Studio Projects C4 help me out here

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Wireneck

Wireneck

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I've been using a pair of Marshall Mxl-603s for quite a while on drum overheads and the ocassional acoustic guitar. I've got some money coming in (tax return as well as some session work this month) and im thinking about spending a little bit on juggling my mic collection around.
Has anyone had any experiences comparing the C4's to the 603s ? I record metal/rock music almost extensively. If you have compared them, which did you like better and why? Was there a drastic difference between the two or was it not really noticeable? I realize that they are both still Lower end gear so its probably not so much an upgrade but im still curious.
Last question, do you have to buy the c4's with both capsules? Im not saying that the omni's would never see any use but if it would be cheaper to buy without them, id much rather go that route. I doubt thats even an option but i thought i would ask.
Also are the C4's ok on acoustics? If I buy them, I will probably end up selling my Mxl-603s to recoupe a little bit of the cost.
 
Not used MXL603s but wanted to say that I think the C4s are really good on acoustic. Don't think you can get them other than in the pair with the omni caps.
 
Thanks for the input Noisedude. Im mainly looking at these for Oh's but if they sound good on Acoustics then thats an added bonus. Have you used yours on Oh's ?
 
Wireneck said:
I've been using a pair of Marshall Mxl-603s for quite a while on drum overheads and the ocassional acoustic guitar. I've got some money coming in (tax return as well as some session work this month) and im thinking about spending a little bit on juggling my mic collection around.
Has anyone had any experiences comparing the C4's to the 603s ? I record metal/rock music almost extensively. If you have compared them, which did you like better and why? Was there a drastic difference between the two or was it not really noticeable? I realize that they are both still Lower end gear so its probably not so much an upgrade but im still curious.
Last question, do you have to buy the c4's with both capsules? Im not saying that the omni's would never see any use but if it would be cheaper to buy without them, id much rather go that route. I doubt thats even an option but i thought i would ask.
Also are the C4's ok on acoustics? If I buy them, I will probably end up selling my Mxl-603s to recoupe a little bit of the cost.
Click to expand...
Wireneck,

I own the 603s and the C4's. Both mics are very good indeed, but I found the C4's to be a bit more pleasing when recording my Yarii. I could go so far as to say that the difference wsa drastic, but a lot of that possible drastic difference may also depend on the acoustics of the room you record in. OK...yeah there was a drastic improvement for me.

The C4's are supplied with both capsules. Neat, eh? I don't record live drums, so I can't comment on their use as overhead mics, but I've read good commentary in that regard.

For what it's worth, don't be so quick to sell off the 603s. Buy the C4's and draw a comparison for yourself. You may just end up keeping the 603s *and* the c4's as I have done, which is my way of saying that I like both of them.
 
Wireneck,

I just remembered. :)

My daughter happened to be visiting recently from Los Angeles. I recorded her performing something that she had written 5 years ago. I recorded her playing a Yarii DY55 with the Studio Project C4s in an X-Y pattern.

I added a few other touches.

“Chance” can be found at:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/randyclinemusic.htm
 
Buy the C4's and draw a comparison for yourself. You may just end up keeping the 603s *and* the c4's as I have done
Click to expand...

I will certainly do that if it becomes an option. I mainly only record my own material and the ocassional band so Im trying to keep from having loads of money tied up in microphones that only see the light of day a few months out of the year.
Thanks for the input and the audio clip.
 
Wireneck, if you were looking to choose between the 603's and C4's for OH's I'd recommend the C4's. For acoustic gtr, the 603's. But the deal is you already have a decent pair of budget small condensers. I'd suggest you either pony up and get into at least a mid-level pair of SDC's if you want another pair, or get a pair of large condenser mics for your OH applications. Some LDC's to consider in your price range would be Oktava MK319's, Studio Projects B1's, Red 5 Audio RV8, or a used pair of AT4040's. Any of those LDC's will handle hard rock drum OH's better than a pair of budget SDC's.
 
