- Mxl Usb Mic Mate Dynamic Xlr To Usb Microphone Adapter For Mac Laptop
- Mxl Usb Mic Mate Dynamic Xlr To Usb Microphone Adapter For Mac Windows 10
- Mxl Usb Mic Mate Dynamic Xlr To Usb Microphone Adapter For Mac Pro
At first glance with an XLR female connector on one end and a male USB plug on the other, it looks like all you’d need to connect a professional XLR microphone to your Mac or PC. But in reality, this XLR to USB cable does not include a preamp, meaning it doesn’t provide power to microphones that need it, as most condenser microphones do. USB Microphone Interface with Phantom Power for Condenser Microphones. Perfect for on-the-fly recordings, podcasting, VoiP, IM chat, field recordings and more, Mic Mate Classic converts any existing condenser microphone to USB. Includes studio-quality USB microphone preamp, fully balanced low-noise analog front end, and 3-position analog gain. The Mic Mate Dynamic from MXL is a simple XLR to USB adapter that was designed for use specifically with a dynamic microphone. It does not have phantom power, and is very simple in design and function. It has a gain switch with three different settings so you can use it with a variety of microphones. The Mic Mate Dynamic doesn’t require any.
When everyone was jumping on the USB mic wagon, MXL came out with one of the more sensible solutions. Their mic had a switch providing three different sensitivity settings, which enabled users to get a sensible recording level regardless of whether they were singing or playing — something that's important if you're to make the best use of the dynamic range offered by a 16- or 18-bit USB interface (which seems to be the resolution supported by the commonly available chips used in such devices).
MXL's USB Mic Mate gives you similar functionality but without the mic. It functions as a USB mic preamp for Macs and PCs, and enables you to plug in your own choice of dynamic or capacitor microphone. The Mic Mate needs no drivers, as it is recognised as a class-compliant USB device, and it retains the same Hi/Med/Low sensitivity switch as the USB microphone described earlier, as well as permanent 48 Volt phantom power (on this model — another version has been released specifically for use with dynamic mics, which has no phantom power, but offers more gain). Conversion is via a 16-bit Delta Sigma A-D chip that supports sample rates of 44.1 and 48kHz.
The interface is built into a tubular metal housing that at first glance resembles a pencil condenser mic. Closer inspection reveals a three-pin XLR input at one end and a USB connector at the other (you have to supply your own USB cable). At first I thought the device might be able to plug directly into the back of a mic, but the shroud around the XLR connector prevents this, so you'll still need to use a mic cable.
Power comes from the USB socket, so operation couldn't be simpler, and a red LED glows when the unit is connected to a USB port. There's no monitor output jack, so you'll need to record via the Mic Mate but play back through your computer's internal audio system or another audio interface. (Mac users can set up aggregate drivers that, in effect, combine the inputs and outputs of multiple audio devices, but should note that this can sometimes increase latency.)
I couldn't find any detailed technical specifications, but in spoken word tests with a typical condenser mic the Mic Mate sounded rather good, with no significant background noise. The high-sensitivity setting is suitable for this application, and for sung vocals, but if you work very close and sing loudly, the medium setting may be more appropriate.
This refreshingly simple device does exactly what it sets out to, with no fuss. The audio quality is good, but having to monitor via a different interface may create latency if aggregate drivers have to be set up. However, for recording music on the move or producing podcasts, the Mic Mate is one of the most effective, affordable solutions around.
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$79 plus shipping.
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If you are looking for a small device that can replace your recording chain then you should definitely check the MXL MIC MATE XLR To USB Preamp, a cheap device that’s specially created for standard and condenser microphones, a device that’s definitely worth the money and your curiosity. The portable USB preamp was designed with care, and it delivers so much that it appears to. Don’t get fooled by the cheap package it comes with, the Mic Mate is actually better than other solutions twice its price (or more).
Mxl Usb Mic Mate Dynamic Xlr To Usb Microphone Adapter For Mac Laptop
The body
This little gadget is no bigger than a magic marker, having only 10 x 2 x 6 inches and weighting only 4.8 ounces. You should know that Mic Mate does not with an USB cable, so you will have to buy that separately. Although the above image may be deceiving, the harsh truth is that this portable preamp is made of cast-aluminum. Even so, after reading some of the reviews written by other customers I understood that the internal components seem to be made of quality materials. A plastic case is not a big problem as long as you don’t drop it on the concrete.
Mxl Usb Mic Mate Dynamic Xlr To Usb Microphone Adapter For Mac Windows 10
The features
The Mic Mate has three settings: the low setting, the medium setting and the high setting. After testing all of them, I seem to love the high setting, since it gives me more power and my voice lays better in the mix. As I said in the beginning of this review, this XLR to USB preamp comes with Phantom Power, so you can use it with a condenser microphone. I’ve managed to test it with my AT2020 condenser mic and everything went smoothly. I can also give you a tip in this regard: if you remove the end-piece from the XLR connector, you will be able insert that connector directly into the mic, without having the XLR cable in the chain. This way, the quality of your recording gets even better, because most XLR cables add their own self-noise to the recording. Just see the image above to understand what I’m talking about. The manufacturer brags about the “studio-quality” of this microphone. Not sure about that, but the low noise analog front end does seem to be well balanced. If you decide to buy this mic you will also get the Free MXL USB Recorder Software which allows you to get a 2-Track recording out of it. After testing this great condenser mic for couple of days I’ve included it in my home studio setup, as a backup for my Audio Kontrol 1 interface.
The price
Most online shops are selling this small device for $40 – more or less. As usual, I advice you to get it from the most trusted seller of them all, Amazon.
Mxl Usb Mic Mate Dynamic Xlr To Usb Microphone Adapter For Mac Pro
Conclusion
For a device that costs only $41.99 you get a pretty decent quality. No, scrape that. The quality is better than decent, and most of the users on Amazon seem to agree with that conclusion. Having 4 out of 5 stars, you can expect for a device that will get the job done at an affordable price. This microphone is perfect for home recording studios created on tight budgets, but you can also use it in podcasts, various voice recording projects or even live music performance. I know that I’m definitively adding it to my portable home studio setup.