Studio Projects Mics - Okay! Here's a personal review!

[Nawor]

After seeing articles about these mics all over the joint, being in the market for a new mic or two... and being the sceptic that I am, I decided to check some out for myself and stop reading all the hype. Today I went back into my regular music store after pre-arranging an extended listening session. I tried this a week ago but there were too many customers to make a valid comparison. To assist in the comparison I took in some of my own gear.... Mackie VLZ1402 (after all it's a 'real world' bit of gear for the masses) Neve 3115 pre/eq with a Phoenix Audio class A output stage RNC compressor (used initially... but later not) Sony MDR-7506 headphones Sony Minidisc to record test sessions for evaluation back at the ranch! Neumann U77 as a comparison. (A fairly rare early FET version multi-pattern condenser. Similar to a U87... Apparently some prefer the sound of the U77?) I also took in my Lowden L25 acoustic guitar and er... cough, my voice. :freak: The mics I auditioned were... SP C1 (cardioid fet) SP C3 (multi-pattern fet) SP T3 (multi-pattern tube) SP B3 (multi-pattern fet) [b]NOTE:[/b] I don't claim to be a guru in the field of microphone testing. These are just my personal impressions based upon, probably, less than perfect test criterior. Your mileage may vary... As the C1 has been getting the most press I'll start with that one... [b]C1 cardioid[/b] - A few DB hotter than the U77. Sounds quite big up close but it's pronounced proximity effect has much to do with this. In fact I needed to backoff 6-10" before things settled down. By the same token this would undoubtably benefit a singer weak in the lower register. Not really a problem just something to be aware of that's all. Mids were nice and present without being too 'in-yer-face'. The highs were fairly prominent with just a touch of 'edge' to them... BUT... without ever getting overly harsh... a problem that seems to plague many of the Asian mics. I guess you could describe the sound as 'scooped'... a bit like pushing in the loudness button on your stereo. Although it was 'scooped' in a rather nice way. Had a little more character than it's cheaper B1/B3 brothers. Irrespective of the price, this is a nice sounding mic. :) [b]C3 multi-pattern[/b] - Okay I'll get straight to the point... out of the box, this is my favorite and not just because it is a multi-pattern version. Some reviews suggest the C3 in cardioid mode sounds identical to a C1... well it doesn't! At least not in this comparison. The proximity effect is less apparent than with the C1. It was quite a bit lower in output (about 6db I guessed... what gives?? :confused: ). You could get right in with the C3 in cardioid without the lows getting too overpowering. And getting in close was where this mic really shone. :) The highs like the C1 are hyped somewhat... but where the C1 has that sort of upper mid-range presence, the C3 has this really delicate 'air' right further up in the frequency range. NO eq required here! I'd reckon they'd make great overheads in omni mode. The C3 seemed a little smoother in the mids than the C1 yet more detailed in the high end. Even through the Mackie, although on the bright side, it somehow managed not to get too over sizzly on the esses's... and that surprised me. Generally LD mics are not my first choice for acoustic guitars as they tend to accentuate the boom factor and don't quite cut it in the high end like the small diameters mics do... AKG451, KM184 etc. Well the C3 worked very well in this application both in cardioid and omni mode. In fact the high end on the C3 was more remimiscent of a small diameter condensor both in detail and extension... go figure? The C3 sounds a load more expensive than what it is. It's very open with a nice upper 'air' while managing to avoid being harsh. Anyway more on this later. [b]T3 tube multi-pattern[/b] - This is the most expensive of the SP mics. It is a tube multi-pattern job with a remote power supply and pattern switching. The first thing that you notice is that it sounds more conservative than the C1 and C3. It has a slightly thicker darker quality to it and is more reserved in the upper frequency range. I guess 'velvety' is something that comes to mind. (after all it is a tube mic ;) )However in reality the T3 is possibly the most versatile out of the lot. As I mentioned out of the box it is probably the dark horse compared to the others. I would imagine it would help neutralise a thinnish female vocal, keep an aggressive horn player under control and even may work well on violin etc. While the C1 and C3 would not be my first choice for overly bright material, the T3 would. The key to it's versatility here is a good eq... it took some top end shelving eq from the Neve 3115 beautifully without getting harsh or edgey. So with a good micpre and eq the T3 probably offers more sonic variation than the others. But at twice the price of the C3! [b]B3 multi-pattern[/b] - Finally the B3... this is the poor man's.. or should I say 'poorer' man's C3. Probably closer to the C1 in tone than the C3 but sounds a bit more 'neutral'... not by much. Still, it sounds pretty good. I wouldn't like to assume it sounds the same in cardioid mode as a B1 because the C3 in cardioid mode doesn't sound like a C1. So you'll have to see for yourself. Still for an inexpensive multi-pattern you could do a lot worse. Finally I didn't manage to check out a TB3 which is the cheaper tube version or the B1 (cardioid only) [b]To summarise[/b]... An inexpensive good sounding cardioid mic that doesn't need much eq'ing - C1 An inexpensive 'expensive' sounding multiple pattern mic that doesn't need much eq'ing - C3 A relatively inexpensive sonically versatile multi-pattern tube mic that will sound good on most things while letting you play with your expensive eq - T3 So how did the Neumann stack up? Well... I'm not selling it... but I've ordered two C3's! ;) MS, Blumlein etc here we come!! :D Now!... Where's my RNP??!! ;) Merry Xmas!

