Wondering about the Hamburg vs. C1

[baekgaard]

I recently added a CAD M179 to my mic collection, so I have now a SP B1, a SP C1, a Røde NT1000 (plus the new CAD M179). I also have some Oktava MC012's, some ECM 8000 plus a bunch of dynamics.

I'm thinking (as mentioned earlier here also) about either adding the ADK Hamburg or replacing the C1 with the Hamburg, and would like to hear opinions on how the Hamburg fit into my collection and how the Hamburg and the C1 compares.

I've read Dan/Dot's appraisal of the Hamburg, and understand that the Hamburg is a better instrumental mic than the C1. But I kind of have that base covered, so the main use for the Hamburg will be as a vocal mic. Which is why I'm wondering whether it would be worth going for the Hamburg instead of the C1, or if the gains (given my other mics) would be offset by the C1 being a good vocal mic also.

Here is my take of my current collection:

CAD M179: The most neutral of the bunch. Good versatile instrument/general mic; not the greatest vocal mic for a voice that is not great by itself, since it doesn't add much, "brushes it nicely" nor "shines it up".

Kind of the LDC equivalent of the Oktava MC012. Does not seem harsh in the upper registers. Sound has good body content on e.g. guitar.

Røde NT1000: Is a bit brighter than the M179, partly because it has more presence (4-6k), but there is also more high end. The presense can help on some voices to balance a mix.

I find it a pretty good allround mic also, albeit a bit more coloured than the M179. Good on some voices, I guess. A bit less "body content" compared to the M179, but still a substantial solid sound.

SP B1: Even more brighter than the M179, but in a different way. Does not have the same presence peak as the Røde, but seems to have more upper frequency content. A bit less body than the NT1000. Good alround mic; especially good on percussion.

Tends to distort a bit (in a pleasant way though) through my VC3Q CS, but is pretty clean though a DMP3.

SP C1: The most coloured and brightest of the bunch. Pretty scooped, with not too much body/midrange. On my guitar it is actually useful in a crowded mix, and can also be quite good on some voices.


The proximity effects of the mics are all somewhat different, and so are their pick-up patterns. The B1 may be the widest of the bunch, with the M179 having the option of being the narrowest.


I sometimes do some voice over/narration stuff, and on my own voice, I don't really get "the sound" I was hoping for with any of these mics. All of them are usefull for this, but none of them really gives that "larger than life" sound to speech (on my voice).


Your comments/suggestions are more than welcome!


-- Per.

[ljmaxx]

The Hamburg is a very good vocal mic IMHO. It doesn't have the high end sizzle that a lot of the mics in it's price range have. If you'd like to hear it go to the link below and listen to the first 4 songs. I have a matched pair of Hamburg LE's that were used on vox and acoustic guitars in those songs. If you listen to Three Chords From Fame the vox were done with a C1 which pretty much suited that style of song at least for me. Good luck with your mic choice.

http://www.artistlaunch.com/artist4.asp?artistid=4418

[Dot]

Per, since you have a C1 and use it, I think you should make the decision whether or not the C1 – or one of the other mics you have – is really floating your boat on vocals. If one of them is, then you don't need another mic. If none of them are, then perhaps you could give the qualities you're wanting in a vocal mic that you're not getting.

If you want a "larger than life" sound, you also might need to look into another mic pre, and possibly the quality of your converters. There are lots of ways to get good and very usable sounds with inexpensive gear. But when you get into wanting "larger than life" the bottom line is it's going to take a bigger budget. Not necessarily astronomical, but more than a $200 mic through a $150 mic pre.

I would say for mics in that price range I'd consider the Shure SM7, MXL V69ME, ADK Vienna or Hamburg. But you could also possibly get it with the C1. You could get a "bigger than life" sound with those mics, but you'd have to beef up your preamp, and make sure your AD is up to snuff. And about the least expensive preamp to do that with would be something like the Grace 101.

I'm sort of just babbling here, but I don't think just changing $200 mics is going give you want you want. At some point moving sideways never gets you farther up the hill.