Perthman Shootouts Episode 5: Behringer C1 vs. Neumann U87 Condenser Microphone
Вставка
- Опубліковано 29 тра 2014
- Special Guest: The Overnight Kings
( / theovernightkings )
To know more about the studio please visit:
( / perthman )
Special Thanks:
Aldrice Chincuanco - For lending me the Behringer C1
Nicole Ang - For the opening sequence
Signal Chain: ULN-8 Preamp & Converter
i would like the hear the full song with the behringer recordings and then the full song with the neumann
I love this video. Really shows that it's ALL about the technician over what gear you have. Thanks so much, dude!!
The c1 Mic is my first microphone it's a great sounding Mic and I love it
Most straightforward and super useful. You’re a legend sir
All mics are different and it's fun experimenting with them... side by side you may notice a difference and that's what they're all about... so a $30 Mic may get you the sound you prefer over a $3000 one. I have the Behringer and it's good Mic with quality build. There are lots of good dynamic mics to try to at budget prices. Enjoyed the comparison test...
Thank you very much.. Finally someone that shows the test of the C1 on both instruments and voice... You helped me a lot ;)
Fantastic comparison. I love that you actually positioned the microphones properly for the comparison. I see too many mic shootouts where the mic positions are done inconsistently which is very frustrating. That being said, the results were about what I expected, but still that C1 is not a bad sounding mic and certainly would fit certain vocal types or instruments that need a little more high-end "sparkle". However the U97 definitely has that smoother silkier sound that Neumann is famous for. But the vast majority of people will mostly only hear the difference in bass response and that the C1 is brighter.
As always the most important thing is to use the right tools for the job and to pay attention to the sound over the brand of mic.
It would be great to see you do a review like this comparing high end ribbon mics with something like the Nady RSM-2 (which I have and absolutely adore).
the best video comparison ever
Useful review and a greate idea. Thanks and congratulations !
Im getting the Behringer C1 Thanks Mate awesome review !
I find the Neumann a little bit dead sounding, particularly on the drums. I don’t think the high end comes through as well, which does make it sound “warmer” but I feel like Behringer gives you more to work with when you go to EQ your recording.
Usually,the difference in quality is not noticable in raw comparisons like these,but lower quality mic recordings realy breakdown when processing is applied to them as opposed to higher quality ones which can still sound full and present
Great video. Wish you had more of the track at the end.
Guys. This mic is totally for different puproses. C1 - is vocal/acoustic guitar and Neumann is for surround audition. It has special low boost.
Awesome video! I love putting these two mics to the test. I personally thought the Behringer mic sounded better for almost all of the instruments. I agree with the fact that it sounds a bit "hyped" in the high end frequencies, however, for anyone who knows how to eq or mix to get a more polished result the C-1 is an outstanding microphone, especially for less than it costs to fill my gas tank.
the behringer in my opinion is far better than the Neumann in this video. dont hate me lol
Look this video, was recorded with C-1 ua-cam.com/video/lzXL0388x94/v-deo.html
My strong impression is that the Neumann U87 has superior bass frequency response. However, this video did not demonstrate post-production, where the tracks would be compressed and EQ'ed. So, the value is still a mystery to me.
However, I think it's pretty safe to assume that, unless you're CBS News or Sony Motion Pictures, you do NOT need to waste $2,970 on a more expensive mic!
Great demo and no messing about! Thank you. I do already own one and use it on a highwatt guitar amp in my studio at a low volume and it is very very sweet (: Thanks friend!
I can clearly hear the difference, and to be blunt, I think the Behringer does a better job with everything but the electric guitar, and the difference there is so slight it's not even funny. I need a condenser mic as I am not happy with the results I am getting with dynamics, and have been listening to / watching as many reviews as I can find, and the Behringer C1 keeps coming tot he top of the list for the sound, not just the price...
owned the mic,terrible hiss problem,youd be better off with audiotechnicas or AKG mics
Great review! Thanks.. I have the C3, sounds thin though! Will get SP B1 coz it has that low end warmth too.
Hi bro i own Behringer C-1/Rode NT A and AKG 120 of all these three behringer wins it has some kinda saturation natural warmth !!
That was a great way to review the mic's Thank you. I preferred the sound of the Neumann for Drums, elec guitar and vocals. I preferred the C1 for bass. They sounded similar on acoustic.
