"Exceptional quality versus price."

This reviewer purchased this item from Same Day Music.

Feature:
It came with a mic, a mount, and a carrying case (zippered bag) to put it in, what else would you expect? a studio to record in?

Quality:
Have'nt used it on the road but, didn't buy it for the road. Rode has advertised this as a "STUDIO" mic. Your fault if it doesn't work well outside studio.

Value:
Already addressed that, next step up is Neumann or other ridiculously over priced mic.

Desirability:
The GOLD dot on mine is much sexier than the red dot on current model.

Sound:
Do not equate light weight with cheap. I can find no other reason for reviewers who have said this is a "cheap" mic. The light weight of this mic does not in any way reflect on the quality of its construction, it is very rugged. This is an accurate mic. It hears exactly what you put into it. If you can't record it accurately with this, give up on your dreams of getting it right on a Neumann (or any other ridiculously high priced mic for that matter). This, like any other mic requires careful placement to bring out its full potential. 5-10 inches away from the neck (right where it meets the body) will produce a huge range of tone variations for nearly any acoustic guitar. All of the clicks and scrapes from the pick which are difficult to reproduce can be caught with this mic. Put pretty much ANY pop filter in front of this thing and let singers sceam at it all day long, it does fine. I would not loan mine to you or anyone else no matter how much you cry so get your own. To those in Australia who produce this fine product, GOOD ON YA MATE! I'll get another as soon as I can afford to.

Ease of Use:
Plug it in and record. Like I already said, placement is everything.

Support:
Never needed to contact them

Overall:
Bought this after many hours of listening to other pleased muscicians. This was not a "spur of the moment" decision. Glad I did my homework.

"Best Recording Mic for the Price"

This reviewer purchased this item from Same Day Music.

Feature:
Shock mount included, but no cable.

Quality:
It feels solid and withstood the shipping to my home, so it is likely fairly rugged. I have only had it for a few days, so only time will tell.

Value:
I researched a lot before making this purchase, and I don't think there is a better microphone out there for this price (for three times this price for that matter).

Desirability:
Hey, it's a microphone! However, it does look good in my home studio!

Sound:
Fantastic! This microphone delivers everything promised. It is the quietest microphone I have ever used, meaning there is no hiss, air sound or hum! The sound is exactly what your ear hears. So, if you arn't happy with the sound, just remember, garbage in; garbage out!

Ease of Use:
All I had to do was plug it in and WOW! The mic requires a preamp and phantom power which I don't have in the digital recorder I am using, so I patched it through a PA mixer that has phantom power. Because the mic reproduces sound exactly, you must take care to deaden the room where you record or you will pick up everything from birds chirping outside of your window to an ant crawling across the floor!

Support:
Haven't need support, so I can't give you a first-hand rating.

Overall:
I have never recorded in a professional studio, so I'm not going to tell you that this mic is better than or as good as the thousand dollar mics. What I can tell you is that it is miles above any microphone I have used up to this point. It beats any small diaphram or coil mic in my collection (each of which I paid more for) including Electrovoice, Shure, and AKG's. Those are great mic's for live performing, but are no where near this quality for recording!

"My best buy ever!"

Feature:
For a single mic, the suspension clasp is useful but there's nothing else there. I wish it had come with a pre-amp, personally.

Quality:
There is a little bolt on the suspension clasp with lost its thread within two days. However, Rode immediately sent me a new set of non-wear ones. The mic appears delicate but there are no cosmetic blemishes.

Value:
Definitely - it was when I bought it, and it was more expensive then.

Desirability:
This product makes you want to make music!

Sound:
This product, I have to say, would suit anything. As a mic, it's probably the best quality I've ever used - you can adjust your style just by moving closer or further away from the mic. If used live, it will shriek at a moderate volume, though this may just be my equipment. It's best with a windshield, and what with the need for phantom powering, a good pre-amp is essential. The recordings you'll make with this mic have such clarity that style has to be added afterwards. It perfectly captures dynamics and every last tiny reverb in the room. Too sensitive for the stage - but in the studio, a phenomenal mic you'll be very, very happy with.

Support:
Within two days of my notifying of a broken bolt on the clasp (a very minor problem) Rode had air-mailed me two new bolts and a complimentary screwdriver. Excellent!

Overall:
I won't seek a mic from anyone else and when I buy another, it will be another Rode.

Rode NT1A Customer Review

This reviewer purchased this item from Same Day Music.

Feature:
This is a very basic mic with no roll off switches or other bling. I think Rode spent the money on making it sound good.

Quality:
The NT1-A is very well made as a studio mic. I wouldn't even attempt to use it as a stage mic, although our lead singer wanted to get one for stage use...he was very happy with it. I store it in the box when not in use and keep it covered when it is out on the stand and "on break".

Value:
For the ballpark of $200.00 you simply can't beat the value of this mic. An industry standard for the small studio.

Desirability:
This is a very simple, straightforward mic...no sexy LED's or switches and is therefore very appealing in its simplicity.

Sound:
I bought this mic for my tiny project studio and I have been using it for a couple years now. For the money it is a very high quality and accurate mic. My band was recording a demo at another small studio and we had a Rode NT1-A and a Neuman mic(I don't recall the model number). In the course of the afternoon we kept coming back to the NT1-A repeatedly for lead and background vocals. We finally ended up abandoning the Neuman alltogether and using the Rode for the rest of the day! I have found it not to be particularly good for recording my high end Martin acoustic. The sound is too "boxy" and not crisp enough. I will try a small diaphragm condenser. I wish Rode made a $200.00 small diaphragm studio mic!! A request to Rode engineers...please!

Ease of Use:
It requires phantom power so plug it in, run it through your pre-amp(I use the Presonus Firepod) and get out of it what you put into it. No problems thus far with the provided shock mount as described by other users.

Support:
Have not needed customer support to this point.

Overall:
This mic is indispensable for the small studio. If you have the dough spring for the expensive "German engineering" but keep one or two of the NT1-A's in your studio; you will not be disappointed.