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AKG C-4000 Condenser Microphone |
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The AKG C-4000 B is a large diaphragm condenser mic with a selectable polar pickup pattern. It can be used for piano, guitar, voice, guitar amps, brass and even drums. It’s inexpensive enough for use in home studios as well as professional recording studios. The 1 inch dual diaphragm is made of Mylar with gold-sputtered foil. The dual diaphragms allow the mic to operate in three different polar patterns: Omni, Cardioid, and Hyper-Cardioid. The polar patterns can be changed via a switch located on front of the mic. Omni mode is great for capturing large areas like live stereo recording, while cardioid and hyper-cardioid works well for voice and other instruments. The frequency response changes with the polar pattern but does extend up to 20 kHz and down to 20Hz. The mic doesn’t use a transformer (transformerless) but rather very small surface mount J-FET transistors, capacitors, and resistors to allow the diaphragm to be connected to a balanced low impedance line (XLR). It does require phantom power to electrify the electret capsule as well as the electronic components. It has a dynamic range of 137 dB and can handle up to 145dB (155dB with -10dB pad) at 0.5% distortion. The -10dB pad is turned on with a switch again located on the mic. This allows the mic to be used for very loud and/or very close miking situations such as guitar amps, kick drums, or bass amps. These instruments are very loud especially with close miking. There’s also a low frequency cut switch that is used for removing low frequency noise (thumps) from the signal as well as reducing the proximity effect. The high-pass filter is set at 100Hz with a -12 dB per octave rolloff. Low frequencies can still over power the mic element as the -10dB attenuation switch is post mic element output. If you can remove the low frequencies before it hits the mic that would be better, but if you can’t the low cut filter works great. The mic element also has an internal shock mount which reduces the amount of handling noise like that produced when the mic is on stand and the stand is bumped. There is also an H100 spider suspension shock mount which reduces this noise considerably. It’s recommended to use it whenever possible. Sometimes it just doesn’t work in close miking. You should be aware of where and what the cable plugged into the C-4000 is and if anything is moving it as the energy can travel up the cable in to the mic. This is also if the cable for instance is resting on the piano frame or soundboard. Another noise reducing feature is the built-in metal screen which is covered with the grid surrounding the mic element. It reduces most of the breath and pop plosives but there is also a 3mm thick piece of foam and does remove most of the breath and pop noises. It’s also great when recording outdoors. It does affect the frequency response a little. You may want to use an optional pop filter in front of this mic when using it on vocals. These are usually mounted on the mic stand. Features
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