For everybody that thinks the Behringer sounds better: Tryto mix the recording later and see how easy the Neumann is to handle and how it is trying to get the Behringer recordings to fit in the Mix
I have used the C-1 for metal guitar tracking and it does the job quite well.
for the drums i actually kinda liked the C1, the U87 seemed too box like but had better lows
for bass the u87 had better lows and seemed warmer, but the C1 was not that bad
for acoustic the u87 was warmer and better imo, but once again the C1 was not all too bad
for electric i prefered the C1, the U87 seemed way too distorded and bad for whatever reason.
for vocals the C1 seemed better... i didn't really expect that, the U87 seemed way to box like again
The U87 pretty much makes everything gel really well in mixes, nothing stands out too much.
kevman5 I guess without context its a lot harder to see what is truly better. i just think for $30 it's really not that bad, especially for those learning
***** I tried EQing the Behringer tracks to match the EQ spectrum of the Neumann. I honestly couldn't hear a difference anymore after a blind test but like @kevman5 said, the u87 always works in a mix context.
That really works, specially with a great preamp. By the way, behringer B2 are great mics. You could try one by yourself, matching with the u87 eq. For sure, it will sound great.
I totally agree with you mate! I think i'd buy C1 instead of the U87, definitely...
Now THIS is a meaningful review.
The higher-end one sounds fuller but probably clips easier. Big difference on the drums, not so much on the acoustic guitar. Vocals sound neck & neck.
The HUGE savings puts the C-1 in the winner circle. Thanks for the
no-nonsense vid. 👍
ok the bass gutair wow c-1 was way more open clear as day the nueman sounded muffled like it had something over the capsule keeping it from capturing that open sound im completely blown away with the c-1 especially for only costing 40 bucks just amazing
One thing to take into consideration with this and with any microphone is that a microphone is kind of like a paint brush you couldn't paint the monalisa with just one brush. The Neumann U87 is giving you a flat frequency response not, it is not "coloring" i.e. adding more lows or highs. if you are trying to represent the sound coming from your source identically ear to tape for Voice-Over, Vocals, Drums etc. I think you would see a big difference between the C-1. That being said if I had one mic to capture an entire drum kit.. I might use the C-1 because it does color the highs in such an extreme way! BE AN ARTIST... it's all about how you color the sound and make it your own with the tools you have!
The C-1 is very good as a budget recording mic. I agree that the Neumann sounds a little warmer and upfront but the Neumann U87 is $3,600. I think on "scale-of-justice" the C-1 wins. With some decent EQ you can get the C-! sounding pretty good. I have an AKG 414, an AKG 214, a pair of Rode NT1, and a pair of Shure 87A. These mics cost many times what the $60 C-1 cost. If I were just starting out and wanted something decent to record on a DAW, I can recommend the C-1. Put the extra money into your monitors.
Oh there's a different alright. Woe so I got it wrong then. I thought the Neuman was the real bright harsh 1. But na I guess not then if you say that thebassyer 1 was the Neuman. I like the brightness of the Behringer. Sure it's no Rode NT1-A by no form of emagination. But epicly bright. Love it.
I don't know if I'm the only one, but I was waiting much more from neumman u87, since it's a $3000 mic compared to a $30 mic. Some Behringer stuffs are great, just like the B1 and the eq700 pedal. I'm wondering if you're using the same preamp for both mics. I got a B1 and a C1 and I really think if you get a good tube preamp you'll be satisfied for sure. No need to buy an overpriced mic to get a great quality recording.
Using cheap headphones I can still notice the differences you mention. For serious recording where detail is important, pay more money. For myself looking at starting up a UA-cam channel, I think the C1 is going to be OK to start with. Many thanks, It's actually good to know that serious cash does buy something extra.
Great video!! Can I use Behringer C-1 to cathch the audio when I play with my band in the studio?? I need this as track line for home recording.
Thanks who knows the answer!!
muchas gracias geniooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
excelente, gracias por la comparacion, me parece que hay ventajas y desventajas de cada uno, y aplicacion especifica para cada uno, eso note. saludos
great video !!! thanks a lot !!!
Although the U87 sounds more natural and warm, it also sounds a bit muffled as opposed to the C1 which sound way brighter. They both deliver a decent sound quality anyway.
I don't think it's the mic that is muffled. What your hearing is the U87 being more sensitive to the room. A HP filter would (either the one on the mic itself, or one applied via EQ) would remove a lot of the low end room echo. Being an owner of a U87, I can testify to the fact that you can hear the water running through your pipes when you have a set of headphones on with it. The better the gear, the more your going to hear the flaws in your room. Period.
Very surprising that the Neumann sounded way more muffled with instruments. The subtle details and sparkle of the Acoustic Guitar and attack of the Bass Guitar were picked up with the Behringer, while they were lost on the Neumann.
