AKG – Preservation Sound

Highlights from the 1971 AES Convention

chris — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 13:10:09 +0000

,,,and today, perhaps unsurprisingly: some of the new kit unveiled in 1971 at the NYC AES show, also via DB mag. Of note: Auto-Tec, Scully, Ampex and 3M intro’d new 16-track machines, Neve made a push for a new console (would this have been the series 80?), AKG introduced the BX-20 reverb, Melcor showed its model 5001 electronic reverb (anyone???), and a new company called Eventide introduced a digital pitch-shift device! The Neumann U47-fet and Sennheiser MHK-815 mics were introduced, as were the Marantz 500 and Crown M2000 power amplifiers.

Click here to DL a pdf of the proceedings: AES_1971_DBmag

There is just a shit-tonne more of this stuff, so click the link below to READ ON;;;;;

AKG’s “Two-Way” dual-transducer dynamic mics c. 1970

chris — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 10:50:23 +0000

Download the 6pp 1970 catalog for AKG’s ‘Two-way” dynamic mics, the D-200E, D-202E, and D-224E:

DOWNLOAD: AKG_2way_mic_1970

As the image above suggests, these operate exactly as you’d expect: there are separate ‘woofer’ and ‘tweeter’ elements, with a crossover at 500hz. Although the specs are quite good, i’ve never picked these up when I had the chance… just seems like they’ve gotta sound a little weird? Anyone? Anyone still using these? How do they compare to (x)?

AKG Performance Microphones – full 1978 catalog

chris — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 11:27:40 +0000

Download a 21pp 1978 AKG Microphone catalog; seems to be a performer-oriented publication featuring only their dynamic and electret models of the era:

DOWNLOAD PART 1:AKG_Mics_1978_part1

DOWNLOAD PART 2: AKG_Mics_1978_Part_2

Models covered, with text, specs, and photos, include: AKG C-500 series with C-510E, C-501E, C-502E, and C-505E variants; D-12, D-109, D-120E, D-130, D-140E, D-160E, D-170E, D-190E, D-1000E, D-2000E, D-190SPL, and D-200E mics.

For our scan of a 1981 AKG full-line catalog, click here…

Read my review of the AKG D12 VR and 451 ’65th Anniv.’ Mics at ProductionHUB

chris — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:54:27 +0000

I recently reviewed the new (-ish) AKG “65th anniversary” model 451 and the very interesting D12 ‘VR’ model for our friends at ProductionHUB. Click here to read the article. The 451 ’65th,’ in particular, is an excellent deal for $400. I’ve been using it every day and it is yet to disappoint. If you are not aware of the new D12 and its remote-controlled frequency-contouring, you might find that interesting as well.

AKG Studio Microphones Circa 1962

chris — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:30:17 +0000

The AKG C-24 stereo condenser mic. Yes please. I think if I added up all the time i have spent mounting my Neumann TLM 103s on their X/Y mount I would i run out and buy one of these. Oh wait! I don’t have $12,000! Nevermind! Anyone have a strong reco for an affordable XY mic that will put the TLM 103s back in their cases for good?

Above, and above: the AKG C 60. I’ve never used one of these. Nice-looking example on eBay right now for $850.

The AKG D19. I own one of these, and I have used it on a few tracks…nice for low-fi-ish hard-strumming steel-string acoustic gtr. Based on my experience, I feel like the stated claim of 40-16k hz response is extremely optimistic. The D19 shows up in a few places in music history: most notably as one of the go-to mics at Abbey Road during the Beatles early sessions. It also shows up in this Elvis/Martina McBride video (see here) wherein Martina duets with The King. I was working at SONYMUSIC when this video was produced, and I couldn’t help but wonder… in the original ’68 Comeback special, Elvis is using an EV RE15... which looks an awful lot like a D19… Martina’s husband/engineer John McBride is one the biggest Beatles fans in the world… antique microphone conspiracy theories, take one.

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The AKG D24 Dynamic mic. Anyone?

