RODE Microphones NT4 Manual

NT4

Instruction Guide

(EMC, LVD)

✔

STUDIO CONDENSER MICROPHONES

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 1

Peter Freedman

Microphones

This stereo condenser microphone has been

proudly designed and manufactured by

Microphones in Sydney, Australia.

We at thank you for investing in our

product and with the appropriate care, it will serve

you well for many years to come.

Please take the time to read the following

information which will help you to achieve the

best possible performance from your NT4.

Serial Number:..........................................

Checked by:..............................................

Date:..........................................................

NT4

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 2

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Capsule: 2 x 1/2” (13mm) externally

polarised condenser

transducers in stereo XY

placement.

• Active Electronics: J-FET Impedence convertor

with bipolar output buffer.

• Pickup Pattern: Cardioid per capsule (see

graph).

• Output Impedence: 200 Ohms

• Frequency Response:20Hz – 20kHz (see graph)

• Sensitivity: -38dB re 1v/Pa +/-2dB

equivalent to 12mV/Pa where

1Pa = 94dBSPL

• Equivalent Noise: <16dB SPL (A-Weighted per

IEC268-15).

• Maximum Output: +13.9dBu @ 1% THD into 1k

• Dynamic Range: >128dB

• Maximum SPL: 143dB @ 1% THD into 1k

• Signal / Noise Ratio: 78dB

• Power Requirements: P48, P24, P12 phantom or 9V

Battery

• Packed Weight: 2.3Kg (Microphone only 480g)

• Dimensions: Diameter: 32mm

Length: 232mm

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

POLAR PATTERN

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 3

FEATURES:

• Stereo XY condenser microphone.

• 2 x Externally biased 1/2” Capsules with gold sputtered

diaphragm.

• Capsules closely matched with full frequency

response.

• Phantom power or 9V battery operation.

• Durable satin-nickel ﬁnish.

• Custom stereo cables (included) dual XLR and mini

Stereo Jack.

• Custom WS4 twin-head Wind Shield.

• Surface-mount transformerless circuitry.

• Complete with Custom Carry Case and Stand Mount.

ACCESSORIES INCLUDED:

• WS4 Wind Shield

• Custom Carry Case

• RM3 Stand Mount plus 3/8” – 5/8” Thread Adaptor

• Custom Stereo Cables

(dual XLR and mini stereo jack)

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 4

The NT4 is an easy to use, precision stereo

condenser microphone. Choirs, orchestras, drum

over-heads, solo or ensemble instruments, may

all be recorded with the ‘ ambience’ and ‘ space’

only a true stereo microphone like the NT4 can

capture.

The two capsules used in the NT4 measure 1/2”in

diameter and have a cardioid polar pattern. The

cardioid patterns pick-up sound from in front of

the microphone and reject sound from the rear.

This helps with reducing unwanted sound such

as reverberation and audience sound from the

rear of the capsules. It is crucial when stereo

recording to have the capsules closely matched,

as in the NT4. The polar frequency response of

each capsule must be matched because much of

the sound in an XY stereo arrangement is picked

up off-axis by each capsule. The tone can be

varied by rotating the NT4 on its axis, so that the

capsules are pointing towards different areas of

the sound source. It is recommended that you

experiment with subtle position changes to help

you achieve your desired results. The matched

capsules of the NT4 allow for an accurate

response when recording a wide variety of

sources in various locations.

Some of the (many) potential applications of the

NT4 might be:

As an XY stereo overhead for the recording of

drum kits.Simply positioned at the rear of the kit,

in the centre behind the drummer and angled

down towards the drums, the NT4 produces a

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 5

‘real’ sounding kit. This method is very quick and

easy. There is no need to worry about the angles

of two individual microphones, or testing to see if

they are two of the same model which sound a

little different to each other.

Miking groups of vocalists in the studio or live

on stage. Placement can be in front of the

vocalists with the microphone pointing towards

the middle of the group.The distance between the

vocalists and the microphone depends on the

acoustics of the environment, level of the

vocalists and the sound that you are trying to

achieve. More bass frequencies are evident when

the microphone and vocalists are closer together.

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 6

Placed strategically above a grand piano, the

NT4 easily and clearly produces the true, stereo

image of that instrument.

Acoustic guitar performances (duo or

ensembles) are captured in true spatial stereo

simply by positioning the NT4 centrally between

or among them, and ﬁnely adjusting the position

for the ultimately desired responses. A solo

acoustic guitar will also beneﬁt from the ambient

sound captured by the NT4. (The closer the

microphone is to the instrument, the less

ambience and more guitar. For more ambience,

gradually move the microphone away from the

guitar).

