Rode NT4
- Thread starter ozduc
- Start date
SMuir
Well-known member
Easy set-up with a nice, accurate 90 degree X-Y stereo image. Low price point for a fixed-pattern stereo mic. Rather dull and dark-sounding, though.
Comparing apples to apples, I found they stand up well against similarly priced stereo kits.
What sort of application did you have in mind for this mic?
Comparing apples to apples, I found they stand up well against similarly priced stereo kits.
What sort of application did you have in mind for this mic?
SMuir
Well-known member
The NT4 is a good place to start for ambience recording, although the fixed pattern limits its usefullness somewhat. The mic's self-noise was low enough for most exterior locations, although I found that very quiet interior room tones needed some real pushing. The stereo image was nice and smooth, giving it a pleasant sense of spaciality. I was particularly pleased by a recording of light rain falling on a porch awning, which was given a kind of warm and sleepy feeling by the mic.
For specific effects, I like the flexible width and strong centre image of an M-S setup. I'm currently using a Sennheiser MKH416t/MKH30 pairing, and I've found it flexible enough to handle most situations (in addition to the advantage of having a `416 in my kit). The NT-4, by admitedly unfair comparison, badly needs a boost in the higher frequencies to avoid that wooley sound. The NT-4 just doesn't have the in-your-face detail I like for effects work.
I tried a few car passby's with the NT-4, and although it provided a very solid sense of space and movement, the car sounded a bit sedate and mellow. You'll have to work harder to get that dramatic bite with this mic. Of course, vehicle effects often benefit from many different special-use mic's reinforcing what's happenning on a stereo pair (eg. shure SM-57 under the hood, AKG D-112 near the tail pipe, Sennheiser MKH50/MKH30 pair inside).
If you're going to record in rather extreme environments (eg. 6 hours in the pouring rain), you may wish you'd brought along a more durable mic such as the Sennheiser MKH418. Still, the NT-4's internal battery option can be handy if high RF noise levels (radio towers, powerlines, thunderstorms) cause problems with the phantom power.
I did like the fact that the NT-4 records X-Y, since its a drag sitting there decoding a day's worth of effects recording.
The included foam windscreen works well enough in the studio, but is virtually useless for outdoor work. I'm unsure whether or not Rycote makes a BBG for the NT-4. If not, then you may wind up spending more on wind supression and shock-mounting than you spend on the mic itself.
I guess the bottom line is that the NT-4 does a number of things adequately at a very reasonable price, but it won't give you the kind of dramatic quality you may be after.
For specific effects, I like the flexible width and strong centre image of an M-S setup. I'm currently using a Sennheiser MKH416t/MKH30 pairing, and I've found it flexible enough to handle most situations (in addition to the advantage of having a `416 in my kit). The NT-4, by admitedly unfair comparison, badly needs a boost in the higher frequencies to avoid that wooley sound. The NT-4 just doesn't have the in-your-face detail I like for effects work.
I tried a few car passby's with the NT-4, and although it provided a very solid sense of space and movement, the car sounded a bit sedate and mellow. You'll have to work harder to get that dramatic bite with this mic. Of course, vehicle effects often benefit from many different special-use mic's reinforcing what's happenning on a stereo pair (eg. shure SM-57 under the hood, AKG D-112 near the tail pipe, Sennheiser MKH50/MKH30 pair inside).
If you're going to record in rather extreme environments (eg. 6 hours in the pouring rain), you may wish you'd brought along a more durable mic such as the Sennheiser MKH418. Still, the NT-4's internal battery option can be handy if high RF noise levels (radio towers, powerlines, thunderstorms) cause problems with the phantom power.
I did like the fact that the NT-4 records X-Y, since its a drag sitting there decoding a day's worth of effects recording.
The included foam windscreen works well enough in the studio, but is virtually useless for outdoor work. I'm unsure whether or not Rycote makes a BBG for the NT-4. If not, then you may wind up spending more on wind supression and shock-mounting than you spend on the mic itself.
I guess the bottom line is that the NT-4 does a number of things adequately at a very reasonable price, but it won't give you the kind of dramatic quality you may be after.
ozduc
Well-known member
Thanks SMuir, that's some great stuff. It will be one of those, just have, mics that I can go to in need. You know the times you just want to grab a mic and plug it in and get stereo sound without the set up. I do have a zeppelin for an MKH60 and 70 so I think it may fit in one of those. Currently I am using a Audio technica AT822 stereo mic and was looking to step up from that. Thanks again for your reply.