Hey, so i posted a topic a few months ago about getting my first microphone and i got advised best to try out my sisters SM58 at the time which was great, however she has just changed jobs and needs it more frequently so I'm going to have to invest in one now,

Problem is i have done up my studio lately and i really have blown the budget, I'm only looking for something to record very short one shot phrase sort of things just before a track kicks in etc. and maybe some single percussion - not full ballard style vocals for 6 minute tracks etc.

I just have a couple of questions,

Im currently running on an Apogee Duet 2 interface now, my room is quite well treated also - 2 corners full bass traps, 4 GIK 244 bass panels and another bass 'wall' so to speak at the back (25mm rock wool)

I got advised that a very cheap option (i will upgrade when i get the £) is the Behringer C1, apparently it works very well.. All i am wondering, what else will i need to buy for this.. Im guessing a mic stand? (Its going on a desk so i was thinking a desk mic stand - although is this needed if its going to be in a cradle?) Microphone cradle? Reflection Filter? Pop Sheild?

There all the things that come in to mind, do i need all of those ? and is there anything else i missed off?

Thanks a lot!!

Mike
Last edited by Mike20 on Thu May 24, 2012 1:55 pm; edited 1 time in total

I have a C1, and it's pretty good. I've used it to record acoustic guitar and drums mainly (I use an SM58 too). You'll definitely need a stand and a cable ... my only criticism of the C1 is it's a little noisy when recording quieter sound sources.

Edit : I meant cradle! Not cable lol!

But yeah thank you for the info!

You can use the C1 with a normal microphone stand. It comes with the fittings, and a hard case ...

The C1 will be fine for your current needs. Sure it's nothing special and it is a little noisy but you won't find anything better at this price.

Ahh right cool. to be honest.. I didn't really know what a microphone cradle did! I just seen most mics in them so figured they must have sound and i needed one lol!

Ignore the C1 and rather go for the B2 Pro.

Why?
- B2 is a large membrane condenser microphone (you need a preamp or a recording device with phantom power - DO NOT USE THE TUBE MIC ULTRAGAIN 200 by Behringer!)
- it comes with 3 modes compared to one with the C1: cardioid, onmi, figure 8, has a -10dB pad and lowcut, dynamic range of over 130dB. For this price, not many large membrane condenser offer this
- it also comes with a spider, in a metal case and depending on the store you buy from, sometimes even with cables and mic stand
- if it doesn't come with cables and/or a mic stand, get one of each.
- get a cheap-ass plosive shield for vocals or build a DIY one, the foam pieace is crap but cool for sound design.



Usage:
Usable for pretty much everything you throw at it. With high volume content (e-guitars/drums), I'd use more distance and/or the built in padding, but it works for vocals (has a bump in the upper midrage for just), acoustic instruments, etc. For this price (115EUR street, 149EUR MSRP), you can't do anything wrong.

I have one of them, I vouch for them. They are a secret weapon in any studio. And if you know how to correct the frequency response according to the bundled polar pattern/freq-response sheet, even more so.


If you have a dynamic mic at your disposal already, this clearly adds to your versatility.

Behringer also do a copy of the SM58 called the XM8500 which is so cheap it's almost free.

It's pretty good by all accounts too.

The C1 is only £30 ...

For a really inexpensive and great-sounding dynamic, I'm a huge fan of the Prodipe TT1 for $25:

http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=214101832&sellerid=21 410344

Can be had in other places, of course.

Here's the somewhat ecstatic SOS review that convinced me to give them a try:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct10/articles/prodipe-tt1.h tm

Also agree with tehlord that the XM8500 is an excellent and durable mic.

I would check out Hink's link. They are probably better than the Behringer B2 and cost the same. I use a Behringer B2 with a decent preamp and get some decent vocal/acoustic guitar and percussion sounds with it. Sounds like you already have a good preamp in the Apogee, which I believe has phantom power? You can always do better with an excellent preamp and low quality mic, than vice versa. Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree/Blackfield/solo records his vocals into an Apogee interface unit, but using a Neumann U87.

This track was all done with the Behringer B2 into a Presonus Eureka preamp and then into Stealth Pedal interface:
http://soundcloud.com/metalifuxx/things-get-better-dub-mix

This track is all Behringer B2 mic into just an M-Audio Mobile Pre USB interface:
http://soundcloud.com/metalifuxx/cavities

same with this
http://soundcloud.com/metalifuxx/you-failed

And the vocals on this track are into the same mic, but going through my friend's Behringer rack preamp,EQ, and compressor units.
http://soundcloud.com/metalifuxx/tangled-chains-jazz-funk-po p
But the talent and performance have more to do to this track than the gear

read the link I posted because it's important to understand the reason they may be better. The company is owned by a very talented mixing engineer and producer (grammy nominated more than a few times). He and his partner do import the mics from china but they reject any that do not sound good to their ears. They give every mic the "ear" test.

Note, the owner of the company is indeed related to me so do check out the whole page. I can vouch for his integrity but I can understand if people think I am biased, so listen to the examples he has posted.

Sorry Hink, but from the frequency charts alone, the Behringer B2 has a more flat level and a different boost in the upper midrange.

They might be more cheap alternatives compared to the Neumann's and Shure's indeed (if you can get them outside of the US), but "ear testing" alone doesn't do the trick. At least IMO.

Hmm, i didn't know there were mics for these prices. And i'm looking also for one for female voices with nice quality. But a friend of mine told me that i also need a Phamtom adaptor or something called like that.
Anyone could explain this better please?
How many costs that Phamtom thing?

Have a good day and thanks in advance.