Rode NT1-A Test & Reviews

All you need to know about the Rode NT1-A microphone

Designed by the Australian company Rode, the NT1-A is a condenser microphone with a large diaphragm. It has a cardioid directivity. And it ranks among the best recording microphones in the world. Note that the directional system of a microphone can be :

• Bidirectional
• Omnidirectional
• Or cardioid

The cardioid directivity gives the microphone a center-focused picking-up sensitivity with zero proximity effect. It is a kind of omnidirectional microphone with a very low sensitivity at the sides. And this technology is ideal for professional studio recording.

Unmatched sound clarity

This is a microphone with a slightly heavier diaphragm. Its capsule system is 1″ with an internal suspension and a gold-plated moving diaphragm. In fact, these elements minimize vibrations and unpleasant sounds.

In addition, with an external bias and fixed polar pattern, the microphone is rated as a professional microphone with the best response curve.

The Rode NT1-A microphone is unique in having a very wide dynamic range. Its SPL capability is also high. This makes it highly resistant to high sound pressure levels. And all this with unparalleled clarity.

In short, it is a real treasure among the many varieties of microphones. By the way, this microphone has an important place for people working in the recording field.

Whether it’s for vocals, acoustic instruments such as bass or electric guitar, percussion, etc., it will do the job very well. Moreover, with a noise level of only 5dBA, it will guarantee you an outstanding silence.

The different settings of the Rode NT1-A

As mentioned above, this is a microphone with a cardioid directivity. Its bandwidth is between 20 Hz- 20 kHz with an output impedance of 100 Ohms. Its maximum sound pressure level is 137 dB with 1% harmonic distortion at 1 kΩ. The maximum output is 13.3 dBu.

The Rode NT1-A has a sensitivity value of -31.9 dB re 1 Volt/Pascal (25.00 mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1 kHz. Since it is a condenser microphone,it needs a Phantom +48 volts power supply. And it can be connected with a standard XLR output type connector.

In terms of sound quality, the characteristic to remember is the equivalent noise level (A-weighted). It is :

• 5dBA
• 326.00 g
• 190.00mmH x 50.00mmW x 50.00mmD

Accessories for the Rode NT1-A

The Rode NT1-A microphone comes with the necessary equipment to make your home studio fully operational. You will indeed have :

• A 6 meter long XLR cable
• A pop filter or a windscreen
• A dust bag with a drawstring
• A studio quality suspension
• Dust protection

Rode Microphone: an internationally renowned Australian brand

Created in 1990 in Sydney, the head office of this Australian company is still there. But the brand is sold in more than 6,000 stores in about 117 countries. In fact, it has a worldwide reputation and has been doing so for decades.

With an innovative spirit that has a significant impact in its field, the company does not limit itself to the manufacture of microphones. But it extends its activities in the confection of accessories of connections and various audio software.

As a result, it can offer you a wide range of audio equipment. By the way, the company has won several national and international awards for its quality equipment.

However, to help you choose the right microphone for you, find out more about our selection of dynamic microphones. This guide suggests the best dynamic studio microphones.

 The NT1-A, an evolution of the NT1

In the beginning, the brand made a name for itself in the business with the NT1. Released in 1995, the Rode NT1 quickly became a reference among other types of microphones. At that time, it was a great discovery that revolutionized the field of recording. And at that time, it was pure perfection.

But known for its great thirst to evolve its business and products, the Australian company has never stopped researching to have a unique and powerful product.

However, it was only after several years of testing and trials that the company released the replacement for the NT1. Marketed under the name NT1-A, this great evolution in the microphone sector was born in 2003.

What differentiates the NT1-A from the NT1

Apparently, Rode Microphone made two major changes to make the NT1-A so perfect.

Compared to the NT1 of Rode, the design of the NT1-A has allowed it to be 12dB quieter than its predecessor. As you can see, this is an incredible number, as it has allowed it to be quieter.

Otherwise, in order to achieve the best possible sensitivity, the sound pressure level of the microphone was increased considerably from 132 dB to 137 dB.

This new technology has now won the loyalty of consumers. This has made the model the best-selling microphone in the company for 10 years now.

The Rode NT1-A microphone: one of the best on the market

Users say that the Rode NT1-A microphone is by far the quietest of the recording microphones. The most amazing thing about this model is that almost all extraneous sound is eliminated.

Sometimes you can hear the hissing sound quality with other microphones. But with the Rode NT1-A, you can say that it is more or less zero.

With a price around 400 euros, the company has broken all the logic and standards of the market. By the way, for an inherent noise of 5dB, the cost is almost nothing.

It has become an indispensable tool for recording, with its wide frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. But in addition, this microphone offers several recording possibilities.

