B-1 is cheap is it really that good?

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ella

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I am as you most are in the the price usually dictates how good it is. I need a good mic for recording in my computer studio.
I need a good preamp or mixer for about $100 and/or a good mic I like the specs on the B-1 but its the price. Amazingly good price. I can get both the mic and a pream at that price:)
But I do not want to go cheap on a mic.
I can go up a little or save up a little for better mic if anyone can give me a reason the B-1 isnt good enough?
I do not need a $1000 mic but if its better to spend a little more on another mic I can:)
Also do you guys have a favorite online store that carries them or is ebay the best thing? Thanks for your responses:) I am new and just getting into this site a little:)

Ella
 
Go for it. It is a good all purpose mic that I think CAN be usable in most situations. I think everyone will agree.

Beez
 
If you're looking for primarily a vocal mic for male vocals, then I'd suggest something else. But, on other sources, the B1 is a fabulous mic. I like it on acoustic guitar. As Dot's Listening Sesssions show -- www.thelisteningsessions.com -- the B1 can be a good mic for certain vocalists. I think there is a track on the first listening session with a B1 on a female vocalist.

Steve
www.piemusic.com
 
So, what would you suggest in the same sort of price range? I've £100 burning a hole in my wallet and a large diaphagm condensor is now one of only two types of mic I don't have (a ribbon mic being the other). I'd like to get the B3 for the three pattern options but if something else would be more suitable...
As fo my voice, let's say it's somewhere between Jacko and Big Barry (White, that is) with a tendancy towards nasality.
 
If you'd like to hear the B1, you can order (for free) a CD from the Studio Projects website that demos it with a few different preamps. It all male vocals, though.
 
Also, the B1 is a very neutral sounding mic. It's a good vocal mic if your voice doesn't need to be flattered. There is some proximity effect when you get within 6 inches of the mic, which might be good for vocals or voiceovers. For my acoustic guitar (Takamine F-349), I find that it needs to be at least a foot away from the body if I won't to keep it from being to bottom heavy. If I mic the neck, I can put it about 8 inches away and get a good clean sound.
 
Mark7 said:
So, what would you suggest in the same sort of price range? I've £100 burning a hole in my wallet and a large diaphagm condensor is now one of only two types of mic I don't have (a ribbon mic being the other). I'd like to get the B3 for the three pattern options but if something else would be more suitable...
As fo my voice, let's say it's somewhere between Jacko and Big Barry (White, that is) with a tendancy towards nasality.
Click to expand...

The B3 sounds better on male vocals to me. Of the budget condensers, I'd first go to the C1 or the AT3035 for male vocals. But, the B3 certainly has a different sound than the B1 that's more flattering to vocals.

Steve
www.piemusic.com
 
ozraves said:
I think there is a track on the first listening session with a B1 on a female vocalist.

Steve
www.piemusic.com
Click to expand...

That's the one that sold me, and I'm not even a female vocalist. I was trying so hard to be the only homerecorder without an SP mic but that recording put me over the edge. I've been looking for a good pair of neutral mics without all the sizzle and snap that I keep hearing everywhere. I mean it's only 160 bucks so it's hard not to just give it a shot.

Does anyone have recordings of the SP tube mics? The other recording on that website that made me drool was the one with the AKG solid tube mic.
 
erichenryus said:
That's the one that sold me, and I'm not even a female vocalist. I was trying so hard to be the only homerecorder without an SP mic but that recording put me over the edge. I've been looking for a good pair of neutral mics without all the sizzle and snap that I keep hearing everywhere. I mean it's only 160 bucks so it's hard not to just give it a shot.

Does anyone have recordings of the SP tube mics? The other recording on that website that made me drool was the one with the AKG solid tube mic.
Click to expand...

The Solid Tube likes my voice but other people would tell you there is a very good reason it's nicknamed the SQUALID Tube.

Steve
www.piemusic.com
 
ella said:
I am as you most are in the the price usually dictates how good it is. I need a good mic for recording in my computer studio.
I need a good preamp or mixer for about $100 and/or a good mic I like the specs on the B-1 but its the price. Amazingly good price. I can get both the mic and a pream at that price:)
But I do not want to go cheap on a mic.
I can go up a little or save up a little for better mic if anyone can give me a reason the B-1 isnt good enough?
I do not need a $1000 mic but if its better to spend a little more on another mic I can:)
Also do you guys have a favorite online store that carries them or is ebay the best thing? Thanks for your responses:) I am new and just getting into this site a little:)

Ella
Click to expand...


