Budget ambience mics

[Mike Shand]

I need to replace our ambience mics which we use for our musicians in-ears and also for our church live stream. (One has failed and the other is a bit iffy)

Would I be stupid to get a pair of berry C2s? Would their infamous noise be a problem in this application?

Are there alternative cardioid SDCs for not much more? Small physical size is a bonus.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I can't imagine any worth using that can match the C2 price...

But if you want a mic with decent performance for the price, the line Audio CM4 would be a good option.

[Mike Stranks]

You might also consider the Rode M5 set.

I was once tech-supporting a friend who was playing at an afternoon/evening event with several well-known musos performing.

Immediately before my friend one R Wakeman was playing. I commended the soundtech on the lovely piano sound he'd achieved for Mr R's set... He smiled and took me onstage while the kit changeover was occurring. There, in the piano, was a pair of C2s...

[Dave B]

Check out the matched pairs of Neewer mics on Amazon that come with interchangeable capsules. Whilst they won't be KM84s, I was pointed in their direction by an engineer at a festival this summer as a cheap and cheerful way to get ambient mics for in ears. The capsules mean that you can have omni and if that's too much, swap back to the cardioids. Just looking on Amazon UK, these come in (complete with case) at about 78quid - so about midway between a pair of C2s and a pair of M5s.

[Wonks]

Check out the matched pairs of Neewer mics on Amazon that come with interchangeable capsules. Whilst they won't be KM84s, I was pointed in their direction by an engineer at a festival this summer as a cheap and cheerful way to get ambient mics for in ears. The capsules mean that you can have omni and if that's too much, swap back to the cardioids. Just looking on Amazon UK, these come in (complete with case) at about 78quid - so about midway between a pair of C2s and a pair of M5s.

I have a set (cost me £45 back in 2018 IIRC). I've never used them in anger, but I did comparison test the capsules for use as a stereo pair and the two omni and the two cardioid were within a dB or so of each other for most of the frequency range. The super-cardioid capsules weren't quite so close, but still not too bad.

Noise didn't seem to be a noticeable issue.

I think Dave B and I (along with Adrian K) tested some C2s a long while back as part of a mic on acoustic guitar shootout. Tonally, they were an almost perfect match for a KM 184 we also tested, but the C2 noise was very noticeable and definitely an issue, compared to the near-silent Neumann.

[MarkOne]

We hung a pair of Audio Technica Pro45s for congregation audio which have never given us any trouble and are cosmetically almost invisible. And they sound reasonable too.

[ef37a]

Did not know the C2s had a reputation for noise? However I sent my son in France a pair and one of them was much noisier than the other. I then bought another pair and did some tests at home and found they were at least as good as my AKG P150s, i.e. not super quiet but good enough for plucked acoustic guitar at a mtr or so.

They are SO cheap that I would buy two sets from Zon and if all are good...result. If one is noisy bounce them back. I find Amazon very good for returns.

Dave.

[Mike Shand]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've gone for the rode m5s.

[tacitus]

I shouldn’t think you’ll be disappointed. The QC at Rode seems much better than Neweer and they’re nice mikes. I put mine on congas last night in our function band and they were very well received. The user commented on the great sound and much-reduced effort needed from him (after using one 57 and switching to 2 M5s).

That was their first time out, though they were pretty good on my bari sax at home when I tried them out.

[Mike Stranks]

I've always been pleased with my M5s... perfectly acceptable for many duties and in some respects not too far away from the NT5s.

It's always good to hear recommendations of good budget gear... not everyone has cash to splash...

[Arpangel]

I can't imagine any worth using that can match the C2 price...

But if you want a mic with decent performance for the price, the line Audio CM4 would be a good option.

Hugh is right, the line audio would be my choice, the Behringer’s are noisy, too noisy, for anything other than Death Metal.