MXL mics...

[altoidboy]

I've come upon an opportunity to buy some MXL mics at a significant savings and was wondering if I could get some $.02 from users who've worked with them before. Worth the money?

I'm looking to get a starter set of drum tracking mics. I have none right now. My budget is pretty small.

I'm looking at the pair of the 2001's and the 603's. Wondering about using the 2001's as stereo overheads, and two 603's as kick and room. Any comments on these?

And how would the 603's work as vocal or acoustic guitar mics?

[TYY]

I have a pair of the 603s.

They have a big bump at about 8-9K, resulting in a very crispy (though not harsh) sound. I have had good results on drum overheads.

They are usable on some types of acoustic guitar tracks. The hyped treble is too much for a sparse mix, sounding unnatural. However, in a busy mix they could be just the ticket. If I try to EQ out the 9K bump, I end up with a flat lifeless sounding track.

Bottom line is they sound pretty good, if a bit overly scooped/hyped. Unfortunately, this seems to be the trend with low cost condensers. I have heard that the 2001 is the worst in this regard.

[Beezoboy]

I'd get a pair of 603's. I have a couple and have gotten some very useful sounds out of them.

I have heard feces and the 2001 mentioned in the same sentence quite often if that tells you anything.

The V67 is not bad at all on male vox, I have one. I hear the v69 is the shit. (in a good way)

Here is a song that I used the V67 on vox and 2 603's on acoustic. The pre was a DMP3.

www.elohsa.com/beezoboy/Song 6.mp3

Hope that helps
Beez

[mig27]

I can second the vote for the marshall V67: good for male vocals, especially rock oriented stuff. This mic has a pretty obvious treble boost at around 10k.

If you're looking for a more neutral sounding LD, check out the studio projects B1.
they're less than $100 so you can get a pair without ruining yourself.
I've had decent results with these as drum overheads, but also as stereo room mics on acoustic guitar.

cheers,


michael

[altoidboy]

Sounds like the consensus is that the 603 could do a great job as drum overheads.

Any of the MXL mics work well for toms or kick drum?

[Rader Ranch]

Originally posted by altoidboy
Sounds like the consensus is that the 603 could do a great job as drum overheads.

Any of the MXL mics work well for toms or kick drum?

i tried a couple 990's on toms ...went right back to 57's. i've gotten useable results with (MXL) 67's on floor toms. FWIW Brent Casey (mic designer) went from MXL to SP, and i've read him mention the SP B-line as being better than the cheap MXL stuff (specifically the B1 vs. the 990 if i recall, correctly, which i may not) but i've decided i have enough cheap mics lying in cases gathering dust, and haven't tried any SP mics.

personally, on a budget i'd be tempted to stick w/57's for everything but the kick and OH's (and they can work on kicks)...but that route doesn't have the sex appeal of the newer knockoffs, which may sound like $100 but can look more like $1000.

oh, also another vote to avoid the package deals including the 2001 dfegad

[ozraves]

I'd go over to www.homerecording.com/bbs

They can get pretty deep into the MXL mic line. I know the 603 small condenser seems to get a thumbs up as a budget mic. I might be wrong but I think the 2001 is the one considered absolute garbage.

Steve
www.mojopie.com

[jbuntz]

I just used a pair of b3's on omni as drum room mics and they get a from me considering the price.

Originally posted by Rader Ranch
i tried a couple 990's on toms ...went right back to 57's. i've gotten useable results with (MXL) 67's on floor toms. FWIW Brent Casey (mic designer) went from MXL to SP, and i've read him mention the SP B-line as being better than the cheap MXL stuff (specifically the B1 vs. the 990 if i recall, correctly, which i may not) but i've decided i have enough cheap mics lying in cases gathering dust, and haven't tried any SP mics.

personally, on a budget i'd be tempted to stick w/57's for everything but the kick and OH's (and they can work on kicks)...but that route doesn't have the sex appeal of the newer knockoffs, which may sound like $100 but can look more like $1000.

oh, also another vote to avoid the package deals including the 2001 dfegad

[Screws]

Harvey Gerst (who I trust) has said the 603's are good budget mics. He had less than glowing things to say about the 2001 and his remarks were exactly what I heard when I tried it out. Brittle high end.

