Mike 2 and Mike 6 did the job!
Written: Jul 23 '05 (Updated Feb 13 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great live sound at a great price.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: Great sound at a great price. Very versatile mikes: can be used for saxes, guitar and high drums.
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| Saxguy's Full Review: AKG C1000S Twin Pack Professional Microphone |
I’ve been reviewing the various components used in my gig last weekend. This was the first one I had where I was providing a sound system for the performance. Most of my performances are for festivals or agencies that already have a sound system or are for smaller crowds, where I need little or no amplification.
This outdoor gig, as part of Munster, IN’s Sounds at Sunset had a potential audience of up to 500 people. Only about half as many came because of the heat but they were still dispersed enough so that I needed the power.
Our stage was on a gazebo on one end of a small park and the crowd took up much of the park.
I’ll talk as the epinions on the gig equipment go along, about my theory in how I started developing my still-incomplete system. However, I knew I was on a budget. I also knew that my band of choice, sax, guitar, bass and drums was going to need at least 6 mikes:
One (wireless, usually for tenor sax) for me, one each for bass and guitar, at least 2 for drums and one additional for a second sax (usually soprano) and for speech: tune and musician intros, CD announcements, etc.
Here’s a link for the review on my wireless mike, the AKG Pro35X
Audio Technica Pro 35x wireless mike
So, I set out to get good quality microphones for my band , making sure that I could cover the needs for my band. I looked at what was available from Ebay and other sources from reputable sellers, and product reviews. I identified the AKG C1000s early on as a versatile cost effective mike. It could be used for sax, guitar, tom-toms and cymbals, plus it could be a good mike for doing the various announcements I need during the gig like names of tunes, band introductions and selling my CDs.
I noticed that the street price on these mikes was around $199 each and several places on the net had a two-for deal for around $300 plus shipping. I found a deal on Ebay for a two pack, from a reputable seller, who would throw in 2 mike cords (worth $10-15 total) and ship the whole thing for $289. So I got it.
Last weekend, I used both these mikes. I had one (mike 6 on the powered mixer) miking the guitar through his amplifier and the other (mike 2) was used for soprano sax and for announcements. Each was easily leveled by my son, who was the sound man. The guitarist is a very busy, very active player and his mike sounded great through the monitor speakers, as did my soprano/speaker mike, even though I am more laid back and reflective on soprano.
The sponsor had some announcements during intermission, and these projected cleanly and well.
I used the wind screen and the PPC (polar patter converter), which covers the capsule (head) and converst the mike’s pickup from cardoid to hypercardoid. This makes it much less susceptible to feedback and extraneous noise, both being potential problems in a live sound setting. Other accessories that came with each mike included a carrying bag, a clip, a clip adapter to allow the clip to connect to a more narrow stand mount, and a presence boost adapter, which improves intelligibility of speech.
As a condenser mike, these require phantom power (provided by the mixer or powered mixer through the mike cord) or a 9v battery. I put batteries in beforehand, but I was pleased to note that the powered mixer I was using had phantom power.
A condenser mike converts pressure into sound impulses, but requires power to do so.
Cardoid refers to the pattern of how responsive it is to sounds in the surrounding area of the microphone.
Here is a description from the AKG web site:
Owing to its versatility, the C 1000 S is immensely popular as an excellent recording and performance microphone. Due to our continous product maintenance we reworked and improved the C 1000 S once more.
If no phantom power is available you can power the C 1000 S from an internal standard 9 V battery, which makes it ideal for mobile use. With the new battery control electronic the C 1000 S has now also a reliable warning function with an LED. As soon as there will be less then the expected remaing operating time of 45 minutes available the red LED above the switch flashes. A short light signal after switching on the Microphone indicates a new working battery. Using phantom powering the LED is not in operation.
You can change the polar pattern form cardioid to hypercardioid simply by mounting the supplied PPC Polar Pattern Converter on the capsule. Also supplied with the the C 1000 S is the PB 1000 Presence Boost Adapter (for improved intelligibility; therefore ideal specially for broadcast and on location application) that adds 3 to 5 dB of high-end enhancement between 5 and 9 kHz which doesn’t only improve the intelligibility but also Instruments sound crisp and punchy again.
The new C 1000 S with Battery Status LED comes in a very attractive case – AKG’s new Sound Tool Case, adding more joy to this fantastic microphone.
Applications:
- On stage
- Studio
- Home Recording
- Speech
- Broadcast - especially for the rough broadcast application the C 1000 S is as flexible and reliable as a “Swiss army knife
SPECIFICATIONS:
Polar Pattern: cardioid, hypercardioid (with PPC1000 mounted)
Frequency Range: 50 – 20,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 6 mV /Pa (-44 dbV)
Max. SPL for 1% THD: 137 dB
Equivlaent noise level (CCIR 468-3): 32 dB
Equivalent noise level: 21 dB-A
Signal/noise ratio (A-weighted): 73 dB
Impedance: 200 ohms
Rec. load impedance: >= 2,000 ohms
Powering: 9-52 V phantom power to DIN 45596 or internal 9 V battery
Current comsumption: approx. 2 mA
Connector: 3-pin XLR
Finish: matte silver enamel
Dimensions: 34 dia. X 220 mm (1.4 dia x 8.7 in.)
Net/shipping weight: 320 g (11.3 oz.) / 650 g (1.4 lbs.)
Standard accessories: W 1000, SA 63, PPC 1000, PB 1000, carrying case
Optional accessories: B 18, MK 9/10, PF 80
The manual reports that this mike works well for lead vocals, backing vocals, brass, woodwinds, hi-hat, cymbals and snare drums/toms.
I’m quite pleased with these mikes and recommend them for live sound applications for guitar and saxophone. I recommend buying the two pack, if you need two. The twin pack remains readily available from online sources, including zzounds.com, music123.com and wwandbw.com for $299 for the pair.
Thanks for reading. God bless!
Please check out my similar reviews of electronic sound equipment:
Please check out my related reviews:
Fender 1270P Powered Monitor Speaker
Shure SM-57 mike
Audix D4 mike
Audix 0M3 mike
Sony CFD-G500 Boom Box
Sandisk Sensa M-240 1GB MP3 Player
AMT Roam 1 wireless mike
Audio Technica Pro-35x wireless mike
Roland Dr. Beat DB-66 metronome
Recommended:
Yes
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