Start tracking serious vocals in your home studio with the Rode NT1-A -- a time-tested entry-level large-diaphragm condenser mic. The anniversary-edition NT1-A continues Rode's tradition of Australian-built quality at an affordable price. Originally released in 1991, the now-legendary NT1 microphone was one of the first condenser mics to bring professional performance to an emerging home-studio market. The NT1-A edition boasts a miniscule 5 dBA of self-noise, making it truly one of the world's quietest microphones -- ideal for vocals, voiceover, and acoustic instruments. With a clearer, more articulate high end than the original NT1, and a hint of subtle warmth that's universally flattering on vocals, there's nothing "budget" about the sound of the Rode NT1-A.
True-Condenser Operation
What makes one condenser better than another? For starters, the vast majority of low-cost condensers use an electret design, where a small electrical bias, or charge, is permanently applied to the condenser element. In contrast, the Rode NT1-A is a true externally-biased condenser microphone, like the most expensive large-diaphragm studio condensers. Meanwhile, state-of-the-art surface-mount electronics and transformerless circuitry make the NT1-A one of the quietest microphones in the world, at any price range. With a self-noise rating of just 5.5 dBA, the NT1-A is perfect for picking up detailed nuances of instruments like acoustic guitar, quiet violin, or delicate vocals. And yet, a maximum SPL of 137 dB makes it a go-to mic for loud vocals or drum overheads. It's this versatility that has made the NT1-A a first-choice condenser for home project studios.
Detailed Highs, Well-Balanced Lows
While the original NT1 had a frequency range that tapered off at the top, the NT1-A boasts an open, detailed high end and well-balanced low-end warmth. This microphone is known to sound true and natural on acoustic sources -- without the high-mid harshness often found in "cheap" condensers. If you're a folk singer-songwriter that's making vocal/guitar tracks with just one or two mics, the NT1-A is a fantastic budget choice. If you're more the kind of producer that likes to crank around on EQ to deliver a specific, rich vocal timbre, the NT1-A's pleasingly neutral sound responds well to EQ. Its classic cardioid pattern is the standard for tracking vocals, and it's ideal for home-studio situations where you must set up a mic in the same room with your computer, since the NT1-A rejects ambient noise from the back and sides of the mic to focus on your intended source.
Stereo Pair: Two Mics Are Better Than One
True, the Rode NT1-A shines as a vocal mic. But with its extremely low self-noise, the NT1-A is also a proven performer on quiet, detailed instrument sources like classical ensembles, distance-miked solo strings or woodwinds, and acoustic piano. So if you're planning on recording anything else besides solo vocals with your NT1-A, you'd do well to try the natural, spacious sound provided by a stereo mic setup. Stereo pairs aren't just for acoustic music: studio engineers use matched pairs of condensers to capture a larger-than-life stereo field on rock drums, on background vocal groups, and even to fatten up acoustic guitar. Stereo mic techniques are also the standard for recording live performances when you can't individually mic each instrument. And Rode offers the NT1-A as an acoustically matched stereo pair: you'll receive a certificate of testing to ensure proper balance and equal sensitivity on each mic.
Features:
- Extremely low 5.5 dBA self-noise, ideal for recording delicate sources
- A home-studio favorite large-diaphragm condenser on vocals and much more
- Dedicated cardioid pickup pattern
Back when Rode released the original NT1 microphone, computer-based DAWs were just starting to make home-studio recording the new standard. Since then, the NT1 and anniversary-edition NT1-A have carved out a reputation as modern classics. Whether you're hanging a matched pair over a drum kit, or just miking up your acoustic guitar, the Rode NT1-A remains the essential large-diaphragm condenser mic for budget-minded project studios.
