RODE NT1 vs Neumann TLM 102 vs AT2035
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- čas přidán 15. 08. 2024
- Mic shootout: RODE NT1 vs Neumann TLM 102 vs Audio-Technica AT-2035. I did a comparison of those three large diaphragm condenser microphones on vocals and acoustic guitar.
🎤 Microphones used:
- Rode NT1 (amzn.to/3CU4tvZ)*
- Audio-Technica AT-2035 (amzn.to/3mfyOim)*
- Neumann TLM 102 (amzn.to/3AMjP3H)*
Interface:
- MOTU M4 (amzn.to/3m9ws4K)*
Acoustic guitar:
- Gibson J-45 Standard (amzn.to/3CRUUgN)*
No EQ or effects were added and I adjusted the volume the best I could. The vocals were recorded simultaneously, the acoustic guitar separately (30cm from the 12th fret).
I used parts of my own songs for this demonstration.
🕒 TIME STAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
1:15 Vocals blind test
1:57 NT1 Vocals
2:38 AT2035 Vocals
3:18 TLM 102 Vocals
3:58 Acoustic guitar blind test
4:18 TLM 102 Acoustic (Strumming)
4:41 AT2035 Acoustic (Strumming)
5:01 NT1 Acoustic (Strumming)
5:24 TLM 102 Acoustic (Picking)
5:39 AT2035 Acoustic (Picking)
5:54 NT1 Acoustic (Picking)
6:10 Review
* Links marked with "*" are affiliate links. I get commissions for purchases made through those links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. - Hudba
I cannot believe I love the Audio Technica the best
The Neumann just sounds so warm and nice to my ears! But I like the Rode too, great mic especially for the price!
It comes down to a personal preference, my ears responded the best for audiotechnica
I have seen dozens of tests of the RØDE NT1 and I gotta say: I’m a sucker for it’s sound. I am pretty sure, that the NT1 would be my favorite, as for the TLM102… I never liked it’s higher mids. But for one, it’s not like it sounded BAD to me. And what’s more: the end it’s a matter of personal preference. So I can only say this: I wish you a lot of fun with your new microphone! ☺️
I tend to use it a lot on instruments because it is flat and takes EQ well. Here's a sample of a single stereo pair recording with the NT1s. czcams.com/video/krU3Qd3Jtms/video.html
TLM 102 is my favorite, with much more clarity and definition.
Just got myself the Rode NT1-Al1 kit for €140. Absolute steal!
Rode NT-1 smashed the like button all the way. Great blind test. nice one!
Rode is designed as a flat frequency response mic with no colouration. The Neumann is designed for studio speaking. So it has peaks and troughs. As a pure recording instrument the Rode is the best. Use post processing if you want to do presence boost.
The Shure SM7B is even better than the Neumann for you style of singing and if you felt inclined you can use its presence boost switch.
I make lecture recordings and the SM7B is brilliant via a Rodecaster pro. Being a directional dynamic mic it picks up less background noise.
However, for my classical violin and choral work the Rode is deadly accurate.
The NT1A has a presence boost for your type of music and is a bargain for most amateur musicians to get going.
An SM7B also needs an inline preamp which bumps up the cost too but try it as it would add body to your voice with the presence boost on.
Horses for courses, as they say.
the shure sm7b is not good value
Your impression was exactly like mine. The Audio Technica was too "superficial" to me, there was no depth at all. The NT1 had more body without lacking details, it was very usable. But the 102 showed depth, details plus these typical elegant, creamy Neumann mids. So - good choice.
Surprisingly, for my ear, Neumann sounds the least attractive, but the difference is slight. Can't decide, which is best. AT sounds little bit more natural in vocal, but Rode has better, wider low and little more in highs. Rode seems better balanced than AT.
I wrote this while waiting for my NT1 to be delivered, so I guess I made a good choice :) especially for that price.
NT1 is definitely the most well balanced with the least harsh frequencies poking out 👌🏾
Yes, you’re right. As I said, I find it to be a little too „dull“ for my voice. I’d have to EQ it a little. The TLM 102 is more exciting to my ears.
