Topic: How do Core Sound Cardioids compare to Church Audio CA-14s?

[ideal77dlr]

I have the oppotunity to record a fairly large rock show with my friend's Core Sound Cardioids - I was going to use my CA-14s (which I love) to do what could be loosely described as a 'stack tape' (A-B, about 15-30 feet from the stack)

Are the Core Sounds suited to this in the same way the CA-14s are? I've recorded this way with the CA-14s before and have been very pleased with the results.

Are the Core Sound Cardioids generally a bit better that the CAs? My friend says he payed a lot for them about 10 years ago....

any thoughts greatly appreciated!


 

[acidjack]

CSC=garbage CA-14=not garbage. I ran CSCs for a few years.  Worst mics I have ever used. And I don't have any beef with their mics generally.  But those are awful.  Stick with the -14s.

[faninor]

I ran CSCs for a few years too, right when I started taping. Lots of stack taping those days. They would be suited for it, but I think the CA-14s do have better sound. I wouldn't say the CSCs were garbage, but after I also got CSBs I would almost always run both sets of mics and create a mix. When running only one set of mics I'd almost always go for the CSBs even if the situation seemed like one where cardioids would be better.

In the product description on Core Sound's site they describe the bass response like this: "The bass response is very similar to our Core Sound Binaural microphones' with the bass roll-off filter)." That is... a huge understatement. My CSC recordings had very little bass presence, and increasing the bass with EQ usually sounded unnatural.

[tardis71]

I used CSCs from 1997 till 2009...when I got my CA14s....never looked back.
IMHO the CA14s blow them away. Not that you can't pull a good tape with CSC...but
CA14s just sound better, more detail, better top end, Better bass...

[acidjack]

Heck, since they're my own pulls I'm badmouthing, might as well back it up with the evidence.  Here are some CSC pulls of mine on the LMA:

http://www.archive.org/details/dplan1999-05-23.dc_acidjack (not sure where I was)

http://www.archive.org/details/superdrag1998-04-02.CSC.flac16 (stack tape)

http://www.archive.org/details/moam1999-05-23.dc_acidjack (stack tape)

I'd say the latter two are *alright* but that's about as good as it gets with those mics.

[Belexes]

Stick with the -14s.

This.

[kingkita]

CSC=garbage CA-14=not garbage. I ran CSCs for a few years.  Worst mics I have ever used. And I don't have any beef with their mics generally.  But those are awful.  Stick with the -14s.

I agree i had them myself Stick with the Ca 14s

[Duconlajoie]

Sorry for that question but Core Sound Cardioids = Core Sound Stealthy Cardioid. I have found only this one on their site.
And what about the Core Sound Binaural compared to CA14?
Thanks

[acidjack]

Sorry for that question but Core Sound Cardioids = Core Sound Stealthy Cardioid. I have found only this one on their site.
And what about the Core Sound Binaural compared to CA14?
Thanks

Anything that has "Coresound" and "cardiod" in the name is garbage.

The Coresound Binaurals (the "CSBs") can be decent in the right situation (there are also pretty broad variances in sound quality among different sets), but a generally correct statement would be that ANY of the omni mics put out by Chris Church (CA-1, CA-11, CAFS, CA-14) are better (not to mention cheaper, not to mention service with a smile, not to mention smaller battery box). 

That said, although it was heavy and less flexible, Coresound's battery box was a sturdy design with that locking 3pin XLR.  Unfortunately, many of them also had wiring problems....

[fmaderjr]

not to mention cheaper, not to mention service with a smile

I certainly did not get that in my 1 experience with Core Sound (he implied I was a lying about not receiving a cable I ordered, although he eventually sent one). Chris Church is a pleasure to deal with if you encounter a problem.

[acidjack]

Reread my post:

but a generally correct statement would be that ANY of the omni mics put out by Chris Church (CA-1, CA-11, CAFS, CA-14) are better (not to mention cheaper, not to mention service with a smile, not to mention smaller battery box). 

not to mention cheaper, not to mention service with a smile

I certainly did not get that in my 1 experience with Core Sound (he implied I was a lying about not receiving a cable I ordered, although he eventually sent one). Chris Church is a pleasure to deal with if you encounter a problem.

[Duconlajoie]

Ok ok, well and what about the Core Sound High End Binaural, still compared to CA's (i don't what difference between them) ? I know dpa have a good reputation but no more.
I saw acidjack you had them, also other viewpoints are welcome.
(Btw you mention PS/2 as Pres/Power, can you give more details on that device pls, you guess what goggle gave me)

[newplanet7]

(Btw you mention PS/2 as Pres/Power, can you give more details on that device pls, you guess what goggle gave me)

Google this for the ps-2 if you are up for it.
deneke ps 2

[Duconlajoie]

thanks

[adrianf74]

These questions have been answered many times; I think we need to develop a sticky.

The CS HEB (DPA 406x) are excellent mics.  I've got a few friend who use them and get some stellar recordings in the right scenarios (all mics have this opportunity - I've won some, and I've lost some). 

Some background from me.... I've owned the CS Binaurals back in the early-to-mid '90s when I had a Sony TCD-D7 portable DAT deck.  At that time, there was nothing in the price range that touched them.  A lot has changed in 15 years.  When I became a little more serious in taping in the early 2000's, I had bought the Giant Squid Audio Lab omni mics.  People here dog them but I did make some excellent recordings with my old Sharp MD.  In fact, a few of them were that good that they ended up being pressed on silver CDs (without my knowledge or approval).  I then moved to Sound Pro CMC8's (Audio Technica 933 cardioids).  They weren't bad.  I sold the and run all things Chris Church in my rig.

Back to the topic at hand... As acidjack has already mentioned, anything CS and Cardoid should be avoided; they're pretty craptastic and overpriced for that matter (sorry Len if you're reading this).  The CS Binaurals are decent but you could likely pick up both CA-14 omnis, cards and a pre and/or a cheap battery box for about the same as the CS option.    I run the CA-14 omnis, cards and the CAFS (freakin' small) omnis for when I need to be a little less obvious.   I also have Chris' "ugly" battery box which is the smallest battery box he makes (essentially a 9V clasp compounded with a mini-jack connector on the end.  For all of this, I've spent around US$400.  This gives me the option of using cards or omnis depending on the situation (indoors, outdoors, close, far away) or using the smaller mics if I need to.  It also gives me a pre-amp which is a much nicer tool to have instead of just using a "battery box" as I can adjust the levels on that rather then on my deck (in most cases).  So, given the option of CS vs CA at this price point, I'd take the CA option.  Yes, you may have to wait a little longer to get your goods but Chris really stands behind what he sells.

Now, you've thrown the CS HEB's into the mix.  I've said this before (and Ill say it again) but at $1000, I don't know if they're really worth it if you look at it from an economic standpoint.  If you've got a battery box and a CA-14 omni (approximate retail < $200> you're not gonna end up with a recording that's 5x better (i.e., $1000 vs. $200).  You get to gloat that you have the mics but I know enough tapers out there who use other mics and leave their DPA's at home to collect dust.

Hopefully this has helped a bit.