JS-1 TUBE Condenser Microphone, Multipattern

I bought this mic with the hope that it'd be exactly as it promised. A good multi-pattern mic, at good price, and a good place to start with a home studio. I was shocked at first when no one had reviewed this mic because it seemed like a legitimate good microphone but as I looked I noted there really wasn't anything online about it at all except some videos on Youtube that aren't in English. After I ordered it I noticed it had to be plugged in with a 7 pin cable (not very common to find and easy to break as I've been told) that came with it and the power supply had to be switched down to 120. After trying for hours to get even a single hair of a level on my mixer, trying everything from asking friends and family for help to testing the cables to no success. I myself am a certified audio engineer and the friend I got to help me is a live sound engineer with years of experience so it's not like this is anything to new for either of us. Maybe it's the fact that the mic is designed to be running through a 7 point xlr power supply out to a 3 point xlr and then into a usb interface via a mixing board or maybe it's just bad luck but either way the mic doesn't work and I am returning it. The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars apposed to one is cause I knew there wasn't much info on it and I'm hoping this isn't a regular occurrence. Buy at your own risk, but if you ask me it isn't worth a dime.

I rarely take the time to write a product review, however, I bought this mic 2 months ago and was compelled to chime in when I saw the odd review by an "certified audio engineer" who had to turn to friends and family for help testing it. Most tube mics use a 7 pin cable between the mic and power supply to power the tube and other electronics. Then, the power supply connects to your recording device via any xlr cable. If the 7 pin cable does break they are expensive to replace. But the 7 pin cable included with this mic is well built and does not seem likely to break easily. Especially since tube mics are built for studio work, not touring. The only time I would need to move it is from studio to studio. The 7 pin cable is about 30 feet which is very generous, the shock mount does its job and it comes with a large foam windscreen as a bonus. The carrying case is solid, as is the mic itself and it feels and looks terrific, especially with the glow from the tube emanating from the red window. Another value feature of this mic is that it can be set at 9 multi-pattern settings conveniently at the power supply. I especially like the omni direction setting and singing with the top of the mic pointed near the mouth for a very clear focused sound that will cut through a mix. This mic compares very favorably to my other mics that are 2 or 3 times more expensive and I wouldn't hesitate to use it on key tracks. My only criticism of this mic is that it had a low level hum, not uncommon with tube equipment, but distracting. After reorganizing the cabling and power throughout my system, the hum is barely audible. You can also replace the tube by unscrewing the 2 bottom screws, screwing in (not out) the screw on the side, and sliding out the circuit board in the mic shell after removing the top grill.

I bought this mic based on my extensive experience with vintage tube microphones. For $300 you get a 9-pattern large capsule condenser microphone with a tube preamplifier. Much like the M-49, you change the patterns on the power supply. They are cheap enough to fill the rafters of a concert hall and be able to switch patterns at will. The connecting cable is about 30 meters long. You get the audio out of a standard 3-pin XLR connector on the power supply. I have been using this mic for several years on everything from voiceovers, live streaming, acoustic guitar and vocal tracking. It's built like a tank with a zinc-alum alloy die cast body, tough mesh screen and a cool red window where you can see the tube glowing - great visual indicator that the mic is on. The shock mount spider works well, but it doesn't lock the microphone in place, so I wouldn't trust it to hang the mix upside down. High pass filter and 10dB pad are available with small slide switches on the sides. Occasionally there is a slight hum on the audio, which seems to be a characteristic of these tube mics. Careful re-arranging of the cables, and/or ground lifts will eliminate that issue. This is the best microphone value in the world. I'm not a "certified" audio engineer, but I've done more than 500 sessions on 2"/24 track in the 80s and 90s. I'm familiar with dozens of European vintage tube mics and the JTS JS-1tube reminds me of those vintage mics with it's warm, saturated tone. You'll love it too, I'm sure!