Getting the Most Out of Your AKG C414 Condenser Microphone

[@sweetwater]

Get the best sound out of your AKG C414 every time! For more pro tips on mic use and recording techniques, like this video and subscribe!

[@nathanielbrice8725]

Mitch is everyone’s cool uncle!

[@thndrstudios2863]

Right 😂

[@ramencurry6672]

This microphone is a masterpiece. Perfect for any studio that wants top tier quality gear

[@c03x157]

05:06 Xls guitar 05:10 05:49 xl ii guitar 05:52 06:42 xls ride bell 06:53 xl ii ride bell 07:05 xls crash 07:29 xl ii crash

[@MattPicsET]

Have a stereo pair of C414 XLII’s, love them to death! With a great tube pre, PERFECT for piano.

[@nathanielbrice8725]

Will have to try that! Cheers

[@maximumguitarage]

definitely

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

You can tell he loves audio history.

[@smpiggystudio]

I can show this video to my customers when they say "this mic looks ugly", but actually I think they look very classic and vintage, sound great too.

[@koreanfriedchildren]

tell them they are ugly

[@andriealinsangao613]

@@koreanfriedchildren OOOOOOHHHHH!!!! Dude, you're a bloody genius!

[@ramencurry6672]

One great advantage is that it’s light weight compared to one of those big bulky mics

[@moacyrcalheiros6141]

Loving this series. Please continue.

[@jcwm01]

I am in no way in the market for one of these but I watched the entire video because of the excellent presentation. Well Done!

[@strategicpeoples2973]

Love this mic I been using it on vocals for the last 4 years

[@blassanchez5812]

Xls or xl ii?

[@copperstillco]

Do you have a specific setting for vocals? As far as db and htz ?

[@mrpositronia]

I've used the C414 XLS for voice overs at work for the last 8 years, it has a very natural mid-range, with some added weight if you want it and good detail in the top end. I use the Rotel RA-01 at home, and it sounds thin, in comparison, as you may expect.

[@NURREDIN]

If you know anything about R&B,you know the C-414 was the microphone of choice of Luther Vandross from 1971-1995,which is the period where his best work was done. In 1995 he switched to the Sony C-800,but to me he sounds better on the C-414.

[@ramencurry6672]

Probably because he got a new sound man and he was only 19 years old

[@NURREDIN]

@@ramencurry6672 If you've ever used the Sony C-800 you'd know how bright it is. Totally wrong for a baritone or even a second tenor.

[@midnightwind8067]

The Mic has to fit you. It's like the SM7B.. Worked great for Michael Jackson, was crap for me in my stuff. It's not the name or the legend, it's the fit.

[@coldskoolbeatz]

@@midnightwind8067 Exactly, the SM7b wasn't it for my vocals.

[@BottyGuy]

I bought an XLII last year as my first good large condenser,nit was a great choice. It’s super versatile. My favorite discovery is recording acoustic guitar with one mic in a small room with the omni pattern, it really gets a great room sound.

[@maximumguitarage]

just got a pair going !

[@ramencurry6672]

The brighter sounding XLII kind of has a resemblance to a small diaphragm condenser microphone so it can be great when you need that extra top end.

[@desertsol44]

Thank you for this comparison. I like the broad warmth of the XLS and am stepping back from the cripsy high end of a previous Rode condenser mic into something I can use for also mic'ing my cajon and spanish guitar. This review helped me to make that decision. Graci!

[@toom6087]

For years now, I use the AKG C-414 XLII with the Royer R-121 in front of a 4x12 Bogner cab loaded with Celestion V30 speakers. This is my way to go for high gain heads as the Soldano SLO100, the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier 2 channels Rev D, F and G from the 90's or the Diezel VH4. The signals from the mics go thru a BAE 1073 dual preamp Steve Steven's mod witch mix the C-414 with the R-121. I've never found something better. Easy! Sometimes I use a Tube-Tech preamp with is really good for ribbon mics. The AKG C-414 works like a beast, no matter the pre. It brings an articulate sound when the ribbon mic gives the warm fat tone. I used the Shure SM57 for years before. The SM57 is a monster for such a low price, but I definitely prefer the AKG C414 because it gives an extra magic something else to help the lead guitar.

