Large Diaphragm Condenser Shootout: AT4050, NT2000, AT4033a, Sputnik
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- Get the "New Mic Song" file FREE here: www.reverbnatio...
Here we go! 4 great large diaphragm condenser mics go head to head! The key to which mic is which is at the end of the video. Download this video for better quality. Mics were recorded into a Motu Traveler Audio Interface.
Mic Shootout Key: 6:21
I set up these 4 mics in an array so that I can do one performance into all 4 mics at once, then level matched the results so the only difference you hear is the character of each mic. You'll hear voice over, guitar, singing, shaker, drum, tambourine samples played back to back.
Vimeo version of this shootout: vimeo.com/1991...
Download the raw audio files: precisioninterm...
![Best Small Diaphragm Condenser Mics: Ultimate Shootout [Updated Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YRuC3s7VzVI/mqdefault.jpg)
the sputnik was my favorite
HUGE VIDEO !!! That's what i call a TRUE mic shootout video, very pro and helpful. Thanks bro !
Hey thanks Gabriel! Glad you liked it.
Yes. I would say the Sputnik has more "sizzle" from the tube, and the 4033 is the brightest, and the 4050 to me seems almost sterile. I think the term I would use for the NT2000 is "warmer". Pad, of course denotes a volume cut. I used to like a real bright mic, thinking it meant more clarity, but not brighter mics tend to grate on my ears. I can always add more hi-mids with EQ. Anyway, thanks for listening. If you did like the NT2000, I would tell you that the NT2a is exactly the same for less $
I have a couple of the AT4033a and they certainly do not sound like this. In this shoot out I liked number 2, at least through my ear buds. The AT4050 sounds like maybe the pattern was switched, but it sounded really bad. Thanks for taking the time although I am sure it was a lot of fun to.cheers
Just purchased a 4033a for voice over (wanted something for quality demos in my home so that I wouldn't always have to go into the studio for auditions.) This video was fantastic for highlighting the strengths and weaknesses, but overall strong mic for the price. Very fun song and amazing presentation. I'll be sure to share this video! Thank you for the informative entertainment.
My pleasure! What do you mean by the Rode sounding "padded"? I did not engage the pad. Between these mics, I think I like the NT2000 the best.
Best video of a mic shoot out ever!
That intro was insanely EPIC
Excellent shootout, glad someone like you is posting on UA-cam! Thank you!
My feeling is that the mics got progressively brighter until the 4033, which sounded like the nt2000 except a little high midrangy. The nt2000 was maybe the most flattering, but the 4050 was more detailed.
What are you going to use the mic for? These mics are only for holding in your hand, and putting it up to the mouth like a reporter. Do you have an XLR input on your camera? You must know what kind of input your camera uses, and get the right cable for that. For hand held, at the B&H site search: Shure VP64AL - Omni-Directional Handheld Dynamic ENG Microphone with Extended Handle. That's their cheapest mic under 80.00. It takes an XLR cable.
@ChadWork1 YEAH ! (that was great, so was this shoot out) This was probably the most sensible andpractical shootout I have seen on line to date. And your song was fun to listen to and with just the right amount of tracks to actually hear what was going on. I didn't 'cheat' and go to the answers first, my ears chose the Spunik.
The 4050 has a warmth about it but can also give quite a kick when needed. Even the smaller
ME66 (or 67 - can't remember all the mics) version of the Sennheiser shotgun with a decent processor can put out an impressive sound. It is a real deal considering the price of the big expensive version. Crisp, clear and yes even punch.
The 4050 is a standard in many studios for it's accurate sound. IMO it's a bit sterile for voice. You may want to check out the Vimeo link to this vid in the video info, or listen to the original audio you can download. The phase sound of the Sputnik was introduced by UA-cam's compression of the audio. My favorite is the NT2000, which is exactly the same as the NT2a, only the pattern/pad/rolloff just aren't continuously variable, they are just switches like the 4050, and the mic is only 400.00.
Tests like these have their limitations, but I think this was a creative way of doing it, and I do believe this might be useful for a lot of people! Great work. Btw I got "lost" in your video-stream on vimeo - I love your heli vids! Especially the second one of the Kinetic lot. Awesome!!
A great all-around mic!
i am thinking to start some home music production.. but my budget is horrible.. i would like as flat sound as possible and i am thinking to take a AT4033a.. what do you think? do you have to offer me something better for the money?
