What to expect?

  • Thread starter Thread starter okenwood
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okenwood

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What should I expect form a SP TB1? Right now I have a SP b1 and like most around here I love it, but its not quite the be all end all. (nor is it suposed to be)
I was considering saving up for a decent pre ($500 ish) but figured that would be silly untill I had a decent mic.
Is the TB1 the best bang for my $250 or would you guys suggest something else?
how about the C1 or C3 (yes I like SP)
I need a vocal mic anything from acoustic rock to full on metal.

BTW I did do a search and found no reviews comparing the B1 to the TB1
thanks
Kenney
 
Expect the best sound-to-price performance available today. Expect a tight low-end response, well-defined mids, and a crisp high end that will probably change the way you think about home recording. Expect to be satisfied in the same way that you are with your B-1. Expect more from a microphone. Studio Projects.
 
thank you sir, I'm glad to hear the good review.
now its time to start working some overtime!
 
250 range...

I have a C1, and I like it, but I like my AT4040 better, and I paid 200 for it. It's not tube, but it's a step up from the c1 IMO. If you're looking for tube...try out the Rode NTK....it's a fantastic mic, once again IMO. You can find n NTK for 350

Jacob
 
I know a lot of people who aren't particularly thrilled with that microphone. Of all the SP stuff, from what I gather, the TB-1 might be their "dog."

I would expect to be cautious in selecting it.

My initial impression would be to not waste my time or money with it, and instead wait until you can score a real mic ... like the T-3.
 
thanks guys, I'm gonna stick with the $250 to $300 range, or else it will become one of those "well if you got $300 why not save up another 200 get this one, or save $500 more and get this one..."
I know there will always be something "better"
I may look into the 4040 more.
How about the C3 is it just a multi pattern version of a C1? studio projects of course.
again thanks
Kenney
 
Hmm, what pre are you using now? You say "I was considering saving up for a decent pre ($500 ish) but figured that would be silly until I had a decent mic." I personally consider the B1 a decent mic, and if you're currently using a non-decent pre, upgrading your pre might still be the best decision.
 
I'm using the stock pre's in my Korg D1600mk2
not bad but the gain seems to be a little "jumpy" and it is hard to get the levels at that just right spot some times.
 
Chess is right, their "real" tube mic is the T3. Very nice!

War
 
okenwood said:
I'm gonna stick with the $250 to $300 range
Click to expand...

save yourself some hassle and pick up a used MXL V77. while it doesn't sound overly "tubey", it's got a wonderfully subtle sound to it. none of that hyped high end nonsense--it's a very smooth sounding mic to my ears. it's not one of those mics that you hear and immediate say "WOW!" about......but once you notice the sublime beauty of it, it's hard NOT to notice it.

you can usually score one in the $200-225 range, which leaves a little extra scratch for that mic preamp upgrade.

as for the preamp upgrade, i'm sure you'd see good improvement over your built-in pres. i'd look on the used market.....Symetrix makes (well, made) some very decent stuff and it's not at all expensive on the used market. for between $400-500, you can get a quite solid mic/preamp combo if you look around.


cheers,
wade

PS--if you want a more "tubey" sounding mic, check out the MXL V69. i don't own one but i've tried one out, and it's on my short list. it's a bit more colored than the V77, and the coloration probably won't work for everything.....but i've yet to find something that the V77 didn't give me at least "very nice" results on (haven't had a chance to try it on drums, though).
 
Agreed on the V77! I have a Neumann M149 and a V77 and these mics have a lot in common soundwise.

I also have a V69M and the funny thing is that some prefer it over the M149 because the V69 sounds more spectacular, but then I record them with the M149 and V69M at the same time, each mic to it's own track.

And when they listen back in the CR they always prefer the M149.
 
You may like the MXL V6 better. It has more midrange than the C1 but still has some air on the top. It's a bit tubey sounding but not as much as the V69 : )
Plus it's not tube, so no warm up time...

mckay
 
I'm not dead set on a tube mic, hell I'm not dead set on anything.
I just want to get the best gear for my money. weather that means saving a little more or buying a cheeper peice.
I was just looking at mics in my price range and there be the TB1.
I know that price has nothing to do with quality (see SP B1), but right now I'm working on a budget of around $300 for a new mic so I'm just looking for somthing that will grow with my studio, and not just be tossed aside when I get somthing "better".
I know $300 will not get me a Neuman or some other hi end mic, nor do I think that some $300 mic will be the greatest mic ever, but thats what I got to work with.
Thanks guys,
Kenney

BTW I hope I didnt come off sounding like a prick I'm just tring to explain what I'm looking for. Not that this forum needed another "Best mic for $300" thread.
 
Hi, okenwood! I understand your predicament. If you're dead set on a microphone in a decent range, you definitely should check out the Studio Projects T-3. It's a tube mic. I'm not partial to any brand, but this mic is SWEET. check her out.
 
I tried the V69m and it kind of rocked. I put it up next to a C12, a FET 47, a TLM170, a Blue mouse, an RFT 7151 (the mic BLUE modeled the bottle after), a CMV563 w/m7 capsule, a GT MD1a, and a bunch of other stuff, oh, and a cascade something-or-other LDC....

The '69 is a really cool microphone. Really cool. I need to get one again. I gave the one I had to my intern for christmas a couple of years ago, and they have gotten even cheaper since then! Amazing for the money. I have never found the studio projects stuff to be very exciting. Not bad, but not very exciting.

In the company listed above, the V69 TOTALLY held its own. It was just another choice in that lineup, rather than the obvious "cheap one" out of the bunch! pretty impressive! I only ever tried it on acoustic guitar and vocals, and it kind of kicked butt on both. I wanna get another and check it out with different tubes...

I hope this little dumb anecdote helps you for some reason! ;)

-Joel
 
Thanks Joel and everyone else, I kind of knew I was opening a can of worms by asking for mic advice, but to be fair to myself I was mostly courious about the comparison between the TB1 and my B1.
 
okenwood said:
I'm using the stock pre's in my Korg D1600mk2
not bad but the gain seems to be a little "jumpy" and it is hard to get the levels at that just right spot some times.
Click to expand...

Oken,

You don't have a choice with the Korg.

If you're recording on a D1600 you're going to use their mic-pre's regardless...... so no matter what quality mic pre you were to purchase - seeing as you can't bypass their Pre's - the best you can do to improve would be the mic itself.

Look at the schematic in your manual - it's on page 165..... you'll see what I mean.

Rod
 
I don't know that unit, but if you can't bypass them, you can at least get your gain from a better pre.
 
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