RODE NT1A RECORDING PACKAGE
Posted on Wed 13 October 2010 in entries
One of those all-rounder microphones that no budget studio should be without, the Røde NT1A now comes in a handy recording pack…
The Røde NT1A is something of a modern classic. It’s been widely adopted in studios worldwide as it seems to have struck that rare balance: it sounds fantastic for very little cash! Now Røde is offering you its very best ever value for money with the NT1A Recording Pack. Let’s have a look and a listen…
Sound off
The NT1A is a large-diaphragm, phantom-powered condenser mic. It’s got a warm, full bodied sound but, due to Røde’s design, it also excels at capturing the nuances of higher frequency sounds, meaning it also nails the clarity needed for a convincingly full recording. Basically you’ll find it strikes a perfect balance, rather than the top end being hyped like you’ll find in some other microphones in the same price range.
Its cardioid pickup is ideal for vocals but also gives excellent results on instruments. Plus it’s also fine with extremely high SPLs (sound pressure levels) like loud drumkits, so can quite happily perform double duty as a drum overhead or be used to record gigs or practice sessions in ultra fidelity.
What’s the Noise
In spite of its ability to capture extreme loudness, the NT1A is, claims Røde, nothing less than the quietest studio microphone in the world. And they’re not kidding!
The signal-to-noise ratio is quoted at >88dB SPL, which means that the NT1A is lower in noise than a certain German mic manufacturer’s flagship models!
In practice, this means you get an absolutely crystal-clear sound and you won’t need the best mic preamp in the world to capture it. If you want grit, you can always add it later. Better to have captured a recording perfectly, which goes double if it’s the take of a lifetime!
Build it up
Quality wise, the NT1A is a solid-feeling animal with good weight. The casing is nickel-plated, the XLR pins are gold-plated and it certainly doesn’t feel like corners have been cut in materials.
Most assuring of all are the three words on the side of the box: Made In Australia. Røde’s microphones are made in-house at the Røde HQ down under, ensuring better control over the day-to-day manufacturing and quality assurance than other companies who manufacture overseas for cost reasons.
A free decade…
Few manufacturers dare to put more than a two-year warranty on their products, especially something that gets as much use and abuse as a microphone. Røde, however, has such faith in its products that it offers a 10-year warranty on all its mics.
The catch? There isn’t one. All you have to do is fill in a short warranty form online and then your NT1A (or any other Røde mic for that matter) is covered for 10 years… free!
Pick up a pack
Yet another great reason to grab an NT1A is the Røde recording pack. In the box is an NT1A with pouch, plus an SM6 elastic cradle shockmount with integrated pop-filter, a six-metre (20ft) XLR cable, and an instructional DVD. Just add a mic stand and a preamp with phantom power, and you’ve got yourself one of the best sounding, well made and versatile recording setups money can buy.
Back all that up with Røde’s 10-year warranty and this could be one of the wisest investments you could make for your music.
NT1A SPECS
Polar pattern: Cardioid
Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Output impedance: 100Ω
Signal-noise: >88dB SPL
In the pack: NT1A mic plus nylon pouch, SM6 cradle shockmount with pop filter, 6m XLR cable, instructional DVD