RODE has been on a roll this year with new product launches, and today we bring you yet another to round out the year. We’re talking about RODE NT-USB+, a fresh take on one of the most popular and well regarded USB microphones available today. The NT-USB is has been a go-to choice for years, but the new-and-improved + model brings a new look, higher-quality recording, and built-in DSP to have you sounding your best no matter what kind of content you create.
At $169, it’s on the expensive side but is well worth considering to upgrade your gaming set up.
Specifications
- Current Price: $169.99 (Amazon)
- Acoustic Principle: Pressure gradient
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Frequency Range: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Dynamic Range @10% THD: 97dB
- Input SPL @10% THD: 118.0dB (as per IEC 60268)
- Output Connection
- 3.5 mm headphone connection
- USB-C connectivity
- Analogue Outputs: 3.5mm headphone jack
- Computer Connectivity: USB-C
- Power Requirements: 5V @ 500mA (USB Bus Power)
- Bit Depth: 24-bit
- Sample Rate: 48 kHz
- Minimum OS Requirements
- MacOS 10.14
- Windows 10
- iOS 14
- Android 11
- Weight (grams)
- NT USB+: 540g
- Total (with all accessories): 730g
- Dimensions (LxWxD): 184 x 62 x 53
- Compatible Software
- RØDE Central
- RØDE Connect
- RØDE Reporter
- RØDE X UNIFY
RODE NT-USB+ - What Is It?
When it comes to content creation, few companies know more about audio than RODE. It has been in the business of making microphones for professionals and creators alike for years and has recently stepped into the world of dedicated streaming products with its RODE-X line-up. But before there was even a glimmer of a sub-brand, the NT-USB was a go-to choice for creators and podcasters who needed a high-quality microphone without investing into a full XLR setup.
It’s been eight years since that microphone hit the market (and nearly 20 years since the XLR mic it was based on), so it was ripe for an update. The time has finally come.
The NT-USB+ brings the NT-USB up with the times. It has the same familiar design but is an overall better microphone thanks to reworked internals, built-in DSP for computer-based vocal FX, and higher bit depth for higher-resolution audio capture.
On the surface, things are much the same. The NT-USB+ remains a side-address condenser microphone with a wide front grille to indicate where you should be speaking (the internal filter is now blue, which looks pretty dapper). It’s made out of durable metal and feels sturdy. Two knobs on the right side control the volume of zero latency monitoring and of your system volume. A 3.5mm headphone jack is placed just below them to hear your voice and your system audio.
When plugged in — this time through USB Type-C — the microphone takes over all of your system’s audio, acting as an external soundcard. It’s able to send and receive audio at 24-bit/48kHz, which is an increase from the original’s 16-bit/48kHz. While you’re not likely to notice a difference for podcasting and voice-over, you just might if you plan on recording instruments. If you also record professional voice-over, the higher rate can also help with compliance to different producers’ audio standards.
The microphone has also been updated with RODE’s excellent Revolution preamp. These preamps are powerful and quiet, so you won’t have any trouble achieving a usable recording volume and won’t need to worry yourself with so much fine-tuning in post. You really have to turn the microphone quite loud before white noise seeps into tracks too, and what you’re hearing is room noise, not sound generated from the microphone itself.
Like the original, the NT-USB+ is a condenser microphone. It has a wide frequency response range of 20Hz to 20kHz and is very sensitive. It sounds very natural a lifelike, which makes it a perfect fit for voices and instruments alike. It uses a cardioid pick-up pattern, so records sources best directly in front of it, but will still be pick up the sound of your mechanical keyboard and the AC unit in the summer. As such, it’s best suited to quiet environments and shines its best when there is sound dampening in the room, such as sound tiles or even just carpet instead of hardwood floor.
RODE also includes a couple of accessories so you can use it right out of the box. There’s a plastic stand, which is non-adjustable and pretty lightweight, but it has a mount that attaches to the top so you can adjust the angle of the microphone. A custom pop filter fits between the mic and the mount to block plosives. There’s also an extra long USB Type-C cable to connect it to your PC. There’s no USB-C-to-A adapter included, so you’ll need to have a free USB-C slot or an adapter of your own to use it.
