Rode NT-USB Mini Review
USB Condenser Microphone
- Designed for Podcasting and Streaming
- 4 Mics at Once Max via Connect Software
- High-Quality 48 kHz / 24-bit Recording
- Cardioid Polar Pattern for Room Noise
- Bus-Powered from Computer or Tablet
- Works with Computers and Tablets
- 3.5mm Headphone Jack with Volume Control
- Stand, USB Cable & Thread Included
- No Drivers Required for Operation
- Built-In Pop Filter & Isolation Stand
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 173,086 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Rode NT-USB Mini. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Rode NT-USB Mini. For example, 91% of 116,928 users who have commented on the Sound quality of the Rode NT-USB Mini have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 276 Reviews
Excellent usb mic
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
After over 35 years in radio broadcasting, I just simi-retired and was looking for a good USB mic that I could use on the road with my lap top when I went out of town. Although I no longer do a daily radio show, I still record commercials and weather forecasts, etc. from home on a part time basis. For that I use a Shure SM7B broadcast XLR mic on my desktop computer and transfer them to on the air with a special program. But I occasionally go out of town so I needed a good USB mic that I could use with my lap top for recording. After reading many reviews I decided to go with the Rode NT-USB and it has exceeded my expectations. I wasn't sure if this would be good enough for broadcast radio,, but this mic does the trick and really sounds good. Not as deep a presence for vocals as the Shure, it is nonetheless very bright sounding, clear, and is good enough for what I do on broadcast radio for out of town. If you do voice overs for Youtube videos (like I also do), this mic is perfect Be sure to order the OURAY Desktop Reflection Filter mic stand along with the Rode mic, it helps a lot with deadening room noise and gives a better all around sound presence. Great mic. ... More
Great mic, with a few missteps.
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by Michael on B&H Photo Video
I bought this mic as a potential travel mic. USB mics are desirable for portability. Travel is a major consideration, along with desktop footprint, durability, ease of use, and of course sound quality. Let's do sound quality first, because it's why most of us want a mic, right? The sound is excellent. Deep bass, the upper frequencies are clean and bright without falling into sibilance. This is a great mic for acoustic instruments. That brightness is terrific for stings, brass, and woodwinds. Not prone to distortion, this mic could even give worthy results on drums. Vocals are very good, with all of that bass, but I knock a little off because of the bright high end-- it makes the mic prone to picking up mouth noises-- clicks and lip smacks. If you like to close-mic your vocals, this may not be the perfect mic for you. I'd prefer a flatter frequency response that I could dial the brightness in with EQ, so you don't pick up those mouth noises in the recording. The dials are on the side and easy to access, and it has a 3.5 headphone jack for no latency monitoring. The knobs are for headphone volume and mix with playback from the computer. They are of high quality, no noise and silky smooth. The USB port is a 1.0 style, square and large. This is good-- a micro USB port would have been too flimsy for a mic this size. Size, you say? This mic is big. REALLY big. It's larger than the Blue Yeti. and it doesn't fold away easily. So for travel, you're looking at giving up significant suitcase space, which is partly why we love USB mics-- they don't require all of the extra gear that an XLR mic needs. The AT2020 USB+ is a better choice. There's an excellent pop filter included with this mic, a definite plus, but only the screen is metal. The enclosure around the pop screen is plastic, and it has a 45 degree bend that will break, it's just a matter of time. The tripod does not collapse. It's a molded 3-prong stand that has no hinges. It's not going to pack away. ... More
LOVE the mic, LOVE the kit, just not the Rode USB cable.