Tes the NT2a is exactly the same, only the polar pattern, bass roll off, and pad controls aren't continually variable. They are just switches. And the NT2a comes with a shock mount, pop filter, and cable. I've seen them used for great prices on the B&H Photo site too. But it's about 200.00 cheaper than the NT2000 I believe, though I haven't checked lately. It's the came capsule on both, and they put a lot of research into that capsule. Cheers!
Are you sure they are exactly the same save for the switches?! Is this verifiable?
correct me if i am wrong... but the AT4033a is not a "True" large condenser matter of fact i don't think it is a large condenser at all... i believe it is a back electret condenser. great for acoustic altho... for vocal the tube Sputnik stands out... i find these to be smoother in that upper range, the 4050 has always been a good mic to have in your locker, the older 40 series made in Japan are preferred by some. AudioHipster will be doing some samples on some fantastic Recording Tools mic's
Yes, not the NT2000 is my main mic. I use it on all my vocals and my VO work. It sounds a tad tubey (that warmth you referred to) IMO. The 4050 is very similar, and the DE-facto mid-priced mic for smaller studios, but to me it sounds sterile. But that's good sometimes. FYI the NT2a is the exact same mic as the NT2000, only the filters are switchable rather than variable. Same awesome capsule at 400.00 with a mount and a pop filter and a cable at B&H.
M-Audio Sputnik awesome.
I'm no fan of the ME66. I have one, and I find it too brittle, and very phasey in reflective environments (shotguns aren't designed for indoor use anyway). But that's a shotgun, for different purposes than a LDC. As shotguns go I LOVE the Rode NTG-3, but the NTG-2 is no slouch. More body than the ME66, and the NTG-3 has a nice articulate high end.
Glad you like the shootout! I hope it helps. Cheers!
@ChadWork1 i think this is the review your talking about.. btw i found 2 videos on your playlist with the title "Large Diaphragm Condenser Shootout" but in both of them your reviewing the R0DE NT2000 and not the nt2a witch is way more expensive
Thanks for posting this. Saw a 4033 on CL for cheap and was considering it, but not now. It was my least favorite. Shrill, ringy, and phasey. Oddly the the 4050 was my favorite all around. Most balanced and accurate. Rode was slightly dark for a condensor, which could be a good thing in some situations. almost ribbon-like. This has not been my experience with other Rodes. The Sputnik had a similar low mid emphasis. but was phasey in the upper mids. The ATs did not sound at all alike.
BEST MIC REVIEW EVER
@ChadWork1 sorry, i meant, the NT2000 sounded with more bite, more present but without any kind of annoying highs, actually it was my favorite handling the S.
I'll hear the original wavs anyway because of the compression artifacts in youtube.
BTW i loved the video, nice work man!
Thanks for that. I quickly downloaded the video and dissected it to better compare 1 (NT2000) and 3 (AT4050), as they sound far better and much more similar than the other two, though the AT4050 is slightly louder in your recording. As far as voice is concerned, between the two of them, it's a tough choice and it really depends on the price and my daily preference. With respect to sibilance, if you put the respective sections after one another, they are virtually the same - I couldn't tell any difference. With the plosives, the AT is unnoticeably better. The AT has also more "boom" (bass), which can be good or bad, depending on what you want (I find this better for live broadcasting, not so much for podcasting/voiceover). One area where it excels is with creaky voice sections, which the AT tends to soften a bit. With guitars, I found the NT2000 slightly clearer in the upper range, giving a bit more detail, while the AT4050 may sound slightly more natural and definitely fuller - I prefer the 4050. With singing, I think the NT was more flattering, the AT more honest.
As the latter currently costs twice the price of the former in Europe, my choice is clear. But irrespective of price, I would perhaps choose the AT4050, as it is less "in your face" than the Rode and, overall, laid back. But the differnce is minimal. The other 2 mics, btw, I found abysmal, particularly the 4033, and I can't understand anyone preferring them to any of the two I discussed here.
I just picked up the nt2000 for £130 where as the at4050 is £450... No brainer
Sputnick first with the NT2000 a VERY close second, both sounded tight and crisp. The AT4050 sounded a little thin to me compared to the others and the and there was something about the AT4033 that I didn't care too much for, also a little thin and perhaps coloring the sound a bit compared to the others, although it seemed to have some character that could be useful. I used decent headphones as a reference (Yamaha RH10MS). Nice video, thanks for posting!
I like the NT2000 first then the Sutnik, 4050, and 4033. I think the 4050 is too sterol sounding. I use the NT2000 now on all my VO and singing duties.
