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R/E/P => Recording - Engineering & Production => Topic started by: Sam Carlen on June 23, 2012, 05:01:49 PM

Title: Fake AKG D112 (with Pics)
Post by: Sam Carlen on June 23, 2012, 05:01:49 PM
Hi guys. Well I bought a AKG D112 off of a second hand local marketplace online for $160. (It wasn't Ebay) But I looked into this mic and heard audio clips of it and heard it in person. So I was very excited. But when I got it, it came with a mic clip that is NOT what I see on pictures of this mic everywhere. It does say "AKG D112" on the mic. It came with the manual and warranty card and such but I could not register it on AKG.com. I compared it with another extremely cheap kick mic I had when I began (OSP model or something) and the AKG almost had no difference to the cheap mic. I opened it up just to take a look, there's no distinguishable markings that the parts are AKG made. I've NEVER heard of or seen anything about a fake one of these. Shure's yes I've seen. But is this actually possible that I may have purchased a fake one?? (I can post pics if needed)
Title: Re: FAKE AKG D112?
Post by: Fletcher on June 28, 2012, 08:59:07 AM
People counterfeit stuff all the time... the D-112 is popular enough that its probably worth counterfeiting.  If it sounds like ass... it might be time to lick your wounds, eat the loss, and go to the local Banjo Mart and get yourself an bona fide AKG version of the mic... or wait another week or two and check out the Telefunken M82 that is coming out in the middle of July [I've used a proto-type... it was awesome on kik!!! ...and bass... and the bottom rotor of a Leslie cabinet].

Peace
Title: Re: FAKE AKG D112?
Post by: Sam Carlen on June 28, 2012, 12:54:36 PM
Yeah, thanks. I assume that would be a great possibility. Maybe I could even resell it as used for slighty lower than what I paid and just fork out an extra $50 for one at Guitar Center. At least I'll know that one will be real.  :D
Title: Re: FAKE AKG D112?
Post by: Sam Carlen on June 28, 2012, 05:33:32 PM
Before I go crazy looking for a new kick drum mic. This mic doesn't sound AWFUL, just not great. It's average, kinda boomy, doesn't cut through a mix well like a Beta 52 I once used on the same kit. But here's some pics, could someone please tell me if these things I noticed are normal?? The lettering is pure white unlike what I've seen which is outlined in white. The weight of this mic is 3oz less than what I've seen it is supposed to be. And the clip is not the AKG SA-40 clip that suposedly comes with it. And I'm not sure if AKG really does make this microphone is China as is says. Any help would be great, thank you! (Sorry for bad quality)
Title: Re: FAKE AKG D112?
Post by: Rick Sutton on June 28, 2012, 07:04:24 PM
This mic doesn't sound AWFUL, just not great. It's average, kinda boomy, doesn't cut through a mix
That's a better review than what I would give to my D112 that I'm sure is not a counterfeit!
Title: Re: FAKE AKG D112?
Post by: Sam Carlen on June 28, 2012, 11:27:00 PM
That's a better review than what I would give to my D112 that I'm sure is not a counterfeit!

Really? I thought this mic was supposed to be one of the best? I hear good and bad things about it, maybe the consistency of a good sounding D-112 that AKG can make is just bad.  :P
Title: Re: Fake AKG D112 (with Pics)
Post by: Fletcher on June 29, 2012, 10:27:57 AM
The old Bose theory in practice... "Better Sound Through Marketing".  You're a lot kinder to the D-112 than I have ever been... I hate those things with a hate that is usually reserved for the United States Congress.

Peace
Title: Re: FAKE AKG D112?
Post by: Rick Sutton on June 29, 2012, 12:41:38 PM
Really? I thought this mic was supposed to be one of the best? I hear good and bad things about it, maybe the consistency of a good sounding D-112 that AKG can make is just bad.  :P
I don't think it's a consistency issue. That mic just sounds strange. To me it's all woof with no definition. I only keep mine around for one client that likes it on jazz kick drum. I have to twist the eq to new extremes to come close to anything acceptable to my ears.
Title: Re: FAKE AKG D112?
Post by: Sam Carlen on June 29, 2012, 04:25:47 PM
I don't think it's a consistency issue. That mic just sounds strange. To me it's all woof with no definition. I only keep mine around for one client that likes it on jazz kick drum. I have to twist the eq to new extremes to come close to anything acceptable to my ears.

