VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Bish

I get the notifications for the Musician's Friend "Stupid Deal of The Day", and today's deal is the MXL V88 for $99.99 (complete with shock-mount, case, free shipping etc.)

I really like my V88 and for $100 this is a bargain. It may be worth getting as a stunt or travel mic (it's the same small form-factor as the TLM103). This originally sold for the (falsely) high price of $700, but if you're looking for a good sub-$300 LDC, then I'd seriously consider this one. I think it gets a reasonable amount of love here as well (not just from me).
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

D Voice · Been Here Awhile Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 232

damn, missed it...

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

The V88 IS a good mic! And a great deal. You might find one on eBay from a reputable dealer for less than $150.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

D Voice · Been Here Awhile Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 232

As Graeme pointed out to me (thanks Graeme!), they are available from B&H for $120 ($150 with the case and shockmount), so...

Anyone have experience with this particular mic?

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

The v88 is a sweet VO mic, and that's a great deal. The v89 is also a tremendous mic for a bit more money and I really like the sound of the 2003a. The Genesis (and Genesis II ) are wickedly good tube mics. I've got a GAS Thing for their Gold 35 mic.

Another good deal at b&h is the CAD e100s. One is arriving on my doorstep this coming Monday. Wink

I've loved every CAD mic I've used 300, M9, and the old tube mic which I think was called the VLX or something - that mic is incredibly good, as good as anything I've used!
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Bish · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:39 pm Post subject:

I just wish that MXL had a different policy regarding their product line. They are always chopping and changing, re-branding and labeling... new products every six months or so and older ones left to wither on the vine or disappear altogether because of a new one that's exactly the same! No consistency of product line is always sends out the signal that you have no faith in your products, and the new ones are always better... it ends up like new-improved soap powder ... totally meaningless.

There are a couple that have maintained good reputations in the community (gearslutz is a good place to check). Both the V88 and 2003a are considered to perform well beyond their street price. I managed to pick up a 2003a in the guise of a Cr24 kit. This meant that it was tricked-out in black chrome. I'm seriously considering getting it sand-blasted!

Personally, I think some of the MXL units are as good as you can get before you start to climb up to four figures.
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Heh, I know...I'm a GAS enabler.

I love my Sennheiser MK4, but it's a little edgy on the top end. I've always loved every clip I've ever heard from the e100s, and wanted one last year, but they were still $500-600. Now they're $350-400. Check out the Clipanator at Zen Pro Audio. The example is of male rock vocals, but they're very dynamic and show off what each mic can do. I really love the e100s clip over everything else. Sounds Neumann-y, but more focused (yep, it's hypercardioid) and it's dead quiet.

I think it's going to match the ISA One (as well as my voice) a bit better. I'll put samples up of the CAD with the MK4 and my AT2035 which I still love and took out for a few sessions this week.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Bish · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject:

I saw the e100s some time ago, went hmmmm.... and then promptly forgot about it. On seeing your comments, I went off to listen again and, dang! That looks pretty good... maybe I need to listen to your samples Wink

_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Okay, I’ll wade into this…

As it turns out, I have a CAD e100S… and an AT2050… and a Gefell M930…and an ISA One… and I still have files from my V88. I know you’re all curious about how they all sounds, so I’m going to start another thread rather than hijack this one, so please take a look/listen there.

FYI, the AT2050 is my current travel mic (I'm not too happy with it), I got the e100S to see if it could replace the 2050 (I reallly like it, but it's too bulky for air travel for my purposes - but it may save my bacon with a low rumble noise issue I'm having), the Gefell M930 has been my "go-to" mic since I got it last year (I love it!!), and the V88 was purchased as a travel mic candidate (I like it, but kept the -2050 only since it had an omni pattern and I hope to do some life interviews with it). I sold it to a female talent who sounds very good with her V88.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com