Inexpensive Mic's Friendly-Sounding Tone Dissected

And it sounds like this. How is this even possible? The BaiFei Li C-414 is blowing my mind. It currently costs just $48.50 and it sounds better than some of the pretty costly mics out there. Let's break it all down and take a look inside as I dissect why this tone works so well for VO.
The BaiFei Li C-414 - Get it here:
cn1541047904ek...
Or on AMAZON: (ProAr is BaiFei Li's Amazon brand) amzn.to/45iesss
Microphone Assassin Nation Discord Server:
/ discord
Come chat about it.
The TMA Dieselpunk Mic Art Collection and T-shirts are here:
TheCultofVoiceO...
Now, remember, I'm recording in a fully-treated booth, recording through an Apollo and my usual stack of plug ins. Your results may vary.

[@DeepFriedHallelujah]

Just ordered one for singer/songwriter stuff. It’s unbelievably smooth across the spectrum. Even though I paid the now increased price, $79 shipped ain’t bad. I’ve felt less confident while ordering $600 mics, thanks for sharing!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Hope you enjoy it! It should do quite well for you for singer songwriter stuff. :)

[@rounderone8437]

Hi Mark, I was curious about the self noise. Did the instruction sheet say 18 DB? Were you able to hear any issues?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

It does say -18db of self noise but it honestly didn’t seem that noisy to me when I just plugged it straight into an Evo at my desk in my office. I also use Cvox in the booth so at that point self noise is no longer an issue.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Let me just ad an addendum to my previous response for clarification. It doesn't feel like a noisy mic to me. It's not quiet like a TLM-103 or the Sphere (-7db), but having dealt with mics like the Ethos and the SV33 that trend around -15db or so, it feels a little less noisy than those. But again, when you use Cvox, it pretty much makes every mic totally quiet.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

Man... Wish I'd have seen this and knew about all this about 10 thousand dollars ago... I'd have an anechoic chamber in my walk-in closet and a 40 dollar mic.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I was thinking the same thing a couple days ago but then realized there is no way I’d be able to appreciate how good this mic is without having gone on my long and expensive tone quest. The things you learn and then something like this happens to shatter nearly every bias about cheap mics. It’s good to have your beliefs blown up in your face by an undeniable truth.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Well put. I'm going to get one, and the 818 imitation soon. I also think, in my feeble mind, that owning a U87 ai and a 416, the two standards, as was drilled into my brain since I decided to commit to narration, adds less pressure when wanting a new mic, like I already have the ones, but now I can really jack around and get a different mic here and there: Because if I didn't have the industry standard mics -that became gnawing, cippling, brainwashed must-have compulsions until I bought them, I'd be wanting them and slightly hating on my current ones. Vanity, ego, weakness, lack of information? Probably. Let's add apathy: I don't care. Just kidding. But not really.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Right? How much of it is just us “keeping up with the Joneses” and feeling like you need it to be part of the conversation (pun intended). But I do think those mic standards and how they sound are foundational to the business and you first need to know what those sound like before you can go off the reservation and make it work with a different set of tools.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Man, that just made me feel a whole lot better about spending the money. And it makes perfect sense.

[@joseantoniomaidana6246]

I already bought mine. I paid just over 100 dollars for it with shipping to Argentina. I still have to wait 45 days. However, the first thing I'm going to do is open it to check that there isn't some little Chinese dwarf inside spying. That would explain the low price.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

*Chinese dwarf spy sold separately.

[@uv4bk]

I absolutely agree with your assessment - this is a friendly sounding mic. Thanks for bringing this to our attention - incredible value proposition.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@crazyKurious]

I had the same feeling when I got T-bone SC450. Its built like a tank and sounds absolutely great and costs like 45 bucks and comes with all kinds of bells and whistles. Very full mid and girthy bottom and smooth high end.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

It’s pretty awesome to find the hidden gems. I especially like gems like this because people will just flat out dismiss it without even hearing it, and it helps you learn more about those people. LOL.

[@bibekpawn6175]

should i buy [akg p120 or at2020] or this baifeli ??? respond please

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

AKG

[@bibekpawn6175]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoffthank you!!

[@vloggingpractice8077]

This mic sounds so good for voiceovers! I wonder if someone will record a song with this mic and reviewed it.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I know, right? Unfortunately, I don't sing or do music, but I bet it would be good on vocals.

[@vloggingpractice8077]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Thank you for a fast reply. I had M- Audio Nova and Studio Projects B1, 100 dollars mics, and they sound thin compared to this one.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@vloggingpractice8077 Yeah, for sure. I'd say this crazy cheap mic sounds better than a lot of mics I've heard at 10x the price.

