Marshall Electronics

[H2oskiphil]

I just ordered one of these. It’s a version of the MXL2003 that Marshall made for Mars Music. I guess MF bought the remaining stock when Mars went belly-up. Since the 2003 goes for $150 new and around $115 used, $79 is a good deal, especially with a shock mount. I like silver better than black, anyway. Of course I'll modify it a bit D), but some say it sounds good stock.

Damn.

I clicked on the link, and MF is out of these already.

At $79, that's a nice deal.

 

[Flatpicker]

Damn.

I clicked on the link, and MF is out of these already.

At $79, that's a nice deal.

Wow! I ordered mine Thursday and they had about 30 of them. Glad I didn't put it off till Monday.

 

[Flatpicker]

...These mics carry the sound and signature of VO. Surprisingly, they are not THAT expensive in relative terms...

Don't forget that you also need a very good preamp to really hear an improvement in quality, so add at least another $500 (more like $750-$1000) to that.

 

[CanopuS]

Unless you're working professionally, if the mic sounds good to you, just use it! I find it funny that probably 75% of these posts are recommending new things when you've stated at the beginning that you've just bought this mic. Enjoy

 

[The Garage]

uh, chessrock, have you heard his voiceover work to judge if it sounds "cheap"? rather than tell him what he needs to buy to be a real professional, why don't you ask him for a listen first? sorry, but this is some ignorant bs right here.

 

[billisa]

Unless you're working professionally, if the mic sounds good to you, just use it! Enjoy

I would respectfully make this adjustment... 'ESPECIALLY if you're working professionally, if the mic sounds good to you, just use it.'

I suspect our original poster is very sensitive about how his own voice sounds, and if he's happy, that says a lot. I remember doing a commercial several years ago where the producer set the level of the music bed too high relative to my voice (and another one where the radio station's Ampex machine I used had a speed calibration problem). Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't bear hearing those spots on the air until they were fixed. I noticed right away and I wanted to sink into the floor!

 

[CanopuS]

OK fair enough, but I meant that it doesn't have to sound perfect if its just for fun or occasional use. If he is sensitive about it, and his stuff is going out on the radio, THEN he might want to think about upgrading.

 

[Rev E]

Don't forget that you also need a very good preamp to really hear an improvement in quality, so add at least another $500 (more like $750-$1000) to that.

Yeah, but that's the same with condensers...especially the inexpensive ones.

 

[chessrock]

OK fair enough, but I meant that it doesn't have to sound perfect if its just for fun or occasional use. If he is sensitive about it, and his stuff is going out on the radio, THEN he might want to think about upgrading.

Ahem! I was under the impression he was doing this professionally, and judging from his "car dealership spot" comment, I'm assuming it is going to be on the radio!

 

[chessrock]

uh, chessrock, have you heard his voiceover work to judge if it sounds "cheap"? rather than tell him what he needs to buy to be a real professional, why don't you ask him for a listen first? sorry, but this is some ignorant bs right here.

Look, if you told me you were getting more and more work as a professional photographer, and you had a consumer grade camera that is really good for taking family snaps and/or vacation photos . . .

. . . I would probably tell you to pony up for a professional camera -- regardless of whether or not I've seen your pictures. The bottom line is that the guy's getting real work, and I'm trying to help him by pointing out to him that yes, the quality of your VO's do matter, now, and it might behoove you to look in to a professional piece of equipment. And I'm being helpful by pointing out to him that professional equipment can be had for very little more than what he has right now. No one's telling him to build a $100K studio . . . but a real mic can be had for $300 . . . maybe even $100 used (see: Electrovoice 666 or RE-15). That would be more than satisfactory for now.

Some of you guys complain when we recommend professional mics to hobbyists . . . but once we actually recommend a professional mic to a professional . . . you still get pissy. Lighten up.

 

[Innovations]

Well, my takes:

Yes the RE20 is a great voiceover mic, but I would also put the Sennheiser 421 in the same category and at least $150 less. I see 421s all the time in commercial voiceover studios and most folks sound great on them.

In between these two is the ubiquitous workhorse of radio, the Shure SM7B.

If you are happy with the 990, then by all means go for it. If you were asking beforehand I would have suggested the MXL V67G for the same price.

 

[Flatpicker]

Some of you guys complain when we recommend professional mics to hobbyists . . . but once we actually recommend a professional mic to a professional . . . you still get pissy. Lighten up.

For the record, as far as my comments are concerned, I hope I didn’t come across like I was complaining, as you had good advice - just voicing MHO.

 

[CanopuS]

Ahem! I was under the impression he was doing this professionally, and judging from his "car dealership spot" comment, I'm assuming it is going to be on the radio!

OK my mistake then. Reading through the posts I didn't see anything that mention professional work, but I obviously missed something

 

[crinz83]

I've done tons of spots with both RE20s and 421s...
I much prefer the cheapy v67. I think it sounds a lot better.
Would I use it on a national spot? No, but I wouldn't record a national spot outa my home studio anyway (and the studio will probably go with a condenser, too).
By the way, if there has ever been a car dealer who cared about mic quality, I've yet to meet him. And I'll NEVER put a car dealer ad on my demo... I hate these commercials! One recent client demanded that I scream the delivery.... awful (but the V67 handled it perfectly).

 

[Flatpicker]

I've done tons of spots with both RE20s and 421s...
I much prefer the cheapy v67. I think it sounds a lot better.
...but the V67 handled it perfectly.

See? $99...

 

[chaser1023]

Hey Crinz....I hate the car dealers too! but for your basic 200 per read for five pieces per session.....hey it's tough, and somebody's gotta do it! I'm cool with that! But yeah I hate the screaming.

 

[Rev E]

... but I wouldn't record a national spot outa my home studio anyway...

There's no reason that a national VO spot couldn't be recorded in a home studio. A good VO needs a dead room, a decent mic, and a decent pre. That's very doable in a home studio environment...in fact, it's the best use of a home studio IMO.

 

[crinz83]

Sure, a national spot COULD be recorded in a home studio, technically. But a big ad agency will always go with a professional studio (at least here in L.A.).
Even the top V/O people (like Don Lafontaine) still hop from studio to studio.
It's just a drop in the bucket for these big agencies to use a pro studio.

 

[chessrock]

At least half of the national spots out there are probably done out of people's home studios. You'd be surprized.

 

[malcolm123]

At least half of the national spots out there are probably done out of people's home studios. You'd be surprized.

I can imagine. There is a guy here who I did some computer work for back in maybe 1996 or so at his house. I went in there and he had mics and gear and stuff. I asked him what he used it for and he said commercials. I took it with a grain of salt until he played some of his work.

Sh@t I knew most of the commercials just from watching TV.
All from his house. Kinda freaked me out too !

MAlcolm