[Wewus432]

Thanks for the reviews. Love that real world input. You know Studio Projects has a NEW tube mic pre out that's supposed to kick ass. Available for $179.00.

[Bob Keelan]

I'm very happy with my C1. I think these babies are next on my list. http://studioprojectsusa.com/c4.html bob

[Nawor]

[quote]Originally posted by TheWewus: [b]Thanks for the reviews. Love that real world input. You know Studio Projects has a NEW tube mic pre out that's supposed to kick ass. Available for $179.00.[/b][/quote]I may be wrong but I think it's a transistor pre with a kind of token tube drive effect knob on the front. http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/vtb1.html I don't think it's a 'real' tube pre as such. A bit like the Aphex Tubessence. Still it might sound okay. After auditioning the SP mics I'd wouldn't pass up a listen. Anyway here's a review... http://www.digitalprosound.com/2002/08_aug/reviews/vtb1_review.htm I'm still hankerin' to hear a RNP. Who knows what Santa may have in his scrotum for Chrissy?... er... I meant sack!! ;) Aaarrgghh!! TOO many toys!... NOT enough money!... NEVER enough time!! :freak:

[Jedi]

I could use a new pre. Where can I get one? I need more pres in the studio? Just to add variety.

[offramp]

Tearfully positive reviews on the RNP from a close friend of mine whose studio is simply hopping (sonically) because of the RNP. Anyone with reviews on the SP B-1?

[Philip OKeefe]

Any new news regarding the SP Stephen Paul designed mic that they announced a while back?

[Nawor]

[quote]Originally posted by Philip O'Keefe: [b]Any new news regarding the SP Stephen Paul designed mic that they announced a while back?[/b][/quote]I don't know. I think there has been some confusion with both Studio Projects and Stephen Paul having the same initials. I read somewhere suggestion that Stephen Paul had something to do with the capsule design of the Studio Projects mics, but that may just be a rumour. Paul has signed a distribution deal with the same company that distributes Studio Projects gear. Whether or not he is going to produce some kind of bargain mass produced Stephen Paul mic I don't know. :confused:

[Philip OKeefe]

No, it was definitely a Stephen Paul designed mic, to be sold (or distributed) by PMI (Studio Projects USA distributor). Alan Hyatt (of PMI) has talked about it on the Musicplayer forums, and Stephen has discussed it over on his forum. It's supposed to be a Stephen Paul designed, Chineese built, LD condenser mic for around $1,500 (if memory serves). Maybe we'll hear more at NAMM.

[Philter]

I have two of the vtb-1's and I love them. They are a great deal. Without the tube knob they pass a very clean signal. The "tube" feature is very useful for some things and has a strong character that puts the sound right in your face.

[D. Gauss]

steven paul has been/is very sick. and not just a cold. i'm not sure how this affects the mic timetable. -d. gauss

[not coaster MODERATOR]

I'm doing some recording with a pair of C1's, the Studio Project preamps and a pair of RNC's this Friday. I'll post back on how it goes. I'm pretty sure I'll like the C1 enough to go get my own. They're down to $200 btw

[Philip OKeefe]

[quote]Originally posted by d gauss: [b]steven paul has been/is very sick. and not just a cold. i'm not sure how this affects the mic timetable. -d. gauss[/b][/quote]True, that could be delaying things.... but my understanding was that he had the design all finished. In any event, Stephen's a genius, and has my best wishes - I preay he gets better!

[mixman_dup1]

Well thank you for all the kind words, and that in depth report was right on Row. I have been telling people for two years that the C3 was my favorite mic, but trying to get them off the C1 bandwagon has been tough, but as a manufacturer, I will take it any way I can get it!!! :eek: As for the VTB-1...It is a real tube desing with a blend feature. Yes, it is a 70volt design, but never the less, it is still a tube circuit design. It is there to give on more color if you want it. It was designed more as a clen front end with the blen to add distortion and color. For the money, it is very cool and very good. It is much different than the RNP and should not be considered as a comparrison. It should be looked at as an addition...another flavor. You can do a lot of stuff with an RNP, VTB-1 and a few decent mics and still have that extra money for a new car for mama!!! :D The Stephen Paul mic is taking longer than we expected. The reason for it is that Stephen is an artist and never satisfied. We will not do anything to compromise on his design. While I have been working with Stephen Paul for some time, the names Stephen Paul and Studio Projects are just a fluke! I did not know Stephen before we hooked up and the initials SP are just a freak thing. Nothing was planned and Stephen does not design our capsules, but he has helped us a great deal. Stephens mic will ship the first half of this new year, and it is very nice. Anyway, if I can answer any of your questions anythime, just let me know.

[Gtoledo3]

Can you tell us if it will be multi-pattern or fixed?