[@maximumguitarage]

slick setup ! happy to see this as I just got a AKG 414 XLII and a Seinhieser e609. I will be using both for my modded SLO-100 by Dave Friedman. I want to use it for heavenly solos and blues shredding that sounds very Hi Fi with loads of clarity , almost like a Dumble Steel String Singer. I think I made the right choice and also passed on the SM57 so I can use the AKG XLII for vocals and clarity accoutic and high gain solo recording. I also have modded mid forwarded Mesa Trem-O-Verb by John Tokarski, can't wait to get both these makes in front of it and into my Soldando 4x12 with V30's. Similar setup my friend ! cheers !

[@maximumguitarage]

@Toom - you have Instagram?

[@toom6087]

@@maximumguitarage No I'm an old analog prehistoric man : I use my phone just to... phone.

[@maximumguitarage]

@@toom6087 Amen ! I am only on there to promote music, I too am anti social media and like to use my phone for just for phone haha

[@Mista808]

For anyone dumb as hell like me! There is an adapter inside of the shock mount of your brand new AKG C414 microphone! What I mean is this! If you go to screw your new C414's shock mount onto a microphone stand that you've been using with a different condenser microphone, you'll most likely realize that the female end of the C414's shock mount is much smaller than the male end of your microphone stand. I was pissed by this! I got online and was close to paying $100+ on a new microphone stand. Did a quick Google search and realized that European Microphone Manufacturers.. (such as AKG) use a smaller female end on their shock mounts. However, they also have a little adapter inside the female end that can easily be removed which will then make your female end of your shock mount screw onto the male end of your microphone stand! I was so close to wasting even more money! Thank god I finally found out it's just a little metal adapter inside the female end of the shock mount that can be removed with a flat head screwdriver, or even a coin like a nickel or quarter!

[@reyspyder357]

Lol it happened to me in the past I called and they said that I have to get a coin to remove it.. now we know bro

[@LosFicosMusic]

5:10 C414 [Gold\Silver] 5:52 C414 XL2 [Gold] -Always SweetWater 🙏 Guys click the Time Marker to compare [Back and Forth]

[@boonfire3714]

Wow, they do sound really accurate

[@carriersignal]

I recently bought a C414 XLS and it is a fantastic microphone. I have also considered at some point getting an XLii to go along with it. Hard to go wrong with either one.

[@frankwestphal8532]

Great video! Perfect. Covers everything I wanted to know flawlessly. Sweetwater rules!

[@tomburton5500]

Mitch presents effortlessly.

[@mjw0009]

Hi, thank you for the great presentation. I don't think EB stands for extended bass. 'E', I believe denotes the XLR type connector - as opposed to the 'C' connector (DIN) - while the 'B' points to the bass roll off.

[@Sam-rz3rd]

Fantastic demo as always Mitch!

[@Fabelnegros]

was waiting for that one.. thxxx Mitch

[@williamvesey3679]

Thought you'd mention the C214, which has the same capsule in a single vs dual configuration. Same engineering for half the price.

[@ShashankShekharMusic]

So basically it will give same output?

[@williamvesey3679]

@@ShashankShekharMusic same electronics but the 414 has one capsule facing in each direction. In my studio, I wasn't recording any duets and I didn't need or want "room" ambient sound so the 214 was perfect. I haven't done a comparison, but AKG says the condenser capsules are identical, so the sound should be similar

[@Balverine]

@@ShashankShekharMusic the frequency response is not the same, so don’t expect the same sound

[@alanhaynes418]

The C214 has the same 'sized' capsule as the 414 - but it's an electret, and sounds quite different.

[@budgetguitarist]

One of my dream mics. Sadly, I had to buy the 214, which was actually in my price range.

[@koreanfriedchildren]

lol your name is budget guitarist why are u sad

[@budgetguitarist]

@@koreanfriedchildren I am sad that I do not have the money for the 414. It's a thousand dollar microphone. I've always wanted one, but I can't justify spending four digits on a microphone. That said, I am happy that I do have the 214, which is almost as good for less than half the money.

[@davemccall9594]

@@budgetguitarist Yeah, the C214 is still a great tool to work with! Don't be sad about that!

[@vib_di]

214 is one of the best mic among the range. 214 is perfect for vocals and piano.

