New SP mics

  • Thread starter Thread starter jonnyc
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Marik said:
The most relevant here would be a Flatpicker's passage, quoted by Harvey. On the other hand, IIRC, Flatpicker mentioned here on the board about Scott making this point of operating those capsules at the lower voltages.
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And the Oktava MC012 body, with the 33mm Lomo head is, in fact, a mismatch. The Oktava puts out 48 volts to the Lomo head, which is designed for 70 volts. You get increased noise, lowered dynamic range, and a different response curve. Guess what? I happen to like the sound of that combination running at a lower polarizing voltage.

Scott's mod can stabilize "some" erratic behaviour on "some" mics, but not all erratic behaviour is necessarily bad.
 
Harvey Gerst said:
I think the most important point here is that Studio Projects decided to improve their mics without a huge increase in price. The increases in performance are notable, from everything I've read. That's commendable, whether you're a fan of their products or not.
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I agree. I own quite a few Studio Projects products, and I use most of them quite regularly. I'm particularly partial to my B3 mics and my SP828 mic pres.

Here's a suggestion that is quite relevant to this thread and this community. Alan posted a long list of improvements in the new mics:

Alan Hyatt said:
First of all, let me list what the changes are;

1. Higher Polarity Voltage to the capsule: Lowers noise floor by 10dB
2. New frequency tension on capsule: Smoother response in the low end
3. Updates to components using higher quality polystyrene components
4. Lower resonance body: Less artifacts from reflections
5. New Head grill design: More air over capsule for better sound
6. Stronger reinforced mesh over capsule: Prevents damage from accidents
7. New SP Halo Shockmount: A better, more flexible shockmount system that allows multiple mics to be mounted from a single source point
8. Higher output: More gain to the mic amp.
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There are quite a few of us here who already own the mics from the original "classic" series of SP mics. I can't help but wonder whether some small portion of the improvements listed above couldn't be retrofitted into our existing mics. Many of us are perfectly willing to swap components in our mics if we think they can be improved. And Brent and Alan have already identified some of the changes that they feel make the most sense.

Clearly, there is an argument against releasing this information - they may feel that it would undercut sales of the new models. But I don't think this would be the case, mostly because it is clear that only a small subset of the set listed above would be doable in the context of the current circuit board. But a few of them probably could be, and I think that Studio Projects would be able to earn a great deal of good will by releasing that information.

This is the kind of thing that creates a good reputation, just like the excellent customer service that Harvey mentioned in his note.

If nothing else, Brent could publish some suggested component changes in a magazine article, or perhaps a series of them. He'd earn both good will and good publicity for his company, pick up a few hundred bucks for writing the article, and head off any similar article that might come from another author. Heck, someone's bound to do it eventually. It might as well be you!
 
Gilliland said:
I agree. I own quite a few Studio Projects products, and I use most of them quite regularly. I'm particularly partial to my B3 mics and my SP828 mic pres.

Here's a suggestion that is quite relevant to this thread and this community. Alan posted a long list of improvements in the new mics:



There are quite a few of us here who already own the mics from the original "classic" series of SP mics. I can't help but wonder whether some small portion of the improvements listed above couldn't be retrofitted into our existing mics. Many of us are perfectly willing to swap components in our mics if we think they can be improved. And Brent and Alan have already identified some of the changes that they feel make the most sense.

Clearly, there is an argument against releasing this information - they may feel that it would undercut sales of the new models. But I don't think this would be the case, mostly because it is clear that only a small subset of the set listed above would be doable in the context of the current circuit board. But a few of them probably could be, and I think that Studio Projects would be able to earn a great deal of good will by releasing that information.

This is the kind of thing that creates a good reputation, just like the excellent customer service that Harvey mentioned in his note.

