rode NT4 mic any thoughts?

patriot · #1 01-22-2006, 08:57 AM

Any users out there who could give me a review on this mic?

ljguitar · #2 01-22-2006, 09:52 AM

Hi Patriot...
Here is my report...diappointing mic.

And I wanted to like it.

patriot · #3 01-22-2006, 09:53 AM

any other suggestions?

ljguitar · #4 01-22-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriot

any other suggestions?

Hi Patriot...
What are you going to use it for?

If recording, what kind of instruments?

What is the rest of your recording rig?

What is the end product? (CDs for friends, commercial use?)

patriot · #5 01-22-2006, 10:38 AM

Classical and steel string guitar in home studio. I have a Roland vs880. I can go to minidisk or to computer as a wave file and convert to MP3 and burn a cd from there if I want. I am thinking stero recording but if necessary I can go mono for now. Depends on affordability. That's why the Rode mic caught my attention. I was also thinking the AKG c1000s.

joe white · #6 01-22-2006, 10:42 AM

I can't comment on the NT4 but I have two NT3 and two NT1 and I love them. The NT3 sounds great on acoustic guitar and I even tracked a vocal with it once out of laziness (didn't want to drag out other mics) and was surprised to find it worked very well with my voice and my pre-amp. The NT1 mics are a bit 'high endy" tone wise, great to clear up a muddy sound source.

joe white · #7 01-22-2006, 10:44 AM

I can't comment on the NT4 but I have two NT3 and two NT1 and I love them. The NT3 sounds great on acoustic guitar and I even tracked a vocal with it once out of laziness (didn't want to drag out other mics) and was surprised to find it worked very well with my voice and my pre-amp. The NT1 mics are a bit 'high endy" tone wise, great to clear up a muddy sound source.
Doop' just saw your last post, I never liked the C1000. Had one and canned it.

joe white · #8 01-22-2006, 10:45 AM

What the????? My first double post!

ljguitar · #9 01-22-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getgo

I can't comment on the NT4 but I have two NT3 and two NT1 and I love them. The NT3 sounds great on acoustic guitar and I even tracked a vocal with it once out of laziness (didn't want to drag out other mics) and was surprised to find it worked very well with my voice and my pre-amp. The NT1 mics are a bit 'high endy" tone wise, great to clear up a muddy sound source.
Doop' just saw your last post, I never liked the C1000. Had one and canned it.

Hi GetGo...
I am a Rode fan. I own 3 of the NT-3 which until recently were what I used exclusively for guitars. They are great.

The NT-1 and NT-2 are great large diaphragm mics. Excellent in every regard.

But the NT-4 and NT-5 are just not in the same class as the rest of the line. The sound is thin, and lacks any distinctive character. Other companies do the ''pencil'' small diaphragms better for same/less money.

sdelsolray · #10 01-22-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriot

Classical and steel string guitar in home studio. I have a Roland vs880. I can go to minidisk or to computer as a wave file and convert to MP3 and burn a cd from there if I want. I am thinking stero recording but if necessary I can go mono for now. Depends on affordability. That's why the Rode mic caught my attention. I was also thinking the AKG c1000s.

Skip the AKG c1000s. It's a horrible mic for acoustic and classical guitar. The Rode NT4 is a fixed XY configuration using the same capsules as the NT5. A pair of NT5s would be more versatile, allowing for the numerous different and common mic placements that are used with your instruments.

I haven't used the NT4, but I have used a pair of NT5s. In that price range, for your instruments, I would suggest the following over the Rodes:

1) Oktava MC-012 (cardioid or hypercardiod capsules) - get from the Soundroom.

2) Studio Projects C4 (comes with cardioid and omni capsules).

3) ADK SC-T (nice mics).

If you can stretch your budget a bit, you're in for a treat. The Peluso CEMC6 mics are really incredible for the price (about $550 for a pair). Plus, they are modular (like the Oktavas and the Studio Projects), meaning that you can swap mic capsules with them.

In the used market, a pair of Shure SM81s wont disappoint.

patriot · #11 01-22-2006, 11:42 AM

Thanks I will check out pricing on those suggestions.

ljguitar · #12 01-22-2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriot

Thanks I will check out pricing on those suggestions.

Hi Patriot...
I agree with the assessment of the C-1000 mics. They are not up to the quality you need.

A pair of Rode NT-3s might do you well. It is what we have been recording with for several years, and they are an amazing value in 3/4'' diaphragm mics.

You can hear our recordings at:
Our songs

All the guitars are recorded with single or dual NT-3 mics.

Joost Assink · #13 01-22-2006, 12:16 PM

The C1000s are really a bad idea. There was a thread on gearslutz about worst purchases and the C1000s came up a lot. I never liked them either. I am a big Rode fan, and I liked the NT5s better than the NT3s but they were still a bit dark for my taste. The Josephsons C22 or C42s on a slightly higher budget, but the Audio Technica AT4051 are the best bang for the buck.
I have a pair of Gefell M300s. Great mics!

mattinbeloit · #14 01-22-2006, 12:28 PM

I ahve used the NT4 alot for the past 4 months. It does great on guitar and strings but not so good on voice. Also if yu are thinking of recording like a choir or something really loud like that it does not do well at all. But if you keep it to just a guitar or violin or something it does great. You said something about doing a mono recording above, you do know that the NT4 is a stereo mic don't you?

patriot · #15 01-22-2006, 12:40 PM

Yes I am aware that the nt4 is a stereo mic. I am now thinking maybe I would be better off buying 1 good mic, possibly the shure sm81 vs to cheaper mics. Like I mentioned before this will primarily be used to record myself playing classical and steel string. I can always add stereo effects after recording if I want. Whats' your opinion on that idea?