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I dont know what to do!
I was set on the C4s. I need mics for ohs and for acoustic guitar as well. Now, theres so much talk about the HM1.
What are the differences? Whats better? Im using aardvark q10 pres and they're not very bright.

Please help!
Thanks!

Comments

anonymous Wed, 04/27/2005 - 13:13

I picked up a set of c4's and I haven't looked back since. They sound great on OH's and Acoustics and can do a hand full of other things.

As far as I know the HM-1's can do these too but sound the best on guitar cabs. I'm going to be picking up 2 in a few weeks. Looking forward to it :)

Any of the items I've bought with the advice from everyone here has never let me down. :D

maintiger Wed, 04/27/2005 - 17:27

well, I run DP on the mac, so I got a screaming deal on a new ibook from the apple site- 1.2 GHZ- I added more ram (from ebay) and I already have an external firewire drive so Im ready to go. When I come back to the studio, I hook up the firewire drive to the desktop and trasfer the tracks. I also set up the ibook for extra tracksfor a musical we are working on- the laptop will do everything that the musicians can't play (extra synths, extra percussion etc) and I understand I'll even be able to control the house lights with it! we are having a performance of some of the songs next week, with dancers and all- we'll see how it goes but I don't anticipate any problems... (knock on wood)

anonymous Wed, 04/27/2005 - 17:37

Excellent stuff chief. I've been thinking about switching over to the Mac side. But still not sure I'm wieghting out my options :)

We did a recodring in college the other nite 7 acts with 16 Line ins through 2 Octo Pre LE's and a 002r with a friend Sony Vaio 2.8 P4 and it didn't crap out at all the whole nite. We we're all quite suprised that it went the entire nite with not problems. Its was an enjoyable eveing to say the least :) But man the stuff was warm after being on for 5-6 hours!!!

I love recording gigs. Especially a good band. Its a pleasure to work with them...

KurtFoster Thu, 04/28/2005 - 10:18

I have used them both .... I think the C4's are good / better for acoustic event recordings in ORTF, Decaa Trees, Blueman configurations ... hats, overheads and some acoustic guitars. The HM -1 is better for guitar cabs, toms, snare, vocals, horns, some acoustic guitars and a lot of other things you might want to otherwise choose a LD condenser like the U87 for.

The HM-1's are also very good to have if your only mic pres are budget type overly squeakey clean transistor type pres. I learned by experementing on my own that the HM-1 through a Mackie pre wasn't really all that bad. I held the mic in my hand with thre wind screen on it in front of the Mackie and my monitors and sang 4 parts of a vocal and harmony b/g tracks with surprisigly good sounding (tone wise) playbacks ... (no comment on the performances).

frob Thu, 04/28/2005 - 11:37

hey kurt could you post a link to that? :) think of it four kurts!!!!

i have both and the last guitar i recored i used them both; a c4 at 14 and the kel at the lower body about a foot from the body. its sounded great

basicly when do you need them as i would recomend them both to you, and at the price you can afourd to have both them around. so if you need them now and have to buy only one right now get the C4 and wait on the kels.

KurtFoster Sat, 04/30/2005 - 10:39

Hitman,
It really depends on you and what your needs are. Both are good for the application ... if the C4's are too bright (I doubt that) then the HM-1s would be a good alternitive. Best case would be to have both to choose from. A couple pairs of C4s, 4 HM-1's a few 57's and a couple D112's and a 4033 ... a very nice mic locker for $2000!

dabhoys,

I mash it right into the speaker grill for the best isolation and for proximity effect. Makes it sound very big and in your face. I can't usually do this with SM57s because they pick up a lot of crackeling noise, but with the HM-1 there's no problems like that.

anonymous Sat, 04/30/2005 - 18:08

Interesting thread. I haven't heard anything about the Kel mics. I'm about to do a solo jazz guitar record and have been debating mic choice.

I have a pair of km-184s that I was most likely gonna use as a room pair. I want to put something on the cab. My choices are a 4033, beta A, 58, and some other odds n' ends. If the HM-1 has a good character for guitar cabs I'd totally drop the $100 to try it out.

I'm also thinking about picking up a Beyer ribbon or maybe the new EH ribbon. (there is an outside chance I can borrow a royer for this, but it may not happen).

So how does the HM-1 stack up against these other choices? Is it a really great cab mic?

For reference I'd be using a BG1, Sytek, or Brick as a preamp.

Mike

p.s. Sorry if I'm hijacking this thread a bit!

anonymous Mon, 05/02/2005 - 10:11

Thanks Kurt!

Unfortunately, I have to make an either/or decision regarding the C-4's and the HM-1's. I can see multiple use applications for both.

I may go with the HM-1's first on a trial basis, and send them back if they don't work out for me. That is the real plus in going with Kel if you're on a tight budget... Try it and keep it if you like it, send it back if you don't.

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