It's hard to tell because her singing is incredible. B sounds a bit warmer and shinier I suppose, but I don't know. She has great vocal control. She probably could sing into a biscuit and still sound amazing.
OMG, I am sound engineer and I have almost no emotional connection with music...after all these years of mixing. Katie, your performance when piano come in, your singing caused goose bumps on my body ! That was FANTASTIC !
Thank you so much for this well executed comparison! :-) It really shows the law of diminishing returns and that singing, recording and post processing skills are more important than having a Neumann U87 or a Rode NT1-A. Wonderful :)
I've been using a Rode NT1-A since I recorded my first song in High School for a rap group I was in and it was the only mic I used for a long time until I graduated and bought my own as the Rode belonged to my high school teacher who built a basic studio in his class where we recorded. I bought the mic from him because to me it was the greatest mic I ever used and because of the sentimental value of that specific one being the first I ever recorded on. I had recorded on various mics leading up to the point I bought it. Like a Beyerdynamic MC840, ART M-One, Samson C01 and various other mics but to my ear and for my vocal they never sounded quite as good as the NT1-A so I had to have it especially since I had gone away from being a recording artist and started engineering, I needed a mic that I knew very well. I find it weird that many people can't hear the difference between this and the Neumann. I hear it instantly. The Rode has quite an exaggerated top end boost (one of the reasons I love it) while the Neumann is a lot flatter and smoother. And both worked really well for this performance, well for my taste anyway. Might just be that I love the sound of the Rode and always will. The low to mid range of both mics sound almost identical as well. The standard NT1 might be a lot closer to the Neumann because it doesn't have that top end boost. Great video!
Hi there! During the session I concluded that the A-mic was Rode NT1 and the B-mic was the Neuman U87. The Rode had less distortion in the louder parts which is amazing. Apart from that the differences are not very big. Thanks a lot for making this test. Best wishes...and very well sung Kaitie! / D
A friend of mine is a recording engineer. He said Neumann's U47 and U87 will most likely always be the "Rolls Royce" of condenser studio microphones. There are other condenser mics that are cheaper, and they sound fantastic. He said that some engineers and vocalists just love the "rich,fat sound" that the Neumann captures. Frank Sinatra used to insist on the Neumann U47 to record all his vocals. But today you can choose from a very wide spectrum of affordable condenser mics.
No doubt naumann U47, U87AI are best condenser MICROPHONEs on the earth. But affordable RODE NTIA, NTI, ASTON SPIRIT, SENHEISER MK 4, 8, BLUE BABY BOTTLE SL, MXL 770 are Naumanns of poor people.
if you mix records you will know how shitty the nt1 is... you'll have to de-ess a ton because of the overly bright and cheap sound you get. plus yeah, the stacking now the shittyness times 50 tracks
AJ Afterparty I actually just mixed a song with a lot of vocal tracks all recorded with my NT1A. Do some careful EQ, throw on a tape machine emulation, de-ess a little on the lead and a lot on the background vocals, sounds perfect to me. Thanks to being a member of Nail The Mix I can hear what vocal tracks recorded through multi thousand dollar mics sound like, and mine sound the exact same, even though I didn't spend $3,000. Being a student and working retail part time and mixing part time, that's a waste of money right now. Not in the future however.
+Peyton Bryan Helm I can hear cheap mics a mile away... They sound thin and unpleasant. A mic well built with attention to detail sounds creamy and lush. And that's just the mic, throw in an A class preamp, a tube compressor and clock it with an outboard clock such as the black lion micro clock and add AD conversion... You'll wet your pants. Check out a company called microphone-parts.com, they build a very close u87 replica among others. For a couple hundred bucks. ;)
I know it's eight years on but thank you for doing this video. It's what I needed to see. I've been using Rodes mics since I decided to build my own studio. When I built my first studio I started doing vocals with the Rode NT1 25 years ago. After 5 years, one album and numerous singles I got the Rode NT1-A and used that for another 5 years. I had a 7 year run with a Sontronics STC-2 which I preferred to the Rode for years but for the past 7 years I've gone back to using two NT1-A mics at both my studio bases. I have recently, bought a secondhand WA-87 for a good price, to get closer to that vintage U87 with more warmth in the sound of both mine and the male artists voices. I've not had the chance to use it yet hence I'm checking out videos about the Warm WA-87 and how it compares with the Neumann and the Rode.
I came here to listen the comparison between the NT1-A which I own, against the legendary U87. But what I found was an incredible singer, I'm amazed by the control that Katie has, what a wonderful singer.
Well, that's how it goes. Good performer sounds good basically through everything! BUT add a perfect mic for her/his voice. BOOM! There you have something REALLY special :)
yes, but i listened on iMac speakers, and the difference on this recording is quite small. I have both mics, and on mid sized Quested and small EMES coaxial studio Monitors you can hear it clearly... I would not say the Neumann is always "better", but my experience is that you can take it down in the mix without losing transparency and presence, while the Rode loses richness and gets thin. And, i think the Rode is quite good on female voices, while the Neumann is better on male voices.
I think this song with this amazing female singer, Mic A is more suitable for her :) Mic B sounds like that sometimes her vocal voice will be slightly eaten by background music.
We cannot compare mics when they are in different position to the source. Phase makes all the differences. All the mic tests are absolutely useless and have no sence. Change the position and you will love the mic.
@@CyrilleBoucanogh They are at the same distance from the source = the same phase. Of course the slightly different positions create very subtle changes in the sound, but the differences between mic models are clearly a lot more pronounced in this case.
