User manual AKG SOLIDTUBE

[. . . ] It should be stressed at this point that the vacuum tube used with its inbuilt heater element is significantly more sensitive to mechanical shocks than is transistor technology. Therefore, the user of this Microphone should always exercise the greatest care and attention. Even shocks caused by falls from low levels can lead to the breaking of the hot heating element and, consequently, to the total failure of the microphone. It is advisable, therefore, to buy and keep in reserve a spare tube which you can get in any good music shop which sells, for example, guitar amplifiers, or in the next AKG Service Center. [. . . ] The audio can likewise be taken balanced from the power supply unit by means of an XLR-3 connector. A special elastic shockmount ­ "H-Solid" is supplied and should always be used to connect the microphone to floor stands or booms. The clamp of the shockmount is pushed on to the microphone from below while turning gently until the SOLIDTUBE type block can be seen again below the clamp. This makes it impossible for the microphone to slide out of the mounting unintentionally because this is prevented, on the one side, by the raised type block and, on the other side, by the grid cap with its larger external diameter. Intentional removal of the microphone from the shockmount is then only possible by simultaneously turning and pulling the microphone body away from the shockmount. After fitting the microphone into the shockmount, it can be screwed on to stands or booms with standard 3/8 or 5/8 inch threaded 8 The SOLIDTUBE is equipped with a large diaphragm capsule with cardioid characteristics which can thus handle nearly all tasks occurring in recording studios. Although the microphone is provided with an built-in pop screen, an adequate distance to the microphone of at least 20 to 30 cm (approx. ) should be maintained, or the "W-SOLID" wind/pop screen supplied should be used in order to prevent unwanted popping noises on the sensitive microphone diaphragm, especially when using the microphone for singing. Another way to prevent popping noises is by using the StudioPopfilter PF 80 which can be obtained as an option from AKG. After switching on the microphone power on the power supply unit, Please allow a few minutes for the tube to warm up so as to get the full, warm "tube sound". If the microphone should be used with extremely loud sources of sound e. , then it is advisable to push the attenuation switch on the microphone housing downwards to the ­20 dB position. With this you can be certain that any distortions do not come from the microphone but either from the sound source itself or from the equipment connected after the microphone such as, for example, input stages of mixing consoles or other causes. Over of the accepted operating voltage should be necessary then this can be done very easily with a small flat-bladed screwdriver. Before doing this, please remove the mains connection cable from the mains supply!Place the screwdriver in the notch provided for this on the fuse holder, press the spring-loaded tongue gently to the right in the direction of the voltage indicator and lever the whole fuse holder out of the socket. Then, please pull the light plastic part with the fuse out of the carrier part, turn the fuse link through 180º and insert it again in the carrier part until it engages. The complete carrier part can then be inserted into the socket again until this also engages. You can also proceed in exactly the same way should the unit fuse ever be damaged. WARNING: Make sure to replace the built-in fuse with a standard fuse of the same type only. [. . . ] When pressed, this switch interrupts The connection from pin 1 of the XLR socket to the zero volt / ground level of the power supply unit. Should this measure provide no remedy for the interfering hum then you must locate and remove the cause of the interference from the rest of the sound system in the usual way. All surfaces can be cleaned from time to time with (industrial) methylated spirits or alcohol. The foam windscreen is best cleaned with a mild detergent solution and is immediately ready for use when dry. [. . . ]