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by Tim on B&H Photo Video
I was delighted with the mic until I tried using it with Camtasia for recording. The USB signal connected, disconnected, connected... The input selector was unstable, there was a click-click in the headphone when I raised the volume control, there was no system audio, and video playback was messed up. After testing the Rode NT-USB with Camtasia on two different computers, installing different video cards (I almost bought another one), I finally figured out what was causing all the problems with the NT-USB with Camtasia. In one test on a third computer I pulled an old (thick, very well shielded, shorter) USB cable out of my box of spare computer parts (like we all have). The Rode mic performed PERFECTLY on computer #3! Around 3 in the morning, I started thinking... could it be the CABLE??? That morning I connected the spare cable I had used in the third test to the original computer.... and all the problems went away. The repeated "bebop, bebeep" USB connection sounds, the issue with Camtasia, the volume indicator that indicted steady sound when there was none ... all gone. System audio plays back and videos run normally. It works PERFECTLY! No need to return to B&H, no need to replace as defective, no need for a new video card, no need for new video drivers or reinstall Camtasia. Just replace the poorly insulted Rode USB cable with a better insulated (shorter) USB cable. The cable is too long, too think and apparently poorly insulated, so I also recommend NOT coiling it up to get rid of the extra length. I learned that in my experiments as well. That's where the "click click" in the headphones came from: simple crosstalk feedback between signal out and signal in. Bottom line: EXCELLENT microphone, excellent Studio Package Kit, PERFECT for working with Camtasia. The attached image illustrates how you know there is crosstalk: full meter indication with no sound input. That's how you know when there's a crosstalk issue. ... More
Great all-around computer mic!
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Reviewed by Sean on B&H Photo Video
This a high-quality microphone (I'm still blown away by what it picks up!) that works great with my iMac. I use it for voice-overs along with online conferencing (e.g. Skype, Teams, Cisco Meetings, Zoom, etc.). My only knit, and it's a minor one, is that it's hard to differentiate what I hear through the monitors versus what my audience is hearing on the other end. It also doesn't work well if you're using the mic as an input with your computer speakers as an output as you create a nasty little feedback loop. But other than that, this mic is quality, small, affordable, and easy to use. ... More
Mic itself is fine, Windows 10 ruined it.
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Reviewed by Zachary on B&H Photo Video
In a vacuum, the microphone itself is good. Nice form factor, feels sturdy and solid, and the sound was good, but the problem was that nobody could hear it. Some microphones seem to have issues with Windows 10, and this is one of them. The problem is that the microphone's output is extremely quiet, so the other people listening to me could barely hear me at all, and Windows does not properly allow for you to boost the gain on the mic, so it's a massive hassle to get the volume you need. When I finally did go through the process of installing multiple layers of software to add some pre-gain control, I got the volume I needed but it was so distorted that my friends told me my $40 modmic that I was upgrading from sounded better. I tried doing a lot of my own research before ultimately seeing a lot of different people in tech forums stating that this was a known issue with Windows 10. After learning a ton about microphones from experienced users, I changed course and bought an XLR mic and an audio interface, and I am so incredibly pleased with the sound. The NT-USB seems like a decent mic, and I didn't want to give it a terrible star rating when the problem was with Windows. But I do want to warn people about this issue that some USB mics have with Windows 10. Combining that with the fact that USB mics are generally much shorter lived and less robust, and I know I'm switching over to XLR permanently. ... More
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Not iPad Pro Compatible
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by Rick on B&H Photo Video
Despite being advertised as iPad compatible, I cannot get this mic to be recognized by my iPad Pro 11. I have tried multiple options: directly connected via a USB-B 2.0 to USB-C cable; using HyperDrive hub for iPad using the provided Rode cable; using the official Apple USB-C to Digital AV Multiport Adapter and provided Rode cable. The mic works with my MacBook, so the mic doesn't appear to be faulty, and my iPad connects to other devices directly through the USB-C port and using the previously mentioned adapters. The iPad is running up-to-date software (at the time of this review) iPadOS 13.6 (public release). The extra annoying part of this experience is that due to long shipping times during the pandemic, by the time I got everything together to test it I was out of BH's 30day return policy. I'd like to see if the newer Rode NT USB Mini would work (since I also already invested in a Rode mic stand), but I don't want to be out return shipping and possibly restocking fees if it also doesn't work. The description for this mic should be updated to indicate it is not compatible with an iPad Pro. ... More
Worked great then died
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Reviewed by Robb on B&H Photo Video
I liked the microphone just fine. It is actually a very nice product. After two months it just stopped working and Rode is not being responsive at all to requests for help. At this point I waisted $99. I want to like Rode. I have a lot of their products. This is my second mic to just die.
