Mackie EM-91C Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

The EM-91C is the XLR large-diaphragm condenser in Mackie's EM Series, the one to reach for when a dynamic is not picking up enough of the top end. A big capsule and a cardioid pattern give it the detail that suits a vocal take, the body of a stringed instrument, or a little of the room brought in behind a close source.

It is aimed squarely at home studios, content creation and live streaming, where one mic has to cover voice-over on Monday and an acoustic guitar on Tuesday. Mackie includes a shock mount and an XLR cable in the box, and the PF-100 pop screen slides over the body for dialogue work. For the USB version of the same idea, the EM-91CU+ is the direct sibling.