Thanks for good review :D
I don't usually consider price or quality, just the sound of the mic for the application. But nice comparison, Thanks.
are you sure you didn't reverse the audio with the names ? the c1 sounds much much better than the neumann
Given that the C1 is currently $19 at Sweetwater, I just snagged one to use it as a distant ambient room mic that can be add to a mix as needed. Will it last? Who knows? About half of the Behringer gear I've had will suddenly crap out after a few years. But it costs less than a sandwich and a drink.
People look into a mic's character also, along with price and quality. Sometimes you just need a specific sound. Thx for the video.
I think context is key when thinking about this kind of stuff.
Sure, you could spend the money on the U87 and have a shit hot mic that sounds wonderful. But one thing I've learned is that an average mic going into a great preamp will sound better than a great mic going into an average preamp.
If you have a budget of $3k for a mic and preamp, I would spend $2k on a good rack unit with solid pres and $1k on a mic.
I own Warm Audios reproduction of a U87, and I wouldn't say that it disappointed me, but I found it useful in different ways than I imagined. I was expecting it to be my go to vocal mic, but I have an older SE ldc that just sounds better on my voice, and I was surprised at how great the U87 sounds on guitar cabs.
Great video, cheers for posting.
I'd have liked to hear a mix with just the C1, and then compare that with the studio, presumably U87. Also, was this a vintage U87, or a U98ai?
Nice comparison bro
Neumann U87 обладает более глубоким и мелодичным звуком, делает звук мягким. А Behringer C1 хорошо выделяет пики и транзиенты, как микрофон для второстепенных источников звука очень хорош. Для записи основного саунда или солирующего голоса или инструмента лучший это Neumann!
nice to know what you're getting for the extra money, but Behringer's not bad for the price
what are you getting ? the beringer killed the overpriced neumann
Big difference between the Neumann and the Behringer. The Neumann is far superior in terms of sound quality and naturalness. That's why its considered THE reference mic in studios. However, its amazing how good some cheap condenser mics can sound, dollar wise. The C1 was too thin and harsh, even for a cheap mic.
Also keep in mind guys that C1 is actually not a large-diaphragm it have a small diaphragm, so the B1 which cost almost the same is more suitable for this comparison and will even be a lot closer to U87 than this
Behringer C1 is better.
You might say that Behringer sound better 9/10 but there is that one piece where Behringer is losing, and that's the vocals. Neumann is reproducing full range of human voice, deep basses, natural midrange and not too much upper top frequencies (where sssssybillants are). Neumann is cleary a vocals mic and its outstanding when it comes to studio work. The fact it doesnt sound as good as Behringer on other instruments, its just a proof that Neumann itself is specific tool dedicated to particular applications.
The Behringer C1 does not match the U87's mid range fullness: As you tell with the electric guitar, the U87's actually pickup the low-mid and mid-range distortion that is where distortion is emphasized. The vocal track has a more natural reproduction with the U87 because that is also where the low-mid and mid range emphasize is. I could not tell there was distortion on the electric guitar with the C1 and I also could not hear the punch from the tabs.
Michael Ray agreeed. it's not even close.
Michael Ray
Absolutely. С1- flat, devoid of bottom and harmonics sound. Even there is nothing to compare.
Did you need to remove background noise for the behringer? It sounds very clean :O
Look this video, was recorded with behringer c-1ua-cam.com/video/lzXL0388x94/v-deo.html
IMO, overall, Behringer C1 is the better mic. :) thanks for posting this.
Definitely hear a difference, but easily in the mix and with eq/plugins I can easily accomplish a very similar sound I'm sure with the C1
Especially if I plug the c1 into a tube pre amp it will be probably so similar.
Thanks for the great vid.
Good luck.... 😁
I have found that the behringer C1 is definitely thinner with sound, I have had to boost the bass on that mic but all in all a very good microphone.
I use a C1 as a single drum overhead and for violin/fiddle and I think it works great for those. Liked the U87 better for vox, but arguably I'd EQ out much of the lows anyway for rock/pop, so it hardly matters. I thought the general color of the U87 trended toward blue, purple and red, while the C1 was more toward the blue, yellow, green, if that makes sense...
In the electric guitar and bass the cone position in respect of each microphone could have affected dramatically unless they were in the same relation. And all you need is the drum track to see how the C1 sounds so thin and plain while the neumann gives a shitload of punch to both snare and kick, which doubltly could be compensated with a simple eq, cause it's not just the frequency boost between the two what makes the difference
I preffered the c1 tbh. The neumann was just super bassy all around, and it even distorted a bit when recording the electric guitar.
