New Vintage Mic Recreation from AKG

Dec 04, 2001

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Drawing on their knowledge of acoustic and electronic design, AKG engineers came up with the new C 451 B, a state-of-the-art version that eliminates all the mechanical and electronic weak points of the original C 451 EB + CK 1.

One of the most important design goals was to maintain the same response of the legendary CK 1 capsule including the characteristic slight high-frequency boost. The transducer capsule of the new microphone, however, is permanently fixed to the body in order to eliminate the mechanical drawbacks of a modular design. To the same end, the original screw-in preattenuation pads between the capsule and preamp were replaced with a built-in switchable 10 dB/20 dB pad.

The new C 451 B provides a switchable highpass filter at 75 Hz or 150 Hz to prevent low-end distortion that may be caused, e.g., by rumble or wind noise, and a switchable 10-dB/20-dB preattenuation pad to increase the microphone's SPL capability when close-miking high-energy sound sources or driving preamps or mixers with limited headroom.

Owing to its extremely light diaphragm, the microphone is highly insensitive to handling noise. An all-metal body provides efficient protection from RF interference and the microphone is rugged enough to give excellent results even under very harsh conditions.

The outside appearance of the new C 451 B is a déjà vu: like the original C 451 EB + CK 1, the new C 451 B features a sandblasted, nickel plated all-metal body with engraved lettering (rather than the printed lettering on most current AKG microphones).

The C 451 B is intended for any application where sounds, particularly their transient content, need to be captured with maximum accuracy, such as overhead miking of drums, percussive instruments, or guitar.

Features

• Same transducer as in the legendary CK 1.
• Rugged construction. Ruler-flat on-axis frequency response.
• Precise, nearly frequency-independent cardioid.
• Extremely accurate signal transfer.
• Transformerless output stage for minimum distortion at low frequencies.
• Protected against electrostatic and magnetic interference.
• Switchable preattenuation pad (10 dB or 20 dB).
• Switchable highpass filter (75 Hz or 150 Hz, 12 dB/octave).
• Operates on phantom power to DIN/IEC between 12 V and 48 V.
• Complete with SA 40 stand adapter and W 90 windscreen
• Individual frequency response plot included
• Also available as a matched stereo pair with stereo bar and carrying case.

Some History

In the 1960s, US sound engineers regarded big, heavy microphones as the epitome of acoustic quality while their European colleagues demanded more and more miniature microphones. Large-diaphragm transducers have been much sought-after recording tools to this day. Their characteristic response is perfectly suited for the natural sound of certain instruments and provides a pleasant, warm sound. However, if a sound is to be captured with maximum accuracy small microphones are superior to their larger counterparts because the vibrations of a small diaphragm are much easier to control. In addition, small microphones cause much less turbulence within a sound field.

The first mass-produced transistorized AKG microphone, the C 451, was launched in 1969.The C 451 was at first only available with a nickel plated body in two versions: The C 451 C had a DIN connector that was still a standard in Europe at the time even though it was of rather poor engineering quality. The C 451 E already featured an XLR connector.The C 451 was designed for universal phantom powering at 12 to 48 volts, although it worked at voltages as low as 7.5 volts so it could even be powered from a 9-volt battery which was already available everywhere at the time.

The C 451 system (also called the CMS Condenser Modular Series) comprised a preamp and several interchangeable screw-on capsules. It was made until 1993 and then replaced with the AKG Blue Line. However, the specific response of the CK 1 remained in demand for certain applications to this day.

For more information, visit their web site at www.akg.com.