Which headphones you listened to pal
On Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro
@@SimonSchuett those are the worst headphones I bought. Hype bandwagons. Vocals are recessed, treble is Sharp piercey metallic and bass is hollow, but everybody "likes them"..
I guess, it’s a matter of personal taste. I like the DT 770 and find them to be pretty balanced and great for monitoring while recording. However, I also listened to the recordings on my speakers and came to the same conclusion.
NT1 is perfect for the EQ process and mixing in general, RAW clips of the TLM 102 sound crisper
NT1 sounded the most interesting. More textured.
I bought the Neumann 102 when it came out years & years ago and having used 87's, 103's, 193's, 47's etc.. over the years I said they fu**ed up making the 102 as it sounds sooooo good and for the money you really can't beat it, I personally would use it over a 103 without hesitation.
103 is stable with many professionals. 102 entry level
@@martinkulik9466 Absolutely but my main point was how good it is for the price of an average Tuesday night out. :D
@@martinkulik9466 the 102 is not an entry level version of the 103, its just a different mic with a smaller capsule that they nailed. in many case i prefer it to the tlm 103 or 49.
I've used many top notch Neumanns and the 102 is a fantastic mic regardless of the price. It's very creamy with a little boost around 6K and I believe will hold up to an 87 with a tad bit of EQ. The 103 is great, but I prefer the 102's broad use.
@@powervoc2 yep I’m with ya there Gary 👍
Thank you a lot for making THIS type of blind test review !!!! and yes... i love the NT1 by my ear which i loved earlier too!
AT2035 clear winner for vocal, but dull for acoustic guitar, for latter both NT1 and TLM102 sounds better.
Definitely right
Definitely depends. I have a really bright acoustic and the 2035 does a great job taming it
The NT1 was horrible on guitar. Very muddy.
Wow, I’m so glad this video exists! I’m getting a J-45 Standard soon, and wanted to know how it would sound with my TLM-102.
I own the TLM 102 and damn I'm happy to confirm that I really love this mic. The top end was just awesome on the vocals!
I was searching for at and rode for some time and after got across with yorur video, I went with nt1 right now and waiting for my order to arrive. Thanks for this beautiful guidance review video bro. Hope I will record many beautiful songs with it.
it would have been nice if you did a narration test as well not just singing. pound for pound its difficult to beat the at2035, the price to quality ratio is incredible...maybe today only a few mics can beat it...such as neat's king bee 2 but even that is slightly more expensive
I own an AT2035, and was offered a Rode at a good price. I came across this video trying to find out if a Rode would be a significant upgrade from the AT2035, and as it turns out, it would. So I'm buying it. Thanks for helping me decide. I also was curious about the TLM102, so that was useful too. I'll probably get one in the future (or an SM7B? or both?). Thanks again!
Thank you for really good comparison! Currently thinking about the purchase of TLM102 and your test terminated my hesitations 😊For me the best was TLM102 and the second NT1, which is amazing bang for the buck also, bravo Rode 👍
Thanks again, since now i am your subscriber 👍
TLM 102 easily the Winner, 2nd place goes to NT1, and last is Audio technica cuz it’s wavy and unnatural sounding!
I knew B was that Audio Technica because of how loud its self noise was on the vocals.
Rode has a self noise level of -4.
Lowest I've seen in specs across all price ranges.
The TLM was the most balanced with a low self noise.
Most the video I have checked they all were competing with rode nt1 or nt1A with audio technica, Neumann, akg.....so everyone is trying to figure out whether new mics are better than rode or not..so for me RODE IS THE 🏆 WINNER... ❤️
I could not tell the difference between any of them!
Ok.
IMO with my experience the 102 sounds cheap and shrill, the 2035 is really good except the highs, the nt1 is just good and a work horse, you can basically eq and compress to get any sound you want from it without being too cheap sounding
the at2035 is so coose to the nt1 considering the value it's shocking..neumman clearly the best here. we should get a challenge between the nt1a and the 2035
The NT1 was very poor for the guitar, very muddy, but had the best low end on vocals.
The Neumann lacked low end on the vocals, but had a smoothness about it. Despite its lack of low end on vocals, it had the best low end when recording guitar.
