Product Description

The versatility of the C 1000 S makes this an extremely popular model, and one ideally suited for all kinds of recording and live sound applications.If no phantom power is available, the mic can be powered by a standard 9 V battery, making it perfect for mobile use. With its battery monitoring electronics, the C 1000 S now features a reliable LED warning light. The red LED above the the microphone switch lights up when the remaining battery life falls below 45 minutes. The polar pattern can quickly be switched from cardioid to hypercardioid simply by attaching the PPC 1000 Polar Pattern Converter provided to the microphone capsule. The PB 1000 Presence Boost Adapter also supplied with the C 1000 S adds 3 to 5 dB of high-end enhancement between 5 and 9 kHz, improving clarity of speech and adding definition to instrument sounds.

Product Details

• Brand: AKG
• Model: C1000S
• Dimensions: 3.94" h x 7.48" w x 11.42" l, 5.00 pounds

Features

• Excellent vocal mic for distant pickup (such as choirs)
• Outstanding performance when used for instruments
• PPC 1000 converter turns characteristics from cardioid into hypercardioid
• PB 1000 Presence Boost Adapter provides an additional 5-dB in the 5 to 9 kHz range
• Comes with stand mount and carry bag

Customer Reviews

Studio Recorded Sound On a Home Recorder Budget
This could be one of the most versatile, and under appreciated, microphones in AKG's lineup. This mic was purchased to complement a portable digital audio recorder with the idea of using one setup for both audio interviews and recording spoken word narrations as well as producing on-location recordings of various types. While AKG does not list this particular microphone for use with this type of application, we are finding this an excellent mic for these purposes.

The mic has a solid feel in the hand and very good balance. The last is important if the mic is being used hand held, like a reporter's microphone, for conducting an interview. While lacking the traditional ball head of the reporter's microphone, the C1000's shape lends itself to one-on-one interviews very easily. The sound quality was superior to other hand held microphones we tried.

Being a condenser microphone, some type of phantom power is required. The mic is designed to accept a standard 9V battery when used without another power source available. The mic does feature an LED to let you know if the battery is functioning. The field recorders we are using have phantom power capability, so I can't comment on the battery operation of this mic. With the usual precautions concerning wind, the microphone performs well when outdoors.

In a studio situation, the mic performs excellently. Being a small diameter mic, the sound is crisper than what most studio mics deliver. Listeners to recorded narrations produced with this mic did not find this objectionable. In some cases, the C1000 will make a good alternate studio mic for a speaker with a slightly flat voice. To help with voice characteristics, AKG supplies an accessory, the PB 1000, which boosts the "presence" of the voice. This is a small plastic filter that the user installs by unscrewing the microphone body and snapping the Presence Booster over the capsule. Unscrewing the body also reveals an internal pop filter that is surprisingly effective.

A second snap-on accessory, the PPC 1000 Polar Pattern Converter, converts the pickup pattern from cardiod to hypercardioid. This makes the mic more directional for use in onstage situations or where noise from the peripheral areas may be a problem. This too is an effective accessory.

Properly placed, this microphone is capable of doing a lot. While it may not be suitable as a hand held mic for singing vocals, it would do very well placed off stage for recording a group singing onstage. The response graphs also suggests this mic will do very well for recording acoustic string instruments, cymbal or even higher range brass instruments. As previously mentioned, it also does a very good job for recording voice over type spoken word recordings.

This mic is priced within the range of the home recorder's budget yet it will deliver studio quality recordings in a variety of situations. The AKG C1000 would certainly be a contender if I had to have only one microphone and wanted to be as versatile as possible.