Shure MX393/O Condenser Microphone - Omni

My initial reaction to this microphone was that the gain was a tad low. It didn't pick up my voice as well as I would've wanted. Once I moved it from a direct connection to my recording device (a Zoom H4n) to a Behringer mixer I was able to boost the gain enough to make it useful. As my title suggests, once you get past the gain issue, this microphone still fills a very small niche, because it is a niche within a niche. Here's why. This microphone is a "Boundary Microphone", which is generally used to pick up ambient sounds within a small area such as a conference table or a church alter. Basically, you place a microphone on a flat surface, such as a table and your table actually becomes a part of the microphone, thereby extending the normal pickup to include sounds that otherwise can't be picked up. Some people place mics like this in very unusual places, such as on a wall or the floor to pick up the room sounds or footsteps (great for picking up tap dance) ... on a piano door, to get a more full bodied sound. In my case, I have the MX393/S version which is the "Super-Cardiod" version, which means the microphone picks up a very narrow area within the boundary, so it rejects more sounds on the sides than the other versions. This microphone feels solid and heavy, which is important for a Boundary Microphone. It stays where you put it, and assuming it were placed on the floor, it seems strong enough to withstand being stepped on from time to time.

良いマイクです！ 気に入ってます！買って良かった！

Awesome little microphones. We use them for theatrical performances in public parks. Just bought a second set. Pickup is great, sound is great. We have a set that has lived through a bit of abuse - like getting kicked around in the dark, slightly rained on, etc.

Being that these are stage mics that sit on the stage i was impress how little the normal waking on the stage was picked up, considering it was a raised wood stage. but the audio was clear and they did a great job. Someone suggested one every 6 feet and that was good advice. Also I used the mixer to pan each one so i had a left center and right sound. it was great for playing back on a Surround system.

I use this boundary mic for live streaming our yoga classes over Zoom. The mic sounds great and is easy to set up. Because I place it on the floor, I find it sounds better when I am a few feet away, rather than standing right over it. The extra cost for this quality Shure mic is well worth it when comparing to the sound of cheaper budget mics. And the mic itself is of sturdy construction.