Studio Projects C1 Reviews

C1 STUDIO PROJECTS MIC
by alexander from Greensboro,Florida, August 2008
Music Background: Student

ya probably thinking like i wonder if these guys telling the truth about this mic just nip it in the bud b/c this mic here is a winner.It's good on lows and mids might need to eq just a little though on highs but besides that it's does the job maaan!,don't forget to use a pretty good decent pre and you'll be straight,beating mics over 1200, LOOK MAN YOU FIND A BETTER MIC WITH TRIPLE DIGITS THAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

Standing the Test of Time
by Joshua Conti from the space coast of florida, July 2008
Music Background: producer, musician, recording engineer, live sound engineer, media producer

i have owned a pair of c1's since 2003 and they still sound as good as when i took them out of the box for the first time. ive had one sitting in my project studio in the shockmount out in the open for almost the life of the mic and the quality in sound has never waivered. i love the c1 for how it defines the clarity in the highs and mids. im not sure how many of the other reviewers have tried it on a drum set but for me im impressed with how it sounds as an overhead on a kit. my main use for my c1s has been acoustic guitar, percussion and most importantly- vocals. this mic shines at recording vocals. i have produced and recorded several projects with female vocals and this is where i have relied heavily on my c1s to give me good, clean vocal tracks. i rarely use eq or compression while recording and the c1 fits my modus operandi very well. i am at the point where the c1 has actually defined my sound as a producer (in a way) and i plan on staying with studio projects for a long time. believe me, you can trust this mic to deliver quality. tied to a decent mic pre (mine are chained to presonus tubepres) they can be counted on to give you good tracks day after day. if i could be an official studip projects endorser, i would. this isnt just a bunch of people saying this is a good mic. THIS IS A DARN GOOD MIC!

The New Standard of Microphones!!!!!!!!
by 12welve from Saginaw,MI, March 2008
Music Background: R&B,Hip Hop,Pop

I have been using the C1 for over 2 years know and every time i switch to the older Groove Tube i have i give in and switch back to the new standard the C1 because it sounds more richer in the top end and i don't even have to boost the highs as much.This mic actually starts sounding better and better by simply getting used to the uniqe sound of it,it's a absulutely stunner for the price no doubt it is industry......................

Pure Silky, Persuasion Power
by John Petrocelli from New York, USA, November 2007
Music Background: Hypnotist at the New York Hypnosis Center

Hey, I'm a hypnotist at the New York Hypnosis Center. I've done a lot of recordings over the year. I have an arsenal of microphones and I can tell you ... not every microphone suits every voice or for the particular
job at hand.

I have an AKG C414, a Rode NTK, Sennheiser 414 ElectroVoice RE27, several wired Sony Lavalier microphones, a Rode NTG-2, Shure SM57 and SM7 ... and all these mics work great for vocals with the right processor.

But if I'm going straight into my computer and I want the warmest, most compelling sound for MY VOICE without any processors .. just an attached USB sound card.... this Studio Projects C1 microphone is pure silk and power. Studio Projects have a winner. I WISH I had the Neumann U87 which this microphone has been compared to .. to give it a go .. but in the meantime .... This very very inexpensive microphone is a ten plus to me .. a triple platinum beauty.

Great Mic!!!
by B.C. from Orange County, CA, August 2007
Music Background: Recording Engineer, Producer, Musician, etc.

This mic is awesome! I've used this mic for wide veriety of applications including acoustic guitars, electric guitar & bass cabs, drums & percussion, organs, harmonicas, vocalists and voice-over artists...and it has shined in every instance! What I love about this mic is it's amazing clarity without the obnoxious highs (like so many other low cost condensers). The bass and low-mids are nice and full without sounding at all muddy. Also, it can handle very high SPL sources (such as kick drums) thanks to the built in pad switch. For this price you can't go wrong.

