AKG studio classic microphones - Comparison of the AKG C214, C314, & C414 XLS

[@adwil8175]

I really like your culture and good taste in presenting the microphone. It's an oasis of calm in a sea of ​​brashness that the internet is full of.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Ad.

[@uncle-english]

I have to say the voice of Curtis on C414 sounds so comfortable and is perfect for some sort of story-telling

[@curtisjudd]

🙏

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Hey Curtis! Once again you’ve made the best video around for exactly what I’ve been looking for! Thank you for all your years of hard work!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@gillesmatheronpro]

ahhh... the sweet dream of having a C414 on our own. Thank you for making me dream about it, it's an old one as a voice-over guy (who's on a pause for now) who had the chance to work with it on many occasions. But never possess one. And, as you mention it, it shines on percussions too. And I felt spoiled to have one during a concert, as overheads for my drum set. I'm not spoiled anymore, but I still dream. Thank you for the good work, as always ! ✋🙂

[@curtisjudd]

LOL! It is an oldie but goodie. 👍

[@AllenCavedo]

Excellent and rare video on these great AKG mics. I’ve never seen a comparison on all three before. In the samples you did I thought the 314 had the warmest nicest vocal sound of the three. However I would get the 414 for general use like for instruments, orchestra, pipe organ, and for voice. But I would get the 314 for voice only.

[@curtisjudd]

That’s a good way to put it. Thanks Allen.

[@DaneBryantFrazier]

Fantastic review here man. Been trying to decide between the XS and the XII. I feel the XII just might be a little bit bright for me, whereas I think the XS is just enough where I could boost the highs if needed the tiniest bit and be just fine. We'll see what route I go.

[@curtisjudd]

Good luck!

[@anonymusum]

Great comparison - so thank you. I´m a prof. musician and I can approve everything you said. So - I got two 414XLS and one 214 and they complement each other very nicely.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks and glad to hear that they're working well for you. Happy recording!

[@bit9524]

I own the c414 xlii, omg, the mic sounds amazing and I understand why is so popular, my favorite mic so far...

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@joejurneke9576]

I love AKG mics. My favorite is the 414 series

[@curtisjudd]

Agreed!

[@mtrisi]

Such a great video, thank you for this. Just used your affiliate link for the C414 XLS :D

[@curtisjudd]

I hope it works well for you - happy recording!

[@RustyTube]

AKG never disappoints.

[@curtisjudd]

Indeed.

[@skakdosmer]

I was quite disappointed with a pair of AKG headphones. And I don't think I'd be too pleased with these microphones.

[@RustyTube]

@@skakdosmer OK

[@shengchen3148]

Hi Curtis, great video! Just like to know how the foam windscreen come with c214 helps reduce sibilance and HF presence boost? Does that make it sounds more like C414 XLS?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, a tiny bit closer.

[@davidhabegger]

thanks for the professional video! which one would be the best for rap vocals with harsh s-sounds?

[@curtisjudd]

C414 XLS, I'd think.

[@davidhabegger]

@@curtisjudd thanks!

[@legacyShredder1]

I have issues with the AKG C214 as it's fundamentally a different microphone from any variety of AKG C414. The C214 is a pre-polarized electret which is mechanically and electronically different from the C414, and it will deliver a much differing signal. I wouldn't have any problem with the microphone if AKG's marketing department didn't mislead the unknowing buyers into believing they were getting a C414 with limited features. I don't know much about the C314 as I've never owned one, nor have I ever taken one apart to examine its functionality. (Pre-polarized electret microphones by their vary nature are brighter in tonal frequency, and they tend to include more harsh sounding harmonics. AKG claim the C214 is designed to be like the brighter C414, but in reality it's brightness just a result of being a cheaper made electret; it's neither a feature nor intended design. It's only real design is to meet a price-point while looking like the recording studio staple C414.) Edit: Spending more than $150 on an electret microphone is kind of crazy. The AT2020 is the pinnacle of electrets while maintaining the cheaper price-point.

[@jimshaw899]

I haven't used an electret mic in years, not that I couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't. In the past, electrets suffered some gradual deterioration from warm storage and use. I don't know if that has been solved. DC bias condenser mics suffer from contamination issues. The charged plate(s) can attract moisture and particulates which may then bind with the surfaces. It is one reason they are often only used in the studio. Like you, I am aggravated by mic manufacturers' obfuscation of what type condenser mic capsule it is. Often, this data never appears in a seller's literature.

[@legacyShredder1]

@@jimshaw899 I have a feeling that the marketing people came up with the C214 rather than engineers. I get incredibly thorough when it comes to audio gear, because there is too much mythology wrapped up in brands and specific items, so the only way to navigate the BS is to learn how everything operates inside and out. It quickly becomes apparent that the C214 was created due to mythology and banking on a name rather than fulfilling a specific need in the public. If this mic were designed from the ground up to fulfill a need while meeting a lower price threshold it would look and operate completely different, and its main selling point wouldn't be looking like a more famous microphone.

[@curtisjudd]

Fair point, clearly the weakest in the trio and not the best value for money relative to other options out there. But it also didn't sound awful to my ear and could be a good fit, especially for darker voices.

[@legacyShredder1]

@@curtisjudd I'm not trying to hate on the microphone itself. It's the marketing that has been released since it was introduced that I really take issue with, because it's not accurate. I do think the price is too high for its typology, but that's neither here nor there.

[@curtisjudd]

@@legacyShredder1 I agree. That’s why I do reviews and never allow the product company to review my videos prior to posting. My focus is to provide real-world performance samples rather than marketing.

[@fernandotabora]

Thank you for your great vidoes!

[@curtisjudd]

🙏

[@paulconway1176]

Hey Curtis - I just noticed there are new kids on the block and think it be great to see a review by you. So thought I would suggest it as they might send you some considering your saturation in the sound arena. The mic I want to see reviewed is the RYCOTE SC-08 SUPER CARDIOID MICROPHONE, I ideally am interested in it's off-axis recording for indoor dialogue. I was looking at getting a CMC141 and whilst looking for a good mount for it I noticed this on Rycote's site. There is no one out there yet which has reviewed it and seeing as you are Gerald Undone of the sound world ... :-D PS: I did watch your Rycote HC 15 and HC 22 reviews which seemed quite good! but I already have two NTG3B mics, so don't think I will swap them out just yet.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for the tip! Will check it out. 👍

[@igorzhidkov1957]

Is it possible to use 414 in supercardioid mode for occasional dialog booming indoors? Will it work any decently on typical for this case 20-25 inch distance in comparison with pencil-condenser or shotgun?

[@twoknife]

I wonder how well it would work as a boom mic. With a hyper-cardioid and super-cardioid mode, it might be pretty decent.

[@insanejughead]

For an indoor movie set scenario? It would just be okay, but only because of the low self noise. Beyond that, the shock mount needed would be too bulky, which would hinder the boom op's ability to aim it. A hypercardioid pencil would be better.

[@twoknife]

@@insanejughead Yeah, I know a pencil mic with super or hyper-cardioid would be the ideal choice indoors and is what I am using. But if you are using fixed boom and already own the mic, maybe you could get away with it.

[@insanejughead]

@@twoknife Oh, I see. Then by all means give it a go and let us know how it went! I was of the idea that you were asking that without having purchased one. Cheers!

[@curtisjudd]

Could sound fine, but I agree with J, too bulky for hand booming.

[@antoineinniss5586]

Mr judd, can you safely recommend the AkG C214, for voice over work and how do you compare it to the sennheiser MK 4

[@curtisjudd]

I haven’t used the Sennheiser so I cannot compare that. I’d probably opt for the RØDE NT1 over the AKG 214

[@matthewwolf1793]

Hey Chris. Thanks for this comparison. Do you have any experience with the Neumann TLM107? Would be interesting to hear the C414XLS next to that.

[@curtisjudd]

I wish I had, but I don’t…yet.

[@dcslyxe]

@@curtisjudd 414 is darker than the 107. Search for a pre Harman 414 still made in Austria.

[@productionsoundtexas3949]

The 214 sounds balanced on my iPhone. The 314 has a low to mid range presence whereas the c414 has a noticeable high shrill shelf presence. I’ve used the 414 on VOs but the voice didn’t work well with our talent. I would recommend the 314 but the 214 is a strong competitor for its price range

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@MoneyOnTheTrackTv]

Ok so basically if your just going to sing , then get the AKG C214. The C314 is nice too. But if you’re going to record ambient sounds like nature or city sounds, for music or movies, then go for the C414.

[@curtisjudd]

I bought the C414 for voice over.

[@philpike6177]

@Curtis Judd Have you changed your camera/lens or lighting setup? This new vid looks super smooth. Thanks for the brilliant content, as always. 11/10!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Phil, I switched to a Canon C70 a little over a year ago.

[@MeTuLHeD]

So, don't these mics all share the same capsule? As I understand it, the internals of the C214 are the same except for the fact that it's a single diaphragm and hence has no variable polar pattern.

[@curtisjudd]

They don’t sound exactly the same to my ear - the 214 has a brighter, almost brittle sound. So whether they use the same capsules or not, they sound different.

[@MeTuLHeD]

@@curtisjudd I have no reason to doubt you. I have zero experience with the C214. The C414 on the other hand was my first mic when I started recording 40+ years ago. Used it on everything. There wasn't a single source it didn't sound good on. With a little subtractive EQ even a really sibilant source sounded great. And acoustic instruments sounded fantastic.

[@whisperofwordsdz]

For the voice over i think c214 is better 😊

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@MarineX]

Very interesting. Looking for a replacement for my Stellar X2 Vintage because I move laterally a lot during Livestreams. I use the MixPre 3 II with the noise assist plugin because I'm in a garage with no sound treatment. Would the 314 be a good swap for the x2 vintage?

[@curtisjudd]

Possibly, yes.

[@skakdosmer]

Best sounding mic (to my ears): Curtis: C214 Dani: C414 Emma: C314

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@generalcontrol]

To me the 314 sounds the best on male voice in this test, the 214 on female. There's something nosy about the 414. I have a 414 XLS and despite being a workhorse I've never liked its sound as is. Technically, you can make any decent LDC sound like any other LDC with digital matching EQ in post these days. But for live application, I think I might consider "downgrading" my 414 to 314. At least I should give it a try. It just sounds better to me right off the bat. And its self-noise is just 2dbA louder, still very respectable.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@LaLekASMR]

Sorry for the offtopic... could you maybe suggest me a shotgun mic with the most directionality focus for a 200$ budget? (also if it's not too long would be a bonus) I have watched quite some of your shotgun mic reviews now but most of them are over my budget XD Thanks anyway :)

[@skakdosmer]

Quite a few people recommend the t.bone 9900 - thomann's house brand. (But stay away from the t.bone 9600!).

[@curtisjudd]

Or try the Audio Technica AT875R: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn_On4GIrpeojrM

[@LaLekASMR]

@@skakdosmer Thanks a lot, do you maybe have any suggestions for something a bit shorter?

[@LaLekASMR]

@@curtisjudd Thanks for the help! Any other you would suggest if I increased my budget to 300$ max?

[@curtisjudd]

@@LaLekASMR Sennheiser MKE600. It is longer but note that the shorter the mic, the less direction it will generally be and so it will pick up more ambient noise.

[@GeorgijusPavlovas]

414 forever!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@soundtracksforliving9497]

Recommendation: It definitely would make sense if you would talk into the Mic you talk about...???

[@curtisjudd]

I did. 👍