Mojave MA100s coming in...

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:09 am

I didn't do an orchestra recording yet.

The concert band recording turned out great though. I'll get permission to post a clip ASAP.

I also did a session with acoustic guitar (Taylor) and voice. I'm doing a dub session tonight. Once the clip is done, I believe the artist would be more than willing to allow me to post. Imagine a Bob-Seager-esque acoustic sound.

So far, the reactions regarding the mics have been exceedingly positive. Everyone who has heard them used for their recordings has said "bring those to our next session!"

On a different note, I had a minor issue with one (or at least I thought I did - it actually was a bad channel on my snake that is now fixed.)

I called Dusty Wakeman. He and Dave Royer got on the phone and helped me troubleshoot. The conversation went on for quite some time. Dave and I chatted for a good 2 hours (on his dime nonetheless) about the mics, recording in general and other fun stuff. He really gave me a LOT of insight into the reasons and concepts behind the design.

The mic itself is a VERY simple design - there's the capsule and a tube - that's it. The rest of the electronics are located inside the power supply and amount to essentially an output transformer. While parts of this mic are chinese made, it's primarily the capsule (which, as he stated, has been made by this company for 30 years and is a time-tested and well controlled design and build) and things such as the cable and the final assembly of the power supply.

I urged Dave to up the price by a thousand dollars so that the mic would be taken more seriously. Though he chuckled, I doubt that's going to happen.

On yet another note, Dusty mentioned to me that they're releasing a stereo kit which includes a single carrying case and a stereo power supply. I actually hope to switch the two mono ones out as this is exactly what I've been looking for.

Additionally, Dave did give me information on pin-out configuration and recommended maximum cable length and even a recommendation on the type of cable to use (Canare) for adding new cables to the rig.

Anyway - the positive stuff just keeps pouring in for these mics.

I hope to redo the drum recording session I tried to do the other night when my snake went out.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:30 am

Sounds great!
I was hoping these mics would have a positive response.
I can't wait to hear the other recordings.

Hopefully soon I will have the cash to spend on them. But I also need a new interface before then. That RME 800 is looking pretty favorable.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:18 am

Just another follow up -

I finally decided to buy the mics (they've been on loan until now). As such, I did yesterday what I do with all new gear that I buy.....
I opened 'er up.

(usually more for curiosity than technical reasons).

First -
the mic is so friggin simple, it's hard to believe. There's a diaphragm, a pentode tube and some cables. Nothing else. Nothing.

Then, the power supply (where the remaining portions of the mic circuit reside).

There's a fat Jensen transformer (yup - a Jensen Trannie), a single capacitor and a single resistor - both of utmost quality. Everything is point-to-point wired.

The power supply transformer is pretty beefy too. The version I have is the new (I don't think it's been officially released yet) stereo pair with a single power supply. I have some pics that I'll try to post as soon as possible.

Sure, this thing's made in China, but everything about it screams quality.

The *only* caveat I have about these mics so far is that the threads connecting between the capsule and the body and the body and the XLR barrel should be either thoroughly cleaned with denatured alcohol and then securely fitted back onto the body and/or you should strip some of the paint off with a brass brush (only the paint in the threads) as under less-than-ideal circumstances (such as dirty power or RF), it can induce a little bit of hum.

Cheers-
J.

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