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The 5th Generation RØDE NT1 Mic is That Do-It-All Mic You Have Been Looking For

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RØDE’s NT1 is quite legendary in the podcasting community. It is Rode’s oldest product namesake and what kickstarted the brand 30 years ago. If you are into recording gear, the Rode NT1 can be likened to the Shure SM58 for podcasters. Unlike the Shure though, the Rode is a condenser.

The latest RØDE NT1 is in its fifth generation now and comes with a few upgrades that makes it a must have for studio works. While some might say that it is a podcasting or radio mic, it can be used for other things like vocal recording too. To some extremes, the condenser can be used to record musical instruments.

You want to use this mic for all sort of recording also because it is the first condenser in the world that offers 32-bit float digital output. That also means that the mic can pick up loud sounds without clipping. For the laymen, that means that you are not going to get any sort of distortion even if you go above the usual threshold that 24-bit recording allows. In production terms, that also means you can capture more nuances in your recordings.

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Source: RØDE

Inside the condenser is RØDE’s precision engineered HF6 1-inch large-diaphragm gold-sputtered capsule to capture everything you can throw at it consistently. Because it is a condenser, it is rather sensitive too. In that case, the internal shock mounting should eliminate any unwanted noise or rattles in recording situations. At 4dBA, the RØDE NT1 is also the quietest studio condenser you can find in the world. That means you do not get too much hissing on the mic as you work with it. Alongside the 32-bit float digital output, the audio is recorded at 192KHz resolution, the highest digital resolution you can currently get for audio.

Within the Rode NT1, you can find the built-in DSP for APHEX audio processing. There is also a built-in compressor and noise gate to set certain a floor and ceiling for your recordings with the RØDE NT1. There is also a built-in two-step high-filter and Aural Exciter for even more fine tuning in your recordings.

For the first time ever for RØDE’s NT1 as well, it features both an XLR output alongside a USB output. They call it the Dual Connect output and both outputs exit from the bottom of the mic. This means that you could work with the regular mixer if you already spent on a digital interface. If it is your first NT1, you can save some money on the digital interface and plug it directly into your PC for your recordings. You can even get the NT1 to record at 32-bit float format when you plug it into your PC directly.

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    Source: RØDE
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    Source: RØDE
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    Source: RØDE
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    Source: RØDE
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    Source: RØDE
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    Source: RØDE

The 5th generation RØDE NT1 will be available in either black or silver colour options. It is available for pre-order in select regions. You can check with your local retailers if you want to get your hands on one. It will set you back US$ 249 (MYR 1,103*). As legendary condensers go, the asking price could be a reasonable one. More information on the RØDE NT1 5th generation can be found on their website.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.43 as of 21/02/2023 on xe.com

Accessories, Camera, News

DJI MIC is the Next Best Thing for Video Audio Solutions

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They say that a good audio adds a whole lot of value to your videos. They also say that even if your video looks bad, your audio can more than make up for it. It does sound counterintuitive, but it can be quite true.  

While it is true that the first thing that should stand out in a video is the visuals itself, bad audio can destroy a perfectly good video experience. Audio is one of the most underrated tools in a video production that people sometimes do not pay too much attention to it, especially when it is good. When it is bad though, you just cannot bear to watch the video for too long because the audio just annoys you. 

Audio gear is not exactly cheap or straightforward to work with though. Cheap solutions are out there, but they usually come with a whole slew of compromises that makes you think twice about using them sometimes, especially cables. Cabled set-ups, while are some of the most reliable and easily the best sounding while remaining relatively cheap to work with, is rather restrictive. That is also why plenty of productions have preferred to work with wireless microphone systems.  

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Source: DJI

There are plenty of good choices out there too in this department. One of the most popular choices out there is made by RODE. Plenty have also sort of followed suite in the same form factor. All of them are similar kits too with one receiver and two mic transmitter combos. Each item must be charged individually and kept separately though. There are a few risks to that, obviously.  

What if you can just put them in a single place, and charge them simultaneously? What if you can just work with them like most true wireless earbuds now? They are sort of the same thing are they not? 

Oddly enough, the first manufacturer that does this is not RODE or Shure. It is DJI with their new DJI MIC. DJI should not be an unfamiliar name to content creators at this point. They make some of the most interesting video recording hardware to date. A lot of them are also targeted to independent and small-time content creators. Most of them are video recording gears though, not really audio recording dedicated items until the DJI MIC.  

It is a unique product, this DJI MIC. It will set you back US$ 329 (MYR 1,386*), which is just a little bit more expensive than the RODE Wireless Go II. It is a little smaller than the RODE alternatives. In concept, they work similarly. But there is one fundamental difference between the two. The DJI can be charged on a single platform and that single platform also works as their battery extenders, very much like true wireless headphones today. 

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Source: DJI

Obviously, coming from DJI, it also comes with a slew of adapters for maximum recording flexibility. There is a USB Type-C adapter and a Lightning adapter that comes with the set if you prefer to shoot with your smartphones. Because it is made primarily with DSLRs to mind, of course it comes with a hot shoe mount adapter and a matching 3.5mm audio cable.  

According to DJI, the audio is transmitted via 2.4GHz frequency band that allows audio to be transmitted to the receiver from up to 250m away, which also means long lens shooting is not out of the question. DJI’s clever technologies have also ensured that the signals are free of interference for when your shoot locations get busy. 

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Source: DJI
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Source: DJI
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Source: DJI
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Source: DJI
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Source: DJI

DJI also says that the entire package allows you to record videos at up to 15 hours in total (5 + 10 from charging case). That means that an entire day worth of shoot will be a non-issue with the DJI MIC. You are not going to be shooting five hours at a time as well, so you are not going to need to worry about the MIC running out of battery. If you need to, you can also record audio directly on to the receiver itself at up to 14 hours, either for backup, or when you are recording a podcast outside.  

The DJI MIC is available now in select regions. As mentioned, it will set you back US$ 329. It is not officially available in Malaysia just yet. You can pre-order it in Malaysia for MYR 1,599. For more information on the DJI MIC, you can visit their website.  

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.21 on xe.com as of 05/04/2022