C
cpc
Member
what are the main differences between the sounds of these mics? what are each best at recording? etc.
kid klash
The original Mr. Nice Guy
They're both very good mics IMHO. The C1 is used as a vocal mic more times than not, with a tonal signature designed for this application.
The B1 is a fairly neutral mic... solid bottom end, solid (not scooped) mids and smooth (not hyped) high end. It's a favorite for stereo mic'ing, overheads, instruments, and most other tasks where you want an accurate representation of the source.
They're both single pattern (cardiod) LDCs, requiring phantom voltage to power them.
The B1 is a fairly neutral mic... solid bottom end, solid (not scooped) mids and smooth (not hyped) high end. It's a favorite for stereo mic'ing, overheads, instruments, and most other tasks where you want an accurate representation of the source.
They're both single pattern (cardiod) LDCs, requiring phantom voltage to power them.
thajeremy
registered abuser
I have both mics and like Kid Klash said, they are both very nice mics. If you are trying to decide between the 2, it will depend on what you need them for, but if you are planning on doing only vocals, go with the C1. If you want to do both instruments and vocals, the B1 can hold its on on pretty much anything you put it in front of, including a lot of vocals, but the C1 is more suited for them.
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cpc
Member
i read that the b1 now comes with a low cut filter, and the c1 has a high pass filter.... why does one have a low, and the other have a high? :S and which is more useful?
is the c1 worth the extra 100 bucks for vocals? and how does it compare to the rode ntk1a
is the c1 worth the extra 100 bucks for vocals? and how does it compare to the rode ntk1a
kid klash
The original Mr. Nice Guy
riznich said:
Not true regarding the SP B1.
C
cpc
Member
my bad, i must have misread since it's not on the official site yet...the b1 also comes with a high pass filter, not a low cut. i was confused.
anyways, is the c1 worth the extra 100 bucks just for vocals, and how does it compare to the nt1a
anyways, is the c1 worth the extra 100 bucks just for vocals, and how does it compare to the nt1a
kid klash
The original Mr. Nice Guy
riznich said:
Actually, the SP B1 doesn't have a high pass filter either, or a pad... no switches at all... at least my two don't have them.
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cpc
Member
yeh its very recent since they added these features from what i read, only a couple people have actually got the new mics, the packaging hasnt even been changed yet.
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=182916&highlight=fake
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=182916&highlight=fake
C
cpc
Member
actually i was thinking, aren't high pass and low cut the same thing? so why are both names even in existance and used?
thajeremy
registered abuser
riznich said:
same as A# and Bb man.....just depends on the key signature...
kid klash
The original Mr. Nice Guy
riznich said:
Well I'll be darned... the photo shows a SP B1 with a switch on the front! Must be the upcoming version...
Thanks for the update!
S
simpleybass
New member
yep. My B1 has two settings for low cut (75 and 150), and two pad settings (-10 and -20).
amra
Well-known member
To me, the B1 DOES have a bit of a scooped mid range - this is especially apparent on mic'ed guitar cabs.
kid klash said:
treymonfauntre
Magic Bag Of Sounds
haha, the b1 has a smooth high end? meaning its NOT basically the most sibilant mic ever?
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Gilliland
New member
I haven't used a B1 yet personally, but the tracks that I've heard recorded with it certainly don't show much sibilance. In addition, the reviews that I've read indicate that it has a far less aggressive high end than other inexpensive Chinese mics. I'll reserve judgement until I've used one myself, but the preponderance of published opinions on this mic don't seem to agree with the view that is implied by your questions here.treymonfauntre said:
Some reviewers have suggested that the C1 has an aggressive high end, but I've never heard anyone say that about the B1. Did you listen to the tracks in the "mic shootout" that was posted here recently? One of them was a B1, and it fared pretty well.
kid klash
The original Mr. Nice Guy
treymonfauntre said:
That's right - it's not the most "sibilant" mic ever. Sibilance has a lot to do with how a mic is used...
I've never gotten what I would characterize as a hyped/strident top end from either of my two SP B1's.
IMHO, if you want a hyped/strident top end, try an AKG C-1000...
R
Robert D
New member
Gilliland said:
I ended up blindly choosing the B1 take over the NTK on that voice and song because of it's non hyped upper mids and absence of sibilance. I'm not getting rid of my NTK, it's great when I want that sound, but I've used my Mk-319 several times when the NTK was too much. The SP B1 seems to fall into the same catagory as the 319, a nice inexpensive non hyped alternative when the track calls for a less sparkely vocal.
-RD
treymonfauntre
Magic Bag Of Sounds
i have a b1 and i'd without a doubt place it in the sibilant category. its not as brittle as MXL mics but it is very hyped in the high end.
amra
Well-known member
I have to say, I thought it was nice and bright too. Not overly bright, mind you, but definitely robust on the higher freqs - and again I heard a bit of scoop in the mids.
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Gilliland
New member
Hmmm. It's beginning to seem that the B1 may not be very consistent. Different listeners are making very different claims about what they hear. That might be just due to different ears, but it might also be due to a lack of consistency in the mics themselves.
