Topic: AKG c451e **Update**

[jmitchell]

Looking for some guidance on some shock mounts and windscreens for my 451s.

Thanks

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

You'll want a 19mm shock mount...  Lots of people like the AT8410s...

You may be able to use the same ones you got for the Studio Projects??? 

Terry

[Ronmac]

Unless you are going for the retro aesthetic I would suggest Rycote. http://mymic.rycote.com/products/shock-mounts-suspension/invision-broadcast-film/invision-inv-7-/

[Brian G]

I use this shockmount with mine

http://www.amazon.com/Avantone-SSM-Professional-Shockmount-Microphones/dp/B000S13T36

[F.O.Bean]

I agree, unless you want the elastic shocks because they're cheaper or retro, then there is NO OTHER shockmount to even suggest than the Rycote InVision series I ran elastic/rubber shocks for well over a decade, but after buying the Rycote INV6-HG shocks last year, I'm just bummed that I didn't get them years sooner! They have a purity and clarity/detail from them that is unbelievable IMO! And they're $62/each for the INV6/INV6-HG/INV7. But you will NEVER need to replace these, so IMO, its $62 well spent
http://mymic.rycote.com/products/shock-mounts-suspension/invision-broadcast-film/

And here's the ones I use with my active bars!
http://mymic.rycote.com/products/shock-mounts-suspension/invision-broadcast-film/invision-inv-6-heavy/

However, if you're already set on elastic/rubber mounts, I highly recommend the AT8415's with the K-TEK K-SUS Heavy Duty Rubber Mounts! I used that setup with my 480's for MANY years, and it was rock solid and damn near bulletproof I just left the AT8415s on my Shure Vert Bar at all times so I didn't forget the shocks, which Ive done before lol Here's the AT 8415s!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68143-REG/Audio_Technica_AT8415_AT8415_Universal_Shock_Mount.html#!

And here's the "highly upgraded" IMO heavy duty rubber mounts for the 8415's! It stiffens them up greatly, and the 460s/480s are SNUG in there I liked the grey color of the K-Tek ones better, though I could see someone rather having the black Auray ones to cut down on sight lines
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=accessoryIntermediate&A=accessoryDetail&Q=&sku=292948&is=REG&print=Y&det=y
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=accessoryIntermediate&A=accessoryDetail&Q=&sku=885678&is=REG&print=Y&det=y

Also, here's a cheaper version of the AT8415's, that come STOCK with those better 4-point rubber mounts, like the ones linked above! This would be much cheaper than buying the AT8415s + the Auray/K-TEK Heavy Duty rubber mounts separately!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/885660-REG/auray_dusm_1_universal_shock_mount.html/prm/alsVwDtl

However, if you're going to spend that much, then you might as well get the Rycote InVision series shocks and never have to worry about buying another shock ever again

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Strongly agreed on the Rycote Invision series of shockmounts.  After using/trying many different solutions, nothing else comes close, IMHO.  While not the cheapest option (~$62 per mount) they're also not the most expensive and most options offered by the mic manufacturers tend to cost considerably more.

As far as indoor windscreens, I've found the Windtech ones to be better than the aftermarket ones Audio-Technica AKG sells, and usually less expensive.  The DPA UA0896 is also a good, albeit larger, indoor option however, and contrary to some popular belief, they really won't tame the outdoor gusts. 
For outdoors, the Shure A81WS (a.k.a. Big-Ass Shures) are very solid as are the various furries/Softies offered by Movo and Rycote. 

[John Willett]

Looking for some guidance on some shock mounts and windscreens for my 451s.

Rycote InVision series - nothing better.

[jmitchell]

I appreciate all the suggestions.  The 451s arrived today, kinda bummed I am out of town, but I'll get to check them out tomorrow.

[jmitchell]

So I have hooked these up to give them a test run, and something is not quite right.  I am using my marantz pmd661 mk2 to power them, and there is an incredible amount of static.  At first, I thought it was just one of the mics, but I tested each one individually, changed cables, and still had the same result.  Either I am missing something, or there is something wrong with the mics?  Any help would be appreciated, these mics came from Norway and were not packaged well at all.  I would appreciate any help or suggestions

**Edit**
Done some reading and some testing and figured a few things out.  These mics are pretty sensitive and were picking up noise in the room, mainly the fan on my PS4.  I also connected my external power source to the marantz.  It appears that one of the mic bodies does have a problem.  I have switched cables & caps on the bodies, and it looks like one of the bodies ck22 caps may be shot.  Still looking for some suggestions on testing this further.  I have found some pretty old (10+ years) threads that discuss similar problems, and at the time AKG in Nashville was still servicing these mics.

I am not sure how much more testing I can do, I do not have access to any other gear. 

[DSatz]

The original C 451 drew more current from a 48 Volt phantom power supply than any other microphone of its time--around 5.5 mA, back when the DIN had set 2 mA per microphone as the maximum. Even today some portable recorders can't properly power a pair of these mikes.

By the late 1970s, after going through a lot of trouble over this, AKG came out with a slightly modified, 48-Volt only version called the C 452, which drew only 3 mA.

[jmitchell]

What I have found is one of the ck22 caps is bad.  I ran one mic at a time and mixed and matched until i narrowed it down to one of the caps. 

What are my options if my pmd661 is unable to power both mics?