The C1 = C$
by ChordBrown from Los Angeles, CA, August 2007
Music Background: Producer, Musician, Recording Engineer

This is a great MIC, especially for the price. I just got it about 2 months ago and started using it in the studio. Low to Mid range is AWESOME, it beat out the more expensive MICs that I have. The top end is ok but if you know how to use an EQ and Multi-pressor, you could get the crisp highs needed.

You can't go wrong for the $pent. It has a fullness to it that I don't get from my other MICs.

My C1 is coupled with an Avalon 737 MIC preamp and a MOTU HD192 Audio interface for those who are wondering what Hardware used to record. (Logic Pro7 editing software)

Hope this helps! Enjoy....

Charming Mic.....!!
by Gustavo Renovalez from Louisville, KY, August 2007
Music Background: Musician, Producer

Ok people open your champagne bottle!
and celebrate the welcome to one of the mics ever made...
The SP C1 is now sharing space with my AKG 414, and SE Electronics 2200A both great mics too...
after doing a test trough my MOTU Traveler Preamps (wich sounded ok) the C1 keeps the neutrality I like,
just a little boost in the high end (love it!)
then run other test with the mother of the preamps:
the UA Solo 610....
Charming sound!
making the long story short...
quality+sound+feature+price=KILLER PRODUCT
Get some before is too late!
SWEETWATER ALWAYS A STEP AHEAD OF EVERYTHING.

Great Mic For The Price
by Brandon from Minneapolis, MN, July 2007
Music Background: Recording Eng., Producer, Arranger

Dont let anyone tell you wrong if they say this mic is not worth your time because it is. It sounds great on the Mbox, and is very good for entry level users such as my self. I purchased mine from sweetwater over 2 years ago and it still works just fine, and still has the great sound quality I had when I first got it. You dont have to think twice, go for it.

This Is A Superior Mic In Any Class
by Cornelius Hill from japan/harvey illinois, June 2007
Music Background: Pro Rapper,Producer,Engineer,and always Student

As I own many many microphones the Studio Projects C-1 is Just A Great Mic plain and simple in ANY price range. Its not my go to mic (actually mine are my neumann M 149 and the marshall MXL v69 mogami edition,yeah thats right)
they just fit my voice quite nicley but its shines on other people i record(some pick it over the m149) See its not the mic its a combination of things, your mic pre ,your compressor of choice, your ad/da conveter,hey and lets not forget about acoustics and the fact that everybody voice is different as well as there finacial situation for the money the Studio Project c-1 with the right engineer is THE MAN as Well as other mics in its price range with the advent of todays technology i can buy many other stunning mics in this price range and have sonic vocal results best thing to do....... Study the art of music more you will come to an understanding of what i mean

By the way Sweetwater is the Great

No discussion.
by Mic1 , May 2007
Music Background: Producer, Songwriter.

Okay, Im no beginner in the music field. I have been recording and producing for 13 years and have several albums and releases out on the radio. This is a GREAT mic. Sounds better than anything under 1200. I do R&B music where we really like the high end clarity for vocals. This does the trick. I've found that only people who have previously bought a u87 and spent 12X more for a mic have "problems" with this mic. If you presented both mics to an engineer, singer, or producer who neither owned a neumann or a SP mic before, then would certainly question how the neumann sounds similarly close to the c1. Its just hard to justify the extra 2G's for the u87. thats just my 2 cents.

Presence & sound in mix is great - Even without ANY EQ added
by Tim from California, January 2007
Music Background: Full-time club musician, singer, serious home-recording

I am really loving this Mic. I've been using an Audio-Technica AT4030 (costs about $200 more) up until now, and the captured vocals were relatively dull sounding, I had to REALLY tweak the EQ to get high-end presence in the mix, to the point of adding sibilance, making it sound harsh (but still sounding kind of muffled, frustrating.)

First day I got the C1, I re-recorded a vocal track, and without even tweaking EQ on the track it sounded good (and present) in the mix without any sibilance.

