preamp for MXL 990?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robertt8
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Robertt8

Robertt8

Well-known member
I picked up the Marshall MXL 990 condensor mic. I've got an Audio Buddy with phantom power, but it doesn't seem to power it. Am I stupid? Seeing as how this doesn't work, what's a cheap power amp...or whatever it's called to power this condesor mic?

Thanks!
 
I guess it really depends on how much money you want to spend. I used a Studio Projects VTB-1 with a Marshall MXL990 the other day and it worked out well, and the VTB-1 is only about $180. DJL
 
Sounds to me like either the mic or the preamp are broken. That preamp should be able to power that mic.
 
That's what I thought...maybe the mic i got is busted, because the Audio Buddy powers my Shure dynamic mic without a problem, but I figured maybe it needed something with a little more oomph.
 
hmmmm...this may sound stupid, but I've got a guitar amp. can i test the new mic on there? or is this something that needs some other power besides amplification?

Thanks!
 
Robertt8--First of all, dynamic mics do not use phantom power, so you Audio Buddy is doing its preamp job just fine. If you are not getting phantom power to your MXL, then:

1. You need to engage the phantom power on the Audio Buddy. I don't own one, but most preamps have a 48v phantom power switch somewhere.
2. You are not using an XLR cable or you are using a low to hi adapter on one, which would not transfer phantom power to your mic.
3. The Audio Buddy's phantom power is out.
4. You have a bad microphone.

I'd try the mic on a Mackie mixer (they have phantom power) just to see if the mic works. Try the other suggestions first though.
 
thanks!

I actually did some digging to find out that i need to use the xlr cable plugs...which i wasn't. That should probably do the trick.

Thanks for the help people...epecially crawdad and cominginsecond which promted me to dig deeper!
 
Aha! That XLR cable will get you going! And--if it works for you, its a win for me too. I like to be able to help when I can!
 
hi i just wanna ask how did you work your mxl mic does

Robertt8 said:
I picked up the Marshall MXL 990 condensor mic. I've got an Audio Buddy with phantom power, but it doesn't seem to power it. Am I stupid? Seeing as how this doesn't work, what's a cheap power amp...or whatever it's called to power this condesor mic?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

hi i just wanna ask how did you work your mxl mic does it need a pream to order to work?? i change the cord from male socket to usb straight to the computer. but still not working tho? if i really need a pream ?
 
I have same mic which came with the audio buddy. Kinda had same problem, my worked but the audio buddy had so much noise and hum couldnt use it. After about 5 minutes it would quit completely. Had to unplug it and wait for about 15 min. to get another 5. IMHO Audio Buddy is junk, ditched it and got Mackie mixer, mic sounds very good now. Great for vocals and acoustic guitar.
 
You need this : 990 . xlr to xlr cable. 48v switch engaged. gain knob turned up. you should be good. gain will need to be adjusted so you have a signal and the red (clip) light is not illuminating. I had that mic and pre a few years ago. worked ok.
 
OK, Robert8- "Phantom power" is required by most condenser mics, and not by most dynamic mics. Instrument inputs, mic inputs, and line level inputs are 3 different things. These days, mic inputs are 3 pin XLR connector inputs. (Most) Mics don't plug into instrument inputs, which means they don't plug into guitar amps.
The audio buddy has 2 XLR mic inputs, 2 high impedence instrument inputs, and no line level inputs. If you use an XLR to XLR cable to a mic input, either type of mic will work, but the 990 will require you to turn on the phantom power. Don't turn on or turn off the preamp with the phantom power turned on. Turn it on with the gain set all the way down and bring up the volume slowly- same thing in reverse to turn it off.
Now it gets dicey, because as far as I know, you don't have anything to plug the Audio Buddy into. It has 2 balanced or unbalanced 1/4" line outs, and you can't plug that into a computer. So now that you are all dressed up, where are you going to go? The Audio Buddy is a mic preamp, not a computer interface.-Richie
 
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