Reviews and Opinions
I sent in my Rode NT2A microphone as I love the Mic, but felt it a little shallow on detail. I was extremely pleased with the professional manner on how the service was carried out and obviously the new and improved sound quality. My Rode NT2A now sounds just as good as my $6,000 AKG C12VR.
--Nj, Atlanta, curvdmotion.com
This is the first time I came across professional microphones, not to say any related upgrades. With all the doubts and worries on money wastage, especially when I am still an unemployed student, John really unconditionally provided the best and most detailed objective advice, helping me to choose the right and most suitable microphone, which no other internet research could have done. It was his great in-depth understanding of his profession and devotion of work showed through the many email conversations we had over weeks, which I'll always be appreciative of, that I found it to be a very reliable, and must-be-done, service--knowing this is my first microphone, $300+ in value, along with letting someone who resides outside of my country that I've never met before, handling it.
The microphone, a Rode NT1000, turned out to be another surprising relief. The vocal I recorded sounds so clear, in-tune, and sensitive; as dimensional as if you were hearing a professional singer standing in front of you using every breath to carry out the emotions and meanings of the song to touch your mind. Knowing I am not even a trained singer, just another teenager who loves the joy of singing. As loud-singing and vocal recording are two totally different things, the upgraded Rode NT1000, where cheap parts were all replaced by germany and japan-made high quality parts, really emphasized the difference. You get to hear what your vocal is really like when it appears in a recording. Perhaps you are another great singer, capable of touching and inspiring others with your voice, but never came to realize this just because of a shortage of the equipment.
Now, if you have done any research on professional condenser microphones, a price range between $150-200 is considered very low, which is just about the price you could purchase a used NT1000, and that's what I've got and am more than satisfied with. The purchase of the upgrade itself is definitely worthwhile, and the key reason to why I described how my mic performed on a vocal record. It is something we could put it as, "why would you buy a gun if you are not going to get any bullets?"
So, whether you are already a professional in the music producing industry, or an amateur looking forward to pursuing your dream, this microphone upgrade will be something that refines your great piece of music with such a small price--enabling you one step forward on the road of success with all the confidence you will get from this instrument's add-on improvement.
--D. Yan, (Canada/China)
I bought an NTK years ago after reading several glowing reviews by nationally well-known engineers; when I got mine and warmed it up, it sounded like crap--like a cheap Pacific rim knock-off with an attitude. I couldn't believe it. That is, I didn't believe it--I'm ashamed to say I didn't trust my ears. I didn't return it. I thought, "Well, the real engineers with all these top-selling album credits must be hearing something different. Maybe it's my preamp, maybe it's my converters, maybe I need more expensive cabling, etc..." I'd put the mic away for a year or so, then get it out again, thinking," This is supposed to be a really good mic; I'll try it again." Of course, it sounded just as bad. Then, as a last resort, I bought another tube for it, a New Old Stock tube manufactured in the U.S. in the '60s to replace the third-world suppository that was in it. With great hopes, I switched tubes and warmed it up--but it sounded just as bad. I finally admitted to myself that it really did sound like dog doo, and decided to sell it. When I looked up the going prices for NTK's on eBay, however, I was appalled: I was going to take a big hit, probably losing well over half of its already heavily discounted retail price, even though it was still like new. I hated finding out I'd been such a sucker. The emperor was butt naked, but I hadn't wanted to admit it 'cause the "experts" said his clothes were so cool.
Then I saw John Bonnell's little ad. He had the nerve to say how harsh and brittle it sounded (his opinion was exactly the same as mine), and that he could make an NTK sound good for a hundred bucks, so I decided to give it a shot. Not much to lose, right?
Well, I just got it back today. The actual turnaround was about a week, including shipping. He wasn't just blowin' smoke--it sounds really good! The harshness and brittleness are gone, but the detail remains. Let me say it again--the NTK really sounds good! My only regret is that I didn't record it before I sent it to him; all I have is my memory of its previous crappitude, but now I do have proof that it sounds good! If you have an NTK, send it to John Bonnell now!
BTW, I've been in the recording industry for 40 years, won two Dove awards, and recorded over 20 albums. I know a little about sound and recording. And I'm not so easily fooled by "experts" anymore.
--Don Francisco