4 Using YourMicrophone
4.1General Hints
The
PERCEPTION120
and
PERCEPTION220
aregen-
eral-purpose cardioid microphones for recording,
broadcast,and onstage use.
Every instrument radiates its sound in a specific
way.Therefore, to get the best sound it is crucial to
experimentwith microphone placement.
The following hints apply to both the
PERCEPTION
120
andthe
PERCEPTION220
.
Referto fig. 3. The front of the microphone is
the side of the body with the AKG logo on it.
Therefore, always aim the logo at the sound
sourceyou are going to record!
Being a unidirectional (cardioid) microphone,
the
PERCEPTION120/220
willpick up very little
soundfrom the rear.
When recording wind instruments or vocals,
make sure not to blow or sing directly into
themicrophone.
Toavoid unwanted wind and pop noise or mois-
ture problems, place an optional PF 80 pop
screenfrom AKG between themicrophone and
vocalist/instrument.
Keep the microphone dry. Moisture from
blowingor singing directly at the capsule from
a short distance, or extremely high humidity
maycause the microphone to start crackling or
govery quiet due to partial short circuits in the
polarizationvoltage.
Ifyou use the microphone in the open air, use
an optional AKG W 4000 windscreen to pro-
tectthe microphone from moisture and reduce
windnoise.
High volume instruments: You can use this
microphonefor close-in recording of ver y loud
instruments (brass instruments, kick drum,
etc.).Just switch the preattenuation pad in to in-
crease the microphone’s capability of handling
6
Fig.3: Microphone front.
PERCEPTION120 PERCEPTION220
AKGPERCEPTION 120/220