Introduced in 1991 and revised many times since, the Rode NT1 is the large-diaphragm condenser most home studios start with after the AT2020. The 5th Generation (released 2023) adds USB and on-board DSP. ~$270.
The NT1’s claim to fame is its self-noise — among the lowest of any condenser in any price range, by a meaningful margin. The 5th Generation adds a USB-C jack alongside the XLR, plus on-board DSP for compression and de-essing.
The NT1 has a slightly bright, modern voicing. Some engineers prefer the NT1-A (a small-difference older variant with a touch more presence). Both are clean and uncolored — they capture what’s there, with very little electronic noise added.