MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone User Guide

: June 13, 2024
: MXL

Table of Contents

MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone
Features
Accessories
Recording Vocals and Dialog
Recording Acoustic Guitar
Recording an Amplified (Electric) Guitar
Recording the Piano
Recording a Drum Set
GENESIS Specs
Warranty
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone

Thank you for choosing the state-of-the-art Genesis microphone from MXL®.

Your new Genesis microphone was designed and engineered in the USA by our world-class team of electrical and audio engineers and is built for the most critical sound applications. As the ﬂagship of the MXL® product family, the Genesis exhibits warmth and intimacy previously only found in microphones costing many times more.

The MXL® Genesis features individually selected components, chosen for their superior sonic capabilities. One of the key components is the Mullard 12AT7 tube, which is universally accepted as one of the most musical tubes available. Your Genesis will provide many years of outstanding service, and will always ensure you get the ﬁnest quality recordings attainable. To assist you in obtaining the best possible results from your MXL® Genesis microphone, we have provided some tips, tricks, and answers to commonly asked questions. We encourage you to review these materials.

Features

Switches
The Genesis features switches for both bass roll-off and a -10dB pad. The bass roll-off is set to 6dB per octave at 150 Hz. This can reduce the proximity effect if required. The proximity effect is the change of frequency response as the recorded source is brought closer to the microphone. With vocals, this usually manifests itself as an increase in low-frequency content as one gets closer to the microphone. The -10dB pad effectively reduces possible overloading of the microphone’s internal circuitry at high Spls.
Power Requirements
IMPORTANT -This unit requires the use of the dedicated power supply included in the package. This supply is switchable between 115 volts and 230 volts AC. In North America the microphone ships in the 115-volt AC position and in the 230-volt AC position for export. However, you always want to ensure that the power supply voltage is correctly set for your local voltage as permanent damage to the microphone and/or power supply may occur if the incorrect voltage setting is selected. Every Marshall Electronics MXL® microphone has been thoroughly checked before shipping; so if you hear no sound, check that the power supply is switched on.
Caution
Do not “hot plug” the mic. Always ensure that the power supply is off when plugging and unplugging the included seven-pin cable from the microphone to avoid damaging the microphone and power supply.
Care
Dust and foreign material can degrade the performance of a microphone over time so always store the unit in its case. It is highly recommended to use the specially designed Genesis pop ﬁlter when recording vocals.

Accessories

Pop Filter
The Genesis comes with a custom 24k gold-plated pop ﬁlter which should be used anytime the microphone is being used to record vocals. The pop ﬁlter not only eliminates plosives (those “popping Ps”), it helps collect condensation from one’s breath and protects and protects the microphone’s capsule from moisture in the process. Condensation on the microphone’s capsule will cause the microphone to short circuit – resulting in the microphone cutting in and out of operation. Should this occur, you can leave the microphone uncovered, and out in the open for approximately two weeks to thoroughly dry. This will likely rectify the problem. Afterward, you should always use a pop ﬁlter.
Shockmount
The Genesis comes with a custom shock mount speciﬁcally designed to handle its large size. Shockmounts de-couple the microphone from the mic stand and the environment. The shock mount will minimize ﬂoor noise as well as any noise induced by people handling the microphone stand. Shockmounts should be considered “standard equipment” for all recording applications.
Microphone Cables
The microphone cable can have a profound effect on the sound of any microphone. Even the ﬁnest microphones will sound poor if the interconnect cable allows noise to enter, or causes distortion and loss of information. We highly recommend exclusively using the Mogami® cables supplied with your Genesis Mic.

The front of the microphone is always indicated by the position of the cardioid pattern symbol.

Recording Vocals and Dialog

Ideally, you want to record vocals in a relatively “dead” room. If you clap your hands and get an echo effect, you should consider adding some carpet, blankets, drapes, or other sound absorbing materials. On that note, make every effort
to avoid getting too close to the room’s walls. These hard, reﬂective surfaces can easily complicate the recording process. Move your mic setup toward the room’s center.

