This “C” series has been around since the 1963, starting with the C12! If you listen closely to the male vocal samples above (in the link provided), you can hear an ever so subtle brighter character in the XLII. These new 414's piss me off every time I use them. In general, it's safe to say there's very little difference. On a practical note, the LEDs, which are fairly discreet, help in setting up under poor lighting conditions, and also avoid the need for clunky slide switches, but I can't help feeling they could be a disadvantage for TV work, where you need the mic to be as inconspicuous as possible. Web site designed & maintained by PB Associates & SOS. The familiar bass-cut switch has also had a face-lift with 40Hz, 80Hz, or 160Hz settings, as well as off. in favor of a pair of XLS because the XLII isn't a very neutral mic and I don't find a lot of uses for it. This may become problematic when you’re in a hurry and forget to check the settings, in turn recording something with the wrong pattern. Beide Modelle bieten umfassende Möglichkeiten, um sich an unterschiedlichste Aufnahmesituationen anzupassen. Or is there very little in difference between the two? The phantom power from your interface actually powers on an off the LED. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It works for all types of material, and some things really well, but i don't find it does anything another mic can't do as well. better for vocals. Visually, the XLS model has a silver grille matched by silver engraved legending, while the XLII has a gold mesh and legend. Nice, informative article. But there is a difference. The obvious test for the C414 is a lead vocal, and as expected the mic handled this like the thoroughbred it is, combining body with high-end clarity, and here the choice of two slightly different high-end characteristics means that if one of these mics doesn't quite do the trick for you the other one probably will. Comments? Your email address will not be published. Matching between microphones has been tightened as well, so there's no need to buy matched pairs for stereo work. Pretty fragile, even more so than your average condenser. I bought a pair of XLS a couple years ago. Guides, Artist A slight additional lift above 3kHz gives this model a slightly more airy and open top end that is useful when miking vocals to capture a contemporary 'crisp' sound, or when miking instruments … Has anybody ever tried to do some stereo micing with one XLS and one XLII? The C414 XLII's slight presence boost and impressive spatial reproduction are both similar to the legendary AKG C12 microphone from 1953. Either of those 2 would work wonders though. Our Gear Advisers are available Close. but some people prefer to be able to physically turn off the mic itself. Although the overall shape of the new versions is unmistakably C414, virtually everything about the microphone has been redesigned in an effort to retain the original sound, while at the same time improving the technical performance. Do you think this is the right choice or would you rather go for two XLS because of Stereo Micing posibillities. A great all around workhorse mic with some minor problems. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the audioengineering community. If your budget allows, I would probably go with the C414. The AKG C414 XLII mic shows the unique sonic signature of the highly sought after AKG C12 which enables lead vocals and solo instruments to be placed even in a dense mix. Please leave a comment below or Contact me! I've found myself always cutting 4-7kHz every time I recorded, or receive a mix where a 414 was present. Blue Yeti vs. AT2020 vs. Samson C01 [Definitive Guide], Philips SHP9500 vs. AKG K702 vs. HIFIMAN DEVA. After doing a bit of research, I found that the C414 has gone through quite a bit of change over the years. Yea I see it. But the C12 sound also comes from the transformer and other circuitry. If you ever need anything don’t hesitate to Contact me. Would fare well as your all-rounder. In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. One of the all-time classic microphones gets a 21st-century makeover. What is a "hybrid" audio interface anyway? Not a lot you can't do with a nice chain though. share. AKG C414 XLII: even brighter. It’s slightly warmer than the XLII. To achieve this, the mic requires a full 48V phantom power source that conforms to the DIN/IEC spec, where the phantom voltage is positive with respect to the cable's ground screen. His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in a crowded industry.”, Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX, Tonor TC-777 USB Condenser Microphone Review & Shootout, FiiO BTR3K vs. BTR5 vs. DragonFly Red [Which Is Best For YOU?!]. For a brighter sound you would want the XL II. All contents copyright © SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2020. A slight additional lift above 3kHz gives this model a slightly more airy and open top end that is useful when miking vocals to capture a contemporary 'crisp' sound, or when miking instruments at a distance where the high lift helps compensate for the natural HF loss that occurs at a distance. A minor nit-pick. The pad switch now has 6dB, 12dB, and 18dB settings — as with the pattern selection, this works by changing the polarising voltage on the capsule. Then I bought a pair of XL2 out of curiosity. Also be aware of your room set up, as this mic picks up everything. What you get: Plus 4 intermediate settings, totaling 9. The BULS has an overall warmer sound with less hype on the top but a really REALLY nice sound (not much EQ'ing needed when using that mic properly). Which mic do you prefer for drum overheads. Questions? The C414 is probably the best-known microphone that AKG make, alongside the legendary C12. Check out my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Review! http://cdn.recordinghacks.com/images//graphs/akg/C414B_frequency_comparison.png, The difference can also be seen with the newest models (the ones without "B" in the name), The XLII is a little bit brighter, but they are both a bit bright for my taste, i really liked the B-ULS. @audiotech: I would also prefer older C414's, but I can't get them so cheap :-(. How it compares to the 414 XLII? Pressing again for three seconds, or switching off the phantom power, unlocks the setting. The XLS is more neutral and transparent-sounding when compared to the XLII. usually ship the same business day. Some preamp/interface options for the C414 that I came across. The two different models made sense when the B-ULS had a transformer, and the TLII was transformerless. You may actually want to have an audio engineer with you when recording with this. The C414 has two versions. Vic Firth Jojo Mayer Signature Drum Sticks. Required fields are marked *, “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”, “Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! Is there much of a sound difference when it comes to vocals for both of the condensers? A tiny system of green LEDs below the switch illuminates whichever option has been selected, and the current selection can be temporarily locked by pressing and holding the rocker selector switch for three seconds. Great overall website. purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of Hi Stu, The pickup pattern can be switched in five steps to encompass omni, wide cardioid (not available on previous C414 models), cardioid, narrow cardioid, and figure of eight. Curing Condenser Confusion: An Audio History of the AKG C 414.