Rode NT1 & AI-1 Complete Studio Kit

My most recent purchase was the Rode NT1 microphone and the usb audio interface thats comes with the package. I have used it now on two albums for the vocals and it is so much better than what i was using before. The vocals are clear and crisp and sound like what i imagined it should sound like-professional and upfront. I couldn't be happier with all of my purchases with AMS. Everything i have purchased so far-i have never had a problem with. I like the fact that they offer payment plans too. You know i purchased a two track Tascam recorder for 99.00$ 2-3 years ago and it is still working. I honestly have a lot of respect for American Musical Supply because they have been honest and have good customer service too.

If you are considering the purchase of your first condenser microphone, then I highly recommend the Rode NT1 Kit.- High build Quality- Everything you need comes in the kit- Strong signal- Low noise- Perfect on vocals and acoustic guitarWhen broadcasting on JamKazam and micing my acoustic with the NT1: someone that I play with frequently on JamKazam asked me; "What guitar are you using?", before answering I asked why do you ask? They said it sounds amazing. Then I told them its my Ovation elite that I always play, it is just that I am micing it with my new Rode NT1. To which they replied...Wow it sounded like you had a different guitar...it sounds so full and rich.I have had this microphone for a couple of weeks now and it has met and surpassed my ... MoreIf you are considering the purchase of your first condenser microphone, then I highly recommend the Rode NT1 Kit.- High build Quality- Everything you need comes in the kit- Strong signal- Low noise- Perfect on vocals and acoustic guitarWhen broadcasting on JamKazam and micing my acoustic with the NT1: someone that I play with frequently on JamKazam asked me; "What guitar are you using?", before answering I asked why do you ask? They said it sounds amazing. Then I told them its my Ovation elite that I always play, it is just that I am micing it with my new Rode NT1. To which they replied...Wow it sounded like you had a different guitar...it sounds so full and rich.I have had this microphone for a couple of weeks now and it has met and surpassed my expectations. Before buying I did my research into all condenser mics in the $300 range; compared specs, product reviews like this one.If you are on the fence about which condenser mic to buy to get started with, get off the fence and get yourself the Rode NT1 Kit. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Excellent condenser mic. A truly versatile workhorse.

This mic is warm, yet true to the voice. Great on guitars, drum overheads, percussion, and just about anything else you can throw at it (except liquids, you'll want to avoid those). The double stage metal (aluminum?) pop filter works like a charm. Get your face right in it and it will take all your voice can project. A little air and a little sparkle are already there; not much needed to make this mic shine. Only drawback I would say is that the shockmount does transfer some low frequency rumble due to its construction material. If you have a vocalist or someone who isn't great on avoiding a stand/boom arm or brushing up against the mount, you'll definitely want to aggressively high pass the rumble. That being said, the issue is with the shockmount, not the mic. I ... MoreThis mic is warm, yet true to the voice. Great on guitars, drum overheads, percussion, and just about anything else you can throw at it (except liquids, you'll want to avoid those). The double stage metal (aluminum?) pop filter works like a charm. Get your face right in it and it will take all your voice can project. A little air and a little sparkle are already there; not much needed to make this mic shine. Only drawback I would say is that the shockmount does transfer some low frequency rumble due to its construction material. If you have a vocalist or someone who isn't great on avoiding a stand/boom arm or brushing up against the mount, you'll definitely want to aggressively high pass the rumble. That being said, the issue is with the shockmount, not the mic. I love this mic. You'll be glad you picked one up.

