We've Got A New "King Of The Low End" LDC...

  • Thread starter Thread starter kidvybes
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Dark Imagery said:
Ha, wow you went there. I think it was just an analogy, bro. I'm gonna check this MXL out.
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good for you!

Some folks here just slag off mics without hearing them. I don't see an impediment to buying the 2003A, using it, and posting some audio. But that would involve actual audio engineering work - and would take more time than just a quick Internet forum post with no substantiation.

When folks begin to post opinions backed up by audio files it will be a step forward toward enhancing this site's credibility. But perhaps I have an old fashioned idea of what the role of a "moderator" should be - an agent who encourages discussion but doesn't interject unsubstantiated opinion. It seems in the Internet world a "moderator" exists to promote page views by any means possible and thus increase advertising revenue.
 
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"wet silk being ripped" could actually be a positive comment, if it's anything like visiting a supermodel pool party!:)

Chris
 
chessparov said:
"wet silk being ripped" could actually be a positive comment, if it's anything like visiting a supermodel pool party!:)

Chris
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Actually its origin is an '80s vintage article in a car rag, written about the sound of the Testarossa's V12. But I imagine the author got the idea from the pool party ;)

It doesn't really matter though, I can neither afford the Pininfarina, the pool party, nor every $150 microphone on the market. It must be because I am not a serious recordist :drunk:
 
MichaelJoly said:
If you ever decide to become one perhaps manufacturers will send you promotional mics to review so you can speak from experience.
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Why would I want that? I can build anything I require.

Anyway, you asked for comments on how the mic sounded; based on posted samples I described how I felt. Did you want a discussion, or a validation?
 
I just ordered one over the holiday so we'll see how it sounds.I don't have any other good mics to compare it to as i only have a sm57.If it's as good as some say it'll be a huge step up for me.

I'm not a singer and it'll be a while til i get to work on any vocals so don't expect any samples anytime soon.Besides if people hear me sing it may give the mic a bad rep! :eek:
 
MichaelJoly said:
When folks begin to post opinions, backed up by audio files, it will be a step forward toward enhancing this site's credibility.
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I have a pair of MXL 2003A's on their way here. I'll be happy to put up some audio files and comparisons when they come in.
 
Harvey, I'm anxious to hear your comments on the 2003a! I have always liked your down-to-earth descriptions of how mic's sound and perform. I will probably never own a real expensive mic (I just can't justify the price at my skill level) so, your good reviews of less expensive mics are always interesting.
 
FWIW Harvey, and Bob Ohlsson, former Motown AE/still very active in Nashville,
are the 2 biggest influences on me in regard to vocal microphone evaluation.

Don't mean to derail this thread much, but Harvey what kind of voices does the
infamous MXL 990 condenser sound good on? For kicks got one for $50, and it seems
best suited for BGV in a good sounding studio, or sort of a one trick pony for adding
midrange girth to a thin voice. And for photo shots:)

Chris
 
chessparov said:
FWIW Harvey, and Bob Ohlsson, former Motown AE/still very active in Nashville,
are the 2 biggest influences on me in regard to vocal microphone evaluation.

Don't mean to derail this thread much, but Harvey what kind of voices does the
infamous MXL 990 condenser sound good on? For kicks got one for $50, and it seems
best suited for BGV in a good sounding studio, or sort of a one trick pony for adding
midrange girth to a thin voice. And for photo shots:)

Chris
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For photo shots? ....... The MXL V900

It's as big as someones head!







:cool:
 
tabiggs said:
Harvey, I'm anxious to hear your comments on the 2003a! I have always liked your down-to-earth descriptions of how mic's sound and perform. I will probably never own a real expensive mic (I just can't justify the price at my skill level) so, your good reviews of less expensive mics are always interesting.
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+1 on that.I'm still learning about how to choose the right mic for the job.Only problem is the only mics i have are pretty cheap dynamic ones that never sounded that great on live vocals.They were ok for live instrument and back up vocal use but got abused badly over the years.

I bought my sm57 for recording guitar about a year ago and wanted to invest in something a little better for vocals.I don't have the experience to justify spending a lot of cash on a top dollar mic when i have nothing half credible to compare it to.When all you have is crap anything will sound better.

Sometimes all we have to base a desicion on is reviews from credible folks like Harvey and other experienced engineers on the forums here.
 
chessparov said:
FWIW Harvey, and Bob Ohlsson, former Motown AE/still very active in Nashville, are the 2 biggest influences on me in regard to vocal microphone evaluation.

Don't mean to derail this thread much, but Harvey what kind of voices does the infamous MXL 990 condenser sound good on? For kicks got one for $50, and it seems best suited for BGV in a good sounding studio, or sort of a one trick pony for adding midrange girth to a thin voice. And for photo shots:)

Chris
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Contrary to popular opinion, I don't own every MXL mic ever made. I don't think I've even heard the 990. I think the only 900 series mic I own is the 960, which I dearly love.
 
Sorry Harvey for assuming that, but if you flip the second 6 upside down on a 960, it's a 990.

Chris
 
Harvey Gerst said:
And that's exactly the point I've been trying to make all these years; home recordists can make perfectly acceptable recordings with a lot of the new crop of lower cost microphones. We do not own one single modified microphone at our studio. (I lied; I do have a couple of old Fairchilds that Dan Kennedy modified to run on phantom power.)

All the MXL's, the Studio Projects, the Avant's, and the Behringer ECM8000's (and every other mic we own) are straight out of the box and that's what we use.

A U47 or 48, or 67, or a U87 can be a fine choice for a lot of vocals, but sometimes, it can be beat by a less costly mic. The Shure SM7 comes to mind as a notable example. But the MXL V67g (with a little eq fiddling) can get you close, too.

Don't have an old Telefunken ELA M251, or an AKG C12? Try the Studio Projects T3.

Please, try to just listen to some of these new mics with an open mind, and consider the person singing into the mic, not the brand, or where it was made. It should be all about what's best for the singer (and your budget).
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These are good points. However, there is a huge difference between modding an inexpensive mic to make it sound better and comparing it to a Neumann or whatever costing 10X or more. The Neumann U87 IS a U87 and that is pretty much that. If a modded cheapie sounds good, then it is a win. I CAN say without a doubt that any engineer that really claims that any of these modded mics sounds "just like a Neumannn Coles, whatever" ,and honestly believes it ,would be a real fool to keep the real thing!

For SOME reason it is always the guy (gal) who claims to have a locker full of the expensive mics who also has a bunch of modded MXLs that "sound just like expensive mic X", yet still has a locker full of expensive mics. Why?

And note that I did not say that a great recording could not be made with inexpensive mics as you and others have proved it a million times.
 
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