Excellent info and well delivered! I too am a huge fan of this company. I own an NTK, have had it for 20 years. I have a pair of NT55's and a K2 that I just picked up last month. Love them all. This company and it's management rock, big time.
I've only had the more professional line of stuff from the company (never got into any of the podcast stuff they do) but yeah, spot on! I hope with Peter being gone, the company continues with his tradition of amazing customer service.
Thanks, great video. Really refreshing compared to all dishonest nonsense on TH-cam these days. I had it and sold it 10 years ago, hated it from day one but not because it was harsh, but because I was young and stupid, also back then I did not know how to sing properly. Few days ago I listened to some of my old recordings with this microphone and I just figured out that this was the best I ever did, and I did many different things, from AT2035, NT1, to U87. Back then I used it with the hated DBX 376 tube preamp, which has some nice deesser and the results were silky smooth. Now I am thinking about getting the K2, but not clear why everyone hate those two microphones. I tend to believe that ight ignorants like me 15 years ago could hate it.
Thanks for the comment and for checking it out. Yeah, I think its just a bunch of gate keeping BS in regards to the NTK and the K2 (K2 i think you get polar patterns on where the NTK is just cardioid, both sound amazing). I can understand the hate towards like the Neewer 800 and other really cheap, objectively BAD sounding mics... this, not so much. We live and learn and sometimes we come back full circle! Cheers!
Great video! I’ve been thinking about looking into this mic or the K2. I never understood why folks give Rode such a hard time, but I think your explanation makes the most sense in retrospect.
Thanks for watching! Its like anything else. The new person has to take their lumps, deserved or not… hazing if you will. The k2 is another outstanding mic. We had a client that used to bring one in to record. Was the only client i ever had that brought their own mic to the studio. You cant really go wrong with either of them!
I use Tascam Portastusios the DP 008 ex and DP 32sd I just got a Rode NT 2a the low self noise works well with the Tascam preamps which are weak points of the units. the sound quality is well above the price point.
Thanks for the extensive video. Great info! I'm a long-time (but retired) recording engineer and sound designer. Thinking of buying my friend's NTK (also a long-time engineer). Listening on quality speakers, your comparisons were informative. The NTK was a tad darker in the low mids in these instrument comparisons - most noticeable against the 414, which is a bright mic anyway. I might be tempted to take out a couple db at 300-400 hz or so, if at all.
Thanks for checking it out. The mic is pretty flat in that low mid area so scooping out a bit it probably warranted. Definitely a solid mic for the price.
It sounds very good to me. That “panano” would sound good through tin cans and string, by the way. What a beautiful sounding instrument! So… here’s an, (in case no one has ever told you for some reason)⬅️ ➡️Your videos are very well done… and you do a great job on camera.👍🏼Positive reinforcement never hurts. Hope things are going well for you, -Chuk-
Taking a break from editing - Nice Vid! - I love my NTK, I actually have a second power supply so I can move the mic from studio to studio without lugging the hardware. peace
Thanks much for checking it out. Howd you manage that? Ive seen inquiries for the power supplies separately from the mic and and they said they would only replace existing supplies but not sell them separately. I havent used the mic in years personally. Its def got a nice full midrange with a nice crisp treble. Thought it complimented my voice and the female singers quite well. ✌️
@@meistudiony Sounds great on you - I have a VERY MODEST place, but unapologetically. It's part of my aesthetic and my reality - red cabin acoustic - the NTK is one of my better mics. Over the last two decades my focus has been on broadcast engineering - just getting back into music.
It's sounds better with the UA610 to me. Maybe you raised your head a little bit more than with the other preamps though, it gave a fuller tone. Excellent microphone with a smooth top end and a nice forward lo/mid range. I like it so much better on the acoustic guitar than the 314 xl II which sounded more nasal to me. Thanks for the video MEI !
