http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/c1.html

My June 2001 "review" post at the VS Planet of the Studio Projects C1

This was the review heard around the internet. I wrote it in a post at the VS Planet - among friends. I compared the C1 to a Neumann U87 - and the reason being is that until that time I hadn't heard a budget mic that had any of the sexy German characteristics. I'd been an early user of the Audio-Technica 4033 and 4050 - they were one of the first mics to break the price-vs-performance barrier. But they also had more of the neutral Austrian sound. The C1 was different and it was only $200!

So, yeh, I poured it on a little thick, but I was trying to get the point across about how excited I was about the C1 I've gotten hundreds of emails and thanks over the years for turning people on to the C1.

There's an ongoing poll over at HomeRecording.com, C1 cat's pajamas or ass? and currently there are most of the votes for either, "Great mic, it has lived up to all my expectations" or [ next in line ] "It's a good mic that I use frequently, but not all I was led to believe" Very much in the minority is, It's been a disappointment, but still has its occasional uses and almost no This thing sucks - the marketing was BS

My review - linked off the VS Planet - was linked from the front page of the Studio Projects website for several years until their more recent website overhaul.

Now, over four years later, I still regularly recommend the C1 for people looking for one of their first LDC's.

i'm interested, in getting a budget condenser....

i have a 4033 that i'm quite happy with, but with only a sm57 in the closet (or should i say, drawer), and funds being exceedingly tight right now, the most i can muster is $200.

so, the c-1 is in the running....

thanks for all the links, and any suggestions for anything else to consider in this price range?

quote:

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thanks for all the links, and any suggestions for anything else to consider in this price range?

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What is the 4033 not delivering for you?

The reason I say that...the ADK Hamburg has a ton of "body"...I've never heard a C1 track with any body. Now, it'll push up to $299, but...Tightrope loves his Marshall Mogami LDC-again $299...but, I've heard some good tracks done with the GT44, which I believe is sub $200.

I'll be the first to say I've never held a C1, so grain of salt...but, I've also never heard a single (vocal) track I liked done with them. In fact, the closest was Musical5's stuff--he's got a great set of pipes (so would sound pretty good with a tin can and string), but it was still strident--he's since replaced it. And he was using some SERIOUS preamp. Pheonix, I think...and I've heard it through an Avalon 737, too...

I'd just be surprised if it did much for you compared to the 4033. It will sound less natural...and isn't gonna approach "warm", which would be the contrast to the 4033.

Although I have heard C1 tracks I thought sounded great, I agree with Pop on a lot of points, and don't think a C1 is for you, gonz.

My first recommend would be to see if you can locate one of the $199 Groove Tube GT44's being offered by Guitar Center. Best deal on the market right now. Killer mic - especially for all things rock. You can use it on amps, vox - anything.

I haven't tried the GT44 and only the GT33 in passing quite awhile ago, but I'm gonna see if either of the two GCs in my area have them (or can get them).......damn you Dot!

All I can say is that I hate the AT4033 on my voice. HATE It. When I bought mine many, many moons ago (like when they were pretty new, before the 4050 existed), I thought I was losing my mind.........I HATED IT on my voice that much, although others sound pretty good on it.
Of all of the mics I have ever used at the home studio, it's at or near the bottom for my voice, In general, it's very gritty and hashy up top.
That being said, it is once of my favorites on acoustic guitar, so I always kept it.

Another to consider for $200 is the RDOE NT1000. It doesn't get mentioned much. It is very clear but just a tad bright and a pretty good all arounder. I think it would mate well with the AT4033, being quite different from it.

If you could swing $350ish or so, you could probably find an NTK. I auditioned the NT1000 along with the NTK for a cuple of weeks and while not quite as nice, NT1000 is not worlds apart from the NTK. It doesn't really excel on anything, but it never sounded bad either.

To me, the AT4033 can sound horrible more than sometimes and the C1 and just sound like it's lacking, like with acoustic guitars IMO, and sound too gritty and sibilent some vocals. Note, there have been times I liked the sound of another mic on vocals when solo'd but the C1 just sounded better "in the mix".
Man, that is so cliche'........but it's true.

If you want warmth, I really like the V69ME for my voice. It's what you think of a tube mic to be. Ironically, it also has a spike that can bring out a tad of sibilence.....surprise, surprise. I recorded sound smaller sounding instruments with it, such as a Papoose, and it sounded really, really good.

Gonzo, if you were to give me $200 to spend for you, I'd do the following:
If all you wanted was a vocal mic for your voice, I'd get the MXLV69ME (I got mine for $218 new from Music123 on Ebay). I think it would add some girth to your vox.
If you wanted to fill out the mic closet a bit, I'd get a B1, an MXL603, and a Behringer ECM8000.

Now, maybe the GT33 in place of one or two of those, I can't say, but obviously Dot can.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

hm...

thanks pop, dot, mad....

it's not that i'm not getting "good" out of the 4033...

i'm just interested in different palettes of sound....

if everything on a project is recorded with the same mic and pre, it all starts to have the same sonic fingerprint...

i just want to throw some different sonics in there... is all...

thanks for all the suggestions....

well, i was so intrigued with the gt44 and MXL mic, i went up at lunch to the local GC, to check em out.

they didn't have any.

I just got my C1 this year and I'm in love with it!!! Got rid of my Apex 420 (nice budget mic, cna be nasally and unclear on vocals at times...) for it, the best buy I've had in a long time, makes my vocals sit in the track correctly without eqing!