Audix SCX1-HC

R

robotsound

Well-known member
Hi everyone,

I recently purchased an Audix SCX1-HC microphone, mostly on faith. I never was able to find so much as an audio clip of this microphone online before I bought it, but knew that Audix was generally a good brand that makes solid microphones, knew that Ty Ford had good experiences with them, etc.

I have only done very limited initial tests so far, but I have to say I am very impressed. It's very quiet (in terms of noise), very directional, and the sound quality is very clear and natural. Based on my initial tests, I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who is looking for a hypercardioid mic for film work. To me, the quality sounded good enough that I think it could easily be used with great success in a film of any budget. Very natural sounding without a lot of self noise.

I started this thread because this seems to be kind of a sleeper mic that no one ever really hears about unless they go out and do a lot of internet research. Before I bought it and played with it myself, the only clips I could find online to listen to were on the Audix web site, where they showed what it sounds like on a hi hat.

If anyone has any questions, or wants to hear sound clips, let me know and I'll try to share the information I have.
 
I'd love to hear some clips. There's been discussion of that mic a few times here but so for no one has actually purchased one that I'm aware of.
 
Audix SCX1-HC

Here's a SUPER quick test I did. It's handheld, but I was hand holding it where a boom mic would normally be placed, above the head, pointing down, probably about 18-24" above my head.

I did apply a 24 dB per octave high pass filter at 75 Hz in Logic. The mic doesn't have a dedicated switch on it to do this, so I just applied it after the fact. I wouldn't say the handling noise seems any worse than you would expect from any condenser mic such as an AKG small diaphragm condenser or a Sennheiser 416.

Hope this helps!

http://media.ratherlargerobot.com/dvxuser/audix-scx1-hc.mp3
 
I should also point out that this test clip was recorded indoors in a room that is mostly empty parallel drywall walls. In other words, the acoustics are less ideal than, say, a living room or bedroom, and are closer on the spectrum to "acoustic nightmare" than "recording studio".
 
robotsound said:
Here's a SUPER quick test I did. It's handheld, but I was hand holding it where a boom mic would normally be placed, above the head, pointing down, probably about 18-24" above my head.

I did apply a 24 dB per octave high pass filter at 75 Hz in Logic. The mic doesn't have a dedicated switch on it to do this, so I just applied it after the fact. I wouldn't say the handling noise seems any worse than you would expect from any condenser mic such as an AKG small diaphragm condenser or a Sennheiser 416.

Hope this helps!

http://media.ratherlargerobot.com/dvxuser/audix-scx1-hc.mp3
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting that clip. Gives a bit of an idea what it sounds like. Not too bad. Have you used it on a boom in a real situation yet? I'm considering getting one for some tight quarters booming on a budget. Can you recommend a good place to purchase?
Bernie
 
I haven't used it on an actual shoot yet, but I did do some further testing with the mic on a boom pole in a shock mount. Doing a pivot between two positions (e.g. back and forth between two actors in frame) was completely silent. I was just using the Rode SM4 shock mount, with and without the Rode Dead Kitten over the windscreen that comes with it. Provided that your boom pole is in good order and the cables are secured, the mic itself did not have any appreciable handling noise.
 
I have also just purchased an SCX1-HC and like you robotsound I mostly bought on faith and the testimony of other forum users, particularly Ty Ford. I was originally leaning towards an AT4053b for an indoor dialogue mic but I heard the handling noise is an issue. I didn't want that problem again after all the handling issues I've had with my Oktava MK-012 so I took a punt with the Audix. It just arrived today in it's beautiful wooden jewellers box. I haven't tried it yet but I will do some recordings soon and hopefully post a link on this forum. I've got high hopes for this mic...
 
I'm looking to purchase a hyper-cardioid in tihs price range. How'd it go with the Audix SCH1-HC? Anyone else using this for an indoor boom mic for dialog?
 
I have used the Audix SCX1-HC on a few short films now, and it has been working out just beautifully. I would not hesitate to buy it again if something happened to this one, and would recommend it to others looking for a boom mic in this price range.

In a recent test, we put it up against a Sennheiser ME66/K6 combo indoors. This is an apples to oranges comparison since it's a hypercardioid vs. a short shotgun, but the difference was night and day. The Audix SCX1-HC was the clear winner between those two indoors.

I am currently in the process of making my first "real" film. We have used five different mics during production, but the one we used the most was the Audix SCX1-HC. The other ones were a Sennheiser lav mic for one scene, a Rode NT4 for recording stereo ambience, and a Shure SM58 and an EV RE20 that appeared on camera as part of the scenes (a band at a nightclub and a DJ at a radio station, respectively).
 
Thanks robotsound. I have and ME66 and after watching Barry's video I realized why I was getting all that slap inside, so I knew I needed an hypercaridiod. I'm pretty excited about the Audix SCX1-HC. It comes in at a great price and I'm glad to hear you're having so much luck with it.

