Pretty good for the price. Agreed that it doesn't turn sibilance into a nasty, shrill mess. Probably fine for single person podcast, maybe not the best if multiple people in the same room given that polar pattern. Thanks for educatin' and entertaining us at the same time. 👍
I tested this alongside the AT2020 and the first thing I noticed was the immediate sensitivity difference. The Mackie is way more sensitive and gets a much stronger signal when plugged directly in to a sound card with phantom power. I was using the Arturia MiniFuse 1 (which is great) with USB power. I didnt notice hardly any difference in sound quality but the sensitivity was really obvious. I kept the Mackie in the end and have been really happy with it
That mic actually sounds perfect for your vocals. I've seen a lot of your videos with more expensive mics, but that one fits great with your vocals. Not bad for $80
Overall I like it. It stacks up well against the other microphones you compared it against. With so many microphones, especially less expensive microphones, it seems like the manufacturers just ignore sibilance, and it's nice that Mackie really paid attention to sibilance with this microphone.
Absolutely great review particularly for someone like me who has no concept of the tech specs but has great ears. I was going to buy a famous name brand mic but considered others since, again, I’m no audiophile. This is one of the three I was considering, and it seemed to have the best features from the description, but I wasn’t buying a mic based on what was written about it. You didn’t just describe it as every other audio expert would that I’ve seen; you road tested it for how someone who would actually buy a cheap mic for personal use would use it, and it was both educational and entertaining. Well I’m glad you could confirm the one I plan to buy is a good choice. Thanks so much.
I want to update after owning this mic for a month. I am using it to record teaching videos. I am thrilled with it for spoken word because it sounds great through headphones. "More airy" condenser mics add room noise, which can be heard with headphones on. This one doesn't do that so easily. I took a poll of about 110, asking how they listen to online lessons. About 70% said using earbuds or headphones. Through earbuds and headphones, this mic sounds great without being fatiguing or too airy that the room noise shows up. What works best for me -- I simply add a high pass filter on it at about 80 to 90hz and maybe a little compression, and go with it. No sibilant issues. Just easy. Adding compression at about 1.65 to 1 boosts the highs just enough to wake up the mic without making it overbearing, and I end up sounding great without the darned room noise, so long as I am in a somewhat treated room with blankets around the walls where I can. I like that the Mackie can just sit on my desk under me and work really well without much fuss. Teachers can pair this with a simple and inexpensive single-input Behringer board with USB (often cheaper than a USB interface) and Bob's your uncle. Sounds better than a USB mic, also. Works well as a Zoom mic, also.
Well, just ordered it second hand (that's how low my budget is), I'll write you back after the first impressions. I wanted to thank you for your reviews, they are entertaining, very clarifying and honest and umpretentious.👍 Some of them I've watched many times, comparing sounds and your opinions, and still find them amusing. Also, it's great that you test mics both in your studio and in an untreated room, it makes your reviews more complete as it adds to the rest to gives us a wider picture. THANKS a LOT! PS: as soon as my budget fills up again, I'll support you channel, for sho! 😉
I'd have to say that lack of articulation in the brightness region can be easily fixed with a good EQ. I feel that subtractive errors in a mic's frequency curve are easier to compensate for than trying to tame sibilant highs and upper mids. Give me a laid back mic any day.
Mackie has always been great at offering a good middle ground when it comes to gear wether it is for live performances or studio applications. I appreciate your review as you hit all the areas of concern. I am a fan of Mackie for both mid grade and professional gear. I am purchasing one of these for my grandson who is just stepping into recording. Thanks again.
My opinion: There is some shrill, but it's very minimal. The NW-700 had more and the AT2020 was surprisingly even more so. The Neat Beat was noisy and sounded like it was notched in places, but not shrill, but sounded like utter crap.
Agree with pretty much everything said here, for $80, this thing sounds incredible. The AT2020 just sounds so metallic and shrill by comparison, and it has a higher price and higher noise floor. The King Bee, its garish appearance aside, I still think beats everything else in this comparison. Talk about a microphone punching way above its weight at its price point.
Hi Bandrew, thanks for making this video, mate. This microphone is one of three 'best budget mics' recommended by Paolo Balestri (the famous microphone VO channel)...the other being the Behringer B1 and the Tascam TM-80. It would be great to hear your thoughts as to which is better - or to see you do a comparison between the three. I really appreciate all your work Bandrew. Cheers, Steve.