He also loved the V67, and I ended up buying one when his comments matched what what I heard on try-out as well.

[Bang]

Originally posted by Rader Ranch
i tried a couple 990's on toms ...went right back to 57's. i've gotten useable results with (MXL) 67's on floor toms. FWIW Brent Casey (mic designer) went from MXL to SP, and i've read him mention the SP B-line as being better than the cheap MXL stuff (specifically the B1 vs. the 990 if i recall, correctly, which i may not) but i've decided i have enough cheap mics lying in cases gathering dust, and haven't tried any SP mics.

personally, on a budget i'd be tempted to stick w/57's for everything but the kick and OH's (and they can work on kicks)...but that route doesn't have the sex appeal of the newer knockoffs, which may sound like $100 but can look more like $1000.

oh, also another vote to avoid the package deals including the 2001 dfegad

The SP mics are always too hypey though, way too much sizzle. The MXL started behind but now they are ahead, the V69 is a winner at any price.
Steve

[Jay Kahrs]

FWIW, Brent Casey used to work over at MXL. I have a V67G that gets used pretty rarely. Sometimes I'll put it to work on a floor tom or maybe a sole rack tom but that's about it. There are other mics I like more on vocals so it doesn't se that much. Actually the only time I've ever been in love with it was on a JCM 900 half stack while doing FOH.

Actually, if anyone wants to make an offer I'd sell it. PM me.

[imacgreg]

I have a modded MXL 2001 that gets tons of use at the studio I intern/engineer at. The other engineers (who are pretty experienced) say it is quite similar to a U87 and use it frequently in U87-type applications. We use it a lot on guitar amps, combined with 57, as well as outside of kick mic. Haven't tried it on vocals, but our Tele 47 pretty much rules there! I'm gonna get another and mod it, so we can try them on drum rooms. I remember getting the mod out of some recording magazine, I think it was by Scott Dorsey.

Ian

[floodstage]

FWIW, I've tried most of the MXL line (Bottom Feeding is a way of life for me!)

Don't waste your time with the 2001.

The 603's and the 67's aren't bad at the price point.

[Bang]

Originally posted by floodstage
FWIW, I've tried most of the MXL line (Bottom Feeding is a way of life for me!)

Don't waste your time with the 2001.

The 603's and the 67's aren't bad at the price point.

Like I said, that 69 is a winner. I'd wipe my ass with a 2001 and clean my teeth with a 603, but I'll put the V69 up on a vocalist.
Steve

[Bang]

BTW, anyone ever try the SE tube mics? A buddy of mine says "they are the only ones who do the Chinese mic thing well".. anyone heard the Z5600 or the SE5500? Do they have that typical Chinese SCOOP that makes everything sound shitty? The V69 (from MXL) is the first mic I heard out of there that actually doesn't Scoop too much, good mic.
Steve

[rainsinvelvet]

Yup, the 603s is a nice mike for the $$
Yup, its got that bump around 8-9k

I had a pair of 2001's and sold them not long after.

You can't go wrong with a pair of 603's around when you want that nice "airy" top .

Eric

[Han]

So I understand the V69 is a winner. I have both the V77 and the V69. And I happen to have the Neumann M149.

Comparing the MXL's to the Neumann. the V77 comes closer than the V69.

Just my 0.02 euro

[Bang]

Originally posted by Han
So I understand the V69 is a winner. I have both the V77 and the V69. And I happen to have the Neumann M149.

Comparing the MXL's to the Neumann. the V77 comes closer than the V69.

Just my 0.02 euro

The V77 to me had that overly hyped top end typical of the Chinese mics, although it is a nice mic. The V69 is flatter and truer to the source, but with a slight rise at the top and maybe a tiny tiny dip in the mids. I haven't heard an M149 a/b'd, but I recall it being a nice mic also. I got both the SE 5500 and the Soundelux E47 coming here to put up against my vintage U47. We'll see how they stack up, and as always, I'll make wav files for all to hear.
Steve

[Alécio Costa]

Hey folks, I am going to NY at late October and need some suggestions of yours:

a) Has Manny´s Music the best prices?maybe Sam Ash?

b)comparing At4040 x At4047 x NT5 x MXLV69ME.. which would ya choose?

