I'm concerned the phantom power isn't at the voltage it should be.
Do you have any condenser mics to compare them to?

Try the C1000 with a fresh 9V and leave the phantom power off on the console, I'd be curious whether that made any difference.

I'll try to check back.

yup, i did some recordings with beyerdynamic Opus 83. no problems

The Beyer would be even less tolerant of low phantom power. The Beyer asks for a minimum of 12v, while the AKG need at least 9v - so it doesn't seem like that is the problem.

With the gain all the way down as you say, does the Soundcraft indicate in any way it's being clipped by these two mics? If not, then it's clearly an issue with the mics.

If that's the case I'd have to consider;

A) Since the 'dude' was having a moving sale, would the equipment have been in cold (damp) storage for any length of time. Moisture is murder on condenser mic capsules. In which case the only cure is new capsules.

and

B) There's always the chance the 'dude' might have got stuck with counterfeit AKGs from eBay. (It's a bigger problem than most people realize.) If you say he's trustworthy though, it doesn't seem likely he'd hose somebody he's already done business with.

I know neither of those scenarios are good news, but I can't think of any other reason they would distort. In good working order the C1000 and C3000 take fairly high Sound Pressure Levels 137dB and 140dB respectively. Since they're studio mics, under normal conditions you don't sing real close to them, so I'd be surprised if you're louder than 137dB.

i've tested yesterday an AT 3525 and worked just fine. no distortion when 10 db pad was on ! looks like my mics are damaged. Anyway will do tests with my akgs in other studio. donno where he keeped tjhem but he gave me the mics in a case that looks like their original case. I thought that he's trustworthy, but now i'm so sure anymore, how in the world could 2 mics unused, could be damaged ? No, i'm pretty sure i didn't get louder than 137 db.

Just an aside. I always throw in one of those desiccant packages with all my microphone bags/cases. I've even got large bags I throw in my rack cases. It seems a little extreme but I've never had any components go dead from humidity corrosion even when I lived in San Diego. Once a year I bake them to renew the usefulness.

hi,

where were the mics kept?

if they have got damp or were kept somewhere cold this could be your problem...... stick them in a shoe box with some silica gel bags and put box in boiler cupboard or on top of a radiator for a day or so...

jim

ok. so i tested them in another studio, no problems at all. I tested @ the same guy where i got the mixer board and he was my guiding point into adjusting the levels and the AT3525 i tested @ mine was also his.
Any ideas ?

You need to test the phantom power on your Spirit board. If it is faulty and not giving the microphone enough DCV that explains everything. More to the point, if the mic works well enough everywhere else you have plugged it in, then that still shows an issue with your board.

If the board is operating correctly to specification, and it might be, then you will need an external P48 box such as we all used to have prior to having reliable built-in phantom power on our boards. ART still makes such things at reasonable prices. Some microphones take more power than others to function properly.

ok, will try that, thanks

I'm pretty sure we answered this question [[url=http://[/URL]="link removed[/]="link removed[/]

If it is a pad issue and not a P48 issue which is always possible as well, then get a couple of these. They are useful to have in your kit.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.sweetwat…"]Whirlwind IMP Pad 20dB | Sweetwater.com[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"]Whirlwind IMP Pad 20dB | Sweetwater.com[/]