pdadda
Captain Sea Boots
This is only for those of you who have actually used the Studio Projects B1 mic. How does it sound for vocals, acoustic guitar, and for amplifier micing?
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randyfromde
New member
If you use the search feature, you will get days and days worth of reading on that specific mic. Asking that question is equivalent to typing "porn" in a search engine....just never ends!
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DJL
Self Banned
Some people like it and some people don't... use the "search feature" as randyfromde said.pdadda said:
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Sklathill
Soundcard Junkie
Try searching for B1* to get past the character limit.
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mrface2112
Well-known member
i'll save ya some trouble
these are my findings, and they're pretty consistent with what you'll find in a search (but search anyway--there's LOTS of good info):
quite nice on guitar amps. just be careful of your volume levels. prolly my favorite amp mic of my meager mic locker, and shines on small tube amps. definitely a sleeper on amp micing.
pretty decent on my acoustic (martin d15). i like a pair of MXL 603s's better, and the combination of the 603's and B1 is VERY nice if you've got 3 tracks to throw at an acoustic (which i do when recording acoustic-based stuff).
quite crappy on my voice. pretty decent on a friend's voice. he's got a much better voice than i do anyway. i like my EV RE38 MUCH better on my voice (but not on his). definitely a case of "the wrong mic for the voice" in my case. of course, i've yet to try the B1 through my symetrix 528, too, which may make somewhat of a difference than using it through my VTB1.
i find that i like the B1 on snare a lot, too. a LOT. again, watch those levels.
basically, i find the B1 to be an LDC equivalent of an SM57. you'll get a pretty middle of the road, "usable" sound out of just about anything you throw it in front of.
wade
these are my findings, and they're pretty consistent with what you'll find in a search (but search anyway--there's LOTS of good info):
quite nice on guitar amps. just be careful of your volume levels. prolly my favorite amp mic of my meager mic locker, and shines on small tube amps. definitely a sleeper on amp micing.
pretty decent on my acoustic (martin d15). i like a pair of MXL 603s's better, and the combination of the 603's and B1 is VERY nice if you've got 3 tracks to throw at an acoustic (which i do when recording acoustic-based stuff).
quite crappy on my voice. pretty decent on a friend's voice. he's got a much better voice than i do anyway. i like my EV RE38 MUCH better on my voice (but not on his). definitely a case of "the wrong mic for the voice" in my case. of course, i've yet to try the B1 through my symetrix 528, too, which may make somewhat of a difference than using it through my VTB1.
i find that i like the B1 on snare a lot, too. a LOT. again, watch those levels.
basically, i find the B1 to be an LDC equivalent of an SM57. you'll get a pretty middle of the road, "usable" sound out of just about anything you throw it in front of.
wade
cominginsecond
Decentralized Media Mogul
Re: i'll save ya some trouble
This is my opinion, and the consensus opinion, I think. DJL is probably about the only person that would really, really disagree with this.mrface2112 said:
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CanopuS
Amateur music since 1847
I liked it, but then again it was my first proper mic. To me it wont sound BAD on anything, but rarely sounds amazing (unless you're an amazing singer). I think it gave a nice acoustic sound and pretty good vocal sound. Do you want us to post clips?
still4given
Got my ticket!
I like my B1 as well. It sounds "good" on just about any source. I like it on my voice. You can hear it on "I Come To a Mountain" . I recorded my Ovation first and then my voice. A little reverb on the voice, but other than that it's just as recorded.
I like it for guitar amp but the B1 is a bit hot so you need a preamp that can pad the input a bit or you'll over drive. My Mackie can do it but my DMP3 can't. Even my Blues Jr will make it clip.
Blessings, Terry
I like it for guitar amp but the B1 is a bit hot so you need a preamp that can pad the input a bit or you'll over drive. My Mackie can do it but my DMP3 can't. Even my Blues Jr will make it clip.
Blessings, Terry
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billisa
New member
still4given said:
Very nice work. Shows what a fine job the B1 can do, in good hands.
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Richard Monroe
Well-known member
The B-1 is a pretty transparent beast for a cheap mic and takes well to EQ. It's one of the mics you put up when you've run out of more expensive mics. or nothing is working. It is a good starter mic, and still has uses as an auxiliary mic when you've moved on to other stuff. And to be fair to DJL, I don't think he really dislikes the B-1. Without trying to put words in his mouth, my read on his opinion is not that the B-1 sucks, but that it is overated, and your budget would be better spent on mics that will survive the test of time, even if they are more pricey. Furthermore, he is not fond of Alan Hyatt, the CEO of Studio Projects, or his marketing tactics. There are people who come down on both sides of that fence.
DJL- if anything I have said here misrepresents your position, feel free to correct me. I think they are fair statements based on your past posts.
My conclusion is that the B-1 is the most versatile large diaphragm condenser mic on the planet for less than $100. But- that is only saying so much. Large diaphragm condensers in professional studios can range from $500 up to $5000 or even more. Extreme statements have been made by this or that salesman or reviewer, that the current Chinese hybrid mic of the week sounds just like a Neumann U87, etc. Studio Projects has gotten its fair share of that treatment. It is, of course, bullshit. However, the B-1 is one mic you have to consider if you're looking for a cheap large diaphragm condenser. Does it sound like a C414? No. Is it worth $80? Yes. Is Alan Hyatt a spammer? Read his posts and decide for yourself. Is DJL obsessed with Alan Hyatt? Read his posts and decide for yourself.
