Tube mics are the gold standard when it comes to capturing those warm, rich vocals that all we know and love. As a foundational audio solution, the natural compression that tube mics provide is second to none and desired by musicians around the world. At MXL, we’re obsessed with capturing the most pristine sound possible, and the dedication that we put into our REVELATION offerings represents our commitment to supporting artists, so that they can create great music.
Setting the standard for tube mics
The original REVELATION tube microphone was a massive hit right off the bat. They say when something isn’t broken, don’t fix it–so instead, we enhanced it. Utilizing the latest design and manufacturing technologies, we welcomed the REVELATION II tube microphone to the MXL family in April 2020. As the successor to the renowned REVELATION tube microphone, the REVELATION II offers musicians the remarkable clarity and versatility of the classic MXL REVELATION but is more accessible to musicians on a budget.
Offering the classic tube mic sound, the REVELATION II is an ideal solution for capturing lush vocals and instrumentals for a variety of genres. Although geared towards studio use, the REVELATION II is a versatile and flexible solution that is great for both home and studio recordings, and its simple set up makes it a perfect solution for recording while on the road.
Any polar pattern for the job
Adding to the mic’s versatility, the REVELATION II’s polar pattern selection is virtually limitless, controllable by a variable pattern control knob. Barry Rudolph, contributing editor at MIX Magazine and writer for Music Connection Magazine, recently put the REV II through its paces by testing out its different polar pattern options. “I put the REVELATION II to work recording lead vocals at my studio while playing around with its various polar patterns,” he says. “If I am looking for more room tone in a lead vocal sound, or I am recording backing vocals, I like the omnidirectional option. On the other hand, the mic’s figure-eight polar pattern offers proximity effects, so you get a big fat sound on multiple singers as if you have a REV II for each artist. For my lead vocal track, I went with cardioid, and I love the big sound of this mic. I heard all the nuance and tone of my singer with clean highs and tight lows. And better than ever, the REVELATION II costs less than the original REVELATION, which I first tested out in 2010. I know I can always count on MXL’s REVELATION offerings for a rich, warm sound.”
Recording at home
When Hunter Wolfe, guitarist and vocalist of Born Crooked, was forced to switch gears at the beginning of the pandemic, he knew he could turn to MXL to support his transition to recording from home. “We have a number of new songs that were slated to be recorded in-studio, but instead, we are recording them from our homes and MXL has been a part of this process every step of the way,” he says. “When I first received the REV II, I plugged it straight into my DAW and tracked without any EQ, COMP or pre/post processing to see what the mic sounded like on its own. This was the first time that I ever truly liked the sound I was hearing from my vocal track without having to add processing. The mic is rich, full-bodied with a clarity that I haven’t found in any other mic.”
For Carlos Henriquez, Bassist for Jazz at Lincoln Center, MXL was able to provide support as he recorded from home for the first time. “When we first began working from home, I had nothing to offer in terms of recording gear other than my iPhone and laptop,” he says. “As soon as the REVELATION II arrived at my house, I was immediately impressed. From the presentation of the package, to the mic case, I could tell this was going to be a solid mic. With the REV II, the audio files I was capturing in my project studio went up twofold in terms of clarity and quality.”
Singer/Songwriter Joshua P. Fields also jumped on the MXL bandwagon when seeking a high-quality microphone solution to deploy at home. For Fields, recording tracks with the REVELATION II is his first hands-on experience with a tube mic and he says he can definitely hear the difference in his mixes. “Working with the REVELATION II tube mic has been incredible,” he says. “It offers me more versatility when mixing and enhances the detail of my tracks, which allows me to get the exact sound I desire.”
Expanding the REVELATION family
Following the success of both our classic REVELATION and REVELATION II mics, we knew we couldn’t stop there. We recently set out to create a mic that has the same intimacy and warmth of a tube mic but is built around a FET circuit with a smaller footprint—leading to the birth of the newest REVELATION family member, the REVELATION MINI FET. While everyone loves a beautiful, elegant-sounding tube mic, sometimes artists require a smaller, more durable solution. With these needs in mind, we put a great deal of energy into the design of the new REVELATION MINI FET in order to preserve the classic REVELATION sound while increasing the mic’s flexibility.
“The REVELATION MINI FET offers great sound, versatility, outstanding value and is a rock-solid solution (even in high SPL situations) with focused representation on numerous sound sources,” says Audio Engineer and TapeOp magazine reviewer Dylan Ray. “Don’t look at the price and think ‘budget.’ This mic is a little workhorse that will be useful in several recording applications. If you’re building your mic locker, you’ll get a lot of mileage out of MXL’s REV MINI FET.”
Today more than ever, it is crucial for artists to have access to budget-friendly solutions that will not compromise on audio quality—and that’s exactly what they can expect with our REVELATION mics. By keeping our ear to the ground and placing our customers’ needs above all, we look forward to seeing how we can expand the REVELATION family even further.
Check out this vocal recording demonstration using the Revelation II!