Perfect! I've been getting asked all week what microphone I'd recommend for someone starting out on UA-cam. I told everyone to send their UA-camr questions into my Curious Cat account and so much of it is about microphones! Now I might finally have a good answer for them!
I am so far out of my league on things like this yet over the last week I've decided that it's time to try something different with my time. You're reviews are clear and to the point as well as entertaining.. That said, I found the 'starter mic' I think I wanted and sure enough you had a review for it. Long story short, this is what I ordered so thank you!
Sounds good! And the price! I have always been a fan of Mackie. Liked their studio mon, their mixers, the warm sound.... I have confidence in the quality in comparison to others in the same low price range.
In terms of spoken, EM91c is good for long-term listening like podcasts / documentary type videos. It's probably coloration, but I keep finding that I really like the Behringer C1 for music. I think I'd also prefer the sharper mic for clarity when speaking in voice calls (Zoom, discord, etc). A lot of cheap headphones (and compression) muddle sound, so I'm thinking the C1 would pull ahead.
Great video, your reviews have become a definite standard for me. I bought one of these about a week ago, very happy so far. Cant go wrong for the price i reckon, shockmount and cable in the box, bargain. R1500 here in South Africa.
Woah I really didn't expect this mic to be equal to or better than the more famous mics like the at 2020. That's pretty good for a condenser under a 100 bucks. I know you probably keep mics for a collection, but I think it would be pretty cool if you did mic give aways for your viewers so it would be cool of you considered it.
You are amazing. Your video was extremely helpful and I appreciate the links to other videos to help me create an understanding of microphone specs. I wish I could like this video multiple times. Will most definitely subscribe.
EN: It is better to lower the volume of high frequencies along with their noise when equalizing, than to increase the volume along with the noise. I prefer a brighter sound AT-2020\2035. Fortunately, these microphones have an even frequency response over the entire frequency range and do not have unpleasant high-frequency amplification. Thanks for the review! RU (Original): Лучше понижать при эквализации громкость высоких частот вместе с их шумом, чем повышать громкость вместе с шум. Предпочту более яркий звук AT-2020\2035. К счастью, эти микрофоны имеют ровную АЧХ на всем диапазоне частот и не имеют неприятного усиления высоких частот. Спасибо за обзор!
Do you think this mic can handle a low note well? I'm planning on recording an acapella song that ends with an E1, and I wanted to know if it would hold up okay. I already have this mic and the EM 89D, but the thing is that E1 is below the 50 hz and also I realized that the end response is a bit to muddy with that one so what do you think about the lows of this one?
It’s a acceptable mic condenser from Amazon, And I like sound of the mackie mic and the way you tested and demonstrated the mic. I’m having second thoughts about this Mackie mic em-91c cause I’m going for shure 58 dynamic mic but when I saw this Mackie em-91c mic, I searched on how this mic really sounds. There’s something on your vid that really explain something on this mic that I couldn’t find in other review for this mic...thanks...and keep on doing this show of yours...✌🏻
Nice, methodical review! The A-B sort of testing part was very helpful, though it was difficult to verbalise exactly what the difference was between the Mackie and the Audio-Technica mic, though I did hear the difference quite easily, because the AT seemed to capture 'more' low end in the voice. Could you formalise this apparent difference somehow in the review? That would make it perfect, I think.
This might be the ticket for my recorded video classes at my university. My only worry would be what you said about picking up noises from the room. I like that it's not so sibilant.
Hi Bandrew, for me the King Bee for the extra $50. I like the sound better, I find it clearer and more defined. Oh and an extra $7 for some black paint to cover up the bright yellow... Great video and information, stay safe and keep well...
I bought one of these mics today. The price was even better, with some accessories,(XLR cable, boom, shock mount, flexible wind screen) it came to $59.99 w/ free shipping. For a retail price of $160.00 on the bundle, getting one for $60 is purrrty gooood. ;)
Finally found it! I’ve watched so many videos looking for a microphone that doesn’t emphasize the high end. Is this the one? Thank you so much. You probably don’t read comments from four years ago anymore, but I’m still asking: What other mics are there that don’t emphasize the high end? Well, I’ll go through all your videos.
The NW700 and to some extent the AT2020 had some top end that was slightly hurting my ears. The Mackie sounded slightly warmer and just that little bit nicer to listen to
I was thinking of getting this mic, great brand, long lived and always though of highly. ............. Then I really took a look at dynamic mics, and I went with one.
