Rode NT1-A Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

This microphone exceeded my expectations. It sounds warm, clear, and crisp. For only $229, you can't possibly beat it. This microphone can compete well with microphones at a much higher price range. Ever since I got this mic, my hip hop vocals have skyrocketed in quality, because now the vocal quality is professional sounding. I don't even have to add EQ to the vocals I record with this bad boy (unless I was trying to make it sound a very specific way, but normally adding EQ to the vocals from this mic would be like selling yourself short...), all I need to do is add compression and a reverb, and it sounds really good. I tried rapping into this mic without the pop filter, and surprisingly, the plosives didn't show up as much as I thought they would. It will happen, no doubt, but I was just surprised at how much harder it is to get them to show up. You can scream into this mic, you can speak very softly, you can make your voice sound any way you wish, and it will pick it up pretty much exactly like you actually sound... except with an added smoothness and warmth (though, I would not say as warm as a good tube mic, like the Rode K2 or Rode NTK). No, it doesn't allow you to utilize multiple polar patterns, it is strictly cardioid. That's why this microphone is best for vocals. I would say that would be one downfall of this mic. But geez, it only costs $229... how could you possibly go wrong? If you're starting up your own home studio, this is a must buy. Don't go with those cheap USB powered microphones... they're not good for vocals or anything except talking on skype and podcasting. The Rode NT1-A is an exceptional mic, and the value cannot be beaten. You can register your microphone at the Rode website to get a 10 year warranty on it... for free. A free 10 year warranty on an awesome microphone, to protect your investment. The pop filter it comes with is good. It has never allowed any plosives through. Before you even hook it up, you can test it by blowing through one side and putting your hand on the other. You will barely feel the air coming through. The shockmount ain't bad, it does the job. Do not drop this mic, as condenser mics are very fragile. Also, they are very prone to moisture and dust. So make sure you have it set up in a relatively dry room. Always remember to put that dust cover over it when it's not in use. If you are thinking about getting this mic... stop thinking about it, and get it! You will NOT be disappointed. You will be impressed. If you're an amateur like me, and you are building a home studio... people will see this mic and KNOW you are getting serious about your music. 5+ out of 5 for value and quality. Peace.

I recently purchased the Rode NT1-A to do a sound test with my Sennheiser MK-416. I am a professional voice actor with a broadcast-quality home studio--unfortunately, I also live 10 minutes from LAX airport, and even with a well-built studio, the air traffic can affect recordings. In an effort to deal with this problem, I wanted to try out the Rode for its 'background noise reduction', and compare the final sound with my Sennheiser. Here's what I learned: - The Sennheiser MK-416 still resulted in the clearest, warmest sound, and quietest background noise when positioned properly (it's a directional / shotgun mic, so position is much more crucial than for a Cardioid like the Rode) - The Rode NT1-A, however, was honestly not far off at all. The sound was a bit sharper at certain tones, but very clear. The background noise, while overall a bit louder than the Sennheiser, was significantly reduced--particularly at the higher frequencies, nearly nonexistent when looking at the spectral imaging. - The Sennheiser is a $1,000 mic by itself...the Rode is $215 with an entire package of add-ons. Bottom line: while the Rode NT1-A isn't quite on par with a top-end mic like the Sennheiser MK-416, it's really darn close--and a fraction of the price. I can honestly say it's the best value and deal I've found as far as microphones go, giving a surprisingly great quality while remaining even more surprisingly affordable. In the end, while I will continue using my Sennheiser, I HIGHLY recommend anyone looking for a fantastic mic to use until you're ready to jump to the pricey, top-tier options, to try the Rode NT1-A. Best "bang-for-your-buck" microphone I've found, by far, and one that is good certainly enough for professional voiceover work. Five stars, hands down.

Exelente

For the price it is hands down the best value. Many other reviews have mentioned how sensitive/hot/picks up everything etc etc. This is so true. But is that a bad thing? I am not an audio pro by any stretch but a microphone that picks up every little detail cant be a bad thing. This mic is often considered the entry point to the pro quality gear. With that said you would likely have it setup in a "pro" type environment (proper acoustic treatment etc). As a comparison, I have a 2020 and an MXL 990 - the gain is is between a 1/16th and 1/8th turn higher on both of those mics compared to the NT1A. My recording space has a noise floor of -75dBFS - there is no ambient noise to speak of. My experience so far has been great - I own other rode products like the NT-USB (my go to travel mic) and not only has Rode support been a tremendous asset in terms of timely response their technical support is superb. I have had this mic for over a month now. I use it a few times per day and have been quite impressed. Again I am not a pro but I was loaned an NT1000 and could not hear the difference. I am not a singer, I only use my microphones for speaking/voice related projects. I have a deeper baritone - mid bass voice. No problems on my chops. Go for it - you wont regret it.

Sin duda un clásico voces cristalinas ycon ese aire especial. Un poco brillante para muchos pero son más las cosas buenas como si pusinde ruido Ultra bajo. Experiencia insuperable calidad precio

Very nice for vocals and versatile enough to mic instruments with minimal eq. A real workhorse and totally worth the price. Mine even came with the balanced cable.

The product was received on time. I had tried it, it worked perfectly, nothing to complain since its Rode after all, they have a standard guaranteed warranty policy for upto 10 years. If your looking for a 1 time investment professional recording microphone, look no further, infact if your lucky you might get an even better deal now, for ramadan offers.

Okay here comes my review on Rode NT1A- 5 stars for the mic. Important points- What else do you need to use this mic ? - A usb audio interface ( phantom powered ) , Laptop and recording software. What is expected from a microphone - A microphone is required to produce a good and strong output with lowest noise and hiss.Rode NT1a is the best microphone in terms of self noise. Self Noise - What many people don’t know while buying a mic is always check the equivalent noise or self noise of a microphone. If it is less than 8db, it will be a very silent microphone in terms of noise and hiss. You can record high volume audio signal with literally no self noise. For making acoustic covers low self noise is very important. If you compare any other microphone at this price range or any starting price range of say Rs 5000 you will notice that no one is even close to the equivalent noise of 5db provided by rode NT1A For anyone having a home studio , this should be the cheapest mic to be placed. Any specification below this will disappoint you. Performance - This microphone is not flat. That means it adds a little bit of color to your voice or instrument. It is a very good microphone to record your voice or violin kind of instruments but I didn’t find good results with acoustic guitar. My guitar is quite an expensive one. I think tube mics will do a better job recording acoustic guitars. Product Unpacking- The DVD which comes along with it was missing but the microphone is working fine.

Compré éste micrófono, pues es mi segundo NT1-A de la marca, nada más que el primero lo compré hace unos 4 o 5 años y sigue funcionando como nuevo. La calidad de estos micrófonos es muy buena. Me gusta que resalta bien los tonos de la voz, pues lo uso para voice-over, lo cual es muy importante para este tipo de uso. Lo ví a buen precio y pues lo adquirí para tener un repuesto, pero será usado también. Muy recomendable sin "romper el cochinito", pues lo conseguí a un precio justo.

Muy bueno, lo amo