@@CyrilleBoucanogh With a singular source, phase makes zero difference. The mics are at the same distance and angle from the singer. Can we just accept that Rodes manufacturing is so nailed that they don't have to charge much for practically the same quality.
I now listened to this again. I can't believe I thought these sounded the same. The Neumann sounds more full, more airy, with tamed resonanses. Way better. I don't know what I was thinking the first time. Maybe my ears had a bad day. @@kenturnbull5450
Just got a Rode NT 1A. I wasnt really big on it, only used it once so far, but I'm glad i have it in my collection now after hearing this shootout... Thanks!! Beautiful voice!!!!!
@@egegulkaya2525 Sorry I’m 3 weeks late, they belong to beyerdynamic but I forgot which one was open back, they’re really popular in the music industry, Even you tubers use them.
I suppose u need a studio quality speakers to notice the difference, anyway u need it in professional matter for professional mastering, otherwise it's hudge overkill.
After listening carefully to both mics on a nice pair of headphones I've come to the conclusion that the singer would sound amazing even if she was singing into a potato. It's difficult to evaluate a mic when you are fighting through chills and goosebumps.
I'm bidding - A = Rode, B= Neumann. There's kind of shouty stuff coming off A in the top and the lo mid is kind of distant and unfocussed. B just gives the kind of clean, homogeneous slab of sound that's much easier to work with. If I'm wrong I'm going straight out to buy a couple of Rodes. Actually even if the Rode's A I'm going to get a couple anyway - great useful sound and incredible price for the sound.
I wish I preferred A, but I didn't ... one thing is for sure, while you get what you pay for, above a certain point there are definite diminishing returns on the investment. I'd still buy the U87. :-)
Amazing performance! Thank god for these. You realise you really don’t need to spend extortionate amounts to get a good vocal recording, spend the money on getting better at singing! Tech has made it a lot cheaper to get amazing mics!
This is the only mic comparison I've ever listened to where, in the end, it not only didn't matter which mic won, but I ONLY wanted to know more about the incredible performer facilitating the test! If I ever have the money, I want that voice on one of my songs!
I found this video 4 years ago to listen to rode, finally since then I listened to this song over 500 times, for me Katie is the best in the world and she has to give us other songs, thanks Katie !!!! !!
There are both great microphones. The reason is they have a great setup. 1. A well treated room ideal for singing 2. A good interface and a pop filter. 3. A fantastic singer
I couldn't really hear a difference by watching this RUclips video so I downloaded the raw WAVs and A/B'd in my DAW (I selected a few parts that I RMS volume matched). The highs of the Rode sound a bit more harsh than the Neumann. As a consequence the Rode has slightly more artificial presence and the Neumann is more natural sounding. I would say I slightly prefer the Neumann sound. But honestly, this is only noticeable when taking the time and effort to properly A/B this. As soon as the voice is mixed in the song and mastered, both sound exactly the same. So if you're looking for a mike and you're not a full-time pro the Rode NT1-A is a no-brainer really. Even a pro can do with the Rode if he wanted to.
The U87 has a more detailed sound in the upper mids and highs, more air. Both sound very good. The NT1-A holds its own surprisingly well against the U87. "Punches above its weight" would be an appropriate description of the NT1-A.
Very good review and comparison, extremely helpful. Finally somebody thought to compare them dry, processed and in context within the mix. Very useful thank you! B is the Neumann (will be staggered if its not!) pretty significant difference especially when processed and in context.
A = Røde: I immediately recognized the "magic touch" it lends to the sound (I love it, and the new NT1 doesn't have it). B = Neumann: Not a bad microphone either. (As long as you don't count value versus price).
I’ve been recording and producing music since last 25 years, all this time I’ve used open-room to record vocals but, now I’ve found out that, there is a big difference between open-room recording and vocals booth I rather record in a open-room than a vocal booth, big difference between them Just wanted to share my experience
But in the discription of the video it says "microphones A and B correspond to Neumann U87 and Rode NT1-A." I'm confused... Do you confirm, for sure, that A = NT1A and B = Neumann U87?
Good stuff! Thank you for the great comparison. To be honest, there was barely any audible difference to me. Only the sharpness of the "S" sounds stood out, but it's easily fixable with a de-esser. Not bad at all for a £150 mic. Especially considering the only thing you're paying a premium for are slightly rounder "S" sounds. In an acoustically treated environment I'd say the price difference isn't really justified. The quality of both mics is astounding.
Of course U87 is B. The Rode has that cheaper harshness to it. Although I have a couple of NT1000's which are pretty decent for the price and don't regret buying them. But I don't use them on vocals and upfront elements of a mix. The funny thing is I don't use U87's because they are also harsh, or maybe too present for my ears. But in a more expensive way of course than the Rodes. Good comparison.
At the beginning I could tell the difference after the EQ was added, it was more difficult, You can do a great job with the Rode N t- 1A , Excellent video , thanks
I must say, I havent heard a singer like this in a long time. I'm a producer and wait for singers like this to come along....so far....not one. Excellent job. Who care about the mic at this point.
Thanks Adam. So you may like as well this one from the same duo, an original with the particularity of the vocal being used was the demo when the singer was showing for the very 1st time the lyrics and melodies. The part "that's all I have" was actually at the very end meaning there were no more lyrics. You may also like others from the album: ruclips.net/video/PC2yPdd7MWM/видео.html
Wow what a beautiful voice this really makes me change my mind about what mic i want i didn't think NO MIC could ever compete wit the u87 let alone at that price
It's all in her voice. Place those two mics in front of someone who can't sing, they'll both sound awful. My point is: It's not just the mic, you could have a $30,000 channel (mic, preamp, fx, plugins, converters, interface, DAW, computer), and if there's no TALENT, it will sound like a $500 channel.
