RODE NT1 Signature Review - Best XLR Mic Under $200?

The RODE NT-1 Signature Series microphone is at the intersection of both great audio quality and a reasonable price for podcasters, streamers, and video creators.
In this video I’m going to unbox, setup, and give you a test recording of just how great this $160 XLR microphone sounds versus the competition.
🛒 ITEMS MENTIONED (affiliate links):
- RODE NT1 Signature Series - geni.us/rodent1ss
- RODE PodMic XLR - geni.us/rodepo...
- Shure SM7B - geni.us/ShureS...
- Logitech Sona - geni.us/blueso...
- RODECaster Pro II - geni.us/rodeca...
⏰ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
0:34 - Unboxing
0:55 - Initial Impressions
1:28 - Audio Test
3:10 - Low Noise Floor & Cardioid Pattern
4:07 - What I Don't Like
4:26 - Who The NT1 Is Great For
5:18 - Conclusion
I love the look and feel of this NT1. This one is matte black except for the silver top. It also comes in red, green, purple, pink, or blue if you’re more into a specific color aesthetic for your setup.
It has a rugged aluminum finish, seems to be resistant to scratches, and just feels like a professional grade piece of audio equipment.
One of the best things about the RODE NT1 is that it has an extremely low noise floor. (Just 4dBA.) RODE is claiming it is “the world’s quietest studio condenser microphone”. This means you won’t get any hiss or background noise in your recordings.
It also picks up sound in a really small cardoid polar pattern, which really helps to eliminate background noise. It is still a condenser microphone, so it will pick up a bit more room sound than some dynamic microphones, but in the right environment, it can sound great.
I think this microphone sits is a sweet spot price wise, around that $150 mark, especially when you consider the accessories for the microphone are all included, which isn’t the case with any other microphone I’ve seen on the market.
Now, you’re going to need an audio recorder or USB interface to both power & record with this microphone, so you’re going to need to spend another one to two hundred dollars to get this fully setup and going, but if you’re in the situation where you need a bunch of microphones on a budget, these are a great option.
If you’re looking to record music, a podcast, voiceovers, or livestream the RODE NT-1 Signature Series would be on the top of my list for its price & performance.
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- Rode NTG-3 (shotgun mic) - geni.us/rodentg3
- Shure SM7B (podcast mic) - geni.us/ShureS...
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[@shanpowers]

This was SO HELPFUL thank you so much! I've had the Yeti forever and I'm looking to upgrade. Love the comparisons!!!

[@CalebWojcik]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AR-1998]

Hello sir, I wanted to ask, the Newman tlm 103 has been used in professional studios such as for Animes/Video Games, would you say the rode nt 1 signature series is also in that same range? Where it could be used for something on a very high professional level? (With proper acoustic treatment)

[@Jakepf]

Nice video. Very well made. Super professional

[@CalebWojcik]

Thank you. Appreciate the kind words!

[@dud_yana]

What do you think this microphone is suitable for female vocals?

[@CalebWojcik]

Absolutely

[@tulsamcclean]

Seems to be only available at the Rode online store. What's up with that?

[@CalebWojcik]

It is a newer product, so just might not be in retailers quite yet.

[@Stories_with_Swagat]

Hi, would you recommend this for a untreated room

[@CalebWojcik]

Yes I would. Any mic is going to sound better with a room that’s treated a little bit, but this does a pretty good job of focusing only on the sounds being made really close to it.