What else you need to use it
Worked out from RØDE’s own specifications and box contents for this model. The setup builder checks the same parts against your computer and the rest of your gear.
You need
- A microphone stand or boom arm. No stand comes in the box.
Check first
- For USB: a USB port that fits the cable. A USB-C cable is in the box; check its other end against your computer’s ports.
Optional
- For XLR: an audio interface or mixer with an XLR microphone input. A computer has no XLR input. The interface’s preamp raises the microphone’s signal and sends it to the computer over USB. Compare audio interfaces
- For XLR: 48 V phantom power from the interface. This is a condenser microphone that needs phantom power on the XLR route; over USB it takes its power from the computer.
When this model makes sense
- Record one voice over USB now, or through an XLR interface later; get the placement right before adding effects.
- Listen through your interface’s headphone output, and play back a test recording before going live.
- Use it with an XLR cable and an interface that has enough gain. Its USB voice effects don’t apply on XLR.
The USB versus XLR guide weighs it against the other ways to fill the same role.
Connections and specs
- Full name
- RØDE NT1 5th Generation
- Still sold
- Yes, a current model
- Type
- Microphones
- Connection
- Connector shape
- 3-pin XLR; USB-CA plug’s shape doesn’t tell you its speed →
- Audio outputs
- XLR; USB
- Microphone type
- Condenser (1-inch capsule)
- Pickup pattern
- Cardioid; side-address
- Needs 48 V phantom power
- Yes
- Connects by
- USB/XLR
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity
- -32 dB re 1 V/Pa (25 mV at 94 dB SPL)
- Self-noise
- 4 dBA
- Max SPL
- 142 dB SPL
- Impedance
- 100 Ω
- Audio resolution
- 32-bit float over USB
- On the XLR route
- The XLR output is analog and needs 48 V phantom power; 32-bit float recording is over USB only
- In the box
- Included parts
- NT1 5th Generation microphone; SM6 shock mount with pop filter; SC29 USB-C cable; XLR-6 XLR cable
- Computer
- Operating systems
- macOS 11 or later (for RØDE Central); Windows 10 version 1803 or later (for RØDE Central)
Check these conditions first
Not yet confirmed from RØDE’s documents: dimensions. The builder treats it as unknown, never as a yes.
For a microphone, set your distance and input gain before adding any processing. Speak as loudly as you will on stream, listen back to a recording and leave some headroom. Judge a USB/XLR microphone in the mode you will use: its USB voice processing does not carry over to XLR.
What is included, and what may be missing
- NT1 5th Generation microphone
- SM6 shock mount with pop filter
- SC29 USB-C cable
- XLR-6 XLR cable
Both cable ends and the data rating matter more than the plug shape: streaming cables and ports explains how to match them.
Place it in the complete setup
Every connection
- Webcam USB outUSB cable → A USB port on your computer
- Microphone USB outUSB cable → A USB port on your computer
- Microphone / interface headphone out3.5 mm or 6.3 mm headphone connection → Headphones (what you hear)
- Computer Ethernet portEthernet cable → router; your upload → Platform (check the stream preview)
- Wall socketThe maker’s power supply, or USB power → Computer and devices that need their own power
The diagram shows a simple USB setup. Find where the RØDE NT1 5th Generation goes, then follow each input back to what feeds it and each output on to where it goes. HDMI and XLR gear needs a capture card or audio interface between it and your computer; it doesn’t plug straight in the way this USB example does.
The setup builder turns this into a connection list for your own computer and gear, and the pre-stream checklist covers the rehearsal once it is wired.