Microphones

Røde NT1-A Studio Condenser Microphone Bundle

★★★★★ 4.7

✅ In stock — 6 available

The Rode NT1-A is the microphone that put serious studio recording within reach of ordinary budgets, and it has stayed on the recommendation list for twenty years because of one measurable quality: it is astonishingly quiet. At around 5 dBA of self-noise it is among the quietest studio condensers ever produced at any price, which matters enormously when you are recording a soft vocal, a nylon-string guitar or a quiet room tone. WHAT SELF-NOISE ACTUALLY MEANS FOR YOUR RECORDINGS Every microphone generates a small amount of electrical hiss of its own. On loud sources you never notice it. On quiet ones, particularly when you raise the gain and then compress the result, that hiss rises with the signal and sits underneath everything. A microphone with 5 dBA self-noise gives you room to record delicate material and process it heavily without a hiss floor appearing. This is why the NT1-A remains a standard choice for voice-over, acoustic instruments and vocal work in project studios, and why it still sounds professional alongside microphones costing several times as much. KEY SPECIFICATIONS Type: large-diaphragm cardioid condenser Capsule: 1-inch gold-sputtered diaphragm Polar pattern: cardioid Frequency range: 20 Hz to 20 kHz Self-noise: approximately 5 dBA, exceptionally low Maximum SPL: 137 dB Dynamic range: approximately 132 dB Sensitivity: approximately minus 31.9 dB re 1 V per pascal Output impedance: 100 ohms Power: 48 V phantom power required Body: nickel-plated, satin finish Included in the bundle: shock mount, pop shield, dust cover, XLR cable THE BUNDLE IS NOT PADDING The NT1-A is sold as a bundle, and unusually the accessories are ones you would otherwise have to buy. The shock mount isolates the microphone from desk knocks and floor vibration, which matters in real rooms with real furniture and traffic outside. The pop shield controls plosives, the bursts of air from P and B sounds that otherwise produce a thump no equaliser can fix afterwards. The XLR cable gets you recording on the day it arrives. Bought separately, a decent shock mount and pop filter add meaningfully to the cost, which is worth factoring in when comparing this against a bare microphone at a similar price. THE CHARACTER, HONESTLY DESCRIBED The NT1-A has a presence lift in the upper midrange and treble. On many voices that reads as detail and air, and it is why the microphone became popular for pop and voice-over. On an already bright or sibilant voice it can emphasise sibilance, and you may find yourself using a de-esser. If your voice is bright and thin, a warmer microphone or a dynamic such as the Shure SM7B may suit you better. If your voice is dark or you want detail out of an acoustic guitar, the NT1-A is a very strong choice. There is no universally best microphone, only a good match for a particular voice, and we would rather help you find that than sell you the most expensive option. WHAT IT NEEDS TO WORK Phantom power at 48 volts, supplied by an audio interface or a mixer with a phantom switch. Any of the interfaces and mixers we stock provide it. It will not work plugged into a camera or a computer's 3.5 mm socket. A reasonably controlled room. Condensers hear everything, including the reflections off bare walls. If your room is untreated, work close to the microphone, hang a duvet or thick curtains behind you, and record away from windows. This costs nothing and improves results more than upgrading the microphone would. WHO THIS IS FOR Home and project studios recording vocals. Voice-over artists and audiobook narrators. Podcasters working in a quiet, treated space. Musicians recording acoustic guitar, strings and percussion. Churches and schools recording choirs and solo performances. PRACTICAL NOTES Speak or sing to the front of the microphone, marked by the badge. Address the side of a side-address condenser and you get a dull, off-axis sound. Keep it in the dust cover when not in use. Humidity and dust are the enemies of condenser capsules, and Nairobi dust in particular finds its way into everything. Never plug or unplug the XLR with phantom power switched on and the fader up. It produces a loud thump and, over time, is unkind to both microphone and preamp. WARRANTY, DELIVERY AND ADVICE Genuine Rode stock with a 12-month warranty, delivered nationwide, paid by M-Pesa or cash on delivery. Tell us what you are recording and in what kind of room, and we will tell you whether this is the right microphone or whether a dynamic would serve you better.

• 🚚 Countrywide delivery (flat KSh 350, KSh 200 within Nairobi)
• 💳 Pay via M-Pesa on delivery — no upfront payment needed
• 🛡️ Genuine products with warranty