MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit

by MXL

Product Features

• Frequency response is 40Hz to 20kHz, sampling rate is 44.1kHz and 48kHz
• No special drivers required, Mac and PC compatible
• Inlcudes USB cable, desktop stand and carrying case
• Frequency Response: 40Hz to 20kHz; Sampling Rate: 44.1kHz and 48kHz; Inlcudes USB cable, desktop stand and carrying case
• No Special Drivers Required; Mac and PC Compatible

Product Details

Read the User Manual [PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 12 x 4 x 8 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B001E9X80K
• Item model number: MXLStudio1-USB
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,210 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #40 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Microphones > Condenser Microphones > Multipurpose

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoy professional quality recordings of vocals and instruments saved directly to your computer with the MXL Studio 1 USB microphone. Offering easy plug-and-play usability with both PC and Mac, the portable Studio 1 condenser mic is a great choice for musicians, vocalists, podcasters, internet radio, digital music, voice-over recordings and sound effects.

To get started using it, just simply plug the mic into a laptop or desktop computer through a standard USB port--no mixers, preamps or other expensive studio gear required.

Using the best of both analog and digital technologies, the MXL Studio 1 features a built-in headphone jack for low latency monitoring and clear audio playback for tight and accurate recordings. The low latency feature provides more accurate recording when doing voiceovers and internet recordings such as podcasts. The MXL Studio 1 USB microphone also include a 2-micron diaphragm capsule, 16-bit audio resolution, 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz sampling rate, and 40 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response.

Features and Specifications

• Quality sample rate converter
• Completely plug and play for both PC and Mac
• No special drivers required
• Includes a 1/8-inch headphone jack for low latency monitoring
• No mixers, preamps or other expensive studio gear required
• Comes with carrying case, desktop microphone stand/adapter, 10' USB cable
• Frequency response: 40Hz to 20kHz
• Sampling rate: 44.1kHz and 48kHz
• USB 1.1 and 2.0 compatible
• 16-bit delta sigma A/D converter with THD+N - 0.01%

What's in the Box
Studio 1 mic, hard plastic carrying case, desktop microphone stand/adapter, 10-foot USB cable, user manual, and application guide to get the most from your recordings.

A Little Background Information
MXL condenser microphones use what is known as a cardioid pickup pattern, which is more sensitive to sound waves arriving at the front of the microphone as opposed to those arriving from the sides or rear. Unlike other MXL® models, this microphone benefits from being a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device--meaning this is a plug and play microphone that will interface with Windows and Macintosh computers without the need for any special drivers. As a USB device, it carries the added benefit of not requiring an external microphone preamp, as is the case with most condenser microphones.

Unlike microphones designed for live performance or lesser dynamic model microphones, this instrument requires careful handling.

Product Description

Headset Adapters and Accessories, Marshall Electronics, HEADPHONE JACK CONDENSER MIC KIT, MXL STUDIO 1 USB

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, May 16, 2009

By 

Christopher S. Erwin (boise, id) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit (Electronics)

If you're looking for a good sounding microphone that is far superior to any standard PC microphone, this is a good choice. However, the most unique feature that set's this microphone apart - the headphone jack - is a real disappointment. It is *NOT* a realtime feed from the mic. Rather, the headphone jack is the output of a USB sound card that is integrated into the Microphone. There is significant latency between the microphone input and the audio output, so much that it really is useless as a recording monitor. This feature doesn't allow this microphone to be distinguished from any other USB condenser mic that lacks an audio output.

The headphone jack is possibly useful for setting levels, etc., when you're working with a PC that lacks a sound card, or need to have the microphone a significant distance from your p.c. or laptop. If you have a long USB cable and need to roam, maybe the headphone jack is useful.

There are many good points about this mic - recording is warm and full sounding; you do get that 'NPR' sound. While the mount is light, it's adequate. The 10' USB cable is quite generous, and the hard plastic case has pre-cut foam and is a nice touch.

Overall, I am satisfied with the product, but I am disappointed that the promising feature - the headphone jack for real-time monitoring, is not what it is implied to be. It is a USB sound card and suffers all of the latency of your internal sound card.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, October 21, 2009

By 

Peter Kappesser (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit (Electronics)

I'm disappointed. I'd read good editorial reviews about it on other sites, but neglected to read the user reviews here on Amazon -- the latency issue with the headphone jack would have been a deal-breaker for me. The sound quality of the mic itself is nice for the price, but I found there was a background hiss possibly due to the inexpensive USB interface; I've noticed the same problem with other sub-$100 USB interfaces, and suspect they all use the same chip/circuitry. Acceptable for podcasting, interviews, etc. in the field where the built-in USB interface is less cumbersome, but not for serious voice work in a home studio. You will definitely want a shock mount if using a floor mic stand, as it's very susceptible to picking up stand thumps.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth It!, December 10, 2009

By 

Colin Livingood "Furry Geek" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit (Electronics)

This microphone is as described, and I highly recommend it for the home-studio enthusiast. It was completely "plug & play" on my XP laptop and I was recording immediately with no hang-ups or need for extra hardware drivers. The mic picks up high and low frequencies nicely, but I recommend buying a windscreen to cut down on "P- pops." The carrying case is durable and the foam inlay protects all the components in seperate compartments. A well-designed package, overall.MXL Studio 1 USB Microphone with Headohone Jack, Desktop Stand, USB Cable, and Carrying Case