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I'm attempting to help a friend select her first quality studio condensor mic for recording in her home studio...

She's setting up a new Tascam 2488neo MTR desk soon and will be shopping condensor mics. She is a singer songwriter who plays electroacustic guitar and fiddle along with her vocals.

I'm certain she usually jacks the elect-acustic git directly into line input on her present mixer, but would also like to use the condensor mic when playing both the fiddle and git unplugged.

Does anyone here have experience with the Rode NT2-A? Do you think it will be best to run it thru and outboard quality preamp?

Thanks!

Sounds like you're asking two questions. First, the Rode NT2-A is a pretty nice mic for the price. As dual large diaphragm mics go, the NT2-A has a good price point. The only issue I've seen with it is that it does not sound like most DLD mics you may have worked with previously. It is very unforgiving in that the sound from it is very expressionless. If you you want a bright, warm or whatever, you'll have to EQ for that, the sound out of the mic itself is very neutral. Beyond that it's a solid mic, doesn't come with a shock mount so she'd have to buy one, but I don't think it'd be a bad choice.

Now as far as whether or not you'd want to use an external pre-amp, my thought is that going into that Tascam desk, an external pre-amp would probably just be overkill. The mic pre's on the desk aren't bad and I'd think you'd run into the audio limitations of the A/D converter long before you'd realize any benefit from an external pre. Again, like the mic, the desk is a good solid performer for the money, but it's certainly not going to win any awards for high class recording desks either. Rather than buy an external pre, she'd be better off getting herself a good DI for that guitar if she is really just running directly into the line in currently.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Funny how your answer explains my suspicions

I had read that the mic did it's best with a qualty preamp, so it explains that they were tryin to say it might seem flat/neutral without one.

I agree on the DI, that was my next question. I ain't got no experience recording or micing intruments, but I have mic'd cabs. I know electacustic gits need a particular type DI to sound best but haven't researched it yet

Thanks for the help!

Well any DI will do but if you're looking for a good one to match up with an acoustic/electric, the Countryman Type 85 is far and away my favorite. I've used cheaper and more expensive DI's but the Countryman always seems to be the one I come back to.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Thanks! I'm working on my christmas list for next year....It's at the top!

Keith take a look at the Antares AVP 1.
The claims are it can reproduce many good microphones.
It is also an awesome toy.

EDIT: Yes I realise your toys normally come on two legs.