Richard Monroe
Well-known member
I've been thinking about a general post for a long time, because AKG makes enough models to drive anyone to drink. My first experience was in 1980 when my friend Maureen Fleming and I were doing a sound check for a "Horsefeathers" concert. I was using an SM58, and she was using an unknown AKG. I sounded like pure mud. We switched mics, and she sounded like mud (with a voice like Carrie Underwood, that ain't right). So we put up another AKG, and the world was OK. Except for some studio shootouts, that's the last time I ever willingly sang into an SM57/58. I will admit to using SM7B extensively, including on stage, and I like it just fine.
In the 60's, 70's, and 80's, as the Shure SM series became the stage standard in the USA, European groups were more often than not using AKG's. Among other mics, AKG's were used by the Beatles, the Who, Pink Floyd, and many others. In competition, AKG began to produce cheaper and cheaper mics, with bizzillions of confusing model designations, for no good reason. Today AKG probably builds more models of cheap dynamics that suck than any other company on Earth.
For right now, I want to concentrate on handheld dynamics, but I may, in a later installment, get into such gems as C535 and C900. What I'm trying to do here is help the clueless to sort out the AKG mics that really are good for something from the el cheapos I wouldn't even use for karaoke. I plan to write more later about percussion mics, but right now, here's my spin on handhelds-
Cheap mics I have no use for- D77,88,8000,9000,2200,2300,55,2002,590.
These are all $30-50 mics, and they might as well just make 3- a cardioid, a hypercardioid, and a supercardioid. For all intents and purposes, they are all the same mic- grainy, with hyped mids, and a nasty, abrupt proximity field.
Better mics- D660 is usable, but very particular with placement. It is hypercardioid, and finicky. Much better sound.
D770- cardioid, and an underated gem. Good for backing vocals, excellent for voiceovers, and an all round good mic for snare, cabs, brass/sax, or whatever. Maybe the best overall bang for the buck in the AKG handheld dynamic line. The predecessor was D690, a very usable mic you can still find cheap. The D690 was used extensively by Pearl Jam, both on stage, and in the studio. I believe the D770 uses the same capsule, but with upgraded electronics.
D880- This is the supercardioid of the series, and everything I said about D660 holds true. The pattern on this sucker is so tight, I can't even use it for a vocal mic. It might be OK on cabs, or anything else that doesn't move around.
D3700/D3800- The "tripower" series, the D3700 is cardioid, and the D3800 is supercardioid (you will find it incorrectly called hypercardioid by numerous online dealers). These are simply great dynamics, which haven't sold well in the U.S. I think that that is largely because of AKG's confusing laundry list of model numbers for cheap bad mics. These mics sound strikingly like condensers, like an MD 421 or even an MD441. Proximity is gradual, linear, and magnificently usable. The handling noise is a bit much if you are not careful, and I prefer them in a stand. I just picked up a D3800 for cheap, and I'm still testing it on a variety of sources. These mics simply rock.
Discontinued bargains- the D320/D330 series were made in the 70's and 80's, and are more of a rock workhorse than a stage mic for a diva. If you want a mic that falls somewhere between an SM57/58 and an MD421, that can be had for $50-60 used, check ebay- they come up fairly regularly.
An old D190 can rock. I've never gotten my hands on one, but the early Beatles used them extensively.
That will do for now. In my next installment, I try to sort out the mess of AKG drum mics.-Richie
In the 60's, 70's, and 80's, as the Shure SM series became the stage standard in the USA, European groups were more often than not using AKG's. Among other mics, AKG's were used by the Beatles, the Who, Pink Floyd, and many others. In competition, AKG began to produce cheaper and cheaper mics, with bizzillions of confusing model designations, for no good reason. Today AKG probably builds more models of cheap dynamics that suck than any other company on Earth.
For right now, I want to concentrate on handheld dynamics, but I may, in a later installment, get into such gems as C535 and C900. What I'm trying to do here is help the clueless to sort out the AKG mics that really are good for something from the el cheapos I wouldn't even use for karaoke. I plan to write more later about percussion mics, but right now, here's my spin on handhelds-
Cheap mics I have no use for- D77,88,8000,9000,2200,2300,55,2002,590.
These are all $30-50 mics, and they might as well just make 3- a cardioid, a hypercardioid, and a supercardioid. For all intents and purposes, they are all the same mic- grainy, with hyped mids, and a nasty, abrupt proximity field.
Better mics- D660 is usable, but very particular with placement. It is hypercardioid, and finicky. Much better sound.
D770- cardioid, and an underated gem. Good for backing vocals, excellent for voiceovers, and an all round good mic for snare, cabs, brass/sax, or whatever. Maybe the best overall bang for the buck in the AKG handheld dynamic line. The predecessor was D690, a very usable mic you can still find cheap. The D690 was used extensively by Pearl Jam, both on stage, and in the studio. I believe the D770 uses the same capsule, but with upgraded electronics.
D880- This is the supercardioid of the series, and everything I said about D660 holds true. The pattern on this sucker is so tight, I can't even use it for a vocal mic. It might be OK on cabs, or anything else that doesn't move around.
D3700/D3800- The "tripower" series, the D3700 is cardioid, and the D3800 is supercardioid (you will find it incorrectly called hypercardioid by numerous online dealers). These are simply great dynamics, which haven't sold well in the U.S. I think that that is largely because of AKG's confusing laundry list of model numbers for cheap bad mics. These mics sound strikingly like condensers, like an MD 421 or even an MD441. Proximity is gradual, linear, and magnificently usable. The handling noise is a bit much if you are not careful, and I prefer them in a stand. I just picked up a D3800 for cheap, and I'm still testing it on a variety of sources. These mics simply rock.
Discontinued bargains- the D320/D330 series were made in the 70's and 80's, and are more of a rock workhorse than a stage mic for a diva. If you want a mic that falls somewhere between an SM57/58 and an MD421, that can be had for $50-60 used, check ebay- they come up fairly regularly.
An old D190 can rock. I've never gotten my hands on one, but the early Beatles used them extensively.
That will do for now. In my next installment, I try to sort out the mess of AKG drum mics.-Richie