do AKG's suck?

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guitarfreak12

guitarfreak12

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I have been poking around in this site for a while, and there's one brand that never really makes it into the "best mic for under...., or best all around" etc. And that's AKG. Are they not really good? I was always under the impression (before HR.com) that AKG's were among the best of the best. I just have a chance to get a used AKG multi pattern LDC for about half price. And thought if it might be a bad idea.
 
They just have a lot of hits and misses.

Their hits are great, but their misses are pretty forgettable.
 
AKG does make really good mics, just not really good cheap mics. The 414's and D-112s are studio standards and have come down in price lately, but not what you would call cheap. In a world of LDC's for less than $100, An $800 mic is not going to make a 'bang for your buck' list.
 
i have been through tons of mics, and i never found an inexpensive mic i liked very much from ANY manufacturer. the akg c3000 was pretty much unuseable for me. the little c391b is not bad, though, and i have had jazz clients choose that mic over some much more expensive mics. however, it wasnt until i got past even the neumanns (i went through 3 pairs of km184s) and bought some schoeps and DPAs that i started getting mics that were what i was looking for (for me, that typically means a flat response curve, with no high-end emphasis). since that time, i have discovered that the AKG C480b is a superlative mic that holds its own with my DPA 4011s and schoeps cmc64s (i actually prefer the akg to the schoeps for all but diffuse field location work). the c480/ck61 is pretty much indistinguishable from the DPA 4011s in overdubbing situations. it is one of my favorite mics for all kinds of acoustic applications. the akg 414s are also, as mentioned above, a studio standard and a real workhorse of a mic. some of AKG's vintage mics are among the best mics in the world - the C12, C24, and the venerable telefunken ela-m251 - yummy...
 
only AKGs i really care for are the C414 EB. I love them and i always find new uses for them. I dont mind the C408s for tom clips. They are discontinued small clip on condensers. They come in real handy because of their size and clip. Sometimes work on toms if its country style. But i like to use them on horns and snare live. I havnt been a big fan of the D112. I havnt used them much but when i have i havnt been too impressed. Never tried any of the low budget condensers they have but i do think you can find better in the price range.

Danny
 
Basically, AKG laid an egg with C3000B and C1000S. They've made money selling them, but it hasn't done much for their reputation in the recording community. While not generally anywhere near the best of the best, the flagship C12 is still a pretty good mic. On the other hand, they build some excellent mid-priced workhorse mics-C414 (4 different versions, all of which are useful), C451, C4000B. They make one very usable cheap condenser, C2000B, one very good handheld condenser, C535, and some good cheap dynamics, particularly the old D320 and D330 series,D690, D770, and D112. Unfortunately, the multipattern condenser you are looking at is probably a C3000B, which I have no great love for. Their modular capsule Blue Line series are pretty good stage mics and overheads. In my experience, the most underated bang for buck winner in the group is C2000B, under $200 with the shock mount. It's the most versatile, usable condenser under $200 that I've used.-Richie
 
D112
C414
C451B

all are decent mics.

The band "Crossfade" recorded their own album in their basement, and the vocals were a C3000B. Must be somewhat useful I suppose! :)

Didn't hurt that the label paid Randy Staub to mix the album either.

War
 
I have an AKG 535EB that I have had for more than 15 years.
I used it as a live trumpet mic for most of that time.

What would you folks use it for in the recording realm?
 
I have an AKG 535EB that I have had for more than 15 years.
I used it as a live trumpet mic for most of that time.

What would you folks use it for in the recording realm?
 
Markd102 said:
Which mic do you have a chance to buy?
Click to expand...
That's what I'd like to know too... if he doesn't want it, maybe one of us would.

Paging guitarfreak12... guitarfreak12, to the white curiosity phone please. :)
 
ONE akg that is really awsome that nobody talks about is the N solidtube i use it through a seventh circle audio n72 and a real old akai all tube pre from the late 50's and for electric blues thats a little driven it rips right up there with the k2 for guitar and that is saying something.
 
I bought the C3000 (not "B") years ago when it was the first affordable LDC. I never liked it on anything. I had read that the C3000 can be great for bass and tried it last night for a tacked-on bass intro to a song.

G&L L-2000 - Ampeg SB-12 Portaflex (kida quiet) - C3000, pad on, hypercartoid setting, about 1' from the grill, dead center - Hamptone HJFP - Layla - Cool Edit Pro

Sounds fantastic - that raspy "edge" that makes the mic so hard to use was in EXACTLY the right place for this bass tone - probably the best bass sound I have gotten in the 10 years I have been tracking bass.
 
Thanks for the tip Ape32, I too have a C3000 lying around that don't see much (any) use. I've lately seen that people use it for floor toms, which could be a similar application. I'm gonna try both.

When it comes to AKG as a company, the C-414, D-112 and C-451 are studio standards, both in midclass and all the way up to the big leagues. Can't go wrong with one of these.
 
I used it for floor tom on a session and I liked the tone but the bleed was pretty excessive, at least in part because my tracking room is small
 
fraserhutch said:
I have an AKG 535EB that I have had for more than 15 years.
I used it as a live trumpet mic for most of that time.

What would you folks use it for in the recording realm?
Click to expand...

I have 4 of these that were purchased mainly for my live rig, but they constantly find their way into recording sessions.

They are one of the most versatile mics I've come across.

I use them anywhere I need extra SD condensers. They've been on acoustic guitars, amps, drums (close and OH), horns, strings, hand percussion, choirs and main and backing vocals.
They have never let me down. Whilst some of the appliactions I've used them for has not been ideal, I've always ended up with a track that is very useable.
 
To my mind with AKG it is the same story as with Neumann! As soon as they were owned by an american company, quality got stuck however. German AKG had been the leaders in condenser micing in the world and brought this technology to USA the early 40tees! Capsules like the C414 are top for almost 30 years now! Later AKG ha been moved to Austria and nowadays owned by Harman Kardon.

Generelly I woud say, that AKG offers mics from lowest to almost highest range, so you cannot say "AKG is good". I would say "AKG is multi market".

I am using C414, C391 and also C480 - a fine stereo set.

But the Top companies are more Schoeps. Gefell, DPA, Brauner and (still) Neumann. They only come with upper class micros-
 
I hope they don't suck. I just bought a C414B-XLS. It arrives in two business days. :)
 
You can't lose, Johnny. I expect you'll find the mic rocks. If not, you won't have much trouble selling it for most of what you paiid for it. Selling good gear is always easier than selling bad gear. I've got a lowly C414B-ULS, and they'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers!-Richie
 
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