Home Microphone Comparisons Rode NT USB vs. Blue Yeti [With Video]

Rode NT USB vs. Blue Yeti [With Video]

by Stuart Charles Black

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Hello there friend and Welcome aboard!!

Before we get into the Rode NT USB vs. Blue Yeti, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…

You’ve come to the right place!!

What I will bring you in this review

Today I will outline the NT USB and then compare it to the Blue Yeti towards the end. 🙂

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Rode NT USB

Price: Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater! | Check eBay!

Specifications

Summary

The Rode NT USB has been compared to mics way out of its price range, and folks generally love the detail and crispness that it provides.

Something interesting to note is that a lot of reviewers did mention that they liked it better than the Blue Yeti.

People, in general, are simply astounded by the sound quality, and some can’t believe it’s a USB mic.

Pros

  • Crisp, clear audio. Professional sounding.
  • Deep bass.
  • Easy to use. Plug and play USB.
  • Picks up a lot of detail. Great highs and lows. Balanced sound.
  • Solid build quality, very well made.
  • Zero-latency monitoring headphone jack. What is Latency?
  • Good Timbre. What is Timbre?
  • Great customer support from Rode.

Cons (Isolated cases)

  • Noise/clicking through the audio.
  • Won’t work with Skype.
  • The headphone jack may suddenly stop working after a time.
  • The mic is bulky and the sound is muffled.

Video Comparison

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Who this mic benefits?

Good for:

  • Voiceover
  • Audio & Video creation
  • VoIP
  • E-Learning
  • Short Instructional Videos
  • Narration
  • Podcasting
  • Screencasting
  • Gaming
  • Youtube
  • Recording instruments and vocals
  • General Commentary
  • Hip/Hop and Rapping
  • Broadcast Radio
  • Grand Piano
  • Recording Audio Books
  • Recording voicemail messages

The NT USB is an extremely versatile microphone! Click here to read what others are saying…

Works well with:

  • Sonar
  • Audacity
  • PS4
  • Story Line 2
  • Ableton
  • OURAY Desktop Reflection Filter mic stand
  • Garage Band
  • Final Cut Pro

Cannot be used with:

  • Reason 8

What you will need?

  • Nothing. It’s a plug-and-play USB baby!

Thoughts from Stu’s notepad

Make sure you are purchasing from authorized dealers.

There are fake/counterfeit models floating around. Rode also doesn’t honor warranties on unauthorized/unregistered products.

The mic is very sensitive and does tend to pick up the background noise. Acoustic Sound Treatment goes a long way!!

When you plug your headphones into the jack there may be some crackling noise coming from the mic.

Comes with a pop filter.

The LED indicator is subtle and not flashy. Many people commented on this.

Earphones sometimes need an adjustment when plugged into the mic. The sound doesn’t always come through correctly.

A bit difficult to EQ. It’s also amazing at close range but starts to significantly deteriorate sound quality-wise at 2+ feet out.

The stand could use a wider base as the mic tends to be top-heavy.

The mic does not have a mute button but does have a volume adjustment and monitoring adjustment.

The monitoring adjustment basically allows you to toggle how much you hear while you’re recording an instrument or a vocal take.

Rode boom arms seem to be the only ones that support this mic, and they’re expensive.

You may be disappointed in the case because it only holds the mic and nothing else.

You may want to invest in a Shockmount to go with the NT USB. The Rode SM6 and Auray SHM-SCM1 Suspension Shockmount both work well.

Consensus/Conclusion

Crystal clear sound and solid build. It’s very professional sounding and picks up a lot of detail.

The lack of features and occasional headphone jack issues hold it back a little from being a perfect mic.

Similarities & Differences

Similarities

  • Both have zero-latency headphone jacks.
  • Both are extremely durable with little to no plastic found. Do note that the NT USB’s stand is plastic, while the Yeti is made of metal.
  • Both can be mounted on separate stands.

Differences

  • The Blue Yeti comes with a mute button while the NT USB does not.
  • The Blue Yeti has the gain feature while the NT USB does not.
  • The Blue Yeti does not have the monitoring feature (mentioned in Stu’s notepad), while the NT USB does.
  • The NT USB only has the cardioid pattern option, while the Yeti has 4 different polar patterns.
  • The Blue Yeti is extremely heavy, so it’s hard to attach a boom arm. The NT USB is not quite as heavy as the Yeti.
  • The Yeti is also GIGANTIC. The pictures make it look like a standard-looking mic, but rest assured this beast resembles a spaceship when you get up close and personal.
  • The highs and lows of the NT USB seem to be a little crisper/clearer than the Yeti.
  • The Yeti is more affordable than the NT USB.
  • The Yeti’s mic stand is significantly more solid than the one that comes with the NT USB.
  • The Yeti does not come with an included pop filter while the NT USB does. Fortunately, you can purchase a foam windscreen that is just as effective.

Final Word

Like the fella in the video pointed out, these mics have a very similar sound and there’s not much in the way of differences.

As far as features, they are very different.

My recommendation is the Blue Yeti because of the solid stand, better/more features, and better build.

It’s just more versatile.

Couple that with its more affordable price and you’ve got a winning combination.

Blue Yeti USB Microphone Review

All-purpose wonder.

Interested in learning more about the Yeti?

 

Still interested in the NT USB?

 


Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Rode NT USB vs. Blue Yeti.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Which of these is more up your alley? Convinced the Yeti is amazing? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Be sure to check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

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4 comments

Ojou July 23, 2017 - 2:56 pm

Hey there,

I’ve been on your blog for almost 24 hours now and I’ve learned a whole bunch of things! Thanks man. I’m solely a musician whose knowledge is more to the side of music theory and technique, but I know nothing when it comes to recording, so you’re making this a lot easier for me. I have a question, in the video review he says that the top knob on the Rode NT-USB is used to adjust how much of the backing track that I’m listening to in my headphones versus my voice. My question is: How is that possible? Please bear with me I’m such a newbie 😀 i mean, I’ll be connecting the headphones to the mic, then the mic to my laptop, do I just play my backing track on the laptop and hear it on the headphones? Do i play it on a media player or on audacity or what? Thanks in advance.

Reply
Stu July 25, 2017 - 12:22 am

Hey man!

It’s basically just no latency monitoring. You’re able to track exactly what you’re recording and listening to through headphones. In fact, with my Blue Yeti I can plug the headphones in without pressing record and hear everything that the mic is picking up. How is that possible you ask? Well essentially it’s just the sounds being inputted are automatically being fed through the output, enabling you to hear them in real time.

And yeah, you can use Audacity to do this. I’m actually using it right now.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you need further clarification.

-Stu

Reply
Luxury Travel Camel August 17, 2017 - 9:36 am

A superb analysis, thanks. Just wanted confirmation of what I have decided, i.e. Blue Yeti. So thanks for that. I hope that my voice-overs for my YouTube channel (Luxury Travel Camel) will now be better than what they have been. Many thanks.

Reply
Stu August 17, 2017 - 3:42 pm

No problem! Please let me know how the Yeti works out for you by Contacting me 🙂

-Stu

Reply

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