Recording - April 2021 - 10

A Family of Microphones Compared

The Mojave MA Series
By Paul Vnuk Jr.

Stylish new looks and a broad
palette of inspired classic sounds

MA-1000DS. Each model is designed in the US and manufactured overseas, but in a unique twist, many US-made
components are shipped overseas for assembly.

Last month we relaunched our recurring feature, A Family
of...Compared, spotlighting product lines that continue to be
valued studio tools, whether they be one, five, or even ten or
more years in production. Last issue, we did a deep dive into
the Audio-Technica ATH-Mx line of headphones. This month,
we look at the beautifully evolved Mojave MA series of large
diaphragm condenser microphones. 

Scott Dorsey offered readers the first look at Mojave Audio
mics in his January 2007 review of the MA-200. Dave Martin put the MA-201fet through its paces in December 2009.
I reviewed the MA-300 in January 2012. Next came the entry-level MA-50 in November 2016, followed by the flagship
Mojave MA-1000 in October 2017. The MA-301fet makes
its RECORDING debut here. We've made most of the original reviews available for download at www.recordingmag.
com/family-compared/mojave-ma-series

The Mojave Audio Family

Mojave Audio is a partnership of engineers Dusty Wakeman and Colin Liebich, showcasing the condenser mic designs of David Royer, who is known for reigniting the ribbon
mic revolution with Royer Labs-his 'other mic company'. 
Mojave Audio was born in 1985 in Fullerton, CA as a
garage-based, one-person custom shop for designing, building, and modifying custom audio devices. The prototype
Royer R-121 (now the longtime worldwide gold standard for
ribbon mics in its class) sported the Mojave name. The ribbon-focused Royer Labs got off the ground first, and then in
2005, David Royer returned to the world of condenser mics
with the Mojave Audio MA-200-and the rest is history.
The Mojave line currently consists of the MA-50BLK, MA200SN, MA-201fetVG, MA-300SN, MA-301fetVG and the

10 RECORDING April 2021

RECORDING History

Now in living color

Each MA series mic shares the same thick and heavy
brass 7 5/8 " X 2 " body except for the MA-1000, which at
8 1/8 " is taller and features stylish side vents. Originally,
all models were finished in black, but now each mic sports
a different color: Desert Sand for the MA-1000DS, Satin
Nickel (SN) for the tube-based mics, Vintage Gray (VG) for
the FET models, and black for the MA-50BK. Red Mojave
badges adorn the tube models and black badges call out
the solid state mics.
For this roundup, Mojave sent me four mics, with the
multi-pattern MA-300 and MA-301fet representing the otherwise identical cardioid-only MA-200 and MA-201fet.


https://www.recordingmag.com/family-compared/mojave-ma-series https://www.recordingmag.com/family-compared/mojave-ma-series

Recording - April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - April 2021

No label
Fade In
Fast Forward
A Family of Microphones Compared: The Mojave MA Series
Plugin Outlet: Baby Audio Spaced Out
Singer/Songwriters and Producers: The Relationship
OWC: Mercury Elite Pro Dual USB-C Drive Enclosure with 3-Port Hub
Earthworks: Icon and Icon Pro USB and XLR Streaming Microphones
ELECTRONIC OBSERVATIONS and SOLILOQUIES for the modern world: Steven Wilson’s THE FUTURE BITES
Audix: A133 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Plugin Outlet: PSP Audioware InfiniStripFIRE
Inside the Box with Joe Albano—Loops: Songwriters’ Little Helper
PreSonus: ATOM SQ Hybrid Controller
Soundware Showcase: Toontrack Electronic Edge EZX
Session Log: The Angel Headed Hipster—Part 4: Producer Hal Willner: A Tribute
MXL: Revelation Mini FET
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby—Songwriters In The Wild: When Creativity Strikes
Soundware Showcase: Spitfire Audio Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations
Focal: Clear Mg Professional Headphones
Readers’ Tracks
Sennheiser: MD 445 Supercardioid and MD 435 Cardioid Dynamic Handheld Microphones
Recording - April 2021 - No label
Recording - April 2021 - Cover1
Recording - April 2021 - Cover2
Recording - April 2021 - 1
Recording - April 2021 - 2
Recording - April 2021 - 3
Recording - April 2021 - Fade In
Recording - April 2021 - 5
Recording - April 2021 - 6
Recording - April 2021 - 7
Recording - April 2021 - Fast Forward
Recording - April 2021 - 9
Recording - April 2021 - A Family of Microphones Compared: The Mojave MA Series
Recording - April 2021 - 11
Recording - April 2021 - 12
Recording - April 2021 - 13
Recording - April 2021 - 14
Recording - April 2021 - 15
Recording - April 2021 - Plugin Outlet: Baby Audio Spaced Out
Recording - April 2021 - 17
Recording - April 2021 - Singer/Songwriters and Producers: The Relationship
Recording - April 2021 - 19
Recording - April 2021 - 20
Recording - April 2021 - 21
Recording - April 2021 - OWC: Mercury Elite Pro Dual USB-C Drive Enclosure with 3-Port Hub
Recording - April 2021 - 23
Recording - April 2021 - Earthworks: Icon and Icon Pro USB and XLR Streaming Microphones
Recording - April 2021 - 25
Recording - April 2021 - ELECTRONIC OBSERVATIONS and SOLILOQUIES for the modern world: Steven Wilson’s THE FUTURE BITES
Recording - April 2021 - 27
Recording - April 2021 - 28
Recording - April 2021 - 29
Recording - April 2021 - 30
Recording - April 2021 - 31
Recording - April 2021 - 32
Recording - April 2021 - 33
Recording - April 2021 - 34
Recording - April 2021 - 35
Recording - April 2021 - Audix: A133 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Recording - April 2021 - 37
Recording - April 2021 - Plugin Outlet: PSP Audioware InfiniStripFIRE
Recording - April 2021 - 39
Recording - April 2021 - Inside the Box with Joe Albano—Loops: Songwriters’ Little Helper
Recording - April 2021 - 41
Recording - April 2021 - 42
Recording - April 2021 - 43
Recording - April 2021 - PreSonus: ATOM SQ Hybrid Controller
Recording - April 2021 - 45
Recording - April 2021 - Soundware Showcase: Toontrack Electronic Edge EZX
Recording - April 2021 - 47
Recording - April 2021 - Session Log: The Angel Headed Hipster—Part 4: Producer Hal Willner: A Tribute
Recording - April 2021 - 49
Recording - April 2021 - 50
Recording - April 2021 - 51
Recording - April 2021 - MXL: Revelation Mini FET
Recording - April 2021 - 53
Recording - April 2021 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby—Songwriters In The Wild: When Creativity Strikes
Recording - April 2021 - 55
Recording - April 2021 - 56
Recording - April 2021 - 57
Recording - April 2021 - Soundware Showcase: Spitfire Audio Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations
Recording - April 2021 - 59
Recording - April 2021 - Focal: Clear Mg Professional Headphones
Recording - April 2021 - 61
Recording - April 2021 - Readers’ Tracks
Recording - April 2021 - 63
Recording - April 2021 - 64
Recording - April 2021 - 65
Recording - April 2021 - 66
Recording - April 2021 - 67
Recording - April 2021 - Sennheiser: MD 445 Supercardioid and MD 435 Cardioid Dynamic Handheld Microphones
Recording - April 2021 - 69
Recording - April 2021 - 70
Recording - April 2021 - 71
Recording - April 2021 - 72
Recording - April 2021 - Cover3
Recording - April 2021 - Cover4
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