AKG Pro Audio D5 Vocal Dynamic Microphone Instruction Guide
- October 27, 2023
- AKG Pro Audio
Table of Contents
AKG Pro Audio D5 Vocal Dynamic Microphone
Introduction
Even on the noisiest stage, the D 5 dynamic voice microphone for lead and backup vocals produces a powerful sound. Maximum gain before feedback is guaranteed by its super cardioid polar pattern (for additional information, go to www.Akg/feedbackisdead). The D 5 is synonymous with a clear sound that penetrates every mix. The first ever microphone diaphragm whose thickness varies across its width was created by AKG. A quantum jump in audio performance is made possible by the revolutionary laminated Varimotion diaphragm deep-drawing method, which eliminates the need for additional tuning resonators and allows the diaphragm to be fine-tuned on its own. The two-shock mounting ensures trouble-free live use by eliminating any mechanical noise. Nothing but the clear sound of your speech will be audible to the listeners!
INTERFACING
The microphone provides a balanced output on a 3-pin male XLR connector:
- Pin 1: ground
- Pin 2: hot
- Pin 3: return
You can connect the microphone either to a balanced or an unbalanced microphone input.
- To connect the microphone to a balanced input (XLR connector), use a commercial XLR cable.
- To connect the microphone to an unbalanced microphone input (1/4″ jack), use a cable with a female XLR connector and a 1/4″ TS jack plug. Please note that unbalanced cables may pick up interference from stray magnetic fields near power or lighting cables, electric motors, etc. like an antenna. This may cause hum or similar noise when you use a cable that is longer than 16 feet (5 m).
USING YOUR MICROPHONE
A handheld vocal microphone provides many ways of shaping the sound of your voice as it is heard over the sound system.
The following sections contain useful hints on how to use your microphone for best results.
Basically, your voice will sound the bigger and mellower, the closer you hold the microphone to your lips. Moving away from the microphone will produce a more reverberant, more distant sound as the microphone will pick more of the room’s reverberation.
You can use this effect to make your voice sound aggressive, neutral, insinuating, etc. simply by changing your working distance.
Proximity effect is a more or less dramatic boost of low frequencies that occurs when you sing into the microphone from less than 2 inches. It gives more “body” to your voice and an intimate, bass- heavy sound.
Sing to one side of the microphone or above and across the micro-phone’s top. This pro- vides a well-balanced, natural sound.
If you sing directly into the microphone, it will not only pick up excessive
breath noise but also overemphasize “sss”, “sh”, “tch”, “p”, and “t”
sounds.
The term “feedback” means that part of the sound projected by a speaker is picked up by a micro- phone, fed back to the amplifier, and projected again by the speaker. Above a specific volume or “system gain” setting the sound system will start howling and the sound engineer will desperately dive for the master fader to reduce the volume and stop the howling.
To increase usable gain before feedback, the microphone has a super cardioid polar pattern. It is most sensitive to sounds arriving from in front of it (your voice) while picking up much less of sounds arriving from the sides or rear (from monitor speakers for instance).
To maximize gain before feedback, place the main (“FOH”) speakers in front of the microphones (along the front edge of the stage).
If you use monitor speakers, be sure never to point any microphone directly at a monitor or FOH speaker.
Feedback may also be triggered by resonances depending on the acoustics of the room or hall. With resonances at low frequencies, proximity effect may cause feedback. In this case, it is often enough to move away from the microphone a little to stop the feedback.
- Never let more than two persons share a microphone.
- The microphone is very insensitive to off- axis sounds. If the two vocalists were to sing into the micro- phone from an angle wider than 35 degrees, you may end up bringing up the fader of the microphone channel far enough to create a feedback problem.
CLEANING
- To clean the surface of the microphone body, use a soft cloth moistened with water.
- Unscrew the front grill from the microphone CCW.
- Remove the windscreen from the from grill and wash the windscreen in soap suds.
- Allow the windscreen to dry overnight.
- Replace the windscreen in the front grill and screw the front grill on the microphone CW.
TROUBLESHOOTING
| Problem | Possible Cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| No sound. | 1. Power to mixer and/or amplifier is off. |
2. Channel or master fader on mixer, or volume control on amplifier is at zero.
| 1. Switch power to mixer or amplifier on.
2. Set channel or master fader on mixer or volume control on ampli- fier to desired level.
3. Connect micro- phone to mixer or amplifier.
4. Check cable con- nectors for secure seat.
5. Check cable and replace if dam- aged.
|
3. Microphone is not connected to mixer or amplifier.
4. Cable connectors are seated loosely.
| 5. Cable is defective.
Distortion.| 1. Gain control on mixer or transmit- ter module not set
correctly.
2. Mixer input sensi- tivity too high.
| 1. Set gain control to stop distortion.
|
2. Insert 10 dB preat- tenuation pad be- tween microphone cable and input.
Microphone sound becomes duller by
and by.
| • Internal or external windscreen atten- uates high fre- quencies when soiled.| • Clean internal or external wind- screen.
SPECIFICATION
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
POLAR DIAGRAM
FAQs
is there a way to plug it into a pc to record it and if there is how would u do it****
You will need an audio interface, or a mixer built-in USB/Audio Interface. I would recommend you a Behringer Xenyx Q502USB, this mixer can do the job. And how to record audio? with a simple audio recording program like Audacity.
Does this require phantom power ? or can this be operated under normal circumstances ? can this replace a Shure sm58 directly ?****
Because this is a dynamic microphone it does not require phantom power. It could be used as a direct replacement for a sm58.
What kind of chord is needed for this mic to connect to a speaker?****
It can’t be directly connected to a speaker, it needs to go through a pa system, in which case you would need an XLR (3-prong) chord. If you’re talking about one of those block rocker speakers, like the ones they sell at Costco, then you would need the female xlr/ to male 1/4 inch chord.
can I use Xvive u3 wireless xlr on this mic?****
Yes I do myself.
Do I need a mixer or can I just have a phantom box?****
You don’t need phantom power it is dynamic mic.
Where is made in****
It appears to be made in China.
Can I plug the mic from my keyboard to my keyboard amp n hear myself sing?****
It’s not about the mic so much as it depends on your keyboard and amp. If its standard, should be a great option for you.
would you need a mixer for this or could I just plug it into my laptop same as my condenser mic?****
There is a big difference between a condenser Mic and a Dynamic Mic. You should first know that difference before purchasing either. To answer your question, you’ll need a mixer.
How are the highs and the clarity? I do not like muddiness which the Sennheiser e835 has****
I love this microphone. The highs a clear and responsive gives a nice flat midrange and the low end is sweet to my ears. In my opinion this mic is better than the sure sm58. I have had this particular mic since 2015. I have used it everywhere including a 3 year contract on a cruise ship and the salty air is brutal on equipment , and this mic is still working like new. If I were you I would buy 2.
does it work in garage band?****
It is dynamic mic works where ever you want to use it but it is not usb mic.
dose this work with Xvive u3 wireless system?****
Yes. I use that system with mine.
does it have a neodymium magnet in it****
I can’t track down this information definitively, quickly, but my guess would be no.
Is it the same microphone model Beatbox battle uses? 😀****
Basically yes without the packaging.
What is the diameter of the mic (for shock mount)?****
51mm.
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