The MXL V63M condenser microphone retails for roughly $99 and is up for review. I was a bit hesitant to review this lower cost condenser mic to be honest with you. In my experience, I find that the lower cost manufacturers of these condenser mics usually try their best to make the mic look 100% professional from an aesthetic standpoint, but the quality of the sound and actual build of the mic is less than optimal.
I think from a marketing point of view, these companies realize that a good looking microphone will appeal to a budget studio owner who basically wants a condenser mic look without the standard cost of a more expensive unit. That being said, i find that the MXL V63M does an excellent job with most recording jobs and should be an excellent addition to a smaller studio (home or otherwise) that is in need of a cheap workhorse.
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I first unwrapped and plugged in the MXL V63M Studio Condenser with my Digi 02 Pro Tools rig. I did a few vocal demos and was stunned at the bass response and overall clarity, which frankly rivals some of the more expensive mics on the market today (Rode comes to mind). Very useful sound. Next I tried some acoustic guitar miking and was again surprised by the overall clean, warm, and rich reproduction of sound delivered by the MXL V63M. I think that if you are looking for the SM57 of condenser mics, the MXL V63M may be up your musical alley. Cheers!
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Official Specs:
MXL V63M Studio Condenser Microphone Features:
Large 1" diaphragm
6 micron thick diaphragm for high sensitivity and detailed recordings
Wired with Mogami wire for added clarity
Balanced, transformerless output for low noise
Heavy-duty brass enclosure
30Hz-20kHz frequency response
Cardioid pickup pattern
Sensitivity: 15mV/Pa
Output impedance: 200 ohms
Max SPL: 130dB
S/N ratio: 80dB (Ref. 1 Pa, A weighted)
Power requirement: 48V phantom power
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