Wanted the Behringer C-3, but Sweetwater are out of them. This is the mic they recommend as a substitute. What did I do? Searched for "Mackie EM-91C podcastage", and BAM, you've reviewed it. I agree, this mic sounds smooth for spoken word. Pretty impressive! My Behringer C-1 is built like a tank, though, and I wanted the C-3 for the polar patterns. The build quality on this mic seems a bit sketchy, but the sound is very good.
Great video! I would love for you to redo a review of the Rhode Procaster with the new (more thorough) format you're using: treated room vs untreated, booming on desk, comparisons, etc..
I would still pick the King Bee, because it has that presence (and, I know, it's more sibilant) and that airiness that the Mackie doesn´t have (and that I find more difficult to replicate and making it sound good with EQ than using a de-esser). But, it's 50 bucks cheaper.
Small review of the very similar EM91-CU: As a mic, this is cheap, slightly above average, and ~$50. For podcasting and as a condenser mic, it's just ok. No better or worse than most of the others. It's $50, after all. BUT... and this is huge... it does one thing amazingly well. Something this channel doesn't actually test for. ***For solo rep/opera/classical voice, it's perfect and far better than anything on the market at this price.*** The mic actually works for loud traditionally non-miced singing at a distance of a few feet and still sounds reasonably flat and accurate. Now, you'd normally not need a mic for this type of work, but with Covid and online lessons as well as things like college application and jury videos, you need a mic. Your laptop or phone won't cut it. You need something that works with loud singing at a distance that is off camera. But that is not a shotgun mic and also can pick up the piano/room resonance. This works very well for that, especially off-axis 45 degrees. To me, singing opera rep, it sounds a lot like a SM58 with zero proximity effect at 5-8 feet away. Actually an almost dynamic profile. Note that at that range, it won't even pick up much, even ambient sounds. But once you start singing, it's excellent. It really should have a recording done of it/be on the Mackie web page about it with a classically trained singer at 5-10 ft away. Because, while this is a small niche, with everything gone online and virtual choirs being the norm now, it's frustratingly hard to find anything that isn't designed for singing softly into the mic and calling it "singing", while at point blank range. Hundreds of thousands of high school and college students are now looking for a cheap recording option for voice lessons and recordings now and nothing that I've found under $200 seems to work for this. This is the least expensive option I've found so far. *note, this is not quite as good as the EM91-C, but being slightly less sensitive also means it does little until you start singing your rep. I found the EM91-C to be a little too "active" and pick up excess room noise. My only gripe is give us an adapter, even a plastic one! And also do yourself a favor and get a package of small black rubber bands and replace the string with something actually rubber to dampen the shock mount. You will note the clip to expand the mic holder - do NOT put the bands over those but instead bridge past the wires horizontally. The reason it transmits so much vibration is it's not actual rubber and the string comes into tight contact with those clips, even with the mic installed, creating a bridge for resonance.
for spoken words, the Mic lacks at 1600 Hz. NW700 and AT2020 was better in this category. Well it has a nice warm low frequency. But for me, i would prefer the competitor AT2020. Regards Martin
The guitar part starts off SO close to the intro to the lemmings theme that now I want to hear bandrew do the lemmings theme song on electric guitar... which i guess itself is just a variation of canon in d anyway.
Nice review Mate! For the money, I don't think that you can beat that Mic. Sounded really good to me.................. Cheers.................. 👍👍😉😉🎤🎤👍👍
Have you ever done a 'Fix a bad mic sound/Improve a mic sound' video before? Something for people seeking to improve the sound they record from their mic, always remembering you can't polish a turd either :-D I managed to get a BM800 mic sounding pretty reasonable (I just had to do it as a challenge), using a short chain of 'usual suspect' VSTs - noise reduction (& similar noise processing VSTs), de-esser, EQ, saturation, other VSTs and make even MORE PRETTY with some ultra light reverb. Obviously from the outset you aim for the best sound you can record but tidying it up in post is always an option. Another great vid and a pretty good mic and all Mackie gear I've crossed paths like is nice.
Hi! I love your work, especially since I'm looking for a new mic and looking around for accurate and concrete advices (I need it to practice in dubbing, and record acoustic guitar). Seriously, great. Thank you because it's precious for a total beginner in audio equip (as I am) to have an expert and clear opinion about the tons of products on the market. Can I ask you one more advice about the USB version of this microphone? (Mackie EM 91 CU). P.s. what about the Uhuru microphones, like UM910 and similar?
