RODE NT1 Signature Series?! Great sound, price (and colors, if you're into that)

In this episode we take a look at and listen to RODE’s latest studio condenser microphone, the NT1 Signature Series. This is the newest version of RODE’s large diaphragm condenser microphone with an XLR output for the ridiculously tiny price of $159 USD. It includes a shock mount, XLR cable, pop filter, and a dust cover as well as an industry leading 10 year warranty. Let’s take a closer look!
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX. See school.learnlightandsound.com for more info!
Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com ko-fi.com/curtisjudd
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- RODE NT1 Signature Series microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/G3Iv63u
- RODE NT1 5th Generation microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/WR4dk
- Neumann U87 Ai microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/phYZH
- On-stage stands desk stand (you will need to add extra weight to the base to avoid tip-over - B&H, Amazon geni.us/cJUHuw
- Canon C70 Cinema Camera - B&H geni.us/ABYB
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens - B&H, Amazon geni.us/qwsEs
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon geni.us/InspOl
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens - B&H, Amazon geni.us/gr47
- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands - B&H, Amazon geni.us/8a8tt
- Amaran 200x S LED light - B&H, Amazon, Aputure geni.us/y6ym5V
- Aputure Light Dome II soft box - Aputure, B&H, Amazon geni.us/AuMKRr
- Aputure Spotlight Mount - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/kfAj
- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender - B&H geni.us/GWKt
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd
#RODE #Microphones #NT1 #signatureseries
Index
00:00 Summary
00:10 Signal chain setup
00:41 The Backstory
01:59 vs Neumann U87 & NT1 5th Gen
03:40 What defines the Signature Series?
04:21 Audio samples
05:45 Kit & accessories
06:39 Sibilance/plosive/shock samples
07:31 Post-processing
07:47 Noise floor
08:42 Polar pattern
10:08 SPL handling
10:53 Is this the mic for you?
15:23 Please buy my courses

[@matahari1576]

Classy review like always! Thanks!

[@duckchriss]

I loved your video!!! I was looking for a review of this mic and now I can tell that I found the best video ever, thank u!

[@curtisjudd]

🙏

[@joshuaortiz2425]

awesome review and video! Really good quality your camera is insane!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@museum1401]

Good move by Rode. I'm a bit of a purist so I'm not bothered about USB or onboard DSP and the price point makes me want to buy one just to have an extra LDC on hand. Great review as always, too 👍

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@DynamixWarePro]

I had a NT1-A years ago, but it sounded too harsh and bright on my voice and no amount of EQ could fix that. I had an NT1 4th gen and for my voice, I found it much better but it was too flat sounding for me. To me listening with monitor speakers, the signature series has a fuller sound but tends to pick up syblants a bit more. On your voice, I think the 4th gen sounded the best over the Signature Series and 5th Gen. I am amazed how they are able to keep lowering the noise floor on these.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, the noise floor is impressive. And I agree re: the NT1-A - a little too bright for my voice, too.

[@DennisSchmitz]

@@curtisjuddso is the harshness of the NT1-A (and NT1000) fixed? Just started using Oktava Microphones instead but since the sanctions against Russia, these are a quite rare find.

[@curtisjudd]

You heard the NT1 here. My ears say it is fixed, but give it a listen and judge for yourself. 👍

[@daviHuggMonster]

great tips on those mic differences...stil own just one atm , the classic Rode Podmic. I am checking to get some different mics

[@curtisjudd]

🎙️👍

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Looks great. And...hello! Yes. getting there. :)

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks and great to hear from you, Kevin!

[@BudoDave76]

I picked up an NT1 to replace my AT2020... What a great mic for a great price and an incredible upgrade from the AT2020

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙️

[@edclevel402]

RØDE has been kinda crushing it lately.

