AC-83 - Microphone MXL - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Dimensions (with mount)	50 mm x 180 mm
Weight	0.5 kg
Power Requirement	+48V Phantom Power (IEC 61938)
Frequency Response	20 Hz - 20 kHz
Polar Pattern	Cardioid
Output Impedance	200 Ω
Sensitivity	-40 dBV/Pa (at 1 kHz)
Maximum SPL	130 dB (at 1 kHz, 0.5% THD)
Self-Noise	18 dB (A-weighted)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio	76 dB (A-weighted)
Connector	XLR-3M (balanced)
Included Accessories	Shock mount, carrying case, foam windscreen
Diaphragm Size	1.0 inch (25.4 mm), gold-sputtered Mylar
Housing Material	Brass body with black nickel finish
Recommended Applications	Studio vocals, acoustic instruments, voice-over
Maintenance	Wipe with a soft dry cloth; avoid moisture and dust
Safety Information	Use only with phantom power supply; keep away from magnetic fields
Spare Parts & Repairability	Contact MXL authorized service; no user-serviceable parts
General Notes	Professional-grade condenser microphone for critical recording

Frequently Asked Questions - AC-83 MXL

What type of power does the MXL AC-83 require?

The MXL AC-83 is a condenser microphone and requires +48V phantom power according to IEC 61938 standards.

What is the polar pattern of the AC-83?

The MXL AC-83 features a cardioid polar pattern, which picks up sound primarily from the front and rejects noise from the sides and rear.

How do I clean the MXL AC-83?

Clean the microphone body with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid using liquids, abrasives, or solvents. Protect the grille from dust and moisture.

What accessories are included with the AC-83?

The package includes a shock mount, a carrying case, and a foam windscreen to reduce handling noise and plosives.

What is the frequency response of the MXL AC-83?

The microphone has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, suitable for capturing a wide range of sound sources.

Is the MXL AC-83 suitable for recording vocals?

Yes, the AC-83 is ideal for studio vocals, acoustic instruments, and voice-over due to its large diaphragm condenser design.

What connector does the AC-83 use?

The microphone uses a 3-pin XLR male connector for balanced audio output. A standard XLR cable is required.

Can I use the AC-83 without phantom power?

No, the AC-83 is a condenser microphone and requires +48V phantom power to operate. It will not work with dynamic or USB microphone inputs.

What is the maximum SPL of the MXL AC-83?

The maximum SPL is 130 dB at 1 kHz (0.5% THD), allowing it to handle loud sound sources like drums or guitar amplifiers.

How do I set up the AC-83 for first use?

Connect the microphone to an audio interface or mixer via XLR cable, enable +48V phantom power, attach the shock mount, and position the microphone with the front (logo side) facing the sound source.

USER MANUAL AC-83 MXL

Close-up of a black audio recording device with a blue indicator light and a logo on the cover (no visible text or symbols on the device itself)

Bluetooth LE 5.0 Enable Boundary Microphone

User Manual

Windows PC Pairing Procedure

Open the Bluetooth and other devices system settings on your Windows PC. These settings can be found by typing "Bluetooth and other devices" in the search box at the bottom of the screen and pressing Enter.

Use the Bluetooth toggle slider to turn Bluetooth ON, then click the Add Bluetooth or other device button. The Bluetooth Add a device window will then appear on screen.

Next you will want to initiate pairing mode on the MXL AC83. Press and hold the Bluetooth Power Button for 6-8 seconds to enable pairing mode.

Close-up of a black square electronic device with a logo and a finger pointing to its side (no visible text or symbols on the device body)

The blue and yellow LEDs will begin flashing to indicate that the unit is in pairing mode.

Next click on the Bluetooth option in the Add a device window.

Bluetooth devices within range will begin appearing in the window. Select MXL AC83 once it appears on screen.

The PC and microphone will now attempt to establish a Bluetooth connection. Once the device has been successfully paired, the flashing on the MXL AC83 will stop and the yellow LED will remain illuminated. A message will pop up on screen indicating that the pairing was successful.

Now that a microphone has been successfully paired with the computer, you will need to select the correct settings in the Sound settings control panel. Type "sound settings" in the search box at the bottom of the screen and press enter to open the Sound settings control panel window.

