VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Dayo]

Michael Joly at Oktavamod recently modded an old Rode NT1 of mine that had been gathering dust here for a decade or more. The idea was to take away the sometimes shrill high end of the original and re-voice the mic with a darker character - more like a U67 perhaps.

So here is the result; before-mod followed by after. Obviously the recordings on this file were made some weeks apart, but with the same chain: Rode NT1 > DW Fearn VT1 > Fireface 800. There is no compression or EQ. I also took care to mount the mic identically and use the same working distance.

http://www.divshare.com/direct/11175674-d1e.wav

What do you guys think?

[Jason Bishop]

Both sound good to me, just in different ways.
Of course, with your great accent, a read of the phone book would sound cool.

I can certainly hear the difference.
If I had to pick, I'd go with #2 because I prefer richer/darker sounds but in the end it's what the client wants and/or what's getting you work!

What exactly (or close to exactly) does the mod entail?
New circuitry? Wiring? Different casing/metal mesh filter?

I have a 4-year old NT1a that I haven't used in almost a year and a mod may be a better use of $$ than a new mic!

Later man,

Jason
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[dshetterly]

Very nice! To me it sounds much richer.

I have an NT1a as my primary mic and really like it - but it tends to be a bit more sensitive than I'd like sometimes, picking up every little sound.
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[Diane Maggipinto]

paging gp and f2.

we recently tried out that very mod and it was like buttuh. me want one.
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[Lance Blair]

You can all call me Mr. Killjoy, but I prefer the first sample...the brighter sound matches well with the Fearn, the second is a bit on the dark side for my tastes, but still sounds good.
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[Bill Campbell]

I prefer the modded version, by far. NO VICES. You could easily EQ that if you wanted a brighter sound. You can't really EQ out high end grunge.
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[asnively]

I love them both-- but I could listen to you for hours through a toilet paper roll. But the mod rocks the house! Just beautiful! So rich.
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[Chrissy]

I like the second one as well. It is richer and darker. And I love richer and darker especially when it comes to chocolate!!!

[Dayo]

Thanks for the feedback everyone - and the kind words. You've probably guessed that I prefer the modded version, and, as Bill says, it does take EQ very well if you prefer some high end bite. But for my money, this is a near perfect v/o mic. It's quick, articulate and quiet (you should hear it on my darlin wife: smooth, warm and noticeably lacking in shrill sibilance) For bright female voices - in my book - this is a no brainer.

The mod involves a new capsule and headbasket; additionally there is some work on the electronics too.

Read about it here.

http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=145&osCsid=5uadv28oubcesisd6mpojli881

I should mention how affordable this mic is. You can pick up a new Rode NT1A for £150. Or scalp an old one on ebay even cheaper. Then add £220 for the mod and for around £370 total (or $570 US) you've got a more than useful mic that puts the energy right where you want it.

The magic, as Phil Spector is supposed to have said, is in the mids...