recordinghacks

AKG Acoustics C 3000

Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone

The C 3000 was a unique dual-capsule condenser microphone. Two separate capsules were mounted inside the headbasket — a large-diameter cardioid capsule and a small-diameter hypercardioid capsule. Both capsules are shockmounted to reduce noise.

Three recessed switches on the rear of the mic body provided:

1. Pattern/capsule selection: cardioid or hypercardioid
2. high-pass filter (-6dB/octave @ 300Hz)
3. pad (-10dB)

The mic was introduced in 1993, and later replaced in AKG’s lineup with the C 3000 B, a single-capsule electret condenser mic that had little in common with the original but a name and body shape.

To further confuse matters, the C 3000 B was relaunched in 2012 as the “C3000;” see sidebar links for details.

Sound On Sound, 1994

AKG have pitched the C3000 so that it competes on price with the Audio Technica 4033, the Microtech Gefell UM70 and Beyer MC834… It [compares favorably] with any of the models mentioned, but they all sound quite different to each other — making the ultimate choice a subjective one.

Photo credits: Tony Brooke of Silent Way Remote Recording

The AKG Acoustics C 3000 is also known as: C3000.

The mic was released in 1993.

Specifications

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Cardioid (20 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz) Hypercardioid (15 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)	Pad: -10dB (Via Switch) Filter: HPF: -6dB/octave @ 300 Hz (Via Switch)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Diameter n/a	200 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 137 dB Self-noise: 18.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
320g (11.29oz)	160mm (6.30'')	55mm (2.17'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 9-52v

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