Its nuts that you can get a condenser mic for the price of a Lunch, if setting up a business as a recording studio, by all means go for the Gucci Gear, if you can afford it, but its not essential, I've jsut bought one of these and going to test it out over the next few days, I've used expensive Neumans in Studios, lovely piece of kit and will last a lifetime, but tbh, if the C1 does the job for occasional use, I'll be happy, hope it lasts longer than the Ber'r mixer I bought, that died!
The C1 does not have that much low end, which can almost be solved with a little eq, am I right (if not, please correct me)
+Gilbert Botos Not really. If you don't have the information in the audio to begin with, you can't boost it. :)
Someone can tell me why this behringer c1 doesn't have noise of circuit? i have the same mic and it has so much circuit noise ( like air )
Paulo Swear The Behringer C-1 requires phantom power in order to work properly. Hope this helps.
Paulo Swear There are two possibilities caused by you. Otherwise the Mic may need service.
1. Your not using your mic with phantom power and your raising a lot of input gain picking up a lot of noise.
2. Your using your mic with a male ts cable which is not the kind of cable to use for most Mics. If so use an xlr cable.
Hope it helps you:)
I think, it's about audio interface you use. Maybe you haven't got phantom power, check it (sorry for my english)
Watch this video with pair of good monitor speakers and you will see the idea why Neumann is 3000$. Don't expect to hear much of a difference on low-budget speakers. And, yes, the C1 is great for beginners and home studio projects. I am also using it at home.
There is a difference, but i believe here both of them can serve the purpose in a studio. And honestly some might like sound from Behringer more.
More bottom end in Neuman but more clarity in the Behringer
Excellent vid, but should have outtro'd by flipping between a full mix of the song recorded with the two mics.
Behringer C1 so clean.. :D
Behringer C1 will work with Samson SASP01 Shock Mount?
outro detalhe, sei que foge um pouco do escopo aqui, mas uso meu Behringer B1, ao vivo, é uma qualidade indiscutivelmente incomparável com os microfones dinâmicos! Não é aquele "terror" de microfonia que todos pensam que vai dar! O B1, tem um chaveamento, que serve como compressor, atenuador de outros tipos de frequências que poderiam acarretar microphonia, e com uma boa equalização na mesa, (Uso uma mesa Behringer com Phantom 48 volts) esse mic trabalha PERFEITAMENTE!!! Nunca mais na vida com mic's dinâmicos!!! Mas no factor resistência, (no caso de quedas) os Dinâmicos MATAM À PAU qualquer condensador!!! Nunca se esqueçam disso! Um B1, NAO RESISTE A QUEDAS, e se cair, deverá sofrer uma perda enorme de sensibilidade, e nunca mais será o mesmo! O caso do C1, não sei se é tão sensível por ter um diafragma menor, mas deve ser também bastante delicado, haja visto que pertence também à família dos condensadores. Abraços!!!
Behringer C1 could be used to record guitars?
2:28 Can you tell me the chords?
The most noticeable difference I can hear on my Sony headphones is that the Neumann has much more bottom end, and conversely less treble brightness. I suspect that a little EQ might iron out these differences, making it difficult for the untrained ear to tell them apart. At any rate, I'd say the Behringer gives perfectly acceptable results for semi-professional and even maybe some professional applications. (After all, let's face it, professionals have more sophisticated software that could camouflage the Behringer's shortcomings.)
Look this video, was recorded with beheringer C-1 ua-cam.com/video/lzXL0388x94/v-deo.html
Isn't that amazing! I bet with modest EQ one could almost make the $100 Behringer C-1 mic sound almost equal to the $4000 Neumann U-87.
not really, the c1 wouldnt capture low freq.
Exactly! Neumann looks like wasted money. Can you imagine to record it with two Behringers simultanously and add some right EQ? Best buy and not considering the money!
The C-1 is $49.95 not $100 bucks 👍✌
Good luck.... 😁🤣
This is the "natural" sound of the mikes...adjusting the EQ by mixer or daw can solve the less basses sound on the C-1 or the less presence of the U87...I think that the substancial difference is on the self-noise of each, I think the U87 is quiter than the C1...we should compare with other instruments and other kinds of voices.
What kind of stand would I need for the Behringer C1 to record a guitar amp?
Salat Man Any microphone stand would do, but the best choice would be a mini boom stand like the ones used for the kick drum mic.
I don't know. I honestly preferred the Behringer in 90% of the applications. I think the U87 sounded better on bass because the Behringer is obviously a lot brighter/hotter.
Anyone who says the c1 is better has no experience with mics.
