recordinghacks

MXL USB.009

Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Despite being billed as the first studio quality USB condenser mic for the broadcast industry, MXL’s USB.009 appears to be aimed at home users — podcasters and musicians recording direct to digital via USB. It is a fixed-cardioid, large-diaphragm mic.

The onboard analog-digital converter is capable of 96kHz, 24-bit audio out. Five other combinations of bit depth and sampling rate are supported: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kHz at either 16 or 24 bits, selectable via software on the host computer.

The USB.009 is a digital audio output device as well; its built-in headphone jack and dedicated gain control can accept digital audio at all the same combinations as on the input side, except 24/96. An onboard “mix” pot controls the balance between the mic’s signal and whatever is playing back through the computer’s digital audio output. This allows monitoring of live and prerecorded tracks without outboard gear or a hardware DAW.

The mic’s capsule measures 32mm in diameter, presumably with a 27mm diaphragm. No pads or filter switches are provided, but the onboard gain control is essentially a fully variable pad in that it adjusts the analog output volume prior to digital conversion. The gain knob will effectively pad loud sources that cause clipping or distortion in the DAC.

The mic ships as a kit, with a microfiber cleaning cloth, a hard mount (MXL p/n MXL-V6-H), a weighted-base desktop mic stand, a 10' USB cable, and an aluminum flight case.

RadioWorld, 2009

Overall the USB.009 could be used successfully for vocal or instrumental recording. It does sound decidedly darker than the Samson CO1U. Those who find the Samson a bit thin will like the low end on the USB.009. And unlike the [MXL] Studio 1, this mic does not sound muddy at all.

The MXL USB.009 is also known as: .009, USB 009, USB.009.

The mic was released in 2009.

Specifications

Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Cardioid (n/a mV/Pa; 30 - 20,000 Hz)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Capsule diameter: 32mm Diaphragm gauge: 6 microns	n/a

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
n/a	n/a	n/a	USB (1)

Power Specifications

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