Whenever audio equipment is made out of steel, I’m always a big fan, and the MXL R144 seems well-constructed to me. One of the primary reasons why ribbon microphones have largely decreased in popularity, to the point where they aren’t really mentioned that much anymore, is because of their price and sensitivity. The MXL R144 and other ribbon microphones are known, primarily, for their great mid-range tone, which tends to be quite warm and nice. Condenser mics tend to be much brighter than Ribbon mics. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. A ribbon mic, I would say, is for someone who wants to do spoken word recordings or record guitar parts with a vintage sound. Please note: Damage to the ribbon is not covered by the warranty, and there will be a charge for a replacement. ... Phantom power is not required, and indeed is not recommended, as many ribbon mics can sustain damage if plugged into or unplugged from a phantom-powered connection with the power on. They’re known for their darkness, and the MXL R144 is no exception. The shockmount is surprisingly good considering it came with the microphone. 1) Connect your Audio Interface to your computer using a USB to Firewire cable and a USB to USB-C adaptor. How to pan guitars in the mix, whether it's rock, jazz, or another genre. 3) Run the XLR cable into the Audio interface and into your mic. I’ve been using this software for a few years now and this site is a compilation of everything I’ve learned. Furthermore, similar to a cardioid dynamic microphone, ribbon microphones tend to be directional, which means they’re great at avoiding noise bleed from the environment. When looking at performers, podcasters, YouTubers, and beat-makers, you’ll notice they pretty much always use either a condenser mic or a dynamic mic. Additionally, I earn a commission through each purchase made on Amazon from one of my links, MXL R144 – The Best Budget Ribbon Microphone, link to How To Pan Guitars in the Mix (Electric, Acoustic, and More), link to How to Make Guitars Sound Better in Garageband. The MXL R144 Ribbon Mic – back MXL R144 Ribbon Mic Pickup Pattern: Regardless, there definitely is a difference between the front and back of the mic. It would be much wiser to get a dynamic mic or a condenser mic for the sake of versatility. Just something to consider. 2) Set up your mic stand and your shock mount with the mic inside of it. Unfortunately, I don’t have a mic stand in my possession at the moment, but regardless, you can see how it’s hooked up in the image below: All things considered, the MXL R144 is not the type of microphone that you buy if you plan on only have one microphone at your disposal. Ribbon mics have what’s called a figure-8 polar pattern, which means they’re picking up on sound from the front and the back, so if one were to create a diagram of what the microphone is actually doing, it would look a lot like the image below. It’s worth mentioning that the MXL R144 will probably be a good option for brass instruments like saxophones and trumpets. How to Make Guitars Sound Better in Garageband. ( Log Out /  it seems everywhere I look people are screaming to tell you NOT to use phantom power...like the world will end if I do. The MXL R144’s packaging is pretty top-notch. I put the word, “Cons,” in the sub-title because many of these are simply features of a ribbon mic, so it’s hard to say it’s a con related to the particular brand and model. In other words, ribbon microphones are great for spot-micing guitars and amplifiers, because it accentuates the sound coming directly into the microphone when positioned properly, while at the same time, avoiding the emphasis of sound from the side. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Regardless, one of the main criticisms of this particular model is the build quality, which some people take issue with. It’s really quite impressive that the mic carries the cheap price that it does, because both the shock-mount and the mic itself is very high quality. Consequently, they’re great for creating a stereo signal, while at the same time, eliminating other extraneous noises in the environment. ( Log Out /  As a consequence of their structure and function, people often refer to them as “velocity microphones.”. With that said, the carrying case is perfect for its purpose. The carrying case is the weakest link here, but it’s the least important. They reproduce audio honestly, while at the same time, creating a very crisp, warm, and faithful audio recording in addition to eliminating some of those pesky high-end frequencies that you might not want. The MXL R144 is a great choice for acoustic instruments, guitars, brass, and vocal performances. The front-back polar pattern picks up on the sounds from the front and back and eliminates those from the side. Change ), Mellow sound with a rich midrange and rolled-off top end. Things have changed a lot since then. Setting up an MXL R144 is the same as pretty much any other microphone, HOWEVER, and this is a big “however,” you have to ensure that you don’t run phantom power through it, because you will destroy the ribbon. Microphone placement in the case of the ribbon microphone is quite important, so keep that in mind. Ribbon Microphone . Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The fact it comes with the very solid carrying case alone is a nice touch. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Frequency Response Requires Phantom Power No Polar Pattern Figure of 8 Key Features Mellow sound with a rich midrange and rolled-off top end Purchase From As people grew accustomed to them, they became known for creating a softer high-frequency response than some of the other microphones on the market. