Defective Studio Projets C1s?

[Yam]

After months of looking for a good large diaphram condensor mic... I was so excited to recieve my C1 from Sweetwater in the mail last week. But, I'm very unsure of how I feel about this mic and wonder if it might be defective in some way. It is very very muddy compared to my small diaphram Core audio condensor mics and my SM57. Alarmingly poor sounding on accoustic guitar with all placements I've tried... it has none of the "shine" that I've heard of... all I can think of is ways I can clean it up in the mix or comensate for its eq shotcommings. The Core mics sound sooo clean and sweet next to this C1. I'm super disapointed and alarmed with this mic and am hoping I got a bad one so it can be replaced by the C1 I've heard so much about for the past year.
Has anyone out there gotten a bad one, or does the double check inspection really work? I wanted this to be my primary vocal mic, but it's going to be tough tough tough to live with this in anyway.

 

[Axis]

use the return policy if there is one. I don't have one of these but I've heard only good about them, My guess is they probably just sent u a bad mic, return it.

 

[cjmusicman]

MUDDY...

Crisp, clear, cutting, bright, clean maybe, but muddy?

Have it replaced. It sounds to me (by what your saying I obviously haven't heard your C1) that you got a bad one. I have had excellent results mic-ing acoustic guitar with it.

Good Luck,

cj

 

[Yam]

I am using an audio buddy with it... which I thought would give me a nice clean signal (I've heard this around the block many times). Maybe I need a better pre... could that be where the degraded quality is from if its not the mic? Grace 101 would be a nice preamp for me to be sure with. I just wish I had more equipment together so I could tell what the real deal is on this mic. In a few weeks... I'll have this working or I'll have a TLM103.

 

[ausrock]

This may be a dumb question, but I don't own an audio buddy.............have you definitely got phantom power going to the mic?

If you do, then I would stop worrying about posting here and immediately email Alan Hyatt at Studio Projects (PMI) about the problem. I have no doubt if the mic is faulty it will be taken care of ASAP.

 

[Sky Blue Lou]

I'm not sure that's a dumb question c7sus. I had to read the manual to be sure. Typical newbie thing (I've had a lot of these moments).

lou

 

[Yam]

I'm using phantom power... and yes, using the front of the mic.

 

[ausrock]

OK, then email Alan Hyatt ASAP................alan@pmiaudio.com

That's the last email address I have for him.

 

[Yam]

By muddy... I mean all the sounds blend together and it has a very artificial sheen... there is no clarity or detail. Very very unrealistic. All these terms are so reletive that talking about it here is kinda silly. You'd just have to hear it. I've been recording and playing the guitar/ singing, producing for about 10 years, so I'm not just jumping into this unaware. I could imagine this mic being used on just vocals (in the perrrrfect room and with lots of eq and compression to coax out a listenable sound)... and maybe very gentle apegiation on my guitar, beyond that, I'm not sure what use I can find for it... Does anyone have a sample track of an accoustic guitar recorded with this mic so I can compare to see if mine is defective?

 

[ausrock]

I can't comment on your perceived problem as I'm obviously unable to be there when you are recording...........BUT.........in the 9 or 10 months I have had a C1, I can honestly say that even with casual mic placement we haven't had a "bad" sound on vocals or acoustics. Only a couple of weeks ago, a guy from a local studio was here and was honestly "blown away" by as he called it "the clarity and definition" we were achieving on acoustics. And this is in a room/studio that is "under construction" and with no acoustic treatment.

My recording gear isn't currently connected to my PC, so I am unable to post samples..........as I said earlier, CONTACT ALAN HYATT!!!

 

[Trak]

I could imagine this mic being used on just vocals (in the perrrrfect room and with lots of eq and compression to coax out a listenable sound)...

Actually with the C1 I hardly have to EQ vocals anymore and I only use light compression when recording.

 

[Yam]

I brought the mic by Sam Ash today and had a listen to it against a bunch of other mics. Different studio guys/ producers who were in and out were curious having heard so much about the C1, but all were shocked by the sound... how harsh it, how unnaturally grating. This is about 5 guys who make a living with music in someway, so I'm not nuts. Some comented that this sound is typical of lower end condenor mics... this harshness; this high + low end with essential tones in between missing. I'm not writting this to rain on anyone's parade, It's just that we've all heard so many good things about this mic and lots of people have been excited. Sound quality is extremely important to many of us, and I HIGHLY suggest doing and A/B comparision with this mic before buying one. I was sold on internet coments alone.
This isnt an aweful mic, it's just very very sharp... and many subtle beautiful tones get lost with it in MY performance. I can see how it would work for some vocalists... but it's just not the sound I'm after. I want clarity and natural detail on my guitar before I want all that hi-end.
Could it have come broken? More likely it's just not the mic for me. It sounded very similar to other mics in its price range. When someone said "it sounds like it has a built in exciter" they weren't lying. Maybe when I have a ton of money to spend I'll be back in Studio Projects land to have one of these around for the right occasion, but until then I have to go get myself a nice mic that I can use for varied purposes. The TLM-103 and NTK both sounded much more balanced and natural to me, and for the few hundred more they seem really worth the extra $.

 

[Gidge]

I bet those Sam Ash guys were drooling to sell you a mic that THEY carried.....

odds are, you got a bum C1, because they are a pretty damn good sounding mics.......

i would have to echo the previous comments to contact Alan Hyatt...he has a great reputation for helping people.....

and if it isnt a faulty mic, try this link....
http://www.voice-center.com/audiogram.html

 

[Markd102]

I'd definately contact Alan and discuss the problem with him. I'm sure he will swap the mic without hesitation, and then you'll know for sure if you got a dud, or if the C1 just doesn't suit you.

Mark

 

[Yam]

Please, just know I'm not trying to start any trouble with this post

 

[Speeddemon]

No problem Yam, but like Gidge said "I'd like to echo the comments on contacting Alan Hyatt for this".
I recently listened to Sonixx's mic guessing game samples, which included a C1, a NTK and some others.
The NTK did sound nicer to me, but the C1 was great as well. Sometimes it has a little too much low-end, but other than that, I didn't find it overly bright. The NTK was brighter, but a nice bright, the crystal-kinda bright

But really, from what I hear, this could be a defective one. Just, before you decide to go the TLM 103/NTK route, be sure to check another (or 2) C1's...just to make sure.

 

[MK-Ultra]

It prolly is a bum mic, but I've also heard that the C-1 is not the best thing for recording acoustic geets...and was recommended more strongly for vocals. As for the NTK, yeah, I have one, and I love it.

 

[Gidge]

Please, just know I'm not trying to start any trouble with this post

understood....no problem....we just dont want you to rule out the possibility that it is defective.......

as much as id like to trash the C1, i cant because it is a fine mic and holds up well to the likes of the TLM103.....

also, what preamp are you going thru?.....

 

[ausrock]

If you have the 10yrs experience you claim to have, then I'm somewhat surprised that you have had to ask anyone about the apparent deficiencies in this mic........experience should have told whether it is right or not. In other words, ........stop communicating with people who can't fix the problem and contact the only person who can.

Then tell us how happy you are with SP's customer service

 

[A1A2]

log in your email account, cut and paste everything you said in this thread and hit "send", and I am sure you will get a reply within 1 day or 2 from Alan. He offers a great costumer service
And I am sure he will be more hurried about replacing a mic for you than you are, seriously.

AL