I bought this mic to quickly sing ideas in my un-treated room, but it's really not sounding good. Would you recommend getting a semi-circular foam mic screen to put around it? Greetings from Italy!
would u say it is better than neat king bee ? I have rode podmic as my main mic for voice overs commentry onmy gameplay videos but I feel it sounds "too broadcasty" for gameplay commentry videos, so I am looking to try a good condensor microphone for that purpose, the mixer I use is "rodecaster pro"
I'd like to see in future videos, a high frequency shelf test. How well does a given mic respond to like a +3db shelf at 10k? I know a lot of times, a mic's sound falls apart with an HF boost.
That is the AEA KU5A. I”m currently using it on the podcast and you can hear me discussing it in the first 5 minutes of the last episode at UA-cam.com/bandrewsayspodcast
Bro .. I need a quick help. I don't have acoustic treated room for recording. So what condenser mic do you recommand for vocal recording under 99$. MXL 770 ? Lewitt ? Samson ? Thanks in advance for helping.
I'm torn because the NW800 has a decent sound but the S's are kind of harsh, but I can work around them. This mic on the other hand has the darker tone I like but the background rejection is off IMHO, it seems like it picks up sound at nearly the same level as the front. I dunno if I want to drop $80 on it only to turn around and send it back in a week.
🙏Namaste ! For a singer which audio interface is better , audient ID14 or scarllete 2i2 (3rd gen)? is it priceworthy spending more on id14 ? Pls suggest me.
Love the sound! It's nice to see a cheap condenser that doesn't turn the letter S into a weapon of mass destruction.
Lol nice
TRUTH
😂😂
Comment of the year, wins internet forever and ever.
Craziest comment ever😂😂😂😂😂😂
Pretty good for the price. Agreed that it doesn't turn sibilance into a nasty, shrill mess. Probably fine for single person podcast, maybe not the best if multiple people in the same room given that polar pattern. Thanks for educatin' and entertaining us at the same time. 👍
So do you think it can be used for voice overs?
I tested this alongside the AT2020 and the first thing I noticed was the immediate sensitivity difference. The Mackie is way more sensitive and gets a much stronger signal when plugged directly in to a sound card with phantom power. I was using the Arturia MiniFuse 1 (which is great) with USB power. I didnt notice hardly any difference in sound quality but the sensitivity was really obvious. I kept the Mackie in the end and have been really happy with it
The thoroughness of this video is phenomenal
That mic actually sounds perfect for your vocals. I've seen a lot of your videos with more expensive mics, but that one fits great with your vocals. Not bad for $80
Overall I like it. It stacks up well against the other microphones you compared it against. With so many microphones, especially less expensive microphones, it seems like the manufacturers just ignore sibilance, and it's nice that Mackie really paid attention to sibilance with this microphone.
Damn that sounds pretty darn good especially if you are starting out. This mic is like a gateway drug to more expensive mics.
Absolutely great review particularly for someone like me who has no concept of the tech specs but has great ears.
I was going to buy a famous name brand mic but considered others since, again, I’m no audiophile. This is one of the three I was considering, and it seemed to have the best features from the description, but I wasn’t buying a mic based on what was written about it.
You didn’t just describe it as every other audio expert would that I’ve seen; you road tested it for how someone who would actually buy a cheap mic for personal use would use it, and it was both educational and entertaining.
Well I’m glad you could confirm the one I plan to buy is a good choice.
Thanks so much.
I want to update after owning this mic for a month. I am using it to record teaching videos. I am thrilled with it for spoken word because it sounds great through headphones. "More airy" condenser mics add room noise, which can be heard with headphones on. This one doesn't do that so easily.
I took a poll of about 110, asking how they listen to online lessons. About 70% said using earbuds or headphones. Through earbuds and headphones, this mic sounds great without being fatiguing or too airy that the room noise shows up.
What works best for me -- I simply add a high pass filter on it at about 80 to 90hz and maybe a little compression, and go with it. No sibilant issues. Just easy. Adding compression at about 1.65 to 1 boosts the highs just enough to wake up the mic without making it overbearing, and I end up sounding great without the darned room noise, so long as I am in a somewhat treated room with blankets around the walls where I can.
