MXL has announced the MXL Studio 1 portable USB condenser microphone, designed to be a low-cost mic for music training, field recording, and professional spoken word recordings.

According to MXL, it’s “excellent for podcasting and multimedia voiceover”.

The MXL® Studio 1 does not require any special drivers and is completely “Plug & Play” for instant use with any PC or Mac computer. The Studio 1 has an integrated headphone jack which provides zero latency monitoring and clear audio playback.

The Studio 1 features a large two-micron diaphragm condenser capsule with a 40 Hz-20 kHz frequency response. The digital section features a 16-bit Delta Sigma A/D converter with available sampling rates of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. A red LED light behind the protective grill indicates that the microphone is active and correctly oriented toward the user.

The MXL® Studio 1 includes a hard black plastic carrying case, desktop microphone stand / adapter, 10-foot USB cable, user’s manual, and application guide to get the most from your recordings.

The expected street price is $99.95 with a MSRP of $129.95. It is shipping now.