C4's stomp on damned near everything for acoustic guitar. I have had my u195 on em, 603's, even a 441, a c451b, you name it. The C4's just kill and have a great image on acoustic guitars.

I use mine non stop for overheads and acoustics that come through,


This was last week, C4 on overheads www.nowhereradio.com/5s0/singles

this was C4's on acoustics and overheads www.nowhereradio.com/potd/singles but the mix is still being adjusted and might not be a perfect acoustic example

I also have 2 more online, and maybe more if you need more info.

The c4 is a better more versatile mic than the 603. I parted with my 603's farirly quickly.
 
Used both.

C4 definitely wins out in all categories for what I do.
 
Wireneck - Mine are in the post - I recommended them to a friend from comments on here, and we both thought they were really good on acoustic ... so both me and another friend of mine have a pair on order as we speak ... but that does mean I've not been able to play with OH usage yet.

Dot may have a point about you saving up though, I guess it depends how much you believe the C4s or any other mics are punching above their pricetag weight.
 
DOT- you make a valid point. What do you like better about LDC on OH's than SDC? I already have one Sp B1 so picking up another for OH applications would not be that big of a deal. At the same time though I can't help but wonder if this will be an improvement over the 603s. I guess trying it out is the only way to know in that situation. Thanks for the input.

Tubedude- thanks for the clips. I thought I remembered you liking the C4's. Im glad you found this thread.

David Artis- thanks for the input.

Noisedude- saving up is always the case right? LOL thanks for the input.
 
wireneck--

i've got both a set of 603's and a single SP B1. I've used both on overheads in my room, and neither of them gets the job. mind you, my room doesn't sound great and i'm sure it doesn't *help* the way things sound at all, so keep that in mind as YMMV. my main recording kit is a late 80s pearl export and cymbals are a mix of Zildjian A's and K's, with the obligatory $10 wuhan china. :D i do have a mid-60s ludwig that i use on the occasions where i want that particular drum sound, but for a regular use kit, the pearl wins.

in my room, the 603s are too bright. they overhyped the hihat (especially when half-open) and emphasized all of the ugly sheen that my room imparts. i've tried them as OHs and as a set of room mics, and while i think they work considerably better as room mics, i still don't like em. however, i LOVE them on acousic guitar, and for some kits (such as that ludwig) they help the kit "sparkle" a little better.

the B1, just like on just about everything else i've used it on, was very neutral sounding. it captured the set as it sounds in the room, and it added nothing bad. unfortunately, it didn't really add anything nice or "interesting", either.....but it was definitely better than my 603s. i ran the B1 as a mono OH, and also in conjunction with.....

....a V67. believe it or not, i LIKE this mic as an OH. i want a 2nd one so i can use them in stereo. it's dark enough that it tames all of the brittle highs that the room imparts, and it seems to emphasize the woodiness of the snare and the deepness of toms. it's like night and day compared to the 603s. again, typically only used in mono, but the sound was *very* nice. and for some reason, that midrange hashiness i hear in it on vocals isn't there (or is masked) when used on drums.

i've also used my Dragonfly on OH duties, and i LIKE it too. again, it's brighter (like the 603s), but it's a much smooooooother bright. it makes a nice comparison/contrast to the V67, and i've used it in conjunction with the V67 for some interesting sonic textures. this is one HELL of an OH mic--does well with the tone of the drums and the highs from the cymbals don't grate on your spine. if i had a "pro" (sounding) room, i'd be investing in a second dragonfly and not look back.

sorry, but no experience with the C4s.

a last, interesting thought on the 603s. give them a try using it along side an sm57 for a snare mic. some folks tape them together, i've held them together with those "no snag" (meaning "no metal") ponytail elastics, capsules even and side by side. again, makes for an interesting sound--it adds that high end that the 57 is notorious for not having. i find i don't use an under-snare mic when i'm using the 603 like this. might need a pad with it, though, so keep that in mind.


sorry for the tome, but i've got a lot to say today, apparently. :p


cheers,
wade
 
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