Any experience with the MicParts SDC Schoeps CMC5 clone kit?

I

Imamacuser

Veteran
A couple weeks ago, I stumbled across the MicParts SDC Schoeps CMC5 clone kit, and am very intrigued.

I'm curious if anyone has used one or knows someone who has one, and whether they have any thoughts to share. I found one video test where it seemed to do fine, but I'm curious if there are any pitfalls in real world use.

I ran across a thread that thought they were way over priced, estimating only $50 in components, but one should consider overhead like warehouse space and payroll. If MicParts is making a killing, just think how much of a killing Schoeps must be making.
 
I've toyed with building a LDC mic or ribbon kit for fun. Not sure I'd rely on a kit for paid work in the field. I have several Schoeps mics....and they're by far my favorite-sounding microphones. There are some others that sound decent on-axis, but it's the smooth off-axis response of especially the MK41 capsule that I find so fantastic on a boom. So if the speaker moves (fidgety interview, split, improvising actor, etc), or when my booming isn't perfect, the sound the Schoeps captures is still great...

If I was looking for a lower-cost mic that's sort of like a Schoeps 641, I'd probably look at the Audix SCX1 with a hyper capsule (apparently, the capsules are made by MBHO, which is good), the Audio-Technica 4053, or whatever other people here recommend. Those would set you back maybe $350+ used to $600 or less new (confirm those prices to be sure). In other words, not much more than that kit.

But building a kit mic could be fun, Something like these from Austin Microphones: https://www.austinmics.com/diy-kits/


Ima, if you do build a kit Schoeps clone, please let us know how the build goes and what you think of the sound.
 
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Thanks guys.

I added the CMC5 clone to my wish list, and haven't ruled out the SCX1 or AT4053.

I read that the SCX1 is prone to picking up RF interference, but also read that making a cable with Neutrik EMC connectors should eliminate RF issues.

I ran across one person who preferred the AT4053 for it's built-in HPF, which allowed them to avoid removing HVAC rumble in post. On one hand it's nice to eliminate a step, but on the other hand, iZotope does a phenomenal job removing HVAC noise.
 
Ya, the Neutrik EMC connectors are helpful and easy to work with: https://www.neutrik.com/en/product/nc3fxx-emc-b

I like built-in high-pass filters, but the ones on my mixers work fine, too. And as much as I like iZotope RX, when mainly capturing dialog, I'd rather eliminate low-frequency rumble on location.

Have fun with the kit. Post pix of the process and then let us know how it sounds.
 
Imamacuser said:
Thanks guys.

I added the CMC5 clone to my wish list, and haven't ruled out the SCX1 or AT4053.

I read that the SCX1 is prone to picking up RF interference, but also read that making a cable with Neutrik EMC connectors should eliminate RF issues.

I ran across one person who preferred the AT4053 for it's built-in HPF, which allowed them to avoid removing HVAC rumble in post. On one hand it's nice to eliminate a step, but on the other hand, iZotope does a phenomenal job removing HVAC noise.
Click to expand...

I have been using the AUDIX SCX1 HC and not had any RF experience yet - so the Neutrik EMC connectorts are a good tip to look into. The only drawback to the SCX it is very sensitive to low
frequency - like hard boom pole movements - etc. On the bright side I am very happy with its ability to capture dialog. I am also using the sound device PRE MIX6 with it so the the overall quality of recordings have improved. BTW got a lot of great tips on this forum
 
I’m never sure about the current trend for building mics. A bag of bits sourced from China, then for some, ham fisted blobbing with solder, and assuming you do it right you have a Chinese microphone that you might like. They’re going full steam in recording studio circles, you buy a capsule that uses a sixty year old design, with a modern preamp and this equates to a better mic than a vintage branded one?

I’ve been doing a sequence of YouTube videos and trying out lots of different brands and price mics, and so far, haven’t found any mic that could be accurately identified by its sound. They’re all different, and suit different voices and circumstances. I can’t comment on RF interference because none have suffered from it in my location with the RF equipment in use at my location not inducing any issues at all with any. I did gather together for one a few shotguns and as two were inside zeppelin covers I had to redo the video when I discovered the results suggested I might need to check, and I discovered I liked an audio Tec better than a Sennheiser. Totally, using them close in as voice over type mics in the studio, my favourite ‘sound’ was actually from an old AKG451/CK9 a totally impractical very long shotgun.

if you buy a kit, learn a bit from assembling it, and like the sound, it was worth it. Clearly, you have a homebuilt mic, with unknown reliability and build quality, but name products also fail? I do feel some people build a pretend U87 and then try to convince themselves it’s as good as a real one.
 
I basically agree with you. The key thing, I'm told, is the variability in quality and lack of QA with off-shore knock off mic capsules. I've been told a couple times a story about a particular US-based company that makes nice mics in the $600-$700US range that I like a lot. I'm leaving out the name of the company because I've heard it from audio guys who own mics from the company, but not from the company itself (so ya, this is a rumor...sorry. :-( ). Anyway, the story is this company buys made-in-Asia mic capsules by the hundreds, and then goes through them to find the ones that really perform up to their standards. The rest they sell to a company that then sells them to others. Not saying the capsules they reject are bad, just perhaps less good. That's believable. Perhaps even true. I'm just not tight enough in that world.

I'd think the reputable kit companies would not ship a truly bad capsule, and/or would replace a bad one that slipped through (though you might not know until you build the mic). And I'd guess best-case is you'd reach Rode quality. That's not bad; Rode makes decent mics. But they aren't Schoeps MK41s or Neumann U87s.
 
Your story is exactly what some chip vendors do to classify their ICs. They make a bunch of chips and then bin them based on performance tests both for speed and temperature grading.
 
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