Also, my PERSONAL observation - I'm just recording in a regular room (no acoustic foam etc), and the C1 seems to be recording a more pure vocal (no "room ring" or weird acoustics), whereas the Audio-Technica seemed to be picking up the poor acoustics of the room more. It's a HUGE step up in my vocal sound, very glad I made the purchase. Unless you specifically DON'T want hi-end presence in your vocal tracks, I think you'll be very happy with it.

(BTW, read the instructions when you get it about singing 6" - 12" away and always using a pop screen to avoid moisture damaging the condenser!)

Studio Projects C1
by Mahatma Das from Gainesville, Florida, December 2006
Music Background: Almost failed my music class at UC Berkeley. Semi pro self taught.

I can't hear a drastic difference between the C-1 and other great mics, and definitely I don't hear a $2000 difference. I own a $2000 Rode Classic mic and on a lot of my vocals it just doesn't cut through the mix as well as the C-1 does. I am totally happy with the results I get with the C-1. This is also due to the fact that I have a good mic pre. Spend the money you save by buying this mic on a good mic pre and you will get great results.

Good for starting
by E.J Morla from Central coast, Ca USA, October 2006
Music Background: Rap artist and recording engineer

I just built my studio about 10 months ago this mic is really good you just gotta buy a pop filter for it and you'll be set. I'm impressed by the low and mids of the mic. the high end is decent but with the right plug ins is good. I think this mic was meant for instruments.

talk all you want.....
by Julian from Boca Raton, July 2006
Music Background: Engineer, producer, live sound engineer, pro-musician, vocalist

ok all, hands down, this is just a great mic. Period. Not for the money...in any price range. It EASILY stands side by side with any other FET mic. You really do have to get into high end tube mics to get the same quality. NO, the price does not affect it's quality. They're made in china at a plant where all they do is make mics ALL DAY LONG. Fact is fact, this guy has more output than any Neumann, lower self-noise and better spl handling. Depending on the preamp used, it will sound just as good, or better(IMO), than Mr. 87....sorry if you spent the money on him....If you've ever heard this guy sound just whatever, take a look at the preamp you're using. Also, you won't hear the detail this guy provides unless you've got killer monitoring, good clock and good D/A like I have in my studio to notice it. If you're using a little m-box with a mackie pre, sorry to tell you, you're not going to like this puppy, cause you won't even be able to hear what he's doing properly. Lastly, bright, bright, bright....what is this? Are you people soloing your tracks and only gauging by that sound or something? Never gauge ur ultimate sound by the soloed sound. Again, unless your summing is awesome and you've got inteligibility inside your daw, you'll rarely find a situation where your soloed sound is the same sound you get from that instrument with respect to it sitting in a mix. Yes, this mic is bright, so are Brauner's, so are mostly all great mics. That allows the instrument to sit in a mix well....guaranteed. Without that presence rise, you'll find yourself Eq'ing the daylights out of it to get your instrument to sit right in a mix. So anyway, get yourselves a nice x73i from Sweetwater, get this mic, get great conversion and clocking. If you want tube, then get a T3(same German capsule) and if you want more bang out of that puppy, switch out the 6073 that it comes with for a Mullard, Telefunken or Bugle Boy 12ax7. You'll pay about $85 for a good one, but it's worth it. I personally went with a 1960's Telefunken Ribbed Plate tube and now my T3 is a whole new mic.

Debate goes on
by , June 2006

The fact is EVERY SINGLE mic gets different reviews. pick up "Behind The Glass" a book full of interviews with top producers. In it you'll find producers who don't like that U87 and other high end mics at all, you'll find others that love it/them. You'll find producers who woudn't touch a Shure 57 and you'll find others who love them. The fact the C-1 debate is on going only proves more of the same, that like the U87, some like it and some don't. Sure, some suffer from the gear snob mentality and can't bring themselves to admit it's a good mic, but then again some honestly just don't like it, just as some people don't like the U87 and other high end mics. My opinion, it's one hell of a mic and can certinaly be used in any pro application. GET ONE!

