AKG C1000

I'm your basic 42 year old guitarist/vocalist/gigmeister/home recordist that started with a TASCAM 4-track and a couple of Shure dynamics in the garage. Yes, I mixed with a boom box. That was probably 12 or so years ago. These days I've moved upstairs(still in the garage though) and I've graduated to a Korg 16-track HDR with some Event monitors, Mackie mixer, assorted garden variety revs, preamps and comps(read ALESIS, ROLAND, PRESONUS) and some half decent AKG, MXL and Audio Technica mikes. Like I said, your basic home recordist. I have done a fair amount of hired gun studio vocal, guitar and bass playing so I know what a real studio sounds and feels like. I won't claim any super knowledge or ability in describing or comparing great or classic microphones other than what basic experience I've had and lots of helpful info I've read in books and magazines. For instance, the book Temples Of Sound is incredible, just to name one thing. I have a deep interest in the classic mikes and you can read all day, but very few of us really get to use, hear, compare and learn about them all. I do know what an AKGC414 does if that's any help.

Just count me in the camp that thinks these AKGC1000s are really great small diaphram condensers. Aside from lots of believeable endorsements from respected references, I've had nothing but great sound from this pair I have. Clean, versatile, crystal clear, nice high end, transparent with decent output is what I would say to describe them. I've grown to trust them as a reference, but hey, they were my first small condensers so that may be naive and biased. I realize they are probably not C451s, but in my actual experience, they sounded nicer(clearer)than an Oktava MC012 I owned for a hot minute. Everyone raves about those for some reason. Maybe the one I had was a dog. Anyway, I've recorded a huge variety of instruments AND yes, even vocals with these and I just like them, they do not disappoint me. They sound like whatever you put them in front of. Yeah maybe they're not what you want in front of a raging distorted guitar amp, but the pedal steel through my clean Twin sounded so much better than the holy SM57. Sure, you might want an LDC or dynamic for something loud or low. But if you're trying to capture clarity, brightness or detail, throw these on there too. Of course, anything acoustic, be they guitars, mandolins, percussion, horns, tweezers, hinges, etc, well, it's like angels are visiting. My favorite is recording my daughter and her friends vocals with them. Be sure to use the windscreen and pop filter, these girls rock!

30 yrs, songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, producer- recorded and mixed my music in many major studios, from Brooklyn to Skywalker - Tascam 2488, NS 10M's

Perception is a funny thing- I'm sure the last reviewer truly believes this mic is terrible, but I truly believe he's wrong. And I have used a decent condensor mic before, in fact I've used all the legendary ones, from the vocal booth AND from the control room, and I know this mic is a gem. Sure I use the really expensive and vintage ones when they're in front of me, but this mic will get you there too.. I use it at home for lead vocals, close-up, and find it to be incredibly detailed and musical. Also close in for acoustic guitars. It has a classic open, pristine sound, with warm mids and sparkling yet controlled highs. I use it with and without the hypercardiod attachment (which does in fact offer excellent isolation, and a usable 1k peak) As a producer, I trust my ears implicitly, and I love this mic. Of all the classics I've used, I chose this one for home, and not just because it's affordable.

30+ years making music. 20 years recording experience. ProTools HD pro studio environments. Dynaudio M2 monitors

I find the positive reviews here very hard to fathom. It's almost like these people have not used a decent condenser mic.

This is not a decent condenser mic... not even a good cheap one. It is a terrible sounding mic... Thin, lacking in detail and with a tendency to clip fairly easily.

I woul recommend people stay clear of this mic. If you want a decent cheap condenser, but a Rode or and AUdio Technica mic.. These sound far superior to their price tags and the C1000 can't get near them... You have to beleive me on this one.

10 years engineer. 12 years performer. Mainly A cappella, Acoustic, and live sound. yamaha O1V and a MOTU 896. Tannoy Reveal Actives.

These mics are great. They are a SMALL DIAPHRAGM condensor mic which means they aren't "Best" suited for up close lead vocal line singing. You choose the right tools for the right applications and this isn't the mic to record a grammy award winning vocal track. However, these do fantastic in this price range to provide an auxillary input for an acoustic guitar, or ambient micing. When I do A Cappella recording feedback is always a huge issue, these mics do a fantastic job as an overhead for a group of 16 guys in a left right fashion combined with senn 421's for up close bass and warmer group sounds. If you want a vocal mic in this range buy a large diaphragm condensor a la Rode NT1A or AT 3030. If you want a great all around good live, great all around condensor mic that can be used for vocalists who have it together when need be, ambient micing, and live applications these things are great.

I have been playing writing and recording music for 15 years.
I have recorded 4 Albums and 5 EP's of my own music and countless other tracks. I have recorded to 24 track 2", Pro Tools, Cool Edit,Tascam 4-track, 1/2 inch 2 track, Sonar, ADAT. I listen to music through my Compaq Athlon laptop to a pioneer amplifier or headphones.

It is a small diaphram condenser with hypercardiod and cardiod polar patterns. I used this mike on vocals and let me tell you, alot of people say these sound horrible for vocals but I find that if you know how to sing they are excellent. Sure they aren't a U87 but they have a nice smooth character and fairly accurate production. I sang through these on 2 tracks on one of my EP's and the vocals came out fantastic. If you can't get your vocals to sound right through these you should either get a better preamp or let someone else do the singing. When I recorded vocals through them I was right up on it, say two inches from the mic or closer. Maybe you are trying to record to far from the source. Get close for the best sound. Most microphones aren't as sensitive as ears (maybe a U87) believe it or not.

