A few quick questions about SP B1

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hawk

hawk

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I've decided on one of these as an all-purpose mic for acoustic, flute, and vocals (I'm currrently on a low budget.) I had the following questions some of you might be able to answer:

1. I noticed it comes with a "foam windscreen," is this the same as a pop filter? If not, what's its purpose other than helping block out wind?

2. I can't tell how it connects to a mic stand. Does it come with some kind of clip or adapter?

3. How would you rate it's response vs. an MXL603 in terms of brightness etc.?

thanks a bunch...
 
hawk said:
1. I noticed it comes with a "foam windscreen," is this the same as a pop filter? If not, what's its purpose other than helping block out wind?
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No, it is a foam windscreen, not a pop filter. It tends to remove part of the top end rather than pops ;) Guess someone decided that wind blocking entails removing part of the sound spectrum above 5 kHz...

Get a real pop filter, or use some nylon stocking on a piece of metal wire.

I would also fear the foam will deterioate over a couple of years, and then you may get small pieces of junk on the diaphragm. So safest bet is to throw it out as soon as you get it :)

2. I can't tell how it connects to a mic stand. Does it come with some kind of clip or adapter?
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On the www.pmiaudio.com website, it currently lists that it comes with a shock mount. Mine didn't -- just had some kind of clip, if I recall correctly. You put that it on the stand instead of whatever clip you have for your other mics. Screws in, as does all other clips.

Never used it, though... LDC mics tend to all pick up some "handling noise", so if you play guitar and tend to stamp your feet in the ground, as I do, you will hear that very clearly also on the recording...

So... get a real shock mount, if you don't get one as part of the package. Or make one yourself if on a low budget.

Alan, the owner of PMI Audio, hangs around here and may answer this question better than me. You could also try the forum on their website.

3. How would you rate it's response vs. an MXL603 in terms of brightness etc.?
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Sorry, I don't have a MXL603 to compare with.

But from e.g. this graph (http://studioforums.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/1526095781/m/6776029135/p/1) and from what others have said, I would guess it is slighly brighter, though maybe less coloured? The MXL603 seems to a bit on the bright side also, so I'm not sure how big the difference is.


-- Per.
 
I just bought one a month ago from Sweetwater and it did come with the shockmount. It's under what appears to be a packaging flap in the box but that flap hides the shockmount! That windscreen is thick and heavy. Use it for packing material!
 
I have a B1 and I would say, as many others have before me, that it is indeed an awesome mic for many many situations. I dont really like it on accoustic guitar though unless i blend it with an SDC like the 603. I dont have a 603 but I do have a similar SDC, the JM27. I believe it is also made by PMI just as the B1 is. In my opinion, if you were to get the 2 mics you mentioned, you can cover a lot of ground on a budget.
 
I reckon the foam shield is as much for padding the mic in the cardboard box as it is for musical use!!! They do come with the shockmounts now.

My experience is that they are pretty focussed and non-colouring with just a little bump higher up, which you could obviously EQ out very easily if it offended you. My B3 is my utility condenser in my live kit, it gets work on all kinds of percussion and acoustic instruments, because I know it will go and get the job done (I am usually working with low onstage volumes, or the wide pattern might not be so helpful!). I'm just about to order a B1 to keep set up as my 'ideas' mic for recording, because I can just slap it anywhere and get my ideas down clearly and easily.
 
Hawk,

The foam cover is a wind filter to aid in reducing wind noise when used outdoors...It is not a pop screen. Many people sell pop filters including our own SPMPF metal pop filter.

The B1 comes with the shock mount, although it used to only be provided with a mic stand clip. We later included the shock mount and raised the price a bit. So any new unit is supplied with the shock mount.

baekgaard's suggestion to get a pop filter is a good one. No matter which one you choose to get, having one is a very good idea. The can be pretty cheap if you biuld one out of a hanger and some old panty hose, or they can be as much as $50.00.

Good luck with your purchase and if I can help, I dohang around here and at another forum.
 
and for a pop screen...

...yeah, the B1 is a handy mic to have...and if you want a great steel-mesh type Pop Screen on the cheap, check this one out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29948&item=7328483600&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

...I have 2 of 'em, and they are GREAT! (very similar to the more expensive Stedman brand)...much better than the fabric-type screens, completely washable and they allow more detailed recording...this one comes from the same guy that builds Peluso tube mics (really sweet vintage tube mic clones)...
 
