Mxl990?

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The Wicked

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I was looking into one because of it's price, i was wondering about the quality and sound. If this isn't a good mic, what sort of condensor good i get for a equal, or not too much greater price?

Also, I need some good mics for guitar, bass and percussion, but Im on a very small buget, seen as I'm still looking for a job :p

Any and all input is appreciated. Thanks :)
 
No. No one here has ever heard of this mic. What are you talking about?

I bet if you used the search function to find info on it, you wouldn't come up with anything! :D :D :D
 
2 words... search.. function....

Here's a 3rd for free.... "Google"...
Seriously, look at least a litttle before posting........ it's been asked 100,000 times before.......... :confused:
 
MXL 990 is the start of the food chain. You won't like it and if you do you won't like it very long. Studio Projects B1 is a much better starting point
 
Big Kenny said:
MXL 990 is the start of the food chain. You won't like it and if you do you won't like it very long. Studio Projects B1 is a much better starting point

This is bang on. I have both and the B1 is far, far better on everything (except possibly acoustic guitar).
 
The 990 is a really good, quality brighter-sounding small diaphragm condenser. And it costs like next to nothing. I'd recommend getting at least a pair. They'll really compliment something a little flatter / darker like a Russian Octava MC-012 pair.

They'll work well on vocals in a pinch, but that's generally not what you'll use them on. It's worth a shot in certain instances when you need a brighter, more articulate vocal track.
 
There is nothing wrong with the MXL990, when you consider the price. When that was all I could afford, I bought one, loved it and STILL pull it out very frequently.

P.S maybe the assholes with the sarcasm and thousands of posts should spend a little more time making music instead of criticizing people for not using the dumb-ass search function. Maybe people ask the question instead of searching for past posts because they are looking for a personal response about an investment they are planning to make, even if it is only a $60 investment.
 
Sal4001 said:
There is nothing wrong with the MXL990, .

I agree 100%.

The mic has a pretty hefty bump in the 10k area.

If youre in need of a bright sound on fem vox, acoustic guitar, cello...whatever.

This mic is always a candidate.


-Finster
 
Sal4001 said:
P.S maybe the assholes with the sarcasm and thousands of posts should spend a little more time making music instead of criticizing people for not using the dumb-ass search function.


Hmm, you been here what... a month? Give it a couple more months and you'll be harping about the search function too, it's like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, the first few times it's not that bad, after hearing the same question 100 times you just want to drive your car off a cliff :D.
 
Sal4001 said:
P.S maybe the assholes with the sarcasm and thousands of posts should spend a little more time making music instead of criticizing people for not using the dumb-ass search function. Maybe people ask the question instead of searching for past posts because they are looking for a personal response about an investment they are planning to make, even if it is only a $60 investment.

Everyone of the previous 10,000 who asked these same questions looking for a personal response got pretty much the same response. If you search, you'll get all the info you need. Sarcasm isn't intended to chastise, but is suppose to be a form of amusement. If the search function was a "dumb-ass" feature it wouldn't be here. Granted its not very obvious where it is and some don't even know its there.

BTW, a $60 mic isn't an investment, its an expense. Investments increase in value or retain their value. a $6000 Neumann U47 you bought for $4000 is an investment. A $60 mxl 990 is a startup mic that you will later use as a paperweight.
 
PhilGood said:
Everyone of the previous 10,000 who asked these same questions looking for a personal response got pretty much the same response. If you search, you'll get all the info you need. Sarcasm isn't intended to chastise, but is suppose to be a form of amusement. If the search function was a "dumb-ass" feature it wouldn't be here. Granted its not very obvious where it is and some don't even know its there.

BTW, a $60 mic isn't an investment, its an expense. Investments increase in value or retain their value. a $6000 Neumann U47 you bought for $4000 is an investment. A $60 mxl 990 is a startup mic that you will later use as a paperweight.

+1

tinny mic
 
this aint a bad mic at all, certainly better than anything else i had when i bought it
 
reshp1 said:
Hmm, you been here what... a month? Give it a couple more months and you'll be harping about the search function too, it's like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, the first few times it's not that bad, after hearing the same question 100 times you just want to drive your car off a cliff :D.
Yes I've been here only a month but I've been writing, performing, and recording music longer than you've been alive. No offense, but I value my opinion more than yours.
 