Great first big purchase for intermediate or experienced v/o

I was losing my mind over which microphone to start with during quarantine as I have been voice acting for about 15 years now, but also am not a millionaire so not about to drop $1000 for a microphone. This is a PERFECT, easy to use, and great for high toned voices microphone and audio interface setup that gets you out of the USB microphone range and into the player arena with other high caliber cardioid (you want cardioid over dynamic for most voice acting!) microphones such as the CAD or Neumann brand.Cords and stand are good quality. Headphones are average. Microphone, shock mount, and pop filter are WONDERFUL. If you treat this set well, it will last for a while. I re-use the box to carefully store all of the pieces while traveling!Note: downloading the ... MoreI was losing my mind over which microphone to start with during quarantine as I have been voice acting for about 15 years now, but also am not a millionaire so not about to drop $1000 for a microphone. This is a PERFECT, easy to use, and great for high toned voices microphone and audio interface setup that gets you out of the USB microphone range and into the player arena with other high caliber cardioid (you want cardioid over dynamic for most voice acting!) microphones such as the CAD or Neumann brand.Cords and stand are good quality. Headphones are average. Microphone, shock mount, and pop filter are WONDERFUL. If you treat this set well, it will last for a while. I re-use the box to carefully store all of the pieces while traveling!Note: downloading the Focusrite software was a bit of a hassle. ProTools Lite only lets you have two projects with the free version but it is easier than Abelton for sure. It works for me because I don't need to keep projects after I submit my voiceover audition. For bigger or multiple projects you will need to actually purchase the software.So happy I nabbed this little set! I think you will be too :)

Great setup, better value.

I absolutely love this microphone. If I didn't own a Neumann TLM 102, which is my recording mic of choice, this Rode NT1 would be my mic of choice for everyday recording. Hands down the most comparable mic in my collection to the Neumann. Crystal clear and warm yet bright and responsive in the higher frequencies. When paired with my babyface face pro this mic really shines. No way I ever part ways with my number 1 back up mic. Oh, did I mention it costs less than half my Neumann. I love this mic. There is a reason it is consistently ranked in the top 10-12 microphones for voice recording. Proud owner.

Incredible mic for the price, pass on the audio interface

The RODE NT-1 hits well above its weight for a $300 mic. It has a beautifully-flat sensitivity curve and a large sweet spot. Build quality seems great, and the shock mount is one of the more solid condenser mounts Ive used. Im a big fan. Unfortunately, the AI-1 audio interface lets the package down. The issues primarily come down to signal level/quality and driver support. The hardware build itself is quite good, with Neutrik connectors and a solid aluminium enclosure. The preamp is clear, but weak. You get plenty of signal from the NT-1 which isnt surprising since condenser mics are very sensitive. However, I was unable to get a decently hot signal with my Shure SM57, even with the trim pot wide open. A shame, although if youre only using the NT-1 with this ... MoreThe RODE NT-1 hits well above its weight for a $300 mic. It has a beautifully-flat sensitivity curve and a large sweet spot. Build quality seems great, and the shock mount is one of the more solid condenser mounts Ive used. Im a big fan. Unfortunately, the AI-1 audio interface lets the package down. The issues primarily come down to signal level/quality and driver support. The hardware build itself is quite good, with Neutrik connectors and a solid aluminium enclosure. The preamp is clear, but weak. You get plenty of signal from the NT-1 which isnt surprising since condenser mics are very sensitive. However, I was unable to get a decently hot signal with my Shure SM57, even with the trim pot wide open. A shame, although if youre only using the NT-1 with this interface it might not be a problem for you. The other major issue is the Windows driver situation. Windows is a difficult platform for audio since the OS support for audio has traditionally been weak. Rode has opted for driverless DirectX audio and the result is...substantially problematic. For example, you wont want to use this interface for multi-application audio (such as for streaming) since DirectX tends to exclusively grant audio to one owning app. The latency is also *horrendous*, in order of seconds, with the DirectX windows drivers. RODE *does* offer an ASIO driver which you can download from their website, however, I was unable to get the AI-1 to record or play back audio at all with the driver configured in my DAW of choice (Ableton Live). I havent yet tried the AI-1 with my Mac, but I expect it will work flawlessly there since its a Core Audio device. Mac OS has always had the edge when it comes to low-latency audio. While you dont expect the earth from a $100 interface, there are quite a few single-channel interfaces in this price range from, say, Focusrite or even Tascam that perform quite a bit better. Its just a shame, given the studio pack is otherwise a fantastic deal for a really nice piece of kit. Unless youre just planning on using the NT-1 through the AI-1 into a Mac, I wouldnt recommend this particular package. Instead, get the similar package with the mic, shock mount, cable, but not the interface, and buy a one or two channel audio interface separately. For Windows, multi-app live-streaming (Tarkov, Discord, and Ableton, with OBS Studio multiplexing audio) Im using the NT-1 and its shock mount into my Apogee Duet. This setup is working great, since Apogee now offers high-quality windows drivers in addition to their Core Audio support. This is RODEs first audio interface. I am a fan of the company and their products, so Im hopeful future interfaces will opt int a higher-quality A/D chip and offer real drivers.