That's the urban legend... I would love to confirm it with someone at Røde one day. I found the same story in a few places during my research and was too good not to include. Se Electronics model numbers are always X something... put those together ;) lol. Thanks for watching
This was your most thorough mic video yet, particularly glad to se you pull a Podcastage and voice the copy through the actual NTK. I am not a fan of Rode's solid state condenser sound profile (It's not bad, I just like other things better). This was interesting though, and while you say the preamp differences on spoken word were subtle...To my ears, they were not. One question. I do not have eyesight. Can you, on a go forward basis, timestamp every time you switch mics in a comparison with the mic you're using? Your sighted viewers can, presumably, see those, I unfortunately cannot. Thanks!
Thank you for your comment. And I apologize for the confusion on the mic switches and I'll will make a concerted effort to mark those as I don't always start with the subject mic. Some times the switches are quick but hopefully i can get the time stamps as close as possible. When I get a few min tonight, I'll update this video first and report back. Thanks for checking it out!
I've added time stamps on the changes, however, not sure thats going to mess anything thing up with the reporting side of things... it got a little ridic lol. Perhaps going forward I'll mark what mics they are as they come up the first time, would that work?
@@meistudiony Actualy, what you did this time was perfect. See, a screen reader won't actively report the changes themselves literally as they happen, you have to query the page for them, in my case by focusing on the seek slider which will then report which section I'm currently listening to. SO where a sighted person can see what mic is being compared just by looking, this is my equivalent. Perfectly done. Thank you!
So question for ya… would me adding closed captions help at all or does the screen reader not read those? Just trying to figure out a better way to do this of there is one as some of the mic changes may be in rapid succession especially in the kick mic video i have brewing.
I’d be interested in which pres you think worked best on your own voice. I think I preferred the Neve and (weirdly) the Lola (did you do it as a diy kit?). The API was maybe a bit much but yeah you absolutely proved your point: it’s not a harsh or brittle mic. I suspect that many people hate on Rode specifically because of their success in the video content creation market. The big logo on the pop filter on the included shock mounts with the NT1 was a savvy decision, even if it’s a little ugly. This mic was outstanding on the drum room and acoustic guitar. Great video all around!
I actually like the mic on the joe meek vc1 and the UA 610. The lola did sound nice too. (Probably 3rd on my list). I did build the LOLAS from a kit. (Doa’s also). Theyre very clean and balanced. Actually sound great on bass. Thanks so much for watching.
FWIW, I have two Lola pres. I'm not much for soldering, and someone working through Reverb assembled them for me at a very reasonable cost. They're quite nice.
I guess it’s possible! Their older brother was half of Vanda and Young who were the great The Easybeats and many great productions. Sure The Easybeats used Dynacchord products too.
I used it for the whole video. Usually have a mic on boom out of shot, but wanted to reacquaint myself with it. Ive done commercials in the past with it. Biggest thing is the tube. If you can listen to it before you buy thats best. Every tube mic needs its tube changed eventually, but they can last many many years as long as the tube is of good quality. Next thing is the capsule. As long as its clean and hasnt been exposed to excessive moisture, should be good. The mic is very well built. Even still there are always things that can go wrong at anytime. Even brand new. Condensers i usually try before i buy. Dynamic mics are a little more forgiving but stuff can still go wrong. Rodes service used to be really good. Im hoping that hasn’t changed much since they took off. Thanks for watching!
We have a pair of LA-2a’s in the studio which do a great job. As well as an 1176A and 1176D. Not sure we could justify the cost of the Tube tech, though ive used it on a few sessions in other studios. If i didnt have the LA2a’s the CL1B would have been the alternative choice.
Just got 2 new ones not long ago. That one in the video was like a man hole cover. Wound up picking up an old zildjian for jazz and a new sabian rock ride.
Typical small diaphragm mic. It really depends on what you plan on using it for. I never suggest an SDC for vocals. They do not handle plosives well at all, any of them. But for instrument recording, the only ones i would say are a BAD choice are the electrovoice nd66. Its just a bad design and sounds really thin compared to just about every other SDC ive used.
Im planning this for an upcoming video to show how tube swapping changes things... or doesn't. Theres a lot of mis info out there regarding this and figured it would be a good topic to dive down the rabbit hole. Thanks for watching!
