Rode NT-5

Been recording and "upping" for 20 years or so. (more if you include a tape recorder as a teenager ;)
Got 24 digital recording (Akai DPS24), waves and uad plugins for mixing and mastering on PC. LA610 preamp plus the DAW preamps and some nice low end pro mics (Akg 414 XLS, Neumann TLM103)
I recorded those two mics, plus a Shure SM57 and my internal iMix from Baggs (an iBeam and Element)
Remember, I didn't use pro preamps for all mics, but I don't have high end monitors either. I have Yamaha HS50M and Sen. HD280 pro headphones.
I got these mics for acoustic recording primarily.

I rate this a 9 because it's a very good stereo pair, but isn't "realistic" only by themselves. They do a great job cutting through the mix. I prefer having with them a 1 inch moving coil to give a bit of low end (but I don't like 1 inch by themselves, too boomy) and the internal pickup if you have them in the mix just enough to hear some finger noises, add realism, and really open up the presence of the sound.

Others to check out in this ranger are Shure SM81 and Octavia 012. High end are Neumann KM184 which for all I know sound fine by themselves.

I'm quite happy with the price and they are exactly what I expected 1/2 inch moving coils to sound like. Before this I had an AKG C1000S.

If and when I up, I'll up to the Neumann's. But this serves me just fine now, no complaints. Clear, low noise, superb stereo capture, and the rest (mic placement, EQ at mixing) is up to you and effects the sound more than the type of 1/2 inch IMO.

Active musician for around 15 years, recording for far less. I record into a Mac based DAW through an NRV-10.

Have been using the NT5 pair to record choirs, orchestras and both. Depending on the ensemble (size and tipology), I usem them as an XY pair or ORTF.

They have an honest sound, seem very well built but, contrary to everyone's say, I find them (just) a little bit bright. Probably because I also have MK012s...

Quite rugged, very well accomodated in a hard plastic case, low noise. Wondering about the omni capsules, but their frequency response seems too hyped on the higher end and price!

Would buy them again, or probably the NT55.

I do recordings since almost5 twenty years. From the very start with
a Fostex X-15 until a little recording studio in Berlin Neukoelln today.
Been recording rock'n roll, blues and hardrock.

Like someone else already said, they're quit close to Neumann KM 184
but a little less (super-)bright and a bit 'middier'.
Beside the comparision to the reference Neumanns (I think it's OK to
rate Neumanns as reference, whatever they glue together it really kicks ass!) I would say the NT5's are worth every Euro I paid for them.
(??? 349,-) I use them for drum overheads, it seems they're made fpr that:
Beautyful cymbals, smooth HiHat, realistic snare and even deep floor toms. Useful for a 4 Mic drum setup. I don't miss any lo cut or -10 dB
switch because I think the NT5's are made for distant recording issues
like overheads and XY. Accoustic Guitar also sounds well.

Been recording for several years in my home studio. I also play drums and have a passion for capturing great drum recordings.

As already covered in the other reviews, these mics are cardioid condensers. They have no pad or high-pass switches. The finish on these mics is great - a big step up from some of the chinese made mics. They seem impervious to oxidisation which can quickly make some mics look bad.

I've owned my pair of NT5's for a couple of years now and have had the chance to compare them to other mics. I have found the NT5's to be the right balance for drum overhead duties. They don't extend quite as low as LDC mics, but they sound very nice on cymbals and do go low enough for a 3 or 4 mic drum recording set up. The NT5's just sound right. They are not in the least bit harsh on cymbals, but possess enough clean high frequency response to do expensive cymbals justice. Snare sounds are true and articulate. The mics pick up nuances that give the listener a sense of space.

Despite the fact that the mics have no pad, they cope with the SPL generated from a drum kit without any hint of overload or distortion. Yet on quiet sourses, the mics seem very quiet with extremely low self-noise.

Rode have got it right with the NT5's, they sound fantastic. They are keepers that I will hold onto for years to come.

Enthusiast recording engineer for 8 years..many long hours recording and mixing bands. Currently recording to PC w Sonar. KRK monitors.

These are an amazing value. They truly excel as drum overheads. Great clarity and detail, perfect for rock drums. Combined with an Audix D6 on kick, SM57s above and below the snare and you should get a great sound. Would reccomend running them through a preamp with a tube flavor.