IMO, the Studio Projects B1 mic is well worth the $80 but I also think their B3 is a better deal, and I think everyone should have at least one or two Marshall MXL603S's because they sound so good and are so cheap.

http://www.8thstreet.com
 
Last edited:
Hi All,

This is the best forum. Thank you guys:) On the Marshall mics mentioned are they good enough to start out with? I have no need to mic anything other then my voice for a while. It seems everyone is in agreement then to go with the B3 although I have female vocalist to record so a B1 is also good. Let me know anyone elses suggestions on good cheap preamp or mixer? (I realize good and cheap are not terms that should be together) But you know what I mean:) I am using softsynths mostly electronic geek looking to learn about this stuff. Read the top thread halfway through I am amazed at how much I learned already:) Thanks!!

Ella
 
Re: Re: B-1 is cheap is it really that good?

DJL said:
IMO, the Studio Projects B1 mic is well worth the $80 but I also think their B3 is a better deal, and I think everyone should have at least one or two Marshall MXL603S's because they sound so good and are so cheap.
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that. When I went mic shopping, I studied everything I could find here and over on the VS-Planet website, particluarly the observations by Harvey Gerst and Dan Richards. I had a pretty limited budget and already had an SM57 and another (OK) dynamic. When all the dust settled, I ended up with:

1. A pair of B-1s,
2. A pair of MXL 603s with shockmounts, and
3. A C-3.

Wow. I'll be long retired before I outgrow this combination (and I plan to keep working into my 80s)!

Remember to consider a preamp in the mic budget, for a lot of reasons. Unless you have a hell of a system, the sound will improve with even a modest outboard preamp. There are other reasons, too: If I plug my acoustic direct into my mixing board through a blender (as I will on a gig), I don't want any phantom power on at the board or the blender will cook. Yet a condenser mics needs phantom power. I solved the problem with a Blue Tube and an M-Audio DMP3 - variety, warmth and versatility without breaking the bank.
 
ella, the Studio Projects VTB-1 looks like it will come down to around $130
in 6 weeks or so, worth the wait. Anything else at the present price of
$180 or less, doesn't compare on the same level.

The "B" series is remarkable to me in the same sense that the Fmr. Audio
RNC is. It's useful because of what it DOESN'T do, if you know what I mean.
Should be standard issue for the singer or musician who wants to hear
what they really sound like, even if it's just used as a rehearsal tool.

Chris
 
It's much easier to find a good inexpensive mic than it is to find a good inexpensive preamp. The mics that are being recommended are good choices.
 
Re: Re: Re: B-1 is cheap is it really that good?

Treeline,
I too have several outboad preamps, but thank you for the tip anyway.
 
Right.:)

My mistake; I was thinking of Ella's question that incorporated preamps when I wrote that, but my post ended up headed at you because of the quote. Hope I didn't sound too preachy; I'm at the stage where I have finally figured out how to spell XRL. Um, ... XLR. :cool:
 
ella said:
Hi All,

This is the best forum. Thank you guys:) On the Marshall mics mentioned are they good enough to start out with? I have no need to mic anything other then my voice for a while. It seems everyone is in agreement then to go with the B3 although I have female vocalist to record so a B1 is also good. Let me know anyone elses suggestions on good cheap preamp or mixer? (I realize good and cheap are not terms that should be together) But you know what I mean:) I am using softsynths mostly electronic geek looking to learn about this stuff. Read the top thread halfway through I am amazed at how much I learned already:) Thanks!!

Ella
Click to expand...

chessparov's Studio Projects VTB-1 recommendation is good, but it depends on how much you want to spend on a preamp. Another good sounding cheap LDC mic is the Marshall MXL V67G.
 
Treeline said:
Right.:)

My mistake; I was thinking of Ella's question that incorporated preamps when I wrote that, but my post ended up headed at you because of the quote. Hope I didn't sound too preachy; I'm at the stage where I have finally figured out how to spell XRL. Um, ... XLR. :cool:
Click to expand...

LOL, no sweat.

You do have some nice mic's, and from looking at the mic's you've picked, I'm guessing that you don't record drums?
 
Treeline i was thinking of the EXACT same setup for mics, except that i wasn't looking at the C3, i was just gonna use a b1 for vocals..

What is the C3? Multipattern? What is the use for a multipattern? I know ruffly what it means, but i'm not certain how it would be used in different situations
 
Yep - no drums (yet) and from the looks of the drum mic posts I've read, it will be a cold day below before I understand any of it! I'm an acoustic guitar / string band / voice type guy. I would like to learn the bluegrass band single mic trick, though...

Ambi, the C3 is Studio Projects' multipattern version of the C1. Same mic but with more versatility because you can set the polar pattern. The B1 / B3 mics are similar in that regard. What really drew me to the B1 was the combination of the price (made me rub my eyes and look twice) and the killer reviews this unit has as a "sleeper mic." I picked up two because I want to develop the ability to record chamber music and small choral groups, and figured a pair would be better than one mic for that application.

The C3? Well, I intended to get a C1 and I had a budget that just allowed me to get the C3. It was a case of "now or never.":p
 
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