B
Big Kenny
New member
They aren't anyones favorite vocal mic but they track well and accurately portray whatever is thrown at them
Mark7
Well-known member
Unless you get a great deal on a second hand pair on eBay you can't afford a pair of AKG C414s. Of any stripe.
Here's a list of mics you can afford (I've gone up to €1,400), pooled from the listings on the website of a well known German e-tailer
Pair of AKG C451Bs: €689
Pair of AKG C480 B-ULS + pair of CK61 Cardioid capsules and pair of CK62 Omni Capsules: €1,306
Pair of Audio-Technica AT4050s: €1,318
Pair of Audio-Technica AT4047s: €996
Pair of Beyerdynamic MC-930s: €750
Pair of B.L.U.E. Baby Bottles: €1,098
Pair of Neumann KM184s: €1,396
Pair of Shure KSM 137s: €759
Pair of Shure KSM27s: €770
Pair of Shure SM81s: €990
Pair of Shure KSM32s: €1,318
Assuming you're not interested in any of the Chinese made ones or Oktavas.
Don't even bother thinking about Schoeps, DPA, Brauner, etc
Here's a list of mics you can afford (I've gone up to €1,400), pooled from the listings on the website of a well known German e-tailer
Pair of AKG C451Bs: €689
Pair of AKG C480 B-ULS + pair of CK61 Cardioid capsules and pair of CK62 Omni Capsules: €1,306
Pair of Audio-Technica AT4050s: €1,318
Pair of Audio-Technica AT4047s: €996
Pair of Beyerdynamic MC-930s: €750
Pair of B.L.U.E. Baby Bottles: €1,098
Pair of Neumann KM184s: €1,396
Pair of Shure KSM 137s: €759
Pair of Shure KSM27s: €770
Pair of Shure SM81s: €990
Pair of Shure KSM32s: €1,318
Assuming you're not interested in any of the Chinese made ones or Oktavas.
Don't even bother thinking about Schoeps, DPA, Brauner, etc
R
Richard Monroe
Well-known member
I agree, the 414's are excellent mics for what you want to do. As far as vocals, my experience is- you get what you put in. If the singer is great, they sound great. If the singer sucks, they suck. Same with acoustic. If the guitar/player/room are great, they are great. I agree the Schoeps, Brauner, and DPA mics mentioned are way out of your budget (and are great mics).
What you are experiencing here is partially a basic difference of opinion. Many people prefer small diaphragm mics for acoustic guitar and overheads. Many people prefer large diaphragm mics, and that basic difference of opinion colors averybody's answer. I prefer SD's for overheads, as a rule, and LD's for acoustic. That's my bias. Furthermore, vocal mics are personalized, and the mics that are great on one singer suck on another, and *IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT IT*.
If you like LD's on acoustic or for overheads, the 414's are high midpriced examples that are as versatile as any mic in it's pricerange. The SM81's are proven midpriced workhorses. Both SD's and LD's are studio standards. My personal recommendation, especially in Europe, would be one C414-XLS and a pair of AKG C451's. The C451's do what the SM81's do, but may be cheaper on the continent. You will never regret buying the 414. It will sound good on almost everything, and often will be good for those vocalists that don't get along with the K2.-Richie
What you are experiencing here is partially a basic difference of opinion. Many people prefer small diaphragm mics for acoustic guitar and overheads. Many people prefer large diaphragm mics, and that basic difference of opinion colors averybody's answer. I prefer SD's for overheads, as a rule, and LD's for acoustic. That's my bias. Furthermore, vocal mics are personalized, and the mics that are great on one singer suck on another, and *IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT IT*.
If you like LD's on acoustic or for overheads, the 414's are high midpriced examples that are as versatile as any mic in it's pricerange. The SM81's are proven midpriced workhorses. Both SD's and LD's are studio standards. My personal recommendation, especially in Europe, would be one C414-XLS and a pair of AKG C451's. The C451's do what the SM81's do, but may be cheaper on the continent. You will never regret buying the 414. It will sound good on almost everything, and often will be good for those vocalists that don't get along with the K2.-Richie
V
vangore
New member
ya i think the akg c414s are going to be my choice as i have always heard there great on almost everything, i will get the SM81s later on to give me a wider range of options, thanks for all the help guys its really givin me confidence in the choice i have made.
