AKG C 3000 B

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

This is a large diaphragm condenser microphone. It thus requires a pre-amp with phantom power to operate correctly. It's a large diaphragm condenser, so I haven't had much use for it outside of the studio. I don't know if there really is a practical application for it outside of the studio, except perhaps to mic a piano at a concert hall.
It has a cardioid pickup pattern, which makes it somewhat less functional than some of the other mics of this nature that have multiple pickup patterns. However, it is much cheaper than many large diaphragm condensers.

OVERALL OPINION

I like using this mic for a lot of different things. I'll use it on vocals at home, and some other uses in the studio. I particularly like using it on pianos, voice (especially spoken word), acoustic guitars (especially ones that aren't too bright), as a room mic (mono, usually) for drums or even guitar cabinets, and even on string sections as a stereo pair with another mic. I find that it has a lot of uses in general.
When I compare it to a U87, which I often use as the standard in judging small diaphragm condensers, I have to say it doesn't hold up that well, but that mic is way more expensive, so that's to be expected. It also has two more patterns than the AKG C 3000 B, so that's another thing it has against it. The cardioid pattern of this mic is actually not drastically worse than the cardioid pattern on that mic when I'm using it at home. It takes a really nice pre-amp to "amplify" the difference, if you will. So I'd say this is a great bet for the home studio owner, given the price and quality of it!