Previous vintage AKG microphone coverage on Preservation Sound:

AKG mics of 1954

AKG mics of 1981

AKG mics of 1965

Studio Microphones of 1954

chris — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:36:23 +0000

AKG D36 advert from 1954

Continuing our survey of AUDIO magazine’s early years: over the next couple of weeks we will look at some of the more relevant content from the first two years that this venerable publication ran under the title ‘Audio,’ the prior title having been ‘Audio Engineering.’ (full backstory here and here). We’ll start today with the crop of studio microphones on the market in 1954. One thing becomes pretty clear: the Austrians were really ahead of their time.AKG C-12 advert 1954

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Telefunken U-47 and 201-M adverts 1954

Capps CM 2001, 2030, 2250, and DM 2050 microphones c. 1954.

Anyone have any experience with these mics? Look interesting. Let us know…

The Reeves S-T Condenser Microphone; another early American Condenser mic. Very rare.

The Shure 333 ribbon mic. This was their cardiod ribbon. I’ve never used one of these, but i would love to get my hands on one. Stephen Sank recently re-ribboned my circa 1954 Shure 300 (the 300 was Shure’s high-end figure-8 ribbon of the same period) and wow did he do a great job. It sounds incredible now. I had thought it was a P.O.S. until he re-did it. If you own a vintage Shure ribbon mic and you are underwhelmed by it. give Sank a call and see what he can do for you.

…and here is some period analysis of the then-new Shure 333.

Follow the link below to READ-ON…. more studio mics of ’54 follow….

The Turner 50D broadcast dynamic microphone

The Turner 57 Microphone

The Turner ADA 95D microphone

AKG K-340 Electrostatic/Dynamic Headphones c. 1979

chris — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:14:34 +0000

Download the six-page color product sheet for the venerable AKG K-340 headphone of 1979:

DOWNLOAD: AKG_K340

The AKG K-340 (not to be confused with the modern AKG K 340 earbud) was AKG’s top of the line headphone of the 1980s. Introduced in 1979, the K-340 took the basic design of the classic K-240 (which was very sophisticated in and of itself) and added the additional complication of a separate Electrostatic driver and associated crossover network.

Wikiphonia has a detailed entry on these unusual headphones, so no need to re-tread those waters; the six-page document I post here is some new material for the web, though, AFAIK. Check it out… and if anyone uses these cans, LMK yr thoughts…

Click here for previous vintage AKG headphone coverage on PS dot com

AKG Acoustics Full-Line Catalog c. 1981 – Microphones Reverbs Headphones

chris — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:33:30 +0000

Download the thirty-two (32) page 1981 AKG Acoustics catalog (9.8mb file):

DOWNLOAD: AKG_Acoustics_FullLine_Catalog_1981

Models covered, in text and photo (no specs), include: AKG C-422 stereo condenser microphone; C-33 and C-34 stereo mics; C-414EB. C-414E1 and C-414EM/p48 condensers plus S-421E1 control unit; C-450 System; C-535EN, C-567E, C-568EB condensers, D-300 series live sound mics; D-224E and associated dual-diaphragm mics; plus the proverbial ‘shit-ton’ more. AKG BX-20, BX-10, and BX-5 reverbs are included, plus a wide range of headphones including the K-40, K-41, K-141, K-240, and K-340 dual-system.

AKG USA was once-upon-a-time located right down the road from here in nearby Stamford, CT. I think this is probably one reason that I have come across so many unusual AKG mics, headphones, and related literature at the flea markets and estate sales of Southern CT. The AKG 414 microphone, in all of its variations, is a staple of the audio world and a staple of this website; longtime readers will recognize this as my ‘reference mic’ for audio examples. It’s not the most exciting sound but it’s a high-quality sound that many of you know and therefore I feel that (along with the SM-57) it makes a good benchmark. ANYhow… check out the crazy art-direction of the this catalog.

In addition to the awesome haute-’70s monochromatic earthtone backdrops (see examples in photos above), we have various ‘symbolic objects’ to characterize the products; King Tut represents the gold of the diaphragms;

…a crystal vase represent ‘clarity’ of the electret-condenser line;

…a ‘flower-in-vase’ perhaps suggests the ‘capture-of-nature’ promised by the dual-system electrostatic/dynamic K-340 headphone? Dig in and enjoy.