The more it's used the more it's liked...
by Jim from Newport News VA, April 2006

I have had this mic for some 8 months and find it better now than than I first thought, I used other cheaper mics, but this is the tool I always go back to as I'm on a budget.

Everything recorded with this is in such fine detail and can be found much easier in my mixes... cheaper mics seem to muddy the sound a bit on each track causing the total mix to be dirty...buy it and dont believe the U87 people who think you need that mic to make a home recording...ha!!

I will say this, this mic will probably not endure the torture of a Neumann or Shure or other high end mics as the switches seem flimsey... but if its in a stable location, it should be ok for a while...Jim

Mic Test
by Kelvin Christopher from St. Kitts and Nevis, April 2006

I placed my headphones over my head, I turned on my preamp, turned my volume up and began to sing and what I heard... was unbelievable! I use to use a shure mic before and yes it sounded great.. but this mic BLEW ME AWAY! It's worth the money and it's a steal.

U-C1 ??? I don't
by Nelson from Canada/Ontario, December 2005

I am dumbfounded about where Jim is coming from .. but I don't think he is thinking realistically about these reviews and how one should perceive these posts... but to each there own..right!! ??... well here is my 2 cents...

I think most would agree that this C1 is a fine Condenser mic ...FOR THE $MONEY$ ... however it is not a U87... and yes , a sorry singer may sound bad to begin with, but in the end... a high quality mic will capture the person with much higher quality output overall.

Ya ..go get it ... ya.. the great C1 ...hell ...buy 3 if you like and send one to grandma to boot..... but if you have money to burn or would like to invest in a mic of a life time... then take a good look and listen around and think of putting the dollars out, as you will love your end results. The cost of these product are for a reason ... don't be fooled buy the "poor mans Neumann" ...most of the time a price tag represent the products overall quality to the finest detail.

I own the Neumann and the C1... but I am not the richest guy or the "know it all in the studio" by no means. But I know this... when I'm doing a live/ quick demo, the lead singer gets the Neumann and the others can fuss over the the C1's.... there not the same mic at all.

C1 -good price but.....
by Nelson from Canada Ontario, October 2005

I like this mic for the money ...it is a great option for one on a lower budget. However I will say that it is a very, very BRIGHT sounding mic and does not pack the punch of a more costly $$$ Condenser. If you have owned a high quality mic and have used it for a number of years, you would notice the tone quality of this C1 is not of optimal standards, as the price spells it out. This is a great low budget/starter mic and you would probably want to move up the ladder down the road, especially if you are looking for a pro vocal mic. You get what you pay for most of the time in this industry.

My Baby works great!
by Jim from Virginia, October 2005

WOW, this didnt blow me away until i mixed a couple of songs that I recorded vocal and guitar parts with. The instruments and vocals STAND OUT in my mixes much better than with older cheapy crappy Condenser mics. Vocals are SILKY and smooth closer to a Neumann. I want another with a 3 polar position next or the tube version...cant go wrong, BTW I use it with a Studio Projects PreAmp that I bought for 100 bucks here ...

Reviews of these mics
by Jim from Newport News VA, October 2005

I am dumbfounded about the reviews of mics and this C1 in general. I went to Harmony Central and read some reviews on this mic (which were better than the U87) and the U87 Neumann. I really think we have some SORRY musicians and singers that review these badly as with the reviews on HarmonyCentral with the U87 ...I think they were of the same sorry (U87 reviewers)lot as the ones given this mic a bad review. This is a great mic for the price and if youre a sorry singer, muscian etc, even the Neumannn cant help you my friends! GET IT and a nice Preamp

