MXL Mics - Which models are good?

[rty5150]

it seems that the "best" preamp in this price range is going to be an art mpa gold. do the tube swap and that should get you the gain you need.

on the used market, the chameleon labs 7602 is simply amazing for the price. can be typically had for around $500 used for the mk1.
i use a chameleon labs 7622, sytek mpx-4aii for my ribbons. althoguh the isa428 has more than enough gain for the ribbons, the darker quality of the preamp as well as the darker quality of ribbons have kept me from using them together. on my pres, the fatheads are simply gorgeous. the CLs make them punchy, where the sytek makes them open and exciting. like an LDC without hype and more warmth in the low mids.


rich

[Michael_Joly]

Originally Posted by memphisindie

Mike, Any news about a Joly edge polarized capsule?

There will be ; )

I'll be offering an airy, edge-terminated capsule and I'm not going to use a "12" or "251" model designation - unlike others with edge-terminated capsules that bear no resemblence to real "12" or "251" capsules.

[mshayden]

Originally Posted by rty5150

it seems that the "best" preamp in this price range is going to be an art mpa gold. do the tube swap and that should get you the gain you need.

Thanks Rich! I appreciate your help!

[memphisindie]

Originally Posted by Michael_Joly

There will be ; )

I'll be offering an airy, edge-terminated capsule and I'm not going to use a "12" or "251" model designation - unlike others with edge-terminated capsules that bear no resemblence to real "12" or "251" capsules.

I LOVE it!!
It will be nice to see a touch of reality, I'll thank you for bringing it.

[big country]

Buy MXL R44 Ribbon Microphone | Condenser Microphones | Musician's Friend




Preorder: Available 06-29-2009



THAT AND A WOOD BODY AND A NEW TRANSFORMER

[asplashofcitrus]

Originally Posted by big country

Buy MXL R44 Ribbon Microphone | Condenser Microphones | Musician's Friend


Attachment 124901

Preorder: Available 06-29-2009



THAT AND A WOOD BODY AND A NEW TRANSFORMER

For any brave soldiers out there as well, they're already being sold on eBay from a seller I believe.

[Chris Lago]

I'll be trying out the New Ribbon mic soon, the R77, and I'll post a review on GS when I do!

[asplashofcitrus]

Originally Posted by chrislago

I'll be trying out the New Ribbon mic soon, the R77, and I'll post a review on GS when I do!

Can't wait to hear about it!

Also just realized the MXL R44 was placed under 'condensers' instead of 'specialty' microphones on MF haha.

[mshayden]

Originally Posted by asplashofcitrus

For any brave soldiers out there as well, they're already being sold on eBay from a seller I believe.

They are, Im just not so sure about how someone can have a bunch of them before theyre released...

hmmmm......

[big country]

Originally Posted by asplashofcitrus

Can't wait to hear about it!

Also just realized the MXL R44 was placed under 'condensers' instead of 'specialty' microphones on MF haha.

I couldn't imagine trying to advertise something in Chinese
every time I buy a Chinese Mic I kinda go through this phase
is this fair . Eek

guilt I guess , but someday I hope to manufacture equipment
and I will try my best to trade fairly

kinda believe the only we will have any kind of chance of peace is through
some kind of fair trade

the ability to make sense is a key to sanity and being fair is a big part of the sense
making process

[memphisindie]

Originally Posted by big country

I couldn't imagine trying to advertise something in Chinese
every time I buy a Chinese Mic I kinda go through this phase
is this fair . Eek

guilt I guess , but someday I hope to manufacture equipment
and I will try my best to trade fairly

kinda believe the only we will have any kind of chance of peace is through
some kind of fair trade

the ability to make sense is a key to sanity and being fair is a big part of the sense
making process

You should sell to china, they'll buy everything you make. ALL of it. No joke, you could make American toothpicks, they have a buyer.

[Michael_Joly]

Originally Posted by mshayden

Thanks! Just out of curiosity, what preamp would you recommend for use with ribbons? Cant seem to find one inexpensively with enough gain.

The solid state Studio Projects VTB-1 for $140 has 72dB of quiet gain and does a nice job with ribbon mics. Just keep the 'starved plate' tube side channel dialed out for cleanest sound. Over the years this preamp has been reviewed favorably by a number of writers, you'll find their reports with a Google search.

People are reporting excellent results with the Triton Audio FetHead - a 20dB, phantom powered, in-line preamp amp for ribbon and dynamic mics. Provides some extra "umph" for gain-limited preamps and present an ideal load to ribbon mics.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by Michael_Joly

The solid state Studio Projects VTB-1 for $140 has 72dB of quiet gain and does a nice job with ribbon mics. Just keep the 'starved plate' tube side channel dialed out for cleanest sound. Over the years this preamp has been reviewed favorably by a number of writers, you'll find their reports with a Google search.

People are reporting excellent results with the Triton Audio FetHead - a 20dB, phantom powered, in-line preamp amp for ribbon and dynamic mics. Provides some extra "umph" for gain-limited preamps and present an ideal load to ribbon mics.