[@budgetguitarist]

@@vib_di I go back and forth between the 214 and my Rhode NT1a. The 214 sounds better, but to my ears it also pickups up a lot more room noise. So I built a homemade vocal booth, which definitely helps. I think the Rhode is more forgiving. But I have used a 414 before, and it really does sound better than the 214. Life is compromise.

[@ionchryssoverghi7202]

ichris Hi Mitch! I don't think you are right when you say that the XLII has a "better transient response" than the XLS. AKG made the XLS especially for instruments, which need much better transient fidelity (piano, guitar, violin, cembalo etc.). This impression you had is most probably due to the HF bump the XLII has in order to emphasize lead voices, for which AKG made them. I quote the excellent impulse response Delamar.de found in his review: "The impulse fidelity is very high. Short sound pressure peaks (e.g. the attack of a severely damaged snare drum) are converted into just as indented transients in the generated audio signal. The responsiveness of the membrane at short peak levels is an important, if not the most important, piece of the puzzle for the aforementioned detail of the AKG C414 XLS."

[@blassanchez5812]

Do you think that i can get the sound of the xl ii with a xls (eq, compresion, etc) ?

[@ionchryssoverghi7202]

@@blassanchez5812 The XLS is neutral (flat, linear), the XLII has a bump in the treble which is needed sometimes for voice recording. The XLS is recommended by AKG mainly for instruments. It is excellent, for example, for classical piano.

[@justofernandez1977]

Good post. a questions? Which of two micros choose for upright felt piano?. thanks

[@SevenXor]

same question

[@roman2374]

XLS is super neutral mic that does extremely well on acoustics considering it doesn’t really colour and takes any EQ really well. XLii is a bit brighter / harsher which might be not what you’re looking for in a warm felt sound - but also a very clear microphone that could be tamed in the highs with some EQ.

[@itikutok6568]

I'm torn between the two for drum overheads. Please, share your opinions!

[@bargainpyramid]

one of the best channels. From Team Robotics

[@its.chrisrobinson]

So there is no AKG mic who boost the low mid range and low end like the c414eb? Thanks 🙏🏼

[@EdwardLaurenson]

Such a professional video

[@anneghrist]

why is there no info on BASIC PATTER SETTINGS FOR V O?

[@saulcortes2745]

Take a shot of tequila every time he says C414

[@stevendierkes6028]

I love Mitch

[@tendingtropic7778]

isnt the XLII 'opener' and more 'capturing the real sound'? or is it just me?

[@swedishbutcher]

what is the difference between the c414b xls and the c414 xls version?

[@sweetwater]

Hello, great question! I found a video here that compares the mics so you can hear for yourself: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGixpKZ-p9iqf7c Thanks! Jason Filloramo, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1281, [e-mail]

[@patrickcarroll1754]

This is so cool.

[@AlbertoMartinezDelRio]

I love my XLS.

[@mapstonemusic5238]

This doesn't really tell you how to "get the most out of your get." Its more of a biography and history lesson on the mic. How to apply and the different applications and settings of the mic would have been beneficial. Thanks

[@jonheimusicacademy]

Hello sweetwater. I'm a Musician from Papua new Guinea and I need quotation for the following items: 1. Yamaha motif xf8 and its basic accessories 2. Bose f1 812 loudspeaker system excluding subwoofer for a while Please provide me this information including the freight charge and complete cost to reach Papua new Guinea. Joannes wasa

[@sweetwater]

Hello, Joannes! There may be some restrictions on shipping certain gear internationally, but we'd be glad to look into it for you. When you have a moment, please give us a call at [phone] or email us at [e-mail]. Thank you for the message!

[@AVA7NYC]

@@sweetwater I can’t believe you actually responded to this message. Amazing customer service guys !!

[@Dessme]

The stereo guitar recording sounds awesome! But your speech sounds much more better. Not sure if you are using another microphone or the one you are reviewing. Thanks.

[@deborahrea7375]

Would be nice if you could slow down in your discussion

[@moto1188]

That’s what the KZbin playback speed can be used for… Speed up or slow down a video. Go to the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the video screen.

[@furqanansari001]

I love sir

[@furqanansari001]

@Club Soda yes

[@KyleGushue]

Great mic, too bad Harmon cheapens its design at every turn.

[@JuliaHennigan-r1m]

Brown Brenda Anderson Eric Walker Jennifer