So much for so little!
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Reviewed by Russell on B&H Photo Video
For 3 and a half years, my studio microphone has been the Blue Yeti. I never had any reason to get a new mic, as I was always satisfied with how my productions sounded. Then a few peers started talking about the sound quality they were experiencing with the Rode NT-USB. I have 3 other Rode mics - the VideoMic, the VideoMicro and the WirelessGo, and I have been very pleased with all of them. I ordered the NT-USB mostly for the compact size and the ease of USB connectivity. I always feel pressure to upgrade to an XLR set-up, but after my first test recording of the NT-USB, I knew that I had made the right choice. The sound is so crisp and clean, and much better than my Blue Yeti. I don't have a sound treated studio - just an extra unfinished room in the basement. This microphone sounds like I'm recording in a professional studio! I do miss having a gain adjustment, but it's not a deal breaker. I also purchased the PSA-1 Boom Arm to mount it on, and I am please with that as well. This is the best audio set-up next to an XLR system, and I can highly recommend it! ... More
Great quality of vocals and instrumental from this mike!
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Reviewed by Wretched on Guitar Center
I use this mike for voice-overs, vocals and instrumentals. The quality is outstanding, clear and well-balanced. Studio quality and great dynamic range. Love it!
Great for my needs so far
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by Nicholas on B&H Photo Video
Honestly I bought this for video conferencing, so I won't pretend as though I have demanding needs. I'm definitely not an audio expert either. That being said, I have been very impressed by the sound quality and construction. Recordings of my voice sound clear, natural, and full. People on the other end of calls say the audio is exception, and I love how easy set up was (there was basically no set up; it's very plug and play). The build quality is excellent. The mic itself is entirely metal and very sturdy. The dials are also all metal and rotate smoothly with hard stops at the extremes. The pop filter and mount could be a little better. The support hardware is plastic, and while the pop filter mesh is metal, the frame is also plastic. It seems solid though. My one complaint is the stand. The tripod is awkward and a little unstable. I bought a third party stand with isolating foam on the bottom that is much better. I'm not taking any stars off though because the included stand, while not perfect, is adequate and seems fair for the price. My assumption is that anyone with demanding needs will be using a third party stand or boom anyway. ... More
Do your research, then come back and buy this mic
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by RunAndGunRudy on B&H Photo Video
I work professionally in the film and sound recording industry. Lately I have been looking for a compact microphone during my more mobile projects that I can use on my Mac or even phone. I love portable mobile microphones such as the Sennheiser Clip Mic digital, and really wanted a USB mic that could work on my phone. I normally use powered mic's and this is my first USB variant. I researched for probably about two weeks before I concluded that this mic was the best bang for my buck... I wasn't wrong. This mic is amazing out of the box, crystal clear, and super nice to work with. The built in pop-filter is also a great touch. I would recommend this mic ten-fold and have even swapped a few of my xlr mics out for this beauty. Do your research, then come back and buy this mic, you will eventually come to the same conclusion that I did. ... More
Perfect for online recording submissions!
