Topic: Upgrade/Lateral move from Studio Projects C4's???

[Cheesecadet]

Hey All...I am thinking about possibly selling my C4's > Hi Ho Silvers > BM2P+ UA-5 rig to move to something smaller.

I want something that will deliver the same quality sound (or better) if possible.

I am hoping to just get some small lavaliere type mics (cardioids) like the CA-14's or similar that can be run into the CA-9100 preamp.

Do you all think the sound would be comparable at all to the current rig I run if I went CA-14's > CA-9100 for instance?  Or AT 853's > CA-9100???

I am only looking for cardioid mics and do not need interchangeable caps as I already have a pair of DPA 4061's for my omnis.

I'm just tired of lugging all the stuff around and I want some cardioid pattern mics that will sound good in the open or lopro if I so desire.

Any thoughts...or should i just stick with what I'm using in the C4's > BM2P+ UA-5? 

[fmaderjr]

Might even sound better. Check out this opinion by tonedeaf:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,119826.msg1600107.html#msg1600107

If switching to CA-14/ST-9100 doesn't sound as good to you, it's probably due to differences between the ADC in the UA-5 you had been using and the one in the iHP-120. In that case, you could replace the iHP-120 with an R-09HR. That said, despite some negative comments made here regarding the iHP-120's ADC, I've made some of my best sounding recordings with a DPA-4060's or CA-14 cards > ST-9100 > iHP-120.

[Cheesecadet]

Thanks for the response...any other opinions out there?  Anyone had experience moving from C4's to a smaller mics and been happy with the results?

[Javier Cinakowski]

A latteral move that might suit you well is a pair of Rode NT6.   Damn near identical sound to the SP C4 (originally made in the same factory, capsules are interchangable with the SP C4), but you get the smaller size advantages....

I have issues with the Church Audio gear being as good or better than sub $500 SDCs, as tonedeaf suggests.  Even the more expensive directional electret microphones have their limitations.   Any of the true condensor mics that were discussed in these threads have much better bass response compared to the electrets.    If you don't have a 12" powered sub in every room in your house than you might not be worried about those lowest octaves.  Personally, I find the lowest octaves to be very important to the soundstage and realizm of a recording.

The recordings I made with AT853c-> CA-9100-> Oade SBM-1-> iRiverH120  are some of the clearest and cleanest sounding recordings I ever made, but the lowest octaves just arn't there.  Even inexpensive true cardioid condensors like the Chinese Karma K10 have much better low end. ($99/pair)

I am not bashing electret microphones, just many of the directional electret mics we use here are not up to par for me in the low end..  Omni directional electrets on the other hand are just fine throughout the frequency range.  The MKE 2 from Sennnhesier is still my favorite omni for j-disc recording.

[Cheesecadet]

I do want there to be some bass in the recoridngs...I was never one to like "a ton" of bass though to where it overpowers the vocals, etc.

I checked out the Rode nt6 but it is more than I want to spend.

I was really thinking more along the lines of the AT 853, CA-14's, or the MKE-40.

I just am not sure either of those mics paird with the CA-9100 would sound equivelent or better thatn my current Studio projetcs C4 > BM2P+ combo?

[Javier Cinakowski]

I was really thinking more along the lines of the AT 853, CA-14's, or the MKE-40.

I just am not sure either of those mics paird with the CA-9100 would sound equivelent or better thatn my current Studio projetcs C4 > BM2P+ combo?

I have personally owned and used all the equipment you listed there, and the C4>BM2P+ is the best sounding rig....

my $0.02