The 990 is MXL’s best selling inexpensive condenser microphone, and for good reason. Currently, this microphone can be purchased as of 12/29/2009 at Musician's Friend for a sale price of $49.00. This includes a case, a regular stand mount and a shock mount (which sells for about 30 bucks separately). This represents one of the best values currently available for an inexpensive studio condenser microphone.
My experience with the MXL 990 has been very positive. I own four of them and have used them in many live performance scenarios. The microphone has a nice “heft” and seems physically robust. It sounds good on just about every acoustic instrument I’ve put it in front of; it works well with clarinet, trombone, cornet and piano. It’s adequate for string bass, but there are other microphones I prefer for that particular application. Nonetheless, the MXL 990 is one of my most-used microphones for overall acoustic recording purposes.
Mike, Glad to see you started this blog. I'll subscribe to it and stay on top of your posts. Very interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteMike. Thank you for your reviews. I am considering a stereo pair for recording from one to 4 clarinets (mostly 1, me), for practice sessions.
ReplyDeleteI was considering the C-1, but read that it might be a bit thin and overly bright - not sure how correctable w/EQ without worsening its -33db noise rating.
Then I was considering the integrated MXL Stereo (2 diaphragms), but the price of $149 is TRIPLE the price of one mono MXL 990 ($50, including shock mount). The Stereo version does NOT include shock mount.
So now, based on your review and others, I am leaning toward getting 2, MXL990's to use as a stereo pair mounted in a close X-Y config.
What are your thoughts?
I believe you’ll find the MXL 990 quite adequate for your purpose. I certainly understand your desire to save money. The 990 is still available online as of this date (4/6/2013) for $49.99, while the stereo version is $149.99. With two 990’s in an X-Y configuration, your clarinet will be slightly off axis to both microphones, which will tend to take a bit of the edge off and give your horn a “warmer” sound. Using separate mics will also allow you to experiment with placement and “dial in” the sound you’re looking for.
DeleteLooks like the 990's are on back order at the places that sell them for $49. I'm going to test the AT2035, AT2020, MXL990 Stereo, and the MCA-SP1 (which reportedly has identical innards to the MXL990's but in a different case). Yes, I ordered all of them. I would have also ordered the Behringer C-1 and B-1. But I heard the C-1 was on the "bright" side (which I don't need for clarinet) and that the B-1 (similarly priced to the 2035) comes in second to the 2035 in several reviews I read.
ReplyDeleteMy hypothesis is that I may like the 2035 the best, but I may end up with a pair of SP-1's. I'll have a blast (fff as well as ppp) testing these. Stay tuned.
I received the condenser mics I ordered. I'm waiting for the portable recorder below) to do my testing with.
ReplyDeleteHave you experienced recording with the mics on either the Zoom or the Tascam mini recorders? If so, how did they work out for you? I have the Tascam DR-40 on order.
As of this moment I intend to use a pair of the standard sized condensers with this recorder. But who knows, maybe after I've done the tests, they can all be sent back, but I doubt that is what I will do.
If my experience with the AT-2020 is any indicator, I think you will be pleased with the AT-2035. I see that this particular microphone has garnered many positive reviews from purchasers on Amazon.com.
ReplyDeleteFor almost all of my on-site field recording, I use a TASCAM DP-008 - most of the time with the MXL 990 Stereo mic, but also with a pair of MXL 960 tube mics. I also have a TASCAM US-1641 USB audio interface that I bring out for larger, more involved recording projects requiring more than two microphones, all with excellent results.
Comparison of AT2020, AT2035, MCA SP-1, and MXL 990 Stereo. Part 1
ReplyDeleteWell, I finally locked myself away in a quiet room for three hours with my Tascam DR40 and the above referenced 4 mics (plus the small condensers on my Tascam) to do my clarinet test. Also speaking voice and quiet times were noted.
