Audio Technica AT3035 or Studio Projects B1

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which one would be better for vocal recordings?

thanks
 
IMHO, the B1 is a good sounding vocal microphone.
The AT3035 is supposed to sound good too.

"Better" can depend on the singer/song, etc.
The best way is to try them out directly.

Chris
 
Re: Re: Audio Technica AT3035 or Studio Projects B1

DJL said:
Which one do you like better?
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ive never used any of these mics im asking your opinion
 
Get the Audio Technica. It is a "real" mic with history to prove it. They make excellent mics. The other is just another cheap chinese knockoff that will last ???time. No history to prove its worth.
 
Geeze Acorec, that's a pretty severe comment. Have you used both mics? I haven't used the AT but I've read comments from some who say it's very difficult to find a good use for. Others say it's pretty good for the money.

Pretty much everyone who has used the B1 says it's usable and an incredible value at $79. (Count me in that crowd) Do you disagree?

Fab
 
I’d just find a place with a good return policy and try both. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought something because everyone “raved” about it, only to find it was crap for my application. On the other hand, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought something made by a well established company, only to find it was also crap for my application (this includes products from AT).

Bottom line: These forums are great for general info and the like, but when it comes to auditioning mics and pres, YOU HAVE TO TRY IT YOURSELF!

More general info: You can hear the B1 pitted against many other mics (but no AT30305) here:
http://www.thelisteningsessions.com/sessions.htm

The examples here are by no means conclusive, but hopefully they’ll aid you in your search. Good luck and when you make a decision, do us all a favor and let us know what and why (for our general information).:cool:
 
acorec said:
Get the Audio Technica. It is a "real" mic with history to prove it. They make excellent mics. The other is just another cheap chinese knockoff that will last ???time. No history to prove its worth.
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I personally wouldn’t refer to anything currently made be Studio Projects a “Chinese knockoff” since their products appear to be designed from the ground up by themselves, just like Rode, and some others along that line. Chinese manufacture does not make it a "Chinese knockoff". A "knockoff" is when you just stick your name on someone elses design. Mics in the “Chinese knockoff” category include SE Electronics, Nady, Behringer, Cascade, Carvin, and some (but not all) MXL’s and ADKs. My $0.02
 
Re: Re: Re: Audio Technica AT3035 or Studio Projects B1

word_play said:
ive never used any of these mics im asking your opinion
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Do you have any other mic options to pick from besides just those two mics?
 
Fab4ever said:
Geeze Acorec, that's a pretty severe comment. Have you used both mics? I haven't used the AT but I've read comments from some who say it's very difficult to find a good use for. Others say it's pretty good for the money.

Pretty much everyone who has used the B1 says it's usable and an incredible value at $79. (Count me in that crowd) Do you disagree?

Fab
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I have an AT4050 that I got some 6 years ago. It is a great mic that has lasted and is used all the time. I have heard some of the new generation chinese mics. With cheap pres, some sound good. The better the pre, the more the faults of the chinese capsules show through. The AT4050 sounds better. The raving about the new sub$100 chinese mics will, over time, wear off. Vintage equipment costs the same (or more) than when it was new. The value of good equipment will never go away. Arguing over this point is worthless. If you want to build a studio for demos of your songs for the sake of writing or arranging etc, then the cheap stuff will get you up and running. If you are trying to build a long term studio to make quality, pro sounding recordings, then it pays to buy good quality equipment. Over time, the vintage stuff will be made by the companies who devote good components and good design into their products. I guess the cheap stuff will always be around, but so much of it has gone away. I still see the SM57s, AT4033, 4055 etc.
 
I don't disagree with anything in your last post - and if I did, who cares, as I'm a relative newbie!

I would only add that the 3035 is NOT, by all accounts, a 4050 or even a 4033a, a mic I would LOVE to have if I could find one at the right price.

I'm just saying that trashing a Studio Projects or Marshall mic without really comparing it to the AT in question may not be the most helpful response. And I don't know if anyone can say the 3035 will be a prized vintage piece years from now. Yes, Audio-Technica is the "name" brand, but lots of us aren't looking to maximize our investment over 5 or 10 years, we're looking to get a mic that works. In my admittedly rookie-esque view, the SP B1 works in a multitude of uses and is a good fit for most home recordists.

Fab
 
I have both mics. The SP B1 is a great mic for $79. It does a lot but vocals are not one of them for me. I've heard many use it for vocals and like it. The AT3035 is a good mic too but now your up to $199. Personally I hate it for vocals. Unless you get right on top of the mic I've never been happy with any of the vocals I'vw used it for (and I've tried it on both male and female) The 4033 I love on vocals. I paid $250 for a used one. If you don't want to spend that much perhaps the MXL V67 under $100. There are many choices. Like it's been said find a place with a good return policy.
 
acorec said:
I have an AT4050 that I got some 6 years ago. It is a great mic that has lasted and is used all the time. I have heard some of the new generation chinese mics. With cheap pres, some sound good. The better the pre, the more the faults of the chinese capsules show through. The AT4050 sounds better. The raving about the new sub$100 chinese mics will, over time, wear off. Vintage equipment costs the same (or more) than when it was new. The value of good equipment will never go away. Arguing over this point is worthless. If you want to build a studio for demos of your songs for the sake of writing or arranging etc, then the cheap stuff will get you up and running. If you are trying to build a long term studio to make quality, pro sounding recordings, then it pays to buy good quality equipment. Over time, the vintage stuff will be made by the companies who devote good components and good design into their products. I guess the cheap stuff will always be around, but so much of it has gone away. I still see the SM57s, AT4033, 4055 etc.
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Yeah, that's why the name of this site is "HOME-RECORDING.COM," so pros, or pro-wannabes can come in here and bullshit about how the cheap mics can't cut it in a pro studio.

