Customer Reviews

MXL MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

It's hard to beat this mic on price. I have one and often use it for home recording projects, demos and such. It's a good inexpensive way to record vocals, but I find the sound a bit muddy, and often come back with eq to turn down some of the low-mid frequencies. Now there are a number of condensers coming out in this low price range, and I've tried a few of them and haven't yet found a cheap one I like any better than this. For finished products, I'd use a better mic if available, but this one will work with a bit of EQ and a careful ear.

The mic requires phantom power, so I got the Art Tube MP preamp to go with it. That preamp warms up the sound and really helps this mic out compared to the built-in mic pre-amps on my board.

I have two of these because they're SO cheap and use them mainly at home if I have a musical idea. One of the reviewers above mentioned it was a bit muddy which I totally agree with. But it's incredibly cheap and fairly detailed for that amount of money. I'm curious how it will hold up over years of use. Anyway, this is probably the perfect "step-up" mic for podcasts if you are currently recording with your computer's built-in mic or a radio shack dynamic mic. I would choose this over the m-audio mics- it feels slightly more durable.

I purchased this mic to record mandolin and acoustic guitar in my PC based home studio and couldn't be happier.

It accurately reproduces my Taylor acoustic guitar. When used in conjunction with an ART tube pre-amp, it actually enhances my low cost mandolin.

No regrets here!

The MXL 990 is one of many Chinese-manufactured condenser mics that suffer from two common problems - it is simultaneously ill-defined in the critical midrange and excessively harsh in the treble range. While the circuit used in the mic is quite clever and fairly well implemented, the sonic deficiencies lie within the condenser capsule and headbasket acoustics.

By and large, Chinese-manufactured mics use condenser capsules copied from classic Neumann designs. Unfortunately, these inexact copies fall short of delivering the magnificent midrange accuracy and smooth, sibilance-free top end Neumann capsules are known for. Most of the copied capsules deliver a sound that is often described as harsh, spitty, "eshy", sibilant or screechy. Poor headbasket acoustics compound the problems created by these capsules.

The MXL 990, like most microphones of its class, uses a multi-layer grille mesh headbasket. These multiple layers of mesh do protect the capsule from spittle and wind blasts - but at a cost. Multiple layer headbaskets have a very small percentage of open area in the grille. This means a great deal of sound is reflected back and forth between the capsule and headbasket. Cup your hands around your mouth or speak into a paper tube to get an exaggerated example of the standing wave artifacts caused by a restrictive headbasket.

What to do?

One of the great benefits of the MXL 990 and other similarly priced mics is low cost. With a very modest investment in the original microphone, it becomes an excellent platform for a microphone modification. The capsule can be upgraded and headbasket opened up.

With a suite of microphone modifications this mic, (as well as many other Chinese manufactured mics) can really become a solid performer that sounds much more like a professional tool.

I had this mic for one day, which was enough time for me to put it through its paces for my use: voice-over work. Unfortunately, this mic didn't have the presence I was looking for in a condenser microphone, and the mids were far too muddy. I couldn't EQ them out with my basic 4-channel audio board + phantom power. Garbage in = garbage out. I returned the mic to the store about 24 hours later.

Someone said in another review that you'll quickly grow out of the MXL 990 mic once you realize that it sounds like a cheap Chinese condenser mic. I totally agree with that.

Also, a condenser is really not a good choice for a podcast mic. They pick up far too much noise -- they are really meant to be used in studio applications with heavily treated rooms that have no background noise. If you use it in a normal room, you'll hear every tiny little sound along with your speech. I suggest you look at a decent Dynamic microphone. As far as super inexpensive, I've had good luck with the Audio Technica AT818II mic in Asia. In the US, it's actually more expensive, and is called the Audio Technica "Professional Unidirectional Microphone." You can find them here on Amazon for a song. I've been happy with the sound for my podcasts, and as a dynamic, they handle background noises much better.

A great (but a little expensive) mic for podcasts, probably the best, is the Shure SM7. You can read about that all over the web.

I bought one of these over a year ago, and it's been in regular almost daily use since. Easily one of my favorite mics for recording voice and acoustic instruments. I have had absolutely no problems with it, it's solid and reliable.

The sound is perhaps slightly warm for close-up vocal work, so for that you might want to roll back the lows on your eq just a tiny bit. But I find that bit of warmth very pleasant for recording acoustic guitar, dulcimer, flute, etc. If you're miking an acoustic instrument from 3 ft or further away, then the sound is crisp and has enough low end to just be pleasant.

I have microphones that cost more, but for recording this one would be my favorite. Amazingly good sound for the price.

[review updated after more time spent with the mic]

Well, there's definitely some detail missing in the mids, but it has a generally pleasing "very fat" (aka muddy) tone. Makes a fair snare drum mic. Needs a bit of EQ for almost any practical application. I don't think I'd use it to track the vocals on anything, but it works. You'd be better off with a similarly-priced small-diaphragm condenser and a windscreen.

i have had this microphone for almost 3 years now, and it still works well. the shock mounting has broken, but the actual microphone unit is still going strong.

i am definitely not an expert in music but i do like sound. i find the highs are a little extreme and sometimes bordering on harsh in this microphone. i realise that terms like 'muddy' are somewhat open to interpretation but i have no qualms with the clarity of the midtones in recording solo vocals or acoustic instruments. as has been noted in previous reviews, this microphone requires phantom power. i'm running it through my alto s-6 mixing desk.

at this price it is definitely picking up one of these microphones, i'm very happy having chosen it as my first compressor mic, but now (after almost 3 years) i think i should upgrade.

This little inexpensive mic works wonders for those of us who like to play and record music, but cant afford the thousand dollar mics. I've had some pretty good recordings with this microphone. I'm no audiophile though, but it comes out clean and clear from what I can tell. If you're on the fence about this one, go for it. Great great deal, especially with a shock mount. Make sure to grab a pop filter as well.

I discovered this treasure when an engineer brought this to my studio. It was just perfect for recording upright bass. I got one; worked so well with vocals I bought two more. Can't beat the price, either!