Can anyone comment on the differences between the Studio Projects C1 and B3?

[DJL]

Nope, sorry, that's way over the line. That is just distilled, pure, horribleness. It's those snidey comments that have marked your 'new man' period, but are you going to welcome on Harvey in the same way you used Stephen Paul? You know what I'm talking about.

I didn't mean it the way I think you think I meant it... but, I do want chessrock to know I see his point. And I'm going to take the lead and not comment on the rest of your post or

I take responsibility for that - I wanted to catch him while he was around to ask him about it. You won't hear me mention it again til I get a chance to write a review... which I'm sure you're waiting for with great anticipation!

this one either.

 

[noisedude]

*sighs*

Ok ... if it keeps the peace for the time being, I'll play along.

 

[chessrock]

My likes and dislikes are no secret. The difference is that my reasons for not liking something are clearly stated, and based on facts and testing, not based on an agenda.

Now this only goes to illustrate my point.

I and plenty of others here can't state our honest and truthful opinions on something without statements like: "Oh, Chessrock only says that because he has an agenda. " Who's generalizing, now?

There's a big-time double standard going on, here.

If you, for instance say you don't like a particular microphone (and you have stated on many occasions that you don't care for some of the AKG condensers, for example), it's because you arrived at that opinion through careful observation and methodology.

Now if I, on the other hand, don't care for how a mic sounds ... it's because I "have an agenda."

Which is complete and utter crap, by the way. I am a total microphone whore. I have bought, sold, and traded more mics on ebay ... at the local used music store ... with other members on this board ... than I care to count. I've honestly lost track through the years. I've gone through about as many mics as my girl friend has gone through shoes.

And that's saying a lot!

When I post an opinion about a mic, it's based on the fact that I futzed around with it for a while. You know ... recorded things with it. I don't think it's any secret I'm not the president of the Alan Hyatt fan club or anything. But that doesn't affect in any way my opinions on his mics. The B-1 isn't bad at all -- particularly on toms. And I lust big-time after the T-3 after being spoiled by it during a recording session last year.

I'm also not a very political person, so I don't particularly give a shit where something is made, either. I've said on many occasions I'm a slappy for the MXL-603. Not to mention that the Groove Tubes mics are crazy good (and both assembled in China by the way).

I can't stand Rode mics either, so I suppose that means I have an agenda against Australians, huh? Then again, I guess it's okay for someone not to like Rode mics, because no one here has any friends over at Rode, and the owner doesn't post here. And I sure hope it stays that way (knock on wood).

In summary, the problem is that you, Harvey, have an ego which won't allow you to accept opinions that differ from yours, without dismissing them as being based on some sort of agenda. Only the great Harvey knows how to properly evaluate mics, and no one else possesses the necessary objectivity to post opinions about them in a thoughtful manner.

 

[DJL]

The only mic in the SP line that I would buy (at this point in our collection) is the T3, not because the others SP's are bad, but because we have most of those bases covered. I don't have enough money to do that right now.

My health is okay, not great, but better than most of my peers (who are pretty much all dead). I'll be 68 in 13 days, still smoke 3+ packs a day, and live on junk food (when I remember to eat at all). My eyes are starting to go (after two eye surgeries), and my allergies are getting worse. Except for the really quiet stuff (very low levels of hum and hiss), I can still do a pretty good mix, and I'm still pretty good at designing stuff.

I'm not worked up about people having fun on the board. I just thought the Visitors Forum was primarily for... oh well, nevermind. If you want to start a thread there, telling everyone how much you've changed and begging points for yourself, go for it. I just found it amusing, and a little sad; you really haven't changed at all (as witnessed by your first line in this quote).

Anyway, I won't stand in the way of your agenda, nor contribute any more fuel to your fires. Go for it, DJL - I'm done here, except as noted in my previous post.

Hmm, I suggest you continue reading this thread... and note that I am taking the lead and doing my best to keep the peace... but I need everyones help... including yours. Thanks, Don.

 

[noisedude]

I you, for instance say you don't like a particular microphone (and you have stated on many occasions that you don't care for some of the AKG condensers, for example), it's because you arrived at that opinion through careful observation and methodology.

Now if I, on the other hand, don't care for how a mic sounds ... it's because I "have an agenda."

I think the difference is that you enjoy the sound of your own soundbites. ("Harsh, muddy and generally a piece of crap ... yeah, I like it")

I have no doubt you get to your opinions the right way because you turn out stuff that sounds good. My constructive criticism would be that you post more of your actual thoughts and reflections, rather than the one-liners you often parachute into a thread.

But do what you like, I know whose ears I do and don't trust around here, and you remain on the list of "do".

I don't think it's any secret I'm not the president of the Alan Hyatt fan club or anything.

Really? You kept that one under your hat!

