Studio Projects B series

[cstockdale]

Due to the limits of the search function (no two letter words, ie B1, B3), I get 75 threads back when I search for Studio Projects Mics......I may be repetitive here.

What are people's honest opinions of the SP B1 and B3 mics. I have heard great things about the C1 and C3, and I know that the B series are cheaper....but how well do they perform: specifically for vox and acoustic guitar?

The prices on them are impossible to ignore, but there's no point in buying junk

 

[DJL]

The Studio Projects B1 and B3 are nice mic's and can work well for vocals, acoustic guitar, and etc. I own a matched pair of each, and the B3 has about a 2db dip at 4kHz in the cardioid pattern and other than the 4k dip it is just a little brighter sounding than the B1.

 

[ozraves]

I think the B1 is a very special mic. It's a stunner on instruments and on amps.

The B3 is a versatile mic at a very reasonable price point.

Steve, Mojo Pie

 

[MrGrooves]

I own a matched pair of B3's as well and they are terrific for the money. I've used it for voiceovers, vocals and acoustic so far and they sound pretty damn good. This weekend I did some tests with them on acoustic guitar. First I use a pair of oktava 012, one pointing at the neck and the other one some inches from the hole, pointing at the body with a little slight angle towards the hole. I replicated the same setup with the B3's and boy the diference was huge. The 012 sounded ok, but somewhat thin. The B3's sounded pretty detailed and with much more body and fullness.
I can post the examples if you want to hear them.
And they were recorded trough a cheap event preamp, nothing fancy really.
The B3's are definetly worth the money. Plus I got mine for $130 each, for a total of $260 for the pair

 

[Han]

You can't go wrong with a B1. The price of a SM57 and the B will give you a much better sound in most applications.

 

[chessparov]

Have a B1 which I love for my vocals.
Clean and accurate mid's and top end, with a nice tight bottom.
(kinda like J-Lo )

Chris

 

[Richard Monroe]

The B-1 is a neutral, flat, studio workhorse. I use it wherever I'm already using my AKG C414B-ULS, and I wish I had another one.
You can sing through it *if* you sound good through a neutral, flat mic. Only certain singers do. No question, the most versatile cheap condenser on the market.-Richie

 

[chessparov]

It works well for me since it's a neutral flat CONDENSER.
Otherwise it's de-essing time to some degree.
Otherwise, I prefer either a warmer sounding one, or a fat toned dynamic-which could have a significant presence peak like a
Beyer Soundstar MKII or MD421.

Chris

P.S. If you work the proximity effect it'll thicken up some.

 

[chessparov]

Can't believe I used "otherwise" twice in one paragraph.
Must think of some other words to use otherwise.

Chris

 

[alfalfa]

You can search for B1* or B3*

 

[cstockdale]

well, I never thought of usng the B1* or B3* as search words..... how clever

 

[DJL]

well, I never thought of usng the B1* or B3* as search words..... how clever

Yea, that works... oh, and the B1 is NOT a flat mic... it's a good sounding mic and defiantly a "Best Bang For The Buck" type mic, and IMO, because it's only $79 I think everyone should have at least one in their mic locker.

 

[tdukex]

I think the B1 is a very special mic. It's a stunner on instruments and on amps.

The B3 is a versatile mic at a very reasonable price point.

Steve, Mojo Pie

Steve, you seem to think the B1 is a better value than the B3. Why? Do you think it sounds better? For another $80 you get multiple patterns with the B3. That sounds like the bargain of the century to me. And I thought the B3 was reported to be a little smoother than the B1.

I'm asking because I will eventually be getting one or the other, and I always considered the B1 a great value and the B3 perhaps even a greater value.

 

[chessparov]

True DJL, it's not technically neutral/flat, however, the response pattern
of out ears isn't either. Would have been more accurate for me to have
prefaced it with "for a vocal microphone it's relatively neutral/flat".

Similar to analog reel to reel still ruling the roost soundwise, despite the
wierd frequency hiccups compared to digital.

Chris

 

[Innovations]

Steve, you seem to think the B1 is a better value than the B3. Why? Do you think it sounds better? For another $80 you get multiple patterns with the B3. That sounds like the bargain of the century to me. And I thought the B3 was reported to be a little smoother than the B1.

I'm asking because I will eventually be getting one or the other, and I always considered the B1 a great value and the B3 perhaps even a greater value.

Well I am shopping for mics right now and when this came up I thought 'How often would I use anything but the cardoid pattern? And the answer was...never! So fror the extra money I would rather have a shockmount or a case or a bass rolloff switch or an attenuation pad, or a stand, or a pop filter or some extra soundproofing in the room....you get the idea.

 

[Sklathill]

But...doesn't the B3 have a pad and bass roll off?

 

[MrGrooves]

Yes it does, but so does the B1 isnt it?
I think the B3 is represents more value for the money tough. I don't think there's a multi pattern mic with pad and filter for so little money that sounds good. Maybe only the samson, but I bet its not as good as the SP.

 

[frist44]

does the B1 have a ball roll off or pad???

Brandon

 

[Rossi]

does the B1 have a ball roll off or pad???

Brandon

A ball roll off? Hmm, I don't know...
It's got neither bass roll off, nor a pad switch, if that's what you mean

 

[ozraves]

Steve, you seem to think the B1 is a better value than the B3. Why? Do you think it sounds better? For another $80 you get multiple patterns with the B3. That sounds like the bargain of the century to me. And I thought the B3 was reported to be a little smoother than the B1.

I'm asking because I will eventually be getting one or the other, and I always considered the B1 a great value and the B3 perhaps even a greater value.

For what I do, I like the B1 a lot. The B3 is a nice mic but it does not fit in to the sort of things I record. Of course, that could change next session.

You'll likely be happy with either. If the patterns are important to you, then go with the B3.

Steve, Mojo Pie