AKG C3000b very low gain?

[ishaybas]

HI mic experts!

Yesterday I purchased an AKG C3000b from some guy.
Coming back to my home studio, I realized the mic is putting a very low gain.

I need to increase the gain 3-4 times of any other condenser to hear the input in the same level, and as a result I can hear lots of noise and hiss.

I would like to try and fix this mic, what could be the problem in such cases?

Thank you!

Ishay Sommer

 

[mixsit]

Beyond opening it up carefully to see if anything is obviously broken?

 

[antichef]

I'm with mixsit -- sounds like failing connection, but the best way to be sure is to have a look

 

[LDT2]

This mic is probably one of the highest gain mics I own.

Do you have the -10dB pad engaged?

How about the 500Hz lowend rolloff?

Make sure that the pad is set to 0dB and the rolloff flat and you should have more than enough gain. If not then something is definitely wrong.

Lucio

 

[xstatic]

My gut says some sort of phantom power problem...

 

[dgatwood]

My gut says some sort of phantom power problem...

A mic might sound different with a low supply voltage (and might clip a lot earlier), but I'd be surprised if it was nearly silent unless the mic is using a voltage regulator as part of its power supply section or something....

My first guess would probably be more along the lines of a shorted film capacitor between the power supply for the capsule and ground. Just a gut feeling from having been there, overheated that while soldering.

It could also be a mostly-broken wire leading up to the capsule, or some other similar issue. The capsule could also be shorted due to excessive condensation. The cure for that involves sticking it under a hot incandescent light bulb overnight.

This is, of course, assuming that there's not a roll-off switch turned on or something.