Episode 64
Podcast Microphone Battle: Rode NT-USB Mini vs Rode Podmic USB
Hey there, podcasters and audio enthusiasts, I’ve got an exciting episode lined up for you today. We'll be diving into the battle of the microphones - the Rode NT USB Mini versus the Rode PodMic USB/XLR.
Why bother with this showdown you may ask. I wanted to test whether there was enough of a difference between the Rode NT-USB Mini which is a significantly cheaper microphone to the new Rode PodMic. New podcasters are often concerned with budget, so I decided to put these two head-to-head and let you listen to the results.
The Contenders
At the time of this recording, the Rode NT USB Mini has already established itself as a favourite among our clients due to its portability and ease of use. It's compact and comes with a magnetic stand, making it perfect for travellers and content creators on the go. On the other hand, the Rode PodMic USB/XLR is relatively new to the market, and we're eager to see how it stacks up against the NT USB Mini.
The Test
To ensure a fair comparison, I've recorded the same phrase with both microphones using a Rode PSA1 Plus boom arm, so the microphones are the same distance to my mouth. I have not performed any post-production frequency equalisation and only boosted the levels to achieve a similar loudness. The key areas we'll be focusing on are plosives, high frequencies, and overall sound quality.
The Showdown
In the audio demonstration, I invite you to listen carefully with your headphones or quality speakers to hear the differences. Firstly, the Rode NT USB Mini impressed me with how similar it sounded to the Rode PodMic USB, but I found the plosives to be quite distracting. Rode advises that the Rode NT-USB Mini does have an in-built pop filter within the casing, but I found this to not really cut the mustard.
High-Frequency Comparison
Moving on to the high frequencies, I noticed that the Rode NT USB Mini sounded a bit more digital in its response, and there was more presence of sibilance in the audio. This means the S's and other similar sounds were a tad sharper. On the other hand, the Rode PodMic USB/XLR demonstrated a warmer sound with a bit more depth in the bass. The PodMic's audio felt fuller and less sibilant compared to its counterpart.
Final Thoughts
Both microphones perform exceptionally well, especially when used with USB as the input source. However, if I had to pick a winner, the Rode PodMic USB/XLR edges out slightly due to its excellent pop-filtering capabilities and warmer, more balanced sound. For podcasters seeking a versatile and dependable microphone, the PodMic should be a top contender.
The fact that the PodMic also has XLR capabilities, will future-proof your recording experience and allow for more versatility in the long term.
Remember, the right microphone can make a world of difference in your audio content creation journey. Stay tuned for more exciting episodes, and until next time, keep creating great content and happy podcasting!
Resources Mentioned:
Bamby Media Client Application
EQUIPMENT WE USE TO PRODUCE THIS PODCAST (WEBSITE VERSION)
Rode NT-USB Mini
Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light
Transcript
Welcome back to my face.
Speaker:My name is Brianna.
Speaker:I'm the head honcho here at Bambi media.
Speaker:And today we're going to be
Speaker:looking at the difference
Speaker:between the road NT USB mini.
Speaker:And the Rode PodMic USB
Speaker:that also has the XLR.
Speaker:The Rode PodMic USB slash XLR
Speaker:is quite a new microphone to
Speaker:the market at time of recording.
Speaker:The Rode NT USB Mini has been out for
Speaker:some time and it is a microphone that I
Speaker:recommended or recommend to our clients
Speaker:all the time just because it's so.
Speaker:Portable.
Speaker:It's so easy to take traveling.
Speaker:It's got a little stand here
Speaker:as well, which is magnetic.
Speaker:And then that magnets onto the
Speaker:base of the actual microphone
Speaker:as well, which is pretty sweet.
Speaker:And then you got like a little base,
Speaker:but I don't recommend having it just.
Speaker:I'm going to do a little bit of a
Speaker:test on what happens when you are
Speaker:too far away from the microphone.
Speaker:So what I've done is I've recorded
Speaker:the same phrase, both with the RØDE
Speaker:NT USB Mini and with the RØDE PodMic
Speaker:and then I have them both attached to
Speaker:this RØDE PSA1 Plus boom arm, so that
Speaker:it's easy to compare because they'll
Speaker:be right close to my face either way.
Speaker:So now we're going to jump into the
Speaker:actual demonstration, the difference.
Speaker:I want you to listen with headphones,
Speaker:or if you do have speakers, they
Speaker:need to be good enough sort of
Speaker:quality so that you can turn it
Speaker:up enough so that you can hear the
Speaker:differences in them, because there
Speaker:is difference in the two microphones.
Speaker:They are two different price points.
Speaker:I will give my recommendation at
Speaker:the end and also tell you what
Speaker:the differences are, so stick
Speaker:around to the end to hear that.
Speaker:and I will be back with you
Speaker:shortly after you hear these tests.
Speaker:This is the road and T USB mini.
Speaker:If Moses supposes his toses are roses,
Speaker:then Moses supposes erroneously.
Speaker:Now I'm going to go too far back.
Speaker:Just like it would be if you were
Speaker:sitting this road NT, usb mini on
Speaker:your desk and trying to record If
Speaker:Moses supposes his toses are roses,
Speaker:then Moses supposes erroneously.
Speaker:This one is the road pod.
Speaker:Mike, you S B.
Speaker:If Moses supposes his toes are roses,
Speaker:then Moses supposes erroneously.
Speaker:If Moses supposes his toes are roses,
Speaker:then Moses supposes erroneously.
Speaker:Okay, what did you think?
Speaker:Could you hear the differences
Speaker:in those microphones?
Speaker:The first thing that I
Speaker:heard, , is the popping, so the
Speaker:plosives, it's called plosives.
Speaker:This Rode NT USB Mini, they Say has a
Speaker:inbuilt pop filter, meaning that, you
Speaker:know, it's got sort of this pop filter
Speaker:thing on the inside, but there's no way
Speaker:you can have enough on the inside of this
Speaker:casing versus what's here on the outside.
Speaker:But pop filters are quite annoying
Speaker:generally because they kind of get
Speaker:in the way and they're you know,
Speaker:so that, that would be something
Speaker:that's a little bit of a downer
Speaker:for me, I also found the difference
Speaker:being in the higher frequencies.
Speaker:So the Rode NT USB mini sounded a little
Speaker:bit more, digital in its response.
Speaker:When you listen to it, especially
Speaker:with headphones on and depending on
Speaker:how tuned your ears are, there was
Speaker:more sibilance, which is like the S's.
Speaker:It's making the, and I'm, I'm
Speaker:over exaggerating them here so
Speaker:that you can hear them very well.
Speaker:the Rode PodMic USB, still
Speaker:had a little bit of that.
Speaker:I found that the Rode PodMic USB had
Speaker:a little bit more warmth to the sound.
Speaker:It had a little bit more bottom end,
Speaker:sort of a feeling of a bit more fullness.
Speaker:Whereas this felt a little
Speaker:bit more sibilant and not
Speaker:as much in the actual bass.
Speaker:I will say that both of these microphones
Speaker:sound really, really good with this
Speaker:USB, as the input source there.
Speaker:Okay, that is my review of this today.
Speaker:I hope you liked it.
Speaker:If you would like more battles between
Speaker:microphones, especially for podcasters,
Speaker:then please let me know in the comments.
Speaker:I'm so excited to give you more of