Yes I used the Sputnik exclusively for years until I got the NT2000. Now that's my favorite, with the Soutnik in 2nd and the AT5050 in 3rd. They are all good mics. Te 4050 just sounds a bit sterile compared to the other 2. The 4033 is cool, but that's a brighter mic.
Right on! Those are great mics.
I have both the mxl4000xl and the blue spark. We argue in my studio all day about which one is better for the price.
Thanks man! I just uploaded it and put a link for free download in the video description. Enjoy!
Thanks for the shoot out, was great and through. I can hear Mic 2 was the Sputnik. Yep, I know my mics, lol
"This is a public service announcement brought to you by Slim Shady." haha!
You sound EXACTLY like the guy who does the intros on Eminem's albums xD
question: to record male vocals for pop/comercial metal a la linkin park (with some guttural here and there, the raspy kind)what would fit best. I already own an M-Audio Nova, witch behaves pretty well with instruments but sounds to bright when it comes to vocals. Should i get a dynamic mic to use in conjunction with the Nova (like an SM7B or a Beta 58) or get an AT 4033 (I found one for 160 bucks, although it looks like it was dropped into the fire, the owner claims that it works perfectly)
The AT4050 is the fullest and most balanced at the same time - very little coloration. Thank you for the video. Ps. The Rode sounded the cheapest (sorry, nothing against Rode in principle...).
What qualities are you describing when you say "cheapest"?
No! I can't remember what it is though. The key to the shootout is at the end at 6:29.
Yes, and good A/D conversion
Wow, to me the NT2000 sounded the best. Wish my NT1A sounded that the same. I do love my Sm7b though. Didn't believe it until heard it against a TLM-49 and a Blue Blueberry. It actually was keeping up with the TLM-49, but didn't sound as good, but for 1,300.00 Less, you could guess which Mic I bought for my project studio ; )
Word up! Keep up the music, i dig the sound. it got soul
at4050 definitely sounded best on the vocals
Hmm, I like the consistency in your audio testing. I was pretty sure number 3 started out best (might have been the volume output volume was higher), and doing well until I heard the vocal/singing, at that point I decided #1 was at least good as 3, then by the time the Tambourine test, I thought #3 drop below #1. I felt #2 was last of the group.
I like #1 overall, but this does show how similar mics 1, 2, & 3 are really.
AT 4050 seems most balanced to me.
This gonna sound crazy but i have found great success with the sm 58beta as a recording vocal mic in open room conditions. It'll cost ya about 200.00 but well worth it and i still now use it for an ambiance mic. during certain live studio group sessions.
To go into computer the most simple way would be with a USB mic. That plugs into the USB on your computer. I found a cheap one for 55.00 at B&H Photo called, "Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Ice)" . Search "USB Microphone" to find more options and so a little research. Cheers.
Great video
Is the rode NT2 and NT2000 the exact same microphone.
@ChadWork1 that's funny, NT2000 is the brightest of the four IMHO
I enjoyed your comparison test.... I've used all of these mics at one time or another with entirely different results to what you arrived at...however they were not all set up at the same time.... I have used and loved the 4033 since it was first introduced....that and a U87 is about all I use these days
A lot depends on the environment the mic is in, and the source being recorded. IMO they are all great mice. I just like the NT2000 true most out of this bunch.
Chad Johnson
That was a speedy response my friend ...and I agree with all that you say .....I've used them all in the same studio environment (before it met its sad demise) ....but in different configurations .... I tend to just plug into a focusrite pre and record straight to tape these days ...I'm to bloody old to learn all of this digital malarkey properly (although I did have a dalliance with reaper for a short while through a tascam interface)
electricragtime When I was in a band in the 90s we recorded to tape and just mixed by hand the old fashioned way, then later onto ADATs. But when I got my first computer in ;97 I started recording in the box and never looked back. Not that I preferred one over the other, but because all I had was the computer. Now I just have a MOTU interface with a BlackLionAudio B12a preamp, and I use Cubase. Having everything digital means it's exactly how I left it when I come back days, weeks or months later. IMO the main thing with mice is placement. You can get more out of a well placed cheap mic than you can from a badly placed Neuman. So whatever I get laid down, I just wrench it into the tone I need with EQ and compression. Cheers!
