AKG Electrostatic microphones

The AKG Solidtube is a large diaphragm tube based condenser microphone that is designed for use in the recording studio. As is the case with all tube condenser mics, I wouldn't recommend using this mic anywhere outside of the studio, meaning they aren't designed for live sound. The mic comes with its own power supply and shock mount. OVERALL OPINION While I don't own an AKG Solidtube, I recently used it at a recording studio and have to say that I was pretty impressed. I used it on both lead vocals and acoustic piano and found that this mic excelled well with both applications. It is great for close micing in order to get a richer and more detailed sound. While it isn't my favorite tube microphone, it is definitely quite respectable and does have a great tone quality. While I haven't had the chance to use it for more applications, I'm confident that I would be able to find a number of other ones that this would work well for. It is definitely a rich sounding microphone and is perfect for anything where you would want to capture some depth in a sound. The price of the mic is about right for a mic of this stature and is accessible to both home and professional studio owners. It is right in the middle of being a high quality microphone in terms of price range as it won't cost more than other tube mics out there, but it is really a give and take here. If you are a home studio owner looking for an all in one tube mic without spending a couple of grand, this is a great choice for you. It would also be a good choice for the professional who is looking to expand their collection without spending the money it would take to get a top tier tube mic. All in all, AKG Solidtube is a great tube mic and is one that I would definitely recommend checking out.

The AKG perception 200 (name was changed to 220, so look that up instead if you are researching this mic) is the middle of the road large diaphragm condenser mic in AKG's budget or home studio line of microphones. The mic is extremely cheap for the sound quality. I won't say that this mic sounds great, because quite frankly it doesn't, but it's a big improvement over the cheaper AKG 120. This mic has a larger capsule size, which I think helps contribute to the sound of this mic seeming to be a little fuller and warmer. It still can tend to sound a little tinny or harsh, such as when you are recording a female vocalist, but overall it's not too bad. The mic is pretty versatile, and will do an okay job capturing most sources. The transients on this mic are surprisingly good and realistic sounding, I would say even better than the Perception 170 which has a smaller diaphragm. This mic also has more features which increase its value. It comes with a nice aluminum carrying case to protect it, and it also comes with a spider style shock mount. Also helping to eliminate bass rumble is the switchable high pass filter that you get with this. The filter is generally a plus, however I really feel that it starts cutting lows at too high of a frequency, so that unless whatever you're recording is really and truly bassy and boomy, your signal will just end up sounding flat and empty with no body. You can't change the cardioid pattern on this mic, so you don't get the added value that a switchable pattern mic can bring to your studio. OVERALL OPINION My friend has this mic and I have borrowed on numerous occasions when I was doing mic shootouts on a few instruments. At less than $200 the mic is a pretty good starting point for the home studio that wants to invest beyond an SM58 in their microphone selection. You will definitely want to get a pop filter with this mic, because for some reason it seems overly sensitive to plosives when you are close miking a vocalist. The price is low and the quality is a little better than average, so this mic is a pretty good value. At this price point this is definitely one of the better condenser mics out there. AKG is a reliable company too, so these mics are definitely built to last.

I have a consecutive pair of these amazing mics. Multipattern and Pad db and Highpass switch too. Front side silver grill, rear of mic has black grill for easy orientation at a glance. Super precise and accurate, with a large diaphragm to capture all the low-end goodness. Each pattern truly does what it should, and the rejection difference is noticable per pattern, which makes mic placement relatively easy. Fairly heavy mic, aprox 7-800g, but feels incredibly solid, compact, and oozes quality. The XLR is integral to the stalk under the mic body which also is the area the mic clips attach to. The sound is 'rich' and detailed, from lows to highs. The soundscape is supremely beleivable from a stereo pair. Difficult to see how it could get better than this at any price. The 414EB were the Daddy to the other 414-varieties out there . . Vintage, and built to last a lifetime these are serious studio mics . Awesome mics.

