VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Lee Gordon]

Earlier this week, I received Harlan Hogan's latest email featuring the various VO related stuff he sells. Included were the MicPort Pro for $199 and just beneath it was the MXL Mic Mate Pro for $90. If I were previously aware of the latter, the information had slipped my mind, but it struck me that the two units bore an uncanny resemblance to one another. Does anybody know if the similarities run deeper than cosmetic? Could it be that Centrance has their unit made for them by MXL?

Higher up the page is Harlan's $300 VO-1A mic, which I believe is possibly just an autographed version of the sub-$100 MXL 2006, so there is precedent. As it happens, my MicPort Pro started motoboating this week and I had to switch to my spare. Now I'm wondering, if I decide I need a new spare, if the Mic Mate Pro (or a Shure U2X) might be an acceptable choice.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[NorthEndVoice]

The Centrance and the MXL do appear similar. I'd never even heard of the MXL product. Main difference appears to be bit depth and sampling rate. M is 24/96 and the MXL is 16/48. X2U is also 16/48. Just from my experience, the X2U performs very well. Saved more than one session when my M decided it didn't want to play nice. No one noticed any difference when I had to substitute it for the M during a live ISDN session. The X2U is also around the same price as the MXL. I do like the control layout better on the X2U vs. M( or MXL). For example, the 48v phantom switch is in line with the gain/monitor/volume controls...not on the end of the unit like the M. Headphone jack is on the side and easily accessed. Plus the build quality of the X2U is like the proverbial tank.

[Bish]

I'll jump in with another aye vote for the Shure X2U. I had been dismayed by recent reports of QC failures with the M and also it's (relatively) high price. I looked at the options and went for the X2U as my travel interface. I've very happy with the audio quality... sure, it doesn't go to 96k/24-bit... but there again, I don't ever use 96k anyway, so the requirement for it on the road is highly unlikely. Also, echoing previous comments, it's built like a brick-outhouse and feels like it will stand up to life on the road. In fact, as it now seems to have taken up residence in "temp studio west"... I'm getting another one
_________________
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.