Behringer B-1 Condenser Microphone

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cjacek

cjacek

Analogue Enthusiast
Hi,

My situation is this: I've rented an APEX 420 Condenser Mic from a local music store and I love it ! Problem is that if I want to buy it, it's $340 total (Canadian and all taxes paid for). Needless to say, I can't afford it. Anyway, I know some here don't like Behringer but I was looking at the B-1 and the price is awesome ! Looks like a quality condenser .. is it ? If the sound quality is comparable to the APEX then I want it ! But seriously, is the B-1 a good condenser mic ? Thanks for your replies.

Daniel
 
Just a quick additional question: My local store carries the Studio Projects B1 and the price, $129 CND, is very similar to the B-1 from Behringer and I'm now wondering which should I get ? Do I wait for the Behringer or do I go get the Studio P B1 right now ? Also, what's up with "presence boost" on the Behringer B-1 ? They say EQ is not needed in most situations. Looks like a cool thing to have. Is this good ? How does it compare to the Studio Projects B1 ? Thanks again.

Daniel
 
The B-1 is a Chinese mic produced and private-labeled for many manufacturers. Nady, Marshall, ADK and others all have the same mic, just with different colors and names on them. Is it a good mic? Depends on the subject matter. I've got a couple of the ADK's and they do OK on acoustic guitars, but sound like crap with my voice. They may (and do) sound good on other voices. It's all a matter of trying it and seeing if it works for you...

(I'm talking about the Behringer, not the SP...thanks, Chess...)
 
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Re: Re: Behringer B-1 Condenser Microphone

cjacek said:
Just a quick additional question: My local store carries the Studio Projects B1 and the price, $129 CND, is very similar to the B-1 from Behringer and I'm now wondering which should I get ? Do I wait for the Behringer or do I go get the Studio P B1 right now ? Also, what's up with "presence boost" on the Behringer B-1 ? They say EQ is not needed in most situations. Looks like a cool thing to have. Is this good ? How does it compare to the Studio Projects B1 ? Thanks again.

Daniel
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The SP B-1 has gotten good reviews from many people. For the price, it appears to be a nice mic with plenty of applications. My suggestion from the previous post still stands. Try them out and see what YOU like. Buy from a reputable dealer that allows returns if you find that it sounds like dreck in your room, with your voice, or whatever. (Don't abuse that privledge, by the way...). You may find that the Behringer B-1 suits your needs better than the SP B-1. That having been said, I've read a LOT more positive things about the SP B-1. That could be a function of Alan Hyatt being ready and willing to answer questions about his product right here in this forum, or it could be a function of the mic quality (I've not had the opportunity to use one yet...). Either way, make sure you try them both before you make your decision. Only YOU can decide which mic sounds best to YOUR ears...

(Again, thanks for the clear up, Chess)
 
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I think H2O is talking about the Behringer B1, which he is correct on -- it is the same as the Joemeek J47 and many others.

The SP B1 is another animal. I've gotten a chance to test it out, and I've heard a lot of examples posted, and I like the sound of it. It kinda of reminds me of a Shure sm58, to be honest. What I like is that it isn't particularly "hyped" sounding, which the Behringer B1 definitely is.

The "presence boost" on the Behringer just means that it has a big high frequency bump around 12 khz. Depending on your taste, this could be either good or bad. If you like a trebly-sounding mic and aren't worried about sibilance, then it's a good mic. The presence boost is also a very good thing for accoustic guitars, by the way.

If you want a more natural sound, the SP is probably a better choice. Just be sure to buy a good pop filter to go with it. :D
 
Thanks guys for your replies. Very interesting and helpful indeed. I'll definitely test a few mics out but based on some of the opinions on this board I'm leaning towards the SP B-1. We'll see ..

A question for "chessrock": Why do you say that the SP B-1 reminds you of "a Shure sm58" ? Isn't that a dynamic mic ? How can you even campare the two with their different frequency ranges - one having a larger diaphragm than the other ? So the SP B-1 condenser sounds like a dynamic mic ? Well, that's not good then. Also, what do you mean when you say: "What I like is that it isn't particularly "hyped" sounding, which the Behringer B1 definitely is." What do you mean by "hyped" ?

Anyway, I'm a baritone singer (with the occassional high notes) and a good voice condenser mic would be preferable and I hope the SP B-1 is in that league.

Thanks again,

Daniel
 
I have a pair of SP B-1's. I don't quite get the SM58 comparison. It has a considerably more extended bandwidth (both high & low freq) than an SM58, with a subtle rise in responce at the upper high end. It's neutral enough sounding that I suppose it could sound like a 58 to someone depending on the application. When you try the Sp B-1 in an application requiring more extended bandwidth than vocals (such as drum overheads) there is for sure no resemblance to an SM58. The SP B-1 is quite versatile.

The Behringer is more hyped (boosted) in the lower or mid presence range, which you may like on your voice, being that your a baritone & may need presence in that range but to much lower presence hype can sometimes be to shrill for a tenor/alto/soprano. You should try both, but my leaning is that the SP B-1 is the more versatile & it's easier to EQ a more neutral mic like it if need be to suit different taste than an already hyped or colored mic.

Studio Projects customer support is infinitely better than Behringer if that means anything to ya.
 
