BEHRINGER C-3

I've researched and researched on budget mics. My budget was about $100 for a decent studio mic for my music hobby. I originally opted for an AKG Perception 120 but then I came across the Behringers. I picked the C-3 because of the multi-pickup patterns, roll-off and filter switches which allows for wider sonic possibilities. I was reluctant to purchase because there hasn't been any reviews for it. But I eventually decided to give it a shot because one, the price difference between this and the AKG was about $40 which allowed me to buy a mic stand and an XLR cable. Not bad. Secondly, it was a hobby. All I needed is a much better mic than the one I had which was a cheap $9 mic.Physically, it's heavy, giving it that robust, hefty feel but I won't be too adventurous knocking it around. Didn't come with a manual but you can download one from their website. Comes with a foam padded case, which is nice. The mount is a bit flimsy, I think. You can only screw the mic in and position it on its swivel in such a way that the mic doesn't droop because of its weight but it's not a big deal and there are other ways to work around it.Testing the mic... so far so good. I've only recorded one song with it. It is indeed far better than the cheap old dynamic mic I had. And since I haven't used any other mic in its class I have no way of comparing it. But in my opinion, it provided a clear reproduction on vocals. The mic's directional patterns worked as it should. It was able to filter out my noisy PC which I thought was amazing. I still need to learn proper mic'ing techniques though. I believe I can get even better results from it as I learn how to work a small home studio. I will update this review as I get more familiar with the C-3.The reason why I give it four stars is because I really like it but I can't give it 5-stars until I'm able to compare it with other mics in its class and price range. I won't give it anything less because in my opinion, it sounded great and I'm happy with it so far.If you'd like to have a listen on the results, here's the link to my Reverbnation page:[...]The song using the C-3 is a cover on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Excuse my singing though. I'm a bit rusty.The rest of the songs on the playlist were recorded on different mics which I plan to re-record using the C-3 as well.UPDATE 03/16/10:Oops. I guess Amazon doesn't allow active links. Well, go to[..] and search artist Mario Gozum.UPDATE 02/14/15I upgraded my rating to 5-stars. Really happy with this mic. It's not a "magic mic" that will turn your music into grammy winners. You need to learn proper recording techniques and know the limits of your equipment and software to get good results. I'm not one to blame the equipment for bad results. This microphone does what it says it does and I'm happy and satisfied with my recordings so far, using this mic. I have two songs on Reverb Nation dot com. Just find artist Mario Gozum or Pill to hear how the mic sounds the way I recorded and processed it. I use a Line6 UX2, Reaper and free VST plugins.

I have had a Behringer B-1 since 2003 and it has served me very well. It has seen better days. I needed a reasonable priced mic that I could use in my tiny studio. This C-3 solved a lot of issues. It is not an extremely hot mic but is perfect for a room where fan and computer noise is always a fight. The C-3 picked up my guitar very clearly with good balance of tone and cut so far down on the room noise that my tracks sound great. The C-3 will pick up the room if the pre-amp is cranked but it works great at around 10 inches to three feet or so for good low noise recordings. Good mic, low cost, clean reproduction of sound. I can't complain.

I've been doing sound as a hobby for many years, working with various types of microphones and sound boards, but I am by no means an expert. I'm just someone who might know a little more than many others when it comes to the technical aspects. The Behringer C-3 condenser microphone is a solid condenser microphone. It's not mind blowing, for $30 more you could get what I consider to be the standard "budget" condenser in the Audio Technica AT202, but this offers some things that the AT2020 doesn't.First, I needed a condenser that provided multiple polar patterns. A polar pattern is simply where it's designed to pick up sound. A "Cardioid" polar pattern picks up sounds right in front of the microphone, while discarding sounds off to the side and behind. For most people that's all they need. A "Figure 8" polar pattern picks up sounds in front and behind, while discarding the sound that comes from the sides. An "Omni" pattern will pick up the sounds that surround the microphone. The AT2020 only has a cardioid pattern, and what I'm looking to do is start a podcast with my wife using just one microphone, so I needed something that could do a figure 8 pattern as well. The dual-diaphragm design of the C-3 allows for that, as well as an omni pattern as well.And in case you are wondering what a diaphragm is in a microphone, it's what converts sound into electrical impulses, which in turn are sent down a wire to a mixing board and amplifier, which then converts it back into sound which we recognize. This being a condenser microphone, the diaphragm is an electrical plate that requires a current of electricity. This means it needs "Phantom Power" in order to operate, unlike a dynamic microphone which is a simple magnet and coils that is pushed back and forth by sound, or a ribbon microphone which uses a thin ribbon to vibrate, converting sound energy into electrical. The C-3 has two of those diaphragms, which allow it to have multiple patterns.I also wanted to mention another great couple of features. It has a setting on it that brings the initial recording volume down by 10db. Why is that important? Well, sometimes condenser microphones are used on instruments that produce a lot of sonic force, such as a drum set, and too much sound can overload and damage the diaphragm. So by reducing the level of sound that the diaphragm is sensitive to, it will prolong the life of the mic if you're using it in such a way. It also has a high pass filter on it, which can help eliminate some lower frequency noises. Condenser microphones are quite sensitive to a wide range of noises, and the more unwanted noises you can filter out at the source, the better.So, for $70, this is worth a look. I like this a whole lot, but there is one drawback that I want to mention. I'm not entirely certain though if it's the mixer I'm using or the microphone itself, but there is some noise when I go to record. "Noise" is that "hissing" sound you hear on old records or tapes. It's not a huge amount of noise, and with editing software such as Audacity, it's easy enough to get rid of, so it's not a deal breaker, but it is there. And the noise could very well be coming from the mixer itself (a Behringer XENYX 302 USB).The bottom line for me is, while the AT2020 might be a better vocal condenser microphone all around, considering what I want to do the Behringer C-3 is more than adequate. In my ears there's not enough of a difference in initial quality of vocals for me to spend an extra $30, particularly if it doesn't give me the polar patterns I'm looking for. You're simply not going to find a better condenser microphone at this price point with these features than you'll get with the C-3. It isn't perfect, it is a $70 microphone, but for my budget it was worth every bit of that $70 and more.Keep in mind though also that if you're looking to buy this, you will need to power it. As I mentioned I'm using this with a Behringer XENYX 302 USB which has phantom power and pre-amps built into the XLR connection. Plus it acts as a USB interface, so if you're looking to do podcasting or video chatting with the C-3, having that little mixer on hand will allow you to do it. Otherwise you may need to buy a separate Phantom Power supply (anywhere between $25 and $200) and USB interface.

After the annoying problem of noise and poor volume, I learned that the he cables I used for years were not doing the job. I invested $23.00 into gold plated balanced cables and I am impressed. Excellent sound ,responsive etc.would buy again without hesitation.