RODE NT1 VS NEUMANN TLM102: Which Mic is Better for You?
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- Опубликовано: 25 июн 2024
- In this video, I"ll be doing a comparison between the Rode NT1 vs Neumann TLM 102 to help you decide which one is better for you.
BUY THE RODE NT1➡️ amzn.to/3BUuKfy
BUY THE NEUMANN TLM102 ➡️ amzn.to/3QuYUdh
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If you purchase an item using my amazon link, it provides me a small commission (at no additional cost to you) which helps me create more videos and review more products.
⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰
0:00 - INTRO
0:18 - PRICE / OVERVIEW
0:46 - SPECS
1:10 - SOUND SAMPLES
3:36 - FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE RODE NT1
4:50 - FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE NEUMANN TLM102
Welcome to the Home Studio Academy!
My name is Nolan Freitas and my goal is to help you build your own home studio and teach you how to create professional sounding recordings at home.
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#neumanntlm102 #rodent1 #microphonereview
neumann tlm 102 rode nt1
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Buy the Rode NT1: amzn.to/3BUuKfy
Buy the Neumann TLM102: amzn.to/3QuYUdh
Fantastic!
When I heard you singing, I swore I was listening to the Vocalist for The Midnight.
Great stuff!
Thank you for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed the video 😊 I’m thinking of doing an updated review in the future.
I previously had the NT1A which gets mixed reviews. I have since upgraded to the Neumann TLM102 and never looked back. It literally paid for itself within the week and has helped me get the edge, be more confident, land more jobs and so I'm very happy. The downside of the 102 is that it is super sensitive. I would only recommend it to people who have a dedicated treated space and added to this I also run everything through my DBX286S Microphone Preamp compressor but the combination of everything is delivering near-perfect sound which gets results. Granted, it's a big pricetag but worth every penny.
I couldn’t agree more! I really like the tone of the tlm102 on my voice and acoustic guitar. With that being said, for beginners I still recommend the NT1 because it won’t break the bank while getting great results. The 5th generation NT1 was just released and now it also has a USBC connection and preamp build it which are both great additions.
I came for a mic comparison... I'm still there cause your voice is so singular !
Thank you so much 😊
Your voice sounded so smooth on the Neumann, it gave it just what it needed to hit the soothing spot imo. The "side" from "by my side" took a magical turn
Thanks so much Rainbow Sam! I agree, I have recorded most of all my talking head videos so far in the channel with the TLM102. I do prefer it over the NT1 but everyone has a different preference in what they want to hear in a vocal.
@@homestudioacademy Whose song is it btw, yours ? I love it. Can I listen to it somewhere ?
@@Yadeehoo yes it’s an original which I plan to release this year 😊 thank you!
@@homestudioacademy That track is a banger. What will the release title be ?
@@Yadeehoo the song title is “Don’t Let Go”
that 102 is so clean on your vocals
Hey EKG! I totally agree that it sounds very smooth on vocals. Thanks for taking the time to comment on the video.
great video bro, I just bought the rode and I can't wait for it to come in
Thank you for your support, Nubie! Congrats, it’s a great mic!
TLM102 just sounds so nice to me
Great mic for sure! 👍
NTI has natural sound. People rarely understand this TLM is little coloured and a little harsh.
I definitely agree that it’s not as neutral sounding as the NT1. But it does sound better in a mix in my opinion.
Exactly, it is more sibilant and sounds cheap with all these hyped high frequencies that are not coming from higher harmonics but a simple frequency boost.
As for sitting better in the mix, I do not want to be rude, but this is nonsense. EQ and compression, saturation and all other kinds of processing is needed for any microphone to sit well in the mix, and it is absolutely impossible to have one sound character to fit all mixes and songs, so although people say this very often it is basically nonsense.
Are you serious ??? Clearly the NT1 is one the worst budget vocal mic ever !!! ... Too brighter and a lot of sibilances...i don't inderstand people who like this mic for vocals...
@@pharaaonlevrai You do not have to like it, you are missing there point.
But if you like the TLM 102 and 103 but not the NT1 then you are either not realistic, or you did not listen to all of them properly.
What you and I like is irrelevant, NT1 is a good microphone objectively, the same goes to TLM 102, Lewitt 440 Pure, OC16, or any other microphone in this price range.
If you cannot get a proper recording with any of those microphones then you are either trying to record a bad talent, your room is extremely bad, or your knowledge is lacking.