The Sound settings control panel window will appear showing your currently active sound devices. You will need to select the correct devices for both Input and Output.

For the Input device, select Headset Microphone (MXL AC83 Hands-Free AG Audio).

For the Output device, you can enable the AC83 headphone output by selecting Speakers (MXL AC83 Stereo). You can alternatively select your current speakers or your computer's headphone output.

Your MXL AC83 microphone is now ready to use with your Windows PC.

Important note if you are having problems with the AC83 headphone output:

There are two different Bluetooth profiles that Windows will automatically switch between: Mono output and Stereo output. Mono output is chosen when you are simultaneously using the microphone input. When there is no microphone input present, the higher quality Stereo profile is used instead. Unfortunately, some Windows applications may not switch Bluetooth profiles correctly, requiring you to manually select the appropriate output.

To select the correct audio output, find your desktop icons on the bottom right corner of the screen and left click the audio icon.

Left click the text showing your current output device.

For high quality stereo output with no microphone input, select Speakers (MXL AC83 Stereo)

For mono output with simultaneous microphone input, select Headset Earphone (MXL AC83-A Hands-Free AG Audio).

Mac Pairing Procedure

Open the Apple menu the at the top-left corner of the screen and select System Preferences.

Select the Bluetooth icon in the System Preferences panel.

Confirm that Bluetooth is set to On. If Bluetooth is Off, click the Turn Bluetooth On button.

Next you will want to initiate pairing mode on the MXL AC83. Press and hold the Bluetooth Power Button for 6-8 seconds to enable pairing mode.

Close-up of a black Xiaomi-branded electronic device with a finger pointing to its side (no visible text or symbols)

The blue and yellow LEDs will begin flashing to indicate that the unit is in pairing mode.

MXL AC83-A should now appear in the Bluetooth menu. Click the Connect button to initiate a Bluetooth connection.

The computer and microphone will now attempt to establish a Bluetooth connection. Once the device has been successfully paired, the flashing on the MXL AC83 will stop and the yellow LED will remain illuminated.

Now that a microphone has been successfully paired with the computer, you will need to select the correct sound settings. Return to the System Preferences panel and select the Sound icon.

For the Input device, select MXL AC83.

For the Output device, you can enable the AC83 headphone output by selecting MXL AC83. You can alternatively select your current speakers or any other output device.

Your MXL AC83 microphone is now ready to use with your Mac computer.

Turning Bluetooth ON/OFF

Briefly press the Bluetooth Power Button to turn Bluetooth ON or OFF. When turning Bluetooth ON, LED 1 will begin flashing to indicate the microphone is attempting to link back

with the most recently paired device. Once the unit has re-connected with the most recently paired device, LED 1 will illuminate solid yellow and LED 3 will turn on.

USB-C Audio

To enable USB audio, simply connect the microphone to a computer using a standard USB-C cable.

Headphone Output

3.5mm headphone connector for audio output

Mute Button

The capacitive mute button can be used to mute both Bluetooth audio as well as USB audio. To mute the device, briefly press the MXL logo. The LED will change from Blue to Red indicating the device has been muted.

LED 1 - Bluetooth Status

The Bluetooth Power Button has a built-in yellow LED to indicate that Bluetooth is enabled or if the device is pairing.

Solid Yellow - Bluetooth is enabled

Flashing Yellow – Bluetooth pairing

OFF - Bluetooth is disabled

LED 1 will also very briefly flash after pressing the Bluetooth Power Button.

LED 2 - Battery Status

LED 2 is used to indicate the current status of the battery.

Solid Blue – Battery is charging. Once the battery is fully charged LED 2 will turn off.

Flashing Blue – Bluetooth pairing (only when unit is not being charged)

Red - Low battery

Purple – The battery is low and is currently being charged LED 2 will also very briefly flash after pressing the Bluetooth Power Button.

LED 3 - Mute Status

LED 3 indicates the mute status of the microphone. This LED will only turn on if USB audio is connected or if Bluetooth has successfully paired with another device.

Red - The Mic is muted

Blue - The Mic is ON

OFF – There is no Bluetooth connection or USB audio present

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