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knowdoubt said:
I have a pair of SP B-1's. I don't quite get the SM58 comparison. It has much higher & lower frequency response than an SM 58 with less peak out at 5 kHz (more gradual rise to a more extended upper high end), It's neutral enough sounding that I suppose it could sound like a 58 to someone depending on the application. When you try the Sp B-1 in an application requiring more extended bandwidth than vocals (such as drum overheads) there is for sure no resemblance to an SM58. The SP B-1 is quite versatile.

The Behringer is more hyped (boosted) in the lower or mid presence range, which you may like on your voice, being that your a baritone & may need presence in that range but to much lower presence hype can sometimes be to shrill for a tenor/alto/soprano. You should try both, but my leaning is that the SP B-1 is the more versatile & it's easier to EQ a more neutral mic like it if need be to suit different taste than an already hyped or colored mic.

Studio Projects customer support is infinitely better than Behringer if that means anything to ya.
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Thanks for the reply :)

Yeah, that's why I asked about the B-1 vs sm58 comparison .. I just wasn't sure why "chessrock" compared the two. Seems very strange to do so. Well .. explain yourself chessrock .. i'm waiting ;) :) :D (just kidding)

Anyway, thanks for your input "knowdoubt" .. I think I will get a more "neutral" and "un-hyped" mic such as the SP B-1. You're right, you can always EQ a more neutral mic with a "presence boost" but with a Behringer B-1 it would be a bit more difficult, especially to reduce that "presence" if I don't like it. In any case I think the SP B-1 would be a good choice since I'm getting some gear which tweaks "presence" frequencies. (My voice always seems to get "burried" in the mix anyway so a presence boost would be definitely helpful). (I'm getting the Behringer Voice-Pro VX2000 by the way). I think that with the condenser is quite a departure from my dynamic SHURE BETA 58A and ART TUBE MP setup. Hey, if I'm going a step up without busting a wallet, I'm happy :D

Thanks again,

Daniel
 
cjacek;
You will definitely want to get a pop filter (as Chessrock said) for vocal. Pretty much all LD condensors need one as the element is fairly exposed & if nothing else it helps keep the spit off it :) . The SP B-1 comes with a wind screen but I find that wind screens like that filter the presence out to much. Pop filters are pretty transparent. You can of course make a good pop filter by stretching a single layer of panty hose over an embroidery hoop.

Or just pull the panty hose down over your head as I do :D .
 
cjacek said:
Yeah, that's why I asked about the B-1 vs sm58 comparison .. I just wasn't sure why "chessrock" compared the two. Seems very strange to do so. Well .. explain yourself chessrock .. i'm waiting ;) :) :D (just kidding)
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:D he he. What I meant is that the SP B-1 sounds EXACTLY TO A "T" WITH NO EXCEPTIONS WHATSOEVER TO A 58.

(insert sarcastic tone)

He he. :D Just kidding. What I really meant was that it "reminds" me of a 58. The 58 I consider to be a fairly neutral sound with a tad bit of a presence boost. And it's very poppy like a poppy-seed muffin. That's also a characteristic I've found with the SP B-1 when I tested it out. Nothing that a good pop-filter can't fix, though, I'm sure. Add to it the inherent neutrality of the B-1 and it kinda' reminds me of a dynamic in a way.

Plus, they're both similarly priced and similar in quality; the 58 being a good all-around dynamic mic for vocals and other apps, and the SP B1 being a good-all around condenser for vocals and other apps.

When people say "hyped" they are typically refering to a boost in a particular frequency range. The behringer B1, for example, has some definite high-end hype to it, so in other words, in it's natural state it sounds like someone just cranked the treble knob.

That might be good for certain things that need it, but bad on those that don't.
 
knowdoubt said:
I have a pair of SP B-1's. I don't quite get the SM58 comparison. It has a considerably more extended bandwidth (both high & low freq) than an SM58, with a subtle rise in responce at the upper high end. It's neutral enough sounding that I suppose it could sound like a 58 to someone depending on the application. When you try the Sp B-1 in an application requiring more extended bandwidth than vocals (such as drum overheads) there is for sure no resemblance to an SM58. The SP B-1 is quite versatile.
Click to expand...

Well, everyone has different ears which is not to say one is right or one is wrong, but I too don't get the comparison. If you say that the SP B1 is versitle and works well on lots of stuff, then that could be also said for the 58, but I think a LD mic has much more a fuller richer sound, and to me the B1 has that.

I don't mind being compared to a 58, its a good mic and the cost is about the same. Again, everyone hears different.
 
I can see the point of comparison in that the B1 has a kind of laid back sound like a good dynamic. Also, the midrange is very solid. On sources that don't have that much high and low end, like voices and electric guitars, the B1 can sound somewhat like a dynamic. It is a good mic for stuff that's not supposed to jump in your face. I like it a lot on clean guitars. I'd rather compare it to a SM57 as I think it is primarily an instrument mic that also sounds good on some voices. What's really nice is that, since there is a lot of low end, you can also use it for bass guitar or, unless you have better opitons, as an overhead, since there is enough high end for that. If I was in the states, I'd buy a couple more and set them up permanently so I could record anytime by just hitting the rec button. :D
 
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