Studio Projects B1

I have had my Studio Projects B1 for a little over a few months now, using it often in my home studio and for location recordings. For the price this is probably one of the best large-diaphragm condenser mics available. I've never heard the kind of low- or mid-range muddiness that seems to plague some comparably-priced condensers. The mic sounds clear and accurate through the pre-amps in my M Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R.

I've been using the B1 primarily for vocals (singing), but it works for a lot of things: acoustic guitar, hand percussion, and as a room/ambience mic. I've also used it on a guitar amp with satisfying results. To my ears the mids and highs have pretty good clarity and detail without getting harsh; and the pads and high-pass filter switches are handy things, offering more options for getting a better sound at the source rather than trying to "fix" things in the mix with EQ

While there are certainly microphones on the market that have better overall clarity and presence, they tend to cost much, much more than this.

In my opinion

- You will need/benefit from a pop filter if you will be using it for vocals. The B1 ships with a foam windscreen, but it won't be any good for recording vocals.
- The included shockmount has some shortcomings. At times it is difficult to insert and remove the microphone - you have to pry the plastic open then grunt and cuss at it for a while before it finally works. With all that rough treatment the little bungee things get stretched out, although SP gives you a replacement set. Finally, the hinge is somewhat flimsy.
- The faux leather zippered case is okay (but unpadded), so you may want to think about buying a cheap flightcase, or other suitable protection, if you plan to move it around, or just keep it very safe and secure.
That said, if you are purchasing this mic, you are at a certain level, and i think for hobbyist-semi pro, with care taken to prepare instruments, rooms, performers, you should get good results. If you don't its not the mics' fault........