In this article we review the 2i2. The C414 has had a long path and climb to the top. Manufactured by hand, with only five workers at the time, the popularity of these microphones quickly spread across the region. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 leads the market for audio interfaces and is one of the best-selling pieces of studio gear. Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our AKG C414 XLII review, happy producing. You can toggle between 0, 40, 80 and 160hz, allowing you to roll-off unnecessary low end in your recording signal. Although it’s a matter of taste, this seems to result in the XLII being a flashier and more attractive microphone visually. However, the C414 can be quite prone to the. Let’s go ahead and dive into the C414. You can check it out with this link: https://amzn.to/2qQmQl9, Your email address will not be published. Condensers are very sensitive to plosives and pops and generally require a greater control of your room. Because your microphone is secure, you can feel confident putting your microphone in any position including upside down. In this article, we review the AKG C414XLII(see current price) and cover the difference between these two microphone versions. - AudioGearz, Review: Warm Audio WA-47 Condenser Microphone - AudioGearz. Review: Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator PO-33 KO, Review: Sennheiser HD 600 Open-Back Headphones, Review: Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone, Review: Neumann TLM 103 Condenser Microphone. Many producers think it's unnecessary. linking to Adopted by Queen’s Freddie Mercury in the 1970s, used often by Paul McCartney, used in The Police’s Every Breath You Take, seen on the desk of The Tonight Show’s Johnny Carson, used by Luther Vandross, Hall & Oates, used in Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2 U, and also Coldplay’s Chris Martin’s favorite microphone, the C414 became legendary. The XLS has a more neutral sound. The stereo pair enables you to record in a multitude of configurations whether it be X-Y, mid-side, or spaced stereo recording. The most significant improvement with these latest models was the upgrade from five polar patterns to the addition of four more polar patterns (in between each pattern) to switch through. Over the years, owners of the C414 had developed particular tastes for either the brighter or darker tonality. This microphone has great high-end response and its Variable-D design minimizes excess proximity effect (useful since your voice is already bassy). The high-end clarity and the ability to cycle through polar patterns with the click of a button on the front of the microphone, made the C414 EB a powerful and versatile weapon in the studio. The C414 is a very sensitive and detailed microphone. an affiliate They look nearly identical with the exception being that the XLII has a gold grille and the XLS has a silver grille. Or, maybe it’s completely warranted. The included manual also shows all the frequency responses of the various polar patterns for your use. We list our 10 cheap studio improvements. Do You Need a Compressor for Your Home Studio? Simply put, the B-XLII became the brighter microphone and the B-XLS, the darker one. The AKG C414 condenser microphone is sold today in two versions, the AKG C414 XLII and the AKG C414 XLS. In order to add new products we have to empty your current cart. The AKG C414 Condenser Microphone The AKG C414 condenser microphone is sold today in two versions, the AKG C414 XLII and the AKG C414 XLS. Simply put, be careful to never drop this microphone. The real distinction is the slight difference in sound character between these two microphones. This is seemingly to enhance the perception of clarity and space, and bring out the high-end presence of a vocal. Because you want to prevent the boomy proximity effect of recording too close to the C414, you’ll need to back up from it. AKG’s C414 is one of the most popular and widely used microphones in the world today. AKG’s C414 is far more versatile than Neumann’s TLM 103. So, what’s the difference between the C414 XLII and XLS? But, is it really a knockout? There were also significant build and design improvements, resulting in fewer pops and sound artifacts and increased durability, not to mention the shiny gold grille that emerged. It is commonly seen in radio, and is often considered a broadcast industry standard. With this addition, the XLII and XLS have become the most versatile models of the C414 to date. That is because AKG’s main focus is on condenser microphones, and you’ll likely want a dynamic microphone for your needs. The high-quality brass capsule of the C12, the CK12, became regarded as one of the finest capsules in audio. Should I Learn Music Theory as a Music Producer? The C414 also rolls off some frequencies around 6-7khz, this can create a positive de-essing effect and reduce sibilance in singing. The LED will switch from green to red even when the faintest distortion from clipping occurs, allowing you to adjust your levels as needed. You simply put your mic in, twist the bottom and your microphone is locked in and secure. The C12 would lead to a gradual evolution of new models from AKG, that would eventually result in today’s iteration of the, However, the first true model of the C414 was released by AKG in 1976, the legendary, The C414 EB found great success and became a top microphone choice in the recording world. advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by In order to add spare parts we have to empty your current cart. Finally, in 2004, AKG decided to divide the C414 into two lines, releasing the C414B-XLII and the C414B-XLS. AKG continued to evolve the C414 throughout the 1980s and 90s. However, the C414 can be quite prone to the proximity effect. When it comes to price, the XLII(see current price) tends to be around $100-200 cheaper than the XLS(see current price). Underneath this switch is an LED light strip allows you to see which pattern is selected. The C414 is indeed quite expensive. In this article, we review the Neumann TLM 103. Although subtle, the slight treble boost can bring out some extra clarity and presence to vocals. This is also useful if you’re going to only have one use for the AKG C414, such as simple vocal recording. It is with this option to switch between polar patterns, that takes the C414 from just being a crisp sounding microphone to an invaluable recording solution for recording across many different scenarios. The greatest danger of this is not simply scarring the look of your C414, however. Founded in 1947, in Vienna, Austria, the first AKG microphones were quick to make a splash on the scene. The C414 also has a handy lock mode feature for its polar pattern selector. In fact, you might even have a preferred taste for its warmer sound. Keep this in mind, and as previously stressed, buy the XLS if your focus is not on recording vocals, and the XLII if it is. AKG continued to evolve the C414 throughout the 1980s and 90s. In other words, the great accurate and detailed sound that the C414 captures, can also be a disadvantage, exposing the flaws of your room and exacerbating the ugly effects of poor recording techniques. However, the first true model of the C414 was released by AKG in 1976, the legendary C414 EB. You could also argue that there are other microphones at its price-point that possibly sound better. The ability to switch between polar patterns on the C414 is what makes it so incredibly useful, but it is the sound quality and character of this microphone which ultimately seals the deal. If you have an ugly sounding room, then you’re going to definitely hear it in your recording. This split helped ease confusion in their marketing. AKG continued its early momentum. We encourage you to look at your situation and what you want to record to decide which C414 is best for you. The LED strip also has a very handy feature of detecting peak overloads and clipping. What makes the C414 so popular? If your main purpose for buying the AKG C414 is to record vocals, we’d recommend going with the XLII. With the click of a button, you can switch between five primary polar patterns or use four hybrid patterns between each of these five. The C414 XLII has a slight scoop in its cardioid pattern between 1-2khz and is boosted around 5khz. Quite frankly, it may be the best-designed shock-mount we’ve ever used. We’ve chosen to review the more popular of the two models, and this is where our C414 XLII review begins. 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