Not Bad
by Jack from AR, September 2005

I have a Rode K2 and i just bought this C1, and honestly the K2 is better than the C1 a million time.. but, the C1 is not bad microphone, it's only so bright.. and you will hate it if your sound is high freq. where most people live, but other than that it's not bad..

best buy
by Julian from South Flroida, USA, August 2005

Easily one of the top 5 best buys here at Sweetwater along with a UA UAD-1. Use this mic with an LA-610 and watch it shine! Overexcitement is what you'll experience. Then again, running off an ISA-220 or 9098 EQ mic'ing vocals, acoustic guitar, or a guitar cab all sound quite amazing with this mic. Not too many things this mic can't do and it's easily the best sounding all around mic available on the planet for under $1k. Hope all this is helping. Also, if you're first starting out, plugged into a Focusrite Trakmaster sounds pretty nice when you use a nice reverb(UAD-1 Realverb or Waves IR-1 - all available here at Sweetwater). If you don't even have that, the SP VTB-1 preamp is an awesome starting point for a beginner's preamp. It's only $99. Best of luck everyone.

Can't go wrong, buy it
by Robert Weymouth from Lowell MA USA, February 2005

The C1 sounds great, period. The mic has a high output so it wont put a stress on the pre no matter how soft the source is. It sounds and looks like a mic that one would buy for 10x what I paid.

C1 - the next level in price for performance
by Bob Manor from Madison, WI, July 2004

This microphone, like the Rode line, takes the industry to a new price-for- quality level. This is more, however, than bang for your buck. This microphone is not necessarily just "great mike .... for the money." This is a GREAT sounding microphone. I am no engineer. I have never heard myself through a Neuman U87. However, I have compared this microphone with the Rode NT1000, AT4033, and AKGC414uls (not TL) on vocals. This mike easily beats all three mikes for male vocals. It has a warm presence and silky top, and yet it cuts through the mix beautifully. I A/B'd this mike side by side with the others I mentioned. Only the AKG could match it for smoothness, although it still could not match the C1's for presence in the upper range. The AKG was dull by comparison; the Rode was tight and clean (very high quality all-purpose mike) but lacked the silky top. Granted every voice is differet- mine is on the warmer mellower side- so I don't know how it would do on screaming rock vocals. I suspect just fine. You cannot go wrong buying this mike. It also does fine on acoustic guitar (although the AT4033 is a little better) and I have read C1s are good on drum overheads. I was truly surprised and pleased at the quality.

Great Microphone!
by Taylor Otwell from Hot Springs, AR, July 2004

When I first got this microphone out of the box and hooked up to my Lexicon Omega, I recorded myself talking and did not like the way it sounded to me;however, Once I started recording with this mic it sounded wonderful! Everything is open and warm. For $200, It is DEFINATELY a great buy! I did not find its high end to be as exgaerrated as some people have claimed. Everything I recorded fit very nicely in the mix! If you're just get starting with a small home studio, I would definately recommend this microphone to anyone who wants an expensive sounding vocal mic!

Get two
by Kirk Fischer from Temple, Texas, May 2004

Great sound at any price. For two bills and change... unbelievable. Combine this with a good preamp and the vocal clarity is fabulous. Can't go wrong. Get two.

The Best for its price...
by Dave DeBerry from NY,NY, April 2004

Basically it,s a poor man,s U-87, we use it on pro sessions for major labels great hopefully they,ll go in to the mic pre business (LOL)..

C1 is no Joke!
by Julian from Miami, FL, April 2004

I've been a customer of Sweetwater now for a few years. I am a singer/songwriter/producer. I work at the University of Miami School of Music where the music engineering program is strong, I'm exposed to people who know their "sxxx" when it comes to recording and I hear what good quality recordings are supposed to sound like. In our main concert hall, when amplifying instruments or vocals, the mics of choice are either Neumann's or the ever popular AKG414'a. For our jazz vocal group's, all soloists run through the KMS105. Our studio jazz writing program also owns a decent studio that has a U87, if not 2 of them which are obviously industry standards for a lot of tracking. Sorry about such a long intro, but it's necessary to give credit to the things I know about and that most other know about and believe to be "tried and true". The bottom line is that while Neumann mics ARE incredible. However, I must say in all honest that there is definitely a new standard for price vs. quality!

