RODE Microphones NT 3 User manual

(EMC, LVD)

NT3

Instruction Manual

www.rodemic.com

- 2 -

Introduction

Thank you for investing in the NT3 studio

condenser microphone.

Stylish and modern, the NT3 is a studio and location

workhorse. With both P48 phantom power and

internal 9V battery operation, this condenser

microphone is at home anywhere.

Intended for studio, stage and location work, this

versatile handheld or stand mounted microphone

incorporates a true externally polarized condenser

(hyper-cardioid polar response) transducer with an

internal capsule shock mounting system, and an ultra-

low noise electronic circuit that has a high immunity to

R.F. interference.

Please take the time to visit www.rodemic.com and

While there you can view studio tips and techniques, as

well as browse the comprehensive range of accessories

for the NT3 and other microphones.

Peter Freedman

Microphones

Sydney, Australia

- 3 -

Speciﬁcations

Acoustic

Principle:

Externally polarised 19mm (¾”)

condenser

Active

Electronics:

JFET impedance converter

with bipolar output buffer

Directional

Pattern:

Cardioid

(see graph)

Frequency

Range:

20Hz ~ 20,000Hz

(see graph)

Output

Impedence:

200Ω

Sensitivity: -39dB re 1V/Pa @ 1kHz

(12mV/Pa @ 94dB SPL)

±2dB @ 1kHz

Equivalent Noise: <16dBA SPL

(per IEC651)

Maximum

Output:

+9.5dBu

(@ 1kHz, 1% THD into 1kΩ)

Dynamic Range: >123dB (per IEC 6 51)

Maximum SPL: >14 0 d B

(@ 1kHz, 1% THD into 1kΩ)

Signal/Noise: >77dB SPL

(@ 1kHz, rel 1Pa per IEC651)

Power

Requirement:

8mA @ P48 (20-60v)

7mA @ P24 (12-30v)

1.4mA @ P12 (11026v)

1.2mA @ 9V (battery)

Output

Connection:

3-pin XLR

Net Weight: 371g

Dimensions: 270 x 130 x 50mm

- 4 -

Speciﬁcations

Frequency Response

Polar Response

Accessories

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–

Wind shield

Stand mount

with 3/8” - 5/8” thread adaptor

Zip pouch

- 5 -

Features

• True condenser externally biased ¾” capsule

• Dual power operation

• Cast metal body with durable satin-nickel ﬁnish

• Transformerless output

• Internal capsule shock mounting

• Internal shock mounting system

• High level of RF rejection

• Designed & manufactured in Australia

• Full 10 year warranty*

Powering the NT3

• The NT3 can be powered by either phantom power

or 9 volt battery (see speciﬁcations).

• Most professional mixing consoles include a 48v

phantom power supply, however in the case that

one does not a separate power supply may be

used.

• If phantom power is not available on your

equipment and you do not have a power supply,

you will need to use battery power. A 9 Volt (PP3)

battery should be ﬁtted into the cavity within the

microphone body ensuring correct polarity (+ to +

and - to -).

• We recommend that you use a high quality alkaline

battery. Tests have shown a life expectancy for

a high quality alkaline battery used in the NT3

to be in excess of 400 hours. This is roughly the

equivalent of 8 hours usage per week for a year.

*Online product registration required.

- 6 -

• The NT3 features a handy power indicator light to

help notify you when the battery is running low.

L.E.D. SINGLE FLASH – When

the L.E.D. ﬂashes (illuminates

for around one second), the

battery power is ‘good’. This

indicates that the microphone

has just been powered.

L.E.D. STAYS ON – When

the L.E.D. light illuminates

continuously the battery power

is getting low. Please replace

the battery as soon as possible,

as the microphone’s sensitivity

is reduced when operated with

a low battery.

• When using NT3 on battery power, it is a good

idea to keep the microphone in the off position

when not in use. This will save battery power and

increase the battery life. We recommend that

during long periods of non-use the battery should

be removed, as it may leak and potentially damage

the microphone.

• If phantom power is available the NT3 will not draw

any power from the 9v battery.

- 7 -

To ﬁt the battery:

1. Unscrew the lower section of the body to reveal the

battery cavity.

Unscrewing NT3 body

2. Flip open the battery clip so that it doesn’t

interfere with loading the battery.

3. Insert the battery into the cavity, inserting the

bottom ﬁrst. Take note of the plus and minus

symbol on the ﬂoor of the battery cavity to ensure

the battery is positioned the correct way.

Inserting the battery

4. Push the battery into place so that it is parallel with

the top of the cavity. Secure the battery in place by

ﬂipping the battery clip over so that it sits on the

battery.

5. Reassemble the body, screwing lower section

ﬁrmly together with the upper section.

- 8 -

• A stand mount clip (RM3) is included with your

NT3, and should be used to connect the NT3 ﬁrmly

and safely to a stable microphone stand.

• Always use a high quality microphone cable and

ensure that it is wired Pin 1 screen, Pin 2 (+), Pin 3 (-).

You may of course use XLR-XLR, XLR-jack or XLR-

mini-jack depending on your input socket.

• We recommend that any connections made to the

mixer or recorder are made with the attenuation

(gain) set to OFF.

• When ﬁrst switching the mixer on and phantom

power has been applied to the NT3, or when the

battery power has just been switched on, you

should allow several seconds for the microphone to

stabilize.

• To ensure the lowest noise/distortion your mixer

input gain control should be set so that the Peak

Program Indicator (PPI) LED ﬂashes ON during

peaks of the source (voice/instrument).

If there is no PPI, adjust the input gain while

listening for distortion of the sound. If distortion is

heard, gradually reduce the gain until it is no longer

present.

• Microphone technique, or how to get the sound

you want, requires experimentation.

We suggest that you start with the channel EQ

set to ‘OFF’ or ‘FLAT’ (no boost or cut). Try to get

the sound you want by placing either reﬂective or

absorbent panels at various angles adjacent to the

source being recorded.

Using the NT3

- 9 -

• Changing the acoustic properties of the space

around the microphone is our recommended initial

approach for obtaining best sound quality.

Remember you cannot change a room’s acoustic

properties with EQ.

When the preferred sound has been achieved

(as above) then EQ and effects such as reverb

or indeed any signal processing can be used for

enhancement, but should be used sparingly.

• When used as a vocal mic, the NT3 will be

potentially subject to moisture, which should be

avoided when using condenser microphones. We

recommend the use of the included windshield

to minimise any moisture build up. This will also

minimise plosive sounds (hard ‘p’, ‘b’, ‘k’ and ‘t’

sounds) that can bottom-out the capsule causing a

popping sound.

• As a live vocal mic the NT3 offers studio-quality

sound in a stage environment, superior to

the sound quality achieved from a dynamic

microphone.

- 10 -

• The low frequency of the NT3 extends to below

20Hz which is an attractive quality for most

recording situations, however in a live situation you

may wish to reduce these frequencies when using

it as a vocal mic. If you have a high pass ﬁlter/bass

roll-off then switch it in.

Alternatively try moving the microphone away from

the sound source (out of the proximity effect). This

basic microphone control/technique should be

practiced to ensure that the best possible results

are achieved.

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