Rode NTV

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bwindsor

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Fishmed,

I've run tube with tube (mic and micpre) before with good results, depends on the gear...like everyone says, there are no rules, what sounds good to you (or me) might stink to the next listener! That's one of the reasons I mixed solid state and tube gear when purchasing...more choices. Hope I made the right ones (g).
Also, Dobro, I realize I might have mistakenly picked up some edge in your previous reply...if so, my apologies, if not, oh well, my original post was just to inform anyone interested here what my own opinions were regarding this mic...wasn't trying to convert anyone (g)

BW
 
After narrowing down the choices for a new studio mic purchase to the Shure KSM32,Neumann TLM103 and the Rode NTV (a-b-c'ed them) I finally decided on the Rode NTV. Why? Hard question...I liked them all, but side by side the Shure was less "clear" and the Neumann was, very slightly, too "toppy" in comparison to the Rode. Definitely a difference in sound, due to the tube in the NTV! Surprisingly, the Rode still retains a nice, bright high end, not at all thin, with an even low/midrange as well. Best of all, the price just dropped drastically on the Rode so, combined with the fact I would have had to purchase a Neumann Shock Mount as an add on (for mega bucks!) my decision was made. If anyone is looking for a tube mic, at least give this model a listen...at this price point, no competition!
As an added note, I will probably eventually add a TLM103 to the studio...the choice was close between the two mics, and when I need "that" sound (airy, with tight lows) this was nice! So no knocks on Neumann, just loved the Rode NTV a little more. Your ears may vary!

BW
 
My ears vary very much, thank you very much!

Question: tube mic? What's that, compared to a condenser mic through a tube preamp?

Please feel free to disregard this question entirely if you've never owned and used a tube preamp.
 
Just a shot in the dark here really dobro, but i think a tube mic has the tube instead of a transformer, so basialy that would be like getting the signal from the mic to the tube pre with one less stage to go through (i could be wrong here...). also I know that there are some "transformerless" mics (BlueMouse and maybe the BlueBerry) which are also not tubes so what's in 'em- who the hell knows- seems like magick to me.
 
Dobro,

As stated, to each their own, however, just so you know, the mic pre's I use and own are both tube (TL Audio) and solid state (Joe Meek) so I'm pretty sure I have a "good" idea what the difference between the "flavours" are! Not too sure why the hostile edge in your comments, but hey, I know what I like, and base those likes on practical application and comparison...so, like I said,
"your" ears may vary! (and obviously do!)

BW
 
I know that Dobro's Q was probably rhetorical, but I think someone else on the board mentioned coloring a a mic with other means such as a mic modeler or something - I have a tube "preamp" kinda thing in my compression unit that gives my NT-1 a different flavor, as well as some modeling software, but I'd choose a big tube mic over it any day... can't really tell you why though Dobro, I'm not a tech guy - I've just heard that the sound from a big tube mic is better... don't know about a good tube pre - the NTV is a bit out of my reach as a home recordist though, so I'll hang with what I have. Let us know how the RODE works out bwindsor.
 
Nah, no hostility - the first line was a bit of throwaway nonsense with a lot of 'very's in it. Maybe a smilie would've been useful.

The question wasn't rhetorical - I really don't know what a tube mic is, or how it compares to a condenser through a tube preamp, but I'd like to know, because right now I'm using condensers through solid state preamps, and I'm about to launch myself into tube technology in some form or other, so I'm looking for information.

So, not hostility and rhetoric, but wordplay and curiosity. :)
 
Just another variation to confuse... Adds to all the wonderful color (or non-colorful) list of possibilities.

It's worth the confussion in the long-run... I promise.
 
Sorry dobro; I really don't understand the question...

To me, it's the apples and oranges analogy again; and that's just a generalization.
 
Sorry, man, I always count on my ignorance being the constant, and when someone says they don't know, I assume they're having me on... Crossed signal thread, this one. :)
 
Well, theres a few reasons why a valve mike will sound better than a tranny one through a tube preamp. Valves are very high impedence devices, and the capacitor mike relies on a very high impedence across the diaphram to produce a signal that relates to the tiny changes in capacitence that occour as the diaphram moves. The valve therefore, is not really a preamp, more of an impedence convertor in this use. Valves do this rather well, though slightly noiser than a good fet front end. The rode uses only a valve in its signal chain, a twin triode with one side doin the impedence stuff, and the other just as a lil buffer.
So, a valve mike sound relies on the valve doing a more complex job than might be thought, and in my opinion this cant be replicated by simply putting a tube stage after the mike (as many 'valve' mikes do) and calling it a valve mike. The rode is a true valve mike, and sounds it too! Very pleased with mine!
 
"...a valve mike will sound better than a tranny one through a tube preamp."

IMHO, there are PLENTY of transistorized mic/tube pre combos that sound A LOT "better" than a vavle mic; and A LOT more that sound "better" than a Rode NTV.

Also, to :"So, a valve mike sound relies on the valve doing a more complex job than might be thought..."

IMHO, "a valve mike sound" DOESN'T rely on ANY component more than the other.
 
I dont think the idea of a tube pre-amp was to "imitate" a valve mic using a condenser. That would make no sense cause in terms of technique the valve mic, compared to a good condenser, is a whole bunch of crap.
But if it comes to "sound" the valve mic seems to suit our ears.(Maybe our ears are crap too?) So the point in combining condensers and tube pre-amps is to get a "linear" signal and "enhance" the sound with the warmth a tube provides.
 
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