Incredible price for an incredible kit.

Firstly the microphone. What can I say? It's a rode NT-1, has an incredibly clean sound signature that works great with my voice. If you're looking for a cheap, professional option that can last you years for any kind of voice work, this is it. It came with a faulty XLR cable but a quick register of the product on rode's website and a spare parts claim, I got sent a fresh xlr cable in a few days free of charge. The Focusrite Solo works surprisingly well and is a great budget option. I was worried about it not having enough phantom power due to it being a USB interface with no dedicated power but it works like a charm and a USB 3.1 port is more than enough to power the interface and the NT-1. The stand is serviceable, I currently have it standing straight up instead ... MoreFirstly the microphone. What can I say? It's a rode NT-1, has an incredibly clean sound signature that works great with my voice. If you're looking for a cheap, professional option that can last you years for any kind of voice work, this is it. It came with a faulty XLR cable but a quick register of the product on rode's website and a spare parts claim, I got sent a fresh xlr cable in a few days free of charge. The Focusrite Solo works surprisingly well and is a great budget option. I was worried about it not having enough phantom power due to it being a USB interface with no dedicated power but it works like a charm and a USB 3.1 port is more than enough to power the interface and the NT-1. The stand is serviceable, I currently have it standing straight up instead of how it's shown in the picture since it kept coming down. The headphones are really good! Although my only frame of reference is using a pair of $10 earbuds for the past few years for my pc, so make of that what you will. The supplied XLR cable works great and is a nice addition. Closing thoughts: An absolutely incredible kit at an absolute steal of a price. Perfect.

Rode NT1 Condenser Mic

Scan Computers are a good company to deal with. They are competitive on price and delivery is swift. They kept me properly informed during the delivery process so there were no dramas. The Rode Condenser mic is a game changer for me. I've used all sorts of mics in the past and none ever passed the clicking creaking rumble test. Finally I am able to record nice clear voice so that I can add EQ the way I want, and not just to hide some horribly intrusive background noise. I wished I had bought one sooner

Switched from NT1-A

(Mount in the picture does NOT come with the mic as sold here. More info below)I was a long-time user of the NT1-A, and when it went on the fritz I thought it would be a great opportunity to move to this mic. It sounds great, realistic, and where my NT1-A left out my bass and bumped my high ends, this one sounds rich, round, and present. I only give it four stars because this microphone used to come with the Rode SMR mount at this same price point, but now it comes with the SM6, and you have to pay $60-80 for the SMR mount which is a little obscene. All the people who bought it before the pandemic and received it with the SMR at that same price confirm that the other mount works excellently and completes a wildly better aesthetic than the SM6 mount does (pictured ... More(Mount in the picture does NOT come with the mic as sold here. More info below)I was a long-time user of the NT1-A, and when it went on the fritz I thought it would be a great opportunity to move to this mic. It sounds great, realistic, and where my NT1-A left out my bass and bumped my high ends, this one sounds rich, round, and present. I only give it four stars because this microphone used to come with the Rode SMR mount at this same price point, but now it comes with the SM6, and you have to pay $60-80 for the SMR mount which is a little obscene. All the people who bought it before the pandemic and received it with the SMR at that same price confirm that the other mount works excellently and completes a wildly better aesthetic than the SM6 mount does (pictured with the mic). Hopefully, they'll recombine them soon, but definitely grab this mic when you can.

The RODE NT1 & Sam Ash

The RODE NT1 has long been a mainstay for any recording studio. This was my chance to get one and I have to say it's reputation has not been overstated. I have and have worked with many microphones in the last 50 years and the RODE NT1 has just become my all around "go to" mic. From it's almost noiseless "floor" (4.5) to it's crystal clear warm overtones, this microphone is pure joy to work with and at an affordable price. Top that off with RODE's 10 year manufacturer's warranty and you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal. I couldn't. Thank you Sam Ash for being close by and having my order in record time. KUDOS, Navy House Studio, Richmond, VA.