Topic: AKG CK series waveforms...Are these normal?

[manitouman]

I've got these mics for under cover purposes and have been running them with some success. I typically will use omni's for open air (Red Rocks) and the cards I've ran them indoors in a small venue. I've had success with them so that is not my complaint. My concern is the wave form (omni's only) when I look at them in Cool Edit. I usually run the AKG CK 32 (caps)>AKG LM 3 (cable)>AKG MPA III L (XLR phantom adapters)>SD 702 (mic or line in) hitting at about the -12 dB range or the first red light. I've noticed I'm getting better results with running line in on the 702. I should mention that the screen shots show the files already bumped up as much as I'd like to go without clipping.

Here's a shot of the AKG CK31 cardioid caps which I think looks fine and sounds even better (indoor venue):



Here's a shot of the AKG CK32 omni caps (Red Rocks). These are the wave forms I have a question about. Is the wave form supposed to look like that? Other than a bit bassy, which is not surprising for TOOL, the sound is fine. Just will need a little EQ'ing. I'm not complaining about that. It's just that the wave is really weird to me. Are my mics being overloaded and I need to attenuate the signal by 10 dB? I don't know...Is it anything to be concerned about if the music sounds fine?



Here's the specs on the caps if that helps any.

CK 32

Polar pattern   omnidirectional
Frequency range   20 to 20,000 Hz
Sensitivity   14 mV/Pa (-37 dBV) re 1 V/Pa
Max. SPL   125 dB (for 1 % THD)
Equivalent noise level   20 dB-A
Signal/noise ratio (A-weighted)   74 dB
Impedance   <=600 ohms
Recommended load impedance   >=2,000 ohms
Powering   <3 mA
Connector   Discreet Acoustics Modular standard
Finish   matte dark grey
Net weight   5 g (0.17 oz.)
Shipping weight   88 g (3.1 oz.)

[manitouman]

After playing with the wave and doing some EQ'ing to it, I was able to make the wave look a bit more of what I'm used to. I had to cut the low end and boost the high/mids. I have no idea what I'm doing on a professional level but I am much more happy with the results.

Does anyone know what caused this? I'm referring to the second picture I posted.

[kcmule]

Does anyone know what caused this? I'm referring to the second picture I posted.

Looks like a hot feed to me.

[terrapinj]

looks like its overloading or brickwalling at the mics

prob need to run the mic pad

[manitouman]

Here's what may seem like a dumb question: Can that be done (mic pad) at the recorder or is that something I need to introduce in the line before the recorder? Wouldn't brick walling cause some kind of "noise" in the sound file? Anything other than the music? Because the sound seems fine, a little bassy, but I was able to manipulate it into something worth listening to.

Thanks for the help!

[SmokinJoe]

I kind of doubt you overloaded the input on the 702.  Those things should be able to take a hot hot signal.    I don't know much about Tool, but I've heard references like is the loudest band out there, so maybe you overloaded the mics.  Your waveform is pretty much what I see when I overload my set of 2 wire AT853's, which are known to overload.  In that case too (the AT's) sometimes it can be significantly distorted, but it doesn't necessarily sound like shit.  I mean... it's an electric guitar it's SUPPOSED to sound distorted...

[terrapinj]

i run the pad on my mod460s all the time with my psp2

i had similar issues at a few shows if the pad wasn't on

wasn't really audible but very noticeable on the waveform