 

[DJL]

*sighs*

Ok ... if it keeps the peace for the time being, I'll play along.

Thank you... and hopefully it will be longer than just for the time being.

 

[noisedude]

Well you reckoned you were off on tour and I reckon that as soon as my coursework and exams are done, my PC is going to be permanently booted in recording mode ... so maybe it'll quieten down here either way!

 

[Brent Casey]

Hi chessrock... I see you're reading the thread... I hear what your saying (this thread is a good example) but give the old man a break, his heart might stop ticking. I'm begging you... lets just drop it. Thanks bro, Don.

Don - I think that was your 6,660th post and it was pretty eeeeeevil!
That's got to be somewhere within the ballpark of strange coincidence, powers of ten and the recent downgrade to 616 notwithstanding.


Brent Casey

 

[crazydoc]

but give the old man a break, his heart might stop ticking.

And some day it will - but not because of anything said in this smallest, most unimportant of places in the universe.

Now, the hoofbeats of those 3+ packs of smokes a day may be sounding closer and closer...

Anyway Harvey, let me take this chance to thank you again for the knowledge, advice and opinions you have shared with us here over the last few years, and also that which you have freely given though your website and other forums. Long after the rest of us are forgotten nobodies, your legacy will live on in the minds of home recordists, perhaps to form a legend in the end.

Yes, I remember Harvey "Bunyan" Gerst - he could make a killer recording with little more than a tin can, a string, a sewing needle, and a cylinder of hot wax.

 

[chessrock]

I think the difference is that you enjoy the sound of your own soundbites. ("Harsh, muddy and generally a piece of crap ... yeah, I like it") I have no doubt you get to your opinions the right way because you turn out stuff that sounds good. My constructive criticism would be that you post more of your actual thoughts and reflections, rather than the one-liners you often parachute into a thread.

You have a point, there. But honestly ... the more I do this stuff, the less of a mystery it becomes. If anything, the biggest problem with beginning / intermediate and budding recording engineers is that they just over-think things too damn much. And I realize I'm guilty of this sometimes, myself. But often short, quick, to-the-point answers are far more valuable than long-winded rants.

For example, if I think something sounds harsh, what the hell do you think that means? Um, gee, I dunno. Seriously, people should know by now what a harsh mic sounds like, or what a muddy mic sounds like, and if they don't, then they need to spend some more time reading, researching and practicing before they post dumb questions like that. That's what the newbie forum, the FAQ, the search function, and Harmony Central are for.

A lot of times, the short answer is given to match the question. I mean, if people want detailed answers, then ask a freakin' detailed question for cryin' out loud! "I do rap. What's the best mic for me?"

Well gee, king of brevity, thanks for all the detail. That really narrows it down for us, doesn't it?

Besides, some of us are kinda' busy and might not have time to write a War and Peace novel all the damn time.


.

 

[noisedude]

Is this turning into an obituaries thread? It just gets weirder and weirder.

 

[noisedude]

You have a point, there. But honestly ... the more I do this stuff, the less of a mystery it becomes. If anything, the biggest problem with beginning / intermediate and budding recording engineers is that they just over-think things too damn much. And I realize I'm guilty of this sometimes, myself. But often short, quick, to-the-point answers are far more valuable than long-winded rants.

For example, if I think something sounds harsh, what the hell do you think that means? Um, gee, I dunno. Seriously, people should know by now what a harsh mic sounds like, or what a muddy mic sounds like, and if they don't, then they need to spend some more time reading, researching and practicing before they post dumb questions like that. That's what the newbie forum, the FAQ, the search function, and Harmony Central are for.

A lot of times, the short answer is given to match the question. I mean, if people want detailed answers, then ask a freakin' detailed question for cryin' out loud! "I do rap. What's the best mic for me?"

Well gee, king of brevity, thanks for all the detail. That really narrows it down for us, doesn't it?

Besides, some of us are kinda' busy and might not have time to write a War and Peace novel all the damn time.


.

I know what you're saying. But I find it hard to take any opinion seriously when they just say, "it's great" or "it's crap" or "what a harsh piece of crap" or "what a great piece of gear" without any explanations.

And the last point is taken.

 

[chessrock]

I know what you're saying. But I find it hard to take any opinion seriously when they just say, "it's great" or "it's crap" or "what a harsh piece of crap" or "what a great piece of gear" without any explanations.

As long as you've posted on this board ... have you ever known me to refuse someone who asks: "Chessrock, could you go in to more detail? What, about the mic do you feel is crappy?"

To the contrary, it's very easy to suck me in to a long-winded explanation. And all of a sudden, there goes my whole day.

 

[DJL]

Oh shit... here comes the rest of the PMI Audio Group employees and their internet fr

Don - I think that was your 6,660th post and it was pretty eeeeeevil!
That's got to be somewhere within the ballpark of strange coincidence, powers of ten and the recent downgrade to 616 notwithstanding.