If nothing else, Brent could publish some suggested component changes in a magazine article, or perhaps a series of them. He'd earn both good will and good publicity for his company, pick up a few hundred bucks for writing the article, and head off any similar article that might come from another author. Heck, someone's bound to do it eventually. It might as well be you!
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One thing I will note here is that the circuit noise on the new mics has not been reduced by 10dB. I think that is a typo, or a miscommunication.
On the C1, for instance, we have about a 4dB improvement in signal to noise.

Brent Casey
PMI Audio Group
877-563-6335
 
I guess I'll have to give these a whirl. I've been happy with the JM Twin, so Alan and his gang work for me.;)

Here is my list of mics I currently have:
SM57's
SM58's
Sm81's (On Loan)
AKG D112 (On Loan)
AKG 57/58 clones
AT4050
MXL V67G
MXL V69M
MXL 603's
MXL LDC don't remember what model.... cheap. $75
Neumann TLM49


What SP mics should I try for different flavors?
 
SteveE9C6 said:
I guess I'll have to give these a whirl. I've been happy with the JM Twin, so Alan and his gang work for me.;)

Here is my list of mics I currently have:
SM57's
SM58's
Sm81's (On Loan)
AKG D112 (On Loan)
AKG 57/58 clones
AT4050
MXL V67G
MXL V69M
MXL 603's
MXL LDC don't remember what model.... cheap. $75
Neumann TLM49


What SP mics should I try for different flavors?
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The SP T3 is very different from all those mics. And you need to get the MXL Omni caps for your 603's.
 
Well, outta my price range anyway

and thanks for the link.

I suppose next you'll be wanting me to use the search function. :o
 
chessrock said:
Hopefully, they come with the "Dorsey Mod" off the shelf.

Did I guess right Alan?
.
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I had never heard of the "Dorsey Mod". I always appreciate new knowledge.

treymonfauntre said:
i got an email about this the other day. old mics are marked down (b1s for $80, c4s for something like $225, etc).
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got a link. I would like a NEW old b1 for $80. Is this deal from the pmi website.

harvey gerst said:
And you need to get the MXL Omni caps for your 603's.
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I picked up a 770. Whats the best cap for it?


tubedude said:
Will Full Compass have them yet?
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I would love to buy all of my stuff from War. I think he is a strait cat. I have been going thru samedaymusic.com. The reason i go thru them is simple. On payday i make up a list (my cart) and click send with money order. This sends my request to them and gives me a number for my order. Then i go across the street and send a western union quick pay (with my order #) to them of $800 or whatever i am spending that week. Monday when i get off of work my stuffs waiting at my door. They have never been late.

I do not have credit cards because it is so easy to get in debt and pay mad high intrest for the rest of my life. I signed up for full compass and on step 3 of my order it requires a credit card. Now i have got to make phone calls and try to set my order up. then go send my money order and make more phone calls to make sure they got it. Its more of a hassle than anything. On Same Day i send my order and go pay it without the hassle of phone call's. i know my order is right because i put it in(not some tec guy on the other side of the phone). Thats why i have yet to buy from them although i would like to. If they set up something like this (a western union quick pay store) on their site i would use them exclusively.

Just because you dont have credit cards does not mean you dont have money. In fact i bet half the people on this site dont have credit cards but still buy gear weekly.
 
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OK, Harvey, dumb question

but do the omni caps sound better, or just make them omni (more useful)?

I don't have any 603s yet, but if ever get any, it'll just be for acoustic guitar, and unless things change drastically before then, I want to minimise my room sound, so omni's are pretty much a last resort.
 
notCardio said:
I don't have any 603s yet, but if ever get any, it'll just be for acoustic guitar, and unless things change drastically before then, I want to minimise my room sound, so omni's are pretty much a last resort.
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That's a bit of a misconception. A cardioid mic still has strong response 90 degrees off-axis, so you can't eliminate the room entirely. The best way to minimize the room is to put the mic closer to the source, which favors omni mics as they do not have proximity effect.

Not that I'm biased or anything :o
 
BTW some of us have been waiting very patiantly for the Stephen Paul mic...has that whole thing been abandoned completely?...its been in development for like 5 years. :rolleyes:
 
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