Native USB-C connectivity offers some very nice benefits, however. For example, I was able to plug it directly into my Android and have it be immediately recognized. The same was true on PC, and RODE says this is the case if you’re using an iPhone or Mac too. You could simply plug the mic into your phone and record anywhere, without a PC, which is a very cool feature.
You’ll want to use a PC, though. The NT-USB+ utilizes the RODE Central software for its built-in DSP effects. There, you’ll find a Compressor, High Pass Filter, Noise Gate, as well as studio-grade APHEX vocal FX, Aural Exciter and Big Bottom. While the first three are common ways to tune and level out your sound, Aural Exciter and Big Bottom give your voice body and presence with natural crispness and clarity. Think of these like nuanced EQs for your voice that also work a little magic in their respective frequency registers.
Simply put, the NT-USB+ takes everything that was great about the NT-USB and carries it through with a series of modern updates to both hardware and software. The end result is a great mic made better. Let’s hear how it sounds.
RODE NT-USB+ - Performance
I was impressed with the recording quality of the NT-USB+. It offers a very natural sound, even when positioned at a desk a bit further away than is ideal. I always recommend picking up a proper microphone arm or elevated stand, and that’s still the case to get the best quality from this mic, but it’s nice to know that you can use it for meetings without needing to buy one.
The mic sounds best fairly close to the mouth, but you don’t have to eat it. In mic terms, that means you can sit back 3-4 inches from the pop filter and still have a reasonable proximity effect for enhanced bass. If you pull back a little further, that effect ebbs and you have a more natural sound. It’s really a matter of taste. But unlike some condenser microphones, you won’t need to have to lips brushing the pop filter to achieve that presence (free of vocal FX). The one thing I missed is onboard gain control. Adjusting the sensitivity of the mic can only be done within the OS or recording software.
It has plenty of body, but the NT-USB+ also offers clarity in the mids and highs. My acoustic guitar sounded airy and natural, and it didn’t lose the warmth from its mahogany body. It’s entirely possible to use this microphone for home recording, and to my ear, it lacked nothing compared to my collection of microphones that connect over XLR.
If you’re struggling to decide between XLR and USB, one of the biggest considerations you need to make is whether you plan to scale up over time. XLR microphones are great, but require an audio interface or mixer to connect to your PC. That interoperability allows them to work with different pieces of equipment and can ensure your investment lasts years into the future.
But not everyone needs that. For many of us, all we really want is a great-sounding mic as simply as possible. That’s where the NT-USB+ comes in. The Revolution preamp is whisper quiet, the vocal capture is clear and crisp, and it all just works. It’s as simple as plugging in and choosing your audio device. Plug and play is the name of the game, and the mic sounds just as good as if it were piped through a pricey interface.
One thing you typically lack going the USB route is vocal FX, but through RODE Central, you have access to the basics there too. A compressor can level out your volumes (and add a little crunch to your voice if you like that), a noise gate cuts out room noise, and the high-pass filter doubles down on silencing the low end.
It’s the Big Bottom and Aural Exciter FX that are most interesting, however. Big Bottom boosts the low end and gives your voice body and presence. The Aural Exciter tweaks the mids and highs to add air, crispness, and presence. I found that microphone touched on my sibilance frequency, so the Aural Exciter wasn’t a good option for me, but the Big Bottom effect was very nice. It allowed me to sit further back in my chair while still sounding like I had the mic up close and personal. Body is the key word here, and it achieves it well.
RODE NT-USB+ - Sound Sample
Final Thoughts
The RODE NT-USB+ is a great update to the original NT-USB. At $169.99, it feels a touch expensive, but also gives you access to APHEX FX and vocal processing that take its performance to the next level. Whether you’re a streamer, podcaster, or are just working from home and want to make sure your colleagues hear you clearly, the NT-USB+ is a great option to consider.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Some articles may contain affiliate links and purchases made through this will result in a small commission for the site. Commissions are not directed to the author or related to compensation in any way.