AKG C 414 B-XL II is a recording mic that can be used as well for live performances. It uses a condenser technology that gives a wide dynamic range and a rich sound. OVERALL OPINION The thing that I like most about it is how well it captures the recording, it can be used to record various type of musical instruments and still capture all the overtones, which I find very importantly in terms of mixing and arranging. Another great features of this product is that it adds some warmth and bite to the vocals that can make a huge difference in some more rocky songs or ballads. AKG C 414 B-XL II is a pretty expensive mic , it costs around 1000 $ however it can be as well as well by some Pro's or just some amateurs because the manual and the connection with your working soft is pretty easy and fast to manage. A really unique features that this product has is the multiple patterns which is practically having several different mic's . Precision and quality of the sound is very high,it has an ncredible Dynamic Range, with a low 6 dB-A self-noise, and a dynamic range of 152 dB. It has nine switchable pickup patterns, three bass-cut filters and three pad levels to suit any type of sound input. Peak Hold LEDs illuminate to display overload peaks that is really helpful when you're recording with an vocalist. It comes with AKG's PF 80 pop filter, foam windscreen, spider-suspension shock mount, and foam-lined aluminum flight case, having said that, with a good preamp you can get a very deep yet pro sound quality. Knowing what I know, I'm not quite sure if I would buy the mic again because it's quite expensive, however it money isn't a problem, you should check this mic and buy some high quality preamp, that way you can get those great sounds that you've searching for.

the AKG C414 is very sleek looking and in my opinion the most versitale in the $1,000 price range. I always heard great things about the C414 so I decided to try it out one day in the studio. Its not become my main vocal mic besides the U87. The AKG C414 versatility is crazy. Has every pick up pattern you can think of. It has a total of 9 patterns. There is a -6db, -12db, and -18db pad, and a 40hz, 80hz, and 160hz roll off on the mic. So you really have options when it comes to this mic. I LOVE the 160hz roll off for vocals. I haven't seen a mic that lets you roll off that much. Its less I have to do when it comes to the mix. The first thing I noticed that it wasn't huge mic, so putting it up on a mic stand was no problem. Large mics like a U87 can be heavy for some mic stands. no complaints. I haven't used this mic on anything besides vocals and it really shines there. Build quality is good. Mic is not very heavy so again it should work on any stand you throw at it. Pair with a nice tube or clean pre and you've got magic. Especially when rolling 160hz off for vocal recordings. Yes the mic is $1,000, but for that price you are getting an extremely versatile mic. This mic can be used in pretty much any studio application. If you had to get just one mic and have it be a workhorse this would be a good choice. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

