It’s capable of delivering rich and vibrant sounds. That means you won’t get any distortion when recording strings, pianos, or voices. And while I should clarify that it’s not, it can work just as good as pricey items. This is a studio instrument microphone with an XLR connector. The sensitivity also delivers excellent results. MXL 990 Complete Bundle Pop Filter/Shockmount Kit The MXL 990 Complete Bundle consists of the legendary 990 microphone with new SMP-1 integrated dual pop filter and … We took them from MXL’s official page. That means you need an interface to plug it into your computer. They are more fragile than dynamic mics, but they can capture higher-quality sound, extra details, extra volume, and accuracy. That means they can reject sound coming from the back and the sides. I recommend using a pop filter, a mic stand, and a shock mount. At first glance, two things strike immediately—first, its price is very low for a condenser microphone. However, it doesn’t reach noiseless levels as more expensive alternatives would. The next feature it has is a large diaphragm. Impedance: 200 ohms 7. That said, we don’t expect to find condenser mics below the double-zero mark. Here’s a demo video on the 990 recording an acoustic guitar: Cardioid mics have a forward pickup pattern. It makes it work with guitars just as much as basses, albeit it will always punch the high-end frequency sounds. That’s why they are the go-to choice for guitar amps. The circuit is MXL’s version of the famous Schoeps transformerless circuit, which uses a FET input and a pair of bipolar transistors to produce a balanced output without a transformer. You would use it on guitar cabinets, acoustic guitars, pianos, keyboards, and such, though. The MXL 990 is a small-diaphragm, fixed-cardioid, transformerless FET condenser with an externally-biased 17mm gold diaphragm (in a 22mm-diameter capsule). Also, it comes with a gain knob to quickly adjust your voice levels as you speak. It’s capable of producing rich quality for voice-overs, podcasts, streams, radion, and interviews. Moreover, it has an increased dynamic range. On that same note, the MXL 990 uses a low-noise FTE preamp that still lets some noise through. Bear in mind that. That said, we must focus on its capsule. Frequency Response: 30 Hz – 20 kHz 4. The model comes with the brand’s XENYX preamp system that comes with built-in +48V phantom power. Two studio condenser microphones are included. Another thing to note is its low-noise preamp. Gold-sputtered diaphragms create a professional sound Perfect for digital and analog recording The second most prominent characteristic of the item is it’s aesthetic. Most sound sources belong in this part of the chart, which includes most human voices. The preamp circuitry is the same in both mics, although the stereo version presumably has two of everything. Still, you can work around this drawback. The MXL 990 requires 48V phantom power (± 4V). For example, the MXL 990 can adequately record the drum’s cymbals. We may link to products if we deem helpful to the reader. MXL conference microphones are also perfect for any meeting room or web chat service that places voice calls over the internet (VoIP). Diaphragm: 6 micron gold-sputtered 3. The MXL 990/MXL 991 Recording Mic Package is your one-stop mic kit for vocals, drum overheads, acoustic guitars, and more! For example, room echo sounds will become noticeable. The MXL 990 is a budget-friendly condenser mic that can work for gamers, podcasts, streamers, voice-over professionals, and entry-level/intermediate music producers. Moreover, it has two XLR ports, which can serve as both instrument or microphone stations. Because of its price, it’s a common item in many audio studios. The boom arm has a built-in pop filter, which cancels the plosive sounds from your voice-overs (like those coming from the “Ps” or whispers). However, the MXL 990 captures a great deal of room sound from the back. Such sounds would disappear on USB or dynamic mics. Large capsules capture mid-low frequency range sounds instead. It’s able to deliver a crystal clear sound quality while packing a zero-latency headphone port to hear you in real-time. Most sound sources belong in this part of the chart, which includes most human voices. Other interfaces can record at 96kHZ or 192kHz. In particular, it has a 22mm condenser capsule with a low-noise FET preamp. Lastly, I should note it doesn’t have any buttons or knobs in its body. Here’s a video review of the Behringer UM2 interface: Most people would describe the sound the MXL 990 records as “warm” and “vintage,” almost like coming from a tubular guitar amp. Large capsules capture mid-low frequency range sounds instead. The item stands as one of the most popular options on online retailers due to its price tag vs. value proposition. The 990 offers a silky, sweet high end and a tight solid bass, perfect for recording vocals; and the 991 is a superior instrument microphone designed for recording acoustic guitar and drum overheads. As for drums, though, you would be better off with other choices. However, the applications of the MXL 990 is beyond what a USB mic can do, though. That said, the mid-range is right and full, which is impressive for a budget mic. I have to make a point about its 130dB SPL rating. as it requires +48V phantom power. In between, there’re acoustic guitars, keyboards, electric guitars, and similar. That said, the microphone adds a significant boost to mid-range frequency sounds. If no sound is picked up by the microphone, make sure that the phantom power on your mixer or separate power supply is switched on. Other than that, its functions are very versatile. That’s a bonus for vocal recording. However, a budget audio interface should have all of the knobs you need to tweak the sound, volume, and EQ on the fly. See, smaller capsules vibrate faster than large ones, which is why they can respond better to high-frequency charts. I have to note it doesn’t deliver a natural, flat, or raw sound. Then again, that won’t be a problem if you keep the sound source close to the unit. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. A cardioid microphone can only pick up sound from the front, which means it cancels sounds from the back and the sides. 10-foot balanced XLR cable (3-pin cable for mics, speakers, amplifiers, and other audio devices). However, most people, especially beginner sound producers, wouldn’t notice a difference. Also, the UM2 works with popular DAW software like Cubase, ProTools, or FL Studio. Here are the specs. Its most basic bundle includes a mic stand adapter, a shock mount, and a carrying case. Similarly, it can’t go as low as to record the drum’s kick. Instead, it mixes sweet highs with solid mids and lows. 1. You’d need a higher SPL rating to cancel distortion overload. x 5.11 in. Signal to Noise Ratio: 80 dB (Ref. The FET solution provides a balanced output with nice high ends and focused mids and lows. The frequency response of the MXL 990 is 30HZ to 20kHz. MXL microphones can be used on stage live in concert or in a garage, home studio or rehearsal space. The sound comes out neutral, other than enhanced boost on the mid-range (extra presence).