small diaphragm condenser question
Home > Home Recording Forum > Gear Gab > small diaphragm condenser question
Posted on Dec 13, 2005 09:19 am
Flashman
not the brightest spark...
Member Since: Sep 13, 2005
Hello all.
I'm thinking of buying a couple of pencil condensers. I was was thinking about buying two SE 1A's or as it works out cheaper to do this than but the 'matched stereo pair'. How important is it to have a matched pair and waht doe sit mean anyway?
Will I get away with it on stereo apps?
kind regards,
flashy
[ Back to Top ]
Dec 13, 2005 10:11 am Matched pair, as far as I know, only means that you have two of the same. Line into two different tracks and you've got a 'stereo pair'. I've seen people use variations, depending on the application, i.e. one large diaphram and one small. I use two MXL 603s mics for my acoustic guitar tracks. mwaynew
Flashmannot the brightest spark...Member
Since: Sep 13, 2005
Dec 13, 2005 10:19 am hey mike,
did you buy them together or seperatley?
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Dec 13, 2005 10:20 am I think that a matched pair are hand-selected because they have similar traits that fall within the quality control spectrum. similar amounts of self-noise, eq curve, attenuation, etc. In an ideal world of quality control, all mics should be exactly the same, but they're not. so, they pick 2 that are as close as they can find, and call them a matched pair.
This way, you don't have your left channel louder, noisier, or colored differently than your right channel.
If you just pick two at random, chances are that you'll end up with two mics that don't sound exactly the same. The difference may be too subtle for most people to pick out, so it may not matter. I guess it depends on how discriminating your ears are.
Dec 13, 2005 10:40 am They weren't sold together as a 'pair'. I just bought two of them. Tadpui's response really sums it up. The two I bought sound identical when placed in exactly the same place, but with a pair, you position them differently anyway. Hope this all helps. mwaynew
Flashmannot the brightest spark...Member
Since: Sep 13, 2005
Dec 13, 2005 10:59 am it does help me chaps.
many thanks. just have to decie now between the se1a's and the studio projects c4....oh and find the money for a new mixer to power them...
thanks guys.
flashy
jmailjimmie neutronMember
Since: Feb 14, 2005
Dec 13, 2005 06:13 pm Most "matched pair" mics aren't really "matched", which would insinuate very similar frequency response, sensitivity & polar patterns. I can't remember who it is, but whoever it is, charges an extra $100 US for their "truely" (sic) matched pair. Others, like Rode & SE just give you two mics, usually consecutively serial-numbered, as a matched pair, under the assumption that since they're from the same "run", they should be quite similar. Which, for most of us deef musicians, is quite acceptable. Shoot, I have a hard time telling the difference in sound between an SM57 & an SM58, and there is, ya know?... lol
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 13, 2005 08:24 pm Flashman, you may also want to look at the Samson C02 small diaphram condensor. They are a very good mic for the price. Good signal to noise ratio as well as good frequancy response. They are sold individualy or in as a pair or matched pair.
Flashmannot the brightest spark...Member
Since: Sep 13, 2005
Dec 14, 2005 07:34 am hey noize,
yeah i was looking at the samsons as well as the mxl 603's. the price woudld enable me to get a better mixer.
I've heard they can be a be a bit noisy on piano. though perhaps i wouldn't be able to hear too much on my setup.
i want thenm mainly for percussion and acoustic.
do you have a pair noize? i don't want to outgrow them to quickly.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 14, 2005 07:50 pm Yes, I bought a pair from Music Go Round on the suggestion by one of the employee's who was using them at the time on acoustic guitar. And I needed them that night, and he gave me a killer price as well.
I cant really say they are noisey but I havent used them on a piano yet. Just on acoustic and as overhead's on a drum kit.
I did find it interesting that when close up (6") on the acoustic they gave a pretty full sound with more bottom end then I am used to on SDC's. As well when you move them away a bit it start's to roll off the lower end. I found that kinda neet when working with the acoustic guitar for sure.
I like them enough that on a budget I will probably buy another pair eventually.
Dec 15, 2005 02:29 pm I've used CO2s on viola, piano, violin, and accoustic guitar with pretty good results. Have useds 603s as well and also Shure KSM 109s, can't really tell the difference in sound. The Shures seem sturdier, but they cost a couple hundred more for the pair. As I said, couldn't really hear any difference in sound. Not scientific I guess, and I really can't say my hearing is perfect.
I read about a way to test them to find if they match. Seems like u recorded with them side by side then reversed phase on one channel and played them back and the sound should cancel out if they are truly matched. This also depended on how well the channels were matched on the recording system too. I may be off track with this, any one else hear or read about matching. I think a lot of "matched pairs" only look alike!
