ProAudio Review - January 2009 - (Page 38)

studio mini-reviews Other than hearing the sonic results of its transduction, it’s arguable that nothing enamors a passionate tracking engineer more than holding an attractive and wellbuilt large-diaphragm condenser microphone. By ear and by touch, the MXL V88 ($199) is as alluring as many of its pricier peers in its product category. The cardioid V88 is a pressure-gradient condenser featuring a 32mm capsule and gold-sputtered six-micron diaphragm, internally wired with Mogami cable. It is compact and flexible — less than 6 inches long with a great shock mount — and comes in a durable aluminum “flight-lite” case. Two V88s came into my world and sat in place of microphones that I didn’t think could, or really should, be replaced. In testing them, I tried the V88s on vocals, stringed acoustic instruments, drums and percussion of all types, amplifiers, room/ambient applications, etc. — most every source I acoustically record on a regular basis. by Strother Bullins MXL V88 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone everywhere I placed them. They often sounded much better than costlier mics that I have used for years on particular sound sources. Used singularly or as a pair, these V88s never sounded uncomfortably “forward” or brittle (as some in the new generation of affordable large-diaphragm condenser microphones can and do), and, most often, they effectively revealed the rich sweetness of those sound sources possessing such qualities. My favorite application was a spaced stereo pair on drum kit. Talk about a big, classic rock sound! I recommend the V88 for anyone who wants a very good, very flexible, largediaphragm cardioid condenser with a limited budget. As a matter of fact, considering the low advertised street price I’ve seen for the V88, the best move would be to bite the bullet and buy two. You’ll want to use them as a pair. Capable of handling 138 dB maximum SPL with a relatively flat frequency response, they worked well nearly C ontac t: MXL Microphones www.mxlmics.com Solid State Logic Mynx Solid State Logic’s Mynx is the desktop box that can satisfy the last of us pro audio types with the longstanding belief that an SSL work surface is effectively the holy grail but also lack the financial ability to afford one. It is a mini SSL XLogic SuperAnalogue X-Rack system chassis (without Total Recall) with a list price of $400. [The X-Rack system was originally reviewed by Steve Murphy for a two-part PAR series in our December 2007 and January 2008 issues — Ed.] Physically, Mynx is an industrialstrength enclosure of 4mm extruded aluminum with 4” X 7.5” X 7.2” dimensions and a two X-Rack Module capacity. Mynx is built by the same blokes that build all the other SuperAnalogue gear, and at that same standard of quality. Any two standard X-Rack modules — VHD Input, Mic Amp, SuperAnalogue EQ, SuperAnalogue Dynamics, Four Channel Input, Eight Channel Input, Master Bus, the new E Series EQ, or the new E Series Dynamics — or one G Series Stereo Bus Compressor will fill the Mynx. Mynx I/O resides on the back of your selected modules, and an external power supply provides the juice. Loading the Mynx with a card or two is as simple as using a small hex wrench and as many as eight Strother Bullins is the Reviews & Features Editor for Pro Audio Review and a regular contributor to Audio Media. 38 ProAudioReview | January 2009 www.proaudioreview.com http://www.mxlmics.com http://www.proaudioreview.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - January 2009

ProAudio Review - January 2009 Contnets Technically Speaking New At NAMM: Studio Opinion: Studio Sense Feature: PAR Session Trials: Large-Diaphragm Microphones Review and Second Opinion: McDSP TDM Emerald Pack III featuring FutzBox PAR Contributor Of The Month Review: Audio-Technica AT2050 Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone Review: LaChapell Model 583s Microphone Preamp & Model 583e Microphone Preamp/EQ Review: RNDigital D4 Plug-In Mini Review: MXL Microphones V88 Large-Diaphragm Microphone Mini Review: Solid State Logic Mynx New at NAMM: Live New Live Products Opinion: Worship Audio PAR Recommends: Portable PA Options for 2009 Mini Review: Fishman SoloAmp Review: AKG D 40 Instrument Microphone Installation Profile: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC Single Slice

ProAudio Review - January 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.