Nice! an EV RE 20. I remember that mic! It was a staple in radio, a big old hunkering mic, and of course all the bands I ever played in used the SM58 as a vocal mic ;)

Cool, thanks a lot for getting back.
 
hscully said:
an EV RE20. I remember that mic! It was a staple in radio, a big old hunkering mic.
Click to expand...
It was and still is. Even more popular than the 'updated' RE27. Back in my studio days, I frequently used an RE20 on kick drum and LF sources, wasn't bad on sax either. I never care for it much for vocals. (singing)
Regarding the AT, Audix and Oktava hypers, all need some degree of suspension, the Oktava the most, especially in the hands of an unskilled 'boom op'
 
Yeah, the EV RE20 is great. I'd love to get one at some point. Not really for film sound per se, but to go with all the other music oriented mics I have. It's a nice dark mic, and a real classic.

Funny, the lady at the radio station was saying how they were old too. It's not like microphone technology has changed all that much in the last few decades!
 
The RE20 is still my all time favorite mic for spoken word recordings, including narration. It doesn't work with all voices, but is more likely to sound good than any of the other mics I have, so I always try it first.

- Greg
 
Hi Eddy,

Thanks for the nod. I just published an article about hypers and supers this week on my blog. That particular article is HERE.
 
Hey, it's Ty Ford!

Ty, I bought the Audix SCX1-HC initially partly because you said you were pretty happy with it as compared to other similar mics (no budget for a Schoeps CMC-641 at the moment). I have not been disappointed.

I just wanted to say thanks for writing the articles and recording the videos that you have made. They were very helpful to me, and to a lot of other people I'm sure.
 
Hey Robo,

I'm happy that turned out ok for you. :) BTW, there's a studio cardioid mic that's a stunning bargain. A friend found one several years ago and sent it to me, asking, "Am I crazy, or does this $49 mic sound GREAT?"

My answer was, "A. Yes, you are crazy, but that's one of your endearing qualities. B. It's a really nice sounding mic for that little money. I hope it's not a case of being THAT ONE MIC being good and the next one on the assembly line sucking. Another friend was looking for a studio mic and i told him about this one. Seeing the price, he ordered two and sent me some files he recorded with them. They sounded very much like the first one. So, I'm guessing (hoping) there's enough QC to maintain quality. This mic sounded easily like a $600 mic when it was here.

The Mic Is the MXL MCA SP-1.

TyFordMCASP-1.jpg

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
tyreeford said:
Hey Robo,

I'm happy that turned out ok for you. :) BTW, there's a studio cardioid mic that's a stunning bargain. A friend found one several years ago and sent it to me, asking, "Am I crazy, or does this $49 mic sound GREAT?"

My answer was, "A. Yes, you are crazy, but that's one of your endearing qualities. B. It's a really nice sounding mic for that little money. I hope it's not a case of being THAT ONE MIC being good and the next one on the assembly line sucking. Another friend was looking for a studio mic and i told him about this one. Seeing the price, he ordered two and sent me some files he recorded with them. They sounded very much like the first one. So, I'm guessing (hoping) there's enough QC to maintain quality. This mic sounded easily like a $600 mic when it was here.

The Mic Is the MXL MCA SP-1.

View attachment 49391

Regards,

Ty Ford
Click to expand...

Wow...lol. If it sounds that great at that price this has to be some sort of marketing strategy to enter the market and gain some marketing share. lol Probably get this for ADR or voice over work.
 
Last edited:
Hello Northainan,

I even mentioned to the company at some point what a mismatch of cost versus quality this was. I've never run across another MXL MCA branded mic, so I'm not sure why it's an MCA. All I know is what those three sounded like. I have heard from others who bought one that it sounded good to them as well, but I never heard any of their clips.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
That looks pretty cool! If I didn't already have three of the original Rode NT1's from the 90's (the made in Australia ones), I'd probably pick up a couple of these right away.

(Some context: I own like 13 microphones. For anyone reading this, if all you want is a boom mic or something, this is not what you're looking for).
 
Robotsound,

I did that many years ago when the Oktava MK219 got to the US. They didn't do very well and the price dropped. I boughtt two and used them as lab rats. They had a "boink"; some sort of mechanical body resonence. I took them apart and lined the bodies with the green adhesive back felt we put on the bottom of things we put on fine furniture so it doesn't get scratched. The felt kept the mic body from pinging. Then I published an account of the modification for others. They weren't amazing sounding, as I recall, but OK. I still have both, but haven't used them in years. I should get them out and see how they're doing. Thanks for reminding me! :)

Regards,

Ty Ford

PS: My old friend Scott Dorsey took the mod a step or two further and published an article about it. Here it is.
 
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