You may want to check the link to the vimeo version of this in the description and listen on good headphones, or studio monitors. I personally liked the NT2000 the best. You can get the Rode NT2a mic, which is exactly the same as the NT2000, only the filters are switches, rather than variable knobs. The NR2a comes with a mic cable, pop filter, and shock mount for 400.00 and is a great bang for the buck product.
hey chad is this a good mic Sony-FV100-Omnidirectional-Handheld microphone
sorry i was a sleep BUT what mic has the cardioid pat and where ca i buy one
Try the Rode NT1a at B&H Photo. It's a little over 200.00, but it comes with a shock mount, pop filter and cable - with a 10 year warantee. If you want to kick it up a big notch, check out the NT2a for around 400.00.
All close enough to not even matter with the exception of that 4033. On vocals it has a noticeable pre EQ'd sound where the low end is rolled off and the mid low is attenuated a little. This could work in the mix but depends on the source. I would buy a Lewitt lct 550 instead. For the same price you can get a mic that is more versatile and noticeably better in terms of clarity and signal strength. If your heart is set on this selection, then buy any of the first 3 depending on the best price you can get.
+Melvin Vasquez I liked the NT2000 the most, and have pretty much used only that since then. I should shoot some of these out against the new Aston Origin I recently did a review on, with a full song to hear it in context. That is a nice, open sounding mic for only 250.00 US. I've since gotten rid of the AT4033.
+Chad Johnson Cool I will the mix check out. I am always looking for good value mics to add to my collection. I haven't used my 4033 in years but I must admit that this video has me looking at it differently, and not in a good way lol.
+Melvin Vasquez I look at the 4033 as something for instruments in the higher register like violins or mandolins, maybe guitars.
+Chad Johnson That could work because it's top end isn't harsh to my ears at all. I only recorded vocals with it and I found that it actually does well in a busy mix and takes to compression very well (easy to find that sweet spot).
Thanks!
Is it me or do the 4 vocal (Singing) parts sound the same? I need one for recording songs (vocals)! Can't decide!
I felt the 4050 was accurate, but lacked character. I prefer the NT2000 out of all of them.
My order best to last is 1,4,2,3 After seeing the mic's I surprised I picked 4 over 3!
Very professional done right AB or ABCD comparison -- Thanks
Thanks for commenting Ed. I too like 1 the best, and now it's my go to mic for all dialog and singing. I found the AT4050 to be a bit sterile sounding. The 4033a is a bright mic, and wouldn't choose it for most vocal things. I like capturing a nice full bodied signal, then doing eq to dial in articulation to taste. None of the mics sounded muddy to me. The Sputnik is nice, but a bit too squishy for dialog recording. Good for singing though.
well this will be a starter mic i will buy A GOOOD consider mic in the furt. and i might have gotten it is there a mic that u will get for or under 100
great helpful shootout!
Best Musical Intro EVER, Can i plz get that mp3
Very helpful. Thanks. NT2a and 4050 for me
Is the at4050 worth the extra price over the 4033a?
The at4033 is not bright at all... it’s just cheaper in components, it’s a 2d sounding mic
Compared to the rest in this vid it isnt but compared to something like a rode nt1 it or even a at4040 or la220 it sure is a bright mic
Right on - thanks!
im using it for LOTS of stuff mostly narrations srry im german and i diddnt move back to germany after iraq so sorry for the bad grammar but i have a great speaking voice and im going to college and we use considers but this mic will go into the pc i alredy got a mic stand whit shock mount stand (boom included) a pop filter ALL FOR 5 BUCKS AT GARAGE SAIL but im just gona start out low for now but what kinda mics do u reccomend for a pc for talkin siging an reviews UNDER 100 and i sub
mics 2 and 3 sounded good on vocals, mic 3 for guitar
'where the neck meets the body'.. No doubt, the best position ;-)..... I use a TL audio 5060 n' get a good result.. But damn it would take billions to figure out what's the best set-up.. ahah!..
how about a MXL-TEMPO-KR Condenser Microphone is that a good deal
MXL 4000. Good luck on finding one. They have doubled in price
Thanks for a well thought out and executed review! The sound on youtube unfortunately is to f**ked up to really get a r e a l l y good impression. Your vimeo-upload of the same vid gives a little better impression, but still.....
One does however get an impression of differences in the mics, but calling a "best" of the lot makes little sence to me, as they are ..eh..different. In my ears f.ex. the 4033 sounds bad on the 12-string, but is the "best" sounding of the lot on the 6-string.
Ha ha! You found me bro! That was a job I did back in the day. Em is a great guy.
that sputnik took the cake im gonna get one
That's a really nice mic!
