All user reviews of 5/5 for the RODE NT1-A

The Rode NT1-A is a large diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone. It runs on phantom power, so make sure your interface or mixer/preamp provides phantom power. When it comes to setting up, it’s a breeze. Just make sure you mute the channel when you plug in so you don’t damage the mic. Mute before disconnecting when you’re done for the same reason.

Rode itself as a brand is highly respected in the music industry for making quality products that don’t break the bank, and the NT1-A (along with the NT1) has a reputation as being one of the quietest microphones in the market.

I picked mine up second hand on Ebay and collected it from the seller, who worked at MTV in London, and had been using it for voice over work. I used it mostly for acoustic guitar and vocal.

The mic came in a sturdy metal case, complete with a shock mount and a dust cover.


OVERALL OPINION

The quality of the mic itself, for the money is excellent. It has a very natural sound, but also a gritty character that I find works with acoustic guitars and vocals.

It’s hard to explain the sound - it’s a sort of brittle tone - and I think with microphones it’s always a very subjective thing that varies from voice to voice and from mic to mic. But for me, I found the microphone was always a pleasure to use.

Being a very quiet microphone, I found the mic useable in bedroom recording situations (obviously I still had to eliminate all background noise as much as possible).

The frequency response is 20-20,000Hz. Output impedance of 100 ohms. Self noise only 5dB

Placing the microphone perhaps 6 inches or so from the sound source creates a nice ambient sound. Up close you get a much stronger sound. I find a combination of up close and ambient can create good results (obviously this requires either 2 mics or 2 takes), but this depends on what you’re doing.

My favorite way of using the microphone (as a singer songwriter) was to place the mic so as to form a triangle between my guitar’s sound hole, my mouth, and the mic. This uses the ‘rules of thirds’ principle of recording - creating a very honest recreation of my performance. The slight grittiness and brittleness of the sound works very well with acoustic music. The problem is that when you come to mixing it’s very hard to tune vocals so for someone like me (who’s not a great singer) I always had to go back to recording the guitar and voice separately. But for getting demos down it was awesome.

All Rode products come with a 10 year warranty so as long as you take care of your microphone you can be assured it will serve you well.

The Rode NT1-A is a cardioid-pattern, large-diaphragm condenser mic. It is probably the quietest mic you can buy for a measly 350 dollars. It boast an impressive signal input noise of just 5 DB, better than many professional quality condenser mics. For those who don't know what that means, it's super quiet. I love this mic, it is my baby. I use it for almost all of my vocals, acoustic guitars, most strings, drum overheads, and even a small chorus. It is not really useful in live sound situations, given the fact that condensers are fragile, and don't hold up as well to being blown into or screamed at. The sound quality is pristine, though the microphone is lacking both a pad and a roll-off switch, however it sounds fine with out. Don't use this if you play death metal or are going to mic a singer who sings REALLY loud as just blowing into most condenser mics is enough to pop the Diaphragm and break them. The output is pretty loud, and it runs on phantom power. This mic is an AWESOME deal, and worth every cent.

OVERALL OPINION

My favorite thing about the NT1-A is how incredibly quiet it is. It's amazing and captures sounds with pristine quality. The diaphragm is really high quality, and all the circuitry is professional. As far as condenser mics go, this one is pretty durable, and useful in lots of different situations. Lacking a roll-off and pad is kind of annoying sometimes, especially when recording say electric guitars. Some male vocals will need some careful eq'ing due to a sharper high end on them, but overall this mic is great! I use this mic all the time, and I've recorded so many songs with it. I have no regrets about buying this mic, and it is a GREAT first condenser mic. Love the design to, very attractive piece of gear.

NT1a

OVERALL OPINION

I use this microphone recently and as a quality price ratio is not better!
I love the rendering, sound and very well especially at the restitution of medium quality is really warm.
It is clear that with a bigger budget it is better to buy lev Nt Nt 1000 or 2000 but I saw my amateur use plutt there is really great.
I use it mostly for voice, or that it has no sound.
If I had to make that choice again it would be no problem to begin with because it is a versatile micro trs, considering the price ngocier 329! we must not miss it.

It is a micro home on all sorts of instruments, but has chosen to t the voice in which he is beautiful.
It is a cardioid condensateur.qui needs a phantom power supply (48V or 24V)

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a few days. I chose it for its reputable, reasonably priced and the REFERENCE Rode.

What immediately impresses is the sensitivity of the subject and lack of background noise. You push the gain, but no background noise. Voice (I record mainly) is beautifully made, with that little grain CHARACTERISTICS microphones of this kind.

It should be a filter sr antipop being protected for the capsule pops and post-boys, and it is well insulated from ambient noise because it captures all around. I think it's the CHARACTERISTICS of this type of microphone, but it's really impressive to hear a sound when the microphone is 5m! He's a real, trs enjoyable and cash!