@@BojanBojovic ahahah 🤣🤣🤣🤣 one of m'y Friend give me he's nt1 for a isovox test and let me tell you again this mic IS Bad ! , A lot of good engineers don't like this mic and for unders 300e you have litteraly better option , NT1 is really too bright , vocal sound thin (with and within isovox ) , i'm not a fan of tlm102 /103 too , in this Price range i'll go with Sony c-80 / wa87 / wa47jr (for budget ) avantone CV 12 , blue babby bottle ...
very nice comparaison
Thank you so much! New comparison videos coming soon.
@@homestudioacademy sounds great
LOVE RODE NT1 5th gen
Nice mic for sure! I actually made a comparison between the 4th and 5th gen:
ruclips.net/video/aGskM91lUys/видео.html
@@homestudioacademy thanks 😊
@@BOKHTARIMUSIC you’re very welcome
Go with the Neumann TLM101 (aka as Sennheiser MK4) for $300 made in the same factory in Germany.
It's a subtle joke
You have a beautiful voice.
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Kermit Kermit Kermit
I've been recording for a while and I just bought the 102 but honestly, I did not notice that much of a difference between the 102 and the Rode. NT1 I've been using a Sennheiser 431 and a Shure SM58 .I read that the Neumann 102 was especially good for studio vocals while the ones I already have are good for live vocals. So anyway I bought it . I have not used it yet so I hope I get a little bit of improvement. Maybe I'll get a Rode NT1 also as it seems like a really good deal .
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 😊 Both great mics but I think it’s going to come down to personal preference and budget.
the 102 has more air to it and also picked up more thump on the guitar. my personal preference would be the nt1. both sound good but i like the well rounded sound of the rode
Hey drizzl 88, I think at the end of the day it’s up to taste. People who like neutral sounding mics will prefer the NT1 but those who light a brighter mic will go for the TLM102.
sure thing. both are good mics imo
@@drizzl8899 agreed!
Could you tell me how to record the acoustics guiter?
Here is a tutorial on how to record acoustic guitar: ruclips.net/video/hGah2Uy_TKs/видео.html Hope it helps! 😊
Some clean tracking there , no background noise or so . TLM102 sound best , but i heard a lot mouth click in recording, in NT1 track i dont heard that mouth click. I hate to cleaning mouth noise in mixing using manual ediitng or izotope RX ( hate RX to clean up pop & click)
Thanks for sharing! At the end of the day, both are great mics but i prefer the TLM102
Which software you are using for vocal recording
Logic Pro
Can you make a vid of the Earthworks ETHOS? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Also, you sing beautifully, man.
I haven’t had the chance to get that mic yet but maybe in the future! And thank you so much for the kind works 😊
Just eq Nt1 , boost around 6K freq maybe the sound very very similar
But i dont know cause i dont have tlm 😅
Can u make the video tutorial make Nt1 similiar to TLM 103 like the king audio interface , he upload tutorial how to make sm57 sound like sm7b
Hey TEST, yes you can use the EQ to make the mic sound similar but still won’t be the exact same. Just look at the frequency response graph of both mic and use the EQ boost to copy the EQ curve of whatever mic you are trying to imitate. However, every mic has a specific tonal characteristic that will distinguish itself. I hope in the future be able to get the TLM103 and review it but it’s a bit out of my price range at the moment. Stay tuned for more mic reviews this month and thank you for taking the time to comment on the video.
True.
interesting. I use the TLM102 myself. On your recording it sound a little harsh, especially compared to the Rode NT1. On my recordings the TLM 102 has a very gentle stardust on the high end, which makes it sound very natural and open but not harsh. The TLM102 is excellent on shaping details of the voice - as all Neumanns do.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! This was one of my first RUclips videos from almost 2 years ago. Maybe I’ll do a follow up this year. Thanks for the insight 😊
@homestudioacademy yeah i feel this wasnt a good comparison my 102 dont sound like that
@@jeromecrockett2311 I’ll consider doing a follow up this year 😊
@@jeromecrockett2311 I’ll consider doing a follow up video this year 😊
@@homestudioacademy that would be cool
What microphone are you using? It sounds too metallic kind of too aggressive to the ears.
Hey, thanks for leaving a comment! I was using a budget lavalier mic underneath my T-shirt for the on camera talking parts since it was one of my first RUclips videos. Back then, I was recording through it on my iPhone without any post processing. My camera and mic setup has improved drastically since then though 😊
Nice voice! One little detail. That isn't a shock mount that comes with the 102. Just a basic hard mount. The Neumann shock mount is sold separately.
Thanks badmiddens! Oh so that’s what everyone was saying in the comments, I appreciate you clarifying.