I like that the Mackie can just sit on my desk under me and work really well without much fuss. Teachers can pair this with a simple and inexpensive single-input Behringer board with USB (often cheaper than a USB interface) and Bob's your uncle. Sounds better than a USB mic, also.
Works well as a Zoom mic, also.
Well, just ordered it second hand (that's how low my budget is), I'll write you back after the first impressions. I wanted to thank you for your reviews, they are entertaining, very clarifying and honest and umpretentious.👍 Some of them I've watched many times, comparing sounds and your opinions, and still find them amusing. Also, it's great that you test mics both in your studio and in an untreated room, it makes your reviews more complete as it adds to the rest to gives us a wider picture.
THANKS a LOT!
PS: as soon as my budget fills up again, I'll support you channel, for sho! 😉
I'd have to say that lack of articulation in the brightness region can be easily fixed with a good EQ. I feel that subtractive errors in a mic's frequency curve are easier to compensate for than trying to tame sibilant highs and upper mids. Give me a laid back mic any day.
Mackie has always been great at offering a good middle ground when it comes to gear wether it is for live performances or studio applications. I appreciate your review as you hit all the areas of concern. I am a fan of Mackie for both mid grade and professional gear. I am purchasing one of these for my grandson who is just stepping into recording. Thanks again.
It is the most specific and detailed review I have seen on this microphone, thanks a lot
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it!
Thank you, Bandrew 💚
I was really surprised how good it sounded against the AT2020. This would definitely be a better pick as a microphone just for voice in my opinion.
Liked before watching 🤷🏽♂️
2 minutes in..excellent sound for 80 bucks! Doesn’t sound shrill or harsh.
My opinion: There is some shrill, but it's very minimal. The NW-700 had more and the AT2020 was surprisingly even more so. The Neat Beat was noisy and sounded like it was notched in places, but not shrill, but sounded like utter crap.
gee that king bee is pretty neat
i'll see myself out
I am very impressed with the sound of this microphone.
same it honestly sounds excellent to my ears
@@samtripleseven same it sound so good actually wtf
Wait. An XLR cable comes with the microphone?? That's a bonus!
Lol I thought he said “wait the xlr cable comes with a microphone?? That’s a bonus!”
Agree with pretty much everything said here, for $80, this thing sounds incredible. The AT2020 just sounds so metallic and shrill by comparison, and it has a higher price and higher noise floor. The King Bee, its garish appearance aside, I still think beats everything else in this comparison. Talk about a microphone punching way above its weight at its price point.
I think King Bee is too bright. Mackie actually sounds the best.
Hi Bandrew, thanks for making this video, mate. This microphone is one of three 'best budget mics' recommended by Paolo Balestri (the famous microphone VO channel)...the other being the Behringer B1 and the Tascam TM-80. It would be great to hear your thoughts as to which is better - or to see you do a comparison between the three. I really appreciate all your work Bandrew. Cheers, Steve.
I've been able to watch this video like 6 times comparing it to other mics and it really is pleasant
Perfect! I've been getting asked all week what microphone I'd recommend for someone starting out on UA-cam. I told everyone to send their UA-camr questions into my Curious Cat account and so much of it is about microphones! Now I might finally have a good answer for them!
I am so far out of my league on things like this yet over the last week I've decided that it's time to try something different with my time. You're reviews are clear and to the point as well as entertaining.. That said, I found the 'starter mic' I think I wanted and sure enough you had a review for it. Long story short, this is what I ordered so thank you!
Mackie makes reference speakers, so it makes sense they make good mic.
Very thorough review. Much more informative than many I've seen, tbh.
Sounds good! And the price! I have always been a fan of Mackie. Liked their studio mon, their mixers, the warm sound.... I have confidence in the quality in comparison to others in the same low price range.
EM91c is the best choice for podcast mic or spoken word imo, AT2020 for vocals would be a better option.
In terms of spoken, EM91c is good for long-term listening like podcasts / documentary type videos. It's probably coloration, but I keep finding that I really like the Behringer C1 for music. I think I'd also prefer the sharper mic for clarity when speaking in voice calls (Zoom, discord, etc). A lot of cheap headphones (and compression) muddle sound, so I'm thinking the C1 would pull ahead.
Great video, your reviews have become a definite standard for me. I bought one of these about a week ago, very happy so far. Cant go wrong for the price i reckon, shockmount and cable in the box, bargain. R1500 here in South Africa.