I heard a dj audio technica 4033, and a lot of micro dynamic!

Although sr, it has nothing to do and what micro-level is 4033 and outperforms any Dynamic.

My criticism comes from the brilliance of this micro enough brand and can s'avrer problmatique on certain types of votes (vrifier). However, I find the grave Dfine well, with good DEFINITIONS.

Without a doubt, I do it again this election is a real favorite.

August 2007 EDIT: APRS 2 years of use, I Rode tjrs this but I am considering the more upscale Submitted. My biggest criticism about it is the brilliance of the treble, which goes well with my voice, but becomes trs problmatique with taking instruments. It is mandatory TRIMMING derrire (especially folk guitar playing mdiator, the shine was too much!)

Static condenser microphone for singing acoustic guitar ect ...
That says it all, we would have AIM a low cut and-10dB pad

OVERALL OPINION

The microphone is super lightweight, the beginners had not put in trust ...
I like the sound, it's my first set from my Rode NT3 and j'aprhendais a little bump in the famous mdium up, well I found the sound really great ... I love it.
I have an AKG C3000B, less well on the voice, a Rode NT3, a T-Bone SCT2000 gnial, but must wait until the lamp is warming up, so when I need a little taken quickly done well, I rode the NT1A is really nice. I had a Joemeek JM37DP, which I find less but more versatile, and SM58 dynamics, E845, ect ... l see anything ...
I compare it to the end of the week with a TLM103 and I will put my mind daily.
In any case, I would do without this choice problem and may even be that I'll end up taking a couple.
I love his trs trs low noise.

The characteristics for this is a large diaphragm studio microphone for vocal and string instruments (classical guitar ...). Food in 48v.

OVERALL OPINION

Made several years that I use for my vocals. Sometimes for acoustic instruments.

I also have a Rode K2 which I bought after my exprience with the NT1.

It is a versatile microphone that is sensitive ass just to catch a bit everywhere (in soundproofing a minimum).

The ratio quality price is final. See anything with all that that fact in the same price range. I is cost of Berhinger and company, forget all these types the eye scam that promises you the moon. Take the Rode NT1.

For the price I would resume the same mic without problem, I advise besides all home studio which accounts for investing too much, too late once ds, compulsive buying is done with purpose ( I understand, it is exhilarating to wait).

It was nice to tell me or else I Prodipe RODE stays true, it's really good mic all ranges. For 180 need not deny this. I still serves as model, I sometimes even not to repeat my shots with the K2 so this little microwave is clean.

Features wise this mic is pretty bare-bones. There is no 20 dB pad, and no switchable polar patterns. The mic comes with a leather pouch instead of the metal boxes you might be used to seeing RODE's packaged in. It comes with a nice, solid shock mount.

$199

OVERALL OPINION

The sound quality of RODE products is always fantastic, and this low-end model is no exception. It uses the same gold-plated diaphragm of the higher end RODE models, it just doesn't have a 20 dB pad or switchable polar patterns, hence the drop in price. It is just as clear as other RODE mics I have used, as clear as Shure KSMs or AKGs. When I tested it with RODE NT2's and KSM 44's, it was very similar in overall sound. If you are strictly recording vocals or something else that doesn't require a pad or switchable patterns, go for the NT1-A. For $199 it is a serious bargain.

Well, its a microphone, so basically you just plug it in, the rest is up to your audio interface. The shock mount is easy to reassemble, the mic is easy to install in the shock-mount, so I guess that counts for something.

This mic is very well built. It's light for a condensor, so its quite nice for your mic stand. It seems very sturdy and durable. The grill could have had a beam separating it in the middle, the way many higher end models do, but its still very solid.

I love this mic. It does what I want it to do, with extremely low noise, and it doesn't take much to warm the sound up. For the price, this is the best out there.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: XL83 ( 7-, 2005)

The Rode NT1-A is a great recording condenser microphone. I use it mostly for vocals and it used to be my go to mic before I got my Neumann TLM103. I've also use it on acoustic guitars and it works great for that application as well.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had the Rode NT1-A for about 3 and a half years now and it has always been good for me. It's got great sound quality and has great range - it really picks up everything in the room, which can work to your advantage if you use it the right way. I have tried a few other condenser microphones in its price range (Audio Technica, Shure) and I really preferred the Rode. The clarity is really outstanding. For the price, I don't think you can get a better microphone than this one. Even though I have a few higher end microphones, I continue to use this one when I need a few large-diaphragm mics at once (worked great on a trumpet in a horn section). I would definitely recommend this microphone to anyone looking for a single great microphone on the cheap side or anyone looking just to expand their microphone collection.