Rode NT1 vs Neumann TLM 102 (acoustic guitar) (pt.1)

A shootout between the Neumann TLM 102 and Rode NT1.
Gear:
Takamine acoustic guitar.
Mic's positioned approx. 8" from where the neck joins the body.
Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 audio interface.
Protools 12.

No compression, EQ or any other alteration has been made to the audio recordings.

High quality headphones or studio monitors recommended.

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Thanks for watching.

[ProjectOverseer]

The NT1 sound very slightly lighter in balance. Both were equally as detailed i.e. resolution. Once processed in a mix you would never know the difference. I have several NT1's. What I like is the very low self noise (4dB) wide frequency range and dynamics. It allows the benefits of high resolution recording to be heard. Not bad for a cheap mic.

[heartbreakszn]

The 102 visually seems to have a little more high end clarity it also seems to pick up the tails a little better. Nice.

[mrcgeraldes]

0:05 - TLM 102
0:22 - NT1
0:38 - TLM 102
0:55 - NT1

[pedaltasters]

The Rode NT1 is a great value and one of the best microphones under $300. It's usable in this example but the Neumann sounds much better to my ears. The Rode has "cheaper" sounding transients/attack and the mids are a bit "flubby". The Neumann's transients sound more "expensive" and familiar to me and the mids are more balanced and rich. Overall the TLM 102 sounds more professional and the NT1 more prosumer in this test. That's just what I'm hearing.

[stevenmoorebanjo]

The Rode is closer to a finished sound. Great job Rode!

[studiobros]

102 can do with some low frequency cut to eliminate the boom but the most important thing is to listen to the pick attack... It's thin and cheap sounding on the Rode and very smooth on the TLM 102. The 102 wins here

[pseudonymlifts]

I have both these mics and IMO micing guitar is one area where the 102 is just straight up better. In terms of frequency response or overall accuracy I don't think they're THAT different, but when you put the 102 in front of a guitar it just seems to capture the sound in a way that resembles an SDC, so it slots more easily into a mix. It may be something to do with the pickup pattern. Could be the slightly more 'vocal' mids of the 102 (which some may call coloration). Could also be transient response. It's the same story with other plucked or bowed acoustic instruments. People saying that you can make up the difference with eq: no, you can't. The differences compound once you start to process. Engineers don't just spend money on having lots of mics for a laugh.

[PRINCEPUDA_LTR]

The Tlm 102 won, however you should do a voiceover face off between these two mics!

[serdar.saglam]

nt1 is good but 102 far superior. Has awesome high frequency. So smooth and tasty

[BojanBojovic]

NT1 is has very flat frequency response, however compared to Neumann seems a bit more neutral. What I heard about it is that it sounds great, but it reacts through the body of the microphone to every little thing from the environment, which reminds me on Oktava MK319.

[WilliamJohnston]

Thanks for these videos! Own two NT1s for extremely quiet recording like classical music. For cases where noise isn’t an issue I think I prefer the 102. Would love to hear vocal comparison with the nt1!

[littleoakstudio]

The nt1 sounds thinner, but for other applications i bet it would do better.

[mrcgeraldes]

I usually like to hear these demos in poorly detailed speakers to see if there's any relevant difference. I listened on my speakers laptop shitty speakers and the 102 sounds much more detailed and sweeter in the highs. In my headphones i feel the TLM 102 definitions on the lows are much more musical and less boxy! The difference between both is not huge and for the price tag the Rode is a better deal but in terms of sonics the TLA 102 wins this shootout. It would be lovely to have this shoot out with vocals too.

[dominbitmejker]

Neumann is always the "winner of one soundwave" :) add bassline, add drums, vocals, effects and many other instruments in the mix, you will cut everything down to nt1 level. Otherwise the compresor will light up = final mastering
:)

[badmiddens]

The Rode sounds kind of black on this. The Neumann sounds a little more silver.

[DavidHarry]

Nice real world comparison. The Neumann may sound like it's a bit more responsive to the very low frequencies, although for me it sounds a little muddy. Hard to tell without being in the room with the guitar. The Rode sounds like it may be a bit more flatter/truer at the bottom and very detailed in the mid and upper frequencies. Although the power, preamp and D to A of the Focusrite will also play its part in the signal path, not that's it's a bad interface, it isn't, but there are others that would resolve more detail. Both are great mics that will suite a number of recording scenarios. For me personally I'd go with the Rode purely based on its sound and that's before you get to the huge price difference. All companies make some duffers but Rode seem to have a real high hit ratio across their entire mic range, with the NT1 being an example of massively hitting the mark. Great comparison. Cheers, Dave.

[heythere]

nt1 sounds better on the riff, the tlm sounds muddy

[davidosagie]

Obviously the Neumann is absolutely awesome! Full and weightier. The Rode is a bit too airy.

[zv]

My immediate reaction:
Oh it's not even a comparison

TLM sounds like a pro studio album. The NT1 sounds like an iPhone recording 😂 .. can't believe its the same guitarist .. thanks for this great video!

[Fanclub]

102 more natural sound by a wide margin.