Should I add small diaphragm condenser to StuioProject C1, or two matched pencil mics

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Tesgin

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I'm looking at upgrading my home recording setup for acoustic guitar. I'm not a professional, just a hobbyist that does it for fun!

I presently have a StudioProjects C1 large condenser mic that I record into a MOTU 828 mk II interface.

I am wanting a purer acoustic sound for my acoustic guitar. Would I do better to simply add a decent small diaphragm condenser (e.g, a pencil mike like the mxl 604 or 993, or the Shure SM81) and use that with my C1, or should I look at getting a matched pair of condenser mics (such as a pair of 993s)?

I'm wondering if it would make more sense to go with two decent mics (C1 with any of the above) which would not be "matched" but would give me a combo of a large and small diaphragm, plus two entirely different sounds from miss made by different manufacturers, OR get a matched pair.

Thanks in advance for any input.

TB
 
I'd recommend a pair of decent pencil mics (sm81, mk219, nt5) purely because a pair is really useful to have around.

I have the 81s personally and they get a lot of use on acoustic instruments.
There's nothing wrong with mixing and matching, but a pair is just a great thing to have to hand.
 
Well if you got the matched pair then you'd have the best of both worlds because you'd have the option of using an LDC/SDC setup as well as a matched SDC/SDC setup, right?
 
I find all sorts of things I can use a stereo pair of SDCs for--guitars, choirs, sound effects, etc. etc. If you can swing it, the matched pair will be very useful.

A personal favourite of mine is a set of sE1A mics. I recommended them in THIS THREAD a few weeks back and the OP actually posted an example of his new sound compared to his old AT2020.
 
Depends on your budget. If you are pretty strapped, you can still likely get all of the above - you can pick up two Naiant mics that accommodate multiple capsules, and get two each of the 10mm low noise cardioid condensor capsules and the 10mm low noise omni capsules. Between those two sets of capsules, I've been able to record pretty much any acoustic I need, with good results. I believe the Naiant mic "bases" (the mics with no capsules) are ~70 each, and the capsules run about 30 dollars each. Probably paid ~275 for two great cardioid condensors and two great omni mics.
 
Bobbsy said:
I find all sorts of things I can use a stereo pair of SDCs for--guitars, choirs, sound effects, etc. etc. If you can swing it, the matched pair will be very useful.

A personal favourite of mine is a set of sE1A mics. I recommended them in THIS THREAD a few weeks back and the OP actually posted an example of his new sound compared to his old AT2020.
Click to expand...

A matched pair of SDC's alongside your C1 would be awesome, and would give you alot of options for recordings.

And the sE1a's are awesome workhorse mic's. we have three at work and they get used alot on everything from acoustic guitars, drum overheads, choir's/vocal groups, general stereo micing. tbh, i prefer the oktava MK012's to the sE1a's on acoustic guitar's but I've made countless recordings with the sE1a's and will continue to use as they just work without having to think :D
 
The pessimist sees the glass as half empty. The optimist sees it as half full. The realist just drains the darn thing and gets a refill!
 
reure1964 said:
The pessimist sees the glass as half empty. The optimist sees it as half full. The realist just drains the darn thing and gets a refill!
Click to expand...

And don't forget...the cynic just sees the glass as being twice as big as it needs to be. ;)
 
reure1964 said:
The pessimist sees the glass as half empty. The optimist sees it as half full. The realist just drains the darn thing and gets a refill!
Click to expand...

That sounds like something I'd say!

Oh, hang on. I just did...in my sigature.
 
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