Someone is selling one for 100 with different opamps too. Check the classifieds.

[Jay Dee]

Originally Posted by Corran

I think at the end of the day, regardless of price, MXL just has terrible QC.

+1. I think it's common that they ship with wrinkled diaphragms. And so bright... they should include sunglasses as an accessory.

[memphisindie]

Originally Posted by Jay Dee

+1. I think it's common that they ship with wrinkled diaphragms. And so bright... they should include sunglasses as an accessory.

Ha ha, I've never seen one THAT bad.

[Jay Dee]

LOL! Don't just take my word for it:

[Michael_Joly]

LOL, that must be their new user-adjustable diaphragm tension screw

[memphisindie]

I'm thinking you can send that one to me and I'll loosen that screw, THIS TIME, I promise I won't put the screwdriver through the diaphragm.

[Michael_Joly]

Hey Memph, these low end K67-type capsule mics are so cheap there's some fun that can be had with them...

Have you ever played with "adjusting" the diaphragm tension? Its possible to use the back end of a camel's hair brush, or even a synthetic brush for that matter, and gently run it around the perimeter of the diaphragm. Doh, first you have to take the diaphragm off the backplate, but once this is done its possible to drop the resonant frequency of the diaphragm tuning by quite a few Hz by stretching the diaphragm a bit. Totally changes the voicing of the mic into a lower register. A bit hard to do exactly though ; )

Not something I do in my professional work, but it sure is a heck of way to blow off steam when I end up buying too many low cost "research" mics.

[memphisindie]

For me, wearing sunglasses may be safer for all involved.

[MadGuitrst]

Originally Posted by Jay Dee

LOL! Don't just take my word for it:

Can't you just steam that wrinkle out?

Really, I've owned 5 MXLs, still have two, not a problem with a single one.

[Ashofapheonix]

I've owned tons of MXL microphones but really don't like any of them. I think the only ones that they make decently are their 300+$ tube microphones. Those are certainly usable.

[memphisindie]

They have some interesting designed circuits, some a lil different from each other, V67G is pretty good stock, my expartner loved mine and used it on quite a few records. I modded it and it's IMO a much better mic. It was a bit shrill to me, a bit unfocused in the lower mids and bass, that's all gone now.
Joly can certainly do a better job than me. If I had the clients to get one of his, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
I've used mine on acoustic gtr alone and even as a featured element it needed no other mic, no sdc with it.

[Chris Lago]

Recording magazine has a review of the MXL v87 in it. Check it out!

[BudgetMC]

Wow... they like it.

Originally Posted by chrislago

Recording magazine has a review of the MXL v87 in it. Check it out!

[mshayden]

I just got an MXL 550 in the mail today. It is built to be a POS. Very cheap. its supposed to look like a very large diafragm (like much more expensive mics) but it is very small, could almost be a keychain. haha

I guess you get what you pay for, as it was only $70.

But anyway, think twice before you buy one of these.

Matt

[rty5150]

Originally Posted by mshayden

I just got an MXL 550 in the mail today. It is built to be a POS. Very cheap. its supposed to look like a very large diafragm (like much more expensive mics) but it is very small, could almost be a keychain. haha

I guess you get what you pay for, as it was only $70.

But anyway, think twice before you buy one of these.

Matt

reminds me of the apex 435. looks like a u87, but half the size.


rich

[Michael_Joly]

Originally Posted by mshayden

I just got an MXL 550 in the mail today. It is built to be a POS. Very cheap. its supposed to look like a very large diafragm (like much more expensive mics) but it is very small, could almost be a keychain. haha

I guess you get what you pay for, as it was only $70.

But anyway, think twice before you buy one of these.

Matt

That mic actually uses the same nice-sounding KM 84-inspired capsule as the 603, MCA SP-1, Nady SCM-800 etc. Probably has the standard Schoeps-style circuit in there as well. MXL are the kings of creating mics with unique model numbers to provide non-shopable products for different vendors.

[NorseHorse]

MIX Mics - Which models are good?

I did a mono shootout on a full-sized organ last summer, and the top three contenders from among 12 mics (many multipattern) were an AKG 414, Schoeps CMTS 501, and an MXL 993 (all cardioid BTW). I've sat on that tidbit for a year, because I wasn't sure it is was a fluke or not.

Recently, several engineers and I did a shootout on an old English organ using about twenty different stereo pairs using different stereo techniques. I'm just now sifting through all the takes, and I would like to present you with three samples for your listening pleasure.

Neumann u87 in ORTF ($3400 pr)
AKG 451 in ORTF ($1300 pr)
MXL 993 in ORTF ($180 pr)

My two cents: the MXL 993 is a great deal and has a very pleasing tone.

[toxostoma rufum]

Gotta be honest here...the U87 seems to be smoother but it's really all wooliness and honk (too much 200Hz and 4kHz).

The MXL sounds more real. I find this more and more with (good) MXL-Neumann comparisons. The Neumann is usually smoother (or is it an illusion with all the wooliness and honk?), but I enjoy the good MXL recordings more despite the less smooth high end.