Saxophone microphone comparison Rode vs AKG 

I think both sound good. Now, with all the compression that youtube has when we upload videos, even with a 10000$ mic, I don't think the difference would be major. If we talk about studio recording, that's another story. Great video! Thank you :)

I've been a professional musician for 45 years and they are almost identical but the Rode is ever so slightly clearer with the AKG being slightly muted from the mids through the upper end. They backing track hides this fact.

You have a fantastic tone. Is your room treated?

Thank you ! The job is well done! I think AKG414 is the best choice!

That AKG I can't afford. Easy. lol. I use a P420 by them, and it's great. Will just as often whip out an SM57 though when messing around bc they're all anyone really needs. Honestly they sound really similar with what you're playing, listening on monitors.

taking into consideration the price... Rode does an amazing job! I ear occasionally the fingers.. but nothing too crazy.. nothing that playing a bit far away could solve. AKG sounds very beautiful and smooth. Thanks for sharing this.

I use ‘ratio’ as my guild when having confusing or conflicting moments in decision. I playing a Yanagisawa. I could have afforded a Selmer. It was very very nice indeed. But twice the price. Was it twice as good? No. Barely noticeable and only in spots occasionally. The AGK mic is nice but not three times nicer and only with certain notes in certain registers.

I like the rhode better today, I have one, You might want to try a small diafragm mic, to me a cheap cad gxl 1200 in my room with my sax sounds a bit more natural than my nt1(not A) the attack sounds better, and in the nt1 some notes attack sound quacky whe I record with the nt1 and not that sdc

I think hearing the comparison on my computer's speakers masks some of the subtleties of the difference between the mics. So, to my end-user ears there is little to choose between them. We'd really need a good WAV or AIF file to play back through monitor speakers to properly discern the difference. What I would like to add, is that a really great alternative to the Rode, (an Australian make - and I have nothing against Australia) is the British designed and made Aston Origin. At a similar (slightly lower) price than the Rode, the Aston Origin is brilliant - it has a good frequency range, and fairly flat (so a truthful representation of the sound) response. I would like Nigel to check one out - I hope you will be nicely surprised by its performance.

Which one is better for flute? Rode NT1 or NT1A? Thank you

In studio applications a mike may not be colored and imo the Rode is flatter and therefor also better to my experience.

I think they sound mostly the same, but the AKG was better when you really went up high. Also, you obviously pay more for the bells & whistles, but both are great.

Hi Nigel, in January you introduced the CLOUDVOCAL ISOLO Wireless Mic. CLOUDVOCAL offers a small USB Receiver Interface, so you can use the ISOLO mic live or for recording purposes. Did you ever checked the mic for recording using this interface? Any experiences? Perhaps it's not the perfect choice for CD production, but in my kind of view it works absolutely perfect for livestreams, social media and online teaching.

I like them both- the Rode sounds a little more "reedy" or renders a little higher in the 1-2K range. Your mileage may vary. Cant afford the AKG, so a preamp and slight EQ

Interesting. I thought that the AKG sounded "flatter" than the Rode. But as you say there isn't that much between them sound wise in my humble opinion.

Hi Nigel, I think, it's very close but, we have to take into Consideration, that there needs to be a test when things are going on in the room to see how they both compare, after all the AKG C414XLS has got more on it, and that is what should be compared to what that mike does better in Different environments, when recording.

A lot have said it before but because of RU-vids compression algorithms, it's hard to tell that there is a noticeable difference. I don't have internet reception in my recording studio so I downloaded the video and took it out there - I've just used Sonarworks to lessen the effects of "room" on my listening environment and yes I could hear a difference the AKG was smoother and fatter than the Rode but with a little EQ it would be very difficult to tell the difference, I love the AKG and have used them a number of times in other studio's. I don't own one, maybe one day. Great video, fairly honest shoot out - did you have the same polar patterns on both mikes? I've emailed you regarding lessons

Thanks Nigel. Great review of these 2 mics. I noticed your ewi in the background. Can you please provide information on the ewi stand? Thanks 😎

I prefer the Rode, it sounds smoother, softer.

Thanks Nigel. Both Mics sounded great. Could you do a similar video test for wireless Sax mics? Which are the best wireless Sax mics to buy?

Great video, thanks! I use AKG as well

Which in ear headphones are you using

Love seeing others using the Slant Sig, its my main piece! I use the AKG C 214, for a bit less money I think it sounds awesome.

Since a long time ago, I have always had the desire to buy a Rode

Pretty tough to make much comment because of the crude sound on my lap top but, I think I would like the Rode better for the lower register horns where as just because the AK seems a bit more competent at the higher end of what you played it may be better suited for horns like Alto and Soprano. It would be interesting to see the signal from each of the mics processed through a good oscilloscope.

Both sound good. I have a Rode so I am trying not to be biased. More mids in the Rode, crisper highs with the AKG. AKG sounds like it has an EQ compared to the Rode. A reflection of the qualities of each. Everyone is judging by the quality of their speakers or headphones through a RU-vid video too. Rode sounds more natural, AKG sort of processed. Depends on what the person wants, but can't see spending the $ for the AKG. Maybe if I hit the lottery?

Call me crazy but I like how the sax sounded on the Rode better.

They are both similar but, The AKG is a bit crisp. just noticeable. The AKG just has more features the the Rode. I will be looking for one. Do they use3 an interface if being plugged into a computer?

@McGill Music Sax School hello, So for saxophone recording what's you can say is the best among Rode Nt1a, NT1 or aston origin?