AT 2035 is right in the middle, doesn't quite have the low end of the NT1 for vocals, but has a better low end than the Neumann. Isn't as nice on the low end as the Neuman on guitar, but isn't disastrously muddy as the Rodes.
Best all round - AT2035
Best Vocal - Rode NT1
Best for Guitar - Neumann
definitley the nt1 in my opinion. the others seem to have a bigger boost in the presence area/highs. there are some harsh sparkly sounds and resonances coming upfront alot more. personally i would prefer the flatter sound of the nt1. the others sound like they were designed to do one thing really good where the rode would fit more recording situations. i would save a good chunk of money and invest in room treatment. i want to mention the neumann has some removable foam inside the cage serving as pop filter. getting rid of that probably helps its quality even more when using a pop filter anyway.
tenía un rode y comenzó a hacer un ruido al tiempo, muchos dicen q es solo humedad y q con un secador de cabellos se soluciona pero a mi no me funcionó, decidí votarlo a la basura y compré el audiotechnica q es mucho mejor, con tan solo una mínima corrección con los plugins suena bárbaro, tengan cuidado al comprar rode, ese es su gran problema, mucha gente le pasó lo mismo
Here in Australia the rode is $300 and the Neumann is $800
Danke für das Video. War wirklich sehr interessant. Ich habe das Neumann TLM 102 seit einigen Jahren im Einsatz und habe damit Gesang sowie Akustik Gitarren aufgenommen. Der Klang ist immer sagenhaft und leicht im Song zu mischen. Natürlich ist das Rode NT1 ein Super Mikrofon aber Neumann ist schwer zu schlagen und einfach hochauflösender bei der Aufnahme. Das kann man drehen wie man will.
I would use the Neumann on Acoustic guitar and The Rode NT1 or the Audio-Technica AT-2035 on my vocals.
For home studio, with some basic interface and nothing else going into it, the NT1 is the winner, you don´t need more than that, but if your acoustics sucks, why not to spend a proper amount of money into a good dynamic microphone, with good preamp and interface, buying cheap acoustic panels and just throwing them on walls doesn´t help much either
All dynamic mics lack one end or the other end.
Tolles Video! Weiter so 👍🏻
I would generally agree with your findings. Though, some acoustic treatment in your room would probably make all three mics sound better. Thanks for the review.
Neumann both clear and smooth and has body. For me it is the best. I like Rode for vocal on the other hand. I want to have both mics. AT2035 is out of comparison i think.
AT 2035 has really inaccurate and wavy treble as seen in the frequency response. I could literally tell the difference with phone speakers. RODE NT1 and tlm 102 is much better
Real good review
In blind test i like the NT1 because I thought the neumann body was the NT1 issue :)
On your voice i prefered AUdiotech and Neumann on the guitar. But maybe you sing to close from the mic and you made proximity effect.
Neumann is better but I will go for TLM107 because you can change patern
I have 2035 and it sounds good, I choose a cheaper but decent mic. You have EQ anyways.
tlm102 obviously sweeps both mics. Rode nt1 and audio technica both have their issues but honestly wouldn't matter that much in a mix in my opinion, where the Rode nt1 misses a bit in low detail, but the audio technica misses a little in the upper frequency response (easily fixable). Your room audibly sounds untreated, so that would probably make more a difference if anything.
Ive had all 3. I can work with either but the tlm 102 works best for rappers. I think its the brightness that kakes it easier to achieve a modern voc mix
Is AT2035 a good option for microphones under 150 dollars?
Yes, I‘d say so. You could also try to get a used NT1 for a little more. I‘ve seen a few for 170€ or less here in Austria. Depends on the voice/instrument you’re recording, of course.
I'd call it a 50 dollar microphone at a 150 dollar price point. Stretch it a little more to about 200/250 dollar and you can have a far better microphone.
I don't even get why this microphone is in this comparison. The NT1 is known for being neutral sounding, so I can get that. The TLM102 sounds great on some sources (not just spoken word, but not everything either) but the AT2035 is just cheap (but way overpriced IMHO). It's comparing a bachelor or master degree with kindergarten with bad teachers.
se nota demasiado la diferencia entre grabar en casa a un estudio acisticamente tratada, la clave es la habitacion estoy seguro
Thank you for good comparison!
