With a smooth and natural sound that makes it an excellent choice for vocals, acoustic guitars, drum overheads and so much more, the ribbon microphone is a versatile addition to any studio. If you’re ready to make the leap into the wide-ranging world of ribbon mics, the MXL R40 is an ideal point of entry. Boasting a quality build and classic ribbon mic warmth, the R40 delivers solid all-around performance and exceptional value.

MXL was founded over 30 years ago with the goal of offering high-quality, easy-to-use microphones at an accessible price—and the R40 delivers on all those fronts. Featuring vintage-inspired styling and timeless ribbon technology that provides robust low end and velvety highs, it’s a great addition to any mic locker—and one you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again. And with its ultra-affordable price tag, you may just want to pick up two to capture your sound in stereo.

Classic Ribbon Mic Design for Reliable Performance

With its elegant looks and eye-catching chrome detailing, the MXL R40 harks back to the iconic ribbon mics of the ’30s and ’40s—and boasts a timeless sound to match. Its economic design focuses on two main components—a precision-engineered ribbon transducer and transformer. The 1.8-micron aluminum ribbon delivers a rich, round tone that makes vocals shimmer, while the mic’s classic passive circuitry is designed for maximum signal integrity. Boasting the solid bass response and smooth highs you expect from a ribbon mic, the R40 is perfect for capturing drums, guitar cabinets, horns and pianos in rich sonic detail.

Figure-8 Polar Pattern for Focused Sound

The MXL R40 features a figure-8 polar pattern with excellent off-axis rejection, making it ideal for clear and focused sound capture. It’s a great option for drum kits and other multi-mic setups with potential for sound bleed. And with its rolled-off top end and tight polar pattern, the R40 handles horns with ease. Ribbon mics are a classic choice for close-miking guitar cabinets—you may also want to pair your R40 with a moving coil dynamic mic like a Shure SM57 for a timeless guitar tone that balances thick low end with detailed mid-high sparkle. Experimenting with mic placement can open up a world of possibilities with the R40—try setting it a few feet back from your source to bring in a bit of ambient sound with its bidirectional pickup pattern.

Rugged Construction That’s Built to Last

Constructed with high-quality components you can depend on, the MXL R40 may be budget priced, but it’s built to last. This vintage-style ribbon mic isn’t just gorgeous to look at—it's also impressively solid. It features a rugged all-metal chassis with a sturdy all-metal mesh grille that can handle the rigors of the road and the demands of the studio. The included shockmount adds to the R40’s unbeatable value, protecting your recordings from unwanted low-frequency rumble and structure-borne vibrations. The R40 also comes with a microfiber cleaning cloth to keep your microphone in pristine condition—gleaming chrome accents and all—for years to come.

An Affordable Option for Stereo Sound

If you’re interested in exploring the possibilities of stereo sound, the MXL R40 is the perfect mic to help kickstart your journey. Its figure-8 polar pattern and smooth high-frequency roll-off make it a natural choice for stereo applications, while its impressively low price makes pulling the trigger on a second one an easy decision. Add a pair of R40s to your recording rig to broaden your sonic horizons—use them to capture acoustic guitars and piano in gorgeous stereo detail, work with them as overheads to deliver huge drum sounds or pull them out for ensemble recordings to create expansive sounds that draw the listener into the room with you.