So what do you guys think of MXL's?

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Dan, did you also have the opportunity to try the V77?
And if you did, how about it?

I still have a V69 and a V77 here and although the 69 is quite colored, it really did a great job recording a bariton sax in a big band recording.

The V77 is more neutral sounding and comparing it to the Neumann M149 it's really a nice microphone with a German like sound.

I wonder what you think of it.

Peace, Han
 
chessrock said:
I think just about all the mxl's suck . . . save for the mxl603.
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Have you tried the V69, chess? I've read some pretty amazing stuff about it. Pete Weiss, an engineer out in Boston, I think wrote a pretty glowing review of it, and Dot, obviously likes it. If you've used it, I'd be really curious to hear your take on it.
 
cominginsecond said:
Have you tried the V69, chess? I've read some pretty amazing stuff about it. Pete Weiss, an engineer out in Boston, I think wrote a pretty glowing review of it, and Dot, obviously likes it. If you've used it, I'd be really curious to hear your take on it.
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The way I look at it, different people's opinions only hold so much weight. A few people I might perk up if they mention something about a piece of gear -- Joe Chicarelli or Steve Albini, for instance. Maybe Niles Godrich. Okay, if Niles likes something, I'll take notice. :D

But then, what isn't useful to me might be extremely useful to you or maybe to someone like Dot. That said, I don't particularly like the 69, the 77, the 2003, or the v67 -- and I've owned all of them at some point.

This is just my opinion, but in general, the Marshall large condensers don't have the kind of high end response that I look for. They don't take EQ very well, and I don't like how they respond to sources with high-frequency transients. They all seem to sound okay at first, but the more you work with them, the more you notice this cheap-sounding high end. Maybe I'm just hearing things. :D I admit, sticking a tube in there helps a little, but it seems more like it's just covering up the problem rather than addressing it.

Just my take.
 
chessrock said:
This is just my opinion, but in general, the Marshall large condensers don't have the kind of high end response that I look for. They don't take EQ very well, and I don't like how they respond to sources with high-frequency transients. They all seem to sound okay at first, but the more you work with them, the more you notice this cheap-sounding high end.
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I've owned the V67, and I've noticed the exact same cheap high-end that you describe here. Still, I'd like to at least mess around with a V77 or a V69 for a while.

Thanks for your take on it.:cool:
 
cominginsecond said:
Still, I'd like to at least mess around with a V77 or a V69 for a while.
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It can't hurt. If you don't like them, then at least they seem to hold their ebay resale value pretty well. And you might even like one of them.
 
Rocket Boy said:
would you really prefer it over a Rode NTK?
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Depends. The V69 is $299ish and the NTK is $499ish. For someone who wants a classic valve-sounding mic - yes, I'd recommend the V69ME over the NTK. The NTK has a harsh high-end and smears the signal. For tube mics in that price range, we prefer the ADK TC or the multi-pattern Studio Projects T3.

Han, we haven't use the V77 yet.

BTW, on the mic reviews and recommendations I make - it's not based only on my opinion. We have several engineers, artists, producers and studios who all use the review gear in different situations and on a lot of different types of music.


Dan Richards
The Listening Sessions
The Project Studio Handbook
 
Dot said:
Depends. The V69 is $299ish and the NTK is $499ish. For someone who wants a classic valve-sounding mic - yes, I'd recommend the V69ME over the NTK. The NTK has a harsh high-end and smears the signal. For tube mics in that price range, we prefer the ADK TC or the multi-pattern Studio Projects T3.
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oh, because in the review you said flat out 'its the best tube mic for under 1000 dollars'
 
Han,
If you have the time, it’d be great if you could post some very short clips (one line from a song or something like that) comparing vocals on the V69 and V77. I for one would be extremely greatfull!
 
a question

not to hijack the htread but what do folks here think of the cad
gxl mic range. ????
some friends tell me they are pretty good. second opinions ?
 
To me, the MXL V67 was a huge step up from using a SM57 for vocals and acoustic guitar. So I think it depends on your frame of reference. My recordings now are better than they've ever been using this mic, but whether they could be better using another mic in the price range, it's hard to say.

In the "budget" realm, I think they are good mics. But making a comparison to really high end gear with a professional engineer shouldn't be made or expected.
 
990 sucks!

I've got one and it is the worst mic I've ever used (not that I've used many...but). it's not worth the shipping price let alone the asking price. don't get it.
 
Flatpicker said:
Han,
If you have the time, it’d be great if you could post some very short clips (one line from a song or something like that) comparing vocals on the V69 and V77. I for one would be extremely greatfull!
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Well, in march 2003 my regular gearpimp sent me the brand new V69 and V77 in order to let me try the mics.

So I have put them in the tracking room and recorded acoustic guitar, some woodwinds and upright bass with both the mics.

And of course I compared them to my M149 with my own voice and a female singer, who was recording that time. She went for the M149.

After that I've put them back in the box and haven't used them any further because the mics are new and not mine (yet).

At Amsterdam AES I met the pimp and he said he would collect them within a couple of weeks, but he never did. So I made a couple of phonecalls and he said he would come, but he didn't.

Some two weeks ago I called him again and asked him to make me an offer I can't refuse and he said he would, but................:D

But to answer your question, I don't have a recording of vocals from the V69 and V77, but the mics sound both quite nice.

The 69 sounds really big, a tad 'boxy' with a crystal clear high end. I can imagine some singers like it very much.

The 77 is much more expensive and it sounds closer to the Neumann sound, in fact there isn't much difference. I think many musicians won't hear the difference between a Neumann and a V77. Although the Neumann has that very special mid and that airy high, which I haven't heard on any other mic.

The V77 is cardioid only, but it sure is a very nice (tube) mic.

I think I keep the 69 and the 77 anyway, I'd like to try them on grand piano for example, the 69 on the bas and the 77 on the mid/high side.

Hope this helps.
 
cominginsecond said:
I've owned the V67, and I've noticed the exact same cheap high-end that you describe here.
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Yeah, it took me a little while, but I now am hearing the same thing. And Chess is right, they don't take EQ well. You fix one problem with EQ and 2 others pop up to take it's place. I recently scrapped an acoustic guitar track for this reason. Couldn't fix it without gutting the sound and making it "honky".
 
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