The proverbial recording forum question always begins, "What is the best ...?" Usually, this is followed by some dollar amount. An example: "What is the best large condenser microphone under $100?" I often wonder if someone out there stays up at night wondering about the answers to these questions.
Studio Projects USA, which is a trade name of AMH Sales, Inc., came onto the scene with its C Series of microphones. For many obsessed with the best sound for lower prices, the C Series perhaps filled their void and certainly created more conversation about Chinese budget mics. The C Series came about through a collaboration with 797 Audio of China. The C1 personified the series with its bumped highs reminiscent of the vocal sound typical in pop music since the late 1980s where the mics seem to put an almost brittly emphasis on the high frequencies. I found the C1 suited to certain male vocals but not so well prepared for other recording tasks.
The B Series follows in the footsteps of the C Series and continues the collaboration of Studio Projects with 797 Audio. The B Series includes the cardioid B1, the multi-pattern B3 and the tube cardioid TB1. The only way they compare to the B Series mics is that the B3 sounds in terms of its color somewhere between the B1 and the C1.
The B1's street price is around $100. I think it's actually the best mic Studio Projects makes. I found the B1 to perform acceptably at two things: Mic'ing acoustic instruments and guitar amps. I've tried the B1 on several male and female voices in the context of singing and spoken word. I've never liked the results. As one of my production collaborators who records a lot of dialog says: "It sounds thin and I hear a little distortion." However, on acoustic instruments and guitar amps, the B1 puts across some musical sonics.
I remember the first time I put the B1 on an acoustic guitar. I'd been evaluating a number of cheap small condenser mics. I recall not liking most of them and only finding two I thought worthy of a review. I put the B1 up just for fun to see if I could strike it off my list of mics needing review. It stunned me because it cost about the same price as some of the small condensers I absolustely hated but it performed well by comparison.
I like placing the B1 on guitar amps. The Extreme Isolation Headphones from Direct Sound come in handy for placing the B1. I put on the Extremes, which isolate me from the room. I hear what the B1 hears.
I sort of think of the B1 as possessing a punchy sound. I've found that mics or preamps that sort of possess this punchiness to be good choices when tracking electric guitars and drums, particularly toms.
The B1 requires 48 volts of phantom power. It possesses a one inch diameter, three micron gold sputtered large diaphragm. I did not find self noise to be problematic at any time. All in all, I got to give it up to Studio Projects on this one. The B1 is a good mic for the price.
The B3 does not possess the same sonic characteristics as the B1. Where the B1 seems to capture instruments and amps as they sound, the B3 wants to add a bit of sheen. It's a dual diaphragm mic. It has selectable patterns of omni, cardioid and figure eight. The B3 street price is about $170.
I never found the B3 to do anything particularly great but I never found it to do anything bad. If you can only afford one mic and you need versatility at a low price, then the B3 should be considered. I found the high pass filter and the 10 dB pad to work as advertised. I recorded useable tracks with varying sources from voice to instruments to amps with the B3. It did them all respectably. I think I'd call it a jack of all trades but master of none. I've got a few mics in my cabinet that I'd apply the same description.
The TB1 is is the flagship of the B Series in terms of price. Even though it's an affordable tube mic, the TB1 did not come across to me as well as the B1 and B3. However, I understand this mic sells very well in Europe and Japan. As always, your opinion and experience might vary.
The Bottom Line: The Studio Projects B1 is good choice on guitar amps and acoustic instruments. I think it's the best of the B Series. It is recommended. The B3 is a versatile large condenser with selectable patterns.
Link related to this review: Studio Projects
