Audio-Technica AE 3000 B-Stock

B-Stock with Full Warranty
Return that may have slight traces of use.

Condenser Instrument Microphone

Polar pattern: Cardioid
Frequency range: 20 - 20,000 Hz
Bass roll-off: 80 Hz / 12 dB / Octave
Impedance: 100 Ohm
Sound pressure: 148 dB max SPL (158 dB max SPL with 10 dB pad)
High-pass filter
10 dB pad switch
XLR connector
Dimensions: 115.5 x 48 mm
Weight: 170 g
Bag and stand adaptor included
15-Year manufacturer's warranty

15-Year manufacturer's warranty when registered within 30 days at audio-technica.com

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

3-Year Thomann Warranty

Available since June 2006
Item number 492051
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)

Also available as brand new product $282

$261

The shipping costs are calculated on the checkout page.

Sales Rank

in Microphones for Snare Drum

The condenser mic for instruments

Audio-Technica AE 3000 condenser instrument microphone

Large diaphragm condenser microphones are known for their many advantages, particularly their wide sound spectrum, which provides exceptional detail and transparency in recordings. However, their larger size can make them more cumbersome to handle, and they tend to be more sensitive to loud sound sources. The Audio-Technica AE 3000 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone designed with these challenges in mind. Boasting a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, the cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and rear, improving the isolation of the desired sound source. Intended specifically for capturing loud sound sources like drums and guitar amplifiers, the AE 3000 is unusually compact and easy to position, as well as being able to handle high sound pressure levels. This makes it an ideal alternative to dynamic microphones for miking instruments.

A large diaphragm that's easy to handle

Developed and manufactured in Japan, the AE 3000 is a remarkably compact large diaphragm microphone, coming in at just 11.5cm in length. The capsule's design is also unusually flat, making it easy to position, for instance when miking a snare drum. It handles loud sound sources with ease, remaining distortion-free up to 148dB SPL. For even louder sound sources, a -10dB pad can be applied, though this is rarely needed, as its sensitivity is a moderate 7mV/Pa. The microphone also excels at capturing quiet sound sources, with a low noise level of 83dB, ensuring minimal interference from the internal electronics. The microphone captures sound in a cardioid pattern across a range of 20Hz to 20kHz, delivering exceptional clarity and detail. It features a subtle boost in the 5kHz to 10kHz range and around 15kHz, providing additional punch. Additionally, a low-cut filter at 80Hz can be activated to clean up lower frequencies when needed.

Built to handle loud sound sources

The Audio-Technica AE 3000 is a versatile microphone, ideal for expanding any microphone collection, especially for instrument recording. It is suitable for both live performances and studio use, offering a wide array of sonic possibilities. As a large-diaphragm condenser microphone, it excels at applications like recording drums and guitar amplifiers. Its robust design ensures it can withstand the rigours of live performances and touring, while its ability to handle loud sound sources makes it an excellent alternative to many dynamic microphones. Additionally, it can function as a complementary microphone to dynamic models. For those tired of dealing with bulky condenser microphones for drum miking, the AE 3000's compact design makes it a great option to consider.

About Audio-Technica

The Japanese company Audio-Technica was founded in 1962 and at first manufactured affordable phono cartridges. The company has since become acclaimed for a whole range of quality audio products. Audio-Technica released their first headphones in 1974. The company later gained huge popularity among musicians with the release of the AT4060 tube microphone. Audio-Technica focuses on high-quality components at affordable prices. Today, their product range offers a wide variety of microphones, headphones, and turntables as well as many other accessories.

The go-to microphone for instruments

This large-diaphragm condenser microphone is versatile enough to capture a wide range of instruments. Its low sensitivity, akin to that of dynamic microphones, allows it to handle very loud sound sources with ease. The key difference is that the Aidio-Technica AE 3000 delivers a much more detailed and linear sound than dynamic microphones. This makes it ideal for miking drums, such as snare, toms, or bass drums, especially when a natural sound is what's needed. Paired with a second AE 3000, it can even be used as an overhead. For guitar miking, it performs superbly in front of loud amplifiers, complementing dynamic microphones for enhanced tonal depth. Additionally, it handles quieter instruments like acoustic guitars effortlessly thanks to its high signal-to-noise ratio of 83dB. It's also suitable for capturing loud wind instruments such as trombones and trumpets.

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Audio-Technica AE 3000 B-Stock

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