Rode NTK Mods?

  • Thread starter Thread starter EleKtriKaz
  • Start date Start date
I also changed the tube to NOS and did some cap work on my NTK. The sound got softer and cleaner but the original essy character is still there.

I doubt that the boost only has to do with cap/grill design. At least K2's chart is all the same, exactly with the same peaks.
 
First I did not use a nos 6dj8 type (6922 etc)

Why do you doubt the capsule grill part?

FWIW I have two microphones with the same simple 1 fet circuit I built. The FETs were matched IDSS bias up with the same value resistors etc. I sort them from a bag of 1000

Same type 32 mm MXL capsules both from v67s I bought at the same time. One in a v67 body grill, one in a piece of machined fence post differnet Dia and grill open area. Sound very different if I move the capsules the sound stays with the body grill.


FWIW I post about stuff I do/did

SP wrote about posted about grill capsule interaction years ago. If you look at neumann microphones look at the grill designs. Look at a 414 grill.....
 
I would listen to Gus about this stuff.

I've followed his work on other forums and he knows exactly what he's talking about.
 
I should add don't believe me, test it yourself. I mean this in a good way.

I don't trust what I read on the web. So if I can test something I will. I bought a brauner VM1 just to learn. I have bought other cheap/expensive microphones just to test/learn I bought a K2 to check it. Then I bought a lathe and started to make parts to build microphones. I have also worked on some friends very good microphones.

IMO most of the sound is linked to the capsule but microphones are funny it seems every thing counts.
 
Gus said:
First I did not use a nos 6dj8 type (6922 etc)

Why do you doubt the capsule grill part?
Click to expand...

You know "souns different" is pretty vague term. If we change a part of a mic and it sounds different, how can you tell that this subtle change is exactly that peak at 12 khz or is it something else. Judging on listening or measuring are two different worlds. Did you measure the freq responce?

I have no expirience with K2. Can you tell me, why K2's and NTK's charts are virtually the same if they have different capsule and grill design?

I'm talking about a 6 db peak at 12 khz. Which part of 1'' capsule can produce such a strong acoustic resonance?

After all, modding is a tricky bastard. You can't AB compare what you had before with what you have. It's that easy to fool youself :D

PS I like your never-trust-what-the-others-say-try-it-yourself attitude ;)
 
Röde NT100

Gus said:
the chart has more to do with capsule and the capsule grill interaction than circuit design or cap changes.

There is more to what I did then what I gave away: however the capsule/grill EQ is still there.

Now I have a modded nt1000 and a modded K2 the NT1000 sounds better at a distance( I think it is the same capsule as the NTK) The K2 seems to have a different "tuning" with its capsule it also has a different grill. I like my K2 it sounded OK stock I am not a fan of the 6dj8 in standard microphones so a different tube is installed in mine and a few caps changes.
Click to expand...

Hi,
I saw your post on the NT1000 mod. I got one and I'm thinking of modding it. What Caps should I be looking for?

Best regards

Lars
 
Rode NT 2000 mods, possible ?

Gus said:
the chart has more to do with capsule and the capsule grill interaction than circuit design or cap changes.

There is more to what I did then what I gave away: however the capsule/grill EQ is still there.

Now I have a modded nt1000 and a modded K2 the NT1000 sounds better at a distance( I think it is the same capsule as the NTK) The K2 seems to have a different "tuning" with its capsule it also has a different grill. I like my K2 it sounded OK stock I am not a fan of the 6dj8 in standard microphones so a different tube is installed in mine and a few caps changes.
Click to expand...

Hi Gus, I want to ask you if you can give me a tip on what caps can (if) be replaced in Rode NT 2000, I cant stand this distorted hi end of it. I already removed the inside grill and it opened the mic a bit, but recording a singer (from my band) who has weirdly loud sibilants still sucks. I even use tape emulators to try to tame highs during tracking but with this mic it gives poor results. Thanks in advance !
 
Rode Nt 2000 Mod Done !

Ok, I did it by myself (I obviously didn't like this mic)

Quite simple, demands a lots of care though.
(You can burn other components very easily)
I changed caps I identified as capsule capacitors. There are no precise C-numbers for these caps on the board so I named them C1 and C2.
I changed both caps to 4,7 nF Styroflex Capacitors (same I used in MXL 990 mod) and did some recordings before and after.

Here is the link of the pics if someone want to see. Unfortunately I did it fast before taking the "before" picture, but there is a drawing :) :

https://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/maslesa/RODENT2000MODNewcap2.jpg

https://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/maslesa/RODENT2000MODOriginalcapslocation.jpg

https://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/maslesa/RODENT2000MODNewcap1.jpg


Without any doubts the mod improved low end (much broader and stronger) and largely reduced 3.2 KHz and 13 KHz ringing (has more gentle soft hi end)

So Im quite happy with this new sound tested on vocal and acoustic guitar.
Will wait to see what it gives in other applications before saying that Im extremely happy.

Maybe later I'll change other (electrolytic caps) too, to bigger capacity and higher voltage. And see what it gives, but I doubt that it will significantly alter the sound. Retail ones are pretty good already.
 
Last edited:
What ??? way ??

I have them both and I will strongly disagree
Sell your nt2000 and buy an ntk , the ntk is a much better mic on just about anything I recorded.

Not sure way they previous post recommended the nt2000 over the ntk ?

Love to hear why,


Love to add samples but the system will not let me because I didn't posted more the 10 comments

what kind of nonsense is that ?
 
That was back in 2008, have a look at the thread date?

They may have sorted it out by now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top