My read on it is that DJL and Alan Hyatt have long since lost the ability to be objective about each other. Both are passionate about microphones, and both expend an awful lot of energy trying to help other people regarding microphones. However, they push each others buttons so well, that they both lose it and appear to be raving lunatics whenever they communicate with each other. It's like trying to put Ariel Shron and Yassir Arafat in the same room, and figure out which one is right. It's a lost cause. The best we can hope for is that they will both continue to contribute and talk to each other as little as possible.-Richie
DJL- if anything I have said here misrepresents your position, feel free to correct me. I think they are fair statements based on your past posts.
My conclusion is that the B-1 is the most versatile large diaphragm condenser mic on the planet for less than $100. But- that is only saying so much. Large diaphragm condensers in professional studios can range from $500 up to $5000 or even more. Extreme statements have been made by this or that salesman or reviewer, that the current Chinese hybrid mic of the week sounds just like a Neumann U87, etc. Studio Projects has gotten its fair share of that treatment. It is, of course, bullshit. However, the B-1 is one mic you have to consider if you're looking for a cheap large diaphragm condenser. Does it sound like a C414? No. Is it worth $80? Yes. Is Alan Hyatt a spammer? Read his posts and decide for yourself. Is DJL obsessed with Alan Hyatt? Read his posts and decide for yourself.
My read on it is that DJL and Alan Hyatt have long since lost the ability to be objective about each other. Both are passionate about microphones, and both expend an awful lot of energy trying to help other people regarding microphones. However, they push each others buttons so well, that they both lose it and appear to be raving lunatics whenever they communicate with each other. It's like trying to put Ariel Shron and Yassir Arafat in the same room, and figure out which one is right. It's a lost cause. The best we can hope for is that they will both continue to contribute and talk to each other as little as possible.-Richie
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calidus
New member
still4given> thank you for the link. Really nice tune, well sung....
You didn't mic the ovation, did you?
You didn't mic the ovation, did you?
still4given
Got my ticket!
calidus said:
Thanks guys.
Yes, I did mic the Ovation. That is the reason I listed this song. Just to give an idea of what the B1 sounds like on vocal and acoustic. I know it's not the best mic for that purpose, but is definately usable. This was a very quick recording. I basically set the B1 in a stand about even with the sound hole when standing up and then while wearing headphones, pivoted back and forth until it sounded best. Using a click track I played the guitar part and then recorded the vocal on another track. Added a little reverb to the vocal and mixed it down. A friend was considering a B1 and lives "down under" and couldn't audition one himself. I tried to keep this as simple as possible. An Ovation is probably not the best guitar to use for finger picking but it's the only acoustic I own at present. It's much better as a strummed guitar.
Blessings, Terry
pdadda
Captain Sea Boots
Thanks a lot for the clip. It sounds great. Could more of you post clips they recorded with the SP B1?
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DJL
Self Banned
Re: Re: i'll save ya some trouble
Oh god, here we go again, your always taking a stab at me... so lets end this shit once and for all... how money do you have that you want to bet that I'm not the only one who thinks it sucks on vocals and is only maybe ok sometimes for many other things? I will say that I did like it on my Fender twin though.cominginsecond said:
cominginsecond
Decentralized Media Mogul
Re: Re: Re: i'll save ya some trouble
Calm down. I'm just saying that, IMO, yours is the minority viewpoint on this mic, by far. I'm not saying you're "wrong." There is no right and wrong when it comes to subjective opinion of these mics.
DJL said:
Calm down. I'm just saying that, IMO, yours is the minority viewpoint on this mic, by far. I'm not saying you're "wrong." There is no right and wrong when it comes to subjective opinion of these mics.
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notCardio
I walk the line
Question for still4given
Which pre did you use with the B-1 on 'Mountain'? The Mackie or the DMP3? And, not that it matters but I'm just a glutton for information, what soundcard and program, and what plugs for the reverb?
Very nice, BTW. So far I've only heard it through the pc speakers at work (I have a rough life, I know), but I'm gonna take it home and listen there.
Which pre did you use with the B-1 on 'Mountain'? The Mackie or the DMP3? And, not that it matters but I'm just a glutton for information, what soundcard and program, and what plugs for the reverb?
Very nice, BTW. So far I've only heard it through the pc speakers at work (I have a rough life, I know), but I'm gonna take it home and listen there.
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DJL
Self Banned
Re: Re: Re: Re: i'll save ya some trouble
Then get off my ass.cominginsecond said:
ausrock
Well-known member
Terry,
Where "down under" is your friend that he couldn't audition a B1?
DJL,
I don't think CI2nd was taking a stab at you as such. Considering the nature of so many of your past posts, you created a reputation for yourself. Now you have to live with it around here........in view of that, let's keep the peace.
Where "down under" is your friend that he couldn't audition a B1?
DJL,
I don't think CI2nd was taking a stab at you as such. Considering the nature of so many of your past posts, you created a reputation for yourself. Now you have to live with it around here........in view of that, let's keep the peace.
cominginsecond
Decentralized Media Mogul
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: i'll save ya some trouble
Did you even read the rest of my post? It seems like you're the one that's trying to start things up again.DJL said:
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DJL
Self Banned
I think he was, and in the past you've done the same.ausrock said:
