Can You Hear a Difference? Condenser Mic Test | AKG vs Austrian Audio vs Warm Audio

[@SessionsWithMike]

Great comparison. All 3 sound really great depending on what vocal flavor you're going for. 414 for crisp clarity. OC for a more forward sound, WA has a nice mellow darkness that is shockingly useful for a moody track without going full on 47ish sound.

[@lazk]

818 - I hear the singer, beautifully natural sound. For the other two, I hear the microphone, not the singer. Well done, AA!!!

[@weschilton]

Thats a good way to put it.

[@dagb7271]

Consider this: OC818 has separate outputs for the two capsules, thus enable the user to record them separately. The mic is configurable via Bluetooth on characteristics and level on both capsules. That gives them an infinite pickup pattern to suit the desirable performance. That’s what you get for the money. The capsule is based on C12 (from AKG). Austrian Audio are launched by staff from AKGs former Austrian factory that desired to keep the legacy on world leading microphone technology.

[@Mkohlbauer]

Good comparison. The OC818 sounds really fine, greatly balanced, first choice and not quite as forward as the 414. The WA14 has a nice balance too,fairly mellow

[@lance134679]

That was a short video, but a good comparison. I was partial to the Austrian Audio personally, but they all seem to get the job done. Thanks.

[@Vocalisto]

AKG C414 is the Best!!! This Video makes me wanna get a 414!

[@Wilmer778]

It's what you prefer personally. I've got an AKG C-414 B-ULS next to me as I'm writing this (had it for over 10 years) and the Warm Audio clone to me, sounds better.

[@christopherdunn317]

@@Wilmer778 The warm was trying to replicate the original mic but i know this xlii has a more presence boost so why its sound more fuller and clear on her voice than the warm and akg also has the instrument version which is flatter so thats all it might be but i did like the akg better !

[@MaximumLevelAudio-BrianKnop]

There are about 10 models of 414 that all sound different. Some are bright, some are dark. Definitely research all that before buying!

[@nathanielmartinez8599]

For the money WA14 with some good eq. It would not take much time to make the WA14 sound like either mic.

[@dkijc]

I was thinking the same. XLii has a very clear presence. While the OC818 had a fuller low mid.. Then WA14. I thought it was thin at first but with the FX I was very impressed! All great mics. Depends on what you want to use it for :)

[@richardpenrose1968]

OC818 was my favourite. The other two emphasized the sibilance and sounded a fraction harsh on the louder parts.

[@stephenoconnor6756]

totally agree

[@jonos138]

We need to also hear the tone of a male vocal, to hear how the mics characteristics perform with a male voice as well as a female. Always do male and female vocal recordings please?

[@jeg1972]

I love mic shootouts... Nice one Mr Duxbury! None of them are shabby :-)

[@06szymonszymanski]

818 wins for me. So much focus and clarity

[@MaximumLevelAudio-BrianKnop]

So this is a XLii variation of the 414 in this comparison? (judging by the broken link). Those things need to be specificed, because people don't realize there are at least 10 different models of 414 that all sound pretty different! In this case, I think the 818 sounds better. The vintage 414EB's with the brass ring sound a lot better than the 818 in comparisons I've heard.

[@EduardoMachry]

AKG more natural and beautiful sound than 818. WA sounds nasal for me.

[@michaelrice6620]

I like all 3 they all have different characteristics though!

[@fynn7972]

All three sound great. The C414 is a bit more aggressive, with some distortion on the higher spectrum. This makes it pretty ideal for e.guitar recording and something haveing use of this crisp. The OC818 sound bloody good. I would have loved to hear it on various instruments. Butt the WA-14 are the clear winner, not because of the sound, but for the whole package. You have a great sounding mic, that can do everything the two others are doing for HALF THE PRICE. I just checked and I could get 5 WA-14 for the price of 2 C414 or OC818. For me, the big question is about the SE4400.

[@killer268]

The clones are airier, the 414 is warmer and has more low end

[@veikster1165]

I can't remember the last time an intro has caught my ear like that, what a great synth! Can I ask what did you use for that?

[@jackduxburymusic]

Hi Veikster - thanks so much for your kind words and for watching. All the sounds in the intro are from the OP-1, synth and drums using the “Finger” Sequencer. The compression is from the OP-1 is the “Bus” compressor from it too - best thing I’ve ever bought!! Sending all my best X

[@veikster1165]

@@jackduxburymusic Now that's a surprise haha! Great stuff and thanks for the reply!

[@LarryOnKeys]

Love the videos bruh. A little off topic, what focal length was your wide angle shot in One-Eyed Jack?

[@Tailphelps]

Hi Larry, I used a 16-35mm Gmaster lense. Can't remember what it was set to at the time. F2.8. 👍

[@andreasgilgenberg5588]

love the 818 most, the eq is more pleasing for the 414 both wonderful microphones

[@guitarbreak88]

Great demo. wow the wa was so similar to the oc....both great. while the akg sounds too thin for this voice.

[@gelatosamurai]

Akg is the most open, And crushes with comp and fx.

[@gelatosamurai]

But If you volume balance the Warm Audio WA-14 you can hear it ha a more useful balanced eq than the OC818

[@dkijc]

@@gelatosamurai I was impressed with the WA14 after the fx! OC818 definitely had that lower mid freq. But still very smooth. For vocals I think my preference would be either the xlii or the wa14.

[@boybianchi]

That warm audio sounds waaaay too nasal/boxy imho. Yikes.

[@peterorany]

Nice singing! What a voice!

[@LONDONHARRISMUSIC]

I think if you got a hit song it don’t matter what mic you use.

[@alanhaynes418]

When you get to this level of quality, which is best depends on the source and personal opinion. To simply say that one is clearly 'better' than the others is just plain daft!

[@christopherdunn317]

2:14 1:32

[@soundknight]

Your recording is missing a lot of top end I've heard on other recordings.

[@tasteapiana]

The 414's preamp is trying its best to smooth out everything about her voice. It's a nice effect but it's still an effect. The 818 just lays it all out there, 100% unapologetic. The WA-14 sounds like a voiceover mic, who else would want that much proximity effect built into a large diaphragm condenser? I think it's going to take a while before Warm Audio comes around to building transparent anything and AKG's new masters just don't care. That capsule in the Austrian Audio mic is just magical.

[@dagb7271]

Use your ears. C414 still has the lowest noise (6 dBA). That’s why it is still one of the best for the buck.

[@konafama]

C414 must be a modern XLII, OC818 is more full bodied. OC818 !!!!

[@soundknight]

"... ya got-star call." WTF???

[@Godzillah]

I doubt AKG is better the company was sold and people left to create Austrian Audio and Lewitt so Akg was under new ownership so quality can’t be the same that’s why c414 uls was better. c414 xl2 and xls is made by the new company owner so I doubt the quality is the same.

[@kaplanhirschmannmusic893]

AKG was bought in 1993 by Harman. In 2017 Harman itself was bought by Samsung and Harman closed AKG's headquarters and factory in Vienna, Austria that year. The C414 XLS and XLII however were still developed in Vienna (I guess some of the people involved in the development of these two microphones work at Austrian Audio now) as well as produced there for a couple of years.

[@jamesr141]

Gots

[@orangemaniabrother2232]

These mics are great, but your mic really isn't, can we improve that? When you come on between the mic tests it's a shock to the ears lol

[@davidsok4530]

Akg sibilance

[@LanceThomasRecordProducer]

AKG all day long..no comparison.

[@HiredGoonage]

Which 414 version?

[@CenterThePendulum]

XVII - it’s the gold grill that gives it away. XLS would be silver.

[@HiredGoonage]

414 did it for me. Wanted to like the 818 more but nope. Warm studio was pretty good but I'd never own that cheap garbage

[@georgebablovsky4907]

А мне больше всех понравился WA-14. Может случится так, что в попытке скопировать 414 они создали новый легендарный микрофон(в будущем)