Generally, you should position the vocalist roughly 6 – 8 inches away from the microphone. Getting too close to the microphone tends to increase bass response and can create problems with plosive sounds – those popping Ps, Bs, Ds, and Ts (more on this in a moment). Getting too far away makes the microphone more subject to picking up room ambience – a sound that creates the effect of the vocalist being in a bowl. While vocalists may need to move about in order to hit those high notes, make every effort to maintain a constant distance from the microphone, as this will provide the greatest tonal balance. ( see Fig. 1 ) For the most part, the microphone’s axis (or center line) should aim toward the nose and mouth to obtain the fullest sound. It’s not a bad idea, however, to experiment angling the microphone slightly away from dead center so as to help minimize plosives. Further, you should always place a “pop” ﬁlter between the vocalist and the microphone, with the pop ﬁlter positioned 3 – 4 inches in front of the microphone. This will greatly increase your ability to achieve the most natural sounding recordings with minimal interference from plosive sounds. Fixing plosives with audio editing software often creates more of a problem than the plosive itself. Use of a pop ﬁlter will also protect your microphone’s sensitive capsule – keeping it free from moisture caused by saliva projecting from the performer’s mouth, and breath condensation. Remember… Good microphone technique, proper positioning, and use of a pop ﬁlter can make all the difference between a so-so vocal recording and a great one.

Recording Acoustic Guitar

While it may seem obvious, your best results for capturing the acoustic gui- tar (or any similar stringed instrument for that matter) begin with a properly tuned instrument and strings that, while not old, aren’t so new so as to create tuning issues due to stretching.

There are two optimum points for microphone positioning – either near the bridge or by the twelfth fret. While it may seem natural to place the microphone in front of the instrument’s sound hole, doing so usually increases low frequency response to the point of making the instrument sound “boomy.”

Twelfth Fret Placement: Placing the microphone roughly 2 – 4 inches from the twelfth fret and aimed directly at the strings will generally produce a warm, full bodied sound with good tonal balance. Using this technique, the sound hole’s contribution will be moderated since the microphone is not pointed directly at it.
Bridge Placement: Similarly, you can position the microphone so it is 3 – 6 inches from the guitar’s bridge. This will generally produce a somewhat brighter tonal quality. You should also be prepared to experiment positioning the microphone slightly off-axis should you ﬁnd yourself capturing too much low frequency response from the guitar’s sound hole.

The acoustical characteristics of your room will also have a pronounced effect on your results. A “live” room will produce an overall “brighter” guitar sound, while a “damped” room will produce more of a mellow tone. If you have two microphones, you may wish to experiment using one in close proximity to the guitar as previously described, with the second microphone on a stand a few feet away to capture the room’s ambience. Blending the two sources can produce excellent results.

Recording an Amplified (Electric) Guitar

While the electric guitar can certainly be recorded directly, there are times when there is simply no substitute for the sound of a real ampliﬁer. Guitar amps have particular gain stages that facilitate the popular “crunch” guitar sound. While digital modeling and processing systems certainly have their place, they may not have the same level of realism as the sound from an ampliﬁer. A small guitar amp can be just as effective for this ap-plication as a stack, because you don’t necessarily need to “crank” the volume. Instead, you want to increase the amp’s initial gain to achieve the desired amount of overdrive.
Typically, a guitar amp is close miked to achieve the highest direct sound. Placing the microphone roughly 4 inches from the grill, aimed directly at the center of the loudspeaker will produce the most “edge” to your sound. By angling the microphone slightly off axis and towards the wall, you can add more “room sound.” Experimentation is a key factor in achieving the sound you are looking for. ( see Fig. 3 )
Placement of the amp is another important factor. If the amplifier sits on a carpeted floor, you are more likely to reduce the amount of brightness in the sound. Similarly, elevating the amplifier off the floor may result in a loss of low end. If you’re looking for a big reverberant tone, placing the amp and microphone in the bathroom is another popular technique. The hard tiles and other reflective surfaces can do wonders for a dull sound. In this case, move the microphone back a few feet from the loudspeaker and crank it up!

