Studio Project Mic's...any good?

[chessparov]

Sorry Oz, didn't mean to imply your review wasn't "good" also.

Chris

[muddy]

Originally posted by chessparov
IMHO, Rip Rowen did an excellent (positive) review of the C1 over at www.prorec.com as referred to previously in this thread.

yeah, it's right under their positive, glowing review of the behringer composer...


ml

[shikawkee]

The Studio Projects mics can be useful but be careful-they can be VERY sibilant. I had to remix a few songs on the record I just finsihed because of this. Also be cautious when using the C-3 in omni pattern unless you have a very quite, great sounding room.

[chessparov]

Good point Muddy, however, Rip didn't write up the Behringer!

In the calmer waters of dynamics, on many singers, a used Beyer M88, EV 666, or (reputably) the Sennheiser 441, will be among the "top shelf" vocal microphones-regardless of price.

And they can each be had for under $300 used, so you don't have to drop a grand or two, unless you're aiming for a certain sound IMHO.

Chris

P.S. The B1 is pretty "sibilant" resistant.

[groove guru]

It's kind of funny, but my C1 only sounds good through my VC1 pre. I have better preamps that sound way better on every other mic that I have, but the C1 sounds like a chain saw on everything else.

[muddy]

Originally posted by chessparov
Good point Muddy, however, Rip didn't write up the Behringer!

hence my use of the word "their" instead of "him."


ml

[shikawkee]

Originally posted by shikawkee
[Also be cautious when using the C-3 in omni pattern unless you have a very quite, great sounding room. [/B]

Of course I meant 'quiet' room. A REALLY quiet room <g>.

[sonic dogg]

My B3 Studio Projects sounds better than all the C1's I've heard(several) and as good as a few $500+ mics I've used.It has a slightly darker patina than either of the C series mikes I've tried yet it has a detail in the low-mids I find lacking in the C1,C3,B1...I dont know whether or not this a paticular trait of the mic I got, but its nice in a way I havent found in the others.They are all a good build quality and seem to hold up well.As usual,YMMV...

[aspromusic]

The Studio Projects TB1 and the SP tube preamp (for 100 dollars) with an AKG 3000, or a SP C1, work well for me. I like working with them, they compliment each other and (compared to the price of the stuff these guys are talking about) are relatively inexpensive. They are worth the money.

JA

[SocietyOfMind]

Originally Posted by sonic dogg

My B3 Studio Projects sounds better than all the C1's I've heard(several) and as good as a few $500+ mics I've used.

I fully agree . . . the C1 has an insane amount of top-end "air" that *might* work on some sources, but will be horrid on others (e.g. sibilant singers, brittle guitars).

I have a B1 that is every inch a professional condenser - it works just as well as some of my other mics costing a whole lot more on the right sources. It's better balanced with nothing sticking out as odd or overhyped (it does have some presence, though).

So, despite the lower cost, I consider the B-series mics to be a more versatile buy. Give them a try if the C-series don't float your boat.

[blaugruen7]

i nowadays prefer my mkII c4s to my older c1, because of this more unhyped highs.
for my point of view the c4s are more natural.

would you consider the B studio projects going more into a bigger than life direction?

propably yes with the proximity effect?

ps. how does the TB1 stand in this picture?

[minus-sounds.com]

Today I have received a T-3 mk I.
I have run quickly through the polar patterns through the mic pres of the DM2000 mixer (not the greatest pres, but ok) with my voice as a source.
I didn't find it booming or harsh, as others have reported. Just a nice balanced color of tube. That's my 35, or something, mic for the home set and the first tube, by the way. I guess it will have it's uses.
That's my second SP product, after the SP-828 which I like a lot.

[davet]

I use a C-1 with a Grace 101. It sounds good on vocals, I've used it on loud guitar amps too.

FWIW, I knocked my C-1 over and it landed face down on the floor. It worked, but the top of the body was a little cockeyed. I called the PMI Audio guys, told them what happend and asked if they would check it out. They said sure, send it in. I told them I'd pay, they said we'll check it out and get back to you. Well, they fixed the body and replaced the capsule for FREE! And they paid for the return shipping. You just can't ask for better service than that. Mic still works fine to this day.
DaveT

[aspromusic]

Originally Posted by Jay Kahrs

I remember reading one "review" where they said they heard a huge difference in the sound of a guitar amp when the moved the mic three inches. Well, thank you Captin Obvious. Can we get someone with credibility? Oh, there was one guy who was sent mics for review and never did anything with them. Too many problems with self-noise, weird off-axis response and things like that. I'd like to check them out for myself but Alan never came through like he said he would.