[@EneRec]

With which mic are you comparing the transformer?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Been a while since I did this video, but unless I referenced a specific mic, I’m talking about what mic transformers, in general, add sonically, which is extra harmonic content and low to low mid weight, and the more authoritative sound they can create compared to transformerless mics.

[@EneRec]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff I see, thanks for the clarification! It's just anoter thing that makes this mic stand out even more, wild stuff to see on a 50€ mic

[@meistudiony]

What the actual $#%^!? That sounds WAY too good. I think you might have missed one possibility. Maybe its not YOU. Maybe there was a hole torn in the space time continuum that allowed this to pass through into our dimension. Comparatively, this is total junk from where it's from, but here in our universe, this thing sounds great. So we either have to figure out how to get to that dimension, or how to start pulling things across! lol. Great video it was fun to watch/listen to. Really appreciate you tearing the mic down. Wonder how this would sound with a capsule upgrade... not that it needs it.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Right? How crazy is this? First, I'll dispel the "it's only me" hypothesis. Time Preservation Society just dropped a review this week on the BFL 414: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4W5fKOBnJd4rKs So, all you have to do to get to that dimension is enter the portal known as Alibaba. LOL. And as far as I can tell, the capsule is already one of the most beloved electret capsules in the mic DIY community, and possibly the same one used in the AKG C214. You could gut it and go large diaphragm but you'd need to find a circuit that would fit inside the lower part of the body.

[@alivenesscyclingroadcyclin2673]

Superb Mark! Thank you so much for making this very important video. Kudos for daring to challenge some of our most fundamental beliefs: You get what you pay for & Serious professional tools cost serious money. I must admit that this proposition makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable: Would I dare to record my work using this tool? Or, must I spend 20 times as much to look and feel professional? True freedom is not feeling that one has to take sides on this issues, owning expensive and affordable tools side by side: Only trusting your own ears and judgement-using the tools that get the job done. Respect Mark-you are a free man! Next step: Will you use this mic on some auditions and report back if you are successful?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

The only thing that really matters with a mic is not the name or the price or even how it looks, but how it sounds. People don’t care what mic was used, just that a connection was made. I’ve used it so far on 4 commercials and the clients seem happy. I have put it in a few auditions but no news on those yet. I will report back on the results of the audition experiment.

[@djtommykeys]

Is there a microphone your silky smooth full of rich nuances and personality voice does not sound good with? It's a decent circuit board and I recognize that capsule. It looks impressive on the outside maybe for a prop on the desk while I'm boomed overhead. But 40HZ to 16kHZ with an equivalent noise level of 18 dB A doesn't make it to my shopping cart. It would just go in the stack in the corner with other whimsical mics I have too many of already. Thanks for the video. Entertaining as always.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thanks Tommy, you may have a point. I think I do sound good across a wide spectrum of mics, but not all of them sound this good on me with no finessing. Probably not a good boom mic like you say. Whimsical for sure. And it’s actually quieter than that -18db would suggest and with Cvox, all mics are completely quiet.

[@djtommykeys]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff haha no I wouldn't boom this one it would be on the desk as a dummy not hooked up to anything, lol. It looks great. Thanks for the reply.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@djtommykeys Good idea. It would make a great prop mic since it would appear to be a real 414 on camera.

[@MarcPlaysDrums]

I bought 3 of these off Alibaba $70 a piece because of you(I actually refer a lotta my buddies to your channel as well). Two for overhead drums mics and one for vocals. They’re insanely smooth over cymbals but if you have a cheap cymbal you’ll know it.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I had wondered how they would be as overheads. I’m super glad to hear they’re able to handle it and also sound great. Thanks! And thanks for referring your friends. Much appreciated.

[@TheRecordist]

Oh man. What a find! C214 style board? Fascinating. The 214 sounds like balls, but not this. Can’t wait to receive mine. Review imminent.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Nate, I had to laugh when I saw the 214 on the board because the real 214 is 1/3 of this mic at 10x the cost. Looking forward to your review.

[@TheRecordist]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff I love it! I love your channel, Mark! Great job as always!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@TheRecordist Dude, you're the best. Thank you. You do a pretty damn good job yourself, Nate. Mic mania forever!

[@TheRecordist]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff ✊🏻🤓

[@AlexWu-zw1nm]

Thank you Mark for sharing and supporting our products!😊

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

It is my absolute pleasure to shine a light on what you are doing. It’s remarkable!

[@AlexWu-zw1nm]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Can I share this video of you on my TikTok?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Yes. Absolutely!

[@satishnk1505]

This microphone is ideal for recording vocals.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Yeah, no idea what else it would work well on, but for this, it tracks well.

