Customer Reviews

MXL MICMATEC XLR To USB Preamp for Condenser Microphones

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I do a LOT of voice work, because I run my own video production business. I edit on Final Cut Pro, but I don't have a sound studio. I have a studio quality on-camera mic that I bought for about $500. I used to record my voice-overs straight into my Sony PD-150 with this $500 mic, and then I'd have to capture them into the computer. I just found this thing online last week and ordered it. The sound quality comes through excellent - as good as recording onto my PD-150, if not better. The unit is compact and extremely easy to set up and use. Just plug the mic into one end, a USB cable into the other. I was able to record into both FCP and Soundtrack. The one drawback is there's no volume knob on the unit - just a "high, medium, low" volume switch, and FCP and Soundtrack don't give you the option to adjust the level until after you're finished recording. So, you're stuck with limited record settings. Having said that, the signal from my voice came through loud and clear - and if I need to, I can just adjust the sound level after it's recorded. I will probably use this thing exclusively to do voice overs from now on. No more capturing after I do voice work. Much more convenient.

A few months later - the thing seems to have some kind of conflict with Final Cut Pro, where it records static some of the time. When this happens, I have to reboot FCP. It's kind of annoying.

Okay, I fixed that problem. In FCP, every time you press option-zero to bring up the voiceover record feature, it changes something. So the first time you do it, everything's fine. But then if the window gets hidden and you hit option-zero again to bring that window to the front - WITHOUT closing the window first - it causes this garbled static problem. So, to combat the problem, every time I record something with this USB adapter, I make sure I close the voiceover window. No more problem.

***

I must have had this thing for a few years now. I love it. I got a new macbook pro and a new version of final cut pro and there are none of the old issues I used to have with the static, no matter what I do. This thing works great.

I bought this for use with my laptop, TrueRTA software and a Behringer EMC 8000 microphone, for frequency response measurement. It works well for that purpose. It's not provided with a USB cable however - you will need to purchase that separately.

I got this mic mate and mxl 770 microphone, at first use I thought there is something wrong with the mic mate, but i realized that this is its quality. With the same 60 dollars, it is better to get a mixer like behringer 802 and connect its output to your normal pc sound card and you will get better results. It is good for its size, but sure it is not compared with complete mixers even at the same price.

This little device was just what I was looking for. Wanting to upgrade my sound quality, I started looking and looking for mics and whatever it took to get some decent sound. Tried a popular USB mic from Best Buy and was a little disappointed. It sounded a little heavy and muffled. Took it back and continued my search, trying to balance cost and quality. I have hit the jackpot with this little USB mic mate. It provides phantom power for my Behringer C-1 Studio condenser microphone and uses USB to connect to my iMac computer. I was a little bit concerned with the 16 bit sample rate, but this combination sounds awesome. It is a simple device with hi- med-low output levels which works fine for me. Cost was definitely a concern for me and I was able to save enough with this combination to snag a RODE PSA 1 swivel mount boom arm. Now I look and sound like a pro if I do say so myself. The boom arm is the way to go if you are going to use another mic with your computer. Anyway, don't be fooled by the low price of this preamp. Buy it, you will not be disappointed.

The Recording I got using this with my Microphone was crisp, clear, Noise-Free, & High Fidelity. I had do a recording in my studio for my news program director, and this sure did the trick. It's just a XLR-USB Adapter Interface. You can use this from any Condenser Microphone and plug in the MXL Mic Mate to your Computer or Laptop. This is also relatively affordable.
This device is great in on the field also, if you dont want to carry heavy mixing equipment, with you, it does the job. My friend got one also for Calibrating his Car Stereo System with a calibration microphone. The USB cable you can get at any store.
MXL makes the best Professional Audio. I've always used the MXL Microphone line in my Recording studio, the Mogami Cable line, and their interfaces, adapters.

has very good sound and is easy to setup but the latency is too high (on Vista anyway, will try on linux), if you have trouble installing change the usb cable.

I have the same problem that another reviewer has. Sometimes I record and the sound is great, then for no reason, the sound is all noisy and garbled. When that happens, I have to restart FCP. I lose a lot of good takes and also lose time in a fast-paced production environment. This is not good. This is not acceptable.

I don't know if the problem is with the mic or with Apple...but I have the same problem on two different computers in both Final Cut Pro and Garage Band.

I cannot recommend this to other users of FCP or Garage Band.

This thing works as advertised. Windows XP SP3 loaded the drivers no problem. I have used this with a MXL V67B condenser mic, Sure SM57 and Sure Beta 57A dynamics. Works great. If you already have some mics that you like, and some cables, this is an easy solution. Put the old SM57 up to the front of your amp and start recording. If you don't already have decent mics and cables, you may want to just go for a USB mic like the Samson CO1U. The MXL does not come with a usb cable. Phantom power is always on with this unit but you can use this with both condenser and dynamic mics. The phantom power will not hurt your dynamic mics. If you want a more durable version of this, Sure makes the X2U that sells for around a hundred bucks. Youtube has some video demonstrations of the MXL Mic Mate so check them out. For the person that has a drawer full of XLR mics and cables and doesn't want to spend alot of money on an interface this will do the job. If you already have a mixer or preamp check out the Behringer UCA 202 (RCA to USB).

The MXL xlr to USB preamp mic interface is great. First don't worry about using a dynamic mic (no line voltage) they work the same and it won't hurt it. If you want to make a simple home recording just take a good mic with a xlr plug, connect a cable to it and connect the other end to the MXL preamp. Then use a USB printer cable (not included) and connect it to your computer. My computer recognized it right away and I was up and running in no time. You may need to go into your Control Panel and go to Sounds then select the recording tab and find the mic you are hooked up to. To actually record something you need software like Mix Pad or any other audio recording software.

I was amazed that the mic came across very quietly compared to connecting it with an adapter to the mic input on the computer.

I have even multi-tracked with this mic. Lots of fun.

For me it was the best way of using my computer to connect to a quality microphone.

Good luck!

I tried the Mic Mate with an Audio-Technica PRO-35 Pro Series Microphone Pro 35 along with the Audio-Technica AT8538 Power Module. The gain was too low and the pre-amp was noisy. The Mic Mate was useless. I think it is only suitable for use with a more sensitive mic.

I ended up with a Lexicon Omega Desktop Recording Studio, and used the double-amp trick described in their FAQ. Now I have plenty of gain and very low noise.