I recently bought a C1 after hearing some sudio tests on piano, guitar and overheads as well as me singing through it and reading reviews. Yes, I'm gonna go there.......this is one of the best mics on the planet! No joke, no gimmic, I have not been paid. I got a chance after I bought it to take it to my nearest Guitar Center and A/B it against some other mics. Let me just say that I used the exact same channel, same mic cable, and various preamps. I tested it against the Neumann TLM103 and the U87, AT's 4040, 4047, and 4050, the Blue Blueberry and a Groove Tubes mic that I don't rmember the model of. Long story short, it wasn't the absolute best sounding mic and I honestly wouldn't use it for everything. However, it did sound extraordinarily close to the U87. So much in fact that I had to open mic eyes and cheat to see if I was really singing through the C1 at times. At the end of the battle, I had sung through all the mics through a Groove Tubes Viper Preamp, a Focusrite ISA220 and the Avalon 737. I must also mention that the Focusrite was my favorite preamp of them all. After singing through all the mics through all three of the preamps, I chose the Focusrite as giving the most "sweetness" to the sound. The others were good, but when I turned the knobs on them, the sound wasn't always nice. It just seemed like everything I did with the Focurite, once I had read what the knob was for and decided to grab that knob and change something, it did exactly what my interpretation of that knob said, to me. It seemed like the perfect preamp to do this test off with. So anyway, in the end, I like the AT4047, both the Neumann's and my C1. I'd have to say that my absolute favorites were the TLM103 and my C1. The U87 didn't sound "sweet" a lot of times. It did have a very nice output and low noise, but my C1, I felt was "prettier" sonically, has even lower noise and more output. I really liked the body that the TLM103 gave to the overall sound. It was probably due to it not having a low pass filter, but it impressed me and I'd probably buy it before I bought a U87 even if I had the money. So guys and gals, I don't know if this helps with the "buzz" on this mic, but I had to do the taste test myself to see if I was right in buying my baby. I'd describe the sound of the C1 as crystal clear, accurate, beautifully natural high's with awesome lows and no boominess. After all, on Studio Project's website they state exactly this....."We use an outstanding capsule based on a 1950's German design, but we have made it sonically better due to advanced manufacturing techniques." I'd have to say that this statement is incredibly accurate being that I do remember saying just about the exact same thing earlier in this review looking back on it now. Seriously people, get yourselves a C1, you won't regret it.

Great Mic, Great Price
by S Smith from Nashville TN, March 2004

Yes, this is made in China, but unlike the others, this mic is not junk. And for the price, it sounds amazing! Extremely versatile and terrific on vocals. It has perfect amount of brightness and good presence. For those who prefer a "darker mic", this is not for you (go with a Rode). I also recommend a decent (not cheap) tube preamp with this mic. For $200, you have no excuse not to have this mic in your locker.

Studio Projects C1
by Alton Alexander (Alton Paul) from Kalamazoo, MI, January 2004

I can't beleive what I paid for this mic, incomparison to it's sound quality. When I first plugged in, it blew me away.

Superb
by Anonymous from New York, NY, January 2004

Although I've been a playing and recording professional for over 25 years, I'm new to the art of recording from behind the desk. I've enlisted some wonderful engineers to be my teachers. My first vocal recording was recently with the C-1. Immediately following was a Miles-type trumpet solo. Well, both musicians were thrilled with their sound and later to thoroughly check out my work I asked a great engineer and friend to come by. He was blown away at the clarity and lack of articial artifacts that can 'colour' or 'cloud' a recording. Needless to say I'm am thrilled. I think my next purchase will be the paired C4's.

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