Anyone try the MXL m3?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Slowjett
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Slowjett

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It looks pretty. I talked to someone down at MXL and we got talking about the v77 and he said I should take a look at the m3. Anyone tried this mic yet? Your thoughts?

Thanks guys,
Josh
 
I'm thinking of getting the M3 or the V6 too. Seems like the M3 might be warmer sounding looking at the frequency chart on the MXL website. The M3 has a flatter response, whereas the V6 has a gradual rise starting at around 2K and peaks at around 9K and gradually rolls off after that.

I guess it all depends what you're after. I'm mostly going to use the mic for acoustic guitar and maybe some male vocals. The M3 is supposed to be voiced for male vocals from what I've read elsewhere. There's also supposed to be an M3-P for female vocals, but I don't see it on the website.

Layne
 
Thread necromancy. (Copyright 2009 Supercreep)
 
BubbaFart said:
I'm thinking of getting the M3 or the V6 too. Seems like the M3 might be warmer sounding looking at the frequency chart on the MXL website. The M3 has a flatter response, whereas the V6 has a gradual rise starting at around 2K and peaks at around 9K and gradually rolls off after that.

I guess it all depends what you're after. I'm mostly going to use the mic for acoustic guitar and maybe some male vocals. The M3 is supposed to be voiced for male vocals from what I've read elsewhere. There's also supposed to be an M3-P for female vocals, but I don't see it on the website.

Layne
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The V6 is warmer.....way warmer, but does have a high end spike.
It's good if you want a really toobey sounding mic, even though it doesn't have tubes.

The M3 is supposedly voiced like a U67....I dunno about that.
The M3 does sound a tad Neumann-ish but lacks the depth of a really good mic.
As far as pink vs blue, they are the same mic.

I still own the M3 but have sold two V69ME and one V6, for whatever that's worth (nothing really).
In all, I think it is a totally overlooked mic and I would definitely recommend it over the V6.

FWIW, IMO, a good combination of affordable LD mics for the home studio are the Oktava MK319 and the MXL M3. The MK319 (modded) is smoother and clearer, the M3 has a bit more character, which you might typically expect in a LD vocal mic.

Good luck..........
 
I have quite a few of the MXL mics and after trying the V6 against the M3-B, I have really gotten into the M3-B. The best part about it is that it "just works". The V6 seems to have a lot more mud to my ear and the top end is hyped a bit, but in a sizzle-y way that sounds quite colored and un-natural. If I were recording Jet's or the White Stripes' next record, it might be one of my first choices. If I were recording a folk vocal, cello or acoustic guitar, the M3-B beats the PANTS off of the V6 in my opinion.

The most common thing I do to correct the M3-B to my taste for certain instrumental situations is to lower the mids 1dB @ 1kHz with a pretty wide "Q". For voice, that little rise makes for great intelligibility of the words and in my experience doesn't affect the vocal in an adverse way.

I would also like to mention that I have the MXL Genesis too. To me, it by no means replaces the M3-B. It's a great mic that I love to use, but it definitely doesn't "replace" the M3-B because it costs twice as much.

Basically, I think the M3-B is a real sleeper that got looked over while it was available. I think people are going to go nuts over it on the used market now because you can't get them anymore. The "silicon valve" part was some NOS part that is now completely used up so they can't make them anymore. The mic is not on the 2010 MXL dealer price list. I am honestly sad about it! :(
 
We've been using the V6 out in front of the drums (about 3 or 4 feet) with great results. this is in conjunction with the over heads / close micing and room mics. it just adds an other dimension when combined with the total mix.
 
I could totally see that. the upper end rise and the vintage sound of the V6 would be pretty sweet for that. I think I will try that in my next drum/percussion tracking session! :)
 
chrisreedjr said:
I could totally see that. the upper end rise and the vintage sound of the V6 would be pretty sweet for that. I think I will try that in my next drum/percussion tracking session! :)
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Let me know how it works for you.
 
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