MXL 603s

[DogpitStudios]

I don't think I've owned a mic for long enough to give a really great review on it. The MXL 603s are some of the mics that I've had the longest, and I own quite a few of them. I'd have to say I've probably used this on the most applications out of all my mics (57s aside) and I can give a short description.

They have a boost somewhere around 5kHz to 20kHz. Its not more than a 3 db peak I believe though, and it doesn't really show. They are small diaphragm condensers so they pick up in a very "accurate" way... I don't exactly know what I mean by that, but its the characteristic that makes them good as drum overheads. I've found that they work very well as drum overheads for funk, or jazz drums where the drums call for less loud dynamics and busy cymbal-work. I've found that they sound too overpowered when close to the drum set, and much better from a higher distance, where they pick up a bit more of the rooms sound. They also sound incredible on toms. Something about them picks up a rich tone with a clear attack and loud forward resonance. I haven't tried them of snare top or bottom yet, but I plan on it when I go back to re-record some of my drums.

They sound great when close micing acoustic guitars. They make the guitars stick out a lot more in a mix, and make a thin acoustic sound powerful. I've only really tried them on vocals a few times, but they seem to give the vocals I have tried a very present sound. That kind of "in your face sound". Unfortunately the small diaphragm is a nightmare for pops and silibance.

They sound thin on all the guitar cabs and amps I've tried, and I haven't yet tried it on a bass amp.

When I miced a sax the one time with a 603, the mic didn't pick up the body of the horn but help gain a nice rich yet overpowering tone. I reached for an LDC and was fine.

Overall this is one of my favorite mics, and is a good pick for $100. They are very popular for start up drum overheads.

Ben

[TimRP]

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Marshall-MXL...QQcmdZViewItem

And now you can get omni capsules that work on the 603's.

[brandondrury]

It sounds like this mic may be worth checking out for the price. My only small diaphram condensers are the Oktava MK012s (or is it MC012s). They are pretty cool, but I don't use them that often. There is a mod available that makes them sound a lot more like a SDC is supposed to sound, but I never took the time to do it.

Anyway, it sounds like this MXL is worth looking at. I'd love to do a SDC shootout with something like this MXL, my Oktava, and maybe a Neuman KM84 or something.

Great article / review, Dogpitstudios. Keep it up!

Brandon

[guitar junkie]

I almost got a pair of those once....

Now i use a set of matched Karma Audio K Micro units....


for like $20 for a matched pair they ROCK!

[DogpitStudios]

My only small diaphram condensers are the Oktava MK012s (or is it MC012s). They are pretty cool, but I don't use them that often.

I hear that the MK012s sound very similar to these MXLs. I don't own the MK012s and have never had the chance to play around with them, but they seem to have some specification similarities. I'd love to hear a shoot out between the two aswell.

Ben

[brandondrury]

The MK012s can get boomy and boxy. I know the proximity effect is always a bitch with small diaphram condensors but these have an extra little 300Hz thing that bugs me.

I wish I had time to mod them because the mod I heard made them sound just a little bit clearer.

I think my issues with the MK012s could be room stuff. For whatever reason, the Mk012s on overheads have this way of getting very boxy when compared to some of my large diaphram condensors. I'm not sure if this is the design of the mic or just me not having any other SDCs to compare them to.

Brandon

[dach]

I definitely prefer the Oktava's over the MXL's... but that being said, the 603's might be decent, they just weren't for me.... forget about specs for the most part... can they work for you? If so, go ahead and do great things... if the great things you do... "happen to pay", then you may want to consider upgrading... if not enjoy... they're definitely better than some of the stuff I had a long time ago!