the t.bone SC 400

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4.5 / 5

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857 Reviews

the t.bone SC 400
162 AED 41,18 €
Plus 277 AED shipping
The price in AED is a guideline price only
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JC
Easiest mic I've ever used.
Josh Colletta 22.04.2020
To give you a bit of an introduction, I've been working in broadcasting for 27 years. This is my first full-range, studio-use condenser microphone; though I've used some that weren't my own. I've owned and used dynamic microphones pretty much all my life. I've used some good and some bad; some dirt cheap, and some at the top of the price list for their purpose. The expensive ones weren't always the best, but at the same time, the cheap ones weren't always the best, either.

My voice has a very de-nasal bump right around 800Hz, and between the frequency response of those mics and the ability I (or whoever's engineering) have to EQ them with whatever they're plugged into, it can be very hard to make them sound like my unamplified voice does to the average ear. In fact, the microphone that I had plugged in to my chain before I received the SC 400 required TWO bands on my parametric EQ to be set to 800Hz and cranked WAY down.

I plugged in the t.bone SC 400 and reset my entire EQ to zero. I was prepared to test it out as long as it took to get it right.

It took thirty seconds.

All I need is one band at 800Hz turned down to about 25%, and this things sounds BEAUTIFUL. Crisp highs -- I actually had to back those down a little, too, but not by much -- perfect low end, not a single other thing adjusted to compensate. Never in my life has it been that simple. The SC 400 sounds very natural, it's very sensitive, and I have been thoroughly enjoying every moment with it.

I'm using it for home voiceover recording and, eventually, podcasting and radio. In fact, as I type this, I just moments ago ordered a mixer and audio interface right here at Thomann in preparation for that.

I don't have any "cons" to give you, but as many people seem to be buying this as an entry-level studio condenser (as I did) and likely need some help adjusting, let me give you a couple of notes:

Sensitivity is going to be the first thing you notice, because the SC 400 has plenty of it. If you're not familiar with how to read sensitivity figures for microphones, I'll just give you the basic idea: where you see "dB re 1V/PA," the higher the number in that spec, the more sensitive the microphone is. The SC 400 is rated at -32.6 dB in that category. One of my other microphones, the Audio-Technica PRO 61 (a dynamic), is rated at -55 dB in that category. If I switch back and forth between the two, my preamp will have to be significantly adjusted to compensate.

The SC 400 is a hypercardioid microphone, meaning the most sensitive, accurate-sounding area around it is dead-center, right in front of the diaphragm. If you move around your microphone a lot, you're going to find yourself off-axis and sounding distant rather often. This mic is generally intended for studio situations where you or your talent are stationary in front of it (such as vocal recordings or radio broadcasts). This attribute COULD be used in a live sound setting to avoid feedback, but don't forget about that sensitivity, because even if it's off-axis, it WILL still pick up sounds from all around you. In ANY setting, I highly recommend a noise gate.

Being a condenser, the SC 400 is meant to be used at a slight distance away from the mouth. You don't want to eat this microphone, it will not do you any favors. Now, that said, I do personally keep it closer to my face, but I also keep it slightly off to the side so that the front of the diaphragm IS still pointed at my mouth, but the direct wind from my speech is passing over the TOP of the mic, not directly into it. This prevents plosives while still providing the proximity effect. In fact, I recommend that technique with ANY microphone. Old trick of the trade that seems to have been lost over the years.

Bottom line: just buy this microphone. You will not regret it.
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Does the job
PeteKay 19.05.2020
A very nice, professional looking, entry level microphone. Bought it as a backup for the dynamic mic I've been using for podcasting and narration/voice-over.

What I found was that for its price - it doesn't feel that cheap. Sure it doesn't have many bells and whistles but it does the job.
It has a sturdy build unlike any in that price range, and the accessories (shock mount and bag) don't feel cheap either.
The sound is crisp and clean without touching the gain or adding any processing.
Sensitivity is very good to the point where I had to turn it down a bit to avoid clipping when I get overexcited, also be prepared to feel any and all reflections and reverberations in your acoustic environment.
Voice sounds vibrant, and though the proximity effect is nothing to write home about - it is there. My voice is a bit nasal but I can feel the slight differences as I adjust posture to minimize it - that's how clear it feels.
The only thing I don't like that much is the polar pattern. I tend to shuffle and I sometimes leave the sweet spot of the super-cardioid pattern and it shows in the end product. This shouldn't be a problem if you're mostly doing vocals or voice-over.

