c414 vs. c214

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i was wanting to get a pair of 414s to use for overheads and guitars.. but $2000 is rather hefty for me right now, i then saw the 214's priced around $650 a piece. can anyone enlighten me on the real world differences between them for overheads and heavy guitars? how many options and applications would i be losing by getting the 214's? money is an issue but i would rather wait and get the 414's if thats what i need to do.
thanks
 
This question comes up a lot, but rarely gets a good answer -- the reason is simple: nobody (or practically nobody) has both mics. I'm sure that'll change as time goes on.

I've got two older 414s that I got used, and they're great :) - in the absence of first hand information, your best bet may be to think about the mic techniques that are available to you with multi-pattern mics versus cardioid-only. I do use one or both of the 414s in omni from time to time, and plan to explore mid-side, one of these days.

edit: while we're on the subject, let me convey a cautionary tale from the novice (me) -- the 414s, and probably the 214s, require a full supply of 48v phantom power. I recorded a band at their rehearsal a couple of weeks ago, and had very little time to set up -- I forgot about the requirement, and ran both overheads off my firewire interface with only the built in phantom power -- the voltage was insufficient, and the tracks were not as good as I'm sure they would have been (and I had a dedicated 2 channel phantom supply sitting in my bag the whole time -- doh!!! :o) - the point here is that if you're like me, and often use bus powered interfaces for mic pres, you might also want to budget for a dedicated supply (and then remember to use it)
 
antichef said:
This question comes up a lot, but rarely gets a good answer -- the reason is simple: nobody (or practically nobody) has both mics. I'm sure that'll change as time goes on.

I've got two older 414s that I got used, and they're great :) - in the absence of first hand information, your best bet may be to think about the mic techniques that are available to you with multi-pattern mics versus cardioid-only. I do use one or both of the 414s in omni from time to time, and plan to explore mid-side, one of these days.

edit: while we're on the subject, let me convey a cautionary tale from the novice (me) -- the 414s, and probably the 214s, require a full supply of 48v phantom power. I recorded a band at their rehearsal a couple of weeks ago, and had very little time to set up -- I forgot about the requirement, and ran both overheads off my firewire interface with only the built in phantom power -- the voltage was insufficient, and the tracks were not as good as I'm sure they would have been (and I had a dedicated 2 channel phantom supply sitting in my bag the whole time -- doh!!! :o) - the point here is that if you're like me, and often use bus powered interfaces for mic pres, you might also want to budget for a dedicated supply (and then remember to use it)
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thanx for the help man. the multi pattern was the only difference i could find. so i was heading for the 214's but i dont want to limit myself later down the road. i have no experience usings different cardiod patterns. all my mics are 'come as is'. can you give me some examples of what you would use a different pattern for? are the different patterns more for different room sounds (since it would pick up more or less) or does it change the sound of the instrument as well? and for your cautionary tale, you have opened my eyes. when you said that it sparked a problem i have been having with my
tlm103. it seems i cannot get enough juice to it (using my interface phantom as well). i was thinking it was just the mic. i figured the phantom power would power it. i guess i was wrong. i will def look into 'dedicated supplies'. do you have any suggestions on a decent to nice one?
thanks
 
You might want to look for a pair of used 414s. They typically go from $500 to $600 each used and are pretty common.
 
+1 on the used 414s - people tend to take good care of them. I have two of the C414B-ULS that I got used (and I think that's what Pohaku has, too).

As to brands of phantom supply, I don't have much insight. I got an Audio Technica one, but it was one channel and about $50 new (kind of steep) - but very ruggedly built. I bought a 2 channel one off of drbill here for less than that, and it works fine. It wasn't a brand I recognize.

My *guess* is that they would pretty much all work, and the difference in quality would be more related to ruggedness of construction than to quality of power (at least, to a degree that's meaningful for the mics), but I could be wrong.

I use the other patterns for recording sound effects like rain and stuff. I use omni when recording my toddler, who likes to pace all around the room when she's singing :), and sometimes for percussion instruments. I'm not Mr. has-a-lot-of-mic-experience, to be sure.
 
antichef: Would you mind sharing the make/model of the firewire interface you were using?

Paj
8^?
 
MOTU Traveler (modded by Black Lion Audio) - I like everything about it except for the phantom power, but even that works for many of my mics, like all the electrets and small diaphragm condensers.
 
The C214 is an electret condensor whilst the C414 is a true condenser. Here is a quote from the technical editor of Sound on Sound in their forum in July 2008...

I have now had formal confirmation from AKG that "the C214 is an electret condenser microphone with a 1-inch large membrane capsule"

So it sits more neatly in the C3000 and C4000 camp, rather than the C414 camp from a technology point of view, and matches the company's policy with this kind of thing (eg the C451 re-issue which is an electret design whereas the original used a DC poalrised capsule).

So that's quite a different fundamental microphone design. I have a nice old C414B-ULS and it's a very flexible mike with it's variable patterns and all that. I don't think there would be any doubt that if you could afford it, or buy second hand, a pair of C414's would be a better option than a pair of C214's both in design, sound and flexibility.

Jed
 
I agree. I'd rather own 2 used C414's than 2 new 214's.-Richie
 
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