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Reviewed by Rick on B&H Photo Video
I have tested this thoroughly among faculty, grad students and undergrads. We are looking for a consistent and quality solution for online recording submissions for the upcoming semester of people who cannot or will no attend the university in person. Latency is always an issue when recording, I did enough testing in the spring and have done enough recording in the past 30 years to know this is the number one complaint of people who don't record often (and for people who do!). this Rode microphone, like its bigger brother, allows the user to plug their headphones in (not using AirPods is another delay avoided!) and dial in their microphone level to be comfortable with the tracks coming from the computer. Sure, there is a bit of latency recording to any DAW over USB, and is easily adjusted by engineers, but having the talent comfortable while singing/performing is a home run here. The sound is clear and wonderful for a $99 microphone. I have a pair of the NTR ribbons and two of the shotgun mics for cameras-all Rode products are built like tanks, and this little beauty is no exception. I am recommending my department have a handful on-hand as well as recommending to faculty and to students who may purchase their own for the fall semester. Well done, Rode. ... More
No bells or whistles, just does its job and does it well.
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by Spenser on B&H Photo Video
I bought this mic as a replacement for a Blue Yeti that I was using. The old mic had some serious USB port issues, and It was becoming too irritating to keep up with, so I decided to go with this one after a bit of research. The sound is great, I feel like it captures a more natural tone than the Yeti. Live monitoring is great, and the fact that this mic lets you adjust the live monitor mix is fantastic. Makes it very versatile for both listening and recording at the same time. I use this mic mainly for Teaching online classes, attending online classes, and amateur podcasting. It works for all 3 of those perfectly with absolutely 0 issue with hardware. Plug and play feature makes setup a breeze. My ONLY (and I mean ONLY) complaint about this mic is the lack of Mute/Gain. The fact that this mic has no gain knob makes it a little irritating to adjust levels, but its easy to work around that. The lack of a mute button just makes me have to adjust the mix knob if I want to listen without a live monitor. Both of these issues have very easy, very simple workarounds. The complaint is more about convenience than operation, because this mic does everything I need it to. Great build quality, came with a nice little bag. ... More
Absolutely Blown Away
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by Chris on B&H Photo Video
To start with, I have a Neumann TLM-103 and an absolutely incredible Universal Audio SOLO/610 - Classic Vacuum Tube Microphone Preamp. These sound amazing together. However, being realistic, not every project calls for that equipment, and if I want to just record some vocals or voiceovers quickly, that becomes a huge hassle. Increasingly, I'm finding myself not at my home when I need to record voiceovers. Hence the reason I picked up this RDE NT-USB mic. On first use it absolutely blew me awaythe quality of sound is just as good as my Neumann. It's a well built, solid mic and the stand and windscreen just make it so convenient to leave out on my desk so it's always within reach. I seriously can't believe how good it sounds. If you're looking to do podcasts, voiceovers, Youtube videos, then this is the only mic you need. Even if you're looking to use it as a studio mic on vocal tracks, it will do the job quite well. The price point is incredibly cheap for the quality you're getting. Buy one now!!! ... More
Most solid and feature-filled mic at entry-level price.
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Reviewed by Elias on B&H Photo Video
I use Rode's NTR and a few others in the studio already, so I might be a little biased towards their company. I got this mic for a voiceover artist, a podcaster, and a work-from-home call center employee. All three are working exceptionally well for those uses. That being said, I'd have no reservation sending this out to a vocalist ro instrumentalist to record some stuff remotely (provided their room is treated, of course). I would expect it to work as well as an NT1-a-not as silky or full as most expensive mics-but very workable. I use RX to de-noise, so any added noise from the bus isn't a concern to me (it might be to you, but that's going to be an issue with any bus-powered mic). It's not an oppressive amount of noise if you're at the right distance and gain. This is a solid mic. I love the mounting options, the headphone volume and jack (which are both solid) and the ability to turn on/off live monitoring. The internal pop filter is also better than most. As of Aug 2020, I would absolutely choose this over every other USB mic at the current price point. ... More
A solid piece of equipment
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Reviewed by Edward on B&H Photo Video
I have only had it for a week but I have tested it extensively and I am very pleased with the performance. Like the rest of the world, I have to be on Zoom or WebEx every other day for work. The construction is rock solid, made of metal, not plastic. The base is very heavy (detachable if you wish to mount on boom arm) and has an anti-skid strip around it, so it does not slide anywhere. My listeners report that I sound very clear and much different from my laptop, which is what I paid for. This microphone is sensitive enough that it will pick up transient noise, especially from desktop speakers, so headphones area must. I was able to plug my Bose headphones right into the rear of the microphone - very convenient. I am able to be heard without having to over project my voice. Listeners report that I sound completely normal without raising my voice. All in all, the product delivers as promised. ... More
Fantastic Microphone!
