New NT1a mod from Michael Joly

[stresstour]

Originally Posted by Michael_Joly

New Mods to Other Rode Models Now Available

In response to the U 87 shoot-out success of my NT1a mod and a deluge of popular request I now offer modifications to other Rode models including the NTK, NT2, NT2a, K2 and NT1000.

I've done new R&D on these models and have found Rode mics to be well-built tools that use high quality circuit design and components (WIMA capacitors etc). To their credit, Rode has created a very consistent "brand sound".

But if you're like me, you may have begun to turn away from bright microphones for many applications (especially vocals) and use more mid-range focused, "Neumann-esque" mics. I've found the high quality circuitry in Rode mics is a wonderful match for my MJE-K47 capsule and single layer-headbasket modification. About the only modification to the circuits I've made is to replace the input coupling and inter-stage capacitors with my preferred "secret sauce" types. The results are a lovely, mid-forward sound with gentle presence mound followed by a sibilance-free top end. Think of this as a "re-voicing" modification to a quality brand of mics.

I haven't made dedicated product pages for the new Rode modifications yet. But the parts and labor involved are similar to my MJE-K47 capsule mod suite described here which you can use to order mods to other Rode models in addition to the NT1 / NT1a - as usual, please write if you have question. best, Michael

AWESOME! What kind of turn around to mod the NT2?

[Michael_Joly]

My turn around time is always three days - one day to mod, then three days to burn in. Shipping is by US Postal Service priority mail (three business days) or International Express (five business days), signature required. Folks should contact me for my current booking date.

[seagull]

Originally Posted by Michael_Joly

New Mods to Other Rode Models Now Available

In response to the U 87 shoot-out success of my NT1a mod and a deluge of popular request I now offer modifications to other Rode models including the NTK, NT2, NT2a, K2 and NT1000.

I've done new R&D on these models and have found Rode mics to be well-built tools that use high quality circuit design and components (WIMA capacitors etc). To their credit, Rode has created a very consistent "brand sound".

But if you're like me, you may have begun to turn away from bright microphones for many applications (especially vocals) and use more mid-range focused, "Neumann-esque" mics. I've found the high quality circuitry in Rode mics is a wonderful match for my MJE-K47 capsule and single layer-headbasket modification. About the only modification to the circuits I've made is to replace the input coupling and inter-stage capacitors with my preferred "secret sauce" types. The results are a lovely, mid-forward sound with gentle presence mound followed by a sibilance-free top end. Think of this as a "re-voicing" modification to a quality brand of mics.

I haven't made dedicated product pages for the new Rode modifications yet. But the parts and labor involved are similar to my MJE-K47 capsule mod suite described here which you can use to order mods to other Rode models in addition to the NT1 / NT1a - as usual, please write if you have question. best, Michael

Hi Michael, I'm an extremely satisfied 319 premium mod customer. I purchased the 319 and mod from you to replace my NTK as a vocal mic and am happy with my decision as the modded 319 works better for my purposes. Could you give a comparison between the modded 319 and a modded NTK? Sorry if this has been asked before and I have missed it.

[Michael_Joly]

Hey Seagull, thanks!

That question hasn't been asked before. But its a good one. I'll break the answer down into a capsule, headbasket and electronics discussion.

MK-319 vs MJE-K47 capsule -

I've always said the MK-319 (also 219 / 101 / 2500) capsule is the closest thing to the K47 sound one can find without using an actual K47 design. There are mod'd 219 vs U 47 & mod'd 319 vs Gefell UM57 (M7 capsule) shootouts around that bear this out. Now, my current MJE-K47 capsule uses a 3 micron diaphragm and has a slightly faster transient response than an original (thicker diaphragm) Neumann K47 or the capsule used in the MK-319. The overall timbre-balance is the same but with just a bit more 16kHz "air" as one would expect as the faster transient response is transformed into the frequency domain. So to summarize, the capsule sound of my mod'd 319 and mod'd NTK with MJE-K47 is very similar.

Also, the headbaskets of these two mic - simple cylinders, both mod'd to a single grille layer, are very similar.

The electronics that follow the response-shaping capsule / headbasket system is where the differences come in - FET / transformer-coupled in the 319 vs. Tube / transformer coupled in the NTK. So all the details I describe in this thread about how these two circuit types sound in general can be applied to these two models in particular. Hope this helps.

[seagull]

Wow. Thanks for the quick and in-depth reply.

thumbsup

[Michael_Joly]

Hey folks, I'm currently offering FREE return shipping to Australia and NZ on all of my Rode mic mods. Its my way of offering a tip of the hat to Aussie ingenuity - Rode mics have great circuit design and component quality.

But if you find you've got a Rode mic that is too bright to be broadly useful in your current work, my MJE-K47 capsule and headbasket mods can re-voice these mics to a more "Neumann-esque" sound with a nice midrange push and sibilance-free top.

Here's how the promotion works - just order the Rode NT1 / 1a mod at my shop for those two mics, or order the MJE-K47 mod suite for any other Rode mic. When we see your order come in with an Oz or NZ address we'll refund the shipping charge back to your account.

With this promotion Oz and NZ folks will be paying just about the same total price for a Rode mod as my US clients who pay shipping both ways.

[SOULSHAKER88]

Hey Michael, do you mod the Studio Projects T-3 mic?

[Lenzo]

I just wanted to post and say thank you to Michael Jolly and his wife Meryl. My Nt1A came in a couple of days ago and I'm really impressed by the difference. Plus they were very professional, got it out before they said they would and kept me up to date regarding shipping and tracking. I'm seriously thinking of selling my Neumann 103 and getting another one done. I hated this mic before...love it now. Well worth the money spent.
L.

[stevelindsay]

I just recorded the attached female vocal with one of Michael's modded NT1A's if anyone would like to hear one in a pretty sparse mix...... it's a mod well worth doing.

http://soundcloud.com/oceanicrecords/the-void-alice-drake

[sgmusic]

Thanks for the great example of the mic in action, steve. It sounds great! I think I'm going to send mine out this week...just pushing myself to believe it's the best $400 I can spend right now. You're clip helps that case for sure.