Topic: What's the difference between SP-CMC-4 and SP-CMC-8 and at831s?

[RedRocketSr]

Thanks.. i'm just getting into taping. I found and bought a JB3 with 2 batteries and a bunch of other extras for $140 and now I need some decent mics. I was told 831s were very good for the kind of taping (mostly acoustic) that I want to do.

Appreciate the help.

Brett

[Humbug]

I was told 831s were very good for the kind of taping (mostly acoustic) that I want to do.

Appreciate the help.

Brett

-Amplified or unamplified? (if its unamplified you need to be looking at other mics, otherwise AT831s work acceptably well for acoustic).

You might want to look at omni mics unless the audience are very noisy at these events.

Dont forget a battery box.

Budget?

[RedRocketSr]

ah, i'm not sure about the amplified or not. I hadn't heard that element before. And a knew I had to get a battery box. I plan on spending about $150-$200 (I hope).

So how do I decide if I want amplified or not?

[Shawn]

I think he was asking if the music was amplified or not.

[TheWildKindness]

ah, i'm not sure about the amplified or not. I hadn't heard that element before. And a knew I had to get a battery box. I plan on spending about $150-$200 (I hope).

So how do I decide if I want amplified or not?

 I use the SP-CMC-2 (AT831's) with a battery box (w/bass roll-off that I have never needed to use) and I have recorded a few acoustic sets with no problems...in fact..I have recorded some sweet 'unamplified' 3 piece jug band music in an open air enviroment and they are some of my better recordings. I did add a little gain in post using Audacity...but other then that I have had great success with these mics and the JB3.
If you can spend a little more...there is a set of SP-CMC-4's (AT853) for sale in the Yard Sale section: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=58958.0 ....although I have heard that the bass response on these aren't as clean as the 831's. For the price and quality the 831's can't be beat.

Good luck and use this board to gain your taping wisdom...it's a great community and very helpful!

 - Shawn

[Humbug]

ShawnSmith, yes, I did mean the music being amplified. I had read that AT831s didn't work terribly well with unamplified music, though never tried it. TheWildKindness just turned that round.

I've run several A:B comparisons between AT853 and AT831s over the last month or so, and the AT853s are just hands down better mics. Bottom end is fuller and the overall sound more rounded. I still love the sound of both, and have not put the AT831s to one side yet.

[RedRocketSr]

Thanks for the mic advice - the SP-CMC-2's seem to be best for my needs - any recommendations on a battery box w/bass roll off? brand, avg $, etc. and a place to buy one?

it's a great community and very helpful!

i agree and appreciate it very much

[TheWildKindness]

Thanks for the mic advice - the SP-CMC-2's seem to be best for my needs - any recommendations on a battery box w/bass roll off? brand, avg $, etc. and a place to buy one?

it's a great community and very helpful!

i agree and appreciate it very much

 I would just go with the SP-SPSB-1 ( http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-SPSB-1) from Sound Professionals since you are getting the mics from them. If you are using the mics mainly for acoustic stuff and nothing bass heavy...I wouldn't worry about spending the $20 for the bass roll-off (the AT831's have excellent bass response and even when the music is bassy...it doesn't normally show in the recordings..in my experience atleast)... I guess it's nice to have just incase though.

[nameloc01]

Thanks for the mic advice - the SP-CMC-2's seem to be best for my needs - any recommendations on a battery box w/bass roll off? brand, avg $, etc. and a place to buy one?

it's a great community and very helpful!

i agree and appreciate it very much

 I would just go with the SP-SPSB-1 ( http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-SPSB-1) from Sound Professionals since you are getting the mics from them. If you are using the mics mainly for acoustic stuff and nothing bass heavy...I wouldn't worry about spending the $20 for the bass roll-off (the AT831's have excellent bass response and even when the music is bassy...it doesn't normally show in the recordings..in my experience atleast)... I guess it's nice to have just incase though.

get the bass r/o,its well worth the little bit of extra money.its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[RedRocketSr]

thanks everyone... i bought the at831 (SP-CMC-2) and the battery box (SP-SPSB-1) with roll off. So now I'll have to start playing when I get them. thanks again.

[Ryan Sims]

I am considering buying the AT831s as my first taping mics (have junky home recording mics now).  Would these take the 853 caps if I wanted to switch to hypers or subcards?  Also, is there an omni cap available too?  Thanks you all.  This place has been a great resource to me.

[poorlyconditioned]

I am considering buying the AT831s as my first taping mics (have junky home recording mics now).  Would these take the 853 caps if I wanted to switch to hypers or subcards?  Also, is there an omni cap available too?  Thanks you all.  This place has been a great resource to me.

Yes!  AT831 bodies do take AT853 caps.  This is not widely known here, but they do work.  It is an open question how well the work, but they sound fine to me.  A minor point is that they fit funny - the cap is a bit wider on the outside than the body.  But they do work.

My advice however, is to just go with AT853 and skip the AT831 altogether.  The AT853 sound signifcantly better, and if you know you want them, why waste time buying the AT831 bodies and caps?  The difference in price is not that large.

But, to anyone else out there, if you've already got AT831's, by all means consider trying the '853 caps as an upgrade.

  Richard

[Humbug]

But, to anyone else out there, if you've already got AT831's, by all means consider trying the '853 caps as an upgrade.

Richard

You know, I've tried (gently) removing the caps on the AT831s, but they look like they are stuck fast. Don't really want to mess with them too much. Plus sticking 853 caps on there would almost certainly overload them at the rock gigs I go to. Might be an option for acoustic though.

The 3 wire battery box I run with the AT933s (853 caps) does not overload at all, even stack taping.

Humbug

[Ryan Sims]

I am considering buying the AT831s as my first taping mics (have junky home recording mics now).  Would these take the 853 caps if I wanted to switch to hypers or subcards?  Also, is there an omni cap available too?  Thanks you all.  This place has been a great resource to me.

Yes!  AT831 bodies do take AT853 caps.  This is not widely known here, but they do work.  It is an open question how well the work, but they sound fine to me.  A minor point is that they fit funny - the cap is a bit wider on the outside than the body.  But they do work.

My advice however, is to just go with AT853 and skip the AT831 altogether.  The AT853 sound signifcantly better, and if you know you want them, why waste time buying the AT831 bodies and caps?  The difference in price is not that large.

But, to anyone else out there, if you've already got AT831's, by all means consider trying the '853 caps as an upgrade.

  Richard

That's pretty much the answer I was looking for, and had sort of decided on my own.  Thanks for the affirmation.

[divamum]

I happily used AT831's for (totally unamplified) recordings of opera until I upgraded to CMC8's.  The 831's were just fine with acoustic music.