@@homestudioacademy No prob, I think it sells for 160 or 170.
@@badmiddens yeah I have that one and it works great!
@@homestudioacademy nice! Oh, and seriously, just listened to your comparison again. I am a mic nerd and I watch a LOT of mic comparisons and reviews. The vast majority of the ones I've seen where the creator does a singing test... Let's just say I have to hurry and skip past that part before my ears bleed out and my soul dies. I mean, not everyone can sing, and probably shouldn't You, however, are a real talent. I'm no music expert, but I really enjoy your singing.
@@badmiddens thank you so much for the kind words! I’ve been a musician and artist for many years and last year decided to become a content creator. It’s been a journey, but encouragements like these help me keep going. I truly appreciate your support!
102 is the best on your voice
Thanks TikRocK!
RODE NT1 5th gen vs LEWITT 540 ?
Both great mics! However, the NT1 is much more affordable so it comes down to personal preference and budget.
Worked with both, practically identical. Both have some nasty 6khz spike that does not work well with my vocal.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Everyone’s voice is going to be different so I always encourage to try the mic out for yourself. Hasn’t been my experience though, I quite like both. Also, using a DeEsser can sure help.
the sneaky BANGER song and singing voice were a pleasant surprise
Thank you so much Warner!
@@homestudioacademy You're a legend! Keep creating, please!🤟
@@WarnerBrown thanks for all the support! Your encouragement means a lot. It’s been 8 months on RUclips and I strive to get better every day.
the tlm does not have a boost at 6k.. more like a cut. and then a boost a 10k.
Il 102 è più indirizzato per gli strumenti mentre per la voce calda e colorata il 103 è imbattibile il Rode NT1 impeccabile molto naturale
So sorry I don’t understand that language 😔
102 sounds more sibilant, and that's next to the Rode NT1, which is often criticized as sibilant. Rode sounded smoother.
Yes, the NT1 (black one) has a much more “neutral” sound due to a flat frequency response. However, I have read multiple comments and heard multiple demos showing that the Rode NT1A* (silver one) is criticized because it has more of a treble boost in the higher frequencies that can sound harsh on vocals.
Holy cow, the Rode was so much smoother, which I did not expect. The 102 was a bit more "hi-fi" if that's what one is looking for, but there was some unbearable sibilance.
NTI flat sounding CM. If high end is little boosted. It will sound amazing. TLM sounds loose at low end and over crispy at high end. I think there is no perfect condenser microphone on the earth that sounds natural and balanced at all ends. If you find any. Pl. name.
Right, at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference and each person’s voice. Just because mic A sounds good on your voice doesn’t mean it will sound good on someone else’s voice (if you get what I mean)
Name of the song your singing ❤???
That’s an old song of mine called “Don’t Let Go”.
Thanks!!!!❤️@@homestudioacademy
Is it on Spotify?✌️
@@panosbogiakis2317 you’re welcome! Not yet
Con 2: Not for acoustic sources.
Absolute disagree. Use them as my main OH mics, they sound great and natural on drums aswell as grand piano. Maybe they lack a bit of presence for acoustic guitars, but its just straight down weird to say the NT1 is bad for all acoustic instruments. Very hard to take you serious.
Hey Mikas, thanks for leaving a comment! I primarily play acoustic and electric guitar and do not own a drum set so I was going based on my experience inside my home studio. Great to hear it sounds good on drums and piano though!
is this rode NT1 4th or 5th gen?
The one in this video is the 4th gen.
Here are some much newer reviews comparing the 4th gen vs 5th gen and the new Signature Series:
RODE NT1 (5th Gen) VS (4th Gen): Which Mic Should You Buy?
ruclips.net/video/aGskM91lUys/видео.html
Rode NT1 4th Gen vs Signature Series: Which Mic Should You Buy?
ruclips.net/video/MRMo-_tDX5k/видео.html
Hope it helps!
@homestudioacademy Thanks for the quick reply.
I'm actually looking for a mic for gaming/streaming and occasional side singing. At the moment, I have SM7B (with Fethead) and Focusrite 2i2 4th gen, which I totally hate. It sounds compressed or vertically thin and muddy and is only workable after cutting 300-350Hz, alongside my terrible EQ-ing skill. Upgrading Focusrite (gen) and replacing cable did not help. It might be the audio interface, though, since I can hear more clarity from Audient examples (so I'm considering an upgrade/resell if needed). It could also be this mic coloration or the fact that it's dynamic, but in either case, it does not fit my voice. Since I prefer brighter mics, I always end up doing an aggressive high shelf. Knowing this, purchasing SM7B was most likely a horrible decision.