I had to do the same on a rock project I was just doing. EXTREME EQ cuts in the lower mids (125-200 hz especially) I think I may just go for a Beta 52A or D6, since I've used both with great results.
Title: Re: FAKE AKG D112?
Post by: rocksure on July 02, 2012, 07:22:42 AM
I don't think it's a consistency issue. That mic just sounds strange. To me it's all woof with no definition. I only keep mine around for one client that likes it on jazz kick drum. I have to twist the eq to new extremes to come close to anything acceptable to my ears.

Once upon a time I used to like them. Everyone seemed to be going for a clacky kick drum sound about 10-15 years ago. But these days I have gone off that scooped sound, and the D112 has become the opposite of a "go-to" mic to me. I prefer a more rounded sound, and if you want to add some tops there are other mics that probably do it better.
Title: Re: Fake AKG D112 (with Pics)
Post by: Fletcher on July 02, 2012, 08:50:22 AM
In about 2 weeks time Telefunken is going to release their M82 "kik drum mic" -- you might want to give it a listen when it comes out.  I had "proto-type #5" for a while [which from what I understand will indeed be the production model] and was very impressed.

Peace
Title: Re: Fake AKG D112 (with Pics)
Post by: rocksure on July 19, 2012, 08:24:32 AM
In about 2 weeks time Telefunken is going to release their M82 "kik drum mic" -- you might want to give it a listen when it comes out.  I had "proto-type #5" for a while [which from what I understand will indeed be the production model] and was very impressed.

Peace

Definitely got me interested. Still no pictures or info other than a "coming soon" on their website for it though.
Title: Re: Fake AKG D112 (with Pics)
Post by: Fletcher on July 20, 2012, 10:08:25 AM
I heard yesterday that release has been backed up until October-ish... seeing as they haven't been promoting the release [I'm the only idiot who has been talking about it] this isn't a bad thing... but I still humbly submit, its going to be well worth the wait [or at least it is in my world, YMMV].

Peace
Title: Re: Fake AKG D112 (with Pics)
Post by: luciolis on July 25, 2012, 09:50:08 AM
Hi,

AKG is currently moving his entire production (excepted C414) to china. I think it is a shame, but your mic can be not a fake.
Title: Re: Fake AKG D112 (with Pics)
Post by: Fletcher on July 25, 2012, 03:38:12 PM
Moving production to China is only a drag for the Austrians who used to work at the AKG factory.  China has every capability to build things correctly... the only reason we view Chinese built product as inferior is because most of the "manufacturers" who have their products built in China specify loose tolerances [in order to save money], and cheap parts [in order to save money]. 

The "MacBook" i'm typing this response on was built in China... and its been working perfectly for close to 4 years now.  There is lots of other stuff that is built in China that is also perfectly fine... and I'm quite sure you will find AKG's build quality will remain unchanged [and their designs will continue along the path of solid mediocrity its been on for the last 25-30 years].

Peace
Title: Re: Fake AKG D112 (with Pics)
Post by: Bill Philbrick on July 26, 2012, 04:33:18 PM




Thanks to (IMO, unethical) marketing departments (whose claims and reputations are based on glory long-extinct) too many people firmly believe:

Really? I thought this mic was supposed to be one of the best?...


Whereas:

... and I'm quite sure you will find AKG's build quality will remain unchanged [and their designs will continue along the path of solid mediocrity its been on for the last 25-30 years].


is actually a (understandably) benignly-stated version of the truth.


If more people would realize this and use their purchasing power accordingly, maybe companies like AKG, Neumann etc. would improve.  I'm not idealistic enough to think they would ever return to the level of their former glory but there is much room for improvement.