my c3000b sounds like crap

[ralf]

i bought an akg c 3000 b for a vocal mic when i first started recording about 3 years ago. i was a great mic at the time and has been ok until now. it sounds like vocals are being sung into a glass cup. i'm looking for something a little more clearer. is there anything in a similar price range that would be better. like the AT 4040? any other suggestions are welcome. thanks!
-ralf

[thecongo]

I personally never really liked the large diaphragm AKGs except for the 414. But I swear by my c1000s for drum overheads. Why dont you look at some studio projects. I know that it may seem cliched. But I really dig the way that they sound.

[littledog]

I was gonna say that if your C3000 sounds like crap, you probably got one of the better ones.

As far as C1000's sounding great on drums (or anything else), my question would be: compared to what?

[cominginsecond]

Ralf,

Do I know you? If I do, my handle would mean something to you.

jeremy

[jake-owa]

Hmmm...am I deaf?

I like my c3000 for my voice and recording style.

What am I missing?

[pundit]

All this AKG bashing... better watch out the AKG Gestapo might get you!!

[Harvey Gerst]

The original AKG C3000 had some serious high frequency peaks that would create problems with many voices and instruments, but, given the right voice and the right guitar, it could sound amazing. But in the years I owned the original, I only found a few times when it was slightly better than the other mics I owned. It wasn't earning it's keep and I finally sold it.

The AKG C3000b has a very hollow, almost like singing into a cardboard box kind of sound to me. I can't think of any possible application I might have for a C3000b.

The AKG C1000 suffers from a similar high end peakyness. The peaks are very sharp and you can't just dial them out with eq. Because of the excessive high end, some people find them useful for overheads, but those peaks are still there and quite audible if you know what to listen for.

The main problem is that there are a lot better mics out there now for a lot lower price. If you already have these mics and you're satisfied with them, use them and don't worry about what others think.

If you have them and you hear the peakyness I'm describing, or you're thinking of buying a new C1000, I would advise buying a mic other than the C1000, and you'll wind up with a better mic and save some money.

Pundit,

I hope this post doesn't constitute "AKG Gestapo" bashing. It's just my opinion of the problems with these two microphones, based on owning and listening to them pretty extensively, and careful comparisons with similar microphones.

[pundit]

Originally posted by Harvey Gerst
...Pundit,

I hope this post doesn't constitute "AKG Gestapo" bashing. It's just my opinion of the problems with these two microphones, based on owning and listening to them pretty extensively, and careful comparisons with similar microphones.

Harvey,

It wasn't supposed to be serious. It's just a bit of a loose reference to a couple of previous threads...

My C-1's sound awful

&

Studio Projects Thought Police

If you get my drift.

Cheers

[TheGuitarMan]

It's funny how people use mics in situations they weren't designed for and wonder why they sound like crap...

This, however, is not the case. Apparently, the c3000 was designed to sound like dog poo in most any situation.

[TheGuitarMan]

...and if you really like that c3000, i'll sell you my ultra-cool Nady Starpower 9 for $20.

[Michael Jones]

I have a C1000 too.
I was so dissapointed in that mic when I first got it.
It pretty much sits in the locker now and never sees the light of day. What a waste.

[Richard Monroe]

Harvey, I'm interested in your opinion on C2000B. I generally share everyone's opinion of C3000B, But the C2000B, a mid size diaphragm mic, has yielded some surpriseingly useful tracks for me on vox, cabs, and acoustic guit. Do I need to get the cotton batting out of my ears, or is this actually a useful mic?-Richie

[mixsit]

Originally posted by Harvey Gerst
The original AKG C3000 had some serious high frequency peaks that would create problems with many voices and instruments, but, given the right voice and the right guitar, it could sound amazing. But in the years I owned the original, I only found a few times when it was slightly better than the other mics I owned. It wasn't earning it's keep and I finally sold it.

The main problem is that there are a lot better mics out there now for a lot lower price. If you already have these mics and you're satisfied with them, use them and don't worry about what others think. <snip>

2nd that emotion. I bought into the early C3000's at around $350 each. Hey, what a deal. The 414's are $1k. NOT.
Sometimes they get used on blues harp amp, guitar amps. Low roll off at a few inches and the peakies can work there.
Wayne

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally posted by Richard Monroe
Harvey, I'm interested in your opinion on C2000B. I generally share everyone's opinion of C3000B, But the C2000B, a mid size diaphragm mic, has yielded some surpriseingly useful tracks for me on vox, cabs, and acoustic guit. Do I need to get the cotton batting out of my ears, or is this actually a useful mic?-Richie

Sorry, I've never heard the C2000, so I really can't say anything about it. It is quite possible that the C2000B is just right for your voice and your acoustic guitar.

The C3000 (the original, not the B version) wasn't a bad mic per se, just not very useful for what I paid for it (at the time, the AKG C3000 retailed for around $850). For a few voices and a few guitars, it was absolutely wonderful, but it only worked great on a few voices and damned few guitars. So I sold mine.

[Richard Monroe]

Wayne, where are you located? I paid $550 for my C414B-ULS, and I could've had the C414TL II for $700. Are you talking about a pair?-Richie

[mixsit]

I'm on the left coast.
Seriously though, this was a bunch of years ago.
Interesting that for a while people were saying that the 'B' was a big improvement over the first.
Wayne

[mixsit]

...What really chapped my ass, was about a six months after I bought, they went down to about half the cost.
I guess the gig was 'up' 'bout then.
Wayne

[chessparov]

I sold mine to a local studio owner who uses it sometimes on female
vocalists. It was too thin and bright sounding for my taste.

Chris

[chessparov]

ralf, what kind of sound are you looking for?
You know it doesn't always have to a condenser on vocals,
a good dynamic or ribbon microphone can sound excellent too.
Generally, however, I think the Studio Projects stuff is a fine value though,
and now they have a variety of condensers with different tones.

Chris