Sunday, May 22, 2011

Condenser Microphone Review

Hello! After the rapture yesterday I thought it would only be appropriate to write a review on three condenser microphones that I think are the best for a engineer on a budget. Well the first question you might ask yourself is, what is a condenser microphone? Well it can be simply described as, a microphone consisting of a capacitor with one plate fixed and the other forming the diaphragm moved by sound waves. So basically it's a microphone used for studio recordings of vocals or stringed instruments. Now that you know what a Condenser microphone is, lets get on to the review.


1) MXL 2006 $169.95

he MXL 2006 is a condenser type microphone with a cardioid pattern. Its greatest use is as a dynamic microphone thanks to its amazing levels of sensitivity, which are unmatched. Users’ MXL 2006 microphone reviews suggest to the device in a well-insulated recording environment, otherwise it will record the sound of the heartbeat of the person in the next room!


The MXL 2006 microphone comes in a pretty solid brass casing that does not dent easily. Although it requires an external power source, it does not have a power switch, so as soon as you plug it in to your mixer you are ready to go. You WILL need a mixer to record using the MXL 2006 as you will need to regulate the amount of sound the microphone picks up.

Experienced users’ MXL 2006 microphone reviews mention the product as a great choice if you’re going for a recording of live acoustic guitars. With the correct placement of the mic and minor adjustments to the levels of pickup on your mixer, you will be able to record the guitar in the best way possible. Most users have described the sound recorded through the MXL 2006 microphone as ‘silky’ which speaks volumes for the exact quality of recording through this awesome mic. In fact, it is said that with the proper levels set on your equalizer, the MXL 2006 will not sound any different from a mic 4 times its price! Such is the great equilibrium of sound maintained by this truly magnificent microphone.

The Good
The microphone picks up absolutely every sound. The microphone’s casing is very sturdy. Shock mount helps to eliminate unwanted noise when moving the microphone around. 

 The Bad
The fact that the microphone picks up absolutely every sound can be a bad thing as well. The microphone doesn’t come with an XLR cable, which is rather annoying. 



2) MXL V69M-EDT $399.95

A tube condenser microphone that stands above the rest, the MXL V69M-EDT, nicknamed the ‘Mogami Edition’, gives rich quality sound recordings that sound crisp and full-bodied. Although Chinese brands such as MXL are not considered to be the best in the microphone business, the MXL V69M-EDT dispels these beliefs at the flick of the on switch.

Although tube microphones are said to be better on the lower ranges and not that good in the upper ranges, the MXL V69M-EDT microphone plays a whole different ballgame with great performance on the upper mid-ranges as well, which makes it ideal for recording vocals and acoustic musical instruments. Acoustic guitars will sound harmonic and the various frequency ranges will be mixed nicely without any unwanted peaks in the recording. In essence, this microphone gives a nice ‘vintage’ sound that could only be expected from tube microphones.

The manufacturer MXL V69M-EDT microphone review specifies that the device requires a dedicated power supply of 110V/230V in order to function. As is to be expected, the only complaint about this microphone is that it does not capture the higher ranges of sound as nicely as we would like, which is a common bane of all tube microphones.
However, the MXL V69M-EDT microphone has gone a long way towards solving this problem.
In conclusion of this MXL V69M-EDT microphone review, it should be said that the product delivers value for the money it costs.

The Good
This microphone is ideal for a recording artist with a low budget. It gives quality recordings with great pickup on the lower and mid ranges.

The Bad
Although this microphone handles the upper-mid ranges well, it does not work that well with the higher ranges.




3) AKG C 3000 B $299

AKG makes a lot of great products and the C 3000 B is no exception. If the price tag on the 414 is a bit daunting, then the C 3000 B might be a worthy alternative. With a proper frequency range from 20Hz-20kHz, the C 3000 B has bright highs and warm lows. The -10dB switchable pre-attenuation allows it to handle very loud sounds without distortion or feedback. Since it is able to handle high sound pressure levels, the C 3000 B is perfectly suited for live sound and touring. Integrated windscreen, shockmount and hard case are all included.  This microphone a great buy!


The Good
Approximating the quality of its pricier counterparts, AKG’s C 3000 B can withstand very high sound pressure levels, which makes them great for live sound and project studios. 

The Bad
The AKG C 3000 B might be a little pricey for a novice and a pro might benefit from investing in a slightly better model.


Like always thank you for reading, and I hope this review on three great condenser mics may have helped aspiring engineers in their choice for studio recordings.

7 comments:

  1. Good review. I love the AKG, sounds fantastic and picks up loads of detail.

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  2. very nice and thorough review. I'll know which condensed microphone to get in the future!

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  3. Nice review, thanks for sharing!

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  4. Damn those are some expensive accessories. I always buy crap so thats why its cheap i guess.

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  5. Very informative and nice review!

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