Chad Johnson u guys should do a sony c800g shootout with the sputnik i keep reading that it has similarities with high end tube mics like the u47 and c12 i mean thats killer and im a serious musician so 500 dollars would be nothing if it holds up to that but people say the sony is the top dog but what i hear with it im not hearing the craze as much maybe u guys can do a video
DTG DRAKE I'm only one guy, and I own these mics, so I don't have those others to test. If you send me one I will though!
Got a Sputnik years ago. Have twice had a boom slip with it on it (bad luck, only happened to me twice, period)
Both times had it repaired. It's great, and flexible.
Absolutely not. That's an 8.00 mic! You need to spend at least 100.00. I suggest, for hand held use, get the Electro-Voice RE50/B at B&H Photo.
Do they go in the order of the title?
That wouldn't be a random comparison then. The key is at the end of the video.
One impression I am left with, the traveler sucks. The a/d conversion was so bad i couldn't actually hear the mic. I have 3 of the 4 mics and I have never heard them sound so bad. I am actually hoping that you are playing a trick on us and boosted the 5k range, if not get a new ad converter and do the test again.
@ChadWork1 Great, thank you!
NT-2000 FTW
I want them all !!
You would probably live the Rode NT2-a, which is exactly like the NT2000, but it has switches rather than variable dials, ad it's a lot cheaper. Google it.
i don't care about the money i think the rode nt2000 will be my next purchase. since i have the at4033, i like the nt2000' features that the at4033 doesn't.. maybe a good combination to record an acoustic guitar with two mics..? they're very different mics anyway i love the bright of the at4033.. but the big deal is always to combine them with a right preamp!
*****
I use a Black Lion Audio B12A, and it sounds great. I use smaller mics for guitar. I take an NT55 and point it where the neck meets the body.
LOL I dig that song man!!
What the hell Larry . . . throw in some strings!
Mike 1&2 sound very similar mike 3 sounds heavily gated mike 4 sounds like an expensive tin can.
Peace
My blind ranking:
1) NT2000
2) Sputnik
3) 4050
4) 4033a
The 4050 does everything ok, but nothing great
What must be said is that AT mics are notorious for being inconsistent. So is Rode. I read on GS today that one producer owns two AT 4040's and they sound so different from each other that he splits them up use-wise between two completely different genres and vocalist types! Another guy owns 4 Rode Classics. One is amazing, the other is decent sounding and the other two are harsh sounding. So, you cannot rely completely on these kinds of shootouts. This particular 4033a sounded very microphonic, overly-resonant and picked up too much room sound compared to the others. I favored the Sputnik, followed by the NT2000. I came into this shootout hoping, wanting and expecting the 4033 or 4050 to win. Oh well. The 12 string sounded horrible across the board. Only an SDC can handle those fast transients. The funny thing is... the 4033, not technically an LDC, had the smallest capsule of the bunch and still performed the worst.
The AT mics sound too sterile to me. I have 2 NT2000 mics and they sound the same as each other, as do my two NT3s (not matched) and matched pair of NT55s. That being said, I've moved onto a Mojave MA-300 as my main vocal mic, Aston Origin as a cheap condenser for whatever, and a matched pair of Soyuz 013 as small diaphragms for overheads or acoustic instruments. Check out my Aston Origin Review.
ua-cam.com/video/S82VPTqiSZY/v-deo.html
@@ChadWork1 I think your NT2000 sounds great, IMHO. I also had my eye on the MA300 as well. Looks like a great piece of gear. But does it bring out your YARRLL?...does it make you break out your BARRITONEEE GUITARRRR and bring out your inner Scott Stapp?🤣🤣🤣 Yeaaaaaahhhhh!!!
Otherwise, it's not "the one" and your search continues for your mic-soul-mate.
@@MrSeeker42 I think the NT2000, and even the NT-2a sound pretty good. No major complaints, especially if I go through a good preamp like a Great River ME-1NV and a tube LA-2A type compressor. I wasn't in love with the high end. A little brittle. Those are very heavy mics too, being made of brass. I actually like the Aston Origin better on my voice. But the MA-300 is the best vocal mic I've ever had. It can take me higher, to a place where blind men see! I won't use anything else now. I bought the non-tube MA-301, and it's not what I hoped. I wanted that for doing VO work, and it's top end is too brittle, and I have to EQ it too much IMO. The MA-300 is a tweaked U67, and it just works with no fuss.
@@ChadWork1I'm sure! The Ma300 and the Ma37 are my favorite mics of theirs. Affording them?, different story. Lol. You are a blessed man.
