Mojave MA-37 Microphone | Full Demo and Review

The Mojave MA-37 is a recreation of the vintage large diaphragm Sony C37a - the first condenser microphone manufactured in Japan which first appeared around 1955, and has since grown rarer and incredibly expensive.
Today we’re going to put the Mojave up as a single mic on some drums, and then we’re going to do a quick shoot out between it and an original Sony on vocalist and performer Andy Golledge with an a cappella version of his track Baby Mumma. Let’s see how similar they sound, what the differences are, and what the Mojave has to offer.
#mojave #ma37 #engineeringthesound

[@beatjegen2733]

Thanks for the great review! I would have preferred to have the same vocal take for the comparison between the Mojave and the Sony. I bet the takes were similar but the perfomance can make a big difference in sound... What did you think of the noise floor/hum? I've had a demo of the MA37 for quite a while now and I fell in love with the sound of the mic. But the noise/hum was too loud, except for (close) drum or guitar cab micing.

[@siriusfun]

Nice job, lads! Mine's on order - should have it this week. Cheers!

[@willstrattonmusic]

Really interesting vocal comparison between the MA-37 and the C37a! Thanks for doing it. To my ear, the frequency response sounds very similar, but the C37a sounds more saturated in the low mids, and somehow sounds a little bit more "alive." But there's no question that the MA-37 fills the C37a's shoes very well. Adding the MA-37 to my wishlist.

[@BeauStephenson]

That's because he's closer to the Sony. The proximity effect is boosting the low mids.

[@willstrattonmusic]

@@BeauStephenson I'm not so sure--there's enough head movement going on that I'm not sure the slightly closer average distance with the Sony would completely explain the difference in low-mid response. I think it may have more to do with the Sony having an older capsule (and perhaps a capsule with additional microns of thickness in the diaphragm)

[@drewsleyy3836]

@@BeauStephenson agreed. At that distance, even a few inches difference can yield a dramatically different bass response

[@siriusfun]

@@BeauStephenson Indeed. And as a result, the signal's a tad louder, too.

[@MrSeeker42]

Finally a review and demo of this mic. Waited for years. I definitely prefer the sound of the Mojave to the Sony. Smooth and tamed top-end helps digital recordings sound warmer and not overly-clinical.

[@intheblink]

Sounds really nice! Love your gear reviews.

[@ReallyTenacious]

This mic with the drums are actually insane

[@docmcbungas3303]

Big fan of gear content like this 🤠

[@scrummastermind]

It’s not even close to the Sony C-37. Thanks for this video.

[@HappyMagTV]

wow... really? can you go a little deeper into that observation please?

[@BeauStephenson]

haha. It's almost identical. He's singing closer to the sony, so that one's got a boost in the low mids from proximity. The Mojave has a slightly clearer soundstage from having a brand new capsule.

[@siriusfun]

This. @@BeauStephenson

[@danielburns4483]

Vintage mics all sound so wildly different even with the same model (source: I own about ten OG neumanns, AKG's and sennheisers and use them every day)

[@cowboytonydee]

Are they gain matched?

[@kbb149]

Doesn't sound like it, but it looks like he's singing closer to Sony than the Mojave. It sounds like that, too.

[@azarlane9553]

The problem is you chose the wrong vocalist to test this mic. Nothing against the singer, but this vocalist needs an SM7B or a ribbon to tame his very raspy vocals. Ouch! Next time you showcase a crooner’s microphone, please use a real Crooner. Thanks.

[@4_minute_warning]

What high-end mic would you use for distorted vocals similar to the grunge era (mostly Layne Staley)?

[@4_minute_warning]

I know in some studio shots I've seen just a plain U87, I'm not too psyched about that mic though it doesnt have a lot of color to it for my ears. I'm looking into the MA-37 for a more colorful/body heavy sound but I'm not sure after hearing this, not sure how distorted/scream vocals would come across on this type of mic.

[@4_minute_warning]

Either way I'm looking for something that has a lot of body, so the voice sounds really full and fills up the mix, and something that can stand up to very loud singing volume

[@azarlane9553]

@@4_minute_warning the U87ai (not the U87) through a 1073 pre has been used to record more rock vocals than you can count. If you are willing to spend that much, do it. Avoid most tube mics because generally their capsules tend to distort with high SPL’s. I would lean towards the TLM170R, 193, 107 or a U89 over the regular U87 for high-spl sources.

[@azarlane9553]

@@4_minute_warning the irony is that often the cheaper you go, the better screamers tend to sound. Such as the SM7B. I would try the AT4033, AT4060 if you don’t want to spend on a U87ai but want some color. The ma-37 is great but is trying to emulate the Sony C37, which was a mic from the crooner era. Think Frank Sinatra. It’s meant for softer, more articulate and soulful singing, not aggressive rock vocals.