Its ability to handle loud or violent noises as well as the lowest of noises is simply amazing. Thus, every sound will be recorded most faithfully.

With the Rode NT1-A, you won’t have to worry about recording anything: instruments, strings or wind instruments, vocals as well as various percussions.

The worry of recorders is sometimes to cope with the change in sound quality once the sound pressure is high. However the Rode NT1-A has a capacity above all that, as it can receive sounds up to 137 dB without any distortion.

So, with this device, you will have less worries about picking up sounds from a bass amp or snare drum. The saturation level in this condition is almost zero.

The favorite model of the professionals

Thanks to its power and the more or less warm sound it produces, professionals largely prefer to use it over other types of microphones.

By the way, most of the buyers are professionals in the field of voice recording or music. It is also an excellent choice for podcaster (discover also the Rode Podcaster USB microphone), and people making videos.

Regarding aesthetics, the design is rather futuristic and simple with solid and quality materials. In terms of color, it is a little more sober, which fits well in all types of environments. A beauty combining elegance and solidity!

Other equipment for an optimized function

As in all the sectors, to have a little more performance and quality, it would be wise to buy other equipment to optimize its use. Precisely, if you want to have a superior sound quality, you must have :

• An audio interface.
• Logically, never hold the microphone by hand. It is best to have a microphone stand, a tripod and a microphone pole to secure it. This will also make it easier to adjust the height to pick up the sounds.
• An amplifier and preamplifier are also required for recording a dynamic instrument such as an acoustic guitar.
• A studio headset or a good speaker like a monitor is also not to be neglected.
• A sound card and a mixing console with microphone input
• A cable as well as a pin or connector adapter in case of difficulty in connecting a microphone.

Having this equipment is mandatory for professional studios in order to have a good result during mixing and recording. In addition, there are compatible interfaces on Laptop or desktop and iPad to have control over each connected microphone volume in case of proximity effect.

To complete the package, this equipment will also be useful, but not mandatory of course. The choice is yours, but if your budget allows you to buy them, don’t hesitate!

Usually, Rode also has these products that are all compatible with the NT1-A like :

• The Rode stereo bar that is made to configure the stereo
• The projection WS2 cap and wind protection
• And a removable pop screen SM6 of a suspension

The different qualities of the NT1-A

To summarize its qualities, the microphone can therefore offer you a fairly warm sound. It has a unique dynamic range with a high resistance to sound pressure. It is also known to have the property of clean silence at 5 dB, which has allowed it to take the top spot at Rode in terms of sales.

It’s a device that can fit anyone, not to mention its somewhat symmetrical appearance; elegant and solid. For a high-performance microphone at a very affordable price, competitors still can’t match the Rode NT1-A

The disadvantages of the NT1 

Even though it is a perfection, its sensitivity leaves a little to be desired sometimes. But if you have the necessary recording equipment like amp, preamp and software to record voice and acoustic instruments, its imperfections won’t even be noticed.

Don’t forget to have the microphone muted if necessary, or simply turn off the recorder to avoid extraneous sound sources.

When connecting a microphone, be sure to connect each pin to ensure own polarization. Before each recording, don’t forget to check the output level and don’t hesitate to make an adjustment if there are too many high frequencies or high tones.

Since the Rode NT1-A is more advanced than other capsules, it picks up every sound wave more easily. Ideally, make as little noise as possible when standing in front of a microphone like this.

Other microphone choice: Audio-Technica AT2020 USB. This is a complete test guide that contains the presentation of this microphone, its design, user guide, configuration, technical specifications, as well as reviews and a small video demo.

The verdict: a microphone with great performance

The Rode NT1A microphone is a jewel for its price. So, if you want to have a small recording studio or just want to do a fun recording, I highly recommend the Rode NT1-A microphone.

With the Rode NT1-A, there is no risk of poor recording quality due to background noise. This versatile microphone picks up only the sound coming from in front of the microphone and reproduces it perfectly. To be on the safe side, the microphone sensitivity is low.

Its qualities far outweigh its flaws, which are apparently nothing at all. By the way, the positive feedback from professionals and its first place in sales justify this.

For some people, buying a microphone seems more difficult than it sounds. However, the Rode NT1-A is a good choice, as it can be used as a microphone for singing.

Once you are in front of the microphone, make sure that you do not touch the microphone stand so that the vibration does not affect the sound quality due to handling noise.

In short, the Rode NT1-A is made for beginners, mixers, podcasters, sound engineers or professionals who want a good studio microphone. It has an optimized frequency response, and is best suited for studio recording of vocals or one or more guitars.

Our opinion on the RODE NT1-A

The Rode NT1-A studio microphone, the highest quality microphone on the market, is here to serve you. So don’t wait any longer!  

Rode NT1-A Demo:

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