Studio Projects Mics - Any Info?

[Flatpicker]

I have to agree with Alan here. With certain preamps, sources, and positioning, a “bright” mic can become a smooth mic with a beautiful sheen, and sit perfectly in the mix.

Incidentally, I have an SP C1 and, although I don’t have a V67G, I have a Cascade M20. I remember reading comments Harvey made about comparing the V67G to the C1 and thinking “hmmm, that’s exactly how my M20 sounds next to my C1”.

Well, guess what - according to Scott Dorsey’s “Making Mics Better” article in the January 2002 issue of Recording magazine, it appears to be basically the same mic. Although the M20 isn’t listed in the article, I took mine apart and it’s the exact same circuit board and capsule as the pictures indicate. Scott claims that the ADK A51, Audix CX-101, 111, 211, Nady SCM 900, 910, 920, 980, are from the Shanghai factory and are “built with their standard design and tooling”. He also states that although Marshall claims their mics are made in the USA and not in Shanghai, the board configuration of the MXL V67G and the MXL 2001 are identical and the same as the Shanghai mics.

Anyway, back to MHO, I find that on raspy, sibilant male and female voices, my M20 can work better. On the other hand, with less sibilant male and female voices, the C1 rules.

 

[DJL]

Your right Flatpicker, the V67, C1, etc, come from China and I like these China made mic's. Oh and I forgot to mention the Marshall MXLV67G also cost less than the Studio Projects C1. However, I like my C1 also... it's just brighter and etc, and that's not always a bad thing. I was talking to alanhyatt about his new Studio Projects E series mic's here just yesterday and about companies claiming their mics are made in the USA and not in China.

dizzlano, I don't think the Studio Projects C1 would be your best choice for a room mic. I'm not saying they won't work or even at times sound great... I just believe in the long run you'll be happier with room mic's that aren't as bumped up in the uppers as the Studio Projects C1 mic's are.

 

[alanhyatt]

I have to agree with Alan here. With certain preamps, sources, and positioning, a “bright” mic can become a smooth mic with a beautiful sheen, and sit perfectly in the mix.

Scott claims that the ADK A51, Audix CX-101, 111, 211, Nady SCM 900, 910, 920, 980, are from the Shanghai factory and are “built with their standard design and tooling”. He also states that although Marshall claims their mics are made in the USA and not in Shanghai, the board configuration of the MXL V67G and the MXL 2001 are identical and the same as the Shanghai mics.

Anyway, back to MHO, I find that on raspy, sibilant male and female voices, my M20 can work better. On the other hand, with less sibilant male and female voices, the C1 rules.

Scott is correct on those mics. The Cascade is also made in Feilo with all the SE products. For quite some time, the early V67's was made by 797, then it was made by Feilo, and now it is made in China by Marshall in a small factory they have using people they took from Feilo. They do not make Marshall mics in the USA.

The capsule assembly in the Marshall and all the Feilo mics are different than what the C1 uses. The Feilo and Marshall capsules have a darker sound, as does the RODE. This is due to the capsule design, and the transformer output on many of these models.

This works for many voices and instruments well, however, the darker mics tend to not sit very well in the mix. Not that this is bad, it is merely another choice or performance preference, which obviously you have figurered out, and some others have not. I am sure the Cascade is a good mic and will do the trick on many applications, as all Feilo mics do....

 

[Flatpicker]

They do not make Marshall mics in the USA.

OPPS!
My bad! I meant to say "made at the Marshall factory" - NOT "in the USA". Thanks for the correction.

While you're here, Alan, I was wondering if you can help me out with a question that's bugging me...

Referring to Scott's mic mod (I know it’s not his design, but for now we’ll call it that), it doesn't look all that more expensive then the original circuit. If it sounds so much better due to a superior design, and I'm assuming it does since Scott's somewhat of an audio guru and sez so, why aren't they made this way to begin with? I mean, gee, those 1gohm resistors are kind of expensive, but at least they wouldn't have to use a transformer.

 

[Flatpicker]

I was talking to alanhyatt about his new Studio Projects E series mic's here just yesterday and about companies claiming their mics are made in the USA and not in China.

dizzlano, I don't think the Studio Projects C1 would be your best choice for a room mic. I'm not saying they won't work or even at times sound great... I just believe in the long run you'll be happier with room mic's that aren't as bumped up in the uppers as the Studio Projects C1 mic's are.

"E" series?!?! I missed that one. Is there a new "E" series? Please tell me no - I'm running out of money.

As for room mics, I also have a B3 and it makes a great room mic, especially since it has selectable patterns. But again, it depends on the pre, placement, and the source.

