Studio Projects C1 or Crown CM 700

[frogarythm]

Hi.

I am building up recording station at my PC. I have purchased a firewire 410. My next step is the microphone. I think I have narrowed my choices to either the Studio Projects C1 or the Crown CM 700.

On one hand, I have heard the C1 is great for vocals, which is a high priority for me. But will it do well in a home studio?

On the other hand, I have heard that the CM 700 is an all around great microphone, including doing well with vocals. Specifically, I have heard it does well in less than ideal acoustic settings, such as my apartment. It is not a large condensor, which seems to be the standard tool for vocal recording, but I am thinking maybe that does not make as much of a difference as people seem to make it out to be.

Besides vocals, the main thing I will be recording will be electric guitar amps, and the vocals I am recording will be mostly female vocals.

There are reviews all over the web of these two microphones - most of them positive. I was wondering if there was anyone who had used both microphones and had a first hand comparison to give me. Or if anyone has any arguements against either of these two microphones, I would like to hear them.

Thanks.

 

[cellardweller]

Being cheap and poor, as I am, I would say go with the B1 for approx $90, and maybe a couple of behringer (sp?, obviously I don't have any!) mics. At least you'd have a couple of low-end flavors to choose from, and the beginnings of the infectious and debilitating condition, now known to me as Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS).

Do a search for studio projects and you will find quite a lot of information here.

And BTW, I know VERY LITTLE about mics, only being poor and owning a B1 already!

good luck...

I hope people start posting in here again, so I won't feel compelled to answer a post ever again...

 

[Harvey Gerst]

Well, they're two very different mics. The C1 is a large diaphragm mic designed for vocals, while the CM700 is designed to compete against the Shure SM81; it's a small diaphragm mic.

The CM700 is a little too noisey and a little too bright for my taste. It's an older design that could use a serious update.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[cellardweller]

Thank you Harvey.

That was kinda like stepping onstage and suddenly realizing I had a broken string and my socks were all loose...

 

[frogarythm]

The brightness is something to consider, thats for sure. Do you think the C1 is appropriate for recording electric guitar amps?

 

[ozraves]

Given your apparent budget consider the price of the Crown, I'd recommend the Audio-Technica AT4040. It's a versatile mic that does a good job on vocals as well as instruments/amps.

 

[Big Kenny]

Ya know, if $ is your biggest concern the B1 is not bad idea. It is good on cabs while the C1 is better on vocals (not always your voice needs an audition) If you want a studio workhorse, I agree with Oz. Any Audio Technica (3035 on the low end and 4050 on the high [4060 if you are rich]
will work well on lots and lots of stuff

 

[Big Kenny]

QUICK!!!!!! EBAY ALERT!!!!!
Coupla 4033 going cheap, would work well for ya!

 

[Recording Chick]

I have 2 cm 700s and like them quite a bit. Too bright? not that I've noticed. I like them on acoustic guitar. I've tried it on vocals and liked it, but have not actually used it for that application, as I have a KSM 44 and AT4050 for that. The cm700 comes with a pop screen especially for vocals though, so crown is serious about it's use for that. They are nice mics for sure.

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

A single mic for guitar cabs and female vox ? Don't miss trying out a Shure SM7 which does wonders on both. Don't be fooled by it being a dynamic.

Listen to vocals on Michael Jacksons "Billie Jean" och Anthony Kiedis vocals thoughout the whole "Blood sugar sex magik" album if you wanna hear it in action.

Rocksolid mic with excellent preformance.

 

[Recording Chick]

I think it would be hard to say listen to such and such recording and you'll hear what a certain mic sounds like unless you also know the mic pre and every other high end piece of gear the signal passed through.

 

[Dot]

frogarythmm, the C-1 and the Crown CM700 are very different mics, and neither is a good choice for an overall "workhorse: mic for lots of applications.

Some workhorse mic recommendations would be:

Studio Projects B1 and B3
ADK TL
Audio-Technica AT 4040 and AT 4050
Shure KSM32
Red5 Audio RV8 and RV10.

I recommend you consider the multi-pattern models - as they'll have more uses over more applications. Those would be:

Studio Projects B3
ADK TL
AT 4050
Red 5 Audio RV10

All these mics are clean and neutral and they're all large diaphragm condensers.