12 years playing guitar, 8 years teaching, 6 years of live sound engineering, 6 years professional recording. I picked up two of these units for $350 CAD . I picked them up cause I was fed up of owning a great acoustic guitar and not being able to capture the awesome tone. The natural sound of this condensor mic is it's best feature. Not hyped, not weak, not bassy... what you hear is what you get. The price tag is worth it. A bonus are the presence boost adapter and the hypercardiod adapter. The mic comes in a beautiful silver case, and includes a mic clip, a windscreen, and the above mentioned adapters. Another notable feature is the ability to run off of a 9 volt battery or phantom power. Not alot of gain, I have to really get my mic pres running hot to get a good signal. Which is good, unless you a] want a really clean signal or b] have a cheap/crappy pre. Also the adapters for the presence boost and hypercardiod pattern change are dangerous-feeling to apply and remove, due to the capsule being so small and fragile. The construction of the unit is awesome. A large metal cylinder, heavy-guage wire mesh covering the capsule, perfect printing on the mic itself, it is a beautiful unit. The only thing I don't like is how bad it feels using the included attachments. No other small diahpragm mic in this price range is a better choice for drum overheads, acoustic guitars, and other acoustic instruments where the clarity of a condenser is required. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased the microphone during a 10% off sale at the Mars Music superstore in Orlando, Florida. The pre tax price for the mic during the sale was $261. Due to the savings, I thought it would be a good time to purchase the mic for my small home studio. The AKG C 3000 B large diaphram studio condensor microphone is a fine performer for the natural reproduction of both vocals and musical instruments during recording. My particular recording interests are mainly for vocals and acoustic guitar. I wanted one microphone that was suitable for both, as well as, overhead use. The broad frequency response, (20 hz to 20 khz), combined with the capability for frequency contouring and cardioid capture pattern are desirable for the various possible recording situations that may arise in the studio. The microphone may actually be configured for cardioid and hypercardioid patterns and has a 10 db pad to accommodate louder sources. The supplied internal shock mount protects the element from rumbles and vibrations within the source room. Another desirable feature of the C 3000 B is the ease in placing the mic in the "sweet spot" of a musical instrument. Some condensors do not provide a pleasant spatial image unless placed and angled just right. The AKG mic seems to provide a larger capture area with regard to a desirable spatial tonality. This feature has another important secondary effect. It provides a comfortable distance from the performer, especially an instrumentalist. A comfort zone is maintained, allowing the musician to record without feeling restricted. If a musician is more comfortable during a long recording session, better results may be attained. I recommend the AKG C 3000 B Studio Microphone for it's wide range of applications, and it's abillity to deliver a professional recording product. The $300 price range for this microphone may prohibit some enthusiasts from considering the AKG C 3000 B. The AKG C 3000 B has an all metal case and includes a full shock mount. The diaphram is gold vaporized in a 27 mm capsule. The AKG C 3000 B out performs studio condensors that are considerably more expensive. The versatility of the microphone makes it a fine choice for the variable recording applications that may be presented in a studio environment. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The AKG C 414b ULS is a mult directional condenser mic. The mic has a rather large diaphragm and is made to work well with all of your vocal needs. This mic is very professional and it was made just for that, professionals! You really don’t need to have this mic, its an older mic that I don’t think they still make it. Its seem in a lot of older studio’s that are staying vintage. You can also use it for guitars and brass instruments. I am not too sure how it can handle the thump of live drums though because I have never used it for that. OVERALL OPINION This mic is very flexible and offers a wide frequency range. This is a mic that is top of the line for recording live instruments it really cant get much better than this mic. Sad thing is you will pay for it! This mic will cost you around 1100 dollars or so and that’s if you can find someone who is dumb enough to sell it too you. There is no way I would sell this if I had one! I would never have on of these for myself though because I record at home and just do some basic stuff. But there is a studio about 30 miles from here that uses this mic from time to time and I love the natural sound that it produces and there is no need for cutting a lot of frequencies off with it either. So if you can afford this mic and find someone who is selling it (good luck) I say get it now! You wont find a better mic that can be this versatile that is semi affordable. Most newer mics that have this kind of quality cost well over 1100 (the cost of this one). Find one if you can..

The AKG C 452 EB is a smaller diaphragm condesor mic. These are meant to be nice studio mics. Shure made a sliding scale for the different mic types, and these are the entry level small diaphragm condensers. I have used all 3 of the types, and there are definitely noticeable differences. This one also lacks a couple features. What it does have a is a small diaphragm capsule, which is going to give this mic an advantage in transient response and high frequency reproduction. This mic does better with those tasks than most large diaphragm mics do, so for the more sensitive instruments you'll want to record, you will do well with one of these. They also work great in a pair for stereo recording. There is a -15dB pad on these mics, in case you are mic’ing up something very loud and want to avoid distortion. They connect with an XLR cable, and they do need phantom power to work. They don't have a low-cut roll-off filter switch unfortunately, so you may need to use some EQ after recording something with one of these. The pickup pattern on these is cardioid, and it is a very tight cardioid. To my ears it really sounds more like hyper-cardioid. OVERALL OPINION A lot of other mics sound better in almost every application, and they have more features. If you can afford it, I would really suggest saving the extra money to get the 141's. Overall though, these really are not bad, on the contrary they sound fairly good, but the 141's are just superior. The 109's are pretty cheap though, so they are a good value. I wouldn't get them again, but I would recommend them to someone on a really tight budget that cant afford to have the upgrades right away. But that’s not saying that the C452 EB isn’t a quality mic because it is. I just feel like there are more mics on the market that can give you a better sound for a little more money.