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ribbon-microphones/mxl-r144-ribbon-microphone. For that reason, I argue that the MXL R144 is easily one of the best ribbon microphones because it’s not going to crush your bank account, but you’re also going to get a solid taste of what a ribbon microphone is capable of. Like all ribbon microphones, it’s extremely sensitive, especially for plosives. ( Log Out /  I accidentally turned the phantom power on my r144 before even testing it out, it is working but how do I know if i damaged the ribbon? Ribbon microphones have largely fallen out of favor over the last 50 years, due to the fact that phantom-powered condenser microphones became a lot cheaper in the 1970s. With that said, the internal ribbon (which gives it its name) is very thin and sensitive, so users have to be careful when handling them because they’re quite delicate. Setting up an MXL R144 is the same as pretty much any other microphone, HOWEVER, and this is a big “however,” you have to ensure that you don’t run phantom power through it, because you will destroy the ribbon. Rather than using a coil of wire as a diaphragm like dynamic microphones often use, a ribbon microphone has inside it a thin strip of metal that’s used for the conversion of sound energy into electrical energy. Ribbon microphones are known for their natural sound, without producing so much detail that it almost becomes a disadvantage, which is a common complaint among condenser microphone users, especially some of the cheaper ones on the market. Furthermore, ribbon microphones, and also the MXL R144, are quite dark, which may be a turn-off to most people getting into recording vocals because over the years, people have grown so accustomed to a brighter high-range sound. Product Size: 30.5 x 20.3 x 10.2 cm (1.85″ x 6.75″). The MXL R144 is made out of all metal, including the grille, but it has a bit of leeway. Published May 2011. The owner of Producer Society is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, and amazonwireless.com. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. As I mentioned above, ribbon microphones tend to be quite expensive, and Garageband and other DAW users tend to be the type of people who are just taking their first steps into the world of music production, recording, podcasting, and audio engineering. It’s definitely worth mentioning again that all ribbon microphones are incredibly delicate, so if you drop this thing, it might break and ruin it completely. You can see that the way in which it picks up sound looks a lot like a figure-8. They were first introduced in the 1920s, which also explains why, if you’ve ever looked at old school performers, like from the 1950s, they always had a ribbon microphone of some kind. If your guitars don't sound as good as you want them too, this article explores some tactics you can try out. In other words, if your press on it, it’s not completely solid, which is actually a good thing because then if you bang it off something, it will just bounce right off, rather than create a nasty dent. So if you’re looking for the MXL R144 to serve all your needs, then you’re making a mistake. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A ribbon microphone uses the velocity of air movement to create electrical audio signals, in contrast to the condenser microphone, which uses sound pressure against the capsule of the condenser microphone to create audio signals. If you were to compare an MXL R144 to the Audio Tehnica 2035 Condenser microphone, you’ll notice right away that the MXL R144 is much, much warmer. An MXL R144 Ribbon microphone is for reproducing more of the warm, soft, vintage sound of the 1950s and before-hand. Ribbon mics are pretty good at recording electric guitars, but they definitely have a tendency to create thicker low-mids, especially when using amp overdrive. For that reason, I’d say it’s a great option if you’re looking to get some 1940s or 1950s vibes. How To Pan Guitars in the Mix (Electric, Acoustic, and More). did I just ruin the ribbon? ( Log Out /  Again, this isn’t an issue with the MXL R144, per say, it’s just a common feature of the standard ribbon mic. Lastly, you must NOT run phantom power through this mic as this can permanently damage it. The MXL R144 Ribbon microphone uses an aluminum ribbon transducer which by nature is a … It’s important to use a shockmount and a stand when using the MXL R144 because if the cable bumps against your leg, or you tap on the bottom of the mic with your finger, the mic will pick up on it. Make sure to check out the YouTube video below to see what I’m talking about here. However, if you’re still in the market for a ribbon microphone, there is an option for you to try out: The MXL R144 is arguably the most valuable ribbon microphone for Garageband users, due to its relative quality and cheap price. I’m Andrew and I run Producer Society. If you want a dark, warm, smooth-sounding microphone, then the MXL R144 is definitely for you. Microphones / Miking; By Paul White. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. You can check out the price of one on Amazon here. How To Set Up The MXL R144. power to the microphone as it can permanently damage the ribbon element. Also, you absolutely cannot run phantom power through a ribbon microphone, because it will destroy it. Personally, I think that it’s made extremely well. You should always double-check to make sure that your audio interface phantom power is off before connecting the R144. In other words, if you are going to use one of these bad boys, you should either have a pop-filter or understand how to use a mic with 100% certainty. It’s hard to say why they designed it this way. Site is a great choice for acoustic instruments, guitars, brass, and there will a... 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