That's not true, at all. The gear is a tool, and nicer tools are nicer, period. The u87 is great, if you want that sound and that sound works with your vocalist. It's not a magic bullet, and I don't really think the new production u87's are worth the price tag when you can get a clone that's damn close for so much cheaper. If you stumble upon a u87 of a good vintage, that's a different discussion, but it's still not going to be the best mic for everything, or even most things. It's just a nice tool to have. On top of that, it's 2018, we can fix talentless (with elasticAudio, various auto tune) uninspiring (with layering and harmonic modification) vocals and package them into platinum records. Sure you won't sound like Frank or Celine, but it doesn't matter because any random highschool girl (Lorde) can take a couple months worth of vocal lessons and be able to punch out tracks for a producer (Joel Little) who knows how to work with her. It's not fair, and it's not talent, but it is success, which is really what you're pushing for with your 50k worth of tube preamps, vintage compressors, 32bit daws, and a closet full of nice microphones.
Talent doesn’t exactly get you anywhere these days bc social media has shown that talent is everywhere and it in isolated places so everyone can be a superstar so they changed the criteria from talented to whoever can figure out how to get in the spotlight and stay there
Great comparison and... WOW this girl can sing! I recently sold my Røde and I'm a happy owner of a U87 now. This is exactly why :-) Even though the Røde was great, I do a lot of work with it so for me it was time to upgrade.
I know I'm about 4 years too late to comment on this but Katie Quinton's breath-taking voice could make a $5 mic sound like a million bucks! Her vocal blows Frank's version away. If the song was sung by her originally, I'd have paid it more attention to it years ago.
I'm probably another four years too late but Frank's voice is legendary. Katie did an amazing job but really. Better than Frank? Don't disrespect a veteran and legend. Frank's voice sang the songs that was the musical backdrop to my parent's lives, as well as my early life. Please be more courteous of our legends
I made the same test with other expensive mics a few years ago, also with expensive preamps and expensive speakers and came to the conclusion that you don´t need expensive things anymore. Nowadays almost everything is high end. The 80s are over! :-)
OMG!! I got chills from her performance, and it absolutely did not matter if i listened to A or B. Just goes to show that only nerdy audio-geeks like us are trying to hear a sonic difference (which imho opinion does not justify the price difference) instead of just enjoying a beautiful and touching performance. Thanks Katie, you saved my day!
I'm listening on some $10 headphones i picked up at a local store, and i can definitely tell Mic B. is the Neumann. It's a little darker and very smooth.
Brennon Causey Whatever one is the Neumann, point I think they are trying to make is that all of those overpriced mics by companies like Neumann are overrated. I've BEEN saying this for years though...
I think the biggest takeaway is that between the two you'd be hard pressed to tell one from the other without directly being able to A/B them against each other.
As always, the more expensive mic sounds more rounded and uniform along the whole spectre, especially the lower end and mid-lows. But I was surprised by how well NT1-A performed, at first I thought that Mic-A was the u87 and mic B was a bit more dark and dull, and only when I heard it in the mix I was certain that the Mic-B was much more rounded and found its place in the mix better and with no occasional frequency peaks! Wow.
You can tell which the mics are by the Scope at the end. The U87 has a much cleaner sonic fingerprint with smoother transients. You can also see why they sound so much like each other as well. Still, if everything here is Q'd flat with no FX, they are both pretty much too Sibilant for my taste. By the time you Sum for Radio and it gets crushed, no one will ever know the difference anyway. lol I would have preferred to hear the newer NT-1 or a Oktavamodded NT1-A.
Both microphones have a nice and warm sound and very outstanding audio quality, but if I have to make a choice I am giving the edge to mike b the Neumann u87
The Neumann has more controlled highs and more present, smoother mids, which is the reason it's a classic. The color of the mids is why people prefer it on so many recordings, the way it captures them is fully recognizable. The NT1-A is also excellent, but quite different color, if you get picky. Both of these mics are totally great and usable for vocals.
I agree that the U87 sounds more beautiful and has a more rich sound. But... the real question is: is it worth 10x the price compared to the NT1-A? My answer: no. Simple because it is not 10x better than the NT1-A. The things the NT1-A lacks can easily be fixed in post, to my humble opinion. All you need is a good DAW and pair of ears ;-) I am not considering buying a mic whatsoever at this moment, but i would definitely go for the NT1-A if i had to choose between these two mics.
I felt they were closely matched. To make them near Identical, need to reduce some crispiness from mic A by adjusting the reverb slightly lower on, and reduce treble only slightly, then add a slight more treble to mic B....you got a match. Which would you want to pay for? Resale/trade-in value might also be considered.
The Neumann sounds really great and i now understand why its the king among vocal mics.. The extra highend in the Rode is a bit too much and annoying for the ear.. but it might be a good thing when using it for recording other things then vocals. And they both have great self noise specs. So i think i will get myself a matched pair of Rodes for recording all kinds of fun stuff :)
Have you noticed. As Kittie is approaching towards ultrasonic waves, she is making optimum distance from the mic so that it may not burst. What an amazing singer Kitie is.
