JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Best Microphone for me

I had gotten the MXL 990 with a digital recording package. It is nice, but I have one of those voices that is better lighter, so I need a mic. that can really pick up vocals and make them sound clear and loud. I find if I sing light on this Mic, I can barely hear it when I play it back.
Does anyone know about the Mic I have and can you recommend one that can pick up a lighter, softer vocal. If I get one that has excellent pick up, that will also pick up more outside noises, right?
Thanks!
Michelle

That really surprises me...your mic is on my list of Things I Want Really Bad But Can't Spend On Now. The MXL 990 is an exceptionally good quality studio microphone...usually compared with $1000+ microphones.

So that makes me wonder how you're using it, how your signals are being processed. Can you tell us what you record with, what equipment you plug into, what program? Or are you singing live? If you are singing live, I would get a different style entirely.

And hey, nice to meet you, Michelle!

-Mark

Michelle, my best recommendation would be to rent or borrow several mics til you find one that suits your voice. No one else can really tell you. That's what I discovered, and I went through about 5 or 6 mics til I found one that suited me.

OTOH, it may also be the settings on your recording software.

Welcome to JPF Just to keep everything in place there is a board called Microphone and Vocalist forum where these issues are normally discussed. If you place your post there I am sure you well get some help.

Hi Michelle,

The 990 is a three quarter inch diaphragm mic, a larger diaphragm, 1 to 1 1/4 inches, would be warmer. I think it has the same Chinese made capsule that most of the decent budget mics are using. If you want a warmer sound, first try keeping about an inch from the mic. Then if you have a compressor on your program, try that. Do both before spending money on anything. You can find free downloadable VST compressor programs at KVR audio, do a search. I recommend the BlockPhish VST, a surprisingly good free plug in.

If this doesn't work, you can try a tube preamp. Blue Tube and ART have them for under a hundred bucks.

As for other mics, the warmest sound usually comes from tube mics and/or dual capsule mics (the dual capsules usually will have multi-patterns that include omni and figure eight) keep the multi pattern at cardiod. If you are tremedously wealthy then I recommend (aside from hiring a certain Nashville bass player I know) getting a vintage Neumann U-49, or a vintage akg C12 if you can find one of those, or the budget. If you are simply decently wealthy I recommend (aside from hiring a certain Nashville bass player I know) getting a Neumann TLM 49.

Of course, you'll want to audition these or any mics you try. Heck, for your voice, an SM 58 might be the ticket. Mics are like shirts (or blouses). Which one do you think goes well with my eyes? Well, first you have to see my eyes, then I have to try it on. Same with mics. You need someone with "ears" to hear your voice (we never hear our own voices with any objectivity) then you need both you and the "ears" person to hear your recording. Make sure the "ears" person is not the salesman. The salesman's taste varies with how soon the rent is due.

Hope This Helps,
Mike

Whoops, I misspoke. I was thinking about the MXL V69...different kettle of fish!

Yeah, sounds like you need a preamp to boost the signal. What you pluggin it into? straight to the computer?

Thanks for the great advice and sorry about not posting in the mic/vocalist section. I missed that category just browsing through. Louis, about that preamp-I am interested...
Please tell me more. I am plugging the mic directly into my 8 track Fostex VF80 EX digital recorder. I have the phantom power on, the volume set to a little above half and less than 3/4 of the highest it'll go. My mixer is one notch above the 0 balance mark. More than that and the sound gets warped.
Michelle

Hi there

The MXL 990 is a condenser mic and requires phantom power (via a desk or pre-amp - or powered inputs on a digital recorder) - I see you've answered the question of what you're plugging into in the time it took me to write this!


I have a couple of condensers, and the MXL has proved an excellent buy - although I prefer to use it for guitar, or in combination with another mic for stereo recording. Something like a M-Audio Nova or the Audio-Technica AT2020 (both inexpensive side-address style mics) are possibly better for a crisper and fuller vocal sound (the Nova in particular). I know several folks who use the Behringer B1 who speak well of it - although it has a very clean modern 'clarity' to it which doesn't always suit some voices.

Dan

These are pretty good, the Presonus TubPRE. $99 new, but I just scored one for half that on eBay. Couldn't be any easier to use, and really boosts and warms up your signal. Not just for voice either, works great with instruments.