Woah I really didn't expect this mic to be equal to or better than the more famous mics like the at 2020. That's pretty good for a condenser under a 100 bucks. I know you probably keep mics for a collection, but I think it would be pretty cool if you did mic give aways for your viewers so it would be cool of you considered it.
Check his website ;)
bought this for electric guitar recording and its great!
You are amazing. Your video was extremely helpful and I appreciate the links to other videos to help me create an understanding of microphone specs. I wish I could like this video multiple times. Will most definitely subscribe.
I legit want someone to make a compilation of all the times he throws or chucks the box.
EN:
It is better to lower the volume of high frequencies along with their noise when equalizing, than to increase the volume along with the noise. I prefer a brighter sound AT-2020\2035. Fortunately, these microphones have an even frequency response over the entire frequency range and do not have unpleasant high-frequency amplification. Thanks for the review!
RU (Original):
Лучше понижать при эквализации громкость высоких частот вместе с их шумом, чем повышать громкость вместе с шум. Предпочту более яркий звук AT-2020\2035. К счастью, эти микрофоны имеют ровную АЧХ на всем диапазоне частот и не имеют неприятного усиления высоких частот. Спасибо за обзор!
Mackie is top of the line brand. This mic sounds like 1000$ mic. And if anyone doesn’t agree with this then knows nothing about mics.
Do you think this mic can handle a low note well? I'm planning on recording an acapella song that ends with an E1, and I wanted to know if it would hold up okay. I already have this mic and the EM 89D, but the thing is that E1 is below the 50 hz and also I realized that the end response is a bit to muddy with that one so what do you think about the lows of this one?
It’s a acceptable mic condenser from Amazon, And I like sound of the mackie mic and the way you tested and demonstrated the mic. I’m having second thoughts about this Mackie mic em-91c cause I’m going for shure 58 dynamic mic but when I saw this Mackie em-91c mic, I searched on how this mic really sounds. There’s something on your vid that really explain something on this mic that I couldn’t find in other review for this mic...thanks...and keep on doing this show of yours...✌🏻
YAY! a new video from my favorite youtuber!
Nice, methodical review! The A-B sort of testing part was very helpful, though it was difficult to verbalise exactly what the difference was between the Mackie and the Audio-Technica mic, though I did hear the difference quite easily, because the AT seemed to capture 'more' low end in the voice. Could you formalise this apparent difference somehow in the review? That would make it perfect, I think.
Well that is a whole lot of highly useful microphone for the price. Excellent demonstration.
This might be the ticket for my recorded video classes at my university. My only worry would be what you said about picking up noises from the room. I like that it's not so sibilant.
Can you review the MAONO Au-A04 USB microphone? Thanks.
Hi Bandrew, for me the King Bee for the extra $50. I like the sound better, I find it clearer and more defined. Oh and an extra $7 for some black paint to cover up the bright yellow... Great video and information, stay safe and keep well...
I bought one of these mics today.
The price was even better, with some accessories,(XLR cable, boom, shock mount, flexible wind screen) it came to $59.99 w/ free shipping.
For a retail price of $160.00 on the bundle, getting one for $60 is purrrty gooood. ;)
Thanks for participation in the discussion with valuable suggestion.?
I liked it. Wonder how it would sound on snare?
Finally found it! I’ve watched so many videos looking for a microphone that doesn’t emphasize the high end. Is this the one? Thank you so much. You probably don’t read comments from four years ago anymore, but I’m still asking: What other mics are there that don’t emphasize the high end? Well, I’ll go through all your videos.
I just reviewed the sE Electronics X1a which also doesn’t exaggerate the high end.
The NW700 and to some extent the AT2020 had some top end that was slightly hurting my ears. The Mackie sounded slightly warmer and just that little bit nicer to listen to
I'm really happy o know the video helped you determine which one you prefer. Happy recording.
@@Podcastage Honestly I was only looking at this out of interest, already use an AKG P120 😁 but it was a great review, good stuff dude!
I was thinking of getting this mic, great brand, long lived and always though of highly. ............. Then I really took a look at dynamic mics, and I went with one.
Wanted the Behringer C-3, but Sweetwater are out of them. This is the mic they recommend as a substitute. What did I do? Searched for "Mackie EM-91C podcastage", and BAM, you've reviewed it. I agree, this mic sounds smooth for spoken word. Pretty impressive! My Behringer C-1 is built like a tank, though, and I wanted the C-3 for the polar patterns. The build quality on this mic seems a bit sketchy, but the sound is very good.
