Rode NT1A Professional Microphone

Pros: very good sound, high bang for the buck value, low noise.
Cons: cheap accessories, no bells and whistles.

NT1A looks somehow familiar, it was probably designed after Neumann U87 - U89. It won the Electronic Musician 2004 Editor's Choice Award and RODE's site claims it is the world's quietest studio condenser microphone with only 5 dBA of self-noise. Pretty ...

Pros: Nice, wide range. Attractive price.
Cons: Capsule is fragile. Lots of overshoot on spoken word. Shock mount is cheap.

Rode has been making pro mics for nearly ten years. They brought professional quality down to affordable. Their NT-2 is still sought-after, although it's not made anymore. The NT-1A is a crisp, bright cardioid condenser in the Neumann tradition. It's great for vocals but not spoken word. Great for music but don't mic an amp with it. For $199, it'll get the job done and then some. But it's not Rode's best effort. In order to use it for spoken word, a voice screen is mandatory; sometimes two layered back to back. Lots of overshoot. At its best--it sounds like a Neumann U89. But the capsule doesn't last long and once it starts to go--the mic becomes very tinny. Still a good buy for a home project studio.