[@indivisibleman]

Test it along an AKG 414. It's obviously (at least visually) a ripoff of that but is it comparable?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Something like that coming tomorrow. ;) I’d say tone-wise it falls into the same family but without the high and low end bumps.

[@forbetterworld20]

dear mic assassin, i'm in doubt about audio-technica at2035 or BaiFei LiC-414 for recordings on my game review channel/scary videos channel and rap music recordings. Could you help me choose? It's my first professional mic! I'm marathoning your videos and your voice is amazing! Great work, Hails from Brazil!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Hello from Los Angeles! Thank you so much. As I have not used an at2035, I can't say one way or another if it would work for you. The 414 may be too neutral for rap, so that leaves the v10, which I think will fit the bill in terms of its overall tonal character. I'd also take a look at the v47, which may be a little bit of a better mic overall than the v10.

[@virgogreg]

Could you possibly review BAIFEILI V47 34mm Large Diaphragm XLR Professional Condenser Microphone ?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I have a V10 arriving soon so we’ll see what happens after that.

[@bigjimmedia]

Hola, boss man! I know you’ve got a shit-ton going on, but when you have a few minutes…could you help me with the dang console routing? I’ve had the Apollo Twin for a few years, but can’t figure out how to route everything correctly. Reach out to me during day hours, if you can. Thanks, brother. -Jim. I am using A-Audition as my DAW. Thanks, -Jim

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

First, go to UADforum.com and see if your answer can be found there or post your problem. This is the best place to get help with this kind of thing. Also, ping @Drew there since he’s the official UA online tech guru.

[@curseleisure5507]

Iimpressive! I have a feeling this mic would sound good on a lot of female voices, too.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

With the smoothness across the mids and highs, I bet you’re absolutely right.

[@icollided]

Wow! I just ordered 2 of them for ~$130 including shipping! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I plan on using them for drum overheads, piano, and room mics. If I don't like them, I will try changing the capsules, but from your demos, I have a feeling that I will like them as they are!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Oh wow! Yeah, for a pair of utility mics that's insane value. Let me know how they work as overheads and on the piano!

[@roykasika870]

Would you please post a video of your results and put a link here so that we can hear what that's like?

[@DynamicRockers]

I would definitely love to hear them as a stereo pair for drum room mic or as overheads! Please post a video that would be awesome. thx

[@balamde687]

yeah, i'm looking for this one for Overheads too, please leve at least a comment on how did they work in there, please. and thanks in advance 👍

[@balamde687]

​@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff if I would change the capsule of this C414 with out modding the board what would be the options, a Condenser Electret like the JLI-2555BXZ3-GP? I have read that putting this one to a MXL550 with out changing anything else improved the sound a lot. By the way, thank you very much for such an amazing info you share on this videos, it's pure gold... on mylar 🙏

[@raymota4515]

Great review.Technically comprehensive enough. Emotionally incisive on "the vibe." which is what all of us are always looking for.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thanks Ray!

[@milesian1]

Fabulous discovery. What is it about microphones that is so fun and intriguing to some of us. Do we all just love the sound of our own voices? At any rate, between you and Time Preservation Society I was convinced to part with 75 of my dollars and order this mic. Can't wait to try it out.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

It’s actually less about the love of hearing one’s voice (though that’s part of it) but according to a study done at the University of Tokyo, psychologically speaking, listening to and recognizing one’s own voice provides empirical evidence that people are aware of one’s selfhood. It gives us a better sense of control of our own selves. So, it’s not narcissism, but instead the human impulse to acknowledge existence. And the BFL 414 is a great tool to achieve that.

[@azteca_619]

Hello Marc ! Excuse my broken english. Maybe you remember me ( i have asked you once about the best bang for your buck mics) . I currently own a Stellar X 3 and a 1st gen King Bee, but I would like to try something new and affordable. After watching this video and the last one about this microphone, I am curious about how does their other condenser microphones sound. I have to save a little bit of money and then I will purchase one of their 34 mm capsule microphones, hopefully they suprise me and we are now discovering a best bang for the buck mic company!!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I actually ordered one of their mics with a 34mm capsule, the one that looks like an OC818, and I will absolutely do a video on it to see if it’s worth your hard earned money. I’m hoping you’re right and we have discovered a remarkable source for affordable mics you can really use. Stay tuned! This could be the bang for your buck mic store.

[@TheRecordist]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff I didn’t even think to look for OTHER mics they make. I just watched your video on Monday and immediately bought the C414. What land of treasures awaits us? Can’t wait to hear what you say about the 34mm OC818 one.