The throwing of the box is always so funny, it really helps me to cure my depression.
I wonder how many dents he has in his walls :).
@@gregelgie Probably 69. LMAO.
Between the Mackie EM-91C and the Tascam TM-80, which one should I buy?
More than anything I require a microphone to record vocals
I would also like to know which one is better, since I plan to do a podcast
“The lobe of sensitivity in the rear is quite aggressive.” ~ My inner 8 year old is laughing so hard right now. Great review!
Very good sound! Which is the best compared to the TASCAM tm80? In my opinion they are very similar, what about you?
Great video!
I would love for you to redo a review of the Rhode Procaster with the new (more thorough) format you're using: treated room vs untreated, booming on desk, comparisons, etc..
I would still pick the King Bee, because it has that presence (and, I know, it's more sibilant) and that airiness that the Mackie doesn´t have (and that I find more difficult to replicate and making it sound good with EQ than using a de-esser). But, it's 50 bucks cheaper.
Wavs Scheps Parallel Particles (Retails about $60) and gives you that nice air for your vocals you're looking for.
The box throw at the beginning of your reviews always makes my day
such a smooth sounding mic
I dont know much about this sort of thing, so os this mic better than the at2020?
it sounded amazing with the music
Hey, please I would like to know if it is normal that this microphone makes a very loud background sound. I am using the berhinger Eurorack UB 502.
Small review of the very similar EM91-CU:
As a mic, this is cheap, slightly above average, and ~$50. For podcasting and as a condenser mic, it's just ok. No better or worse than most of the others.
It's $50, after all.
BUT... and this is huge... it does one thing amazingly well.
Something this channel doesn't actually test for.
***For solo rep/opera/classical voice, it's perfect and far better than anything on the market at this price.***
The mic actually works for loud traditionally non-miced singing at a distance of a few feet and still sounds reasonably flat and accurate. Now, you'd normally not need a mic for this type of work, but with Covid and online lessons as well as things like college application and jury videos, you need a mic. Your laptop or phone won't cut it. You need something that works with loud singing at a distance that is off camera. But that is not a shotgun mic and also can pick up the piano/room resonance. This works very well for that, especially off-axis 45 degrees.
To me, singing opera rep, it sounds a lot like a SM58 with zero proximity effect at 5-8 feet away. Actually an almost dynamic profile. Note that at that range, it won't even pick up much, even ambient sounds. But once you start singing, it's excellent.
It really should have a recording done of it/be on the Mackie web page about it with a classically trained singer at 5-10 ft away. Because, while this is a small niche, with everything gone online and virtual choirs being the norm now, it's frustratingly hard to find anything that isn't designed for singing softly into the mic and calling it "singing", while at point blank range. Hundreds of thousands of high school and college students are now looking for a cheap recording option for voice lessons and recordings now and nothing that I've found under $200 seems to work for this. This is the least expensive option I've found so far.
*note, this is not quite as good as the EM91-C, but being slightly less sensitive also means it does little until you start singing your rep. I found the EM91-C to be a little too "active" and pick up excess room noise.
My only gripe is give us an adapter, even a plastic one! And also do yourself a favor and get a package of small black rubber bands and replace the string with something actually rubber to dampen the shock mount. You will note the clip to expand the mic holder - do NOT put the bands over those but instead bridge past the wires horizontally. The reason it transmits so much vibration is it's not actual rubber and the string comes into tight contact with those clips, even with the mic installed, creating a bridge for resonance.
Sounds better than the Audio Technica
The Element is "Black Electret Condenser ", maybe an extra "L" in there. 😀
This or a behringer b1 for singing?
This mic vs behringer c1u, which is better?
That bass hum from the King Bee - is that normal for that mic?
for spoken words, the Mic lacks at 1600 Hz.
NW700 and AT2020 was better in this category.
Well it has a nice warm low frequency.
But for me, i would prefer the competitor AT2020.
Regards
Martin
The guitar part starts off SO close to the intro to the lemmings theme that now I want to hear bandrew do the lemmings theme song on electric guitar... which i guess itself is just a variation of canon in d anyway.
Easy to listen to......yes...excellent for podcast, and for audiobooks especially. I'd be curious about what a lo/hi boost would do in EQ.
