Rode NTK tube condensor

[walters]

If the tube is bad or not hooked up will the Rode NTK condensor mic sound like a shure 57?

Is a NTK condensor mic louder than a shure 57 ?

My gain trimmer on my 24 track will distort the same ratios from my shure 57 to my NTK Condensor mic so the NTK didn't give me any difference from my shure 57 does this sounds right?

I thought the NTK tube condensor mic would be really loud must louder than a dynamic shure 57 it pickups the same actually or there is something wrong with my power supply,tube is bad, or my 24 tracks need to be set to phatom power?

 

[zed32]

well hello there!

 

[Kryptik]

If the tube is bad or not hooked up will the Rode NTK condensor mic sound like a shure 57?

No, it will sound closer to a Beta52

Is a NTK condensor mic louder than a shure 57 ?

It is hard to say, and I'm not qualified to comment on loudness. Everything sounds about the same level to me . But the real question is. Why ?

My gain trimmer on my 24 track will distort the same ratios from my shure 57 to my NTK Condensor mic so the NTK didn't give me any difference from my shure 57 does this sounds right?

Your gain trimmer is wrong. You can think of your 24 track as a train yard that can hold a lot of box cars. If your 57 distorts at the same ratio of one track and the NTK distorts at the same ratio of another track then the ratios are even and you really should turn UP the gain trimmer in order to eliminate the distortion. Then you use the parametric tape EQ to determine how much noise you get. Turn the frequency knob to a point where you are comfortable, but then use the boost sweep method to adjust the gain knob until you have the appropriate distortion ratio. Then turn the Q knob to get rid of unwanted noise.

I thought the NTK tube condensor mic would be really loud must louder than a dynamic shure 57 it pickups the same actually or there is something wrong with my power supply,tube is bad, or my 24 tracks need to be set to phatom power?

Your 24 tracks doesn't need to be set to phantom power. I believe the NTK requires vampire power. It will sort of make the sound of the NTK more of a dark red and therefore warmer. If you don't have vampire power you should really try to get it. That is what has made all my recordings get that milky creamy sound with out using compresser. If however you want a colder sound you should try using a mummy. They're sort of a lost jem and sort of forgotten about and are kind of burried in the desert that is the pro audio world. But if you can find one, you can blend red and blue to make a royal purple sound which, I think is what all recording engineers strive for.

 

[walters]

How would i know if the tube inside the mic is working?

How would i know if the power supply is turning on the +48 phatom power?

Because right now the NTK is just a dynamic mic im sure and its not turning on either the tube or power supply +48 volts

Its not that much different than my shure 57 its not louder or more head room at all so something must not be working

 

[Kryptik]

How would i know if the tube inside the mic is working?

If you talk into the mic and it sounds like a 57 or 52 the tube is working, but if it sounds like how an NTK should sound, that means that it is not working.

How would i know if the power supply is turning on the +48 phatom power?

See my previous post. You need something other than phantom power.

Because right now the NTK is just a dynamic mic im sure and its not turning on either the tube or power supply +48 volts.

No. This is not true. A dynamic mic has an expander in it. Right now the NTK is just an ordinary mic.

Its not that much different than my shure 57 its not louder or more head room at all so something must not be working

The NTK is bigger, so it should actually have less head room. But if it isn't working you should replace the transistor tube with a Svetlana EL34 FET. This will give you less head room and a better distortion ratio.

 

[c7sus]

You're using it right-side-up.

Hang it upside-down for tube mode.

 

[walters]

Yes i did i brought it but i didn't know if its working right the power supply and the tube in the mic because it sounds to me just like the shure 57 its really not that much difference i thought it would give me more picking up room sounds with my vocals the saleman at the store told me NTK can pick up outside noise because i live in a apt. and not in a studio so he said this mic NTK would pickup people walking outside on the street and cars going by my house and its nothing like that at all its just the same as my shure 57 same gain trim same recording on my vocals, acoustic guitars so im wondering is this it or is some thing broken?

 

[scrubs]

Oh, something's broken alright.

 

[walters]

I'm not using a Mic pre is this my problem im going straight into my 2488 XLR

a hotter output,

Yes i thought i should have a hotter output if the tube is bad inside the mic does your NTK still work and sound like a dynamic 57 with a bad tube does a condensor mic turn into a dynamic 57 mic?

greater 'sensitivity than a dynamic mic,

Yes the sensitivity is the same as im dynamic mic

the NTK has a much hotter output than a SM57 does, given the same distance from the same sound source

Its the same as my 57 the same sound source i tried it all its exactally the same

What does the Mic preamp do for a tube condensor mic?
do u think this is my problem?

How do u change your Tube in your NTK because i can't find any screws on mine to even open it up to see if the tube is glowing or working inside?

 

[c7sus]

You'll need x-ray vision to see the tube working.

You can check if it's powered by feeling if the body of the mic gets warm.

But be sure the mic is hanging upside-down.

That's really the most important part.