PhilGood said:
Everyone of the previous 10,000 who asked these same questions looking for a personal response got pretty much the same response. If you search, you'll get all the info you need. Sarcasm isn't intended to chastise, but is suppose to be a form of amusement. If the search function was a "dumb-ass" feature it wouldn't be here. Granted its not very obvious where it is and some don't even know its there.

BTW, a $60 mic isn't an investment, its an expense. Investments increase in value or retain their value. a $6000 Neumann U47 you bought for $4000 is an investment. A $60 mxl 990 is a startup mic that you will later use as a paperweight.


Any money spent to further your recording skills IS an investment. Even if it's a $60 mic, if it enables you to record with a little more quality than you had yesterday, it's an investment-an investment in yourself. Especially to the kid just starting out, where money is a little harder to come by than it is for you and I, even "upgrading" to a mic like the mxl990, will make a difference in the quality of his recordings. Everybody had to start somewhere. Some of us had to start out with 4-track cassette recorders and crappy mics. Some of us felt on top of the world when we bought our first SM57, and could mic a cab and get a decent sound. Now some of us own million dollar recording studios and make a great living doing something we love. I guess you were just born with great recording skills and a closet full of Nuemanns......Lucky you.
Lucky you!!
 
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Sal4001 said:
Yes I've been here only a month but I've been writing, performing, and recording music longer than you've been alive.

Er, don't get so defensive, I wasn't exactly questioning you music ability or knowledge. All I'm saying is that you haven't been here long enough to get sick of the repeat questions yet, give it a few months of the "best vocal mic under $100" questions.

Sal4001 said:
No offense, but I value my opinion more than yours.
:p
 
Sal4001 said:
Any money spent to further your recording skills IS an investment. Even if it's a $60 mic, if it enables you to record with a little more quality than you had yesterday, it's an investment-an investment in yourself. Especially to the kid just starting out, where money is a little harder to come by than it is for you and I, even "upgrading" to a mic like the mxl990, will make a difference in the quality of his recordings. Everybody had to start somewhere. Some of us had to start out with 4-track cassette recorders and crappy mics. Some of us felt on top of the world when we bought our first SM57, and could mic a cab and get a decent sound. Now some of us own million dollar recording studios and make a great living doing something we love. I guess you were just born with great recording skills and a closet full of Nuemanns......Lucky you.
Lucky you!!

Wow! You're really uptight there! Didn't realize you were so high-strung.

Are you really ready to take such a heated stance over a $60 microphone and start making assumptions about everyone's skills and what they own? If you are, you might wanna think twice.

My suggestion would be to take a step back and calm down.

When did I ever say I owned a Nuemann, much less a closet full of them?
 
Sal4001 said:
Yes I've been here only a month but I've been writing, performing, and recording music longer than you've been alive. No offense, but I value my opinion more than yours.

Really?! Then why are you here?! To tout how valuable your opinion is? Since you obviously know so much about OUR experiences and skill levels, please...lead the way! We will be glad and humbled to follow, good sir!!
 
my 990 sounds like there is something seriously wrong with it (sounds like it's recording through a tin can). i might have gotten a bad one, but who knows. Studio Pojects B1 for a much better mic at not much more money.
 
Robertt8 said:
my 990 sounds like there is something seriously wrong with it (sounds like it's recording through a tin can). i might have gotten a bad one, but who knows. Studio Pojects B1 for a much better mic at not much more money.

The MXL990 is basically a 603s in a larger body. (Newsflash - the MCA SP1 is the same mic for $40-50) One of the flaws of the 603s and others like it (Nady CM90, CAD 1200) is the way the diaphragm is secured. A slight tap on the 603's capsule can cause the diaphragm to come loose on one side. This is usually the cause of that tinny sound. The same could happen if the 990 is subjected to shock, as it could in shipping.

Robert makes another good point. For $40 more, you can get a SP B1, which is turning out to be a champ. It was originally thought the C1 would be the winner, but the B1 is turning out to be a serious workhorse mic.

Again, all this info is here in this site if you look for it.
 
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