Should I scratch this pair and get...

[RideTheCrash]

Like my old thread sort of: I was looking at a pair of MXL 603's for drum overheads. I also was looking to buy a SP B1 for vocals. I've heard B1s make good overheads (but since it a large diaphragm, would it be too overbearing or anything?), so should (at least for the time being) just buy 2 B1s and use them as overheads and use them for vocals as well? It'd save me a good deal of money I suppose, but what do you guys think?

 

[vaultstudio]

I like the 603's as overheads, as do many others. They would definitely be easier to X-Y than the B1's. The B1 has a more pronounced (IMHO) high end bump starting at around 3K and cresting at 11K that could require tweaking on vox (The 603 doesn't start it's rise until around 6K).

Isn't there an option 3?

Bill

 

[tdukex]

A lot of people prefer the Octava MC012s over the 603s for overheads. They say they are slightly less bright. They sound very, very similar to me on acoustic guitar, however.

 

[RideTheCrash]

Well, I'm in Canada and Oktava are pretty unavailable to me as far as I know. I was just wondering because I thought maybe it'd be cheaper to use B1s because I've heard good things about them for drum overheads. I dunno, keep the suggestions comin'!

 

[mrface2112]

i'm sure that if your room doesn't suck and you're not using cheap cymbals, then the 603's make fantastic overheads. my cymbals aren't cheap (zildjian a's and k's), but my room pretty much sucks.......and the 603's emphasize everything bad about my room.

i've paired a V67 with a B1, though, and gotten far superior results. i don't know about the B1 having a bump in the upper freqs.....to be honest i sure haven't noticed one--certainly not to the extent i notice the one on the 603's. i've always considered the B1 a bit of a more neutral sounding mic in comparison. maybe it's the B1 i've got (red dor) vs the one you've got....i dunno. and i've very *rarely* found a singer that the B1 is the "ideal" mic for....vocals just ain't its strong suit.

as i said in the other thread, i'm not saying don't get the 603's--i like them on a number of other things......but i am saying that i've not found them to be as "friendly" on overheads in a less-than-stellar sounding room.

and of course, that's not the fault of the mics one bit......i know, i know.....fix my room.



cheers,
wade

 

[zbert]

I have both the 603's and the B1's. Both are good. The 603's get a bit too bright for me but a bit of eq will fix that. The B1's give me a fat overall drum sound. For the price you sould get both down the road. You won't be unhappy you did. Which to get for overheads? Toss a coin. If you need the mic for vocals go with the B1 first.

 

[billisa]

i don't know about the B1 having a bump in the upper freqs.....to be honest i sure haven't noticed one--i've always considered the B1 a bit of a more neutral sounding mic in comparison.
cheers,
wade

I've used the B1's extensively on the voices of about 30 or so people, and the voices I've recorded have come back sounding like they went in. I've added a db of eq @ 5 or 10khz, but usually it sounds fine as is.

 

[dr.colossus]

the b1 is not the greatest vocal mic. it is a great all rounder, its pretty good on o/h duty, quite clean and tidy... not my first choice though, i am a big fan of beh ecm8000s, nice agressive overheads, not everyones cup of tea though.