Topic: Newbie C4 mic question...When to use which caps?

[Gr8ful98]

Hey y'all,
   I just got my c4's yesterday. I'm using C4>UA5 Digi Mod>Archos Hard Drive

I'm going to attempt to record for the first time tonight!

Here's my question.  The mics come with 2 different caps.  I've read threads that say the caps with the holes in them are the Cardiod caps...and the ones without the holes are the OMNI caps.  Is that true?

Then....which caps should I use when recording in a small club or bar  vs.  an outside venue.
Which ones are best for recording near the soundboard, as opposed to in an open field @ a festival?

Also...they came with little black foam caps too. They kinda look like NERF CONDOMS.  What they heck to those things do?  Should I use them?

[creekfreak]

outside use the omni's.

Inside use the cards unless you are doing onstage recording, then run the omni's.

Recommend getting some hypers if you are taping in a lot of small rooms, which tend to sound crappy.

[creekfreak]

Also...they came with little black foam caps too. They kinda look like NERF CONDOMS.  What they heck to those things do?  Should I use them?

those are probably windscreens, +T for the laugh 

made me chuckle too, use those when you tape outdoors, can use them also indoors if you end up set up under a ceiling fan or AC duct

[The Kilted Taper]

made me chuckle too, use those when you tape outdoors, can use them also indoors if you end up set up under a ceiling fan or AC duct

Or a smokie room to help protect the mics a tad.

[creekfreak]

made me chuckle too, use those when you tape outdoors, can use them also indoors if you end up set up under a ceiling fan or AC duct

Or a smokie room to help protect the mics a tad.

good point, something I forgot about since you can no longer smoke in bars and the like in NY state

[Gr8ful98]

Thanks y'all,
   I'm reading about these HYPER caps y'all talk about  They are best for small clubs, right.
 Where can I get those?  Is there a website or a link you could send me?

I will definatley be recording in a few of the small clubs here in Orlando,Fl.   

[jcrab66]

those are definitly wind screens that come in that C4 mic kit. IF you find where to get some Hyper caps for the C4's let me know because SP doesnt have any listed on the website....

[ethan]

Hey y'all,
   I just got my c4's yesterday. I'm using C4>UA5 Digi Mod>Archos Hard Drive

Hmm... I recognize that source...is that you John "Dude"?

-e

[Patrick]

Also...they came with little black foam caps too. They kinda look like NERF CONDOMS. What they heck to those things do? Should I use them?

I'll never look at windscreens the same again!

+t.

[Gr8ful98]

Hey Ethan,
  John "Dude" here...tryin' to soak up some knowledge, as I am excited as hell about taping, but am finding out that the more I learn...the less I know.


What kind of mics do you use Ethan?   AKG's?   What's a good AKG mic to run with a D mod UA5?

[ethan]

Hey Ethan,
  John "Dude" here...tryin' to soak up some knowledge, as I am excited as hell about taping, but am finding out that the more I learn...the less I know.


What kind of mics do you use Ethan?   AKG's?   What's a good AKG mic to run with a D mod UA5?

The real answer is going to be what sounds best to *your* ears. Everyone will have an opinion but what you must start doing is listening intensely.

I know it sounds hard, but believe it or not your ears will develop. You have to start picking out what you like and what you don't like from your tapes and others. Beware though it's a vicious circle...I'm almost never satisfied with my tapes anymore..

I own AKG's and DPA's. I've never run a UA5 so I can't comment on how things will sound. So much depends on mic placement and stereo config too.


-e

[Chuck]

You may find that those wind screens supplied with the C4s only server to satisfiy truth in advertising requirements... they are pretty weak when it comes to cutting any sort of breeze.  Lots of threads in in the archives on what to get if you want to do effective outdoor recording.  The stock screens "may" be work well as "smoke screens" but that's it IMO.

Check out the Team Boards for SP representations and a warm fuzzy

Good luck, you'll like those mics.

Yeah... the windscreen that comes with the C-4's isn't much use outside or as a condom...
I do use it for indoor taping though as a preventative measure from smoke, AC , fans etc...

[Gr8ful98]

Here's another questions.  What mics are better AKG 300's  or  AKG 3,000's???

  I keep seeing AKG mics on ebay, but I don't really know what I'm bidding on.  Is there a website I can go to that tells me what the mics are good for & what they are not good for...without all the technical specifications?   Right now technical specs are greek to me.  Or, could someone break it down for me like I was in kindergarden.  And what the heck is bass roll off...when would you use that option?

[Gr8ful98]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41464&item=7313238653&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

would these be decent mics for live shows?   

[Chuck]

akg 1000s are ok mics, your c4's are better imo

Being on Team AKG and also having a pair of the C4's, I'd have to agree... ymmv

[ethan]

I'd stay away from any of the AKG 1000's and 3000's. If you really want to be on team AKG look for 480's which are similar to the 300's in that they have swappable capsules.

As for what AKG's most folks tape with I'd say:

300's
414's
480's

Really anything else has a specific use and might not be optimal for field recording.

If you get 300's you are definitely going to want the 93's caps (hypers) for indoor. I like the 91's outdoors ORTF.

-e

[Gr8ful98]

So....would y'all recommend using AKG 300's with cardiod caps  instead of C4 mics?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41466&item=7312812250&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Or should I just save up & wait for a pair for AKG 460's or 480's to show up on ebay?

any suggestions would be appreciated....I wanna know if I should bid on those AKG 300's with cardiod caps

[jdawg]

Question for you, a month ago you just bought the c4's and now you're already looking to upgrade to another set of mics? How much have you run the c4's? Did you like them? What didn't you like?  Just courious, that's all. 

[Gr8ful98]

I actually really like the C4 mics, however I'm a totally obsessive/compulstive personality.  So...while I've recorded 16 shows with the C4's and I'm happy with them all...the shows I've heard recorded with 480's sound WAY BETTER.  Just lookin' for feedback on 300's vs. C4's since they are cheaper than the 480's. Guess I outta learn more about what I'm doing, rather than just start buying new stuff.
Just over excited about taping & I'm kind of a spaz.

I don't know much & trying to learn as I go.
 Anybody got a suggestion where I can read about "bass roll off", when to use it & what settings are right for what situation?   The C4 mics have a little switch on them with 3 settings, I honestly don't know what setting to use & when.  Is that a "bass roll off" switch?  I can't seem to find info on that.

Thanks.

[NJFunk]

I actually really like the C4 mics, however I'm a totally obsessive/compulstive personality.  So...while I've recorded 16 shows with the C4's and I'm happy with them all...the shows I've heard recorded with 480's sound WAY BETTER.  Just lookin' for feedback on 300's vs. C4's since they are cheaper than the 480's. Guess I outta learn more about what I'm doing, rather than just start buying new stuff.
Just over excited about taping & I'm kind of a spaz.

I don't know much & trying to learn as I go.
 Anybody got a suggestion where I can read about "bass roll off", when to use it & what settings are right for what situation?   The C4 mics have a little switch on them with 3 settings, I honestly don't know what setting to use & when.  Is that a "bass roll off" switch?  I can't seem to find info on that.

Thanks.

The switch on the C4 is a combination of bass rolloff or level pad.  The top setting is neither.  Use this for shows that are not too loud nor too bassy.  The middle setting is bass rolloff (-6db gain per octave starting at 250hz).  Use this at shows where the sound is very bassy.  The bottom setting is for level pad (-10db I believe).  Use this setting for shows that are super loud or when you are recording close to the PA so that you don't brickwall your pre-amp.

[Gr8ful98]

muchos gracias mi amigo