I got a bigger improvement over the vocal sound in my recordings when I upgraded from stock standard focusrite preamps to Neve and Sebatron preamps. I use an Nt1a and have hired a U87 before to compare the two but the preamps made a bigger difference to me and the vocal sound I get without the use of many plugins. It sounds more direct .
It is hard to say but in the end it becomes clear when you know the difference between cheaper and more expensive mics. I wish that a better mic pre was used. That would have made it nearly impossible to tell and harder to believe that there is so little between them. But the difference really comes into play when you layer other instruments and then start mixing. So while there appears to be little between them as you start mixing the better quality mics start paying for themselves and their value becomes more apparent.
Mic A seems ever-so-slightly brighter/breathier in raw, mainly in the inhales and consonant diction. Once you add the DSP chain any difference is pretty much lost, as your chain adds a lot of brightness. If I didn't know they were different mics up front, you could'a fooled me. Listening signal chain is PC to Focusrite 2i4 to Mackie 1202 VLZ Pro to ATH-M45 headphones.
It's hard to tell because her singing is incredible. B sounds a bit warmer and shinier I suppose, but I don't know. She has great vocal control. She probably could sing into a biscuit and still sound amazing.
dante williams, Mic A is the Rode NT1a and Mic B is the Neumann U87ai.
Thank you.
dante williams Lol
😂😂😂
u sure?because the description says the opposite
OMG, I am sound engineer and I have almost no emotional connection with music...after all these years of mixing. Katie, your performance when piano come in, your singing caused goose bumps on my body ! That was FANTASTIC !
she really sang so beautifully that I got tears in my eyes. Awesome performance Katie Quinton!
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
I too. Her pranounciation and redition is incredible.
me 2
I forgot I was listening to a comparison I was just enjoying her song so much
Hi Nicole, you can download the Wave files here:
drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B4P9zi8x07uxU1FHd2dvTUt3OUE?usp=sharing
SAME 😱
My Way -Frank Sinatra. Frank Sinatra is a GOAT.
I don’t like her vibrato
It's by Frank Sinatra originally if you're wondrin
B was definitely the better mic, but the two are closer in quality than I expected. Only problem is, that extra difference always counts
the extra difference doesn't always count. But the quality of the song and performance does
Thank you so much for this well executed comparison! :-) It really shows the law of diminishing returns and that singing, recording and post processing skills are more important than having a Neumann U87 or a Rode NT1-A. Wonderful :)
HJD, thanks for the feedback 😆
I've been using a Rode NT1-A since I recorded my first song in High School for a rap group I was in and it was the only mic I used for a long time until I graduated and bought my own as the Rode belonged to my high school teacher who built a basic studio in his class where we recorded. I bought the mic from him because to me it was the greatest mic I ever used and because of the sentimental value of that specific one being the first I ever recorded on. I had recorded on various mics leading up to the point I bought it. Like a Beyerdynamic MC840, ART M-One, Samson C01 and various other mics but to my ear and for my vocal they never sounded quite as good as the NT1-A so I had to have it especially since I had gone away from being a recording artist and started engineering, I needed a mic that I knew very well.
I find it weird that many people can't hear the difference between this and the Neumann. I hear it instantly. The Rode has quite an exaggerated top end boost (one of the reasons I love it) while the Neumann is a lot flatter and smoother. And both worked really well for this performance, well for my taste anyway. Might just be that I love the sound of the Rode and always will. The low to mid range of both mics sound almost identical as well. The standard NT1 might be a lot closer to the Neumann because it doesn't have that top end boost.
Great video!
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
the winner is the girl! :)
Les éditions libres, agreed ✌
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Right? I feel like she could make a logitech mic sound good, haha
Really love her voice
@Boris Sladakovic i do believe the issue is not the microphone :-)
Was looking for mic reviews, but commenting on your lovely voice! My God!!! Absolutely stunning!
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Hi there! During the session I concluded that the A-mic was Rode NT1 and the B-mic was the Neuman U87. The Rode had less distortion in the louder parts which is amazing. Apart from that the differences are not very big. Thanks a lot for making this test. Best wishes...and very well sung Kaitie! / D
Finally! A test that goes the distance. Thanks for doing such a great job. I am laughing so hard. When the Freq analyzers came up, I was loving it!
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
A friend of mine is a recording engineer. He said Neumann's U47 and U87 will most likely always be the "Rolls Royce" of condenser studio microphones. There are other condenser mics that are cheaper, and they sound fantastic. He said that some engineers and vocalists just love the "rich,fat sound" that the Neumann captures. Frank Sinatra used to insist on the Neumann U47 to record all his vocals. But today you can choose from a very wide spectrum of affordable condenser mics.
No doubt naumann U47, U87AI are best condenser MICROPHONEs on the earth. But affordable RODE NTIA, NTI, ASTON SPIRIT, SENHEISER MK 4, 8, BLUE BABY BOTTLE SL, MXL 770 are Naumanns of poor people.
What is the best microphone in your opinion?
@@LimePieMusic U47 &U87
There is a difference, but not a $3,000 difference.
When you multiply vocals by stacking - the difference becomes drastically more apparent.
if you mix records you will know how shitty the nt1 is... you'll have to de-ess a ton because of the overly bright and cheap sound you get. plus yeah, the stacking now the shittyness times 50 tracks
What a croc .
AJ Afterparty I actually just mixed a song with a lot of vocal tracks all recorded with my NT1A. Do some careful EQ, throw on a tape machine emulation, de-ess a little on the lead and a lot on the background vocals, sounds perfect to me. Thanks to being a member of Nail The Mix I can hear what vocal tracks recorded through multi thousand dollar mics sound like, and mine sound the exact same, even though I didn't spend $3,000. Being a student and working retail part time and mixing part time, that's a waste of money right now. Not in the future however.