You need to turn the input volume up - how high is the headphone output? It may sound warped because of that?

Try setting the sliders to '0' and use the 'trim' rotary switch to turn up the mic input.

Dan

I plug my condenser mic into a preamp that has a built phantom power, then into my 8 track digital recorder. The digital recorder has built in phantom but the one on the preamp works better. And I turn the volume down half way too on the recorder to keep from pegging out.. Where are you hooking the mixer in your chain?

Are you pluggin into the XLR input on your recorder or the 1/4 inch jack ? Got to be the xlr input to get the phantom power to work..

There is also a front to the MXL990, I have one that my son and his friends were recording through backwards. It sounded very hollow until I turned it around for them...

Mark you are so funny with the visual aides. I love it!!

IMHO, the MXL990 is not all that good a microphone and definitely needs a good preamp. It is a bit harsh on the upper end and that needs to be toned down.
Of the five MXL mics I own it is the worst of the bunch.

However, they are now available through Amazon and Musician's Friend for $60.00 and at that price are definitely worth picking up.
Music123 has the MXL990 packaged with a PreSonus TubePre for $130.00.

The mic you are using is pretty bottom of the range. Even with a pre amp I am sure it would still sound iffy. Best advice is go with an Sm57 or 58 or other brand with similar spec. The 57 is preferred by females with light voices. If the budget allows then go for something a bit better like a tube amp. However a lot depends on application. Is it for live performance or home recordings? Bear in mind that an sm57 or 58 will cost about the same as a pre amp and they do not use phantom power.

Though the MXL990 is not a great mic it is pretty hot. On your recorder settings, are you using the trim pot or just the volume sliders? You'll want to turn the trim knob to increase gain until it clips, the peak light lights, then back off until it is no longer lit. Start with the main and channel sliders at 0 (zero).

As mentioned above, get closer to the mic too. Use a pop screen to help with 'plosives and sibilance or sing across the top of the mic. If you don't have a pop screen you can make something that works by forming metal coat hanger into a circle and stretching a nylon stocking over it and attach it to the mic stand. A crocheting ring works very well too.

The 990 is a terrific acoustic mic - it gives acoustic guitar a real 'rasp' - certainly it doesn't have the clean modern aspect that seems so necessary these days - but that is part of it's purpose, at least according to it's manufacturers! I really like the sound it gives - and no solid-state mic will be as good as a top quality valve condenser.

But, to be fair, it is quite a 'quirky' mic - but perfectly usable.

Dan

Thanks to everyone who responded. First off- After reading the post about turning the mic. around... Boy do I feel stupid. Yes that was the case this last time, as to why the vocals were so soft. Sure enough it was backwards. However I have recorded with that same mic. many times and I feel yes, it either does need the preamp you guys suggested or maybe I just need a better mic. like the SM57 or Behringer B1. Thanks so much! I will try out your suggestions!
Michelle

Hey don't feel bad, I did it too, several times, lol..

I like the old analog condenser mics.
The digital, USB type ones can be problamatic and have certain things missing in the organic quality your typical analog/patch cord only mic does'nt have.
I have found more picked up vocally with what I am looking for though with a chat mic when it's around certain acoustics.
But I like the non-digital type of mics.
I respect the professional or conformist methods but at the same time balk at them, so I would'nt be the best source with that. Which is why I will most likely always just be a hobbyist.
But some people can find often what they are looking for with cheap things sitting right in front of them if they investigate it's potential.

There is no reason that this mic should not be doing a good job. I would bet money that the problem is in your settings, or in the need for a preamp. However, be sure to understand that if you are not properly setting up your gains and trims, etc, a preamp will not help. Nor will a new mic help. Get someone who understands audio and can look over your set up and get you going in the right direction.

I get really ecstatic when I realize my problem is something easy like "Um, turn the mic around..." Although it may be a little embarrassing, it's also a moneysaver! I'd vote for a pre-amp...it will boost things and warm them up. You will definitely get what you wanted in the first post: clear and loud.

Love the pink guitar!

Exactly.
While the B1 may be comparable with, or better than the MXL990, the SM57 is not. It is not as sensitive, nor does it have the frequency handling capabilities.