Rode NT2000 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

The RODE NT2000 is a large-diaphragm studio condenser whose dual one-inch gold-sputtered capsule feeds a continuously variable polar pattern control. Rather than switch between fixed settings, you sweep seamlessly from omnidirectional through cardioid to figure-8 right on the mic, dialling in exactly how much room and rear rejection a source needs.

Two more continuously variable controls sit alongside it: a pad from 0 to -10 dB and a high-pass filter from 20 to 150 Hz, so level handling and low-end roll-off are tuned by ear instead of stepped. With 7 dBA self-noise, a 147 dB maximum SPL and transformerless surface-mount electronics, it stays clean on quiet vocals and loud sources alike, and the capsule is internally shock mounted.