15 years drums/percussion, 7 years guitar, some live sound and recording.

I'm reading a lot of bad reviews on this mic and feel that I have to come to its defense. People are trying to use them for the wrong purposes. Yes, it does sound bad for up close recording of vocals and/or guitar! I agree with that, but it does have some practical uses.

First, I particularly like them for overhead drum mics to pick up the cymbals. I have used them to some degree of success in the studio, and they are much cheaper than a Shure SM81...which would be my other choice for this same purpose.

Second, I have used these to do live, room recordings. With this setup, I found the results to be most pleasing. I set the C1000's up in an X/Y stereo micing pattern, phantom powered by two Joe Meek VC6's. I run the output of the compressors to an 1/8" to RCA jack Y-splitter, with the jack plugged into my Sony MiniDisc. This yields a more than acceptable live recording for CD distribution and have had great success doing it for my university's fusion band.

These mics DO have some very useful applications. Know your equipment and what it can and can't do. Pick the right mic for the job the first time, and you won't be disappointed with the results.

I own a small recording studio and have been working as a recording engineer for more than 30 years. I now use digital multitrack, but for many years I used analog tape. I have a fully equipped studio with an accurate monitoring environment.

I also have a day job as a research scientist at a university, studying acoustics and transportation related noise.

I've owned a pair of these mikes for 4-5 years. I'm writing this review because there are some extreme reviews here in each direction, I thought I might throw in my two cents to sort it out.

The AKG C1000s is a small diaphram condenser mike with cardioid or hypercardiod pattern. The mike has two unusual features, namely it can run off an internal standard 9V battery (or phantom power), and it has an on/off switch on the mike.

I own a lot of microphones. Like every microphone, the C1000 is good for some things and not so good for others. I use them for drum overheads when I want a bright, live sound, and I use them for dull sounding acoustics that need a little more presence. I've used them as the top mike on a Leslie cab once in a while. Their ability to run off a 9V battery is a lifesaver in some circumstances, namely when phantom power is unavailable or has some problem. Your 9V battery may go dead on you, but it will never, ever be noisy or have a hum, two things that sometimes happen in complex setups using phantom power.

I see some folks have complained that it sounds bad on vocals. I have tried it on vocals and I agree. Not once have I found this to be the best mike for anyone's vocal track. But how often is a small diaphram condenser used for vocals? C'mon people, you can't make one mike do everything well! Not even an SM57 meets that description.

The C1000 is another crayon in the box, that's all. It's a bright crayon, not suitable for "warming" things up, but very useful for accenting the upper midrange, for isolating a sound near other sounds (with the included hypercardioid adapter), for recording into gear without phantom power. They're built very sturdy, they're highly reliable, they sound like what they sound like. If that sound works, you use it, if not you leave it in the box.

Overall, a good value for the low price.

15+ years' playing experience. Small(ish) home studio setup, various bits of kit hooked up to PC running Cubase SX via Soundcraft Folio SX mixer, various FX

Bought a pair of these a few years back for my home setup, first time I had owned a condenser. Have heard it described as the "swiss army knife" of recording mics, and i suppose this is true as the construction is remarkably sturdy as condensers go. Plus it can be run from a 9v battery, which makes it ideal for use outside the studio or other instances where phantom power might not be available - eg i have often used mine in place of the crappy built-in mic on my camcorder - indoors, i have recorded guitar (acoustic and electric), mandolin, flute and small percussion all with more than satisfactory results, however i have to say that this mic is absolutely APPALLING for recording vocals; I have a naturally thin, nasal type of voice and this mic just made me sound like i was trapped inside an oil drum with a clothes peg on my nose.
These don't seem to have come down much in price recently either, unlike most condensers in this price range; if you're going to spend 100-150 quid on a mic, buy a rode NT1a instead

I have been recording music for about 1 year with a Yamaha AW16G. I run all my mics through Presonus Tube Pre's

Bought as a set, these were my first condencer mics The AKG project pack a C1000 and a C3000B. I had tried a friends Rode NT1 and wanted a set of the newer version the NT1A, but my local Guitar Center was out of them so I got the AKGs'. I used the C1000 for acoustic guitar and recently tried using it for vocals. I do not like the mic for either and would not recondmend the C1000 for acoustic guitar or vocals. I think my Sennheiser e835 Dynamic sounds much better for both applications.

I've been recording since 1984. I've recorded everything from country, rock, folk to metal, classical and jingles. I am recording with a D32XD... great machine! I've owned a few AKG mics, the C1000s to name one. This is a very good mic when used as an overhead for drums but absolutely HORRIBLE for vocals and acoustic guitar. I know AKG boasts that it is a great mic for vocals but trust me... IT'S NOT!! It produces a very harsh boxy sort of ringing sound on vocals and guitars. Extremely cold and downright out nasty sounding! Import mics I've used sound better than even the more expensive AKG's I've owned and used over the years! That's sad considering the price that AKG mics retail for. What's up with that anyway AKG?