+Peyton Bryan Helm I can hear cheap mics a mile away... They sound thin and unpleasant. A mic well built with attention to detail sounds creamy and lush. And that's just the mic, throw in an A class preamp, a tube compressor and clock it with an outboard clock such as the black lion micro clock and add AD conversion... You'll wet your pants. Check out a company called microphone-parts.com, they build a very close u87 replica among others. For a couple hundred bucks. ;)
I know it's eight years on but thank you for doing this video. It's what I needed to see. I've been using Rodes mics since I decided to build my own studio.
When I built my first studio I started doing vocals with the Rode NT1 25 years ago. After 5 years, one album and numerous singles I got the Rode NT1-A and used that for another 5 years. I had a 7 year run with a Sontronics STC-2 which I preferred to the Rode for years but for the past 7 years I've gone back to using two NT1-A mics at both my studio bases. I have recently, bought a secondhand WA-87 for a good price, to get closer to that vintage U87 with more warmth in the sound of both mine and the male artists voices. I've not had the chance to use it yet hence I'm checking out videos about the Warm WA-87 and how it compares with the Neumann and the Rode.
@@RoomAtTheTopStudio , thanks.
We use a wide selection of WA microphones.
WA87
WA14
WA47
WA251
I came here to listen the comparison between the NT1-A which I own, against the legendary U87. But what I found was an incredible singer, I'm amazed by the control that Katie has, what a wonderful singer.
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
And, what’s your conclusion about the mics? (I own nt1a as well)
Thanks for all the effort that you guys put in to doing this.
It's a pleasure. Thanks and happy new year 🎉
Incredible performance. I don't even care about the mics anymore, haha.
You should hear her song called fly ➡www.beatport.com/artist/katie-quinton/630481
Fuck the mics😂😂😂
Well, that's how it goes. Good performer sounds good basically through everything! BUT add a perfect mic for her/his voice. BOOM! There you have something REALLY special :)
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
I honest to God preferred the first one.
I just knew it'd be the Neumann, but I was pleasantly surprised.
A = NT1A , B = U87
Beatchild & The Slakadeliqs, you got it right 😉
Thus what I guessed through laptop speakers.
yes, but i listened on iMac speakers, and the difference on this recording is quite small. I have both mics, and on mid sized Quested and small EMES coaxial studio Monitors you can hear it clearly... I would not say the Neumann is always "better", but my experience is that you can take it down in the mix without losing transparency and presence, while the Rode loses richness and gets thin. And, i think the Rode is quite good on female voices, while the Neumann is better on male voices.
I think this song with this amazing female singer, Mic A is more suitable for her :)
Mic B sounds like that sometimes her vocal voice will be slightly eaten by background music.
well no shit you can tell the neumann from the rode by the way they look...
Holy SHIT!!! Wow! You thoroughly kicked my ass, Katie Quinton! That kind of talent just can't be denied. Bravo!
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Great job on the vocals. Mic B was definitely fuller, richer, smoother, more pleasing to listen to.
Michael Ashe just a hundred or two difference
We cannot compare mics when they are in different position to the source. Phase makes all the differences. All the mic tests are absolutely useless and have no sence. Change the position and you will love the mic.
@@CyrilleBoucanogh They are at the same distance from the source = the same phase. Of course the slightly different positions create very subtle changes in the sound, but the differences between mic models are clearly a lot more pronounced in this case.
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
@@CyrilleBoucanogh With a singular source, phase makes zero difference. The mics are at the same distance and angle from the singer. Can we just accept that Rodes manufacturing is so nailed that they don't have to charge much for practically the same quality.
I use Neumanns in all my recordings and I'm really pleased with them.
I believe the saying is more money than sense. Neumanns are great, but, like Pro-tools, ridiculously over-priced.
The Neumann has slightly more papery top end, but for a casual listener these two sound exactly the same. Pretty incredible.
Exactly my thoughts, they sound the same! I didn’t hear any differences on my samsung earbuds.
heard the difference right away , the Neumann sounded much better right off the bat not knowing which was which
@@mekdzilan see what u did there lol
I now listened to this again. I can't believe I thought these sounded the same. The Neumann sounds more full, more airy, with tamed resonanses. Way better. I don't know what I was thinking the first time. Maybe my ears had a bad day. @@kenturnbull5450
Did not expect to get chills from watching a microphone test
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Just got a Rode NT 1A. I wasnt really big on it, only used it once so far, but I'm glad i have it in my collection now after hearing this shootout... Thanks!! Beautiful voice!!!!!
tenisha ann, hope for nice recordings. If you need any tips please do not hesitate in asking.
now need to $2500 speaker ??? cause i feel no difference.
I hear the Neumann U87 is much clearer than the Rode, but we don't have to spend $2500 more if we don't make money out of it :)
I heard you can just get some really good open back headphones for $300 that sound really close to studio monitors.
@@egegulkaya2525 Sorry I’m 3 weeks late, they belong to beyerdynamic but I forgot which one was open back, they’re really popular in the music industry, Even you tubers use them.
I suppose u need a studio quality speakers to notice the difference, anyway u need it in professional matter for professional mastering, otherwise it's hudge overkill.