Bands: like most applications, adjustments and

trials of the microphones’ position will quickly and

easily show that most effective position.

1. You may use either phantom power (see

Speciﬁcations) or 9V battery to operate your

NT4.

2. Most professional mixing consoles include a

48-volt phantom power supply; if yours does

not, a separate one may of course be used.

Ensure that whichever power supply you use,

it is a professional unit and is working

correctly.

3. If you choose 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.To

ﬁt the battery, simply un-screw the lower

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 7

section of the body and insert the battery into

the cavity (terminals ﬁrst). Secure the battery

in place with the ﬂexible spring clip and re-

assemble the body, screwing the sections

ﬁrmly together.

4. The ON/OFF switch turns the microphone ON

or OFF when powered by either phantom or

battery. When using battery power, the switch

should be switched to OFF when the

microphone is not in use. If left ON, the

battery power will be unnecessarily depleted.

We recommend that during long periods of

non-use, the battery should be removed, as it

may leak, and that could damage your NT4.

When the NT4 is switched ON, the red battery

status L.E.D. (light-emitting-diode) gives an

indication of battery power and should always

be carefully observed. When the L.E.D.

ﬂashes (illuminates for about 1 second), the

battery power is ‘ good’ . If the L.E.D. remains

illuminated signiﬁcantly longer, the battery

should be replaced. Tests have shown a life

expectancy for a high quality alkaline battery

used in the NT4 to be in excess of 400 hours.

5. The NT4 may be connected directly to 2

channels of a mixer using the twin XLR cable

(marked L and R) supplied, with each channel

panned left and right as required. Battery

power will only be necessary if the mixer does

not have an in-built phantom P48 supply.

Connection may also be made direct to a

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 8

portable DAT or other recording devices to

enable ﬁeld/location operation using the 9V

battery supply.

6. A stand mount clip (RM-3) is included with

your NT4, and should be used to connect the

NT4 ﬁrmly and safely to a stable microphone

stand unless of course you choose hand-held

operation which should only be used when it

is not possible to stand mount the NT4.

7. The NT4 is supplied with both a dual XLR

cable, and a stereo mini-jack cable. The

stereo mini-jack cable and battery option

allow for maximum portability and connection

to most recording devices. Whether you are

using a mixer, DAT player or Mini-disc player

(with or without phantom power), the

connections and power options allow for

maximum ﬂexibility.

We recommend that all connections made to

the mixer or recorder are made with the

attenuation (gain) set to OFF.

8. When first switching the mixer ON and

phantom power is applied to the NT4, or when

the microphone battery power is switched

ON, several seconds should be allowed for

the microphone to stabilize.

Note: When using phantom power, a battery

may be in or out; it is ineffective in that

situation.

9. To ensure the lowest noise/distortion, your

mixer input gain control should be set so that

the Peak Program Indicator (P.P.I.) L.E.D

ﬂashes ON during peaks (high levels) of the

program source (Voice/Instrument). If there is

no P.P.I., adjust the input gain while listening

for distortion of the sound. As distortion is

heard, reduce the gain gradually until the

sound is undistorted (clean).

10.Sound quality is of course subjective and

‘your sound’ will be achieved by you with

experimentation. We suggest that you begin

with EQ set FLAT/OFF (no boost or cut).

Remember that EQ cannot change the

acoustic properties of a room. In a studio-

recording situation, you should try placing

absorbent or reflective panels/material in

various positions within the vicinity of the

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 9

sound source and microphone. The

positioning of the microphone also has

dramatic effect on the sound quality.

When using the NT4 outdoors, care must be

taken to avoid excessive handling noise and

wind noise. As with all condenser

microphones, the NT4 is sensitive to strong

gusts of wind and so should be adequately

shielded. The supplied wind shield (WS-4) is

designed for vocal applications and in-doors

only. The WS-4 is not effective enough

outdoors in high wind conditions.For this work

a heavier foam type or a ‘Rycote’

(www.rycote.com) style wind cover should be

used. We also suggest the NT4 be used with

the supplied holder (RM-3) and a quality

microphone stand. This will avoid any

handling vibration noise.

The best way to assess your recording

environment, is to listen to the ‘unplugged’

sound you wish to record (use your ears).

Remember that no amount of EQ can correct

a ‘bad’ sounding instrument, voice or

recording environment. Any further desired

modiﬁcation of sound can then be undertaken

with the EQ.

30368_RØDE NT4 booklet 18/6/02 12:00 PM Page 10

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