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Actually, pop filter ala extreme can go to $120! I talked B.L.U.E. out of a pop filter for my Kiwi. (OK, they screwed something up slightly, and graciously offered the pop as compensation, from B-stock.) Of course, I'm sorry, I'm not going to pay $120 for a pop filter beacause it is so cool and says BLUE on it. BFD. But- I'll be damned if it isn't a great pop filter. I use Stedmans as a rule, because they work. I've had very good results with the fine steel mesh type pop filters. The easy way, as they said, is to use a layer of panty hose (2 for some singers) stretched over a 5" or so embroidery hoop, not too tight. A coathanger, some electrical tape, a pair of pliars, and you're good to go.
Alan is right, of course. As a rule, a wind screen does unfortunately scrub off some highs. And it does act as a pop filter, up to a point, which is why you often see foam covers on handheld vocal mics, both condensers and dynamics.
There are many situations where it can help. This last weekend I was picking some guitar for JGourd to test the LSD-2, and we had ceiling fan going full blast on that baby. I assure you, the wind screen was somewhat helpful in that case. Jamfest- extreme situations call for extreme solutions...
And if you do location recording at all, you do not throw away your windscreens. The B-1 is a pretty good location spot mic, because it is cheap, rugged, and more expendable than a lot of other mics. I think of it like an SM57. I hardly ever actually use it, but if I'm hard up for a mic, it won't totally suck on much, except some vocalists.-Richie
 
Come to the Jamfest 5 and see a decent pair of B1s that are my LDC SM57 alternatives. By that I mean they are useful in circumstances that didn't occur to you until just this moment as the band is coming back on the stage - they're complete workhorses and they sound pretty damn good. I use them for instruments, amps, vocals, pianos, all kinds of stuff. Hard workers.
 
Has anyone bought B stock mics directly from PMI? $89 for a B1 seems like a good deal. I have had luck with B stock, in general.
 
Thanks for all your replies. Since I've seen such mixed opinions on this mic, I think I'll just get one of each (MXL 603 and B1.) I'll side by side them and report my findings.
 
Hawk, I can't resist adding something I've learned through my years of researching musical equipment: there's never 100% agreement. When it comes to the subjectivity of microphones and monitors, in particular, I believe that anything receiving, say, 2/3s or more positive response is a pretty strong endorsement. If you keep this thought in mind while reading the many SP posts and threads at this site, I think you'll find that the "mixed" opinions actually paint a hearty thumbs up for this budget mic--and a few others, like the 603. (In fact, this general forum agreement led me to my own purchase of two SP B1s a couple of years ago.)

Enjoy your new mics. From my own very limited experience with mic purchasing, I think you've chosen wisely for your budget.

J.
 
jeffree makes good points, but Hawk, any mic you end up with will only give you the results it can give based on the room, the conditions, the talent, and the engineers ability to capture the sound correctly. I have said it before, and I am still saying it...any mic no matter how expensive or innexpensive can be great given the proper conditions...

Do not be quick to judge a mic as bad just because it does not do what you wanted. That is why we have mic lockers and room treatments.
 
I've got a pair of the B1's and they always find a place to be used while I'm recording. I bought them a couple of years ago and have never been disappointed so far. I use them a lot on acoustic guitar especially when I want it to stand out in the mix. Other mics I use on acoustic are Earthworks QTC1's, Crown CM700's, AT4051's, and MXL603's. While the B1's may not work as well as the first three pairs of mics they certainly do as well or better than the 603's. Of course the first three pairs of mics cost considerably more than the B1's with the QTC1's costing well over $2000 more. Are they better? Yes, but not really $2000 better IMHO. A pair of B1's will cost you about the same as the 603's but you'll find more use's for the B1's IMHO. My only complaint on the B1's is the mic clip is not the best and continually seems to not stay in place. I wish SP had offered the SM when I originally bought the B1's. Good luck with whatever mic you go with.
 
ljmaxx said:
I've got a pair of the B1's and they always find a place to be used while I'm recording. I bought them a couple of years ago and have never been disappointed so far. I use them a lot on acoustic guitar especially when I want it to stand out in the mix. Other mics I use on acoustic are Earthworks QTC1's, Crown CM700's, AT4051's, and MXL603's. While the B1's may not work as well as the first three pairs of mics they certainly do as well or better than the 603's. Of course the first three pairs of mics cost considerably more than the B1's with the QTC1's costing well over $2000 more. Are they better? Yes, but not really $2000 better IMHO. A pair of B1's will cost you about the same as the 603's but you'll find more use's for the B1's IMHO. My only complaint on the B1's is the mic clip is not the best and continually seems to not stay in place. I wish SP had offered the SM when I originally bought the B1's. Good luck with whatever mic you go with.
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The original B1 mic clips do sag, but they are easy to tighten... here's the thread about the adjustment procedure :

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=79966&highlight=mic+clip+adjustment

I use my two B1's a lot too, as well as my B3. I love the B1 and B3 combination for M-S mic'ing... ;)
 
kid klash said:
The original B1 mic clips do sag, but they are easy to tighten... here's the thread about the adjustment procedure :

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=79966&highlight=mic+clip+adjustment

I use my two B1's a lot too, as well as my B3. I love the B1 and B3 combination for M-S mic'ing... ;)
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Thanks for the link. I never thought about adjusting the clip. Hey maybe Alan will make a special deal for HR members who bought the B1 before there was a shockmount available. :-)
 
ljmaxx said:
Thanks for the link. I never thought about adjusting the clip. Hey maybe Alan will make a special deal for HR members who bought the B1 before there was a shockmount available. :-)
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Happy to do that...Just not on this thread. All interested parties, e-mail me at alan@pmiaudio.com
 
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