[@curtisjudd]

🔥

[@Mediaright]

Pretty killer package from Rode.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@HrWisch]

Maybe a little tip if you plan using a dynamic microphone (like the Shure SMB7). Although using a decent audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett Gen3 series), I had very low signal strength on Windows 11. You could edit the signal and get a good sound quality, but for live applications, it was just not lough enough. Instead of investing a lot of money into a better pre-amp, I bought a FetAmp (like the TritonAudio FetHead or Thomann's FetAmp). That solved my problem and I now have even more gain than with most condenser mics on the same interface. Still, the Rode NT1 Gen5 USB is on my wishlist. Until then, I'm pretty happy with my t.bone SC 140 set (small diaphragm condenser) and the t.bone MB7 beta (large diaphragm dynamic) with a FetAmp. I use them mostly for voice applications like voice communication, speech recognition and voice recording. They go very well with my pretty deep, 'manly' voice signature. The variable low cut on the SC 140s is a nice addition for live applications too.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@tristan-5001]

Hi Curtis, thank you for the high quality content, it's very helpful and pleasing to watch. I'm about to buy 2 of the NT1 signature series to use as a stereo pair for field recording and foley. I'm looking for the lowest self noise possible, to record subtle sounds without having even the slightest hiss. I've searched for foley mics with a very low noise level but nothing gets close to the NT1's in dB. I heard that even if they're studio mics they can also do a great job for field recording (with a pair of good deadcats). I have a pair of tbone SC140's used with a zoom F6, they have a self noise of 9.2 dB and I can hear some light self noise when recording subtle sounds, do you think I would also hear it with the NT1's? Is it a good idea overall to buy these for my purpose or is there a better alternative? Thanks a lot

[@curtisjudd]

I don’t know. It depends on the rest of your signal chain and perhaps it may help to gain up a bit more to improve your signal to noise ratio?

[@DrRussell]

Guys; 2007 footage confirms my suspicions; Mr Judd has discovered the fountain of eternal youth. 16 years man!

[@curtisjudd]

😂 I bought the mic in 2007 but that old video was from 2014 LOL

[@DrRussell]

@@curtisjudd Right Sir. At this point, 9 years, 16 years, same difference! Thank you for the review as always.

[@curtisjudd]

🙏😀

[@dag221]

I always feel like when you buy a Rode product you're spending a sizeable portion of the price on the cost of them printing their name in very big letters all over everything.

[@ShinilPayamal]

😂

[@curtisjudd]

In this case, that doesn’t seem to be a big issue.

[@ahriik]

As opposed to what else exactly? Rode microphones are ridiculously affordable for their quality and sound, and in many instances punch far above their price range. Off the top of my head I can't think of any other large-diaphragm condensers as good as the NT1 that ALSO offer a sub 5dB noise floor (or even sub 10db for that matter), sound that doesn't require some amount of EQ/processing to get it sounding right, and a 10 year warranty?

[@fluphybunny930]

@@ahriik found the Rode employee ! They are okay. 32 bit is marketing. 5DB noise floor is meaningless and more marketing (do you record in an anechoic chamber?) Some NT1s sound awful and to my tastes they do sound sibilant and brittle.

[@JarnoSuni1]

@@fluphybunny930 What do you mean by some NT1s? Do you mean they are not equal even if it is the same model?

[@guterton]

If I may say something about it: you sound a lot more balanced and pleasant on the u87 :) even though I don't see the u87 as the holy grail. But the NT1 is great for the price, no question.

[@curtisjudd]

What's the question? I believe that everyone hears differently so there's always going to be different opinions. I think that's fine.

[@labazfromjhabus]

Thank you for the great video! it's interesting... I bought TANNOY TM1 today. they say that this is an analogue of nt1a. Is it so? can you tell me anything about this?

[@curtisjudd]

Never tried the Tannoy. But happy recording!

[@Andreas-ov2fv]

Great video and great review! I especially appreciated the practical cardoid pattern demonstration, very useful! I was thinking of picking up 4 of these for a DIY podcast kit for my workplace, along with a 32-bit recorder like the MixPre. I am a little bit concerned that the people who work there - who are not into audio - will place themselves in a meeting room with close walls, or put their laptop on the table next to the microphone and go clickety clackety and then get salty with me for picking out a "super sensitive microphone". It's a dilemma.

[@curtisjudd]

Foam/isolation pads might help.

