Universal Audio SC-1

I had this mic as a part of a shootout between three different models. It was among the two final contenders, even if the cheapest of the bunch after discounts.
The build quality and the packaging are really good and convey the air of a product that was built to last. The mic by itself produces a clear signal with little noise. It doesn't add a very strong character on its own, which probably makes sense given it's purpose as a base for mic modelling.
The Hemisphere mic modelling is adding a lot of flexibility in terms of changing your signal after the fact. Doubling tracks with different mic (simulated) mic models is particularly interesting.
In the end, however, I went with a Neumann TLM 102 BK because to my ears it suited my voice just a tad bit better and represented the nuances of my performance more fairly – and no amount of modelling I could do in the Hemisphere plugin was able to fix this with the SC-1.
Hence, if you are looking for the flexibility mic modelling can offer you, this is a relatively inexpensive way (as far as good mics go) to get it. However, it sadly remains a false promise that you can get a locker full of four figure mics for less than 500. There's probably a reason why the much more expensive UA Sphere DLX exists.

Ich habe ein Gesangsmikrofon für mein Bedroom Homestudio gesucht. Es sollte eine Lücke zwischen meinem SM7b (das ich mit meiner Stimme nicht mag) und dem avantone cv12 (das ich sehr mag, das als Röhrenmic aber recht umständlich in der Handhabung ist) schließen. Ggfs. sollte es auch für Instrumentenabnahme (Klavier, Gitarre) genutzt werden können. Im Test hatte ich das SC-1 mit drei weiteren Mikrofonen (lewitt 640, Neumann tlm103 und km184). Das TLM103 lag klanglich etwas vor dem SC-1, kostet aber das doppelte und war wesentlich empfindlicher in der Anwendung in meinem unbehandelten Raum. Das SC-1 kommt aber sehr nah ran - schon ohne Hemisphere klang es für meinen Geschmack angenehmer als das Lewitt und das km184. Ich werde das SC-1 behalten und die drei anderen zurückschicken.