I have used many other drum overhead mics and these are true winnners. One piece of gear I will never sell. With all respect to the previous reviewer, if the drum sound he got was harsh, then the culprit is the room, kit, or incorrect preamps.

I've maybe been doing my own recordings since October 2004 and going straight through an analog board into an Alesis HD24. I put all my recordings onto my iMac and mix in Tracktion 2.

The NT5's come in a stereo pair for micing drums, BUT I think they're very bright and make drums sound very harsh. They do work excellent on most acoustic instruments (I've used them for ac. guitar, vibraphone, and upright bass, and recently used on a snare). This band's snare I had recorded was very dull sounding with the attack, but had good decay, so I took off the SM57 and put down an NT5 and man! The snare was so punchy and clear and it cut right through the mix. It just had that in your face thwack like the snare is directly in front of you. I recommend this mic to people but don't try it on drums. I'm glad have 2 M Audio Solaris' to do my drum overheads now.

I home-record music since 1992... I've recorded more than 40 rock/punk bands... I use ADAT and DAW for recording and Tannoy Reveal for mixing/listening

I mainly use the mics for overheads in the drums... I test the placement when I record... and this little mics sounds cool in nearly any position jeje

I choose Rode NT5 for the price... but if I would have to pay the nearly 400$ that cost new, I would buy them again... they worths every penny to 400$

I used MXL and Samsons for overheads during years... but these little mics are completely different.... I always thought that Samsons C01 were great for the price... but... hell... Rode NT5 are EXTREMELY great for the price.... I even gave the C01s to a friend jeje

The only dissapointing thing is that the nickel cover of the mics go very dirty and ugly with the time

Recording punk/indie/whatever forever.

Setup is this: Neotek Series I console into Pro Tools. Numerous outboard effects/dynamics etc. My studio does not contain any Mackie, Behringer or any other consumer stuff.

Monitoring through JBL nearfields.

Cardiod pattern SDC. I use them for o/h on drums and ac guitar. These mics are simple to use and sound very good. No hyped top end.

Making music: Now for 5 years

Recording Exp: Been at it regularly for the past year and a half and love it

Recording Type: Digital/PC interface 96k/24bit, Cubase and N-Track Studio Digital Editing

Primary Listening Equip: Altec Lansing Speaker/Subwoofer set for PC, headphones

NT-5 small diaphragm condenser mics, cardoid pattern, comes as a consecutive serial number pair.

Use mics on drum overheads, distance amp mic'ing, choir (not yet but will), movie on set mic'ing, always mic in stereo AB (haven't tried XY yet)

I used the NT5's in the past and I liked their response and clarity.
I chose them because I wanted more mics for a set to record drums and I thought they would do the job. Actually, I bought them from RMC audio ( http://www.rmcaudio.com/ ), who helped reassure me that they were the right mics for my needs. They have sweet customer service and get my thumbs up.

Fav aspects: good atmosphere mic'ing. Crack the gain up and you hear EVERYTHING around them. They don't even recommend you do that, because they start picking up at the push of phantom power. They are clear and honest.

They don't seem to handle SPL well. Wouldn't recommend them for vocals really for that reason. Seems that it's a matter of ploisives really ("B" and "P" vocal sounds that make the diaphragm go *ouch*). They might be ok for vocals with a pop filter, but I haven't tried it. I use them for distance mic'ing personally... I think they make a drum set sound banging (really good). They grab the sounds of the whole kit. Just watch for phase problems as always :)

I recommend these mic's. For distance mic'ing with honesty and clarity these guys get my pick. Watch that SPL though. :) For closer mic'ing I will always prefer my large diaphrams/tight dynamic mics. They capture those details up close.

I'm a project studio owner/engineer with about 18 years experience. I strated with a portastudio and currently record to Roland VS1880 & VS2480 units as well as Protools, and Cubase on a DAW. I'm monitoring on a 2.1 setup using Event PS6's w/ a subwoofer.

The Rode NT5 is a matched pair of sm. diaphram condenser mics (SDC). I purchased them after reading some reviews. I also have regularly used other SDC's, such as Neumann KM184's, and Oktavas. The NT5's are smooth. They have very good low end response for a SDC. For the price, they are an excellent value. Very full sounding, not overly bright and smooth. I have used them in a stereo XY config to record a rehearsal and they performed very well. I have used them for drum overheads and they work well. I have also tried them on ac. guitar and the work well. Close to the Neumann sound, but not as bright. Very detailed. Highly recommended.