Studio Projects B1 vs. Shure SM58

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WinstonCowboy

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I have the Shure SM58 right now. I am thinking about getting a SP B3 to record my acoustic...and I'm also thinking about getting a B1 to record my vocals....what do you guys think?

I am moderately pleased with the SM58...but would prefer to use a condenser mic for recording.

Do you think I would get a better sound from the 2 SP mics...or the SM58 on vocs and SP B3 on guitar?


WINSTON
 
If you're talking about recording both your acoustic and your voice at the same time then you may well be better off buying two new mics. I'm certainly not keen on SM58 on acoustic, and depending on your voice and preamp it may not be great on vox either.

I've not got either the B1 or B3 (yet), but quite a few people seem to prefer the B1 for vocals. There are others you should think about and audition if you can, such as the SE Electronics SE2200, the often-disliked Behringer B-1, and all the other mics that cost just a little more but you can get on ebay for cheap, like the AT 4033.
 
notbradsohner:

Thanks again....and, I got the monitors from Beezoboy!

Noisedude:

You are about the only decent fucker around here! I have learned a bunch from your posts. I really appraciate you taking the time to answer people's questions - straight - without the superfluous B.S..

Yes, I will be using the mics to record both git and vocs at the same time. I was thinking about using the B3 on guitar and the B1 on vocs. Someone said that I could use the Fig. 8 on the B3 to reduce the bleed of the vocs into the guitar tracks.


WINSTON
 
From all the research I've been doing, the B1/B3 are like the SM58: doesn't suck at anything. The B-series mics are workhorses.

Research also seems to support the B1 being a bit more suited for vocals, and the B3 is obviously more versatile in multi-patterns. I own an AT4040 and MXL V67M for vocals, but am going to acquire a matched pair of B3 for omni and figure-8 use. I equate the sound of the B1 as being pretty close to my AT4040.

I want to try omni for close vocals as well as cabs, choirs, and acoustic ensembles. The omni mode does not suffer the bass rolloff inherent in all directional mics, so it is reputed to have a more full and natural sound. Yes, it hears the whole space, and that can be an issue.

I also want the figure-8 for Blumlein stereo tracking. Just for grins.

I would not buy both a B1 and B3. Keep the SM58 as there are times when it will be the best choice.
 
Winston, you might want to try a Google search from some review articles of the B1 & B3. When I was looking, I distinctly remember reading (in EQ mag last summer) something that I'd read elsewhere: that the B1 & B3 do not sound the same. In fact, I found general agreement that the B1 (and C1) sounded better
(all things considered) on vox and guitar, but that the B3 was a good choice if one really needed the omni option. I eventually bought two B1s for stereo mic'ing of acoustic guitars and couldn't be happier with their smooth, clear sound--nothing too harsh or boomy about them--in a budget mic. I'll admit that I haven't used them for vox, though, since my voice brings the coyotes running.

You can only expect so much for $99, but I believe that these are a wonderful bang for buck in an all-around budget workhorse. After using them well for a year, I'm always happy to recommend them to others in my home-studio shoes.

Good luck,
J.
 
bgavin:

Great Post...terse - and to the point.....as all Non-Cave posts should be. Very informative. I really appreciate it!

--I want to try omni for close vocals as well as cabs, choirs, and acoustic ensembles. The omni mode does not suffer the bass rolloff inherent in all directional mics, so it is reputed to have a more full and natural sound.--

This is exactly what I have in mind. I think the B3 will give me some room for error when micing my acoustic. How bout using one B3 to mic both vocs and git at same time? Would that sound to thin? I'm just trying to record some simple demos - Get some ideas down.


WINSTON
 
Using a mic like the B3 in omni for vocals/acoustic guitar has been done for decades in major studios...

Chris
 
chessparov said:
Using a mic like the B3 in omni for vocals/acoustic guitar has been done for decades in major studios...

Chris
Click to expand...

Hey Chris,

Do you mean using one B3 to mic both the vocs and git at the same time? I have read up a bunch on the B3 (omni-pattern) and it kinda of made sense that I would be able to use it like this.


WINSTON
 
How is micing a guitar cab with an omni mic better than with a cardiod. Could someone explain what this bass roll off means?

Thanks.
 
I've not had a chance to read that article ... it looked loooong! Omni is generally used when searching for a more 'natural' sound, e.g. when you want the sound of your instrument in the room you're in, reverberations and all. This is only any good if you have a good-sounding room! It may be a good way of capturing both vocals and guitar in one mic, but your positioning has to be SPOT on. As in perfect. Cos you can't adjust the levels or individual EQing afterwards!

Winston - thanks for the encouragement ..... I'm still a relative newbie but I'm a student of the theory. The practical skills come with time and practice! And there are loadsa cool guys on here - chessparov and Richie Monroe are two obvious ones, but there are plenty more!
 
Cos you can't adjust the levels or individual EQing afterwards!
Click to expand...

Wow, we do think alike. That's exactly what I thought about after my last post. If I record to the same tracks I really can't play with the mix or EQ. I think I will use 2 mics so that I can record vocs/git to separate tracks...and mess them individually.


WINSTON


P.S. Give that article a read...it's not as long as you think. :) Although, when I first scrolled to see how long it was...I put off reading it too. But you will notice that it ends about half way down the page.
 
And also, even though you don't want to at this stage, you might end up needing to re-record just the vocal or guitar without losing your 'killer' other part! To be fair, this is still difficult with two mics unless you use some mic positioning to reduce leak as far as possible (think about where you point each mic and how close it is to you, then there is the proximity effect too arggggghhh!).
 
WinstonCowboy said:
I have the Shure SM58 right now. I am thinking about getting a SP B3 to record my acoustic...and I'm also thinking about getting a B1 to record my vocals....what do you guys think?

I am moderately pleased with the SM58...but would prefer to use a condenser mic for recording.

Do you think I would get a better sound from the 2 SP mics...or the SM58 on vocs and SP B3 on guitar?


WINSTON
Click to expand...
I think there are better mics for the same price or less... i.e. the Marhall MXL603S for acoustic guitar... and a Marshall MXLV67G for vocals... IMO, the B1 sucks on vocals.
 
According to some reviews the SP C1 is a great vocal mic. It's supposed to resemble the sound you get from the great tube mics. That's what I've read anyway.

SP C1 retails at 199.00

I'm considering this mic, unless of course I change my mind, and I never do that no...
 
Just as a point of reference, this song I Come To A Mountain , was recorded With a SP B1 for guitar and vocal. Guitar track first, then the vocal track.

Blessings, Terry
 
What more can I ask for?

still4given said:
Just as a point of reference, this song I Come To A Mountain , was recorded With a SP B1 for guitar and vocal. Guitar track first, then the vocal track.

Blessings, Terry
Click to expand...

Wow, sound clips of the mic I am inquiring about. Now this is how a BBS like this should operate! Very helpful!

Is that a 'traditional arrangement' or an original piece?

Nice vibrato on the vocs! I like that a lot.


Thank you so kindly,

WINSTON
 
still4given said:
Just as a point of reference, this song I Come To A Mountain , was recorded With a SP B1 for guitar and vocal. Guitar track first, then the vocal track.

Blessings, Terry
Click to expand...

Wow, that's not a bad sounding mic!!!

The singing isn't bad either!
 
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