The Rode NT-USB Mini is a small, simple USB microphone that offers a straightforward cardioid pattern for recording vocals or instruments. It is helpful for gaming, podcasting, and business conversations, as well as for recording vocals or instruments. Many professional microphones lack the EQ/DSP modes and adjustable mic patterns that some people find to be restrictive. ..
The NT-USB Mini is a great choice for users who want a pure mic signal. It doesn’t have DSP on the audio signal itself, so it’s perfect for those who are familiar with fundamental recording techniques and don’t need a lot of assistance from presets. ..
The NT-USB Mini is a great USB microphone for those who want to start their own podcasting business. It’s affordable, has good sound quality, and address a common issue for podcasters.
Design
The NT-USB Mini is a USB Type-C device that has a headphone jack and a single, enormous knob on the front that controls the headphone gain. It also has a USB Type-C port, which makes it perfect for connecting to an external audio device. The NT-USB Mini is also quite large, making it great for use with larger headphones.
The Rode NT-USB is a versatile microphone that can be mounted on practically any stand. The included stand is adequate, but you have to shift yourself toward the mic rather than the other way around due to its flat, non-adjustable base. ..
Rode does not include a carrying case for its NT-USB Mini microphone. This is because the NT-USB Mini might be used by travelling podcasters or musicians, and would have been nice if Rode had adopted that strategy for the NT-USB Mini as well. Unlike the Blue Yeti Nano or the QuadCast S, the NT-USB’s design may not stand out in terms of color, but Rode does sell color identification accessories that can be used to distinguish different microphones in a podcasting space.
Rode NT-USB Mini review: Connectivity
The new Rode Connect software is a good addition to have. It has a noise gate, compressor, exciter, huge bottom, multi-channel volume control, and muting. Additionally, recording is integrated. Even significant events that you might want to change later can have markings placed. It has fewer options than the Elgato Wave software, but since USB microphones rarely come with any kind of control software, the few features it does have give it a competitive advantage over the majority of its rivals. ..
Sound quality
The NT-USB Mini generally does a respectable job of recording. Although it can’t match the more powerful studio microphones that go via an audio interface, the resulting audio is acceptable for what it is. It obviously outperforms a set of headphones or an iPhone’s built-in microphone. We brought the NT-USB Mini on a lengthy trip as a podcaster. It was simple to set up. All that was needed was a USB Type-C cable plugged into our Surface Pro 5. As soon as Windows detected the device, we were able to begin recording with Rode Connect, our podcasting and streaming software. ..
The NT-USB Mini provided a high gain, despite the fact that it was good. Rode lost an opportunity by not including a gain slider on the microphone itself; software adjustments weren’t very effective, either. The base recording sound profile Rode has implemented tries to serve too many masters because the NT-USB Mini is trying to be a condenser mic for spoken word, singing, and music recording at the same time. ..
We were disappointed with the quality of our voice recordings when we made them in an attic using the Rode microphone. The built-in headphone monitoring jack didn’t help us to hear how our voice sounded, which was a problem. We were also worried that someone might be walking down the hallway outside the soundproofing, and the monitoring system picked up a lot of background noise. ..
Thankfully, it wasn’t the situation. But that does raise the question of why the microphone was transmitting sounds to us that would not be captured on tape. We were fortunate to have a producer on present who could serve as a second set of ears, but not all podcasters are as fortunate. Although it wasn’t ideal, the NT-USB Mini’s integrated pop filter did an excellent job of suppressing any popping noises. Sometimes certain phrases would still sound awkward. ..
Rode NT-USB Mini review: Software
The Rode NT-USB Mini is a small digital mixing suite that can be connected to up to four NT-USB Minis or two Wireless GO mics. It is user-friendly and offers you a variety of options, including the ability to control them all from your computer. The Rode Connect programme is available for free download if you’re seeking for additional customization.
The NT-USB Mini is a compact USB microphone that can record audio from multiple sources. This makes it easier to capture audio while on the go, and it’s perfect for podcasting or other audio recording.
Rode has come close to achieving a quality mic with its new Rode Connect app. Users now have access to a recording interface with a wealth of features, including broadcast-style faders, level meters, and mute buttons on their computers, as well as the option to mix in some preloaded sound effects like applause, laughter, and intro/outro music. Additionally, users have access to the Aphex Aural Exciter, Big Bottom, and powerful digital processing tools like noise gate, gain control.
Rode NT-USB Mini review: Performance
The NT-USB Mini has a single mic pattern, which is sensitive to audio in front of the mic and rejects audio to the side and rear. This is different from all-purpose microphones, like the Blue Yeti, which have multiple capsules. Rode’s engineers likely used a higher-quality mic in the NT-USB Mini because they didn’t have to worry about putting two or three capsules under the hood because it only has one pattern. ..
The Blue Yeti is a popular microphone for podcasting because it has a good sound quality and it has a built-in filter that prevents plosives from being recorded. ..
The NT-USB Mini microphone is terrible because it’s only 5 inches high and it doesn’t work well when you’re close to it.
Despite how cute the mic is and how small it is, we were unable to use it without mounting it on a boom arm so we had to place it precisely where we needed it. Once the mini-ness of the NT-USB Mini was overcome, the audio was warm and full with a good midrange that enhances the vocal audio.
The NT-USB Mini microphone is great for recording in close quarters, but it doesn’t work well if you need to interview people behind a background noise.
Price and availability
The NT-USB Mini is priced between the Blue Yeti Nano and the HyperX QuadCast, with the only significant difference being that it comes with RGB lights. You can read our full review of the Rode NT-USB Mini here. ..
Conclusion
The Rode NT-USB Mini is an excellent choice for those looking for a small microphone that may deliver excellent sound quality for the money. The smaller form size makes it more usable for online meetings and video conferences in addition to being fantastic for voiceovers and recording instruments. By registering the microphone on the Rode website, the microphone’s one-year warranty can be increased to two years.
