Whether you record vocals at home or mic up blaring guitar cabs and explosive drums on stage, the black AKG P120 condenser microphone is designed to give clear, distortion-free sound on a tight budget. This side-address mic sports a rugged all-metal body that not only bolsters durability, but also aids in rejecting RF interference from sources such as wireless systems. It comes with a stand adapter for straightforward mounting on your existing mic stand.

The low-mass 0.67" gold-sputtered diaphragm yields a detailed sound with a slight high-frequency rise above 10 kHz, and it is capable of handling SPLs up to 150 dB (-20 pad on) without audible distortion. A gentle low-cut filter at 300 Hz can be engaged, which helps reduce rumble, wind noise, or even bass buildup from up-close miking. Stage bleed and background noise are attenuated by the mic's cardioid polar pattern, which is most sensitive to sound in front of the microphone. Use a separately available XLR cable to connect the P120 to an XLR mic input that can supply 48V phantom power.

For Voice, Instruments, Drums & Cabs    XLR Output for Hookup to Mic Preamp    Operates on 48V Phantom Power    Includes Mic Stand Adapter    Cardioid Pattern Lowers Stage/Room Noise    Switchable Pad Prevents Distortion    Low-Cut Filter Suppresses Bass Buildup    Handles Extremely High Sound Levels    0.67" Gold-Sputtered Diaphragm

This side-address microphone is most sensitive to sounds arriving from in front of it while picking up much less of sounds arriving from the sides or rear (from monitor speakers or neighboring instruments). This makes the microphone equally suited for recording and onstage use.

The 0.67" diaphragm—sized between the measurements of typical large and small diaphragms—is made of a plastic foil that is gold-sputtered on one side only to prevent shorting to the back electrode even at extremely high sound pressure levels.

The all-metal body adds to the rejection of RF interference so you can use the microphone near transmitter stations and along with wireless microphones or other communications equipment. The extremely rugged, heavy body and sturdy front grille protect the microphone from damage from tough handling on stage.

Capable of handling sound pressure levels up to 150 dB without introducing perceptible distortion and built to resist high temperatures and humidity, the microphone will give excellent results in a wide range of applications.

Selector 1 on the microphone front further reduces low-end distortion caused by footfall, wind noise, and air conditioning rumble. The filter also minimizes the proximity effect that close-in miking from less than 4" causes in any unidirectional microphone. The filter rolls off at 6 dB/octave from 300 Hz downward.

Selector 2 on the microphone front lets you increase the headroom by 20 dB for distortion-free recording up close. The pre-attenuation pad prevents the microphone's output level,

particularly at low frequencies, from overloading the miniature transformers used in many mixer input stages, etc.

The P120 uses a condenser transducer designed for 48V phantom powering from a source such as an external mic preamp, an audio interface, or a mixing console. It provides a balanced output on an XLR 3-pin male connector; use an XLR cable (available separately) to connect the microphone to a balanced XLR input with phantom power.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. is this an output to thunderbolt 3 for mac?

A: Apollo Twin is compatible with all Apple Mac computers that have an available Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt 2, or Thunderbolt 3 port. For Mac computers that feature Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C, a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt adapter is required.

Q: 2. What is the Country of Origin for this product?

A: Hi Jennifer, The country of origin for this product is Taiwan.

Q: 3. I need a hypercardioid mic for interior dialogue recording on a boom pole. Is it possible the this mic can deliver in such a task? Or is it too heavy. Too bulky? Thanks.

A: I use this mic in our studio on a C-stand and hand held for street interviews. I do have some shoots coming up in August where I am going to purchase a boom for it. It's definitely bulkier than a choir mic, but I love the sound (don't forget to put the hypercardioid adapter on it that comes in the box).Hope that helps,Jeff

Q: 4. Will this mic work properly off 15v church fixed phantom power?

A: This mic will operate properly on a range of 44 to 52 Volts phantom power.

Q: 5. Does this microphone require additional equipment to be used with a Zoom H4N pro?

A: Yes, the AKG P120 requires an XLR cable to connect the mic to Zoom H4n Pro. A mic stand adapter is included, but other optional accessories you may want are a mic stand, and perhaps a pop filter and/or shock mount.

Q: 6. Based on the description showing stage use , we bought two of these and put them on the edge of our stage facing the audience in the hopes of a decent ambient pick-up. They are picking up way too much from the rear and the manual actually says that they are either super cardiois or hyper cardioid which would not have as much rear rejection as a plain cardioid. Am I misunderstanding something or can you please advise us on a more appropriate selection? We are a church with a fair amount of stage volume and need these primarily for in-ear ambiance and the results were practically no vocals and little audience with mostly stage music from drums and guitar amps.Thank you

A: There are adapters in the box. One has holes to skew the response curve to voice. There is another to reject background sound. I think it comes with it installed. Did you check your db settings? It has a switch to drop the output.

Q: 7. How can i get a replacement Mic Stand Adapter for P170?

A: It's an extremely common size. Almost any mic holder for a small diaphragm mic will work.

Q: 8. What is the effective range for this microphone? I.e. on a stage 15 feet deep and 40 feet wide, how many of these would we need (sic how few could I get away with )?

A: Our stage is 28 feet deep by 40 feet wide. We use 3 floors mics.

Q: 9. How does it work on upright bass?

A: It should work very well. As a lower-cost alternative to the fabulous C414 family of mics, the C214 will offer you a fine low-end for recording an upright string bass.

Q: 10. Would this be a good lapel mic for sit down interview or is it designed primarily for stage use on actors?

A: The AKG LC81 MD Reference Lightweight Cardioid Lavalier Microphone could be used for an interview scenario as well as stage use. Its cardioid pickup pattern makes it more directional to help focus on the voice and eliminate external noise, as well as possibly reducing the possibility of feedback when it is amplified.