Well, wow. I owned two of those microphones, Rode and AudioTechnica, but I worked with TLM102 as well, however I totally mixed them except knowing which one is NT1. I thought the worst of them, the most harsh sounding sibilants is the AT2035, but no it was Neumann.
This is with the vocals, however with the guitar it is much more clear as AT2035 sounds almost always awful with acoustic guitars.
I like working with Neumann microphones, however I believe they are really overrated, and people often hear some magic that does not exist.
nice comparison
Im using at2020v and i love it…
For the vocals…. I found the Rode nt1 is dull (I own one), the at sounds a lil fussy/ unclear to me, and the tlm sounds crispy asf. Tlm 102 all the way. It makes all the other mics sound squished in comparison. The tlm seems so wide and full
Well according to your recordings, I liked Rode for vocals and Neuman for guitar. 2035 was a bit harsh
i like nt1
These tests should always be blind - 100% always. Gear bias just creeps in. Im listening through HQ studio headphones and there is nothing here that cant be fixed with some EQ - and lets face it, we all EQ are MVOX recordings anyway... and run saturation plugins over..
I have a NT1A and I love the NT1 too, I think you can get better with AT, about instruments, NT1 for sure, At make it higher and higher, the NT1 is sooo clean
the Neumann won it all. it has a warm full sound
Das Neumann sticht extrem heraus mit seiner Wärme und dem kristallklarem Sound.
Hello! I really love your video! Could you, please, make a video how you combine video and audio and also what camera you're using to make your videos? It will be very helpful if you show how you connect the cables and make it work. I'm very new to this but want to buy a microphone, camera and everything needed to record piano and vocals. 😊
They sound " dark, medium, bright " on the vocal test. (TLM seems too bright in this case?)
Guessed em all right. One of my biggest pet peeves with the TLM 102 was the amount of sensitivity to mouth noises and sibilance, drove me fucking nuts. Also it's sensitivity to ambience is so misleading as a 'home studio microphone' - the U87 is technically better suited as a 'home studio mic' by comparison in that regard.
My advice would be to either just hold out and save your money to get a high end mic, or go with the Rode.
Rode NT1
Iwas between b or c gor vocals. C has a high sound frequency but at the sometime b sounded better although it didn't have that.
Nice review man! 🤙🏻
I have an AT2020, but damn the 2035 sounds awful on guitar... I wonder if a Shure sm57 would sound better. The TLM ruled them all but the price is like triple.
102 sounded so much better on guitar. Detailed upper mids. I didn’t prefer the 2035 on vocal, the 102 once again has more detailed mids to my ear.
Ich: Klicke auf's Video
**Erste 3 Sekunden laufen**
Mein erster Gedanke: "Der Typ ist 100%ig Deutscher oder Österreicher.. xD
Interessanter Vergleich! ^^
Beste Grüße,
Benni
#1 TLM 102 (I love it) ,#2 rode, #3 AT
Oh god I was about to buy TLM but in so many blind comparisons it's sounds way to hash and kinda muddy.
There is not enough differences between the 3. They are all good.
Nice video :) I’ll probably upgrade one of my $99 mics for something around $300. I prefered the Nt1 on both blind test (and that is through my ipad speakers haha)
Thanks! Yeah, the NT1 is a great mic 🙂
I have both the NT1 & AT2035 and they sound about the same, bur the NT1 has a nice package with a shock mount. Take a look at the YT video going through the Rode factory, and you will be very impressed. There is also the Sennheiser MK4 or what I call the TLM101 which has a capsule made in the same room as the Neumann capsules.
nice judgement
Guys, forget the microphones, you can make a great record with any 400 dollar microphone if you know how to mix. “I have Neumann U67, but it sounds boxy, so I’ll buy Telefunken C12” type of thing is bullshit. They want you to spend money. Learn how to mix.
I really like the sound of the tlm102. Nt1 is a bit sibilant.
what about with mixing????