I do agree that mics are personalized, and to know if one would suit my voice is difficult in my place since there is no testing studio or something. I think condensers are exactly what I'm looking for because they have a wider image. The problem is which condenser. Budget isn't really a concern for me (maybe up to $1000), but I'd rather save than spend. When talking, I usually talk in a lower voice but, when singing, I usually sing in mezzo-soprano (countertenor). I guess it's similar to the singer Imase (ruclips.net/video/QbHBfxAOucI/видео.html), but slightly lower. I usually prefer mics with more detailed/noticeable mid/highs and smooth response (no sudden boosts/cuts in frequency response), something that Sony C-800G has. Besides that, I don't like hearing that 200-1000Hz range much. If I try to cut somewhere in between, in most cases it would instead ruin the character of the voice, so I thought fixing the source is the easiest solution.
What mic in your opinion would be best for my voice? Based on personal research, my top choice is still NT1 4th Gen as it feels really flatteringly smooth for most RUclips reviewers. It feels a tad dark for my taste, though. NT1-A is slightly brighter and may be better for me. Perhaps for vocal, NT1-A with good recording techniques can open up some new sound opportunities. Overall, NT1 4th Gen and NT1A have impressed me the most because of how smooth their responses are. Neat King Bee II is great but is not sold in my country locally, at least, and what a coincidence that its frequency response is similar to Rode NT1 4th gen. NT1 5th gen is a tad brighter, and I'm conflicted about it. It doesn't have that smooth response I'm loving. I'm not sure if I should splurge a bit more and get AT4040. To be honest, I still prefer NT1 over AT4040 listening to some samples. Warm 47 Jr is all right. I tried listening to Lewitt 440, but it has no low end and has weird frequency glide (I suspect the 4kHz boost).
I have been listening to some tests, and especially in this video, I do prefer the NT1's smooth response. Vocal wise, I can hear the sibilance in the TLM 102, which does not sound as good as the esses in NT1. It sounds peaky (perhaps it's boosting where the sibilant frequency is, leading to some form of resonance). For talking, the extra top end does help TLM 102 push through the mix easily when a lot of things are going on. However, I'm not sure if NT1 is much more pleasant to listen to overall, or it's just because of my headphone coloration/preference. But for one thing, that's the reason why I asked whether this is 4th or 5th gen.
Sorry for the wall of text. I have super sensitive ears, and I care a lot about audio quality. I am indecisive and keep going back and forth haha
@@Kisenix thanks for the insightful comment. I want to touch on a few points to answer you the best I can.
1. Yes, microphones and tone are subjective and not one fits all. The SM7B on its own sounds pretty flat. However, it has quickly become one of my favorite mics specially for spoken word once I’m done mixing it. For that reason I highly encourage you to check out my tutorial on how to mix that specific mic before buying a new one:
How To MIX ANY VOCAL Recorded On A Shure SM7B or SM7DB!
ruclips.net/video/IdPE_heqmtk/видео.html
Try it out and see what you think.
2. If that doesn’t help, then it sounds like you’re a fan of the Rode NT1. To me the 4th generation is the smoothest of all the models. If I were you, I would either go with the 4th gen or the Signature Series which sounds a bit brighter.
Here is a quick comparison and a tutorial on how to mix the NT1:
Rode NT1 4th Gen vs Signature Series: Which Mic Should You Buy?
ruclips.net/video/MRMo-_tDX5k/видео.html
How To MIX ANY VOCAL Recorded On A RODE NT1 Microphone!
ruclips.net/video/9QZt6IDN0PE/видео.html
Hope this helps you in making your decision. 😊
@@homestudioacademy Hi, I followed your guide, and it was quite helpful! I decided to watch some other guides as well and realized that I was probably overcompressing my voice, leading to muddiness since it becomes much flatter. It seems that a lot of processing tips are suggesting that I should put compressor near the quietest word, but it removed all the transients, making the sound too smooth to my liking. This may be because when I talk normally, I have a super wide dynamic range. I decided to start the compressor at 0dB and incrementally lower it down until it sounds great. And now it sounds very professional even without any EQ (except HPF)! Very much thanks!
*I also changed my mic placement, which probably has more impact.
@@Kisenix glad to hear the tutorial helped you 😊
NT1 all day.
Rode just released the new NT1 5th generation like two days ago. I’ll be doing a video on it next week.
@@homestudioacademy I look forward to it. Please review the RTL with USB and audio interface.
@@thatchinaboi1 if I buy the mic, I will for sure!
