Any Rode NT1a users here? esp. for acoustic guitar/vocal use, plus some leccy guitar

[noisepolluter]

I'm pondering treating myself to a 'my first large condenser' type mic to complement a pair of small condensers (AKG C1000S) I've had for a few years and been pretty happy with.

Primarily it would be to record acoustic guitar - there's a reasonably nice sounding room at home with a wood floor and I thought I'd like to try a large condenser at about 2ft rather than a C1000 closer in, as the guitar is quite a warm sounding dreadnought. I might also be doing some vocals occasionally, or recording a small amp played pretty quietly.

The recording setup is nothing fancy (laptop and usb interface), and I really don't feel the quality of my playing or material justifies anything really sexy like an AKG C414 or Rode NT2000, at least for the foreseeable! Basically I'm after something simple and fairly forgiving that (user talent notwithstanding) can produce a pleasant sound.

Equally If anyone would be happy to post a link to recordings that they've done with an NT1a (or similarly priced large condenser i.e. £150-ish) then I'd be most interested to hear them.

ta,

NP

[thermionic]

Not a Rode NT1-a, but a Red5 Audio RV10, similar in spec and price... If I was buying now I think I'd go for Rode, I think their prices have come down whilst Red5Audio's have stayed the same since I bought it. Guitar is a Taylor 310 dread recorded into Logic. Most of the sound is down to the room and the mic placement I'd say.

https://soundcloud.com/gofodwr/heart-of-gold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF1JjebLzfQ

[octatonic]

I don't like the NT1a on acoustic- although it is a good budget vocal mic.
I prefer SDC's on acoustic usually- although it depends on the guitar and the piece.
I also wouldn't use an AKG C1000- to be honest I've struggled to find any use for that mic.

Have a look at the Rode NT55 or the Audio Technica AT2031- both excellent on acoustic guitar- but again I wouldn't really use them on male vocals.
One cheapish LDC that I like on acoustic guitar is the Blue Bluebird- also nice on vocals.
They are about £250 IIRC.

[Ramirez]

I quite like LDCs on acoustic, and I've had nice results with a Studio Projects B1. It's slightly cheaper than the Rode I think. I have an NT1a here as well, and to be honest I reach for the B1 more often than the Rode for acoustic and vocals. There's not much in it though, just a matter of the B1 being slightly better suited to the voices I record - I wouldn't say one's a better mic than the other.

It would be a decent buy for you, I think,

[Ramirez]

I'm pretty certain the NT1a was the lead vocal mic on this track:

https://soundcloud.com/cowbois/fall-on-my-knees-1

[thermionic]

Duw, Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog!

[Ramirez]

Duw, Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog!

Duw, pwy sy' na?!

[darcym]

I use the NT1a,

I use it as a good "all round" mic for my home recordings and certain aspects of live recording.

I find it works well as a sound hole mic on acoustics, and works well with Fender voiced amps for electrics (I'd imagine the same is true for vox's)
I use it for Vocals and it's "fine" it's more limited by the pre-amp it goes into.

It's a great investment even for a good studio as it works well with many all round applications.

[Danny1969]

I find the NT1-A really bright on certain things, a similar mic you can get for the same money used as a new Nt1 is the SE 2200. For acoustic I've had good results from the 2200 near the bridge and a Shure SM81 around the 12th fret area

[Ramirez]

I find the NT1-A really bright on certain things, a similar mic you can get for the same money used as a new Nt1 is the SE 2200. For acoustic I've had good results from the 2200 near the bridge and a Shure SM81 around the 12th fret area

I agree that it can often be too bright. I too often use a bridge/12th fret combo on acoustic, and never a "sound hole mic" as posted above, as mic'ing by the soundhole invariably sound horrible to me.

I also disagree that the preamp has much difference (unless it has extra tone-shaping features apart from the preamp itself, but most of these can be replicated just as well in software in my mind)

Aled