Microphones MXL 990/991

Thank you RobertB for the recommendation to get the MXL microphones. Wow, what a difference! I just did my first vocal with the 990 and it blew my other mic (which was twice as expensive) out of the water! I'm going to pull out the condensor mic next to record some guitar work. I expect I'll get the same results. It defiinitely wasn't Firebox that was the issue. I am going to try it in PowerTracks though to see if there was a software issue there.

One thing is I didn't realize that it didn't come with the shock mount. Should I get one? Is it for the 990 only? Are these generic or do I have to order specifically for the MXL? I hate to order a small item from Musicians Friends cause shipping is around $35 plus I have to pay local taxes when it gets here, another 13% (got surprised with that one).

Thanks again.

Nutty

Yeah mics are a whole separate area of study, I'm finding out. My Studio Projects B1 came with the shock mount, which doesn't fit on anything I've got laying around, but seems to work great sitting on a small egg crate thing I've got - it has holes in it so the cable goes through nice and secure. I worry a little bit about how I'm travelling around so much with it already and I don't want to disassemble the shock mount from the mic and repack in original box all the time - that mount is on there like cement too, fits super tight. So I'm gonna try to rig up a special carry-bag for it that can give it protection when I travel.
I don't know that you'd need it unless you have to mount it on a stand (not sure what your setup is) but as long as it sets steady and doesn't wobble and pick up noise/vibration problems, maybe you won't need one. I know what you mean about shipping costs, I get hit with the same thing - maybe wait till you end up ordering some other items and then remember to toss in that little piece too.

My 990 came with shock mounts.

comes in handy at the end of all my recordings when i flail and smash my equiptment.

I bought my condenser when i bought my behringer hand mikes, i love it, but that dude will surely pick up any noise in the area!! I bought an AT 2020 it is so sweet with my Presonus Preamp

So far, Greg, the only time they have failed me is when I forget to turn on the phantom power.
The packaging is kind of funny on these. If you buy the 990 by itself, you get the shock mount, but if you buy the set, you just get the case and the regular mounts.
I have mine mounted on booms, which keeps the stand out of the way, so I don't have to worry about bumping it, and it makes it easy to position the mics for recording acoustic guitar, which was my prime focus.

Nutty,
They are both condensers, which is why you need the phantom power. The 991 is a bit brighter than the 990, and that's why I use it at the 12th fret, and the 990 at the bridge for acoustic guitar.
Experiment. These are very nice mics for the money, and I'm glad you are happy with them.

on the contrary, condensor mics are TYPICALLY used for recording vocals. dynamic mics are typically used for live performances and for drums, and there are some who like to use dynamics like the SM57 for instruments although a lot of instruments are recorded using SD condensors like the 991.

Actually my SP B1 condensor is very similar and even though I have a floor stand/boom, I don't use it for that very reason - floor pickup is horrendous. Instead, I have mine mounted on a tiny egg crate thing which then sits on a thick towel, up on my studio desk. Now that I have a laptop rather than PC, I don't have the fan noise issue and so far the setup works really well. But I try to give it all the cushioning I can.