RØDE has announced a new 5th generation NT1 Studio Condenser Microphone with a revolutionary new 32 Bit floating point recording capability that the company says will render clipping obsolete.
The new mic also has dual connect XLR and USB ports for use with just about any recording configuration.
Image Credit – RØDE
“Countless musicians, podcasters, streamers, broadcasters, and content creators consider (the NT1) their go-to microphone, and for good reason – it sounds incredible, is extremely flexible, and is built like a tank – a true studio workhorse,” said RØDE CEO Damien Wilson.
Introduced in 1991, the NT1 has become one of RØDE’s flagship microphones which have effectively democratized studio-quality audio recording for the masses.
The NT1 became a near-overnight success with content creators and musicians looking to get professional recording results, even in the most modest studio configurations.
Now, in its fifth incarnation, the RØDE NT1 has new technologies including a one-inch HF6 large diaphragm gold sputter capsule with sub-micron tolerances.
First introduced in the previous 4th generation NT1, the HF6 capsule offers what the company calls a “sparkling top end” with a detailed midrange and rich bass.
Image Credit – RØDE
It has a tight cardioid polar pattern with smooth frequency response and high sensitivity that makes it ideal for recording everything from voiceovers, vocals, and speeches, as well as acoustic and electric guitar, percussion instruments, piano, and other instruments in a direct recording configuration.
“With this new generation, we wanted to preserve all of these qualities while incorporating innovations that have never been seen before in a microphone like this,” Wilson added.
“The NT1 5th Generation is unlike any studio mic out there, but it hasn’t lost its charm and is sure to continue inspiring creators for decades to come.”
Image Credit – RØDE
The 5th Gen NT1 uses 32-bit floating digital output with ultra-high resolution of up to 192 kHz analog to digital conversion. The onboard digital signal processor (DSP) uses advanced APHEX audio processing with a compressor, noise gate, a two-step high pass filter, and RØDE’s Aural Exciter and Big Bottom Effects.
Image Credit – RØDE
This design offers a low 4dBA of self-noise, making it the quietest microphone design in the industry. The NT1-5 is also the first microphone to offer 32-bit floating point recording output which promises to capture the full dynamic range of the microphone while allowing sound engineers to adjust the gain in a DAW recorder even after recording.
The result is a smooth frequency response, high sensitivity, and a 32-bit recording range that makes the audio virtually “unclippable” no matter the gain settings.
RØDE says that the microphone can capture from a whisper to a scream, without worrying about setting the gain control beforehand and still capture clean audio.
This translates to a literal plug-and-play microphone, where users can start recording immediately without setting any controls or sound levels and without any risk of their audio being ruined by clipping or distortion.
Image Credit – RØDE
Pricing and availability
The NT1 5th Generation comes in either black or silver, with a studio-grade shock mount and pop filter as well as a high-quality XLR and USB cable. It is also backed by a 10-year warranty.
The preorder price for the NT1 5th Gen is $249 USD or $439 AUD. As of press time, however, there is no word on when it will ship.
[source: RØDE]
Order Links:
- RODE NT1 5th Gen. Large-Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone, Black (B&H)
- RODE NT1 5th Gen. Large-Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone, Silver (B&H)
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