This is a nice microphone to you use in pairs.   In my experience I've found its sound to be a little brittle, or on the harsh side.   I'd prefer a different set of small condensers for the same price if recording, but when it comes to live sound, these can't be beat in terms of durability.   I have used these in some different recording situations, and am happy with the end result.   When it comes to recording, its more about what you do with the mic, then it is, what mic you use, anyways.

My favorite recording I've done with the C 1000 S's was of a string ensemble.   I had a pair of C 1000 s's in an XY formation angled a little wider than normal and a 414 set to omni.   I miced the string ensemble in a traditional way, as most would - XY, at a comfortable distance from the players relative to how wide spread they were.   And back far enough to capture a small amount of the room.   I then placed the 414 dead center of the ensemble - right in front of the conductor, of which made him a bit skeptical.

I was very pleased with the finished recording, and surprised the conductor with how much the 414 helped the overall sound.   (Classical musicians never like more microphones then there has to be.   If they had it their way, we would only get to use a stereo pair, set in XY.   That being said, the same goes with Jazz musicians) I AB'd for the conductor, the difference between the mix with and without the 414, and I had him won over. The 414 helped to control the wide stereo spectrum and add a little more oomph.   In mixing, I kept the 414 low in the mix, allowing the C 1000s to control the core of the sound, and pulled a small amount of hi-mids out of the C 1000s just around where that harshness they posses seems to come in.

The C 1000s work very well for drum overheads, acoustic guitars, choruses (ensembles of any sort), and hand percussion.   They seem like they can handle any situation one might put them in.

I've noticed, over the last couple of years, the C 1000s have dropped some in price.   I think the new price better suits them for their worth, and, if I were in the market for small condensers, these would be a good pick - especially if I needed the microphones to be durable.   One nice feature the mic possesses is that if there is no phantom power available, you can use a 9V battery - making it easily adaptable to any situation.   Although I find the harshness in the high-mid range to be irritating, that sound can also be very useful.   It's nice to have choice, and its nice to use equipment with unique characteristics.   Who wants to live in a bland and flat world anyways? - Adam