound that the Chinese mics just don't seem to have. It's an airy, spacious sound, almost like you can hear the room better, or something. It's like adding a third dimension of depth and realism to the sound as it seems to be coming from behind the speakers as well as in front of them. Go to http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album?aid=2466&alid=675#14015 and listen to the clips of the C3, B1 and the U87Ai and you'll see what I mean (The C3 and B1 also sound harsh compared to the U87Ai). Of course, you need a very good pre to detect this. I seem to notice it more with acoustic guitars than with vocals.

What would be nice is if you could measure this. I could only guess that it might fall into the Phase distortion category, but again it's just a guess.

What would be even nicer is if someone could actually produce an affordable mic that sound's like this. I know, dream on... :rolleyes:
 
baekgaard said:
Recently, I've only been testing the 797/SP mics mentioned, the Oktava's and some Behringer ECM-8000 (for reference).

In my younger days, I worked for B&K and was at some point involved in simulations and measurements when designing the 40xx series mics for studio purposes -- but that was many years ago :-)


-- Per.
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That must of been fun working for B&K... anyway, welcome to the HR mic forum.
 
arcaxis said:
How can I identify which capsule an NT1 has ? Serial number possibly ?
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I've owned both. The old one had a black plastic surround for the capsule.. the new one had white plastic. They sound quite different and I don't own either of them anymore (bought an NTK instead). I believe the NT1A is a totally different mic although I've not heard it.
 
humm... well i have the old one and it has a white rubber surround for the capsule.
 
humm... and i have an old Rode NT1 also... and it doesn't any colored plastic/rubber that I can see. :confused:
 
Woah DJL, that's another old thread to add to the top of the pile....how come?

Still, it was a decent discussion by the look of it.
 
PsyCoNo said:
Right, but the spectrum analysis can only show one set of harmonics at a time. . . otherwise you wont be able to see individual harmonics, right? lol. . .i have no idea.
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Here's a belated reply.
The spectrum analyser will show you all the harmonics (in its frequency range) - but you'll have to figure out which harmonics they are. The analysis will show time on the x axis, frequency on the y axis, and qualitatively show SPL or relative energy of each frequency as intensity of the trace.

Cool Edit 96 can show wave files in this format - I'd imagine many other wave editors are capable of this also.
 
I have the NT1-A. Wanna buy it? Only used on three voices. Too much sibilance. It sounded great on an acoustic. I don't think I can recommend this mic for vocals.
 
Gnash5150 said:
I have the NT1-A. Wanna buy it? Only used on three voices. Too much sibilance. It sounded great on an acoustic. I don't think I can recommend this mic for vocals.
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I don't think anyone's going to pay attention to you considering before you the last post on this thread was nearly 2 years ago. Way to bring back the dead.
 
Gnash5150 said:
I have the NT1-A. Wanna buy it? Only used on three voices. Too much sibilance. It sounded great on an acoustic. I don't think I can recommend this mic for vocals.
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Once again, dragging up a 2 year old thread. Sweet!
 
I have both the Rode NT1-A and the SP C-1. For better or worse, the Rode sounds more like me. It also picks up more detail in my acoustic.

The C-1 is warmer on the vocals but (to me anyway) is more like a dynamic-not quite live sounding. So the Rode nt1-a does have more sibilance and transients but I guess picking up detail is good. I'm basically a solo acoustic/vocalist.

I'm a newbie but I hope this helps.

Alan
 
PsyCoNo said:
I agree with c9, someone needs to compare those together. Also, does anyone own BOTH the C1 and the B1, and IF so, how different do they sound?
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I agre with DJL. I own the B-1, B-3 and C-1 and the C-1 is a little hyped, but that's not a bad thing for a lot of people and applications. I like the C-1 better on my voice, it gives a sheen, a somewhat more "expensive" sound. The B-1 is a fantastic all around mic, although I'm not crazy about it on my voice, it may work great on yours. The B-3 sounds pretty much like the B-1 to my ears but has different pattern settings so it's very useful, then again I think the newer B-1's now have different pattern settings or low/high pass or both. I just used the B-3 yesterday to record a 12 string and it sounds great. You can't go wrong with any of these mics. If you're on a budget get the B-1. The good thing is if you decide any of the ST mics don't work for you you can get a good price for them if you decide to put them on ebay. Heck, used B-1's seem to go for only a few bucks less than new ones.
 
Hands down......I'll take he NT1-A every time. I have NO idea what preamps those of you who hated it are using. I've had it on a TC-Helicon VoiceWorks, ART TPS-II and stock pre's on my Korg D3200. It is dead quiet (NO Chinese mic is), has excellent presence and tight bottom end with a rise above 5K for added air. Some think it's hyped.....I don't think so anywheres near that of the Asian mics out there........the Chinese mics are hyped in the upper registers to a fault. If you want to call THAT "sitting in the mix" go right ahead.....to each his own...Oh......and yes.... the older NT1 was a Chinese manufactured mic of a completely different capsule and electronic circuitry design....not even close...
 
I find it amusing that like most mic comparisons in the same price range, this poll shows that about half the voters like one, and ooooh about half the voters like the other.

Which one do I buy?????

Go try em out :)
 
"Arise from The Dead!"
altbwolf.gif

:D
 
ctually, I believe the intro audio from Altered Beast was "Riiiise from your graaaave"
 
cusebassman said:
ctually, I believe the intro audio from Altered Beast was "Riiiise from your graaaave"
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I'm just glad somebody knew what the hell I was talking about. :D
 
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