Mic help fromMadrid.. Behringer B1 or Sony 907? I'm lost...

[Spanishben]

I live in Madrid where we don't have a huge amount of choice but this is what I'm weighing up at the moment:
Choice 1: Behringer B1 Mic with Behringer UB802 mixer (total 165 Euros)
CHoice 2: Sony ECM - MS907 (115 Euros)

Both will end up going into my pc (line in or mic in).
Will the first choice really make a big difference to final podcast quality?
I like the portability of the Sony (I have an iRiver 799), but also plan to get an omni-directional lapel mic for that and don't really need the interview style of the Sony. I have heard great things about the Sony but have also heard examples of it in use where you get slight clipping on some words and some background hiss (this could be from other factors of course.) So, the Sony is cheaper, and maybe more versatile, but is it going to give me really nice studio sound at home?

Thanks for any help....

Ben

[jeffoest]

I don't know anything about the Behringer B1 BUT I would say go for the large condensor mic and mixer for home use without a doubt.

The sony is made for portable-land - I would never use it my studio - it simply can't compare to a good large condenser.

I just got my Sony ECM - MS907 mic last night. Been playing around with it quite a bit. It's low-output which is not a big deal but because of it the S/N ratio seems larger with a cheap pre-amp (like on my iRiver899) - i.e. you CAN hear background hiss. Such is life - for the pricepoint, I think it's pretty good and like I said - i probably blame the preamps on the iRiver more than the Sony mic.

[Craig]

I'd go with the condenser if you're looking for studio sound, but I wouldn't recommend the Behringer. For the money you're better off with a Marshall MXL V67 (not the MXL 990) or a Studio Projects B1 (different from the Behringer). Both are under $100 with a shock mount.

This hiss Jeff's noicing form the Sony is definitely from the iRiver's preamp...I've run my Sony directly into my Mac with no noticeable hiss. The firmware version on the iRiver also makes a difference for some reason.

Craig

[Spanishben]

Thanks for the responses. The problem is that in Madrid the available mics are limited - no Marshals for example. Some of the mics I saw today were:
AKG D880HS
Shure SM48
Samson C-01
Seinheiser e835
Plus some by Audio Technica but think these may have been quite pricey (do they do an economic condenser?)

Could you recommend me any of the above mics, and also, Craig, why wouldn't you recommend the Behringer B1? It seemed the most pro looking of all the under 120 euro mics I saw today... what's wrong with it?
(Big shame no MXL's in Madrid)
Thanks again...

[shepdave]

I have two Behringer B-1s, and I like them just fine. They've got a very good, flat frequency response, and also have a bass roll-off switch. They give a good, clean sound.

I took it from what Craig said that you might be able to find a decent condenser mic for less than the $100 you'll pay for the Behringer, but I don't know how they sound.

You need to know, however, that you will need to supply 48 volt phantom power to the B1, as you will for any other large diaphragm condenser mic. This is not just a factor with the Behringer, but is rather a function of the design of the condenser mic in general.

I use the little Behringer U802 mixing board that a lot of podcasters seem to use. Cost me about $50.00, and it lets me run two mics and two stereo line signals into my Mac iBook. It does supply phantom power to a condenser mic.

Dave

[Spanishben]

Thanks shepdave. Yup, I was going to partner the mic with the 802 mixer as well.
Still curious to see what Craig has against the Behringer B1. I heard another podcast using one and it sounded great!
Ben

[Craig]

I ruled out the Behringer B1 from my list early on when I was shopping for mics based on some fairly extensive web research...it was almost universally panned on the home recording boards when compared to other condensers in the same price range, especially for voice work. The mic in the under US$100 price range that consistently came out on top was the Marshall MXL V67 and then after that the Studio Projects B1. That doesn't mean the Behringer is a bad mic, it just means that the consensus of the users I read opinions from thought there were better mics for the money. (I bought an MXL 990 for my daughter to use, which was also poorly reviewed but was cheap, and while I probably wouldn't buy it again it's better than my Shure SM57.) The other $100 mic that has been well received by podcasters is the Kel HM-1, which is only available by mail order from the manufacturer.

Having said that, out of the list you gave Ben, your best choice is the Behringer. If you can mail order the Marshall or the Studio Projects though, I'd look into that (Charley from the Israelisms podcast just mail ordered two V67s on my recommendation to be shipped to Israel).

Craig

[jeffoest]

I will second what Craig said. I did the exact same research and came up with the exact same results. At the $100 price range (which is the cheapest range for folks doing music) it's the Studio Projects B1 and the MXL V67 that come up stinkingly consistent as the best vocal mics. Plus the SP B1 is said to do a darn fine job of capturing acoustic guitars and some even say it's good for sticking in front of a cab....

[Spanishben]

Looks like the mail order option then for the MXL V67! Thanks guys.
I have one other question about lav mics, but I'll start a seperate thred for that one...

[Craig]

Looks like the mail order option then for the MXL V67! Thanks guys.
I have one other question about lav mics, but I'll start a seperate thred for that one...
No problem. Make sure you order it with the shock mount...it should come in a package deal with the mic for an extra US$10.

Craig