C1 Mic question

[griffon65]

My Set-up: On a computer, specs not really important I have had no technical issues whatsoever. Im using the omni studio w/ M-Audio Delta 66 soundcard and Studio Project C1 mic.

My voice: Almost exactly like Chester Benningtons from Linkin Park in terms of singing/screaming. I also rap but I cant think of a specific rapper I sound like.

My problem: The C1 is giving me clear quality. I usually record from 3"-6" inches away and a lot farther for screaming vocals. And my mic and mouth are at the same level. My voice sounds less "sweeter"(when singing) then I would like it. Its lacking just a bit of depth(when singing and screaming) when recorded. Overall its a little flatter then I would like. I've recorded at a friends house so I know its not my voice thats causing the problem, probably my mic techniques. Keep in mind that the recording I have done have all been really good just not up to the level I was hoping for. By the way my friend uses a AKG C 1000 S.

Also can humidity slighty lower recording quality? I live in Florida and something I recorded this winter sounds just a bit clearer then something I recorded yesterday.

Anyways thanks for reading and I would appreaciate any tips on what I should do with my mic when recording to improve the recording quality.

 

[Big Kenny]

EQ
Compression
Pre amp
Mic technique
pop filter
I find it hard to believe that an akg 1000 is sounding better than your c1, something is amiss
are all other variables the same as you friends set up?
In His Name
Big Kenny

 

[tubesrawsom]

recording in a walk in closet works well, and if you face the mic to a corner of a room about 3 or 4 foot away from the corner so u can fit i there.
be creative, epirement alot , you'll find your sound.
good luck

 

[Neil Ogilvie]

For the type of vocal sound your looking for (Linkin Park esque I am assuming) you will need to use rather a lot of compression.

Generally with this use of compression it is used as an effect, rather than a tool, ie, the sound of the compressor 'breathing' is a good thing rather than bad as with many applications.

I'm not great at explaining myself, so if its a bit of a hit and miss answer i'm sure someone else will be able to explain a lot better!

 

[Marik]

<Also can humidity slighty lower recording quality? I live in Florida and something I recorded this winter sounds just a bit clearer then something I recorded yesterday.>

We had a discussion about humidity:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109911&highlight=humidity

 

[griffon65]

EQ
Compression
Pre amp
Mic technique
pop filter
I find it hard to believe that an akg 1000 is sounding better than your c1, something is amiss
are all other variables the same as you friends set up?
In His Name
Big Kenny

Well he wasnt using a computer for one. Standerd recording setup. Could that really improve the quality so much? because like I said except that one song that I recorded in both places everything else I recored sounded sounded really good. Mabye I should record other songs there and compare. LOL theres soo many factors involved its hard to really pinpoint one. Thanks for the tips everyone

 

[noiseportrait]

Standard recording setup? That doesn't give us any information at all. Why don't you just list all of your euipment and your friends setup as well. It only takes a few seconds. Then maybe we can give you some solid advice. The difference could also just be simply room acoustics. The c1000 is a pretty crappy mic.

 

[griffon65]

Standard recording setup? That doesn't give us any information at all.

I dont know the specific equipement he uses. Thats why I couldnt list it. He records in a room about 6' by 8' but it doesnt help give the effect that say a bathroom or a walkin closet might. But I know thats not a lotta detail so If you just focus on my setup what advice would u give me? By the way my room is approx. 14' by 16'

 

[Sen]

griffon,
With the C1 I really had to eq (quite a bit) nearly all vocals I recorded with it. When I bought this mic I didn't even try it, coz everyone was raving about its qualities that i just went and bought it. When I got it I wasn't overly impressed, infact probably a bit dissapointed. It is, IMHO, overhyped in the high-mid / high region that in some cases it can sound really harsh. Of course other pieces of your chain come into play too, but I am not expecting much of this mic any more. It doesn't get used that much either..

cheers

 

[Han]

Like sen says, I can't understand why this C1 mic was so raved about.

I brought it back after a couple of days and actually I like the B1 more because it sounds more neutral and it costs 1/3 of the C1.

Nevertheless, there are much nicer sounding vocal mics under $500.

 

[ausrock]

While I don't regard the C1 as the be all and end all of lower cost LD mics, it, like virtually all mics has it's place in a studio...........maybe some people just haven't had the right sound source. If you purchase it expecting a C12 clone then more fool you.

 

[Sen]

...........maybe some people just haven't had the right sound source. If you purchase it expecting a C12 clone then more fool you.

...yeah there's a bit of that too. I did actually have a bit of "luck" with the C1 on a classical guitar once. When you try a mic on a couple of things at first, and those sources happen to be "wrong ones" for that mic, you tend to dislike it and use it more rarely...sometimes even forget about it eventhough it might be used on a certain source.
However..... I haven't got time right now to look for a good source to use my C1 on so i'll just keep it in its case for now

 

[noground]

I think you must be varying things between your place and your friends place and not realizing it. One thing that sounded a little odd was the 3-6" that you leave between you and the mic. That is a very big range for a cardioid pattern. The proximity effect will cause your voice to sound much bassier at 3" than at 6". It might even give you 5 dB more at 50 hz and 4 dB more at 200 hz (I forget exactly). Now varying between 9" to 12" is not as big a deal.