MXL 990 or M Audio Nova? Which to buy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter undrgrnd studio
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undrgrnd studio

undrgrnd studio

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I am going out to buy a condensor mic today. I am just a basement amateur, but I do take my music very seriously, so I need something to capture accoustic guitar and more importantly vocals better than my sm58. I was going to buy the MXL 990 since its for sale at just $59 at musiciansfriend.com, but the sales guy at guitar center is saying for the money I would be much better off with the m audio Nova for $99. I realize I am buying a hyundai quality mic and not a cadillac, but which one is prefferable for a horny but nhot quite nasally voice? I read the mic article in the sticky note thread to look for some answers. I saw that the specs for the less expensive MXL 990 were actually more impressive, but specs don't always mean quality. I am spending about $800 today so I can't ugrade to another price range, I am sicking with the entry level mics. So what do you think?
 
Oh and BTW I am not using a pre amp, I am going direct into the power supplied BR 1180CD. It has built in preamps.
 
The 990 should sound great on your accoustic guitar.

It may or may not sound good on your voice, though. You'd just have to take a gamble and see.
 
budget condensor

I really cannot comment on the Nova, but I do own two 990s. Overall, I think they are good for the price, but are still budget mics. I have liked them as a spaced pair on acoustic and have also used them for vocals and guitar amps. On my voice, they are just ok (I am a baritone/bass singing folky pop). Nothing special, but totally usable. On clean guitar amps, I really liked the tone: sparkly, but with good bass response as well that can be eq'd to taste. If you can, try both mics out at the store and buy the one that sounds best to you. For the price, you could almost buy 2 990s, but if the NOVA sounds better, get it. Others on this board really like studio projects mics, but I don't have any. Try everything in your pricerange if you can.
 
scrubs said:
I think they are good for the price, but are still budget mics.
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I think they sound great regardless of the price. They tend to be somewhat bright, but unlike a lot of it's Chinese-made siblings, it isn't a harsh or nasty bright, but a pleasant one. Very detailed. Only downside is it might be a tad thin-sounding for some vocals - that is something to consider.

It's basically an mxl-603 in a more impressive-looking package. And it's cheaper. Ya gotta' love it.
 
hmmm? Thanks for the quick replies. I am definitely more of a baratone than a tenor, I am definitely looking for a wide or larger sound then I get from the sm58. I guess I'll just have to try it out and see. I was going to get the MXL, but now I am leaning towards the Nova just because I hear it colors the sound less. Although with my voice a little color might not be a bad idea. Damn I wish I could just know for certain which would be best for me, but I'll just have to find out the old fashioned way.

The biggest problem with trying a mic out is that you can't really get a feel for it in a couple minutes in a busy loud store, there really is no substitue for trying at home.
 
chessrock said:
I think they sound great regardless of the price...And it's cheaper. Ya gotta' love it.
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Plus they look way cooler than any other cheap mic! :D
Gotta love that too.
 
Yea, I think the look of it really outclasses even a lot of the more prestigeous / expensive models. It's a 603 that looks suspiciously like a TLM-103. :D What's not to like for 60 bucks?
 
Well I just bought two of the M Audio Nova's. One for me and for a x mas present. I'll give my review tomorrow.
 
cool. let us know how they work out for you. i have not heard much about the NOVA.
 
Chess, given the choice of a 990 or a C-1 for acoustic guitar, which woud you choose? I ask this because I never considered the 990 for this application, now Im begining to look twice at it... and for 60 bucks, what the hell! One at the twelvth fret and one behind the sound hole... hmmmmm
 
I tend to like smaller-diaphragms on accoustic, so I'd probably go with the 990 if I had the choice, but that's just me.
 
Well I tried the nova out yesterday and I can say that it is crystal clear. But I was getting distortion when I sang loudly. The thing is though, I have two or three weak links in my vocal chain. The headphones I have are old Realistics from RadioSHack about 20 years ago (I have some moreme's on the way for now), Oh and by the way those radio shack headphones aren't all that bad compared to all the sony and other cheapo sets I have laying around, I also have a cheap free guitar center mic cable (don't think this is the problem), and lastly I am relying on the BR 1180's internal mic pre amp.

SO I think I will have to wait for my new headphones, switch my cable to a heavy duty one i have, and then get a decent cheap preamp for now. I was looking at either the Joe Meek compressor/pre amp combo. The Presonus Blue Tube, or the Mackie Vc3q (EDIT: I mean the 1202) since I need a mixer too.
 
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The MoreMe's work great, I have about 4 pairs. For preamps, I would look into a Vtb-1 (1 channel) or a DMP3 (2 channel). Those are the usual suspects for a budget preamp.
 
Oh great I am glad to see some positive experiences with the moreme's. Is there a reason I shouldn't look to the Mackie 1202? Thats what I think I'm after. A Mixer, EQ, and Preamp in one with the name Mackie on it. SOunds perfect.
 
The 1202 would work fine if you need all of that other stuff. The Vtb-1 and DMP3 are probably a little better preamps though. I wouldn't put much stock in the Mackie's EQ either, but it's not a bad little mixer.
 
i have a nova, its so nice and heavy.

i havent used it yet, but im veyr pleased with anything m-audio.
let me know of your choice
 
i have 2 NOVAs and 1 990, i have only actually found a use for the 990 once. i use the NOVAs constantly, the novas and the lunas are probably my 2 new favorite mics that i own. they are crystal clear, the nova is more suited to a bass guitar/low vocal, where as the luna is more of a acoustic guitar/midrange vocal or guitar cab mic.
for these two cheap mics to become my favorites over my SM7b and my good ole trusty unnamed trucker mic is saying alot.
 
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