Studio Projects C1 vs Neumann u87

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blor007
  • Start date Start date
B

Blor007

New member
Hi,

I bought a Studio Projects C1 1 month ago and I like the sound, (better then an SM58 or AKG C1000 :P) but I wonder , if a want a more warm sound, would it be wiser to buy a better pre amp? or a better mic? or both?
I'm building up a semi-prof studio as cheap as possible.

So:I would like to hear the difference between a Studio Projects C1 and a Neumann u87 (2 different sound files capturing the same source).

Anyony knows a site that has the comparisation, or anyone willing to record something with both mic's? :)

Would be really helpfull and interesting?
 
The C1 is a very good mic for the price and I think that going for a nice preamp like the Groove tubes Brick would be a good choice. As far as the u87 for $2800 it had better be a C1 killer. :D
 
I've got the C1, so someone just send me the U87 and I'll get some sound clips posted ASAP! :)
 
For the price of a U87 you could get a complete mic locker. In the 3000 price range, something by Gefell, Blue, Brauner, or Soundelux would most likely be a better choice. With so many companies making quality mics nowadays, I see no reason anyone should ever buy a (new) U87.
 
I think this guy was probably more trying to get an idea of how much difference there realy was to see if he should be working on other parts of his signal chain first
 
usernamebob said:
I think this guy was probably more trying to get an idea of how much difference there realy was to see if he should be working on other parts of his signal chain first
Click to expand...

Exactly :D
 
Did this about 3 years ago but at the time only recording acoustic guitar, the results were surprising and would please any owner of a C1, however, no comparitive recording is going to give a definitive answer as there are too many variables in sound source, etc. We may have been lucky in our selection of instrument, mic setup and signal chain..........a small alteration to any one of those and the result would be totally different.

In other words, to answer your question re the difference between those two mics................there is no correct answer.

:cool:
 
Blor007 said:
Hi,

I bought a Studio Projects C1 1 month ago and I like the sound, (better then an SM58 or AKG C1000 :P) but I wonder , if a want a more warm sound, would it be wiser to buy a better pre amp? or a better mic? or both?
I'm building up a semi-prof studio as cheap as possible.

So:I would like to hear the difference between a Studio Projects C1 and a Neumann u87 (2 different sound files capturing the same source).

Anyony knows a site that has the comparisation, or anyone willing to record something with both mic's? :)

Would be really helpfull and interesting?
Click to expand...
Hmm, IMO, you really can't compare those two mics any more than you can comapre a porshce to a pinto... not that the U87 is a porshce or the C1 is a pinto, but in this case, they might as well be. I'd defiantly upgrade the C1 at some point in time... what preamp are you using?

PS... rather than trying to listen to crummy MP3 files... you'd get a much better picture/idea if you rented a U87 from one of your local sound companies, studio's, or etc.
 
As bright a mic as the C1 is it'd be futile to "warm" it with a preamp. It's always going to be on the bright side no matter what you'll do. It does a decent job of putting across that bright pop vocal sound. Anymore, it's too harsh for my personal tastes even though in the past I liked it a lot. I guess as we age we like different things. YMMV.
 
DJL said:
PS... rather than trying to listen to crummy MP3 files... you'd get a much better picture/idea if you rented a U87 from one of your local sound companies, studio's, or etc.
Click to expand...
That's sound advice. But why are you so desperate to hear a U87? If I were you, I'd be looking at some alternative flavours in your own budget range if that's what you want. If you need to upgrade your pres, tell us what you already have.
 
Don't let anybody fool you the C1 is better than a u87. Maybe the best mic ever made. :rolleyes: Just ask Studio Projects (where's the tongue in cheek smiley?)
 
A better question would be is the better mic the Steven Paul mic or the u87.
 
That Stephen Paul mic might be really good, has anyone heard one yet or is it still not being produced yet?
 
I would think that in this case, making a choice between upgrading the mic vs. upgrading the pre is asking which way will you get the most bang for the buck. It's a little bit of a Catch-22, but I'd probably recommend a pre upgrade first. Here's my reasoning...

The difference in sound between a U87 and a C1 will always be there regardless of the signal chain, but the extra couple of grand investment in the 87 won't really pay back in its entireity if you are sending it through a middling pre.

On the other hand, if you instead invest in an upgrade of your mic pre you can probably (no knowing what kind of pres you have now) signifigantly upgrade at least one channel of pre for less than the cost of the 87. And by upgrading the pre, you are both getting the maximum out of your C1 (and all your other mics too, FTM) and setting the stage for a better enironment and more cost-efficient investment on that day when you do get your golden mic upgrade.

More often than not: A great mic through an average pre will sound comprimised. An average mic through a great pre will sound its best.

G.
 
usernamebob said:
I think this guy was probably more trying to get an idea of how much difference there realy was to see if he should be working on other parts of his signal chain first
Click to expand...

Yah, I know. Just a little OT rant...
 
darrin_h2000 said:
A better question would be is the better mic the Steven Paul mic or the u87.
Click to expand...

And, there are other possible questions such as:

1. What about a Brauner mic?

2. What about a Soundelux mic?

3. What about a Microtech Gefell mic?

Lots of great mics on the marketplace for the choosing if you got the $$.

In the mid tier mics I've been a champion of the Audio-Technica 40 series. Nathan at Atlas Pro Audio has been a champion of some of the ADK. Others champion Shure mics.
 
DJL said:
Hmm, IMO, you really can't compare those two mics any more than you can comapre a porshce to a pinto... not that the U87 is a porshce or the C1 is a pinto, but in this case, they might as well be. I'd defiantly upgrade the C1 at some point in time... what preamp are you using?

PS... rather than trying to listen to crummy MP3 files... you'd get a much better picture/idea if you rented a U87 from one of your local sound companies, studio's, or etc.
Click to expand...
noisedude said:
That's sound advice. But why are you so desperate to hear a U87? If I were you, I'd be looking at some alternative flavours in your own budget range if that's what you want. If you need to upgrade your pres, tell us what you already have.
Click to expand...
:rolleyes: WTF... I'm not, and you're not me... and if you were me, you'd already own two, plus many other mics. :rolleyes:
 
I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the poster.

Blor007 said:
So:I would like to hear the difference between a Studio Projects C1 and a Neumann u87 (2 different sound files capturing the same source).
Click to expand...
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
You gonna laugh at me, but i don't really have a preamp I just connect it to my mixing desk put the direct-out in a harddisk-record-card and voila :)

Won't the preamp in the new mixing desk be good enough?

Anyways: My dad is going to build a focuswrite (or something) and a giraffe.
OR maybe a giraffe is a focuswrite
Anyone had any experience with that?


Mixing desk:
Old one
New one (Needs repairs now)

Recording card: Link
 
Those pics are way too big for me to download over dialup but the 'gain' knob on a mixer IS the preamp.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top