MXL Tempo Microphone Price, Specs, Reviews & Discussions

About the MXL Tempo mic

The MXL Tempo is a USB condenser microphone designed to make recording as simple as plugging into your computer. It connects directly via the included USB cable and requires no drivers or extra hardware, which makes it an appealing choice for people who want to record quickly without hauling around an audio interface. At its core, it’s a condenser mic powered over USB, offering a cardioid polar pattern and a frequency response of 40 Hz to 18 kHz, so it captures a wide range of sounds with decent clarity.

One of the first things you notice about the Tempo is its look. It comes in multiple finishes, including black with red grille, white with red grille, and silver with black grille. The dual-color design gives it a modern feel, and while the build isn’t “premium” like some studio mics, the metal body and grille prevent it from feeling cheap. It’s also fairly lightweight at about 280 grams, which makes it portable enough to toss in a bag for on-the-go recording.

Sound-wise, the Tempo performs respectably for a mic in its class. It tends to emphasize the midrange while being a bit rolled off in the highs, which can give it a slightly vintage or subdued character compared to brighter USB condensers. Depending on what you’re recording, that can be a good or bad thing. Vocals can come across warm and smooth, but if you’re expecting a sparkling top end, you might feel it’s missing some presence. It does handle background noise decently well thanks to its cardioid pattern, so things like keyboard clicks or side noise are reduced, but you’ll still need to get fairly close—about four inches—for the clearest voice capture.

The Tempo also includes a headphone jack for monitoring, but here’s where it falls short. The monitoring isn’t true zero-latency; instead, it plays back audio from the computer, which always introduces a slight delay. For casual use, this isn’t a dealbreaker, but for anyone trying to monitor their own voice in real time while recording, it can get frustrating. In practice, most people will find it easier to monitor directly from their computer’s headphone output rather than using the mic’s jack.

Where the Tempo feels a bit dated is in its digital side. The A/D conversion is 16-bit with support for 44.1 to 48 kHz sample rates, which was standard at the time but is showing its age now that many modern USB mics offer 24-bit resolution. The manual even lists compatibility with USB 1.1 and references services like Google Talk, which makes it clear this is based on older USB mic technology. That doesn’t make it unusable, but it does put it behind newer models in terms of conversion quality and flexibility.

The included accessories are simple but cover the basics: a short desktop tripod stand, a mic clip, and a USB cable. The tripod is a nice gesture, but in practice it places the mic too low on a desk, which means your voice gets picked up at a distance with more room reflections. For best results, you’ll want to mount it on a proper boom arm or taller stand. Still, the mic’s small size and portability do make it easy to carry around for travel or quick setups.

In terms of use cases, the Tempo works fine for casual podcasts, video calls, and simple vocal recording, but it isn’t the strongest choice if you want broadcast-level quality. Being a condenser, it’s also more sensitive than a dynamic USB mic, which means it will pick up room noise if your environment isn’t treated. For that reason, it may not be the best fit for podcasters in noisy spaces, but it can be useful for musicians or anyone who appreciates its slightly warmer tone.

Overall, the MXL Tempo is a decent budget USB microphone that prioritizes portability and simplicity over cutting-edge sound. At around $70, it’s not a bad buy if you want something quick, plug-and-play, and visually stylish. Just keep in mind its quirks: a monitoring jack that isn’t truly useful, a bundled stand that’s too short, and audio specs that feel a bit behind the times. If you’re okay with those trade-offs, it delivers a serviceable sound with its own midrange-focused character.

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Technical Specs

MXL Tempo Mic user manual

Our Review for MXL Tempo Mic

MXL Tempo Prices*

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Amazon USA

69.95 USD

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