Marshall Electronics release 24 Bit/96Khz Mic with USB

There are mixed feelings about Marshall Electonics‘ latest release, the MXL USB.008-24.

A 24 Bit/96Khz, HDTV Broadcast quality USB microphone; Marshall have come up with something which is pretty much ‘The Works’ on paper. Podcasters and home recordists alike now have an all-in-one solution for all their needs.

Of course, the pro’s are all over it, wondering whether Marshall Electronics has sacraficed quality for features. Only time will tell. If it delivers what ME says it will, though, then you’re looking at the first of a new wave of plug ‘n’ play solutions.

The MXL USB .008 24 features  32 mm pressure gradient condenser capsule with a gold sputtered diaphragm,  24-bit A/D and D/A converters, 96 kHz recording capability and a dynamic range of 114 dB.  A low nose analog front end, with front panel gain control, keeps signal at the correct levels before the A/D section. With a 1/8th-inch stereo headphone jack and adjustable level control the mic provides a convenient means to monitor a recording—with zero latency, while bypassing the computer entirely. The MXL USB.008-24 also has a mix control for adjusting the balance between playback and the direct source signal—providing a fully self-contained monitoring solution for multitrack recording. A attractive blue LED behind the grill illuminates the large capsule while providing visual confirmation that the microphone is powered and active.