How to Set Up the RØDE NT1 for Rap Vocals: XLR or USB

The RØDE NT1 is a condenser mic that a lot of home studios use for vocals. The 5th generation has something special: you can connect it through XLR and through USB-C. Here's how to set it up properly for your rap vocals.

First: the right side

There's a gold dot on the mic. That's the front. Always rap toward that dot. Rap into the back and your voice will sound dull and far away.

Shock mount and pop filter

The box includes the SM6: a shock mount with a pop filter. The shock mount absorbs vibrations, like when you bump your desk. The pop filter helps against hard P and B sounds. A condenser mic is sensitive to those, so use it. Read how to set up your mic for rap recording at home.

Option 1: connect through XLR

Through XLR you need an audio interface. The NT1 is a condenser mic, so through XLR it needs 48V phantom power. Plug in the cable, then turn on the 48V button on your interface.

A condenser mic is more sensitive than a dynamic one. So you usually need less gain. Rap your loudest part and turn the gain up until you're nicely in the green, with no red. How to do that per interface: Scarlett Solo, Scarlett 2i2, Audient EVO 4 and Behringer UMC22 and UMC202HD.

Option 2: connect through USB-C

No interface? Then connect the NT1 straight to your computer with the USB-C cable. The mic gets its power over USB, so 48V doesn't come into play here. Then select the NT1 as the input in your DAW.

Over USB, the NT1 can record in 32-bit float. According to RØDE, that means you don't have to worry as much about your gain, from a whisper to a scream. Want to take advantage of that? Check whether your DAW can record in 32-bit float too.

Effects on the mic itself

Over USB, the NT1 has built-in processing that you set up in the free RØDE Central and RØDE Connect apps: compression, a high-pass filter, a noise gate, and the APHEX Aural Exciter and Big Bottom. Keep in mind: whatever you turn on in the mic itself ends up in your recording. Not sure? Leave it off and do it later in your mix.

Watch your room

A condenser mic picks up a lot of detail, but also your room. Record in a quiet room with soft stuff around you, like a closet full of clothes. Don't put the mic right in front of a bare wall. More tips in how to remove room echo from rap vocals.

Mixing

Done recording? Build your vocal chain. Read the rap vocal chain for Ableton Live or GarageBand, or FL Studio vocal chain: the perfect plugin order. Still choosing a mic? Read recording rap with a Shure SM58.

FAQ

Does the RØDE NT1 need phantom power?

Through XLR, yes: 48V. Through USB-C, no, it gets power from your computer.

XLR or USB: which is better?

Both work fine. Over USB you don't need an interface and you can record in 32-bit float. Through XLR you use your interface's preamp. Pick whatever fits your setup.

Is the NT1 good for rap?

Yes, if your room plays along. It picks up a lot of detail. In an echoey room you'll hear that space in your recording too.

Source: RØDE's product information and specifications for the NT1 5th Generation.