RØDE - NT1 Signature Series

I would not buy a Cloudlifter just so I can use a mediocre mic like the Samson S9U. Seems like a waste of money. I would not buy an SM7B or SM7DB just for work calls and gaming. That’s ballpark $500 just so your coworkers and gaming buddies can hear you. People want the SM7B because we are living in an era of peak SM7B hype… every streamer and podcaster seems to use one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good mic, but you shouldn’t buy an expensive mic just for the hype. Get a Røde NT1 or AT2035 or similar large-diaphragm condenser under $200. These all have higher sensitivity, which means you can turn the gain down on your audio interface. You’ll sound clear and the mic will work great with your interface. IMO, spending $400 instead of $200 doesn’t get you a much better mic. Most of the really good-sounding mics cost somewhere north of $700, with a few excellent, less-expensive dynamics below that price point (but you need more gain to use them).

Do you know what it means for a microphone to be more sensitive? It means that the microphone puts out a stronger signal for the same sound. Play the same sound for two microphones… if one microphone puts out a stronger signal, you that the microphone is more sensitive. But, isn’t that exactly a solution for your problem? Your problem is that the signal is not strong enough, and it sounds quiet. So if you get a more sensitive microphone, the signal will be stronger, and you can turn the gain down. “Sensitive” does not mean that the microphone picks up more details or anything like that. There is a kind of myth that dynamic microphones somehow don’t sound bad in a poorly-treated room. Maybe it’s time to put that myth to rest. But a lot of people believe that myth, and keep repeating it on YouTube and Reddit. Coincidentally, Dan Worall complained about that myth in a video he posted today: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP74656yTi8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP74656yTi8) “No, condenser mics don’t pick up more background noise. Not really.”

The Snowball is a cheap condenser mic. They tend to pick up more transients in my experience and I've measured increased ambient sound with them but they are *crisp* and can record in higher fidelity. Dynamic mics have to be closer usually and seem to have a tighter pickup pattern. They sound slightly more compressed as well. Usually a new person working with a dynamic mic can get away with more than a condenser. MXL makes some decent cheap condenser mics but ifg you want a good one, the Røde NT1 5th gen (XLR and USB) or the Signature Edition (same but XLR only) is a very good starter mic. It will pick up the cat in the litter box downstairs, though. DISCLAIMER: Yes, I am in fact an asshole. !

Nt1 is great for quiet recordings, but tbone actually have 16db noise and are very inconsistent. I suggest Earsight Omni Standard, inexpensive but handmade, small, very sensitive and low selfnoise.

Rode NT1 all the way. The rest of this stuff is junk. Fine if you're doing a podcast or streaming on twitch, but if you want to be taken seriously, you need equipment that doesnt sound like shit.

Spend another $20 and get an NT1

Rode NT1. Got it used for $200 AUD, sounds great for vocals and guitar amps.

I use the NT1 in my room and i'm pretty happy with it. I'm using an Arturia Minifuze as an interface which i would also recommend... If your room is very echo-y i would recommend a more near field mic than your picks. The Shure SM7B is the obvious choice here but you can also have a look at the MV7 which is the cheaper little brother to that one and is also closer in price to the ones you picked...

Rode NT1 - 5th gen if you need to start with USB, signature series if you already have an interface For that budget: AT 2035 (bit of a richer sound than the AT2020, because it has a larger diaphragm), AT 875R if you want a shotgun (good for less-than-ideal spaces) Need more recs? Audio Ninja Recommended VO Gear - [https://www.jordanaudio.ninja/recommended-voiceover-studio-gear](https://www.jordanaudio.ninja/recommended-voiceover-studio-gear) My VO Resource Doc (look for "Step 2: Home Studio") - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HYWjTw1j97KkfYR6\_ORM3VAfkwa7SWw6MGlXq8-sohA/edit?tab=t.0](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HYWjTw1j97KkfYR6_ORM3VAfkwa7SWw6MGlXq8-sohA/edit?tab=t.0)

I use both the Shure SM7B and the Rode NT1 depending how I want the vocal to sound

The NT1 is one of the more balanced condenser mics money can buy and is a real contender in its price range. The SM7b will just sound like someone on a podcast is reading the book. That mic is very familiar sounding at this point. I think what you need to focus on more is which interface you're going to get. The SSL2 is, to me, leaps and bounds better than a Focusrite (especially if you're on Windows) More flexible, cleaner pres and AD/DA conversion, and rock solid stable drivers. It scales with mics. I have a first gen SSL2+ and a Neumann MT48 and the difference is truly negligible as far as quality of recordings goes. I've personally done the shootouts with thousands of $ of mics. You're going to have to get an interface regardless. Going with the NT1 will just save you almost $250.

Rode NT1 in one channel and direct in the other and blend them together.