@@meistudiony The info came form somebody i think still has the web page but not sure, since this was around 2013. I burned it in for around 48 hours to tame it down like i was told ! many people have done this and said it made a difference in the harshness from the original tube !
"... cheap condenser mics coming out of Asia..." With such comments you're speaking to the sympathetic and biased/prejudiced choir, not giving confidence in your assessment of a mic etc.
No, im speaking to the fact that inexpensive microphones were coming out of the continent of Asia at the time. It was a GOOD thing not a bad thing. Ive said in many videos that the influx of inexpensive condenser microphones arriving into the market place in the late 90s was the cause for innovation and opened up tools for regular people to get their hands on. Prior to that boom, the only condensers that were available were a small selection from companies like AKG and some audio technica stuff. Other than that, all you had was the really pricey line from companies like Neumann and AKG's professional line, which were way out of reach for the common person that was trying to get into recording.
Excellent info and well delivered! I too am a huge fan of this company. I own an NTK, have had it for 20 years. I have a pair of NT55's and a K2 that I just picked up last month. Love them all. This company and it's management rock, big time.
I've only had the more professional line of stuff from the company (never got into any of the podcast stuff they do) but yeah, spot on! I hope with Peter being gone, the company continues with his tradition of amazing customer service.
Thanks for having me!!
Please, come back... often! lol
I love you bro, nobody talks about this mic anymore... I want to fall in love with my NTK more and more... haha
Thanks, great video. Really refreshing compared to all dishonest nonsense on TH-cam these days.
I had it and sold it 10 years ago, hated it from day one but not because it was harsh, but because I was young and stupid, also back then I did not know how to sing properly.
Few days ago I listened to some of my old recordings with this microphone and I just figured out that this was the best I ever did, and I did many different things, from AT2035, NT1, to U87.
Back then I used it with the hated DBX 376 tube preamp, which has some nice deesser and the results were silky smooth.
Now I am thinking about getting the K2, but not clear why everyone hate those two microphones.
I tend to believe that ight ignorants like me 15 years ago could hate it.
Thanks for the comment and for checking it out. Yeah, I think its just a bunch of gate keeping BS in regards to the NTK and the K2 (K2 i think you get polar patterns on where the NTK is just cardioid, both sound amazing). I can understand the hate towards like the Neewer 800 and other really cheap, objectively BAD sounding mics... this, not so much. We live and learn and sometimes we come back full circle! Cheers!
Great video! I’ve been thinking about looking into this mic or the K2. I never understood why folks give Rode such a hard time, but I think your explanation makes the most sense in retrospect.
Thanks for watching! Its like anything else. The new person has to take their lumps, deserved or not… hazing if you will. The k2 is another outstanding mic. We had a client that used to bring one in to record. Was the only client i ever had that brought their own mic to the studio. You cant really go wrong with either of them!
I use Tascam Portastusios the DP 008 ex and DP 32sd I just got a Rode NT 2a the low self noise works well with the Tascam preamps which are weak points of the units. the sound quality is well above the price point.
Thanks for the extensive video. Great info! I'm a long-time (but retired) recording engineer and sound designer. Thinking of buying my friend's NTK (also a long-time engineer). Listening on quality speakers, your comparisons were informative. The NTK was a tad darker in the low mids in these instrument comparisons - most noticeable against the 414, which is a bright mic anyway. I might be tempted to take out a couple db at 300-400 hz or so, if at all.
Thanks for checking it out. The mic is pretty flat in that low mid area so scooping out a bit it probably warranted. Definitely a solid mic for the price.
Nice storytelling - thanks.
Thank YOU for checking it out! Appreciate it! Røde has a great back story and I hope I did it justice!
Thanks for the examples, such an underrated budget friendly modern utility mic. Simon Phillips uses a pair of Røde K2 valve mics for drum overheads.
Thanks for watching! Thats a neat bit of trivia! Wonder how long hes been using them?
I heard him mention them in an interview that was from 6 or 7 years ago.@@meistudiony
It sounds very good to me. That “panano” would sound good through tin cans and string, by the way. What a beautiful sounding instrument! So… here’s an, (in case no one has ever told you for some reason)⬅️
➡️Your videos are very well done… and you do a great job on camera.👍🏼Positive reinforcement never hurts.
