Microphone Madness Products

Max Warasila

Max Warasila

Graduate
Feb 20, 2013
1,217
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Richmond, VA
Now, I hate to keep boring the general public with theatrical applications, but I've been predominately working on these shows as of late.

I want to start off by saying that this has nothing to do just yet with a purchasing decision. I've been wondering recently about the quality and viability of MM-PSM and MM-PSM-L products. Does anybody have experience with these, especially over a longer period of time (i.e. Dick, I thought you mentioned these once)? I'm wondering about reliability, sound quality (specifically distortion), and of course their actual ability to replace standards like the E3 and B3 in lower budget cases. I'm also looking for any measurements, recordings, or portfolio pictures that are out there using the products, besides the manufacturer ones. I've looked around a bit but with little to no luck.

What have you all got?
 
Re: Microphone Madness Products

I've been using PSM-Ls for community theatre for 4-5 years now, and I think I've only lost 2 (out of maybe 10-12) in that time, one from being painted silver by the Tin Man's wife, and the other had a cable break from me bending it too much while making a halo.

In comparison to the other mics I have access to (MKE2, B6, B3, 4061) they aren't quite as natural-sounding, and they distort earlier than the others at VERY high levels (e.g. yelling with the mic taped halfway down the cheek) but in general I have been very happy. Certainly I don't feel happy spending any more on mics that will go on amateurs and/or kids, and in most applications they sound just fine, certainly in the house.

They are small, too, not quite B6 small, but smaller than all the others I've mentioned.

If you want, I can PM you some vocal track recordings from a show I did recently with four B6s and two PSM-Ls. I don't have the raw inputs, unfortunately (I recorded post-fader and hence post-EQ) but maybe it will be useful.
 
Re: Microphone Madness Products

They're a bit "grainy" sounding, but perfectly good for amatuer stuff in smaller venues. I've never actually heard them alongside anything else on the same show actually, so they'd have been used with cheaper RF. I've never felt that they were much of a weak link on those shows.

Chris
 
Re: Microphone Madness Products

I do lots of youth, college, and semi-pro musical theatre. I've purchased over 2 dozen of the PSM-L's in the past 3 years and am on a first name basis with Mike at MicrophoneMadness. Sound quality wise, no, they are not a B6, but at 1/3 the price, they are much better than 1/3 the sound quality. They are significantly better than any other head worn mic in the same price range. I tend to be in less than ideal situations, so the microphone is not where I would place blame. These are being used on the MiPro ACT7x series wireless.

The biggest failure point I've had is at the connector just after the strain relief. Actors tend to not be as careful as I'd like with positioning. The wire will get pinched just outside the strain relief. That said, it takes SERIOUS abuse to cause this failure. They are relatively easy to repair. I bought a jewelers lamp to help when doing these repairs. They carry a nice warranty and Mike has repeatedly told me to just send units in for repair, but I'm handy with a soldering iron and I can solder faster than UPS can drive.

Over time, sweat will build up in the element and change its response. I'm starting to see it with some of my oldest units. The oldest units probably have 18-24 3week runs on them. They've paid for themselves many times over.

I own 16ch of wireless, and plan on expanding. The PSM-L will continue to be my choice of element as long as they are around and I'm not given a 6 figure budget.

I wish I had some raw recordings to share.
 
Re: Microphone Madness Products

I have never actually used the MM mics but I have had them in my hands when I was doing some frequency coordination for a school. They were the single over the ear type. I thought they were a bit too flexible, but I understand you can get a version that has a stiffer over the ear part. I also understand that you can order them in whatever length (of the part on the face) that you want. My biggest complaint with the Countryman E6 is that the standard length is too long. I want the mic element to wind up about one inch back form the mouth when it is fully open for singing. I understand that you can also order the E6 in a custom length but you can’t return it if you are unhappy with it.

I have really wanted to try the MM mics but I haven’t had the opportunity yet.
 
Re: Microphone Madness Products

Have some at the theater - no failures so far (though they don't get used as much as the E6s). Order by phone and request extra stiff ear loops - the standard ones are very wimpy (unless they have changed in the last few years).

On one show the (very whispery) lead's E6 cable crapped and I was out of spares so I had to put an MM on him - he sounded better on the MM.
 
Re: Microphone Madness Products

Thank you all for your responses; they were very helpful. After reading this, my impression is that they are another tool in the toolbox, and worth having in the toolbox.
 
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