Do AKG C430's suck or is it just me?

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Freudian Slip

Freudian Slip

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I have two akg c430 overhead mics. I got them in a kit and since pretty much everything else sucks... Well you know. I tryed some recording using them as overheads and I have never been happy. I do however not have much experiance recording drums. I can get pretty good, but the OH sound has never been very good. Grant it pretty poor room but I was hoping the cardoid pattern would help with that some.

Anyway I was looking at some MXL 993's when I came across these C430's for $199.00 a peice :eek:

So I am hesitant to blow $170.00 on the mxl's if it's really me & the drums that are sucking :D

I would love to put the money tward a nice preamp.

What do you say. Has anyone used these?

Thanks

F.S.
 
I love my AKG c430s. I've used them on piano, gang vocals, and always on drums. I've been very happy with them, but I can't say if it's you or the mics :). Might just not be your favorite flavor.
 
Cult_Status02 said:
I love my AKG c430s. I've used them on piano, gang vocals, and always on drums. I've been very happy with them, but I can't say if it's you or the mics :). Might just not be your favorite flavor.
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Well. I know alot of it is the room, and the set is pretty good but some of the cymbals suck to me.

I'm going to try some vox and accoustic guitar and see what I get.
If they are passible that will answer my question for sure.

I think I will get a decent pre amp instead of new OH mic's.

Who knows the pre's may bring these to life.

F.S.
 
How do the OH's sound in solo? Have you tried them as an ORTF pair right above the center of the drumkit?

I can't believe these mics suck.
 
I've always used them as a spaced pair. I may be getting some phase issues.
Most recently I tried them for some close micing. I'll solo the channels on that recording (just did it). I'll try your suggestion. I have soloed them many times as a spaced OH's and they do sound pretty good on the toms and the snare at times. It's the brass that's killing me. Our drummers brass is not the most expensive or the cheapest. It's all zildjian, sabain and paiste.

I'm going to mess with them more and seriously try to talk our drummer into going down to two or 3 cybals. He has 6 up right now and it's like a canopy over the whole kit. I think that's my real problem. It may look impressive but it sounds like shit. It also forces me to put the overheads in places less than optimum.

Wow, a moment of clarity:D some cymbals are hitting the chopping block!



F.S.
 
I've been saying this a couple of times, a good drumsound starts with a good drummer. Wanna sound like John Bonham? Play like John Bonham and two Beyer M160's are enough for a killer drumsound.

That's how things work, many drummers sound like poop on the most expensive drumkits, perfectly tuned, with killer sounding cymbals. And they still manage to sound like crap.

Having that said, I can make a pretty good drumsound with a couple of $25 microphones, depends on the drummers quality.

Put Steve Gadd behind a decent drumset and put two RS PZM's on the floor in front of the kit and you'll have a more than decent drumsound.
 
Han said:
I've been saying this a couple of times, a good drumsound starts with a good drummer. Wanna sound like John Bonham? Play like John Bonham and two Beyer M160's are enough for a killer drumsound.

That's how things work, many drummers sound like poop on the most expensive drumkits, perfectly tuned, with killer sounding cymbals. And they still manage to sound like crap.

Having that said, I can make a pretty good drumsound with a couple of $25 microphones, depends on the drummers quality.

Put Steve Gadd behind a decent drumset and put two RS PZM's on the floor in front of the kit and you'll have a more than decent drumsound.
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Drummer not a problem. He's taken first a couple times at jazz festivals and such.

F.S.
 
I'm going to be submitting a video for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra contest. After I record it, I'll post a clip of it, as the OHs are the c430's.
 
Cult_Status02 said:
I'm going to be submitting a video for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra contest. After I record it, I'll post a clip of it, as the OHs are the c430's.
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Cool!

F.S.
 
I use them on piano and drums, and i really like them. Granted, they are the best SDC I have, but i do like them!
 
Well I guess I need to do some more work with them and some more work on the drums and room.

I honestly was blown away when I saw them for $200.00 each. To me they just don't seem to have the clarity and sheen I would expect.

I think I'll kill all the other mic's except the kick and the c430's and work on that sound until it sounds good then go from there.

Thanks

F.S.

"Big Kenny: It's just you..."

What took you so long? I expected this first response;)
 
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