Recording the Piano

The piano is one of the most challenging instruments to record, and many problems stem from the quality and maintenance of the instrument itself. You’ll obtain the best results by using an instrument that has just been tuned and is in good mechanical condition.
The piano is generally recorded using close miking technique. Ideally, you’ll want a minimum of two microphones. Usually, the microphone capturing the higher strings is assigned to the left channel and the microphone capturing the lower strings is assigned to the right channel in the ﬁnal stereo mix, though the stereo spread generally is not hard left and right. While a single microphone can be used, the lower and upper extremities of the instrument will likely be compromised.
Grand Piano: For the upper strings, position the microphone approximately 8 inches from the piano hammers (to reduce mechanical noise) and 8 – 11 inches above the strings, with the Pan position set to left of center. For the lower strings, position the microphone toward the far end (away from the keyboard) roughly 6 – 12 inches from the end and 8 – 11 inches above the strings, with the Pan position set to right of center. Position the piano’s lid at full stick. ( see Fig. 4A )
If you are using a single microphone, position the microphone approximately 8 inches from the piano hammers (to reduce mechanical noise) and 8 – 11 inches above the strings – centered over the piano’s mid point. Pan position should be centered and the piano’s lid should be at full stick.
Upright Piano: With an upright piano, the two microphones are generally placed either just over the top of the piano with the top open, or you can remove the piano’s front panel beneath the keyboard and place the microphones below.
Front Panel Placement: For the upper strings, position the microphone approximately 8 – 11 inches away from the strings, with the Pan position set to left of center. For the lower strings, position the microphone 8 – 11 inches away from the strings, with the Pan position set to right of center. ( see Fig. 4B )
Single Microphone / Open Top: If you are using a single microphone, it is generally recommended that you record from above, as placement of the microphone in the lower center may interfere with the performer’s ability to access the pedals and the microphone will likely pick up excessive pedal and other mechanical noise. Position the microphone just over the open top, centered over the instrument. ( see Fig. 4C )

Recording a Drum Set

Like the piano, capturing the drums can be quite a challenge, if for no other reason than the fact that you must be very careful to avoid positioning the microphone(s) where they could be hit! Ideally you’ll want a minimum of two microphones for this job, though a single microphone can be employed.

Stereo Overhead Pair: Position the two microphones approximately 16 – 20 inches above the performer’s head – separated laterally by roughly 2 – 3 feet and placed 5 – 6 feet out in front of the drum kit. Adjust the two microphone’s Pan position so that you achieve a good stereo spread, though generally not hard left and right. ( see Fig. 5A )
Single Overhead Microphone: Position the microphone approximately 16 – 20 inches above the performer’s head – centered in front of the drum set, and placed 5 – 6 feet out in front. The microphone’s Pan position should be centered for mono drums. ( see Fig. 5B )

For best results, record the drums in as acoustically “dead” a room as you can. If the room is live, the sharp attack transients of the drum kit will only become that much more difﬁcult to capture if the room has hard, reﬂective surfaces – result-ing in a muddy sound without any real deﬁnition. Further, you should always record the drums dry and add signal processing after the fact.

