Rode Classic II

[Revelation]

Heard this in a studio, and was very impressed. It has that rich smooth sound that is really nice. Like any mic with a strong character it will not be amazing on everything, but this is one nice mic, and in one situation it sounded better on vocals over the Neumann 147. Many have said it has a lot of top end. Well it does to some extent but it is not harsh or painful to hear like some cheaper tube mic's. But when it does give a little too much like on this woman's vocal track, the engineer just used a Cranesong Ibis with about a - 2db in the high end and it was gone. Then with more EQ it was sculpted to what sounded amazing. Yeah it's not as great as some of the $4K and up tube mic's, but hey it's one of the best colored mic's under $2,500

[ArcCirDude]

Shhh......!






Nah, a lot of people have said this before. Shootouts have proven it. But the name, price, prejudicial blindness or whatever stands in the way for some reason. I really dig mine. Low end high end.

[SMT]

Ok, this isn´t exactly about the "classic II" but I just wanted to share that I did my best vocal recording with my Röde NT2 + this guy. I love the result!!!

Check out the link and let me know whatcha think....

Any Rockabilly/swing/Tarantiono experts here??

[Joel Hamilton]

I like the Rode classic II. I have 2 U47's and the rode gets put up once in a while for the right source. I dont like bright mics, but the classic has something nice to it in the top that is very unlike any other rode mic i have ever come across...

[PJB5060]

Yep! Wouldn't be without it.

[Revelation]

Just like the guy did in this session, if a vocal is too bright, during tracking you just throw an EQ on it and adjust it. He also had a Manley Pultec EQ and that also did a great job in reducing the high end so it was more even on the top end.

[Revelation]

Oops

[Rev. Robb]

I own a Rode Classic (original) and love it! It is an excellent mic... It offers an "airy" sound. Similar to what you may hear on a Brian McKnight record or Kelly Clarkson's "Because Of You."

[GYang]

It's quite popular opinion on GS that Classic is less usable than some other mics in price range below 2 k.
IMHO it more than justifies its price and although not universal LDC, often on various sources (vocals, guitars, rooms) I prefer it over some stronger names.
Also, recently I found appropriate Amperex tube that gives it very smooth character.
Actually Classic (II) does what some top dollar mics don't do and that is reason why it will hardly ever leave my studio.

[Revelation]

Originally Posted by GYang

It's quite popular opinion on GS that Classic is less usable than some other mics in price range below 2 k.
IMHO it more than justifies its price and although not universal LDC, often on various sources (vocals, guitars, rooms) I prefer it over some stronger names.
Also, recently I found appropriate Amperex tube that gives it very smooth character.
Actually Classic (II) does what some top doller mics don't do and that is reason why it will hardly ever leave my studio.

I agree it is less usable than some other mic's, and that is because it has a strong character. But again with using some good EQ with it, it can be more usable. I love the deep rich sound of the mic.

[delcosmos]

Mine only works on especific vocals.
It's good to have this kind of flavor on your arsenal.
I don't know why Rode stopped making the Classic II, it's a great mic.

Best regards.

delcosmos.

[Revelation]

Originally Posted by delcosmos

Mine only works on especific vocals.
It's good to have this kind of flavor on your arenal.
I don't know why Rode quits making it, it's a great mic.

Best regards.

Armando Avila

They still make it! http://www.rodemic.com/?pagename=Pro...4c8a76a5785345

[delcosmos]

Originally Posted by Revelation

They still make it! http://www.rodemic.com/?pagename=Pro...4c8a76a5785345

Great!
It is a good mic.

My assitants have K2 mics in their studios and I hate the harshness of those mics, in my opinion the Classic II is the best mic from Rode.

Kind regards.

delcosmos.

[True North]

i really like the Rode Classic as well and it will stay in my mic closet for many years to come. It's a solid mic and for the right vocalist it sounds great. Don't worry about all the Rode bashing on this site, listen with your ears and you will be pleasantly surprised.

[delcosmos]

Originally Posted by True North

i really like the Rode Classic as well and it will stay in my mic closet for many years to come. It's a solid mic and for the right vocalist it sounds great. Don't worry about all the Rode bashing on this site, listen with your ears and you will be pleasantly surprised.