Hope things are going well for you,
-Chuk-
I really appreciate the feedback! Every time i make a video i feel like its going to bomb. Folks like you make it worth the effort. Thank you!
Taking a break from editing - Nice Vid! - I love my NTK, I actually have a second power supply so I can move the mic from studio to studio without lugging the hardware. peace
Thanks much for checking it out. Howd you manage that? Ive seen inquiries for the power supplies separately from the mic and and they said they would only replace existing supplies but not sell them separately.
I havent used the mic in years personally. Its def got a nice full midrange with a nice crisp treble. Thought it complimented my voice and the female singers quite well. ✌️
@@meistudiony Sounds great on you - I have a VERY MODEST place, but unapologetically. It's part of my aesthetic and my reality - red cabin acoustic - the NTK is one of my better mics. Over the last two decades my focus has been on broadcast engineering - just getting back into music.
It's sounds better with the UA610 to me. Maybe you raised your head a little bit more than with the other preamps though, it gave a fuller tone. Excellent microphone with a smooth top end and a nice forward lo/mid range. I like it so much better on the acoustic guitar than the 314 xl II which sounded more nasal to me. Thanks for the video MEI !
Thanks for the comment and check the video out! Appreciate it!
Rodent 1, eh? Had no idea. Thanks for sharing that - and for another great video.
That's the urban legend... I would love to confirm it with someone at Røde one day. I found the same story in a few places during my research and was too good not to include.
Se Electronics model numbers are always X something... put those together ;) lol. Thanks for watching
This was your most thorough mic video yet, particularly glad to se you pull a Podcastage and voice the copy through the actual NTK. I am not a fan of Rode's solid state condenser sound profile (It's not bad, I just like other things better). This was interesting though, and while you say the preamp differences on spoken word were subtle...To my ears, they were not.
One question. I do not have eyesight. Can you, on a go forward basis, timestamp every time you switch mics in a comparison with the mic you're using? Your sighted viewers can, presumably, see those, I unfortunately cannot.
Thanks!
Thank you for your comment. And I apologize for the confusion on the mic switches and I'll will make a concerted effort to mark those as I don't always start with the subject mic. Some times the switches are quick but hopefully i can get the time stamps as close as possible. When I get a few min tonight, I'll update this video first and report back. Thanks for checking it out!
I've added time stamps on the changes, however, not sure thats going to mess anything thing up with the reporting side of things... it got a little ridic lol. Perhaps going forward I'll mark what mics they are as they come up the first time, would that work?
@@meistudiony Actualy, what you did this time was perfect. See, a screen reader won't actively report the changes themselves literally as they happen, you have to query the page for them, in my case by focusing on the seek slider which will then report which section I'm currently listening to. SO where a sighted person can see what mic is being compared just by looking, this is my equivalent. Perfectly done. Thank you!
So question for ya… would me adding closed captions help at all or does the screen reader not read those? Just trying to figure out a better way to do this of there is one as some of the mic changes may be in rapid succession especially in the kick mic video i have brewing.
@@meistudiony It could work for that purpose, but I'm more apt to continue to use the timestamp as the closed captions can be a little bit odd.
I’d be interested in which pres you think worked best on your own voice. I think I preferred the Neve and (weirdly) the Lola (did you do it as a diy kit?). The API was maybe a bit much but yeah you absolutely proved your point: it’s not a harsh or brittle mic. I suspect that many people hate on Rode specifically because of their success in the video content creation market. The big logo on the pop filter on the included shock mounts with the NT1 was a savvy decision, even if it’s a little ugly. This mic was outstanding on the drum room and acoustic guitar. Great video all around!
I actually like the mic on the joe meek vc1 and the UA 610. The lola did sound nice too. (Probably 3rd on my list). I did build the LOLAS from a kit. (Doa’s also). Theyre very clean and balanced. Actually sound great on bass. Thanks so much for watching.
