RECORDING March 2023 - 24

A Family of...
AKG C Series Microphones Compared
By Paul Vnuk Jr.
W
elcome to A Family of... Compared where we
revisit, review and reconsider popular and
classic currently manufactured product lines
even if they are one, ten or fifty years old.
In our January 2022 issue, we looked at the affordable
AKG P or Perception Series of microphones. Today we return
to the world of AKG, where we have the privilege of taking
a look at one of the most well-known and long-standing
microphone lines of all time, the legendary AKG C Series.
In the Beginning...
AKG, short for Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft
m.b.H. (translated as Acoustic and Cinema Equipment L.L.C.),
started in Vienna, Austria in 1947.
After a brief stint supplying cinema equipment and other
specialized audio components, the company moved into headphones
with the release of the K120 DYN in 1949, followed
by microphones. In 1953 AKG premiered the D12, the world's
first dynamic, cardioid-pattern microphone.
That same year AKG also released the iconic C12 tube
condenser featuring nine selectable polar pattern options
on a remote external box making use of the legendary
AKG CK12 capsule.
24 RECORDING March 2023
C Series Family Tree
In 1962 the C12 " begat " the AKG C12A. Still a remote-controlled
9-pattern tube mic, the C12A sported a compact, flat,
hard-edged, angular body. The original brass CK12 capsule
remained, but the C12A used a new miniature Nuvistor tube.
The C12B followed soon after adding a -20dB pad.
In the late 1960s, AKG joined the solid-state mic revolution
releasing the now rare C412. Housed in the same body, with
the same capsule as the C12A/B, the C412 offered three polar
pattern options (Omni, Cardioid and Fig. 8) on the mic's
body, along with a two-stage pad.
In 1971 the C414 was born, adding a 4th hypercardioid
pattern option-typically known as the C414 comb.
Next Steps
In 1976 AKG released the C414EB. This version featured
a smaller single-piece body, similar to the 414 of today and
added the modern cannon connector. The C414EB also added
a three-position bass roll-off.
Halfway into the life of the C414EB, AKG altered the CK12
capsule, changing the brass to a nylon ring. This modified the
sound of the mic resulting in a more neutral, less " sparkly " tonality.
The 1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s, the C414EB P48 implemented +48 V phantom
power. The following C414 B-ULS introduced improved

RECORDING March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING March 2023

Fade In
Fast Forward
Neumann M49 V
Studio 101 with Joe Albano: Intro to Vocal Recording
Plugin Outlet: IK Multimedia T-RackS Joe Chiccarelli Vocal Strip
A Family of AKG C Series Microphones Compared
Reviewed and Revisited: Placid Audio Copperphone & Placid Audio 20th Anniversary Copperphone
Glamorous Modern Metamorphoses - The Creative Ethos of Charlotte Kemp Muhl and UNI and The Urchins SIMULATOR
Plugin Outlet: Antares Auto-Tune Pro X
sE 4400
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: Vocal Advice with Beth Cohen
Drawmer 1972
Plugin Outlet: Black Rooster Audio VLA-2A Mark II & TD-201 Delay
Session Log with Marc Urselli: Recording the Foo Fighters at EastWest
Soyuz 1973
Black Lion Audio Auteur DT
Readers’ Tracks
Fade Out: The Art, Frustration and Wonder of Recording Your Own Vocals
RECORDING March 2023 - Intro
RECORDING March 2023 - Cover1
RECORDING March 2023 - Cover2
RECORDING March 2023 - 1
RECORDING March 2023 - 2
RECORDING March 2023 - 3
RECORDING March 2023 - Fade In
RECORDING March 2023 - 5
RECORDING March 2023 - 6
RECORDING March 2023 - 7
RECORDING March 2023 - Fast Forward
RECORDING March 2023 - 9
RECORDING March 2023 - Neumann M49 V
RECORDING March 2023 - 11
RECORDING March 2023 - 12
RECORDING March 2023 - 13
RECORDING March 2023 - 14
RECORDING March 2023 - 15
RECORDING March 2023 - 16
RECORDING March 2023 - 17
RECORDING March 2023 - Studio 101 with Joe Albano: Intro to Vocal Recording
RECORDING March 2023 - 19
RECORDING March 2023 - 20
RECORDING March 2023 - 21
RECORDING March 2023 - Plugin Outlet: IK Multimedia T-RackS Joe Chiccarelli Vocal Strip
RECORDING March 2023 - 23
RECORDING March 2023 - A Family of AKG C Series Microphones Compared
RECORDING March 2023 - 25
RECORDING March 2023 - 26
RECORDING March 2023 - 27
RECORDING March 2023 - 28
RECORDING March 2023 - 29
RECORDING March 2023 - 30
RECORDING March 2023 - 31
RECORDING March 2023 - Reviewed and Revisited: Placid Audio Copperphone & Placid Audio 20th Anniversary Copperphone
RECORDING March 2023 - 33
RECORDING March 2023 - 34
RECORDING March 2023 - 35
RECORDING March 2023 - Glamorous Modern Metamorphoses - The Creative Ethos of Charlotte Kemp Muhl and UNI and The Urchins SIMULATOR
RECORDING March 2023 - 37
RECORDING March 2023 - 38
RECORDING March 2023 - 39
RECORDING March 2023 - 40
RECORDING March 2023 - 41
RECORDING March 2023 - 42
RECORDING March 2023 - 43
RECORDING March 2023 - Plugin Outlet: Antares Auto-Tune Pro X
RECORDING March 2023 - 45
RECORDING March 2023 - sE 4400
RECORDING March 2023 - 47
RECORDING March 2023 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: Vocal Advice with Beth Cohen
RECORDING March 2023 - 49
RECORDING March 2023 - 50
RECORDING March 2023 - 51
RECORDING March 2023 - Drawmer 1972
RECORDING March 2023 - 53
RECORDING March 2023 - Plugin Outlet: Black Rooster Audio VLA-2A Mark II & TD-201 Delay
RECORDING March 2023 - 55
RECORDING March 2023 - Session Log with Marc Urselli: Recording the Foo Fighters at EastWest
RECORDING March 2023 - 57
RECORDING March 2023 - 58
RECORDING March 2023 - 59
RECORDING March 2023 - Soyuz 1973
RECORDING March 2023 - 61
RECORDING March 2023 - Black Lion Audio Auteur DT
RECORDING March 2023 - 63
RECORDING March 2023 - Readers’ Tracks
RECORDING March 2023 - 65
RECORDING March 2023 - 66
RECORDING March 2023 - 67
RECORDING March 2023 - 68
RECORDING March 2023 - 69
RECORDING March 2023 - 70
RECORDING March 2023 - 71
RECORDING March 2023 - Fade Out: The Art, Frustration and Wonder of Recording Your Own Vocals
RECORDING March 2023 - Cover3
RECORDING March 2023 - Cover4
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