Overall it performs WAY better than expected and is perfect for a first condenser, for a backup when in a pinch, and for everyday studio work.

Pros:
* The price-quality is unmatched. See below.
* Build. At this price point it doesn't get better. It's sturdy and doesn't feel cheap like the chinese clones.
* Sound is clear and crisp.
* The baggie and shock mount are also good quality

Cons:
* If you move a lot while you record - the pattern is a a bit unforgiving. You need proper posture and positioning.
* It's QUITE sensitive to the point I had to turn the gain down to avoid clipping. Also it is a bit unforgiving if you have bad acoustics in the room/studio.
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the t.bone SC 400 Studio Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Moonkat 24.03.2022
A surprisingly good mic for the money sound quality is excellent a lovely rich tone would buy again
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I'm loving it
W3asel 11.01.2022
I was pretty much impressed. For this price, this microphone does a pretty darn good job. I use it for singing metal and rock music, which means it handles high screams, raspy vocals and growls very well. I also record the voice for my vlogs and the final products are great.
10/10 would reccomend.
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Better than expected
newtonpix 22.12.2023
this has got everything you expect from a good Microphone except the price, best value for this kind of item .
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superb mic for the money
Andy389 11.01.2015
The t.bone SC400 is an amazing mic for this price and we've been very impressed by the sound quality. I'm no mic expert but after using a shure for studio vocal recording for a couple of years, the t.bone has transformed the sound of our singers. I was expecting improved recordings but didn't expect the difference this mic made: much warmer and more rounded quality. I've been using it for a couple of years now and it seems extremely robust (although it never leaves the studio so it doesn't have a hard life.) And there's even something about the classic "BBC" appearance of the mic in it's anti-vibration sling that seems to bring out better performances: singers seem to have a sense that they need to do justice to what looks like a very professional piece of equipment. (I could be imagining that of course but psychology in the studio is important.)
Delivery was extremely quick (although Thomann's delivery is always impressive in my experience).
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SJ
A perfect starter mic
Social Jay 21.07.2020
I wanted to start streaming and I knew I would need a good, clear sounding mic to satisfy any viewers I had. This mic has been perfect for me. I find it very clear and highly sensitive. Please understand, I am no audio pro and no doubt a mic costing 10x more will produce a better sound but for a live stream at 6,000 kb/s (Twitch) or the mono audio of a Facebook stream, this mic already produces far beyond the quality of the compressed stream audio.

When EQ'ing for the mic, I cut a lot from the lows and some from the mid and a slight boost at the high end. I add a tiny bit of reverb to thicken the signal and a compressor to level it all out nicely. I do this from a Behringer QX1002USB mixer. With a little time, I was able to get a very nice sound.

My only complaint is the grille material which seems very soft and fragile, I managed to dent it slightly with my thumb when moving the mic in the mount. This is partially my fault but something of which to be aware.

For a starter mic, you can't beat it. For the price, it's hard to believe. It may be simple, with no pickup pattern selector or low cut filter, but what can you expect for the money? It produces very clear, crisp sound at a price anyone can afford and that's what really mattered to me.
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t.bone SC 400
Silverlime 07.06.2022
Good value for money. Made very well. Small and durable. Sound - recommend using with an equalizer.
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Price quality.
Anonymous 04.11.2015
It is obvious that with this microphone we not top quality, because we are talking about a not very expensive microphone, a reasonable price, normal that we do not have top quality. But seeing the price for the microphone is very good! With a good sound card, we can make a good quality. Captures well the voice, I left quite clear if we have a good acoustics as well. I hope to buy, not disappointed me!
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NC
Man, you gotta try it on guitar cabs.
Nino Colapso 14.10.2019
After listening to several demos I decided to give it a shot. I was looking for a condenser mic I could use on guitar amps, without breaking the bank. It really does the job, much better than I expected. I was after recreating Allan Holdsworth's approach on recording guitars. Although this is not a U87, don't let the price fool you. It's a solid mic with an internal high pass filter switch that makes it suitable for a lot of purposes. It has a very nice mid bump that cuts through the mix with ease but it can also result a bit too much on female voice. I put a windscreen on it and now sibilance seems to be more under control when used on vocals. This also helps to tame the harsh top end on some amps. I am pretty satisfied with it. Give it a try!
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the t.bone SC 400