Anybody know about a Mojave ma-300? how do they stack up?
#4 sounds awful on all tests.. buzzy and artefacts.. I'm not sure what it is that I hate so much about it. #2 sounds the best to me. Clear, crisp with clarity in the full frequency spectrum
I like 1 the best, but 2 is a close second. 4 is intentionally a brighter mic used often for smaller acoustic instruments. You probably have seen it, but if not, the key to all the mics is at the very end of the video.
Ha! Thanks man.
What's your fav Chad?
In this shootout I personally liked the NT2000 the best.
SOOOO many thanks for this, Chad!
It helped me choose for my online purchase, since no local store here carries ANY of these mikes.
I was very surprised at the result: I thought I would like the 4033, but in the end I much preferred the Rode and the Sputnik.
I prefer the very airy top end of the Sputnik, so detailed.
Thanks again.
+François Wizzu Marchand I'm glad I was able to help you make a decision!
Yeah, people like you on the Web, are what makes it worthwhile. I kinda feel guilty not to participate with something useful myself. I'll have to do something about that. Cheers!
+François Wizzu Marchand Indeed! Just keep it simple, and talking about something you know about. It always helps someone else searching for the solution you have discovered. Cheers!
I recommend the Blue Spark. The NT1a is great but I would choose the Blue :)
Mic 2 easily...checking for the reveal now...
The reveal is at the end of the video. I prefer Mic 1 personally.
Which version of 4050 was used?
I picked up this one used for 300.00 in 2010. It's the "AT4050/CMT". AT has stated about the CMT vs the newer 4050, "Sonically they are identical, however, the current AT4050 uses surface mount components and is ROHS compliant. ROHS compliance means that no lead solder was used during production. In addition, the shockmount is different; the original AT4050/CM5 used the AT8441 shockmount, and the current AT4050 used the AT8449 shockmount."
Chad Johnson iam confused..your 4050 is the cm5 or cmt?it sounds great.i was looking for sputnic sames and i find this 4050 better,less harsh but still with an open sound
Stergios T. Looking at the mic again it’s an AT4050/CM5. I’ve been using the Aston Origin for vocals lately, and I made a video about that on my channel. I just ordered a Telefunken CU-29 used I hope will be a good upgrade for my voice.
Chad Johnson i think that 4050 is great on your voice.if you proccess it with nice eq and comp ..it d be great.try acustica audio eqs!why did you choose cu29?
Stergios T. I just ran across the cu29 and likes the mid-forward sound of it. Read comments on Gear Sluts, watched all the Ykutube vids I could find. It’s not too airry and cuts through a dense mix. Still, I may hate it on my voice so I’m hoping I made a good choice.
NT2000 ftw.
Wow, that 4033 sucked.
First time around I liked the NT but second time around definitely the Sputnik.
+Yovi Records Yes I was happy with the 4033 until I got a more full sounding mic (like the other 3 I tested here). After that the brittleness stood out to me. I pretty much use the NT2000 for all my vocal duties. I should break out the Sputnik again though and see how it sounds going though my Black Lion Audio B12a preamp. It was very close between the Sputnik and the NT2000. By the way, the Rode NT2a is the exact same mic as the NT2000, only the filters on the 2000 are variable rather than just switches that give you one choice. I like the variability, but the capsules are the same. I've confirmed this with Rode. So IMO the NT2a is a great bargain.
Interesting. I have an AT4040. Would really like to hear the NT2A vs the 4040. I also just checked an SM7B to the NT2A, and I think I like the SM7B a little more.
+Yovi Records Isn't the 4040 the same as the 4050, only with a single polar pattern (cardioid)? If that's the case, then this shootout should serve that purpose, as I recorded everything in cardioid. I never use any other patterns.
+Chad Johnson Really? I didn't know that. If that is the case, something doesn't add up - because when I listened to the samples provided on the official Audio Technica website the AT4050 did sound different/better than the 4040, when in theory they should sound the same (if what you say is true). Either way I guess I'll just stick to the 4040 until I get a better pre.
+Yovi Records Well, I was asking, not stating that the 4040 is the same as the 4050. I know one of their mics is the same as the 4050, only without multiple patterns. It's worth researching. I am not stating is as fact. Just a memory that could be wrong.
I've never heard it. Do your research and read reviews.
AT4050
what preamp did you use ?
Mics were recorded into a Motu Traveler Audio Interface.
thanks
NT2000
The sputnik has more top end sheen.