cominginsecond said:
To be honest the only small diapragm condensors I've used have been the C1000 and the Octava mc012. I find that they each have their uses. I just don't understand the utter contempt people have for these mics. ...
I haven't used very many SD condensors myself, but the 2 pairs I tried were the C1000s and the AT4041s for drum overheads. Also tried them as a stereo pair on a Baldwin Hamilton (conservatory) upright piano just for kicks.
I have to say the AT 4041s had higher highs (not surprising), fuller lows (somewhat surprising), and more defined mids.
I don't think you're finding utter contempt ... just opinions from people who have used other mics and truly found them to be better.
Also, I think $100 to $125 each is a fair price to pay for C1000s, if one wants them. Consider that MF sells them at $300 per pair new. I've seen them in used-gear stores for $125, private parties often will sell for less (they get 100% of the profit as opposed to half, or in case of consignment around where I live, maybe 75% of the price the store puts on it).
The upshot of all this is, I discovered the 4041s after I borrowed a pair of C1000s to record drum overheads. An engineer who mastered one of the songs for me commented that they sounded pretty good, nice and clean. When I told him I used C1000s and was surprised he liked the OHs, he was visibly VERY surprised. So, your mileage may vary. I just imagine how well the drums would've come out if I had recorded them with the 4041s, because I KNOW those sounded better.
If I were buying my own, I'd get 4041s or demo other mics. Don't think I'd go with C1000s.