1. Neumann TLM 102
2. AT 2035
3. Rode NT-1
I really like the TLM 102 cuz its so confusing to pick a mike vcuz they seem all so similar und in different videos i like differen mics. All I can say is that the TLM102 is my favorite pretty constantly and one day i will buy it and have the peace of mind that I found now "my" mic (under 1000 dollars) for me. The At 2035 was two times as the clearly last place, even though i was afraid that it was the rode two times :D
So im relieved that I picked the rode NT1 as my second favorite in the blind tests cuz thats the one I ordererd for the start and even spent a little more than I planned. :D Probably now is the best time to stop watching these vids for a while and start recording!
Hope that's not the actual room you recorded your EP in. The acoustics are......desirable.
same here. he chose the right one to keep. the neuman definitely is the winner in all categories if not the price. but the rode came second and he just got everything right in its places so thank you for the review.
Tlm 102 is the best mic to my
I prefer SM7B and SE2300
I like the SM7b, too, as you might notice from my recent videos. But it‘s something completely different than these three mics.
The Neumann was my least favorite, poor high frequency response. The test were poor because the overall levels were not the same. I liked the Audio-Technica the best followed by the Rode.
I absolutely agree with you, i listened the video with my ATH-M50, and the winner is the TLM102, than comes the NT1A and the third was the AT2035. I own some NT1A, which i love. Thinking to by AT2035, but i dont know yet. I have now the chance to buy a used AT2035 with 7 month quarantee for 130USD, but i don't know... should i go for it?
Thanks! I think that’s a little expensive, I saw them used for around 100€.
That NT1 sounds great. The price is an absolute bargain. The TLM 102 is 'ok', not good value for money but good for folks who need the badge. The 2035 is out of its league here though.
i don't find difference :(
Don't feel bad; the differences are small. The material, its performance, and mic placement all weigh very heavily in the final result. Choosing the best mic is just squeezing a little more out of the experience. As noted by others, EQ and harmonic enhancement (Aphex, etc.) can greatly change the characteristics of the sound. If you have money, buy expensive mics, but don't lose any sleep if you must use something less expensive. The sound quality can still be excellent.
I wouldn't invest in a TLM-102 or the AT-2035.
The Rode NT-1 is better and cheaper but if you want to have something really better, jump to the TLM-103.
The 103 is not better than the 102 as that's a subjective choice. The 102 is more detailed than the 103 which I prefer. Plus, if you want more low end simply use an EQ. The principle of a good mic is how detailed and creamy it is at the source.
So which should I get?
The best deal would be the Rode in my opinion. However, I prefer the sound and look of the Neumann.
Du bist aus Deutschland! Richtig? Grüße aus Spanien!
And the answer is... the TLM103! Yes, the 103... :)
Stick with the NT1...
TLM 102 sounds good, probably a bit "bigger than life". NT1 (which I happily own) is probably truer to life, with a little sibilants problem. AT2035 is not as good.
idk if my ears are good but...
What do u think about the sibilance on the TLM 102 is it better or worse than on the rode nt1?
RODE NT1 5gen
Neumann is German corporation, so no surprise you chose this mic.🙂
Thank you for the comment! I really liked the Australian mic too and it was a tough choice for me 😉
Hallo Simon, hab Dank für deinen Content. Dein "German English" ist unschlagbar mies, hast du damit wirklich ein Abi gemacht ??? Aber handwerklich ist dein Sound und das Vid prima. Vielen Dank für die viele Arbeit. Die Unterschiede der Mics sind gut hörbar aufgenommen und mit guten Kopfhörern klar wahrnehmbar.
great video but i hear an deutsch akzent
Rode is sibilant , At is better and tlm 102 is best
NT1 sounds best on your voice & acoustic guitar, here.
Thanks for your comment! Yeah, it’s definitely nice on the acoustic. I can also see why people prefer it, but I am not completely satisfied with the NT1 on my own voice.
Either… 🤷🏻♂️
I can tell the shitty rode nt1 "ss" sounds from blind test. hate the brightness it has
Why not the Rode NT1-A instead of the NT1?
The NT1-A sells used for about $100 where I am (Korea). The NT1 keeps its value. People here feel the NT1-A is far more harsh and uncontrolled on the high end. A used NT1 sells pretty quickly at almost twice as much.
NTIa is a little harsh at high end. NTI has resolved the matter. But for electrical and acuastic guitar. NT1a is beast. For vocals NT1 is preferred.