RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

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B2D

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RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

I've recently acquired a RØDE NT1 and NT1A (plus case and shockmount) from a garage sale for a pretty good deal. :D

I found a good article comparing the two mics here: http://blog.reddogmusic.co.uk/2014/10/19/rode-nt1-vs-nt1a/

I wanted to know if anyone has any personal experience with these 2 models. I'll likely sell the one I like less than the other one and use that $$ to fund an interface for my computer.

I'll be using it for acoustic guitars and voice-over work. I'm a baritone, and I have a feeling the NT1 might suit me better but before I do a shootout I'd like to hear what other people have experienced.
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

I haven’t tried the NT1A, but have had an NT1 in my studio since the mid-90s - it’s a workhorse, and sounds amazing for its price-point.

My bottom line - keep at least one of them (though if it were me, and I didn’t need the funds, I’d keep both!)


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Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

No experience whatsoever, sorry. The only Rode I own and have any experience with is the NTK.
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

TwilightOdyssey said:
No experience whatsoever, sorry. The only Rode I own and have any experience with is the NTK.
Click to expand...

That was actually the mic that I was looking at before I came across these two. How do you like yours?



As to why I just didn't buiy the NTK... for $100 for the two mics, shockmount, and case I couldn't pass it up. :D
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

B2D said:
That was actually the mic that I was looking at before I came across these two. How do you like yours?



As to why I just didn't buiy the NTK... for $100 for the two mics, shockmount, and case I couldn't pass it up. :D
Click to expand...
Wow, that’s a steal!

I love the NTK, it’s a great mic in the tradition of the U67, but it is kind of a specialty unit due to the extra power supply and umbilical cable required. I haven’t been recording vocals lately so I haven’t used it in a while, but I really should do some work with it to re familiarize myself with it again.

Depending on the room and source, I don’t think something like the NTK would be an auto-win over the NT1. It’s all about using the room and the mic’s polar pattern to your advantage. A bigger capsule just picks up more of a crappy sounding room’s reflections!
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

TwilightOdyssey said:
Wow, that’s a steal!

I love the NTK, it’s a great mic in the tradition of the U67, but it is kind of a specialty unit due to the extra power supply and umbilical cable required. I haven’t been recording vocals lately so I haven’t used it in a while, but I really should do some work with it to re familiarize myself with it again.

Depending on the room and source, I don’t think something like the NTK would be an auto-win over the NT1. It’s all about using the room and the mic’s polar pattern to your advantage. A bigger capsule just picks up more of a crappy sounding room’s reflections!
Click to expand...

That's encouraging to hear.

Next step after the shootout is to get a good interface.

A Claret 2 or 4 is probably what I'll go with, although I might be able to call in a favor on an Apollo Twin.
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

For 99% of all music production, features aside, all interfaces are more or less the same. The UA stuff is unique, however, in that it can host plugins, which is great if you want to track with a software channel strip. (I use a hardware SSL for recording and then augment it with various plugin channel strips - Helios, EMI, SSL, Neve, etc). I have multiple Focusrite interfaces, basically one at each computer in the house. I have no complaints thus far!
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Which NT-1 are we talking about? The early white/silver version and the post-2013 black NT-1 are completely different mics despite having the same name. I've yet to encounter a black NT-1, but I have experience with both of the earlier versions. They're supposedly U87-inspired, but I've never had a chance to use one. When I try to sing through one I hear harsh, nasal upper mids and grainy treble. I suppose it might work for acoustic guitars. The black version is supposed to have a far more subtle upper mid push and flatter treble.
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

dystrust said:
Which NT-1 are we talking about? The early white/silver version and the post-2013 black NT-1 are completely different mics despite having the same name. I've yet to encounter a black NT-1, but I have experience with both of the earlier versions. They're supposedly U87-inspired, but I've never had a chance to use one. When I try to sing through one I hear harsh, nasal upper mids and grainy treble. I suppose it might work for acoustic guitars. The black version is supposed to have a far more subtle upper mid push and flatter treble.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Can you give a little more detail on the room and setup?
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

dystrust said:
Which NT-1 are we talking about? The early white/silver version and the post-2013 black NT-1 are completely different mics despite having the same name. I've yet to encounter a black NT-1, but I have experience with both of the earlier versions. They're supposedly U87-inspired, but I've never had a chance to use one. When I try to sing through one I hear harsh, nasal upper mids and grainy treble. I suppose it might work for acoustic guitars. The black version is supposed to have a far more subtle upper mid push and flatter treble.
Click to expand...

These are the two mics I have. The NT1 has a light greyish paint and the NT1A is brushed metal and is a bit taller.

IMG_4819.jpg
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

TwilightOdyssey said:
Interesting. Can you give a little more detail on the room and setup?
Click to expand...

I've used them both in a basement treated with blankets and other DIY sound proofing as well as in the studios of a local music school. Pop filter, maybe 6-12" into interface pres. My earlier post came off a lot more negative than I intended; these mics just happen to be a poor match for my voice. I've heard them sound good with others and I suspect they'd be good for acoustic guitar though I haven't tried them for that.

I "borrowed" a few response graphs to illustrate what I was saying about the two NT-1s sounding so different. The NT-1A is a revision of the early NT-1, while the post-2013 black NT-1 is a totally different microphone.

Original NT-1:
nt1.png

NT-1A:
nt1a.png

Black NT-1:
nt1-2013.png
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

No experience, but I'll chime in anyway. I have a new NT1. It is in the box. I hope I like it.
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

dystrust said:
I've used them both in a basement treated with blankets and other DIY sound proofing as well as in the studios of a local music school. Pop filter, maybe 6-12" into interface pres. My earlier post came off a lot more negative than I intended; these mics just happen to be a poor match for my voice. I've heard them sound good with others and I suspect they'd be good for acoustic guitar though I haven't tried them for that.

I "borrowed" a few response graphs to illustrate what I was saying about the two NT-1s sounding so different. The NT-1A is a revision of the early NT-1, while the post-2013 black NT-1 is a totally different microphone.

Original NT-1:
View attachment 85441

NT-1A:
View attachment 85442

Black NT-1:
View attachment 85443
Click to expand...

I've seen the EQ curves for the NT1A and the black NT1 but not the original. Thanks!
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Sometimes after Xmas my plan is to do a shootout with my Taylor and a vocal demo and see which mic I like better. Loser gets sold! :D
 
Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

Re: RØDE NT1 vs NT1A - personal experiences?

TwilightOdyssey said:
Cool, what are you going to use yours for?
Click to expand...

Acoustic guitar and maybe vocals. For acoustic I like to run one mic plus a direct line in from the guitar pickup ... blend to taste. I also have an old NT3 which sounded great until it started making static. The biggest problem I have with recording, aside from my lack of knowledge, is that my space is not soundproofed well enough to exclude external noise. I hear things in playback that I didn't hear in real time.
 
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