FWIW, I have two Lola pres. I'm not much for soldering, and someone working through Reverb assembled them for me at a very reasonable cost. They're quite nice.
Ashfield is a suburb in Sydney and where the Young brothers (AC/DC) grew up.
Wouldn't it be something if they got their bands gear from the freedman shop at some point?
I guess it’s possible! Their older brother was half of Vanda and Young who were the great The Easybeats and many great productions. Sure The Easybeats used Dynacchord products too.
Do you think the NTK is a good voiceover mic? What should you watch out for if you try and get a used one?
I used it for the whole video. Usually have a mic on boom out of shot, but wanted to reacquaint myself with it. Ive done commercials in the past with it. Biggest thing is the tube. If you can listen to it before you buy thats best. Every tube mic needs its tube changed eventually, but they can last many many years as long as the tube is of good quality. Next thing is the capsule. As long as its clean and hasnt been exposed to excessive moisture, should be good. The mic is very well built. Even still there are always things that can go wrong at anytime. Even brand new. Condensers i usually try before i buy. Dynamic mics are a little more forgiving but stuff can still go wrong. Rodes service used to be really good. Im hoping that hasn’t changed much since they took off. Thanks for watching!
DID DID YOU GET IT
?
👏👏👏👏👏👏
Hope I did it justice.
@@meistudiony 100% did
The NTK was for me especially good on your VO, as it’s Sibilant free. Through the 1073 was perfect..
The mic is nice through almost anything. Definitely worth the asking price IMO.
Ntk still my choice and i love it
Its a great mic! Do you use it for just vocals or other things as well?
@@meistudiony bass instruments
Great video 😍
I hope you will give us a review of the beautiful and beloved Tube-Tech CL 1B
We have a pair of LA-2a’s in the studio which do a great job. As well as an 1176A and 1176D. Not sure we could justify the cost of the Tube tech, though ive used it on a few sessions in other studios. If i didnt have the LA2a’s the CL1B would have been the alternative choice.
Fantastic review. PS, you need a new ride cymbal.
Just got 2 new ones not long ago. That one in the video was like a man hole cover. Wound up picking up an old zildjian for jazz and a new sabian rock ride.
what are your thoughts on the Rode NT-5???
Typical small diaphragm mic. It really depends on what you plan on using it for. I never suggest an SDC for vocals. They do not handle plosives well at all, any of them. But for instrument recording, the only ones i would say are a BAD choice are the electrovoice nd66. Its just a bad design and sounds really thin compared to just about every other SDC ive used.
@@meistudiony Thank you, I'll get a pair for drum overheads !!
I didn’t get the nt1 pun😢
Was it the one about it being the Rode nt 1… rode-nt… rodent! (Probably easier to get seeing it written out). Rat (rodent) up a drain pipe!
the akg sounded a bit more airy on the guitar than the ntk.....
The 414XLii tends to be a bright mic, until you get it close to something. Thanks for checking out the video!
NTK thru the 1073 & 610 sound better than they've any right to sound. Well done.
CHANGE THE TUBE TO A TELEFUNKEN
Im planning this for an upcoming video to show how tube swapping changes things... or doesn't. Theres a lot of mis info out there regarding this and figured it would be a good topic to dive down the rabbit hole. Thanks for watching!
@@meistudiony The info came form somebody i think still has the web page but not sure, since this was around 2013. I burned it in for around 48 hours to tame it down like i was told ! many people have done this and said it made a difference in the harshness from the original tube !
"... cheap condenser mics coming out of Asia..." With such comments you're speaking to the sympathetic and biased/prejudiced choir, not giving confidence in your assessment of a mic etc.
No, im speaking to the fact that inexpensive microphones were coming out of the continent of Asia at the time. It was a GOOD thing not a bad thing. Ive said in many videos that the influx of inexpensive condenser microphones arriving into the market place in the late 90s was the cause for innovation and opened up tools for regular people to get their hands on. Prior to that boom, the only condensers that were available were a small selection from companies like AKG and some audio technica stuff. Other than that, all you had was the really pricey line from companies like Neumann and AKG's professional line, which were way out of reach for the common person that was trying to get into recording.