414. What's Better?

  • Thread starter Thread starter biggs1249
  • Start date Start date
B

biggs1249

New member
Hello,

So I am just building my mic collection, and for a while had just my 414 BULS, some 57s and would borrow other mics. This worked pretty well for my purposes of demoing songs, tracking guitars, and vocals, sound design (for theater), recording low quality demos of groups and occasionally voice over work. I play/record a variety of styles from jazz to rock, to R&B.

My 414 recently died and I was just going to replace it, but now I am wondering If I could get something maybe a bit better. Since I only have one "nice" mic, and I use it for a lot of different things, versatility is my no.1 concern. I generally run it into a RNP and sometimes through and RNC as well.

Is there anything that does the same kinds of a things but maybe sounds a bit better? I never had a problem with the sound but I have read that many people don't consider the 414 to be a go to mic for vocals, though I think it worked well for at least one of the singers in my band. I guess I am looking for a mic that still sounds good on guitar, sounds maybe better on vocals than the 414, and something that could work as a single drum overhead in a pinch. Should I just stick with the 414? does anything meet that description?
(my price range is generally what you could get a used 414 for. maybe a bit more.)
 
The 414 has its uses...but I found that it can sometimes be strident.
I also never much cared for it as a vocal mic...instruments/rooms, yes.

There are all kinds of mics to pick from...what is the MAIN thing you would use it for...vocals...guitar cabs...drums...and what kind of tonal flavor are you after, or do you want a totally transparent mic?
 
I would probably use it for all three of those things equally. If I had to choose I think it would be wise to have a mic that excels as a vocal mic over drums and guitars, because I think its easier to get away with drum and guitar sounds. You can't fake a good vocal sound with eq or effects or anything. I think also it makes sense to start out with a more transparent mic and add mics with more character as I build up my collection, though I am open to suggestion. Does that make sense?
 
How did your 414 die???

There might be a couple guys around here that could revive it.
 
Ya gotta love all the people who are always asking for something that's better that costs less money ;)

In the same price range as a 414, I think it's hard to beat a Mojave MA200. For just a taste more, a Royer R121 ribbon is a great mic for almost everything (except kick ;)), I would imagine that a used one of either of those would be in the same general price range as a used 414, give or take a few bucks.

If you're looking for a new mic in that price range, something like the AT 4050 might be something to look at. A decent enough mic for a more economical price, but it's still got the advantage of being a multi-pattern mic similar to the 414XLS for all around use.

G.
 
I sent it in to an AKG service center. They wanted $650 to fix it (which is almost twice what I paid for it). So I sold it as-is to recoup some of my investment. Maybe I could have had someone else look at it, but its too late now.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Ya gotta love all the people who are always asking for something that's better that costs less money ;)

In the same price range as a 414, I think it's hard to beat a Mojave MA200. For just a taste more, a Royer R121 ribbon is a great mic for almost everything (except kick ;)), I would imagine that a used one of either of those would be in the same general price range as a used 414, give or take a few bucks.

If you're looking for a new mic in that price range, something like the AT 4050 might be something to look at. A decent enough mic for a more economical price, but it's still got the advantage of being a multi-pattern mic similar to the 414XLS for all around use.

G.
Click to expand...

I am not looking for something that costs less. I am looking for a similar if not slight higher price range. Would consider a ribbon. and I will check out the Mojave. The multiple polar pattern thing is a pretty good feature. Though I looked at many forums on AT4050 vs 414 and most seem to think that the 414 wins.
 
I've mentioned these before...check out some of the upper-end ADK mics.
I have few of them, along with other brands...and my #1 vocal mic for the last few years has been my ADK TT/CE tube mic...but they've added a couple of other models in that upper end since I bought mine...so you now have more choices.
 
biggs1249 said:
Though I looked at many forums on AT4050 vs 414 and most seem to think that the 414 wins.
Click to expand...
No question the 414 is the more famous and popular. I just suggested the 4050 that as something new that wouldn't hit the wallet as hard.

If you don't mid spending a bit more, that Royer is killer on most everything. You want to have a decent preamp that has the muscle to pump a ribbon, though. Royer does have a new optional version of the 121 - I forget the model # - that is higher output, but I have no experience with how that sounds in comparison to the original.

G.
 
If you where liking what you had and what it did why change in mid stream.
 
I was working at a studio for a bit were I A/B'd 414s with TLM 103s all the time on different things. I almost always thought the 414 sounded better on just about everything. Maybe thats just me. I found a good deal on a 414 on Ebay so I went ahead and got it. I'd like to get it checked out and make sure its in perfect shape. Does anyone know where I can get it checked out from someone who is trusted/affordable?
 
biggs1249 said:
I was working at a studio for a bit were I A/B'd 414s with TLM 103s all the time on different things. I almost always thought the 414 sounded better on just about everything. Maybe thats just me. I found a good deal on a 414 on Ebay so I went ahead and got it. I'd like to get it checked out and make sure its in perfect shape. Does anyone know where I can get it checked out from someone who is trusted/affordable?
Click to expand...

What seems wrong with it?
 
well I haven't received it yet. So as far as I know nothing. I would just think that after buying something delicate on ebay it would make sense to have it looked over by a professional. Is it not possible for something be wrong with the mic that would not be immediately obvious?
 
The fist thing I'd do before anything else is to clean it with some effective disinfectant as much as possible.

G.
 
There's nothing wrong with getting it looked over but put it through it's paces first. There may be nothing wrong with it.
 
biggs1249 said:
well I haven't received it yet. So as far as I know nothing. I would just think that after buying something delicate on ebay it would make sense to have it looked over by a professional. Is it not possible for something be wrong with the mic that would not be immediately obvious?
Click to expand...

What I always do with a new (used) microphone is to hook it up to a system for for at lest a full day and check on it periodically by just talking into it or singing a bit and just listening if there are any pops, hiss, farts what ever sounds like it doesn't belong. If by then nothing arises your good to go!
 
I sent it in to an AKG service center. They wanted $650 to fix it (which is almost twice what I paid for it).
Click to expand...
That still adds up to less than what you'd pay for a new one.
Wish I had one.
 
yea but I sold the broken one and bought a used one cheap for way less than $650 so I did ok.
 
I've been leaving all of my recent purchases plugged in for at least 24 hours and trying them out frequently.
Guess we're all of the same mind then.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top