I really like the Classic II too, Im not trying to bashing anything, in my experience, the K2 and NTK2 can't compete with Classic II, not to mention other brands like Gefell, Pearlman, Soundelux or some new Neumans. For me, those 2 Rode models have a big amount of harshness that sounds awfull with digital audio.
I've learned that its better to invest a little bit more (especially on mics) than buying cheap marketing sh%$#t. I have a big warehouse with all kind of trash that I bought when I started my career 18 years ago and my budget was limited, nobody wants that crap anymore. (Nano compressors, Nano verbs, Nano Synth, Alesis Wedge, Beringer FX and eq's, Aphex "TUBE" preamps, all kind of Mackie mixers, Alesis speakers, not to mention tons of cheap vst plug ins that I even forgot their names).

Best regards.

delcosmos.

[True North]

Originally Posted by delcosmos

I really like the Classic II too, Im not trying to bashing anything, in my experience, the K2 and NTK2 can't compete with Classic II, not to mention other brands like Gefell, Pearlman, Soundelux or some new Neumans. For me, those 2 Rode models have a big amount of harshness that sounds awfull with digital audio.

Hey Armando,

I actually wasn't referring to you. There are others on this site who don't even bother really listening to certain brands, Rodes being one of them, and end up giving bad advice because they have skewed ideas about what should and should not sound good without REALLY listening (IMHO). I didn't think you were bashing the product, you said you liked it Rode II on certain sources.

Anyways, Peace out !!

[username]

I'm definately not a fan of the other Rode mics.. but the classic II is quite a good mic. Dunno if I'd call it versatile.. but quite usable.

[BrianT]

I've got a Classic, not a Classic II, but it's a great mic, IMO. It gets tried out, mostly on female vocals, right beside 251s, 47s, 49s, etc. It wins as often as the others do.

It's a bargain of a microphone. BTW, I could care less what name is printed on the mic. Whatever sounds good IS good.

[kid65]

I love my Classic II.
It sounds really good, I think.

kid65

[mics]

THe rode classic 11 definately has it's applications. it is built very well and has great connectors too. I found with mine that it went from being used once a month to every other day when i removed the capsule and replaced it with one of my K47a's. The capsule took off the edge from the top end and the mids became so detailed and full. My 2 bob worth.

Cheers.

[BrianT]

My original Classic is one of the best female vocal mics I've ever used. It was included almost as a joke in a shootout with about $250,000 worth of mics for a female artist on Arista.

After the Classic and one of the 5 original 251s we listened to tied for most preferred, I refused to return the Classic and it's been in my locker ever since. FWIW, the other mics in the shootout included U47, M49, C12, U67, etc, all original and in good shape.

For 90% of female vox, I would use a Classic without hesitation and never consider I was shortchanging the artist compared to any other mic. A really phat alto would be the only exception, because the Classic might sound a tad heavy in that case.

[Groff]

I like the color and vibe of Classic II, but it is VERY sensitive to tongue/saliva/mouth noises. I don't know what you guys are doing with those clicks. It drives me crazy ... especially after compression, annoying as hell.

[Tube World]

Originally Posted by Groff

I like the color and vibe of Classic II, but it is VERY sensitive to tongue/saliva/mouth noises. I don't know what you guys are doing with those clicks. It drives me crazy ... especially after compression, annoying as hell.

Same thing is said about Brauner mic's, but somehow, they make great recordings with it.

[in the red]

Originally Posted by Groff

I like the color and vibe of Classic II, but it is VERY sensitive to tongue/saliva/mouth noises. I don't know what you guys are doing with those clicks. It drives me crazy ... especially after compression, annoying as hell.

whats wrong with tongue/mouth noise? to me thats a part of the whole game and can sometimes really be part of the magic, the feeling. sometimes maybe not...

[Groff]

Originally Posted by in the red

whats wrong with tongue/mouth noise? to me thats a part of the whole game and can sometimes really be part of the magic, the feeling. sometimes maybe not...

Not that kind of „magic“. Tiny clicks just pop out too loud and remind me on short electrostatic noise. It's very hard to see it even when zooming at max. Sometimes they come at long sustained vowels and that confuse me more. I'll post some clips ASAP.

[funkychorlton]

just an observation. half you guys are talking about the original Classic which is a very different mic from the Classic II the thread starter is discussing.

[Groff]

Here are some clips of it.

Classic II -> API 512c (female) / SPL GainStation (male) -> Rosetta 200 (24/44.1 -> UV22hr -> 16/44.1). No processing involved.

[thingsbreak]

So what is the difference between the Classic and the Classic ll?

[dillweed]

YouTube - Cross Canadian Ragweed - 17

I used the original classic on this song.
Through a neve 1064/La-2 straght to DA-88. One take except for a few punches.

Vox really shine on the radio.

[Groff]

Any comments on those clicks? Is this normal or some kind of malfunction?