@@egegulkaya2525 dt 990
After listening carefully to both mics on a nice pair of headphones I've come to the conclusion that the singer would sound amazing even if she was singing into a potato. It's difficult to evaluate a mic when you are fighting through chills and goosebumps.
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Hahahaha
u r funny and 100% precise too
the u87 gave me goosebumps totally worth the cost. i hope to find a used one
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
I'm bidding - A = Rode, B= Neumann. There's kind of shouty stuff coming off A in the top and the lo mid is kind of distant and unfocussed. B just gives the kind of clean, homogeneous slab of sound that's much easier to work with. If I'm wrong I'm going straight out to buy a couple of Rodes. Actually even if the Rode's A I'm going to get a couple anyway - great useful sound and incredible price for the sound.
I wish I preferred A, but I didn't ... one thing is for sure, while you get what you pay for, above a certain point there are definite diminishing returns on the investment. I'd still buy the U87. :-)
Just bought an NT1a on the basis of this, until I can afford the U87 ;-)
Didn't realise that was such an awesome song!!!!! What a great video, thanks for your great work!
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
It was a point I didnt care which one was which. Beautiful singing my God 🌹
Conclusion: stop to buy new microphones and start to learn how to sing :)
😄
😭
😂😂😂 Faact
Lol you right! better save the time and money for later
Priceless advice👍🇩🇪
Amazing performance! Thank god for these. You realise you really don’t need to spend extortionate amounts to get a good vocal recording, spend the money on getting better at singing! Tech has made it a lot cheaper to get amazing mics!
thank you ! It confirms what I thought before: except a bit more crisp for the NT1, they sound pretty similar!
Wow, that voice!! Katie Quinton, Great singer!
Thanks for this beautiful sound, and superb comparison!
Frenchy Bunny, many thanks for the warm feedback
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Your voice is beautiful!
thank you :)
you're awesome, rock on
thanks! :)
I love you @katiequintonsings )))
KQsings -what mic did you like best for you past albums? i checked out some songs on beat port....
Such wonderful singing, I can hear every word that she sings very clearly
The nt1 is a lot brighter generally, but just eq it. Now you don't need to spend 3k
get the nt1 without an A, the nt1 isnt as bright
@@marcusstrymon693 correct NTI isn't brighter as NT1a. NT1a has 137 dB and NTI has lesser dB.
This is the only mic comparison I've ever listened to where, in the end, it not only didn't matter which mic won, but I ONLY wanted to know more about the incredible performer facilitating the test! If I ever have the money, I want that voice on one of my songs!
The vocals are just incredible. Such beautiful voice will sound perfect on almost any mic. So delightful to listen
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
I found this video 4 years ago to listen to rode, finally since then I listened to this song over 500 times, for me Katie is the best in the world and she has to give us other songs, thanks Katie !!!! !!
B is just pure velvet ... Smooth, timeless
Just U87 just 2-3% velvet.
I just wanted to say that I wish for all gear comparisons to be as beautiful as this.
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
The legend is true, the difference appears after processing.
great video sound bout the same 2 me one just more upfront a little more presence if im correct
Was lookin for the mics, now just just caring for the voice. She is so amazing...
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Strong preference for B. Much smoother in the high frequencies.
There are both great microphones. The reason is they have a great setup.
1. A well treated room ideal for singing
2. A good interface and a pop filter.
3. A fantastic singer
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Truuee.
Her vibrato is just amazing
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Agreed! She really went all in on this!!
No, Vibratto non stop is shit, sorry
I couldn't really hear a difference by watching this RUclips video so I downloaded the raw WAVs and A/B'd in my DAW (I selected a few parts that I RMS volume matched). The highs of the Rode sound a bit more harsh than the Neumann. As a consequence the Rode has slightly more artificial presence and the Neumann is more natural sounding. I would say I slightly prefer the Neumann sound. But honestly, this is only noticeable when taking the time and effort to properly A/B this. As soon as the voice is mixed in the song and mastered, both sound exactly the same. So if you're looking for a mike and you're not a full-time pro the Rode NT1-A is a no-brainer really. Even a pro can do with the Rode if he wanted to.
Not true lol
I wasn't even listening for the comparison. I was blown away by her voice.
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
The U87 has a more detailed sound in the upper mids and highs, more air. Both sound very good. The NT1-A holds its own surprisingly well against the U87. "Punches above its weight" would be an appropriate description of the NT1-A.
Very good review and comparison, extremely helpful. Finally somebody thought to compare them dry, processed and in context within the mix. Very useful thank you! B is the Neumann (will be staggered if its not!) pretty significant difference especially when processed and in context.
Matthew Pennington, many thanks for your very kind worlds. You're right. Mic A is the Rode NT1a and Mic B is the Neumann U87ai.
@@BoxerstudiosPortugal yes the Rode got beaten very easily in this comparison
Amazing Voice!!!!!
LAI's Records 賴暐哲 -check out her song called fly
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
A = Røde: I immediately recognized the "magic touch" it lends to the sound (I love it, and the new NT1 doesn't have it).
B = Neumann: Not a bad microphone either. (As long as you don't count value versus price).
I’ve been recording and producing music since last 25 years, all this time I’ve used open-room to record vocals but, now I’ve found out that, there is a big difference between open-room recording and vocals booth
I rather record in a open-room than a vocal booth, big difference between them
Just wanted to share my experience
A is brighter B is fuller. So whichever it is, I prefer B.
Jurgen Frenz, Mic A is the Rode NT1a and Mic B is the Neumann U87ai.
But in the discription of the video it says "microphones A and B correspond to Neumann U87 and Rode NT1-A."