I agree with you about these guys hyping their products but I also have had good experience with their service. They are right there because they are in most cases proud of their products. I just visited your site and checked out your equipment I like your setup. I must say though the TB1 I have gets a nice smoothe and pretty transparent sound. SP C1 is nice the B1 not as good but not bad. all around the AKG 3000B works for most vox plus in a pinch, AKG 535eb Is great for live and recording, AKG d202? is nice and smooth can be used for Bass drum or vox. I think it is a EV635(name long ago worn out is good for Hi Hat or live announcing. AT for $99 best cheap condenser I ever bought clean and transparent, EV RE20 I love it for what it is, Heil PR 30 great multi purpose Dynamic Shure is good (57,58)... Cascade Ribbon Vin-Jet is as good to me as a DX77. I even got a Cheap Q-kick and it seems to do the trick it is not as tight as a D12 but it is clean and works for bass drum. I think I will continue to experiment with all these new products from China Germany Austria Europe US Japan as long as the US Dollar can buy me something. Like Louie Armstrong said my horn has no nationality or race. I do not care where these things are made. People some times miss the point and do not see this stuff for what it is. I like to get what I can out of it. Most time s this stuff has enough personality and is made well enough to work with . My main requirement is that it has to be clean. OK Considering the fact that you have good insight, and taste in gear, I would like your opinion on the Apex 460 I just picked one up and I have my fingers crossed. I hope you do not say that it is just another CCM. One other thing about the tubes I used to repair tube amps and discovered that if you re-bias a tube with a cheap and simple resistor can change the characteristics to suit your application. I have Sylvania and RCA’s from way back that have been used 5hours a night for five years that rate 90 on a tube tester and China and Sovetek that rate 60 or 70 on a tester with a load. Some tubes have a harder or softer vacuum than others. This also can be utilized for enhanced sound purposes. Sorry to be so verbose but I have spent lots of time biasing tubes and it is the first thing I do run a signal thru it and put it on a scope, listen real good and see how it heats up and or just check the supply voltage(Vcc).
Aspromusic

Aspromusic.com

[GYang]

Mics and pres are parts of recording in which I rarely advice to spend less then reasonably.
Mic is supposed to serve quite long time and its impact to mix is much bigger than just listening and comparing single tracks.
200-300$ nowdays can buy tube mic and indeed mic much better than many more expensive mics on the market. In same time, with exception of Rode K2/NTK for limited applications, I still need to find mic below 1-1,5 k (new street price) to consider it good enough for long run.
If budget for whole studio is 2000$ than I agree, spending 200-300 sounds reasonable.

[Ozzy]

Originally Posted by davet

I use a C-1 with a Grace 101. It sounds good on vocals, I've used it on loud guitar amps too.

FWIW, I knocked my C-1 over and it landed face down on the floor. It worked, but the top of the body was a little cockeyed. I called the PMI Audio guys, told them what happend and asked if they would check it out. They said sure, send it in. I told them I'd pay, they said we'll check it out and get back to you. Well, they fixed the body and replaced the capsule for FREE! And they paid for the return shipping. You just can't ask for better service than that. Mic still works fine to this day.
DaveT

Ditto here.

Had problems with my C1 (and a spitting punk singertutt), and PMI were extremely helpful and sorted everything out quickly and for free!

I like the C1 on some voices. Some I dont, so I grab another. I dont think about it much more than that really!

Oz

[TYY]

I like my pair of C4s (first gen). They work great on drum overheads and acoustic guitar. Very silky top end for such inexpensive mics. Makes the MXL603s sound like dogshit.

The finish sucks, the highpass sounds like crap and can't be used as the same time as the pad, and the shockmounts are silly, but that is all tolerable considering the sound/price.

[Aaron Miller]

the C1 has an insane amount of top-end "air" that *might* work on some sources, but will be horrid on others (e.g. sibilant singers, brittle guitars).

The Studio Projects mics can be useful but be careful-they can be VERY sibilant. I had to remix a few songs on the record I just finsihed because of this.

+3

I found the same thing about the C1...felt like I was always fighting in the mix to smooth out the 10-12k range on vocals. In this respect it seemed even more difficult to tame than the TLM 103, which is pretty frizzy sounding to me. Then I tried it on a very mellow sounding acoustic guitar and it sounded as if I had just put lighter, brighter strings on it. That's what I wanted at the time so for this source it was a winner.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Macaroni

I needed some money, so I sold it and bought a SP C3 for $330. I like it muc better than the CAD VX2.

I'm curious if, five years later, you regret selling your VX2?

[Macaroni]

No regrets. I've done many excellent recordings with the C3.