Studio Projects C1 or C3?

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Vikki

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The studio projects mics seem to have come to the uk, Red Submarine seem to have a limited stock but there is a new distributor. I was looking for something for female vocals and for recording acoustic guitar. The c4's seem to be great for acoustic, but the C1 and C3 are more suited to vocals. I can't buy them all at the moment so its a choice between the C1(c1 doesn't sound bad on acoustic in the listening sessions) and C3, do i really need the different patterns of the C3 as i have no specialist recording room and will be close micing the acoustic. The T3 also looks nice but i'm using valve pre amps and thought with a valve mic it might be too much of a good thing.
Vikki(uk)
 
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Wow, hey Vick, you should edit that post. It is unclear which mic you like for what. The C1 is the bang for buck winner (it sounds as good or better than my stable of mid range mics, save my Groove Tube 1b) The T3 is the most interesting and quality mic of the SP line ( I am not aware of a T4). If you are not sure why you want a multi - pattern, wait until you are. If you like the C1, get it, it will always sound good on something or someone.
 
Hope thats better, getting excited at the thought of my first mic.
Vikki(uk)
 
You should be fine with the T3 also.
The "tube coloration" is pretty subtle IMHO.
Many top class recordings have been done "valve" mic>"valve" pre.

BTW is it a "true" valve pre or is it a starved plate (low voltage) type?

Chris
 
Personally, I'm a big fan of the C3. If I were buying an all-around FET condenser mic for under $1000 (list) that I couldn't modify, the C3 would be it. The 797 capsule in there is the very best of the Chinese bread, IMHO, and so are the electronics. I just don't see how you could go wrong with a C3. To me the C1 is just more of a one-trick pony.
 
If you do not need more tube or valve sound, then the C3 is better suited for female voice than the C1 is. Unless you have a big powerful voice, no offence most female voices are not powerful, the C3 is better. If you are a Tina Turner type singer, the C1 is better ....

The drawback of the C3 is it takes more gain than the C1, but this is not a problem, just step up the gain, but in the end, the results are quite good on the C3, and you can use the other patterns as well for vocals. Figure Of Eight can help change the mikes tone a bit by closing off the pattern and off axis response. Maybe well worth your looking into it.

Do not look to the C4 as a vocal mic. T3 is the best mic we have for female vocals and should be about £350.00 inc VAT. Just remember, the T3 has a tube.
 
The preamp i have is the "Ridge Farms Gas Cooker" its a true high voltage type and not a starved plate type i think.
http://www.ridgefarmstudio.com/rfinew/cprod.htm
I don't know if anyone has used these for recording vocals, it works great on keyboard and bass.
I was going to get some 7 Circle audio kits a bit later on. As for the Studio project mic i think i may push the boat out and go with the T3 valve mic, do they work o.k on acoustic guitar? Just as a matter of interest Alan is the valve on the T3 plug in or is it soldered in? I know some of the cheaper Chinese mics have a soldered in valve to save on the cost of a socket.
Thanks For The Info!
Vikki(uk)
 
I'm not sure how much gain it has, i'm not at home at the moment so can't look at the book. I've a Calrec parametric eq that i put after the cooker so i just hope it has enough gain.
Vikki(uk)
 
spec sheet says 19db, thats about 1/3 of the standard. you will need more to make your mic shine
 
I may have to build some 7 circle audio pre's as well.
Vikki(uk)
 
Vikki said:
Just as a matter of interest Alan is the valve on the T3 plug in or is it soldered in? I know some of the cheaper Chinese mics have a soldered in valve to save on the cost of a socket.
Thanks For The Info!
Vikki(uk)
Click to expand...

Vikki,

I know that mic amp, and it is a very good one, so you will have no issues at all. Our tube is socketed in...Not Soldered! We also use a 6072 Dual Triode like the Telefunken ELM 250 does, and not the traditional 12AX7 that all Chinese mics seem to use.

I think the T3 will surprise you....
 
I am surprised that 19 db is enough gain for a condenser, or any mic for that matter. Most times I push my pres to 30 and up. I am not disputing the fact as I have never worked with that piece, just surprised
 
Big Kenny said:
I am surprised that 19 db is enough gain for a condenser...
Click to expand...
Depends on what she's feeding it into. Almost everything has a good bit of line-level gain these days.
 
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