[@inglesrapido6967]

Question: For sit down interviews and voice over, should I get an xlr recorder and a cheap pencil mic, like a Samson C02, or a zoom h1 with the Sennheiser MKE 600? How different would the sound be? Thank you!

[@curtisjudd]

The CO2 is pretty noisy so I'd opt for the MKE600 and eventually upgrade the recorder.

[@inglesrapido6967]

@@curtisjudd How about a different budget pencil, like a Slate ML-2, a AKG P170, or an sE v7, would those beat the sound from the Sennheiser?

[@curtisjudd]

@@inglesrapido6967 I haven't worked with those particular mics, but I'd trust any reviews by Podcastage if he's covered any of them.

[@inglesrapido6967]

@@curtisjudd thank you so much! I've listened to that Senn and found it very "Hollywood" like if properly placed, very full, tough decision!

[@stirado]

For some reason I had it in my mind that the microphone you used at work, on a daily basis, was the Shure SM57.

[@curtisjudd]

No, NT1 4th gen 👍

[@urbnctrl]

​​@@curtisjudddo you prefer the sound profile of the 4th gen or the Signature Series? I can get a 4th gen for 160 now, but the Signature Series for 160 AS WELL! I am lost! 😅

[@curtisjudd]

@@urbnctrl They sound identical to me.

[@Stories_with_Swagat]

Question: I have a untreated room in my home recording setup. I am confused if i should buy this or go with a dynamic mic like se electronics V7 or sm57, how is the noise rejection?

[@curtisjudd]

The main way to pick up less noise, especially in an untreated room is to get your mouth close to the mic, writhin 7 or 8 cm. This is called optimizing your signal to noise ratio. The reason many suggest dynamic mics is because most people work up close on them because they’re less sensitive. Any of them can work, and putting blankets over hard surfaces helps the most to reduce reflected sound.

[@ahriik]

Okay Curtis, when can we expect a pop-punk collaboration with you and Bandrew?

[@curtisjudd]

I need a new haircut first. 😳

[@randomgeocacher]

Ha, colors? Red looked pretty nice on the picture, some of the others not so much. But nice that Rode dare leave their safe color schemes. I’ve been thinking of getting Heil Finn on-and-off just to have one more crazy looking mic :-)

[@curtisjudd]

😂

[@barefootaxel4847]

I also started with an NT1a. In an untreated room with the windows facing a busy street... Need I say more? Regarding your tips on room treating, dynamic mikes. After trying numerous different mikes, I ended up with condenser stage mikes. I have the e965, the KMS105 / 104+. The 104+ is my main workhorse. They are a bit pricier than the NT1, but ideal, if you're working in challenging environments, like home recording settings, and you would like to have the condenser sound characteristics.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JeronimoColon]

Is there an arm you’d recommend that would beat the weight well?

[@curtisjudd]

The RODE PSA1 should do the job nicely.

[@phnxlegend]

Does anyone know when the NT1 SS color options are going to be off pre order? It’s been a couple months now and they still aren’t available

[@curtisjudd]

Not sure.

[@robertsaca3512]

That made in Australia quality without (don't know how they did it) the made in Australia price tag. Unbelievable.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, impressive.

[@urbnctrl]

How does this stack up against the 4th generation NT1?

[@curtisjudd]

Sounds the same, costs less.

[@uncle-english]

can I say (Rode NT1 5th gen) - (USB/32-bit float/DSP) = (Rode NT1 4th) ?

[@curtisjudd]

Not exactly from a technical standpoint. But sound wise, yes.

[@uncle-english]

@@curtisjudd Now I'm interested in how Bandrew will talk about the new mic. Could anyone pass the blind test, huh?

[@Nofamilly]

Dynamic microphone, yes when nt1 signature costs 170$ and Shure 500$, it’s a big difference

[@curtisjudd]

SM58 is $100

[@rickonmic]

In a weird way, I’m a bit irritated that the new NT1 SS is so much cheaper. The resale value of my 4th Gen NT1 has now dropped significantly.

[@curtisjudd]

Sorry. 😞

[@playdon9792]

I think it was downgraded from gen 4. I miss shock mount and pop filter and black grill...

[@curtisjudd]

Fair enough.