Behringer C-1

home recording studio for presentations and music making

the mic is carcoid and thus very "noisy" when you talk to the back of it.
Have the read lamp facing you and you gain +10 dB. Still some noise though.

I'm a programmer, but in my free time I make voice and instrument recordings in home studio environment, for music, and for amateur movies.

It's noisy as hell, even when compared to mics from the same price level. And I think Behringer is cheating with the numbers in the specification:

I cannot believe that it has a sensitivity of -33 dBV. Maybe only when the sound pressure is near to 90 dB. So you can get acceptable signal/noise ratio only, when you shout at the C-1 from 5 cm distance or nearer. But I think it's still good for live performance, and it helps to separate sound sources.

And I think Behringer is cheating with the frequency response characteristics too. In realitiy it far far away from that straight horizontal line in the specification.

In this price level, I think the best choice is a Rode NT1-A.

Professional musician, playing music for 13 years, guitarist, pianist cellist and composer.

Large diaphragm condensor cardioid, as you know. I'm used to recording with a borrowed RODE NT-1A, so maybe I'm spoiled, but the first thing I noticed about this microphone is that it is NOISY. Even spoken word is hard to record without getting a whole lot of noise so it doesn't have a lot of use unless you're into noise. The noise isn't too pretty, and it starts around 2K and higher so it's very hard to EQ out. I also knew I got ripped off but I needed my own mic quickly.

Was quite disappointed with this product, even considering the price, because the reviews on here seem to be pretty good.

Almost 20 years making music.
I'm a home recordist, but not the sloppy ones. I really care about my sound, and I always try to reach pro results without breaking the bank.
I record to PC (hard disk).
I use an old japanese Aiwa hi-fi equipment for monitoring. Been hearing music in that equipment and in the same room for 13 years, so I trust it. I also doublecheck with Beyerdynamic DT-231 PRO Monitor Headphones, best ones for the money.

Big condenser cardiod.
I tried it on voice (it performs surprisingly good) and acoustic guitar (not bad, but you have to fiddle a lot with placement... anyway... acoustic guitar is hard to record, even with an U-87). I suspect I would need an extra mic to record it well. I would like to try it with drums, percussion or acoustic instruments.
I choose this mic as an entry level to the world of big condensers. I considered to buy the Samson, but I heared some recordings a friend of mine made with that mic and is too noisy for my taste.
The C-1 is a very quiet and clean mic, is said to be a little thin sounding, so I'm using it with a Behringer Tube Ultragain Mic 100 preamp (hybrid chip-tube) and it sounds right (not too thin-not too fat or too warm, good balance). As other user said: use it with a tube preamp, the Ultragain is cheap and very nice.
The C-1 has a certain coloration, it can be good or bad, it depends on your taste. I would have prefered a more neutral mic, but c'mon, this is not a Gefell and I didn't paid the high dollars that could make me more critic. For the money, there's no other mic that performs this good, you don't have choice if you want a mic for general application in an ultralow budget home studio. Here in Argentina recording gear is very expensive, I paid $90 for this mic, in Europe and USA you can get it for half the price, so you don't have excuses for NOT getting a C-1. Even if you have more expensive mics it can be a nice add for your collection and I'm sure you can find an application when this little mic can shine.
For sure, there is a difference between a $5000 mic an this $90 one, but believe me: IT'S NOT A $4410 DIFFERENCE, for god's sake... if things were proportional, hi-end mics should cost 5 times more than the C-1, not 50 times more... I'll give it a 6 for performance and a 10 for value.

I play bass and guitar for 25years, (that long??!!)

and i like to record sometimes. Also into recording for cd-rom, web and video productions.
Recording into computer with audio-in, but
Most of the time i use a minidisc, so no high end, but sufficient for most home and small bussiness. Always use the Behringer tube pre-amp for best warm sound.
i mix down with cheap behringer studio speakers, and doublecheck with near high-end home audio.
( and Monster cables-they make a difference)

c1 big condenser
best sounding micrphone for this price. really crisp and clear sound, Use the tube pre-amp for natural warmth. (people sometimes say it's thin, this is how to avoid that. The pre-amp is a great d-i and guitar/bass/vocals pre-amp to, so multi usable-


Records the sound from the direction where the led is, but gets everything.(including your computer fan)
Used it with band rehearsals, better overall and dynamic sound than when i used the Shure sm58.

Nice plastic case to keep it safe, just a professional recording device for a fun price. Looks good too!

have fun.

Ive been playing bass and recording for 25 years (and may I say Im very tired)

Most Saturdays I play Jazz in small venues or work, occasioanly in musical theature.

I have a very comfortable rehersal and recoding space with a nice DAW.

I have lots of odd bits of equipment inc a few different types of mics like SM58's EV Cobalts and a few Oktava as well as a bunch of odd condeser and dynamic mics from right back to the 70's

I picked this mic up(large condenser 48V phantom power)from a sale. I had no intentions of buying a mice it was just so cheap I though why not!

Why not indeed!.......... Let me tell you it works very well.

While I could describe the rigourous A - B shoot out I put it througth with my old Oktava 319 and a few EV mics I had on hand suffice to say at this price it fights above its weight.

Im intending to use it as a vocal mic live. Why not, it blows away my dynamic mics!

Cheers