Freudian Slip
New member
Just in case anyone is wondering about the 990 I did a little testing on mine today. This is a follow up on the Should I buy a MXL 990 thread, but I thought I would let people know I got one and what I think of it. The mic was run threw the pre only on a Mackie SR24-4 VLZ board. I used the same xlr cord as I always use with my AT-3035. All EQ mentiond was on playback.
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Well I'm back after more testing on vocals. This time I spent a little more time on it. Keep in mind that when I compare to my AT-3035 that it (the 3035) has the pad and the roll off both on.
I would say that having the roll off on is fair because the 990 specs show to be close to the 3035 with the roll off on (on the bottom end). The main difference I see is that the 990 has slightly less presence than the at 3035 and that the signal varys more greatly between being at 6-8 inches and 12-14 inches on the 990 than on the 3035. This could be a disadvantage for those singers that can't stand still. The sound on vocals is very useable. With me it woud require some EQ but nothing to drastic.
Edit: the fact that the MXL 990 has a boxier sound and some what less presence than the 3035 it against the printed spec sheets. the 990 shows a wide high boost of at least +5db centered at around 9khz spanning from 4khz to 19khz while the 3035 is pretty flat. Both mics show flat from 2khz almost down to 100hz. One of these mics is quite a bit off the printed specs. I will try to find out which one. Any one know a place I can download a wave file of white noise?
I could not hear any large proxemity effect on the 990 on the low end. I also tried it at 45 deg at 6-8 inches and 12-14 inches and got pretty much the same results.
This mic seems to be a little boxy sounding. Later in this post I sort of settle on the notion that it lies in the low mids.
I belted into the 990 at 6-8 inches and could detect no distortion even though my software waveform was showing I was reaching clip. I am using cakewalk though and I have never had a great deal of trust in the wave form image as far as clipping goes.
Next I tried it on drums (keep in mind my room sort of sucks).
I thought it sounded pretty accurate. once again to me it seemed like it lacked presence slighty most noticable was on the snare but then I have mic'd this snare close with a sm-57 and it I often add a little air to the mix. I think it did a pretty good job over all and am thinking of ordering another one to use as with this one as stereo overheads. It is a cardoid pattern and that helps me because of my room. I think I would rather have super cardoid but with a little more work on the room and some shielding for the kick These could really work I think.
Next I tried it on accoustic guit. And this time I tried a little EQ after I was done. I thought it did pretty good but still a little boxy. I tried addin some highs and didn't really get what I was looking for so I tried scooping a little around 400hz and walla. It deffently made a greater improvement scooping 400hz by 2 to 3db than adding the high shelving from 12khz up.
So I think the highs are there but being masked a bit by low mids.
a 2 to 3bd adjustment is not all that bad and I can deal with it no problem.
For $70.00 I am going to give it my thumbs up
I have no Idea if a B1 is better or worse but I think you will be getting at the very least your moneys worth with the MXL 990.
EDIT: I also wanted to add just in case I seemed critical of this mic that given th choice between using the 990 or an sm-57 for recording vocals in most cases I would reach for the 990. the detail it captures out wieghs any minor eq work you would have to do. I was however hoping it was a $200.00 mic in $70.00 clothing due to introductery pricing, I think it is maybe a $100.00 to $125.00 mic in $70.00 clothing.
Later
Dave
#########################################
Well I'm back after more testing on vocals. This time I spent a little more time on it. Keep in mind that when I compare to my AT-3035 that it (the 3035) has the pad and the roll off both on.
I would say that having the roll off on is fair because the 990 specs show to be close to the 3035 with the roll off on (on the bottom end). The main difference I see is that the 990 has slightly less presence than the at 3035 and that the signal varys more greatly between being at 6-8 inches and 12-14 inches on the 990 than on the 3035. This could be a disadvantage for those singers that can't stand still. The sound on vocals is very useable. With me it woud require some EQ but nothing to drastic.
Edit: the fact that the MXL 990 has a boxier sound and some what less presence than the 3035 it against the printed spec sheets. the 990 shows a wide high boost of at least +5db centered at around 9khz spanning from 4khz to 19khz while the 3035 is pretty flat. Both mics show flat from 2khz almost down to 100hz. One of these mics is quite a bit off the printed specs. I will try to find out which one. Any one know a place I can download a wave file of white noise?
I could not hear any large proxemity effect on the 990 on the low end. I also tried it at 45 deg at 6-8 inches and 12-14 inches and got pretty much the same results.
This mic seems to be a little boxy sounding. Later in this post I sort of settle on the notion that it lies in the low mids.
I belted into the 990 at 6-8 inches and could detect no distortion even though my software waveform was showing I was reaching clip. I am using cakewalk though and I have never had a great deal of trust in the wave form image as far as clipping goes.
Next I tried it on drums (keep in mind my room sort of sucks).
I thought it sounded pretty accurate. once again to me it seemed like it lacked presence slighty most noticable was on the snare but then I have mic'd this snare close with a sm-57 and it I often add a little air to the mix. I think it did a pretty good job over all and am thinking of ordering another one to use as with this one as stereo overheads. It is a cardoid pattern and that helps me because of my room. I think I would rather have super cardoid but with a little more work on the room and some shielding for the kick These could really work I think.
Next I tried it on accoustic guit. And this time I tried a little EQ after I was done. I thought it did pretty good but still a little boxy. I tried addin some highs and didn't really get what I was looking for so I tried scooping a little around 400hz and walla. It deffently made a greater improvement scooping 400hz by 2 to 3db than adding the high shelving from 12khz up.
So I think the highs are there but being masked a bit by low mids.
a 2 to 3bd adjustment is not all that bad and I can deal with it no problem.
For $70.00 I am going to give it my thumbs up
I have no Idea if a B1 is better or worse but I think you will be getting at the very least your moneys worth with the MXL 990.
EDIT: I also wanted to add just in case I seemed critical of this mic that given th choice between using the 990 or an sm-57 for recording vocals in most cases I would reach for the 990. the detail it captures out wieghs any minor eq work you would have to do. I was however hoping it was a $200.00 mic in $70.00 clothing due to introductery pricing, I think it is maybe a $100.00 to $125.00 mic in $70.00 clothing.
Later
Dave
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