Akg C1000s Mics

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wjgypsy

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I'M WANTING SOME GOOD OVERHEAD MICS FOR DRUMS AND I GOT ABOUT $300.00 TO SPEND ON SOME. I WAS LOOKING A THE AKG C1000S. ARE THEY ANY GOOD?
 
DEAR LORD, THIS IS HARD TO READ!!!

;)

I've got a couple and they did a bang up job as overheads...

BUT

There are other mics that work just as well for less money. Look in to the MXL603s. The nice thing about the c1000s, though, is that it can be battery powered for times when you don't have phantom power. I use them these days to capture audio clips for video- and lend to friends without powered pres.

Can you get 2 akgs for $300? I thought they were still around $200 ea.

Take care,
Chris
 
I personally don't care for the C1000's. we use a couple as drum overheads and they've never sounded good no matter what we do. My studio projects C1 sounds much better as a drum overhead and I'm sure there are better mics out there for even cheaper. I second the vote for the MXL603.
 
Octava Mc012 dude! Also AKG C2000B. Not only is it a fair overhead, but it is versatile in a wide variety of roles. Along with D112, it's one of my favorite AKG mics. Hell, it's a pretty good vocal mic, which I wouldn't say about C1000S. Everybody got hyped up about C3000B, which I am not particularly impressed by, and C4000, which I have not heard, and they came to the conclusion that C2000B was an also ran mic, but it has turned out to be one of the best deals I've gotten. I picked mine up at guitar center for $99, and hola, it's the #2 through #4 choice for almost everything. If I was getting a pair, I'd buy the 012's, but if I wanted just one that has a bunch of uses, I'd consider it.-Richie
 
AKG C1000S --- it's a condenser microphone which accepts phantom power from either an outside source or an internal battery. It can turn from cardiod to hypercardiod by adding a simple converter to the capsule.

The specs are at the AKG website.

I offer to sell you one (almost brand new) for US$150, converter included. How about that?
 
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Zeke-

I have a recent flier from Guitar Center and they are selling pairs of the C1000 for $150. If you don't have a Guitar Center nearby you might try Musicians Friend's website because they sometimes have the same gear on sale. (they are the same company)
 
Good grief, just please get something else. My ears are already starting to hurt. ;)
 
Yowsa! A pair for $150?! That's a good deal! (and more in line with the current prices for mics of this quality)

Perhaps I spend too much time defending this mic, but the hyped high end can be accounted for with mic placement. If you want to hear them in action, listen to the song "Mute" here:

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1247&alid=-1

Its acoustic guitar instead of drums (sorry) but it might give you a sense of the high end complaints people have about the mic. When I posted this tune in the clinic, only one person mentioned high end problems (after I said what mics I used, and a couple people were surprised that it was the c1000s.

I'd imagine it would be more sensitive to high end problems with cymbals, hats, and such as overheads...but these aren't horrible mics. They just aren't the best.

Oh, I should mention that I almost always use them with the hypercardiod capsule on. That might account for why they sound OK for such a "bad" mic. ;)

Take care,
Chris
 
The C1000's have been ubiquitous in pro studios for a long time and in the book "Behind the Glass" there use is mentioned a lot by top producers and engineers. They must have something going for them.
 
Wide Awake said:
The C1000's have been ubiquitous in pro studios for a long time and in the book "Behind the Glass" there use is mentioned a lot by top producers and engineers. They must have something going for them.
Click to expand...
When they were introduced, what they had going for them was the same hype as the infamous AKG C3000, and the fact that they were dual pattern, could use batteries, and were about the only low-priced game in town. AKG marketed it as a mic that could be used on stage or in the studio, and a lot people bought into the hype.

As drum overheads, the peaks in the high end often don't show up as obviously as they would on vocals, for example. If you have a dark sounding instrument, those peaks might even help brighten the sound, but it's far from a "natural" sound.

Most of the "pro studios" that I know either don't have them, or don't use them very much, if they do have them.
 
Wide Awake said:
Zeke-

I have a recent flier from Guitar Center and they are selling pairs of the C1000 for $150. If you don't have a Guitar Center nearby you might try Musicians Friend's website because they sometimes have the same gear on sale. (they are the same company)
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that is $150 each if you buy two. $300 for a pair. You can almost always get this deal at bayviewproaudio.com

Zeke,

I started off with the C1000s and then got the MXL603 for drum overheads. The 603 is much better, and cheaper, as drum overheads in my opinion. The C1000s definitely has its use. It sounds great on toms, and I kept one just so I could have a battery powered condensor. But if you are looking for drum overheads, you can do better for less.
 
I would be one of the pro studios in town that "has one". But I'm with Harvey on this. When I bought mine years ago, it was the only game in town at that price point. Other options were $500+.

However, even at that price the mic was soon banished to HH or under-snare duties, and as my cabinet expanded, soon it's main function was cabinet ballast.

I will grant that it does have a very satisfyingly solid weighty feel and heft. Perhaps it's best use would be to smack intruders upside the head.
 
I've heard soooooo many negative things about the C1000 (including from dozens of pros) over the past three years that I wouldn't buy one for even $50. Not when I can get the MXL 603s for $80 or the MC012 for $75-$100.

Not even for $25.
 
I suppose I should add that mine sit on the shelf most of the time, too. I get them out for recording sound for video and need decent sound without phantom power, and lend them to friends and such. Occasionally, I'll use them on a main guitar, more frequently on a background guitar. I love them when travelling with the laptop

I typically reach for the 603's first, though...

Take care,
Chris
 
I'm liking those 603's a lot more, the more I use them. They are really good at what they do.
 
has anyone tried/heard the new Rode NT5s (they are sold in stereo pairs)?....$300 for the pair


I have a pair of Rode NT3s that I like alot as OHs
 
pratt,

i was just about to ask about the nt5s. you say there good? do you have any song files that i could hear?
 
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