AKG 414 or 2 mid priced condensers?

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harley96

harley96

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I am interested in opinions on whether to purchase 1 AKG414 or two mid priced condensers.First, I have a studio partner that has a 414 so I have access to it but if things go south, I would truly miss that mic.It has the selectable polar patterns, which most mid priced mics in the $300 to $500.00 range don't have. Between the mics I currently own and my partner we have more than enough to record Drums and the rest of the band.So,with that said if you were going to buy one excellent mic would it be the 414 or another mic in it's price range or would you spread the funds wider and buy a couple mid priced condensers?
 
buy cheap, pay twice...
I have read so many negative comments about the 414 that I was almost shocked when I first had chance to record with it. It sounds wonderful. This being said, I would like to listen to a ksm44 and the C3, just to have a comparison.
regards
Harald
 
i have a 414... if i could only keep one mic i would keep it. its beast.
 
with the influx of "sounds like a neumann" mics, people have forgotten the c414. They seem to forget that it was a standard for male vocals for many years.

What I like about it is how it responds to eq. Because it is inherently smooth, you can go crazy with eq. It is also inherently neutral.
 
with the influx of "sounds like a neumann" mics, people have forgotten the c414. They seem to forget that it was a standard for male vocals for many years.

What I like about it is how it responds to eq. Because it is inherently smooth, you can go crazy with eq. It is also inherently neutral.

That said, I listened to samples of twelve condenser mics ranging from real cheap to extremely expensive. It was a blind test. My top two choices happened to be a neumann tlm103 and a behringer b2. Unbelievable isnt it, cos the b2 costs $200
 
CyanJaguar said:
That said, I listened to samples of twelve condenser mics ranging from real cheap to extremely expensive. It was a blind test. My top two choices happened to be a neumann tlm103 and a behringer b2. Unbelievable isnt it, cos the b2 costs $200
Click to expand...

Monty's test?
 
yep! monty's test

h kuhn, you mentioned that you tested the c414 against the rode ntk. Can you tell me the differneces? I really like the 414, and I thought that the ntk was barely ok till I heard Ruebarbs post. The rode sound rich in the midrange, and big. What did you not like about it?
 
Keep them coming!!

I am still considering my options, I have not had the opportunity to demo upper end rode mics or really many other mics in this price range compared to the 414.Keep your opinions coming I like to have several opinions as to what you like and dislike about the mics you've used in real world experiences.
 
Greets,

I have the NTK, and think it is the best sounding mic I have ever used, and I have used a TLM 103 and a 414. If you want the same capsule with multi-pattern capability, I'd go for the Røde Classic. Really, the NTK is impressive, and can be had for < $450.00 USD. I bought mine here in Canada, so it cost me more in loonies. I was going to get a 414, but when I auditioned this mic, I was sold. Also saved me around $500.00 CDN in the process.
 
CyanJaguar said:
yep! monty's test

h kuhn, you mentioned that you tested the c414 against the rode ntk. Can you tell me the differneces? I really like the 414, and I thought that the ntk was barely ok till I heard Ruebarbs post. The rode sound rich in the midrange, and big. What did you not like about it?
Click to expand...

So monty has already mailed you the solutions? that's unfair!! I am still downloading...

It would be wrong to say that I didn't like the NTK, it is simply not what I am looking for. It was amazing on voice, very smooth, lots of high end, but not "brittle". The 414 sounded much better on Brass and Sax, and that's what I am mainly recording, and I need the variable patterns (at least the figure of 8). On Trumpet the NTK was too bright and in the midrange too "honky". I cannot imagine that it would work very well on accoustic, although I haven't tried.
Hope that helps
Harald
 
For the money, you could get a Marshall V67G and an NTK.

That would give you more sound-options from two wonderful mics!

Just my 2 cents.

Buck
 
I think that everybody who can should download the vox files on this test and take the test for yourselves. Its amazing the conclusions you will arrive at when you dont know the mics.

http://www.biobonsai.com/echochamber/miktest.htm

I cant give away too many details, but there is the ntk on the test, as well as the c414 tllII. Many other famous and budget mics as well

hkuhn,
He only told me the results for the b2 and the 103 cos I ranked them highest. I got the rest of the results today.

THe tlm103 on female voice was still the clear winner.

Now, has anyone compared the behringer b-2 to the studio projects c1? THe behringer really sang. .I have all the files on my computer and the b2 is a close second everytime I listen. Thats amazing. Behringer , golly

You will have to email him to get the results. His email is on the page. miktest@echochamber.ch

H kuhn, when you get your reults, lets compare.
 
CyanJag

Can he do email in English? I don't read or speak Deutsch.
 
hi charger,

yes. He emails back in english. When I got my reults back, the rode ntk had beaten a lot of more expensive mics. I will compare results with you when you get the files.
 
CyanJaguar said:


H kuhn, when you get your reults, lets compare.
Click to expand...

I am not shure if i will download the vox files. I was more interested in the Sax and maybe the shaker. It already took me a whole night to download the sax-files. And I am shure it was NOT the 103 I rated best for sax.
 
The AKG C414B-ULS gets the versatility/legendary award here! I even like the B-ULS version over the older C414EB versions as well. I found the EB to be quite bright in a side by side A/B test with the new one. The AKG C414B-ULS is a wonderful sounding "instrument of Divinity":)
 
I'm not sure how much the 414 is these days..but I would look into the BLUE line of mics before a 414.
 
It just goes to show how different mics, at different times, etc., can give different people so many varying opinions.
Those of you who read my post on our acoustic guitar mic "shoot-out" a few months back may recall that the 414 was totally eclipsed by the C3000, U87 and C1.

So Harley, before you part with dollars, try out as many mics as you can, preferably in your own environment.

Peace......ChrisO :cool:
 
h kuhn said:


I am not shure if i will download the vox files. I was more interested in the Sax and maybe the shaker. It already took me a whole night to download the sax-files. And I am shure it was NOT the 103 I rated best for sax.
Click to expand...

Well, I was half-right. I gave the tlm 103 a 10 while still prefering the Nt1000 a little bit (here it sounded *darker*! and very smooth).
 
the ntk and nt1000 did well on vox too. They beat a neumann m147 and c414 tlii and had the third highest ranking of the bunch.
Its funny that I gave both mics the same score though.
 
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