Here is what I heard:
Noise floor: Both the AT 2020 and 2035 were quieter than all the others. Before I listened critically to these mics, I thought "noise floor" would manifest itself in hissing of various sorts. But the noise floor that was more prominent in all the others, especially the MX 990 Stereo was a low rumble noise. The fact that I am getting up in years and likely lost 10 or 20 db of hearing above 8,000hz likely has something to do with this outcome.
Rating absence of noise, I would rate in the following order, best to worst: AT 2035, AT 2020, Tascam built-ins, MCA SP1, MXL Stereo.
Pleasing balance: The AT 2020 struck me as portraying the clarinet a bit on the shrill side compared to the others. The AT 2035 sounded fuller and smoother than the 2020, the MCA SP1 and Tascam internals sounded neutral as well. The MXL 990 Stereo sounded the fullest, most rounded. On some instruments it might be called too heavy. But on the clarinet, it comes across as robust and pleasing. In order of pleasing overall balance, best to worst: MXL 990 Stereo, AT2035, MCA SP1, Tascam internals, and AT2020
Immediacy: All the others sounded more distant than the MXL 990 Stereo. The AT 2020 particularly so. An unfair advantage may be given the 990 Stereo due to its dual L/R inputs - twice the juice. I didn't have pairs of the others to test, except the Tascam has a stereo pair but that did not match the immediacy of of the 990 Stereo.
Presence: Stereo makes a nice difference. I have to give the edge to the MXL 990 Stereo over the Tascam built-in stereo based on the rounded sound, but the Tascam was right in there - no slouch. With regard to the others, it would be unfair to mark them down for lack of presence since the match up was two to one - not really fair.
So, it comes down to the quieter noise level in the AT2035 or the better overall sound of the MXL 990 Stereo. I guess it is possible that the MXL picked up more room noise because of the sensitivity of two diaphragms working together, although both the MXL and AT2035 are rated down to 20 hz. The 2035 did have a shock mount which might have contributed to its quietness; the MXL did not. But then the 2020 did not have a shock mount and it was nearly as quiet. But its rated frequency response does not get down to 20 hz, either.
The price of two AT 2035's exceed my budget by about $70. Two of either of the other two would come in around the price of the MXL 990 Stereo.
Part 2:
ReplyDeletePractical considerations are 1) These mics will be used for recording and playing back practice session, not for live performance, and 2) whatever playback equipment (powered speaker) I get with my $200 price limit won't pick up anything below 60hz anyway. So unless I'm always listening through my Grado phones, the higher level of rumble of the MXL 990 stereo will not be heard.
So, everything considered, I think the MXL 990 Stereo is my favorite for my purposes. I realize this test was "Clarinet-centric." But I've heard enough "voice-centric", "percussion-centric", "guitar-centric" etc. reviews to kill a mule. And I have learned that there is no one mic that is best for all instruments and voices. But among the ones I tested, the MXL 990 Stereo appears to be the best for clarinet and the conditions under which I will be playing back the recordings.
Comments and observations, anyone?
I have one additional observation, and it is probably related more to the Tascam than to the mics. The rumble that I heard that I referred to above was only heard through the audio out jack of my HP Pavillion dm1 laptop and not through the audio out of the Tascam. Either the Tascam out lacks low end, or the laptop is superior on its low end output. But all mics are dead silent in the "rumble" department when listening through phones directly from the Tascam.
Further thoughts on driving my Grado headphones with the Tascam recorder:
ReplyDeleteAs I think about the difference in sound quality between playing back these clips from the Tascam and from my laptop, the Tascam may have made the 2020 sound harsher than it really was. Instead of rendering some of the higher frequency spikes accurately, I'm thinking the Tascaam output may have distorted some of those peaks. Using the same headphones played back through my laptop, those transient distortions did not appear to be evident. Does this reflect the high HF output of the 2020 compared to the other mics tested? I'm not sure.
I just completed a comparative test of CAD GXL 2200 against the several other mics noted above. I have to say, this one sound smoother, warmer, sweeter than the others when playing my clarinet through them. They had about the same audible noise level as the MXL 990 Stereo, but in my playback environment, that will be irrelevant. I would like to hear you opinion about this mic compared to the others.
ReplyDelete