7
AKG PERCEPTION 420
4 Using Your Microphone
4.1 General Hints
The PERCEPTION 420 is a general-purpose multi-
pattern microphone 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
experiment with microphone placement.
•
Refer to fig. 4. Whichever polar pattern you se-
lected, it may be good to know which way the
transducer axis is facing: the
front
of the
microphone is the side of the body with the
AKG logo
and polar pattern selector (1) on it.
•
When recording wind instruments or vocals,
make sure
not to blow or sing directly into
the microphone
.
To avoid unwanted wind and pop noise or
moisture problems, place an optional
PF 80
pop screen
from AKG between the microphone
and vocalist/instrument.
•
Keep the microphone dry
. Moisture from
blowing or singing directly at the capsule from
a short distance, or extremely high humidity
may cause the microphone to start crackling or
go very quiet due to partial short circuits in the
polarization voltage.
•
If you use the microphone
in the open
, use an
optional AKG
W 4000 windscreen
to protect
the microphone from moisture and reduce wind
noise.
•
High volume instruments:
You can use this
microphone for close-in recording of very loud
instruments (brass instruments, kick drum, etc.).
Just switch the preattenuation pad in to increase
the microphone’s capability of handling sound
pressure levels to 155 dB.
•
Low-frequency noise:
To suppress low-fre-
quency noise such as air conditioning rumble,
footfall noise, or traffic sounds, switch the bass
cut filter in.
Fig. 4: Microphone front.
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