Topic: Which mic to replace SP-BMC-6?

[lovebuzz]

Looking to upgrade my SP-BMC-6 mics with something that will give me better recordings. Been considering SP-CMC-8. Would these provide me with improved quality? Other recommendations? Am willing to change brand if better value for money.

I use the mics for recordings of live concerts, mainly rock. I currently place my BMC-6 under a shirt, if that's relevant for type of mic.

Budget around 300 us$.

[(Evan)]

The CMC-8's will be a vey nice upgrade from BMC-6's. The omni caps for the CMC-8's(AT-943) are really nice, though I haven't heard good things about about the cardioid caps. If you want to run cardiod caps get the AT-853 cards and use the adapters to put them on the 943's. Thats what I do and they sound great, and a much smaller profile than the full 853's.

[acidjack]

CMC-8 cardiods are a tad thin but have nice clarity.  You can also get the CMC-8 bodies and an adapter that allows you to run the CMC-4 cardiod caps while using the smaller CMC-8 omni caps for a more stealthy rig.

If you like the sound of them, the Audix 1280 system with Church active cables (which will set you back about $300) is great -switchable card, omni and hyper caps like the CMC series) are great... and smaller than the CMC-4. 

I'd listen to some samples first, but that can be a good system.

[lovebuzz]

Thanks for the input - will look into those options. Where can I find more info about the Audix 1280 system with Church active cables?

Am also wondering if I can re-use my SP-SPSB-6 bat box with the mics mentioned or if I would be better of with a different model?

[acidjack]

There's not a lot of info on the Audix system or a lot of people who run it.

You buy the capsules from Full Compass - part # is CPS-MICRO-C (for the cardiod.  The omni is CPS-MICRO-O; the hyper is CPS-MICRO-HC).  They run about $230 for two.

You buy the cable from Chris Church for $65.  See retail space for more info. It's basically the same cables as his CA-11 system uses but optimized for the Audix mics.  And same size. 

Then buy a battery box or pre of your choice.  Chris Church is a go-to person for that, too.  So all-in, depending what you do about battbox/pre, you're looking at between $340-500 for the set.

I do not like the Audix in all situations, but I do not like any small mic like that (or big one, either) in all situations.   You should listen to samples and decide for yourself. One that that is weird about them is that the hyper actually seems to have a flatter response than the cardiod, which has a pronounced HF and midrange bump. 

I also have never heard the "active" system compared with the use of the bodies and 48V phantom power (as opposed to the 9v battery box for the active system).  Several guys on here use the fullsize system as their main mics and seem to get nice results; I think at least a couple of people have both.

[lovebuzz]

Thanks for the detailed info! I'm still a bit of a newbie when it comes to these things but I'll it's very educational With that in mind is there any difference in easy-of-use between the CMC8 system and the Audix system? Is it plug-and-play or do I need to use special tools when switching caps and mounting the cables?

[jbell]

Could you post some pics of the Audix active system?? 

There's not a lot of info on the Audix system or a lot of people who run it.

You buy the capsules from Full Compass - part # is CPS-MICRO-C (for the cardiod.  The omni is CPS-MICRO-O; the hyper is CPS-MICRO-HC).  They run about $230 for two.

You buy the cable from Chris Church for $65.  See retail space for more info. It's basically the same cables as his CA-11 system uses but optimized for the Audix mics.  And same size. 

Then buy a battery box or pre of your choice.  Chris Church is a go-to person for that, too.  So all-in, depending what you do about battbox/pre, you're looking at between $340-500 for the set.

I do not like the Audix in all situations, but I do not like any small mic like that (or big one, either) in all situations.   You should listen to samples and decide for yourself. One that that is weird about them is that the hyper actually seems to have a flatter response than the cardiod, which has a pronounced HF and midrange bump. 

I also have never heard the "active" system compared with the use of the bodies and 48V phantom power (as opposed to the 9v battery box for the active system).  Several guys on here use the fullsize system as their main mics and seem to get nice results; I think at least a couple of people have both.

[acidjack]

Thanks for the detailed info! I'm still a bit of a newbie when it comes to these things but I'll it's very educational With that in mind is there any difference in easy-of-use between the CMC8 system and the Audix system? Is it plug-and-play or do I need to use special tools when switching caps and mounting the cables?

No, it's quite easy to use.  It looks just like the CA-11 mics from Church, apart from the caps looking a bit different.  It's only harder to order, not use, than the CMC-8.  It's just mics>battbox>recorder. 

As I said before, the Audix mics definitely sound different than the CA-11 and CMC-8.  The cardiods, at least, have that bump in the mids and highs that some people are bound to like, because it accentuates the vocals.  I have found that at times I like how that works, and at times I did not. 

Here's a time I did: www.nyctaper.com/?p=3964  (streaming song included).  This recording of Pavement outdoors was the best of five that Dan Lynch and I did on five successive nights - and two of those other nights we ran DPA 4021s and Neumanns (admittedly from much further back). 
And a time I very much did not: www.nyctaper.com/?p=4074   (also a streaming song).  I really hated this recording, even though I was in the sweet spot in an excellent sounding venue.  It sounds mushy, too bright, just bad.  I was surprised.

There are other samples of me using the Audix on both nyctaper and the LMA.  As they aren't my "main" mics I haven't used them tons of times, but I've used them in several different situations with several types of bands.  I would be curious what the hypers and omnis sound like, esp because the frequency plot of the hypers is actually flatter than the cards.

I could post pics if you want, but really, if you've seen the CA-11s, you've seen the Audix system.  Same size, same capsule housing, etc.   EDIT: Church has pics of the system here: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=124072.0