The name may be misleading to us in the UK where valve means the same as tube, nevertheless MXL Microphones, the professional audio division of Marshall Electronics, has introduced its M3 Silicon Valve solid-state microphone.
Building upon the success of the popular V6, MXL tell us that the M3 is large diaphragm, pressure-gradient condenser microphone with a warm, transparent sound reminiscent of popular vintage microphones from the early 60s. Optimized for vocal and dialog work, there are two M3 versions available—the M3-P, which is voiced specifically for female vocals, and the standard M3.
MXL say that the new M3 and M3-P microphones are the result of greater than three years of painstaking effort by engineers at Marshall Electronics’ HDTV labs in El Segundo, CA to create the warmth and transparent sonic clarity that is the hallmark of the Silicon Valve series. They tell us that the unique design of the M3’s balanced, transformer coupled, solid-state FET amplifier output stage bears a striking resemblance to the designs found in the front end of early British consoles, resulting in a sound that mimics the performance characteristics of tubes with uncanny accuracy . MXL believe that the M3 delivers a warm, natural sound that was previously unachievable at this price point.
Both developed and manufactured at Marshall’s headquarters in Southern California, the M3 employs a large 1-inch capsule with a gold sputtered, 6-micron diaphragm. As a solid-state microphone, the M3 requires neither an external power supply, nor does it take valuable time to warm up—as is common with tube microphones. The M3’s body is finished in a hi-tech, iridescent blue with a silver plated grill (pink and silver for M3-P) and ships in a cherry wood box.
Wayne Freeman, MXL’s Director of Sales and Marketing, commented on the company’s new offerings, “The new M3s has a classic look and solid construction coupled with an incredible sensitivity to capture the subtleties of the human voice. Even the most seasoned recording professional would be hard pressed to tell this isn’t a tube microphone.� Price and Availability
Available now with a MSRP of $349.95 for the MXL M3 ($369.95 for M3-P) More information:

• www.mxlmics.com
  
  
  

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