Virtually every microphone needs eq and compression... I find it hard to get rid of high end sizzle without ruining the sound... Give me a warmer mic that you can eq to taste and mix...
That’s true! I think of microphones like color/taste.. Everyone has a preference. I find that brighter voices benefit from darker mics, while darker/lower voices benefit from brighter mics.
@@homestudioacademy But everybody pronounces S and all humans get listener fatigue with high frequencies...
NT1
Thanks for leaving a comment! 😊
Neumann wins on guitar and Vocals. Sibilants can be tamed.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and sharing your thoughts! Both great mics for sure 😊
Rode nt 1 much better
Sound in this microphone is reality as tlm 102
True. NTI sounds natural. It is better option.
These microphones make it sound like you have an accent
Oh no nothing to do with the mic! I’m Brazilian 🇧🇷
@@homestudioacademy it was probably the worlds WORST joke (but best video!) sorry for being so silly.
@@Samlol23_drrich it’s all good! Thanks for leaving a comment 😊
@@homestudioacademy well thanks for making a video I know how difficult it can be
@@Samlol23_drrich I appreciate your support
He's giving a biased review.. Just do a blind test and you'll know.
Biased? I’ve done multiple reviews on these mics.
Rode NT1 4th Gen vs Signature Series: Which Mic Should You Buy?
ruclips.net/video/MRMo-_tDX5k/видео.html
RODE NT1 Signature Series: The BEST VALUE Mic Under $160!
ruclips.net/video/EPlGKnN17cg/видео.html
Shure SM7DB vs Rode NT1: Which Mic Should You Buy?
ruclips.net/video/68bOsIAfu4s/видео.html
RODE NT1 vs ASTON ORIGIN: Which Mic Should You Buy?
ruclips.net/video/OcLpDGmCAL0/видео.html
RODE NT1 (5th Gen) VS (4th Gen): Which Mic Should You Buy?
ruclips.net/video/aGskM91lUys/видео.html
I'd rather have a video like this or a blind test for viewers to judge. Sound is always subjective there's no hard and fast rule that this is perfect and this ain't. (Except for obviously wrong sounding equipment). ruclips.net/video/i36Mk_gxRMk/видео.htmlsi=-rQ6wACfw2x5751b
I love rode nt1 and it sounds great, but for YOUR voice, 102 sounds smoother and better
Thanks for sharing! I completely agree.
The NT1 has its own unique warm sound characteristic that sounds amazing the NT2A also the tlm 102 was flat and clear but it didn't have that tone that warm characteristic tone to it I have a NT2A was thinking about buy a tlm 103 then I come on RUclips to hear the sound reviews using Yamaha 5 headphones and the rode just holds its own even with the $10,000 mics it just has its own characteristic tone to it it adds to your voice and makes it sound better the tlm is clear and good but it's not adding anything so I'm sticking with my NT2A.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 😊
nice ^^
Thank you! 😊
@@homestudioacademy no probz brew i like such videos 🤗
@@BruceLeaak awesome! Make sure to check out the channel because this one is like 2 years old and my video quality has definitely improved since then. For example:
ruclips.net/video/OIlE5MpZVeM/видео.html
@@homestudioacademy ok thanx i will ^^
you sing pretty good
Thank you so much DelayEdits!
@@homestudioacademy idk if you have a video on it, but what are your quick thoughts on the lewitt 440/540 vs the tlm102
@@delayedits1239 I own both the TLM102 and the Lewitt LCT 440 Pure. Both are great sounding mics!
At the end of the day, it comes down to budget. I still favor the Neumann but I would easily recommend both to anyone looking to get professional quality recordings. For the price and all included accessories, the 440 is tough to beat. Here is my review of the 440 pure: ruclips.net/video/Z3YYrpAXZ2s/видео.html
I have not tested the 540
@@homestudioacademy Thank you!. I currently have an nt1a and think ima upgrade to the tlm102. One last question though, i have a steinberg ur12 interface, for the upgrade would you reccomend me upgrading that also? Thanks again
@@delayedits1239 I understand. I haven’t used the interface you currently own but tomorrow I’ll be releasing my review of the Audient ID24 audio interface which I think is best value interface for the price.
In addition I’ve made reviews on my top picks based on different budgets:
$300
ruclips.net/video/NzSgz_XV83Q/видео.html
$150
ruclips.net/video/vfi6VTIQmU4/видео.html
Sorry, couldn't hear you after the TLM102 sliced my ears off with high end...
Hey David! That one cracked me up 😂 the Rode NT1 definitely has a more neutral response for sure.
indeed