The AKG C 412 was one of the first condenser mics that we purchased and used thoroughly and we didn’t know much about mics at first so I sat down and listed to every mic in the three hundred dollar range and this one sounded the best. Took it home and plugged it in and I quickly realized that I was not going to be able to just use it sitting in front of my computer like the cheap mics I had been using. This mic is very professional and will give you a very clean accurate sound without having to do any type of eq to the vocals. I hate when recording a vocal, then having to go back and open it up in eq and take out all the un needed low end sounds. That is a very lengthily process. And takes away from my creativity when I have to spend so much time doing eq. OVERALL OPINION It is extremely sensitive and picks up every sound in the room. Moved the mic into my walk in closet and that's when the magic started. It's got a very clean sound that (at least to me) very accurately reproduces sound. The highs are crisp without being harsh and the mids are nice soft and round. It has bottom end as well and it's very clean and tight. All in all I'd have to say the mic is extremely precise and will give you a true representation of whatever you record. Just make sure you have nothing going on in the background, even a car passing by outside the window (with the window shut) can still be picked up by this mic. We had to order some more pads for the walls when we used this mic. But once you space is treated properly you will be extremely happy using this mic, we used it for about a year before we upgraded . But this one served its purpose and gave us great sounding records.

The AKG C 12 mic is one of the best tube condenser mics in history, flat out! It is a ide address, large diaphragm design. The AKG c 12 is a top of the line mic and is the reason a lot of other mic exist such as the 414 series and the Telefunken’s Ela M 250. A lot of modern manufacturers have come out with products that are trying to emulate the AKG c 12. But none of them can compare to this high quality mic. OVERALL OPINION We have used these mics in several different studio’s and are looking to purchase one of our own soon. We have used this mic for a lot of RnB recordings because of the range that it can pick up. Its truly amazing. Not too mention how it sounds with live instrument recordings especially the grand piano. It picks it up perfectly that if you hear it played back you will think the piano is being played live right in front of you . That is the whole purpose of recording live instruments is to give the listen the feeling of sitting in front of the actual instrument and hearing it played live. Overall there are a ton of mics on the market and a lot of them have the same specs, but this one is the originator for a lot of these mics that are coming out now. It was way ahead of its time, this mic will be very expensive if you can come across one. They are very hard to find, believe me I am currently looking to buy one. It will cost a pretty penny but its worth it, the quality is outstanding not to mention the look and feel of it. It has a lot of weight too it, it feels like a mic should feel. This mic was used through the mid 60’s and 70’s and has recorded a ton of hits. This is the one!

The AKG C 460 B is a discontinued small diaphragm condenser microphone, best suited for use in the recording studio. There are a few different versions of the C 460, but this review is for the original. The mic has a huge frequency range, picking up sound from all the way down at 5 Hz to 30 kHz. It’s got a standard cardioid pick up pattern and also has a low cut option at both 70 Hz and 150 Hz. It’s also got a -10 db pad… OVERALL OPINION The AKG C 460 B is great for all applications where you might want to use a small diaphragm condenser as it’s just a really solid mic overall. I don’t own the mic but used it a bunch at the studio that I worked at before the one I’m working at now. I’ve used it for recording acoustic guitar, mandolin, violin, and a few other things here and there. Unfortunately we only had one of these mics, otherwise I would have loved to have tried it in a stereo pair for recording drums or otherwise. AKG makes really solid microphones at reasonable prices, and the C 460 B definitely falls right in line with this. Even though they’re no longer making the mic, I think that they’re still pretty readily available and it shouldn’t be too hard to get your hands on a used one. You can definitely find the 460 is some form even if it’s not this original one, as these seems to be a bit more hard to find than the others. Most of the AKG small diaphragm condensers are going to be pretty solid, but this one is up there with the best that I’ve used and is quite comparable to the AKG 451 which is also an outstanding small diaphragm condenser. I’d definitely recommend the AKG C 460 B as a general purpose, small diaphragm condenser mic for the studio.