 

[ausrock]

These comments regarding the differences between the C1 and V67 are interesting, as in answer to a specific question, Harvey once said that if you already have one of these mics, that buying the other isn't really justifiable due to them being so similar in sonic performance, as you aren't going to gain much if anything that you don't already have.


Flatpicker,

Do you know if Dorsey's articles are available online? .......... And SP are planning the E series, made in the US mics...............start saving.

 

[DJL]

"E" series?!?! I missed that one. Is there a new "E" series? Please tell me no - I'm running out of money.

Yea, Studio Projects is going to be coming out with a new expensive E series set of mic's geared for sale to the high-end recording studios rather the home recording studios. I understand the E series mic's will be made with bodies made in the USA and with a China made engine (diaphragms, etc) under the hood, but advertised and sold as USA made mic's.

 

[That_Abbott]

"I understand the E series mic's will be made with bodies made in the USA and with a China made engine (diaphragms, etc) under the hood, but advertised and sold as USA made mic's."

Are you serious?

 

[DJL]

These comments regarding the differences between the C1 and V67 are interesting, as in answer to a specific question, Harvey once said that if you already have one of these mics, that buying the other isn't really justifiable due to them being so similar in sonic performance, as you aren't going to gain much if anything that you don't already have.

I agree with Harvey.... the difference is not a lot, but the Marshall MXLV67G is smoother than the Studio Projects C1 and the V67G is not as bright or hasrh as the C1 either. Plus the Marshall MXLV67G cost less than the Studio Projects C1.

Note: I'm not employed by Studio Projects or Marshall Electronics, nor do I have any financial interest in them or any other mic company.

 

[DJL]

"I understand the E series mic's will be made with bodies made in the USA and with a China made engine (diaphragms, etc) under the hood, but advertised and sold as USA made mic's."

Are you serious?

Yes.

 

[ausrock]

No one should be worried by that, as it's pretty much what Rode have been doing here in Aust., since their inception. The main difference is that if it is true, SP appear to be happy to make the fact public.

 

[KevinTran]

Is any major piece of technology 100% made in the USA?

If quality doesn't suffer, heck it only makes sense to get parts overseas. American labor is expensive.

 

[DJL]

Shure there is... and I think the space shuttle is 100% USA made... no? Anyway, the US military has lots of high-tech stuff that is 100% USA made.

 

[DJL]

No one should be worried by that, as it's pretty much what Rode have been doing here in Aust., since their inception. The main difference is that if it is true, SP appear to be happy to make the fact public.

Let's hope so.

 

[Glawfindle]

Is any major piece of technology 100% made in the USA?

If quality doesn't suffer, heck it only makes sense to get parts overseas. American labor is expensive.

Here, here!

All labour is expensive, in some countries it is more expensive than others. And, Chinese labour is generally less acurate, less reliable and also much more expensive than using top quality automated equipment - in the long run.

Also, I agree with what you said about parts Kevin, if stringent QC is in place, but IDEALLY I'd prefer that all parts could be sourced from the country of manufacture - for various reasons.

 

[Glawfindle]

No one should be worried by that, as it's pretty much what Rode have been doing here in Aust., since their inception. The main difference is that if it is true, SP appear to be happy to make the fact public.

Hooray for SP!

 

[jslator]

Shure there is... and I think the space shuttle is 100% USA made... no?

We made the robotic arm.

- Captain Canada

 

[alanhyatt]

Yea, Studio Projects is going to be coming out with a new expensive E series set of mic's geared for sale to the high-end recording studios rather the home recording studios. I understand the E series mic's will be made with bodies made in the USA and with a China made engine (diaphragms, etc) under the hood, but advertised and sold as USA made mic's.

I have corrected you on more than one occasion, and here we go again. I never said the E Series was a high end expensive mic catered to the high end studio. Where do you get your information?

The Stephen Paul Mic is a high end mic that will be "expensive" and as a result most likely cater to the guys who can afford it. It too will have some Chinese parts, but it will be made in America.

We are doing as much of the build on the E Series in the USA. If this causes a problem for you, please say so and move on already. The E Series will be a more expensive mic than the the C Series, but way less than many others. Based on the quality of components and body we will use, some may say it is very affordable for what you will get.

I have said not all the parts will come from the USA, but many will. Not everything that NASA does is 100% American, and not much is anymore.

 

[DJL]

We made the robotic arm.

- Captain Canada

Yea, I wasn't sure about the shuttle, that's why I said "...no?" Is that Arm on the shuttle or the space station?

 

[KevinTran]

Yea, I wasn't sure about the shuttle, that's why I said "...no?" Is that Arm on the shuttle or the space station?

The point is, not many things technological are 100% "Made in the USA". For instance, if you believe you're buying American with a Dell, IBM, HP, Gateway computer, know that almost none of the internal components are made in America.

"Made in America" is a bogus slogan in the current world economy.