The U87 is much truer to the tone, and fuller. The C1 only "sounds better" because is has a boost in the high end to make things sound clearer. When it comes to using a mic for music purposes, you want the mic to be as flat as possible on the frequency spectrum, giving an even balance of frequencies from 20Hz-20K because with the c1, you cant add frequencies the mic doesn't pick up well, and it is harder to remove harsh high frequencies from a mix. You can always boost the moderate frequency level the mic picks up, but it's hard to add something that's not there, or remove an excessive frequency. I've used many budget mics, and when they boost the high end(improperly), it can make it way too hard to cut "esses" out, and remove the tinny, harsh high end.
If you're looking for a good budget mic, go with the MXL 770, or 990. They're great.
Nice
The u87 sounds strange. Is the placement correct?
The Neumann U87ai wins by a long long shot, i work with the fantastic mic, and the beringer, or any cheap microphone can come close in sound to the neumann. I tried using cheaper microphones, but they just cant compare to a good quality microphone like the neumann.
If you make music on a proffesional level, you will come to love Neumann mics, i know i have. Im not saying that you (the reader of this comment) should get a U87 for some mine craft lets play, but if your serous about making good music, a neumann is a must.
+lbochtler Just got my new mastering dac in today, and well the margin between the U87 and the C1 has now widened by about one or two universes. The C1 sounds downright cringe-worthy comparison to the U87. The only usage it sounded somewhat usable was with the distorted electric guitar. But even there, the U87 beat the C1 by a very very large margin.
educate me please, I want to know more, I don't know if I should purchase the C1
Help, wich is better? C1 o C1u? I have C1U and this sounds so different than C1! please help!
esau817 They are the both the same mic except the C1U has USB output (doesn't need audio interface).. so it might just be the C1's audio interface that may be affecting the sound/quality of it... or maybe its just ur room environment =)
esau817 C1 is XLR, C1U is USB, however many people claim that the C1U is very quiet, and the C1 needs phantom power (+48v) so you need to have a good mixer with the phantom power, and if you do get the C1U make sure you have a powerful USB port (found on high end computers and USB hubs) else it may be very quiet and need software amplification which lowers the quality a lot
prefered the neumann for the low end
I preferred the C1 on the acoustic guitar demo. The U87 sounded better on the drums. Bass I couldn't tell that much to be honest, maybe the C1 is brighter. But like someone else noted the price difference is silly for the difference in sound. In the UK the C1 is about £40 and the U87 about £1700 . Crazy difference it cannot possibly be 30+ times better. I will assume it would last longer and be more robust.
With the drums the U87 almost sounded muffled. The C1 sounded more crisp and clear. I'm in the UK as well and I'm getting the c1 for Christmas! I am so excited! :)
El Behringer C1 capta los intrumentos mejor, suenan mas reales. Se nota mucho en la guitarra acústica o en la voz.Aunque tiene una tendencia a colorear un poco los agudos. Por la diferencia de precio, y sorprendentemente, me quedo con el C1.
It's impossible buy a Neumann U87 In brazil (where I Live) haha!
the simply diference is between the harmonic recording voice that c1 can´t sound
where can u buy that 30$ C1 mic :D coz its like 90$ in my place :D
Probably used on reverb or ebay, where I live it is second handed for like 50 bucks.
i guess will have the c1...
song??? 2:13
ther's non way to make a paragon between those two mics, the Behringer is simply a toy but still take good presence with the presence of strong medium freqs.
I think the behringer could be good with a strong compression.
What was the preamp and AD used?
Nvelopmusic it is in the comments section. Metric Halo ULN8
Nice review dude!!! Which song is that???
scrach that!!! It´s at the end lol thanks
good song!!!
the behringer c1 stands up very well versus the neumann¡
and the winner is......BEHRINGHER C1 !!! Next round with the B2 PRO! OMG!!!
Man, you are mean!!!!...LOL
Thanks!
C1 just makes everything sound distant. The U87 brings it up to the front. The imaging of the mics is totally different. Sure, you could eq the c1 to "sound" like the U87 but it will have the same frequency decay proportional to it's terrible properties. The U87 sits nicely in a mix, and that is something no eq will do for the C1.
The c1 sounds a lot better for both vocals and instruments here xo
C1 can make same sound like u87,but have to change the distance some more closer to drum,guitar or mouth.
I ended up buying the C1 xo
I can clearly hear the diffence. But in my humble opinion, nothing that may cost 2 zeros more. (i mean, 30 to 3000?)
thanks a lot! I already took a great decision, buying the Behringer hahah ;)
on drums it sounds like a completely diferent drumkit