BTW.. I am a big fan of At4050´s (got 3 besides GT55, Sm81, C3000B, C2000B, Sm91, betas, Avlex etc) but a different flavour would be greatly wellcomed.

I got these on their site:
MXLV67 = $99
MXL2003 = $149
MXLV69 =$299
AT4040 = $299
NT5= $299

Thanks for the tips

[Jay Kahrs]

Originally posted by Alécio Costa
Hey folks, I am going to NY at late October and need some suggestions of yours:

a) Has Manny´s Music the best prices?maybe Sam Ash?

Manny's and Scam Cash are the same owners. So, same pricing & same stock. If anything give B&H a shot. They're a few blocks from the Javits center, a really easy walk.

Are the V67G's really $99 now? Shit. Maybe I'll keep the one I have. Damn price drops. grudge

[Alécio Costa]

BH sends lots of catalogs to Brazil but I have not been able to find many items I am looking for, like 10" recording hihat, etc. Do you have sweetwater or guitar center in ny?
Sorry for the prices, but they are for real..

[Jay Kahrs]

That's because B&H doesn't sell instruments. Only audio and video gear. Interstate Music is great for percussion stuff.

[Han]

Originally posted by Bang
The V77 to me had that overly hyped top end typical of the Chinese mics, although it is a nice mic. The V69 is flatter and truer to the source, but with a slight rise at the top and maybe a tiny tiny dip in the mids. I haven't heard an M149 a/b'd, but I recall it being a nice mic also. I got both the SE 5500 and the Soundelux E47 coming here to put up against my vintage U47. We'll see how they stack up, and as always, I'll make wav files for all to hear.
Steve

Steve

I have the impression that the V77 sounds more neutral than the V69, which sounds more 'hyped' IMHO.

Could it be that these Chinese mics sounds all different from eachother?

The V77 costs more than twice the price of the V69 here.

Peace, Han

[Screws]

I haven't heard the 69 but my impression of the V77 was also that it was non-hyped sounding. sounded warm, smooth and truthful on a tenor sax track I tried it on. I think the issue is that these Chinese mics do indeed suffer from a lack of consistency from one unit to the next.

[Bang]

Maybe hyped was the wrong word. Studio Projects mics are hyped. The V77 has a "shimmer" on the to end and it is quite nice, although I remember thinking that it could be a bit too much on some singers. The V69 I have here is quite solid across the frequency spectrum except for a little hi end rise and a very little dip in the mids which I bring back with an eq (mids sound good on male vox, why the **** do they try to dip them all the time?). For my little test, I got a V77 coming also. So as of right now I 'll be comparing a bunch of little boy tube mics (V77, V69, and SE 5500) and two big boy mics (Soundelux E47 and my vintage U47). Should be interesting.

Steve

[Bang]

I'm bringing this one back because I just tried a new V77 and it was amazing sounding. Great mic, liked it better then the V69 even. I'd say best mic under a grand, easy. I'll make some MP3s for you to hear. The one I originally heard must have been a dud cuz it didn't sound this good.
Steve
www.blacklinerock.com

[mig27]

hi bang,

that's good news.
a friend of mine is looking for a good all-around LD mic on a budget.
so would you say the V77 has this universal quality or is there too much of this sweetening "tube thang" going on?

my alternative recommendation would have been the AT4040, which I find amazing for the price.

michael

[Bang]

I haven't heard the 4040 but I did do a direct comparison of the 4050 and V77. On my voice, the 77 was a flat out winner. Nice rich mids, smooth highs. Real winner of a mic.
Steve
www.blacklinerock.com

[ajcamlet]

Originally posted by Alécio Costa
B I am looking for, like 10" recording hihat, etc.

For anything drum/percussion related in NYC try Drummers World on 46th st. its totally pro.

www.drummersworld.com.

Best cymbal selection, great staff - not crowded with 12 yr old kids beating the shit out of shitty pearl Export kits.

[Alécio Costa]

thanks for the tips guys!
So. MXL V69 is pretty nice? Better than, GT55´s, C3000B´s?
Any other opinions?