Mackie EM-91C Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone

These mics are definitely an awesome budget microphone that will get the job done. I personally are using them for the absolute wrong application but they are doing great. This mic is best used in an isolated environment with a very quiet background but I have three of them set up on a table for a podcast as a temporary solution and they have not let me down

This mackie EM-91C condenser microphone is well worth the price and then some. This mic is phantom powered so you will see a 48v switch or button on you interface. (I admit I did not know this and thought the mic was dead and sent it back) a replacement came the very next day. Impressive! Anyway, once I did some research on phantom power I was able to make a very pleasant sounding recording. I haven't tried vocals yet but am about to rectify that now. Buy it! It's great! 5 stars!!! 👍

I got the EM91C (XLR Version) from Amazon. I recently sold it after 5 months, because I wanted to try another mic and it lost compared to the used AT 2035 I bought, and the Behringer XM8500, which is really what I consider the budget king of mics, if you want something with character for podcasting and gaming. Liking the XM8500, I sold the Mackie and purchased a Behringer SB78A. That mic is also decent for the money, but only if you talk straight into it and de-ess / cut highs. Back to the Mackie....I bought the Mackie after seeing the video review on Podcastage, and it is exactly as expected and reviewed there. Before you buy this mic, look at the spec sheet and know this mic has the highs rolled off compared to other condensers. Because of this, you will find this mic works well for simple long form spoken word, but you'll want to add a low cut (also called high pass) around 100hz, or it will sound muffled or muddy. It is not a good choice for instruments or singers who want a big/wide sound, IMHO. If you want something for music, my suggestion is to spend a bit more for the wider but neutral AT2035 (Which is a step up from the 2020, and doesn't have the 2020's slight excessive high boost) OR spend a little more on the AT4040 (used they are a great buy for the money) which is a studio standard.Bander from Podcastage talked about what instruments he liked and did not like this mic on. If you want a big sound as cheap as possible, skip the cheap condensers and get a Behringer XM8500. Nothing below $100 comes close to it.The Mackie excels at long form spoken word, specifically for those who have overly-sibilant voices (harsh "S's" in speech). I EQ'd the bass to roll off from around 100hz, and it's not required, but I also pulled it down a bit between strategic places at 250 and 500hz . I also brightened the highs maybe 2db from 5,000hz up, but I also feel you don't have to do that unless you want to brighten it more. I like how it handles sibilance. Without EQ, its character borders on dull and a bit overbearing in the lows -- you may not like it 'up close' until you roll off below 100hz. Once you do, the mic's character becomes pleasing. This is a mic which provides a very pleasant long form sound for someone like me -- a teacher looking to create clean vocals for 30 minute teaching videos, so long as I trim those lows below 100hz to balance it out.With the muddy lows removed, this does a better job of keeping room noise out of the mic compared to my "better" mics, and has a forward-sounding mid to low-midrange. More on that, below. Next, as a teacher, I don't have to be right up on this mic face-first, like with what dynamic mics tend to need before they drop volume. I can move around a little.This mic is also a nice kit with a shock mount and mic. There are other mics cheaper than this that sound "OK" but have harsh Chinese-like highs that become annoying, or are just kind of meh (Neewer). There are better mics for $30 more than this (Blue Ember) but they don't provide a shock mount, and you're soon sinking more money into them and find yourself far out of the Mackie's price range. The Neat Worker and King Bee mics, a bit more but in the budget range, also sound very nice, but have a very "different" look to them, and I've seen reviewers complain that noise was getting into those mics from outside sources. I haven't experienced this issue with the Mackie. So for what it is, this mic is an OK value, and very usable if you EQ a fair amount. Would I buy it again? Doubtful. I'd spend less and get the XM8500, or along a more condenser-like style, an AT2020 or 2035.Note that I have a moderately well-treated recording room, with several thick moving blankets covering the walls and laying around. If you cannot pull off a room like this, avoid the larger diaphram condensers and get a dynamic mic like the Behringer xm8500, Samson Q2U or Shure SM58. Or look into that Behringer SB78A, which is a small diaphram condenser in a handheld format (it does well at rejecting noise). Those are excellent, but you will need to get in closer and add a sponge or pop filter.

The sounds works well for my use case, which is mainly just discord and voice chat. Good price for an XLR mic

it records like studio micro

Honestly for the price this mic is I wasn't expecting much. When I say I'm surprised I mean it, it sounds way better then I thought it was going to. I highly recommend this if your needing an xlr mic but don't have a whole lotta money to spend on one.

Good quality product and budget friendly, Most of my audio peripherals is mackie brand. The ETA is almost 2 weeks but the item arrives almost 1 week only. Also the payment method is nice and easy.

This is NOT a large diaphragm microphone. The capsule is 1/2" in a large rubber holder. False advertising by the manufacturer but I don't care because I purchased this to use as a donor body. I'm installing a JLI-2555B 25mm capsule and I'm replacing the circuit board with an OPA Alice from JLI Electronics.Note: The head basket is lined with black foam.