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I really love this microphone. First of all, it comes with its own pop filter, plus a very long USB cable, which is very handy to have if you're using the USB mic for camera work that is not right next to your computer. As far as sound quality goes, my voice comes out very crisp, clear and natural, and the NT-USB picks up very little background hissing or fan noise, which is fantastic. The build quality feels very solid, and the ability to listen to my voice in real-time while recording gaming content, for example, is very helpful. Overall, I'm glad I made this purchase, and I have suggested that others buy this microphone, because it truly is THAT good. ... More
Great Price for Incredible Quality
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by clawmountain on B&H Photo Video
The NT-USB Microphone is a great addition to the list of RODE Microphones available. It's compact, sleek, and usb capable, perfect for some one who doesn't have a sound mixer or board. I recently purchased this microphone to go along with my microphone collection. I'm a filmmaker who frequently uses shotgun microphones for outdoor filmmaking. Recently I've been having a need to record more voice overs and instrumentations from an indoor setting. This was the first mic that caught my eye, being an avid supporter of RODE (All of my microphones are RODE's, the NTG-2, The RODE smartLav and now the NTG-USB) this was the perfect option. As I'm not a sound designer, having a simple usb condenser microphone was a huge reason for why I chose this microphone. It's ease of use and high quality the audio recordings turn out to be is phenomenal. Though sometimes it can pick up more of what's around that, it's easy to fix with use of a closed space, in my case a closet to keep external sound out. Overall this microphone is versatile, easy to use and high quality for a great price. ... More
The Ease of USB
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by Steve on B&H Photo Video
At long last, I have a USB mic which makes my other Rode NTK mic a pricey and cumbersome footnote in audio progress. The NT-USB is lightweight, easily portable, sounds fantastic, and the on-board popkiller is a nice touch. It's an all in one mic that eliminates the need for a mixer and external power source. No more flimsy, obsolete cables or huge cases and power boxes to lug around. Why didn't they make this 10 years ago? It had some initial problems right out of the gate working with Adobe Audition CS6, causing a bizarre fluttering sound for seemingly no reason at all, even during absolute silence, but for reasons unknown to me, that problem completely disappeared after giving it some time with Adobe Audition 5.5 and a different computer. Works perfectly as it should now. The two dials and headphone jack on the right side provide all I could ever want or need out of mic. Love it and never looking back. ... More
Fantastic mic for the price!
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone Kit with Boom Arm & Headphones
Reviewed by Kyle on B&H Photo Video
So let me begin by saying I bought this mic on the recommendation of a friend, and I absolutely LOVE IT. It's portable, easy to set up and relatively straightforward. The base is sturdy and it's excellent at picking up only what I want, no excessive background noise or hum. Previously I was using a generic cardioid mic from a chinese retailer, which was decent but only recorded in a downmixed mono state and required an external preamp for phantom power, severely limiting it's portability for travel projects. This Rode mic beats it out in all aspects (which I expected given its considerable price difference from what I paid). All in all it's a solid mic with awesome performance for both vocals and spoken voice. My only complaint is, on my windows machine it tends to geek out the audio when I plug it in since the mic does feature a two-way monitor feature through its 1/8 headphone port, but simply reassigning the audio out corrects this. def not a deal breaker. If you're in the market for a great mic, this is the way to go! ... More