I'm confused...
Do you confirm, for sure, that A = NT1A and B = Neumann U87?
F De Moura PhV, on the description just says Mic A and Mic B and not which is which.
I confirm Mic A is the Rode NT1a and Mic B is the Neumann U87ai.
Olakunle Odebode, it's true. Mic A is the Rode NT1a and Mic B is the Neumann U87ai.
Good stuff! Thank you for the great comparison. To be honest, there was barely any audible difference to me. Only the sharpness of the "S" sounds stood out, but it's easily fixable with a de-esser.
Not bad at all for a £150 mic. Especially considering the only thing you're paying a premium for are slightly rounder "S" sounds.
In an acoustically treated environment I'd say the price difference isn't really justified. The quality of both mics is astounding.
A - Rode: tuned make up sound. B - Neuman: rich and full. Your Voice: Great emojis. The Plug Ins: Painfull.
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Wow, what a performance. Big round of applause and lets have more!
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Of course U87 is B. The Rode has that cheaper harshness to it. Although I have a couple of NT1000's which are pretty decent for the price and don't regret buying them. But I don't use them on vocals and upfront elements of a mix.
The funny thing is I don't use U87's because they are also harsh, or maybe too present for my ears. But in a more expensive way of course than the Rodes. Good comparison.
At the beginning I could tell the difference after the EQ was added, it was more difficult, You can do a great job with the Rode N t- 1A , Excellent video , thanks
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Excellent singing! Excellent voice! Thank God for giving you this voice. We can buy a good mic but we cannot buy a good voice. It is a gift from God.
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Great work guys..
Thanks... check this one then from the same artists ruclips.net/video/PC2yPdd7MWM/видео.html
i've cried, amazing voice.
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
What a gorgeous voice - lost interest in the mic comparison after about 5 seconds and just listened to her singing ! Bravo.
I came here for a microphone comparison and a got the last score of a concert. LOVELY.
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
a esta señora aunque le pongas el microfono del móvil.. le sigue sonando bien! qué bien canta!!
I must say, I havent heard a singer like this in a long time. I'm a producer and wait for singers like this to come along....so far....not one. Excellent job. Who care about the mic at this point.
Thanks Adam. So you may like as well this one from the same duo, an original with the particularity of the vocal being used was the demo when the singer was showing for the very 1st time the lyrics and melodies. The part "that's all I have" was actually at the very end meaning there were no more lyrics.
You may also like others from the album:
ruclips.net/video/PC2yPdd7MWM/видео.html
Wow what a beautiful voice this really makes me change my mind about what mic i want i didn't think NO MIC could ever compete wit the u87 let alone at that price
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
It's all in her voice. Place those two mics in front of someone who can't sing, they'll both sound awful.
My point is: It's not just the mic, you could have a $30,000 channel (mic, preamp, fx, plugins, converters, interface, DAW, computer), and if there's no TALENT, it will sound like a $500 channel.
That's not true, at all.
The gear is a tool, and nicer tools are nicer, period. The u87 is great, if you want that sound and that sound works with your vocalist. It's not a magic bullet, and I don't really think the new production u87's are worth the price tag when you can get a clone that's damn close for so much cheaper. If you stumble upon a u87 of a good vintage, that's a different discussion, but it's still not going to be the best mic for everything, or even most things. It's just a nice tool to have.
On top of that, it's 2018, we can fix talentless (with elasticAudio, various auto tune) uninspiring (with layering and harmonic modification) vocals and package them into platinum records. Sure you won't sound like Frank or Celine, but it doesn't matter because any random highschool girl (Lorde) can take a couple months worth of vocal lessons and be able to punch out tracks for a producer (Joel Little) who knows how to work with her. It's not fair, and it's not talent, but it is success, which is really what you're pushing for with your 50k worth of tube preamps, vintage compressors, 32bit daws, and a closet full of nice microphones.
Don’t forget guys - shit in shit out 😉✌🏼
Jacob Triffo facts! Shut him down
Talent doesn’t exactly get you anywhere these days bc social media has shown that talent is everywhere and it in isolated places so everyone can be a superstar so they changed the criteria from talented to whoever can figure out how to get in the spotlight and stay there
Haha..true!
Great comparison and... WOW this girl can sing! I recently sold my Røde and I'm a happy owner of a U87 now. This is exactly why :-) Even though the Røde was great, I do a lot of work with it so for me it was time to upgrade.
I know I'm about 4 years too late to comment on this but Katie Quinton's breath-taking voice could make a $5 mic sound like a million bucks! Her vocal blows Frank's version away. If the song was sung by her originally, I'd have paid it more attention to it years ago.
I'm probably another four years too late but Frank's voice is legendary. Katie did an amazing job but really. Better than Frank? Don't disrespect a veteran and legend. Frank's voice sang the songs that was the musical backdrop to my parent's lives, as well as my early life. Please be more courteous of our legends
thank you for posting the instrumental. awesome voice and work..!
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
I came in to see the comparision but now I just fall in love with her beautiful voice..
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
I forgot this was a mic comparison. Why? Because its only about the music not the kit. What a vocal.
