Martel mic

[Kerry F]

Is it my imagination or has anyone found that the recent Martel mics aren't as good as the older ones?

My Martel mic which I've used for probably eight years was just starting to wear out so I bought a new one.  I don't think the new mic records "as loud" or as clear is my old mic.  Same laptops, same settings.

Anyone have this experience?

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I bought a Martel mic a few years back and paid over 300 for it and the sound quality was terrible.  My scopist said she barely could hear anything.  Martel wouldn't give me my money back.  I'll never buy another microphone through them again.  What a rip-off!!

I went to Amazon.com and bought a USB microphone and it's great.  Costs about $75.   Here's a picture of it.

[Kerry F]

Martel said to send it in and they'd check it out.

I think I found the problem though. I think the "record" speaker on my Fujitsu laptop is going bad.  It's attached to the motherboard, but I'm under warranty.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Like always, I need to butt in.  After I get my writer battery replace (this weekend), I am ready to get a job.  It has been on my mind for months now, what mic to buy.

 

I thought the Martel mics were about $100 or $150.  How come you ended up with one that cost $300?

(I will definitely check out the Amazon $75 mic).

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I'm not quite sure why it was so expensive, as it's been years now that I bought it.  I just remember being sick to my stomach to have to throw it away after spending that much money on it.  Maybe I got the best one they supposedly have.  They probably don't even sell it anymore because it didn't work very well.

Save your $$$ and go with the Amazon one.  I'm very happy with it.

[Lisa Moskowitz]

I don't know what they sell now, but when I bought Martel mics, the $150 one was the model that you plug into the microphone jack, and it needed a battery.  The $300 one was the USB model that didn't need a battery.  I didn't like the $300 mic either and after reading about Kelly's issues with Martel, I just sold it on eBay.  I haven't bought from Martel since; so I don't know which versions they currently sell.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I sure hope Martel reads all these comments about what shitty customer service they have and maybe get their act together.  I've talked to multiple videographers and they say the Martel microphones are not worth even close to what they charge for them.  That company is just greedy.  They will never get another dime of my money, that's for sure.

[Susan Magee]

Thanks for the recommendation on the MXL AC404 USB Conference Microphone, Kelli.  I just got it and tested it out.  It works great :)

[Mary Jo Cochran]

-- Martel microphones are not worth even close to what they charge for them.  That company is just greedy.  They will never get another dime of my money, that's for sure.

 

Martel has a tape recorder "that all court reporters use" at about $100.00.  I got it on Amazon for $40.00.