[@oriundo187]

This or At2020 for voice recording on rap music?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

AT2020 may cut better through a rap mix

[@lerrynhawke3375]

Would you choose this over a akg perception 150?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Good question. Unfortunately, I don't know what a perception 150 sounds like so I can't speak to a preference.

[@AlexAlex-lw6gw]

Hi Assassin, great video! This version has a 25-mm diaphragm, instead of 34mm one, right?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Yes, correct

[@CptBerns]

​@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoffYes, but it is now also available with a 34mm diaphragm at a slightly higher price on aliexpress. Should we buy the 34mm version, or may we end up with a worse sounding mic? Should we stick to the 25mm version?

[@mp3o]

This the one with the 25mm electret capsule, correct?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Yes. Correct.

[@---pp7tq]

The best review on the mic I've heard so far. And I've seen above thousand of them, and it didn't even include a comparison with other mics. Sounds great on your voice. A bit sibilant though, but still great.

[@deanmasi6684]

Wow that’s crazy. Great job! Thanks for this video. Yes, the mic somehow sounds great!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Dean, it is crazy, but I'm not going insane, right? I still half think I'm imagining all of this.

[@deanmasi6684]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Haha. Yes! I'm going to hold off. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE!!!!! Unfortunately you'll be the Guinea Pig!!!! :-)

[@finalboss_asmr]

You just sell me this microphone!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

They’re bringing it to Amazon in the near future.

[@acpirola]

Awesome work you made, as always. Just bought one. Hope it works as good for singing! Based on your experience (and Nate's) I'm sure it will be an exciting adventure!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thanks! Where else can you get this kind of adventure for only $50 and not end up needing a penicillin shot?

[@acpirola]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff 🤣🤣🤣

[@sagomezmancheno]

is it the 25mm or 34mm version?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

25

[@CryptoFreaks]

Sounds great, except for the sibilance.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Couple years ago I paid $1900 for the Chandler TG and that had a sibilance point that could not be managed for close up vocal at all. This you could dial in better.

[@CryptoFreaks]

@The Microphone Assassin think I'm going to buy one of these. The 414 xlii has a similar sibilance too lol, makes you feel like you got ripped off for how much I've spent on mics.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Right? It makes me want to line up every mic from $400 to $1000 and punch them all in the face. But in a way it also makes me more deeply appreciate the premium mics since it shows you really have to spend up to get to that level and everything in between plays on a short field.

[@kr8s]

What is the noise level as compared to rode or lewitt microphones?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Rode and Lewitt would be much quieter. Those mics are designed for low self noise.

[@kr8s]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff is it still in the range of -13 to -16?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I don’t have a way to measure but that’s probably about right. It’s well within the range where Cvox renders it silent, which is my new self noise measuring stick.

[@kr8s]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff thankyou.. much appreciate your work 🙏🙏

[@KABEPHAKYXHE]

Capsule 25mm?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Yes

[@acayyuuusugi8578]

Hi Mike... Thanks for the review,.great price....sound great, the clarity love it...i really like the tone of it...i hope i can set in my place with same tone...Will it sound good too in untreated room??

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Actually, it's Mark not Mike, no worries. And the answer to that is no. Condenser mics generally do not sound good in any untreated room. Sound treatment should be a priority if you want to record at home and get good results.

[@re-member]

Cool discovery. Thank you. Do you think it'll be worth the upgrade to the slightly more expensive BAIFEILI V47? I intent to use the mic (commercially) for guided meditations and therapy stuff. Maybe for a podcast aswell.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

It's hard to tell, based upon one mic, if their whole collection is made up of surprisingly good mics. I do have another one, not the v47, but the V10 coming probably in a week or so and that one I'll test out and it may give us a better look at overall quality of their collection. It's quite possible BaiFei Li are just resellers and not even the manufacturers so their mics could be coming from different factories with different levels of quality. Remember also that I'm recording these videos inside a well-treated booth through an extensive chain of Apollo plug ins, so your results may vary. But yes, I think you could use this mic, and possibly their other mics for your intended use with good result.

[@re-member]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Thank you. I was going to purchase the 414 yesterday, but alibaba didn't let me to, because the seller was missing a number (erp - i believe) for Germany. So I take this as a sign for now :-D I am currious however what your impression on the v10 will be. Thank you.

[@re-member]

QMarkYoshimotoNemcoff Would you like to eventually show your entire setup for achieving this output with the BaiFeiLi? I can treat my room to the best of my knowledge and optimize it for soundrecording, but the technical/software setup is where I am totally unexperianced. Have a great week.

[@skiphupp6387]

It would be nice if the name of the microphone was mentioned

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Tell me you didn’t watch the video without saying you didn’t watch the video. FFS you can see the fucking product box in the first shot. It’s also in the video description.