If you have poor technique or crappy equipment, the most expensive mic won't help you. If you know how to get a good sound with little means, then the cheap Chinese mics will do you fine. For a home project studio these mics are fine. I just finished recording a band with mics that would give you an aneurysm, through 18-bit converters with the wave files at 16/44. Everyone who has heard the rough mixes are amazed at how punchy and clear it sounds. The vocals sound awesome (recorded with a B1). Not to toot my own horn, but while I'd love to have higher end equipment to work with, not having the best is not going to stop me from getting a good sound.

As for the cheap crap not lasting, it's amazing how much people are paying for Ross effects, Univox guitars and synths, and Tiesco guitars, basses, and keys these days. These were the "cheap crap" of the late 60's.
 
Umm, gee, which do you think is better, the mic with an $80 street price or the mic with the $199 street price?

Don't think too hard on this one.

Never judge anything just by the price but unless the $199 mic is an absolute rip-off then there is most likely some reason why they can get over twice the price for it.

If you feel comfortable spending two hundred on a microphone then the AT would be a very good contender at that price range. Not the only one, but a good contender.

And at the $80 price range the B1 is very highly regarded as a broadly usefull LD condenser.
 
toorglick said:
Yeah, that's why the name of this site is "HOME-RECORDING.COM," so pros, or pro-wannabes can come in here and bullshit about how the cheap mics can't cut it in a pro studio.

If you have poor technique or crappy equipment, the most expensive mic won't help you. If you know how to get a good sound with little means, then the cheap Chinese mics will do you fine. For a home project studio these mics are fine. I just finished recording a band with mics that would give you an aneurysm, through 18-bit converters with the wave files at 16/44. Everyone who has heard the rough mixes are amazed at how punchy and clear it sounds. The vocals sound awesome (recorded with a B1). Not to toot my own horn, but while I'd love to have higher end equipment to work with, not having the best is not going to stop me from getting a good sound.

As for the cheap crap not lasting, it's amazing how much people are paying for Ross effects, Univox guitars and synths, and Tiesco guitars, basses, and keys these days. These were the "cheap crap" of the late 60's.
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Ahh, in time you will understand. (at TRADE IN time)
 
OK, both of these are surprisingly good mics for what they are good at. I maintain the B1 is pretty damn good on guitar amps and good on acoustic instruments. The AT3035, as Longwavestudio showed, is a very capable female R&B mic. I think it's good on male vocals as well. It does a decent job on guitar amps.

Most mics in the under $200 range just suck. These are two exceptions. No, a B1 is not as cool as a Royer R-121. An AT3035 is not as cool as a Soundelux U195. But, the AT3035 and B1 can get a decent amount of use on the right sources.

Steve
www.mojopie.com
 
acorec said:
Get the Audio Technica. It is a "real" mic with history to prove it. They make excellent mics. The other is just another cheap chinese knockoff that will last ???time. No history to prove its worth.
Click to expand...

I really got no idea what the story is on the Studio Projects B1. But, it's a good mic on the two or three things it excels at. And, it might just be two things but for $79 I'll take one or two uses.

You are correct that the AT3035 has better credentials. I'd add that it's better workmanship as well. However, it does cost over $100 more and is made in Japan.

Steve
www.mojopie.com
 
it seems like acorec is telling you to buy something he's never heard. he has no place telling you to buy one mic over the other because it sounds like he hasn't ehard either..(i may be wrong and he may have used one or both.....feel free to correct me acorec).......

I do like my 3035's.... but that's because they're only 200 bucks..the mics he refers to are more expensive and sound a whole bunch better.........AT has a reputation.........So does shure and neuman........in many peoples opinions they both have some crap mics too.....reputation doesn't mean a whole lot......especially when you're talking about cheap mics.......the chances of either the 3035 or the b1 becoming a classic are very very slim......so the rate of depreciation will probably be the same or very close to the same, so trade in shouldn't be part of the equation.

I think it comes down to money.......the 200 dollar mic will probably sound better than the 80 dollar one......I will point out that i haven't heard the b1, so i could be wrong in this instance.....but as a general rule of thumb.......the more expensive mic will probably be better........to an extent......like innovations said......there are probably rip off mics that cost 200 bucks that wont come close to the quality of the b-1, but as ozraves said "both of these are surprisingly good mics"......the 200 dollar ripoff mic wouldn't be considered a surpisingly good mic.
 
oh yeah....and doesn't audio technica use chinese made diaphrams? if they do, wouldn't that make them cheap chinese knockoffs acorec?

just so everyone knows........i like audiotechnica....i just don't like that this guy is knocking mics that he hasn't used.
 
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