GENESIS Specs

Type: Vacuum Tube Studio Condenser Microphone
Tube Type: Mullard 12AT7 or equivalent
Diaphragm: 6 micron gold-sputtered
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Polar pattern: Cardioid
Output Impedance: 200 ohms
Pre-Attenuation Switch: 0 dB, -10 dB
High Pass Filter: 6 dB/octave @ 150 Hz
Equivalent noise: 18db (A-weighted IEC 268-4)
S/N Ratio: 78dB (Ref. 1Pa A-weighted)
Max SPL for .5% THD: 130 dB/140 dB (0dB, -10 dB pad)
Power Requirements: Dedicated power supply
Size: 59mm x 240mm
Weight: 1.55 lbs.
Metal Finish: Red with Gold Grill

Warranty

Marshall microphones are guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship for three years (except tube which is 90 days) from date of purchase. Should you encounter any problem with this unit, promptly contact the company you purchased it from for assistance. The original dated sales receipt will be necessary for any warranty claim. Do not send any unit directly to us without prior authorization from our service department! Warranty coverage is limited to repair or replacement (at our option) of the microphone, and does not cover incidental damages due to use of this unit, nor damage caused by accidental misuse of this product.

Marshall Electronics, Inc. Professional Audio Division, El Segundo, CA

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone?

The MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone is a high-end studio condenser microphone that features a Mullard 12AT7 tube and is designed for professional audio recording applications.

What distinguishes the MXL Genesis HE microphone from other studio microphones?

The MXL Genesis HE is celebrated for its exceptional warmth, vintage character, and high-quality components, making it a choice microphone for capturing vocals and various musical instruments.

What is the primary use of the MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone?

The MXL Genesis HE is primarily used for studio recording, including vocals, acoustic instruments, electric guitars, and other sound sources where vintage, tube-driven sound quality is desired.

Does the MXL Genesis HE require phantom power?

No, the MXL Genesis HE features an internal tube preamplifier and does not require phantom power. It is powered by its included power supply.

What is the included polar pattern of the MXL Genesis HE microphone?

The MXL Genesis HE typically features a cardioid polar pattern, which is ideal for capturing sound from the front while minimizing background noise.

What is the frequency response range of the MXL Genesis HE microphone?

The MXL Genesis HE is designed to capture audio within a specific frequency response range, providing rich and warm sound reproduction.

Does the MXL Genesis HE come with a shock mount or pop filter?

The MXL Genesis HE package typically includes a shock mount and a wooden storage case. A pop filter is not always included but can be added separately if needed.

Are there any included accessories with the MXL Genesis HE microphone, such as a carrying case?

The MXL Genesis HE package often includes a wooden carrying case for safe storage and transport, along with the shock mount for microphone mounting.

Are the tubes in the MXL Genesis HE replaceable, and how often should they be replaced?

The tubes in the MXL Genesis HE are replaceable. The frequency of replacement depends on usage and the specific tube type. It's advisable to follow manufacturer guidelines for tube replacement.

Is the MXL Genesis HE microphone compatible with standard microphone stands and boom arms?

Yes, the MXL Genesis HE typically features a standard microphone mount, making it compatible with most microphone stands and boom arms.

What is the warranty period for the MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone?

Warranty periods for the MXL Genesis HE microphone may vary, but they often range from 1 year to several years.

Can I use the MXL Genesis HE microphone with recording software on my computer?

Yes, you can use the MXL Genesis HE microphone with recording software on your computer by connecting it to an appropriate audio interface with XLR inputs.

Is the MXL Genesis HE suitable for live performances?

The MXL Genesis HE is primarily designed for studio recording due to its tube- based circuitry, but some users may choose to use it for live performances, especially in controlled sound environments.

Are there any known compatibility issues with specific audio interfaces or recording software?

The MXL Genesis HE is generally compatible with a wide range of audio interfaces and recording software, but it's advisable to check the product specifications and consult with the manufacturer for any specific compatibility concerns.

How should I care for and maintain the MXL Genesis HE microphone?

Proper care includes protecting it from physical damage, cleaning the microphone body and grille, and storing it in the included wooden case when not in use. Refer to the user manual for detailed maintenance instructions.

Where can I purchase the MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone?

You can typically purchase the MXL Genesis HE Premium Mullard Tube Microphone from authorized audio equipment retailers, music stores, or reputable online marketplaces to ensure you receive a genuine product.

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