$159/£139, rode.com
Following the success of RØDE’s NT1 fifth Era, which included a plethora of high-tech options, we now have the brand new NT1 Signature Collection, a revamp of the traditional and beloved analogue microphone.
The principle options of the fifth Era are its proprietary Twin Join output with each XLR and USB connectivity, 32-bit float digital output and onboard DSP. However the analogue circuitry was additionally upgraded to ship decrease noise and better SPL dealing with capabilities.
Now, the NT1 Signature Collection incorporates the analogue enhancements with out all of the digi-tech, for individuals who select to work in a extra conventional model. And whereas we’re speaking conventional model, the traditional silver or black aluminium casework has been joined by a spread of vibrant, limited-edition colors, together with pink, inexperienced, purple, pink and blue.
RØDE CEO Damien Wilson instructed us, “We wished to supply creators this new-and-improved NT1 with the unique pure-analogue design of earlier generations – plus the choice to get one in your favorite color to match your personal distinctive aesthetic.”
Whichever color possibility you go for, the mic comes with its personal high-quality shockmount, pop defend and a good XLR cable so it’s able to plug straight into your mic preamp or interface.
Underneath the hood, the microphone options an HP6 massive diaphragm (1-inch) gold-sputtered capsule, which made its debut look within the 4th Era mannequin. This improves the capsule present in earlier incarnations of the mic, having been precision-engineered to sub-micron tolerances.
Like all NT1s, it’s a cardioid-only design with a good response, which excels in rejecting undesirable spillage from extraneous sounds. Any such response actually comes into its personal when used within the context of a multi-player backing monitor session, but additionally offers exact focus when used for vocals, particular person overdubs and voiceover work.
As a vocal mic, the brand new NT1 retains the traditional sonic signature that has positioned it on the forefront of funds condenser designs for 3 a long time. Its wealthy and detailed character flatters most vocalists with added heat and a shiny high-end sheen that evades some mics costing significantly extra. On this respect, it’s an excellent selection when a good outboard EQ isn’t obtainable.
Our classic Neumann U 67 tube mic has an excellent midrange, but it’s uncommon for us to realize a closing sound with out including a contact of super-top from a 16kHz EQ enhance on a Pultec EQP-1A. Simply consider the price of that package deal…
Due to the Signature Collection NT1’s inherent super-top carry, many customers will discover that they’ll produce a beautiful vocal sound with solely an acceptable stage of dynamic management and no tone shaping in any way.
Though the broad treble area might not be as impartial or clear as costlier designs, the newest mannequin expresses a extra vivid, much less scooped tonal steadiness than NT1s of the previous.
Additionally, the mic reveals extraordinarily low ranges of self-noise (at 4dBA), which, alongside the digi-equipped fifth Era mannequin, makes the brand new Signature Collection the world’s quietest studio condenser microphone, in line with RØDE.
Earlier than urgent the NT1 into service on a studio session, we like to check the mic on an acoustic guitar, alongside our stalwart Neumann U 67 and AKG C414 B-ULS mics.
In fact, our common condensers are way more pricey designs. However regardless of all three mics expressing their very own distinctive sonic character, you wouldn’t pinpoint the brand new NT1 because the funds possibility.
Listening to the cross recorded with the brand new NT1, the guitar sound has a stunning, even midrange with only a trace of added low-mid heat. It’s a presentation that works notably effectively with singer-songwriter performances, particularly when blended with an intimate, close-mic’d vocal.
Nonetheless, in a busier combine, a few of that low-mid could be usefully dialled-out with EQ to cut back muddle and improve readability. That stated, the readability expressed on this microphone is spectacular not solely at its price-point, but in addition in absolute phrases.
Compared with the aforementioned U 67 and C414 mics, the NT1 has a extra pronounced top-end, missing the darkly ahead nature of the ’67 or woody midrange of the ’414. That is no dangerous factor within the context of hottest music and speech recordings. Nonetheless, those that need to seize sounds with out added top-end sparkle may want one thing a tad extra impartial.
Granted, any such product isn’t geared toward those that make highly-critical classical or jazz recordings and, for many of us working within the broad church of pop, it just about covers all bases.
As with every mic, its final sound is a product of its interplay with the preamp it’s used with. We want the tonal steadiness of the NT1 with a punchy stable state design, akin to a traditional Neve-style mic preamp, fairly than our softer, extra open valve designs.
It’s with our Hairball Audio Lola preamp that we first use the NT1 to seize a full drum package sound with the mic positioned just a few ft in entrance of the package simply above the highest head of the rack tom. This produces an extremely pure mono package sound by itself but additionally works brilliantly combined with shut spot mics and overheads; a pair of NT1s would make for a killer stereo overhead pair, then.
And because the newest incarnation of the mic has larger SPL dealing with functionality than earlier fashions – and means larger than most delicate boutique mics – you’ll be able to fortunately place it near an electrical guitar amplifier or loud horn part.
The NT1 has all the time been a real studio stalwart, capable of seize nearly any sound you select. Now it does an analogous trick with extra authority and refinement, with a price ticket that undoubtedly received’t break the financial institution.
Relating to the age-old engineer’s debate of ‘in case you had to decide on one mic to report completely the whole lot…’, the brand new RØDE NT1 Signature Collection has shot straight to the highest of our shortlist.
Key options
- Cardioid condenser
- HP6 gold-sputtered capsule
- Aluminium physique
- Comes with studio-grade shockmount, pop filter and XLR cable
- Obtainable in traditional black or a spread of restricted version colors – pink, inexperienced, purple, pink and blue
- 10 yr guarantee
