MC01 ?????? Heard of it?

[Markd102]

Hey guys
A friend of mine bought a cheap LD condensor ($300 in Australia). It's similar in looks to the Rode NT2. It's black with "MC01" stamped on it in gold lettering. It came in an unmarkerd cardboard box and included a shockmount.
Is there anyone who can tell me what this thing is and what it's like?
Be brutal..... I realize that it's probably just cheap Chinese crap
Mark

[Link]

Never heard of it, but where was it purchased......thru a store....or second hand??? I'm intrigued

[ausrock]

Mark,

The number isn't familiar but I have seen LD mics that were black with gold lettering, branded Audio Solutions. I have no idea who was responsible for them though.

[Markd102]

I was purchased (I think) at Music Junction, Melbourne Australia.
If I remember to take the digital camera home today I'll post a photo.

[Mark H.]

Try this link:

http://www.smproaudio.com/MC01.htm

Best wishes,

Mark H.

[Markd102]

Very close.
Looks the same except that it doesn't have the red symbol, and it doesn't have the pad switch or bass cut switch.

[Mark H.]

Interesting.... I also could not find any reviews of the mic, just a few listings for it on Google, including a music store selling it for $299 Australian.

Let us know if you find out more about it.

Thanks,

Mark H.

[ausrock]

QUOTE:
"..... I realize that it's probably just cheap Chinese crap"

I think you said it all there. We seem to be being inundated with LD condensers in brown cardboard boxes......Audio Solutions, Mann, SMProAudio, and god knows how many others. Even one of the main retailers of ADK in Sydney have displayed some confusion over the origins of ADK......."they're German,.... no they're US made with Chinese parts......oh, maybe they are Chinese after all".
Unfortunately, a lot of "uneducated" home-recorders are getting sucked in.

[Mark H.]

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I think the man behind the great Australian company Rode started out by buying inexpensive Chinese large diaphragm condensers, taking them apart, and upgrading their parts, wiring, fit and finish where he could.

The problem isn't that they are Chinese. The problem is that even though they are inexpensive, they still may be over-priced for what they are.

Are Rode mics expensive in Australia? They've led a quality/price revolution in the United States for which we'll forever be grateful. It's amusing to hear people bashing the NT1 today, when just what? perhaps 4 years ago, it was hailed (rightly so) as the microphone that would forever change recording.

The very existence of Rode has forced other companies to lower their street prices and created competition that has resulted in such gems as the C-1 and others. I hope the NTK makes the owner of Rode a rich man, because whether you ever own a Rode mic or not, Rode has helped make quality recordings more affordable for everyone.

Best wishes,


Mark H.

[ausrock]

Mark,

I wont pass comment on Rode's early history or the ethics behind their business even though I have been privy to some things, but a couple of points.........
1; the "core" parts of their mics still come from China (797 Audio, I think).
2; Rode mics are not really expensive here, but it would appear that the US retailers can offer better deals due to the size of the market over there.
3; Rode's business ethics have got them offside with more than one retailer here in Aust............frankly I don't think they care.
4; Rode, like so many others, still avoid advertising the origins of their mic components.

I think what they have done in Aust., though, is set a pricing standard that importers of the "off the shelf" Chinese mics use to justify their sometimes exorbitant prices.
This is why the industry needs the likes of Alan Hyatt and SP mics........to try and keep the others at least a little bit honest.

Peace........

[c9-2001]

ausrock, if the parts come from 797 they shouldn't be bad sounding mics then.. 797 i heard makes great mics..
i heard they made SP mics....

[pundit]

Mmmm... Looks a little like an ADK?

[ausrock]

C9,

I haven't used all of the RODE range of mics, but I venture to say there isn't a "bad" mic amongst them.

797 are likely to be the only Chinese source who you could possibly have total faith in and at last report were only supplying to RODE and Studio Projects. What they do in their domestic market is their own business.

Indications are that all these other "brands", either the ones like ADK and MXL who are here for the long haul, or the questionable "brands" (Mann, Nady, Apex, smproaudio, etc., etc.,) are coming from Fielo (sp) or I think it is Soundking. Those two companies will supply "off the shelf" mics to anyone with any name you wish on them, so long as you purchase sufficient quantities, but you have absolutely no control over quality. All you have to do is set up a website making ridiculous claims about your R&D team, etc., and find a few retialers to stock them and you're in business as a mic manufacturer. Easy ain't it!!!

[Flatpicker]

Originally posted by pundit
Mmmm... Looks a little like an ADK?

Or SE Electronics.

[Jonkan]

I believe that adk mics, just like SP doesnt sell just "off the shelves" mics.
Or so did Larry Villella at adk imply when he emailed me to answer some questions i had.
I think theyre made in china, but with designs and components from elsewhere, just like the sp mics.

[c9-2001]

Originally posted by ausrock

797 are likely to be the only Chinese source who you could possibly have total faith in and at last report were only supplying to RODE and Studio Projects. What they do in their domestic market is their own business.

i'm not sure about rode but 797 audio makes Studio projects, ADK, Mann, BPM, Marshall Electronics, Joemeek, Carvin, Nady, and others

[c9-2001]

i just came across a company Peak audio.. they're also made by 797.. they even kept 797's sign on the mic, just like the 797 cr998.
http://www.peakaudio.com.au/

i had to add this to the post..lol they went to far on this one
http://www.red5audio.com/acatalog/Va...crophones.html

[ausrock]

Interesting. Peak is/was a side company of one of the main music importers in Aust.,..............I wasn't aware they had gone into mics though.

[Markd102]

It's funny how a lot of these companies that uses 797 units have similar logos. check out Mann Microphones

[ausrock]

And they are similar to the AKG logo.

At this stage I still have reservations as to the origins of a lot of these "brands".

[c9-2001]

the logo on the peak mic is the same as the 797 cr998.. its the same mic just a different color.