Mic Round-Up: Cheaper Alternatives to Rode


Rode Microphones seem to give a lot of gear sluts 'eargasms' and for good reason. Apart from their silky smooth sound, they are probably the worlds quietest microphones and seeing that small studios without professional acoustic isolation abound in every street corner, silence has become golden!

Neumann U87
In its class are German legends in microphone design, Neumann and especially the U87. These mics are pricier and aren't very obtainable in the Nigerian audio market, however, they can be shipped home within 10 days using the SHM Air Freight platform.

Today we are focusing on other great sounding budget microphones that can serve as alternatives to the affordable and fast selling Rode NT1-A and NT2-A.

*** I would like to put a disclaimer here, the acoustic environment and preamp also contribute to the quality of the recorded sound. Yes, a hi-end mic can sound bad in a room with poor acoustics and a cheap preamp whilst an entry level mic can sound expensive in good acoustics and quality pres.***



That said, let's get on to business!


Tannoy are more renowned for their studio monitors like the highly acclaimed Reveal 502, however the TM1 will be their first foray into the condenser microphone market. Sources say they pack a punch for the price they go for.

Polar pattern - Cardoid
Pad switch - No
Low cut filter switch - No
Shock Mount - Yes 
Price - N60,000 (follow link, price might change over time)


Behringer is known for making professional audio gears at affordable prices. The B2 Pro large diaphragm mic is arguably the most versatile mic you can get at this price.  Other manufacturers cut costs by removing features, but the B2 Pro boasts of all mic-related features, comes in a solid case and is still cheaper than some other mics with less features.

Polar pattern - Cardoid, omni, figure 8
Pad switch - Yes
Low cut filter switch - Yes
Shock Mount - Yes and pop filter
Price - N60,000  (follow link, price might change over time)


A highly praised microphone. Crisp highs and warm lows are it's highlights. The AT2035 still maintains clean sonic fidelity at high sound pressure levels and frequency.

Polar pattern - Cardoid
Pad switch - Yes
Low cut filter switch - Yes
Shock Mount - Yes 
Price - N75,000  (follow link, price might change over time)





The multi polar pattern version of the CL7. The older C01 Samson mics are very detailed on the lows and low mids but had somewhat harsh highs. The CL8 is reviewed to be a better sounding improvement on its predecessors and at this price, what more could one ask for?

Polar pattern - Cardoid, Omni, figure 8
Pad switch - Yes
Low cut filter switch - Yes
Shock Mount - Yes 
Price - N77,000  (follow link, price might change over time)



Some people prefer microphones with character and that's where tube/valve mics come into play. The T-47 is a tube mic rich in warmth, though many are of the school of thought that this warmth came too much at the expense of brightness. One of our reviewers said recording percussive instruments with low end like a talking drum with the T-47 is a thing of joy.

Polar pattern - Cardoid
Pad switch - No
Low cut filter switch - Yes
Shock Mount - Yes 
Price - N65,000  (follow link, price might change over time)




AKG is a household name when it comes to studio microphones and the P120 is widely sought after because of this and much more. 

Polar pattern - Cardoid
Pad switch - Yes
Low cut filter switch - Yes
Shock Mount - No
Price - N95,000  (follow link, price might change over time)




The online reviews say it all. You'd find words like honest, crisp and open used a lot to describe this microphone. Another thing you'd find is comparisons with some top end mics like the Neumann TLM103 and that says a lot about this piece of gear. 

Polar pattern - Cardoid
Pad switch - Yes
Low cut filter switch - Yes
Shock Mount - Yes with Pop filter
Price - N92,000  (follow link, price might change over time)



Thanks to Mr. Charles (Dr. Ringz) Odu for helping us review some of the microphones on this list.


Written by
Chidi "Tite" Nnadi

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