I made the same test with other expensive mics a few years ago, also with expensive preamps and expensive speakers and came to the conclusion that you don´t need expensive things anymore. Nowadays almost everything is high end. The 80s are over! :-)
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Excellent work.
it's like.. A is an mp3
B is a wave
OMG!! I got chills from her performance, and it absolutely did not matter if i listened to A or B. Just goes to show that only nerdy audio-geeks like us are trying to hear a sonic difference (which imho opinion does not justify the price difference) instead of just enjoying a beautiful and touching performance. Thanks Katie, you saved my day!
jem77studio, it's not the camera that makes the perfect photo but whatever is in front of it, and whoever behind it 😉
Amen :-)
I'm listening on some $10 headphones i picked up at a local store, and i can definitely tell Mic B. is the Neumann. It's a little darker and very smooth.
Brennon Causey Whatever one is the Neumann, point I think they are trying to make is that all of those overpriced mics by companies like Neumann are overrated. I've BEEN saying this for years though...
No one is the Neumann.
lol
Be sounded a little more breathy and crispy but they were both really close. Curious as to which one is which.
i was looking for a compare video like this. i really like the way you transitioned everything thanks 🙄
leticia gant, thanks. glad you enjoyed it 😉
Her inflection is similar to Celine Dion
Yes I was thinking the same thing too!
...except not the least bit annoying, like Celene Dion. Katie Quinton rocks!
Cant agree more
Yes!
I think the biggest takeaway is that between the two you'd be hard pressed to tell one from the other without directly being able to A/B them against each other.
As always, the more expensive mic sounds more rounded and uniform along the whole spectre, especially the lower end and mid-lows. But I was surprised by how well NT1-A performed, at first I thought that Mic-A was the u87 and mic B was a bit more dark and dull, and only when I heard it in the mix I was certain that the Mic-B was much more rounded and found its place in the mix better and with no occasional frequency peaks! Wow.
I too thought that mic A is U87. But the things were reverse.
B has to be the U87 but actually it was pretty close
You can tell which the mics are by the Scope at the end. The U87 has a much cleaner sonic fingerprint with smoother transients. You can also see why they sound so much like each other as well.
Still, if everything here is Q'd flat with no FX, they are both pretty much too Sibilant for my taste. By the time you Sum for Radio and it gets crushed, no one will ever know the difference anyway. lol
I would have preferred to hear the newer NT-1 or a Oktavamodded NT1-A.
Both microphones have a nice and warm sound and very outstanding audio quality, but if I have to make a choice I am giving the edge to mike b the Neumann u87
The Neumann has more controlled highs and more present, smoother mids, which is the reason it's a classic. The color of the mids is why people prefer it on so many recordings, the way it captures them is fully recognizable. The NT1-A is also excellent, but quite different color, if you get picky. Both of these mics are totally great and usable for vocals.
U87 Also used of this recent track from the same gang ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
Wow! EXCELLENT mic control - an engineer's dream vocalist!
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
I agree that the U87 sounds more beautiful and has a more rich sound. But... the real question is: is it worth 10x the price compared to the NT1-A? My answer: no. Simple because it is not 10x better than the NT1-A.
The things the NT1-A lacks can easily be fixed in post, to my humble opinion. All you need is a good DAW and pair of ears ;-) I am not considering buying a mic whatsoever at this moment, but i would definitely go for the NT1-A if i had to choose between these two mics.
NT1a doesn't lag behind as to the sound engineers think.
Absolutely beautiful voice. Just stunning Katie 💖💖 can’t see much difference in the mics but who cares your voice would sound amazing on any mic !
Check our the new release from the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
I felt they were closely matched. To make them near Identical, need to reduce some crispiness from mic A by adjusting the reverb slightly lower on, and reduce treble only slightly, then add a slight more treble to mic B....you got a match. Which would you want to pay for? Resale/trade-in value might also be considered.
WONDERFUL VOICE!!!! I think she has a fantastic voice even on the phone!!
Listen to the album just released with the same duo ruclips.net/video/Hx0pnDiWaj4/видео.html
The Neumann sounds really great and i now understand why its the king among vocal mics.. The extra highend in the Rode is a bit too much and annoying for the ear.. but it might be a good thing when using it for recording other things then vocals. And they both have great self noise specs. So i think i will get myself a matched pair of Rodes for recording all kinds of fun stuff :)
Have you noticed. As Kittie is approaching towards ultrasonic waves, she is making optimum distance from the mic so that it may not burst. What an amazing singer Kitie is.
Check her out on this one ruclips.net/video/PC2yPdd7MWM/видео.html
@@BoxerstudiosPortugal OK.
I got a bigger improvement over the vocal sound in my recordings when I upgraded from stock standard focusrite preamps to Neve and Sebatron preamps. I use an Nt1a and have hired a U87 before to compare the two but the preamps made a bigger difference to me and the vocal sound I get without the use of many plugins. It sounds more direct .
hi! do you have any more information about the Neve and Sebatron preamps? im a bit curious
Yep, I think pre's easily can make a bigger difference.
It is hard to say but in the end it becomes clear when you know the difference between cheaper and more expensive mics. I wish that a better mic pre was used. That would have made it nearly impossible to tell and harder to believe that there is so little between them. But the difference really comes into play when you layer other instruments and then start mixing.
So while there appears to be little between them as you start mixing the better quality mics start paying for themselves and their value becomes more apparent.
the Neumann U87 (mic b) is definitely the smoother of the two, in my opinion.
Mic A seems ever-so-slightly brighter/breathier in raw, mainly in the inhales and consonant diction. Once you add the DSP chain any difference is pretty much lost, as your chain adds a lot of brightness. If I didn't know they were different mics up front, you could'a fooled me. Listening signal chain is PC to Focusrite 2i4 to Mackie 1202 VLZ Pro to ATH-M45 headphones.