Thanks for this review. Just purchased focus rite bundle with speakers and this mic is included.
Which single mic do you recommend for BOTH male vocals and guitar? I'm not all that loud. Kind of like Coldplay. Has to be under $300.
Could be cool for overheads, especially if the drummer's a little heavy on the cymbals
Would you still recomend it? Its 50 bucks right now
Excellent review as usual! That Mackie sounds pretty good for $80!!
Nice review Mate! For the money, I don't think that you can beat that Mic. Sounded really good to me.................. Cheers.................. 👍👍😉😉🎤🎤👍👍
Have you ever done a 'Fix a bad mic sound/Improve a mic sound' video before? Something for people seeking to improve the sound they record from their mic, always remembering you can't polish a turd either :-D
I managed to get a BM800 mic sounding pretty reasonable (I just had to do it as a challenge), using a short chain of 'usual suspect' VSTs - noise reduction (& similar noise processing VSTs), de-esser, EQ, saturation, other VSTs and make even MORE PRETTY with some ultra light reverb. Obviously from the outset you aim for the best sound you can record but tidying it up in post is always an option.
Another great vid and a pretty good mic and all Mackie gear I've crossed paths like is nice.
Hi! I love your work, especially since I'm looking for a new mic and looking around for accurate and concrete advices (I need it to practice in dubbing, and record acoustic guitar). Seriously, great. Thank you because it's precious for a total beginner in audio equip (as I am) to have an expert and clear opinion about the tons of products on the market.
Can I ask you one more advice about the USB version of this microphone? (Mackie EM 91 CU).
P.s. what about the Uhuru microphones, like UM910 and similar?
I bought this mic to quickly sing ideas in my un-treated room, but it's really not sounding good. Would you recommend getting a semi-circular foam mic screen to put around it? Greetings from Italy!
vs Tascam TM80 vs SE electronics X1 vs Marantz MPM 1000 vs MXL V67g vs AKG p120 vs NEAT Worker Bee
would u say it is better than neat king bee ? I have rode podmic as my main mic for voice overs commentry onmy gameplay videos but I feel it sounds "too broadcasty" for gameplay commentry videos, so I am looking to try a good condensor microphone for that purpose, the mixer I use is "rodecaster pro"
It sounds warm …. I like it
King bee or this one..What do you think?
Listen both of them back. Which do you prefer?
King bee quality is amazing...I have one and nothing in this price range touches it
I'd like to see in future videos, a high frequency shelf test. How well does a given mic respond to like a +3db shelf at 10k? I know a lot of times, a mic's sound falls apart with an
HF boost.
How does this compare to a dynamic microphone, like the Q2U, for spoken word?
NOW THIS IS A REVIEW!!!
any technical restriction, like 5V usb or something?
Do u need a booster like the cloud filter thing for the at 2020 mic? I was thinking of getting that, What would you recommend? For recording vocals
I am not getting the adapter you told could you please give a link to buy that for a stand?
I got a question, what Is that microphone un the right of the camera? Nicel video
That is the AEA KU5A. I”m currently using it on the podcast and you can hear me discussing it in the first 5 minutes of the last episode at UA-cam.com/bandrewsayspodcast
@@Podcastage wow, thanks for the information 👍
Would really appreciate if you test and give your opinion on the Sudotack usb microphone
If this mic cuts the air frequencies, would the Scarlet 3rd gens that has the "air" features be able to counter it or not?
Please tell me what is the size of the membrane? 1/3 '', 2/3 '' or other?
Thank you ... please talk about boys pm 700sp usb ... I'll be waiting for you ...
Bro .. I need a quick help.
I don't have acoustic treated room for recording. So what condenser mic do you recommand for vocal recording under 99$.
MXL 770 ?
Lewitt ?
Samson ?
Thanks in advance for helping.
Hey man whats your opinion for the best budget head phones?
I'm torn because the NW800 has a decent sound but the S's are kind of harsh, but I can work around them. This mic on the other hand has the darker tone I like but the background rejection is off IMHO, it seems like it picks up sound at nearly the same level as the front. I dunno if I want to drop $80 on it only to turn around and send it back in a week.
🙏Namaste ! For a singer which audio interface is better , audient ID14 or scarllete 2i2 (3rd gen)? is it priceworthy spending more on id14 ? Pls suggest me.
Works like a charm!
got SE 2200 but still keep watching those reviews for some reason :) kinda used to it haha