Brent Casey

. Lets see, how should I respond to your comment... hmm, oh I know...

I'm naked...

Nah, that's your favorite... but it's good

Ok, let me try again... ok here it is... this nice ice cold beer sure is tasting good... nah, it taste great but thats not a good reply either.

Help me out Brent... what would you say to a comment like that while you were trying to keep the peace and get everyone to chill?

 

[chessrock]

What exactly is the nature of this "retaliation" that you fear? What is supposed to happen?

The faction is basically a bunch of dorks who have no life other than posting on this forum on a friday night and ... um ... uh ... yea. Ewkay.

 

[DJL]

And some day it will - but not because of anything said in this smallest, most unimportant of places in the universe.

Now, the hoofbeats of those 3+ packs of smokes a day may be sounding closer and closer...

Anyway Harvey, let me take this chance to thank you again for the knowledge, advice and opinions you have shared with us here over the last few years, and also that which you have freely given though your website and other forums. Long after the rest of us are forgotten nobodies, your legacy will live on in the minds of home recordists, perhaps to form a legend in the end.

Yes, I remember Harvey "Bunyan" Gerst - he could make a killer recording with little more than a tin can, a string, a sewing needle, and a cylinder of hot wax.

Hi bro... dam, I don't how to respond to that... I like Harvey and even tho I believe he will like it in heaven... I don't want him die. I'm getting/feeling really sad now just thinking about it.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Oh for crying out loud...

To no one person in particular...

1. Get a dictionary and look up the difference between "advice" and "opinion".

2. The only bad microphone is a dead microphone.

3. Harvey could make a better recording with a tin can and a string than most of us could make with a warehouse full of SSLs, Neumanns and any other brand you want to throw in there. Giving the man the respect he's earned ain't going to make your bandwidth-wasting vandalism of these forums any less "fun".

4. With "fun" like that, who needs ebola.

5. Kill this useless f__ing thread now and put the Internet out of it's misery.

I'm out.

G.

 

[DJL]

I know what you're saying. But I find it hard to take any opinion seriously when they just say, "it's great" or "it's crap" or "what a harsh piece of crap" or "what a great piece of gear" without any explanations.

And the last point is taken.

Yeah, we should use "sucks" or "sounds like shit" instead... everyone knows what sucks and sounds like shit means don't they? For example... IMO, the pickups used on the Fender Mexican strat's suck.... and the explanation is they just sound like shit.

I'm getting out of here for a while... bye.

 

[noisedude]

The faction is basically a bunch of dorks who have no life other than posting on this forum on a friday night and ... um ... uh ... yea. Ewkay.

You weren't supposed to mention that. That was supposed to be left unsaid ... a little understanding across the party divide ...

 

[Chris F]

In summary, the problem is that you, Harvey, have an ego which won't allow you to accept opinions that differ from yours, without dismissing them as being based on some sort of agenda. Only the great Harvey knows how to properly evaluate mics, and no one else possesses the necessary objectivity to post opinions about them in a thoughtful manner.

Please, just stop. With one exception*, I've learned more about recording from Harvey than I have from anyone, and I've never even met the man. He shared a life's worth of knowledge about microphones in a thread that has at present been viewed over 100,000 times, and helped countless other recording newbies like myself. Why? I would submit that he did it because he wanted to give back to others what had been given to him by others. As a university professor who regularly tries to pass along the art of instrumental performance and improvisation that I learned at the feet of those older and more experienced than myself, I have no trouble understanding this at all - what you call "ego" I call Karma, and I wouldn't trade any handful of Harvey's posts for all 87,652 of yours. The end result of Harvey's legacy here for me is that my recordings sound exponentially better than they did before I "met" him. The end result of the "legacy" created by you and DJL for me is that I rarely visit this board anymore because (despite the honest wish to help others displayed by a few decent people on the board) it has turned into a place where immature behavior (trashing gear in general terms with no other explanation given), butt-kissing (the whole "rep point" thing is so insipid that I marvel that any adult openly participates), and cliquishness has drowned out all but a few reasonable voices.

This board is a disaster, and posts like the above quote are a sizeable part of the reason why. What could have been an incredible resource for those interested in homerecording is now a complete joke. While I have seen you make a few helpful posts, the majority of what I see from you is public negativity, whether it be slagging gear that would be a step up for budget-minded people who are looking to improve their sound, or slagging other members because they outshine you in some way. In this instance, you are hypocritically attacking the one member who has (in my estimation) helped more people on this board understand what they are dealing with when they record than any other member.

With all due respect, get over yourself and grow up.





*Philil Sturgwolt, a virtually unknown engineer here in town who, like Harvey, likes to share what he knows about recording with anyone with an honest passion for the subject.