Recording January 2022 - 14

A Family of Microphones Compared
The AKG P Series
By Paul Vnuk Jr.
W
elcome to our latest A Family of...Compared
writeup! Here, we dig into specific product
lines from the companies we all know and
love. As long as each product family member is still being
built today and is available new at your favorite music
retailer, it doesn't matter if it's been one, ten, or fifty years
in production. This series gives us a chance to compare,
contrast and even reconsider some great products, and
revisit some old friends from past reviews along the way.
Stay tuned for some killer entries over the coming year.
Now let's kick this one off with a look at the full line of
AKG P Series microphones.
*All prices below are MAP and subject to change.
AKG from Perception to High-Performance
Launched in 1947 in Vienna, AKG is one of the most
respected microphone brands of all time. The iconic C12
and its offspring, most notably the classic C414, are woven
into more than seven decades of classic recording history.
Who hasn't walked into a gig and thrown a D112 on a kick
drum? Personally, the current production C414 XLS is used
somewhere on almost every session (and preamp review) I do.
As professional studio staples, many of these mics of course
command significant price tags.
14 RECORDING January 2022
In 2007, AKG adopted the trend of hometown designs and
overseas production to offer more affordable options, and the
Perception line was born. The series launched with three sideaddress
large diaphragm condensers with satin-nickel finishes
and oval contoured bodies. As you stepped up from the bare
bones Perception 100 to the 200 and 400 models, you gained
features such as low-cut filters, pads, and various pattern
options. The initial Perception trio was quickly expanded with
the addition of the Perception 150 pencil condenser.
Soon the line would evolve further, transitioning to the
Perception 120, 220, 420 and 170, the tube-equipped
Perception 820, and eventually a USB version of the 120.
Second-generation Perception mics sported a vintage-style
metallic blue tint with chrome grills. This lineup would remain
unchanged until 2014 when the Perception line would be
rebranded simply as the AKG P Series (P for High-Performance
Series or Project Studio Line-you decide). Today the line
consists of the P120, P220, P420, P820 and P170. Each model
is now dressed in a matte-black metallic finish with rugged allmetal
bodies. Except for the P120 and P170, each mic comes
with a carrying case and a high-quality custom shock mount.
RECORDING History
Matt Seiler gave RECORDING readers their first taste of the
P Series with his look at the Perception 400 (March 2007).
I reviewed the tube-based Perception 820 in October 2010,
followed by the Perception 170 pencil condenser in December
2012, while Mike Metlay reviewed the Perception 100 USB in
May of that same year.

Recording January 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording January 2022

Fade In
Fast Forward
Soundware Showcase: Toontrack Fields of Rock SDX
A Family of Microphones Compared: The AKG P Series
Austrian Audio CC8
Stewart Copeland: Don’t kill the talent with the technology…
Akai MPC Studio Controller and MPC 2 Software
Soundware Showcase: Boz Digital Labs Claps, Stomps and Snaps Bundle
Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Drum Plugins and Processing
Avantone Pro: Gauss 7 Two-way Powered Reference Monitor
Plugin Outlet: PSP Audioware Saturator
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: The Memphis Drum Sound
Soundware Showcase: Spitfire Audio Hammers
API Select T12 Tube Mic Preamp
Session Log: Frank Kimbrough tribute recording session
Audio-Technica AT2040
Plugin Outlet: IK Multimedia T-RackS TASCAM Tape Collection
Readers' Tracks
sE Electronics V Pack Arena Drum Microphone Package
Plugin Outlet: BABY Audio TAIP
Fade Out: Both Sides of the Glass Things
Recording January 2022 - Intro
Recording January 2022 - Cover1
Recording January 2022 - Cover2
Recording January 2022 - 1
Recording January 2022 - 2
Recording January 2022 - 3
Recording January 2022 - Fade In
Recording January 2022 - 5
Recording January 2022 - 6
Recording January 2022 - 7
Recording January 2022 - Fast Forward
Recording January 2022 - 9
Recording January 2022 - Soundware Showcase: Toontrack Fields of Rock SDX
Recording January 2022 - 11
Recording January 2022 - 12
Recording January 2022 - 13
Recording January 2022 - A Family of Microphones Compared: The AKG P Series
Recording January 2022 - 15
Recording January 2022 - 16
Recording January 2022 - 17
Recording January 2022 - 18
Recording January 2022 - 19
Recording January 2022 - 20
Recording January 2022 - 21
Recording January 2022 - 22
Recording January 2022 - 23
Recording January 2022 - Austrian Audio CC8
Recording January 2022 - 25
Recording January 2022 - Stewart Copeland: Don’t kill the talent with the technology…
Recording January 2022 - 27
Recording January 2022 - 28
Recording January 2022 - 29
Recording January 2022 - 30
Recording January 2022 - 31
Recording January 2022 - 32
Recording January 2022 - 33
Recording January 2022 - Akai MPC Studio Controller and MPC 2 Software
Recording January 2022 - 35
Recording January 2022 - Soundware Showcase: Boz Digital Labs Claps, Stomps and Snaps Bundle
Recording January 2022 - 37
Recording January 2022 - Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Drum Plugins and Processing
Recording January 2022 - 39
Recording January 2022 - 40
Recording January 2022 - 41
Recording January 2022 - Avantone Pro: Gauss 7 Two-way Powered Reference Monitor
Recording January 2022 - 43
Recording January 2022 - Plugin Outlet: PSP Audioware Saturator
Recording January 2022 - 45
Recording January 2022 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: The Memphis Drum Sound
Recording January 2022 - 47
Recording January 2022 - Soundware Showcase: Spitfire Audio Hammers
Recording January 2022 - 49
Recording January 2022 - API Select T12 Tube Mic Preamp
Recording January 2022 - 51
Recording January 2022 - Session Log: Frank Kimbrough tribute recording session
Recording January 2022 - 53
Recording January 2022 - 54
Recording January 2022 - 55
Recording January 2022 - Audio-Technica AT2040
Recording January 2022 - 57
Recording January 2022 - Plugin Outlet: IK Multimedia T-RackS TASCAM Tape Collection
Recording January 2022 - 59
Recording January 2022 - Readers' Tracks
Recording January 2022 - 61
Recording January 2022 - 62
Recording January 2022 - 63
Recording January 2022 - 64
Recording January 2022 - 65
Recording January 2022 - sE Electronics V Pack Arena Drum Microphone Package
Recording January 2022 - 67
Recording January 2022 - Plugin Outlet: BABY Audio TAIP
Recording January 2022 - 69
Recording January 2022 - 70
Recording January 2022 - 71
Recording January 2022 - Fade Out: Both Sides of the Glass Things
Recording January 2022 - Cover3
Recording January 2022 - Cover4
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