Item: MXL R144 Ribbon Microphone
Price: £129 (UK), $99 (US)
Quick Singer Assessment:
The MXL R144 produces a pleasant vintage sound at a low cost when compared to top quality ribbon mics. But it’s not the best choice if you want your voice to cut through a mix.
At a Glance
MXL’s R144 is a low-cost ribbon microphone designed for studio use. Unlike typical studio condenser microphones, ribbon mics produce a much warmer vintage sound that some vocalists prefer. It incorporates a figure-8 polar pattern and is shipped with a shock-mount, carrying case, cleaning cloth, manual and application guide.
High Notes
Top quality ribbon microphones can cost upwards of $1000, so at $99 the MXL R144 is quite a bargain if you want to experiment with the tonal character that they have to offer. On vocals it produces a warm sound with a slight bass boost and un-hyped top end that would work well for jazz singers or singers performing very soft acoustic arrangements. It also works well on brass instruments and bluesy electric guitar sounds; with some EQ it can even produce reasonable results on acoustic guitar.
Off Pitch
Like most ribbon microphones, the R144 has a fairly low output and will require a good quality preamp with plenty of gain to get the best out of it. (NOTE: ribbon microphones do not require phantom power and can be damaged if fed a phantom power signal from your preamp.) The mic is quite prone to plosives – so a double pop filter may be required for some singers. The figure-8 polar pattern probably won’t suit vocalists recording in untreated small rooms.
Audio-Savvy Reviewer Says…
The MXL R144 produces a pleasant vintage sound that will work great in some styles, however if you need a microphone that will help your voice cut through a thick mix or provide pop-like sparkly high frequencies, then this isn’t the mic for you. If you already own a quality condenser microphone and fancy trying something a bit different, the MXL R144 is certainly worth checking out. – Chris Kennedy
Manufacturer’s Website: www.mxlmics.com
More on Mics for Singers
A Typical Gear List for Recording Vocals
5 Top Vocal Recording Microphones under $1000
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Chris Kennedy is a songwriter, producer multi-instrumentalist and freelance journalist from the UK. He has performed extensively over Europe and written and produced over a dozen albums. Chris also has a passion for music technology and was the principal product reviewer and tech expert of the original Voice Council magazine.
