Tag Archives: Microphones

MXL Microphones

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Mxl which had previously concentrated on professional audio products has begun to develop consumer level products. They have four Categories of microphones that they showed off at CES 2013.

The first category is the traditional microphone which is a condenser microphone. It is made for vocal live performances and studio work. This microphone is being refined but there’s nothing really new coming out on it.

The second category is the audio microphones for video. These microphones allow you to produce professional audio for professional video. Anyone who has watched a video with bad audio knows that good video means nothing with bad audio. The DSLR audio kit includes a wireless audio transmitter and receiver which is specifically made to record with a DSLR. It runs at 500 mg range which is a high enough range that it is noise resistant. It can run on either chargeable batteries or AA batteries. These batteries are user replaceable. It has a hot shoe adapter that goes on top of the DSLR. There is a lavalier mic included or you can use an XLR microphone. The kit also includes a shotgun mic that sits on top of the camera. There is both a wireless and wired version of the microphone. All controls are easily accessible. The total set runs $399 and is available through the MXL website.

The third category of microphones is a USB vocal microphone. These microphones are made to be used with tablets, desktops or laptops. They look like traditional desktop microphone. They are omnidirectional and are made for vocal recording to applications such as GarageBand. These microphones were made with podcasters in mind.

The final category was about pro audio for web-chat. This microphone is made specifically for web chat in an office environment. It is a boundary mic that sits on the desktop. It picks up audio in front of it up to 25 feet radius and locks the sound coming from the back. At this point time it is a wired mic however they are working on a 2.4 g wireless version. They decide to go with the 2.4 gig version rather than Bluetooth because the 2.4 gig version has a longer range. This microphone is specifically made to interface with a professional conference setup and not a phone. The wired version which is available now should run around $99 and the wireless version when available should be between $149 and $159. The final thing they talked about was the photographer’s essential kit. This kit includes a handheld grip where the DSL are goes on the bottom and on top is a hot shoe mount when you can put a microphone lights and a monitor. MXL is also working on a microphone that would plug directly into a smart phone either android or iPhone and then record the audio directly into the smartphone.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network and Don Baine, the Gadget Professor.

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New MXL Microphones at NAB

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NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) is this coming week April 16 through April 20 in Las Vegas. If you are attending it, you will want to stop by booth #C6419 to take a look at the new microphones that MXL will be showing off. They have three new microphones they will be emphasizing, the BCD–1 Dynamic Microphone, the MXL BCC–1 Condenser Microphone and the FR–310 Microphone for video.

The BCD–1 Dynamic Microphone has the traditional look and sound of a classic broadcast microphone. It produces natural vocal tones. It has side reject, the microphone picks up the voice in front of the microphone and rejects noise coming in from the side. This is great in a noisy room. This microphone is great for recording voice over application. It will have an MSRP of $249.95 and have the following specs.

  • Polar pattern: Cardiod
  • Dynamic
  • Frequency Response: 40 Hz–15-kHZ
  • Sensitivity:–54 dB re 1 V/Pa
  • Impedance: 600 ohms
  • Size: 157.5mm x 50.8mm / 6.2 in. x 2.0 in
  • Weight: 1.25 lb. / 567g
  • Metal Finish: Black

The MXL BCC–1 microphone is a condenser microphone. It is a side address broadcast microphone, which makes it perfect for voice over work or interviews in a controlled studio environment. It has a high level of sensitivity so it picks up even the quietest sound. It has a base roll over switch to give more clarity to lower voices. It will sell for $349.95 MSRP and will have the following features.

  • Condenser broadcast mic
  • Small-diaphragm capsule for detailed, accurate recordings
  • Tuned grill that eliminates internal reflections
  • Bass roll-off switch
  • Built in shock mount

The final microphone they are going to be showing off will be the FR–310 video microphone. It mounts on either a camcorder or DSLr camera using a shoe mount It produces a tighter and clearer sound recording. It is a shot-gun microphone and shuts out sound from the side and back. It targets sound in front of the camera by picking up patterns. The gain can be adjusted to pick up sound close up or far away. It has a bass roll off switch to remove low-frequency noise. It also has an integrated wind screen. It will have an MSRP of $149.95 and have the following specs.

  • Three-position gain switch
  • Bass roll-off (high pass filter)
  • Standard hot shoe mount
  • Up to 500 hours per AAA battery
  • Integrated foam widescreen

MXL is a division of Marshall Electronics. MXL is a leading manufacturer of consumer and professional audio products, for both recorded and live productions. If you are unable to attend NAB you can find more information about their product at their website.

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iRig Mic Cast

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First let’s look at the problem, you want a microphone you can easily carry with you everywhere you go, so that you are ready at anytime to do an interview or record a lecture. It needs to work with your iPhone or iPod Touch and it has to sound great. The solution to this problem maybe the iRig Mic Cast

The iRig Mic Cast is a small microphone that plugs directly into the headphone jack of your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, It is small enough that it can fit easily into a pocket or purse. It is a Unidirectional microphone which minimize background noise. It produces crystal clear audio quality. There is a stereo mini jack which allows you to attach a headphone enabling real-time monitoring. There is a small switch which allows you to set the recording for close up or at a distance. It has a bumper which allows it to work with most cases. There is a small stand included so you can set the iPhone or iPod Touch on a table. Two programs are included with the iRig Mac Cast, the iRig Recorder and the VocaLive. iRig recorder is an easy to use recording an editing application. VocaLive is a multi-effects processing app for the iPhone or iPod touch great for vocal musicians.

iRig Mac Cast is coming out in early spring 2012 and will be available for $39.99 through electronic and music retailers. It is made by IK Multimedia. IK Multimedia is a music technology company that has been in business since 1996. They develop music and audio software and hardware that takes advantage of today’s technology.

Blue Microphones Announces Yeti Pro & Mikey For Flip HD

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John Maier from Blue Microphones (www.bluemic.com) introduces the Yeti Pro USB 24-bit 92k microphone, which retails for $249. Maier also introduces a Mikey model that works with current Flip camera models that are equipped with a Flip Port. The new Mikey Flip product should be available by Spring 2011 and will retail for $69 dollars. The Mikey flip brings some needed audio improvement to the flip video camera and I really look forward to it’s availability.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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HHB Flash Mic DRM85

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HhbI have been looking for something like this for a while but when I saw the price on the unit of $1229.00 I about fell over. The plan was to possibly use a mic like this at CES but man for that price I could upgrade to the next model in the Marantz line.

 How can this company justify this price tag on this unit? If they would have brought the pricing in line with most of the digital recorders out there aka around $600.00 then that would have been a little easier to swallow. There has to be some alternative products out their anyone have any suggestions. [HHB Flash Mic]