Can you please send me the link to the system that you use to put the two microphones in the same stand please

Hi Nigel. Could you please tell me how you have the settings configured on the flip side of the AKG? I have an AKG C414B-ULS and I'm struggling to get a clean sound from it.

Both sound awesome and crisp with the AKG having a fraction more. Either one would be a good investment!!

Because of the compression on RU-vid you can't really tell the difference. The AKG is a neutral studio mic with a flat eq. The Rode is more than good enough for what you primarily use it for

Less mud between the notes (attacks) with the AKG. Both sounded good, though.

Both good mic's. Akg is more centered. More center mids on the other mic

Thanks, Nigel! Always a pleasure to watch your videos! It's always a bit difficult to say something about tonal quality when listening to youtube videos, since the compression does take away many of the details. BUT ... there is still a difference. In my opinion the Rode sounds better. Everytime you're switching to the AKG I get the feeling that from that moment on something is missing. Something in the range from the mids to the high tones, can't exactly say... It just sounds a little bit muffled. But I am sure there will be others with different opinions...

Frankly, they are both very nice with the Rode being the best value for sure. But the AKG provides multiple patterns which can make it more useful in the studio and may be a little more smooth. For about the last 10 years, I have been using a Rode K2 (still around $699) that has sounded awesome on my tenor sax for tracking (1.5 foot in front and about 6 inches to the non-key side). It also sounds great on most voices. I think the NT1A is an awesome deal for the money, but a better audio comparison might be the K2 at around the same price point. The K2 also has multiple patterns. I've used it as cardioid, omni and for mid-side with very satisfying results.

I had to plug in my noise cancelling headphones to even hear a difference, I think they both sound amazing but the AKG does sound better. Although I like the different pattern selector of the AKG, I'm not sure if I would use it. So, because of the cost/sound ratio, for me the winner's got to be .... Rode.

Congratulations Nigel! You did a very nice and objective comparison between these microphones. Personally, I do prefer the C414XLS because it sounds sweeter, smoother and fuller than the NT1a. The NT1a sounded a bit sterile but pretty nice at the same time. By the way, which pattern was used on the C414XLS? Hypercardiod? I hear it a bit "narrower" than the NT1a which has a fixed cardioid. Finally, all microphones sound good when the saxophonist plays as nice as you do.

On what stand do you put the camera? Thanks

Really like the akg. I use the 214, which is „sweeter“, being based on the 414 xlii, but the more neutral sound of the xls sounds great on sax. However, I know that the sound comes primarily from the player, so I guess for me, the 214 will be more than enough for a while. :)

Should have tested the AKG C214. You don't really need all the patterns an XLS has.

I forgot to mention, It would be very nice you share the uncompressed (i.e. 44100Hz/24bits WAV) audio track, you can upload it to Mega or Google Drive. It would give us a better idea about how they sound, keep in mind RU-vid audio is similar to a 128Kbs/s MP3 which is pretty poor. Otherwise, it's kinda waste of time to use such a high quality equipment (Universal Audio Apollo Twin & AKG C414XLS) if the audio will be compressed in that way.

The AKG has a fuller and less compressed sound, but when comparing the price, it's hard to argue against the Rode.

The Rode seems to have more dynamic range in the lower frequency range. The AKG sounds more compressed overall.

Can't say I could tell the difference from this test. I can't see it worth spending so much more for the AKG.

Prefer the RODE. AKG sounds flatter and duller in comparison. Not bad, but RODE sounds fuller and more alive and dynamic

Which mic do you mostly use now?

You sound great with both Mics but I’m listening through my iPad and I don’t think RU-vid brings out the best in sound quality. It’s a little like comparing a picture taken with a phone vs one taken with a pro camera on Facebook.

Rode I like, put both sound pretty good 👍

I’m using my expensive Boose headphones and can’t hear any difference. But I wonder, what’s in the other end of the microphone? That is, what is recording device?

Both sound good. But the AKG is a little cleaner and more defined.

Really great review. What i like to add is there is no way to find the quality in construction the Rode has in any mics at its price or even double that. Stay away from chinese clones, they could sound ok but they do not last at all and always creat problems

I would get Nt2 👍

Hi Nigel, I think the AKG sounds better to my liking, BUT just so the Rode mic doesn't just lie on a shelf somewhere to collect dust, I'll send you my mailing address on request. ;o)

AKG for me, slightly more upper resolution :-)

the AKG sounds much better in the comparison ,However the RODE NT 2000 Model (comparable price equivelent to the 414) sounds spectacular

I can’t tell them apart. I’m listening with my iPhone in a case, which might by why they sound the same to me.

This is comparing apples with lemons .i use Akg for 40 years but the Rode sounds best.

Both are great sounding with the AKG just slightly ahead in terms of overall tone quality. But from a price perspective, it definitely isn’t 3 times better than the Rode. For people on a budget, they wouldn’t go wrong with the Rode :)

cleaner. The more expensive one is cleaner. The more expensive one has less reverb. Although minuscule, the other one has just a bit. Comparatively anyway. Like I said, minuscule. Unless I am trying to critique. They sound identical. But I am looking for something. Anything. To justify that price. And the reverb is all I got.

Com on, is that the best? For a condenser, sure, but try go oldstyle on it, find a great ribbon microphone. There is no comparison, or it will be like comparing licking rocks, with licking freshly whipped cream. Ohh yeah ribbon on Sax is smooth as butter :)

I Like the Rode Better, Warmer, More Presence i find .

Rode

for my is more quality the rodent1a

I live the rode better...

Rode 👍🏼

Fake el 414 es mucho.mejor el Rode suena a latas de sardinas.es.muy chillón