AKG C 414 B-XLS for OH ?

[djanogil]

Hi there,

I need advice about purchasing a pair of C414, as an upgrade from my current OH mics.
I know that in that price range, I could also get the Gefell M930, or the AT4050.

I've never tried the Gefell or AT, and I have right now on loan a C414 XL2, which I find very good on OH, though I think I'd go for the XLS version instead, which seems more neutral, therefore more versatile.

How important is it to get a stereo matched pair rather than two individual mics?

Also do you think I should try other mics in that price range before deciding?

Thanks for your help,

Good day.

[edcampos]

Originally Posted by djanogil

How important is it to get a stereo matched pair rather than two individual mics?

IMO, not very. I have both matched and unmatched pairs of microphones which I am more than happy to use on stereo sources. Sometimes, I even use two different types of mics to give me a stereo (if the situation calls for it).

Originally Posted by djanogil

Also do you think I should try other mics in that price range before deciding?

If you have the means to do so, then yes, definitely.

Good luck,

Ed

[djanogil]

Originally Posted by edcampos

If you have the means to do so, then yes, definitely.

Good luck,

Ed

I din't have the means to do so,
so I'd purely decide on my experience with the AKG, with confidence that it will be at least as good as other mics in the same price range, if not better.

[djanogil]

Originally Posted by djanogil

I din't have the means to do so,
so I'd purely decide on my experience with the AKG, with confidence that it will be at least as good as other mics in the same price range, if not better.

Any more thoughts before this goes to page 2 ..

[magellan]

i've been using a pair of 414B-ULS mics on overheads for years and they're still my favs. not sure how they compare to the newer models though...

[MWP]

Haven't used the gefell or the at, but I just bought an akg xls-st matched pair for overhead duties and they sound great. I have also used them with great results on acoustic guitar and some vocals.



MWP

[GrooveMerchant]

I used them a little. I'm liking the small diaphragm omnis better so far. I need more experimenting. What pickup pattern are you using on your C414 XLS overheads? Cardioid?

[Blue Lizard]

I haven't noticed any issues with using a non-matched pair of C414B-XLS's (purchased new, around 2 months apart) as drum overheads here.

[MWP]

Originally Posted by GrooveMerchant

I used them a little. I'm liking the small diaphragm omnis better so far. I need more experimenting. What pickup pattern are you using on your C414 XLS overheads? Cardioid?

Yes, cardioid.

MWP

[GrooveMerchant]

Originally Posted by MWP

Yes, cardioid.

MWP

Have you tried other overhead mics? I was in a studio and the engineer got killer sounds via older 414s and an API desk. My small diaphragms are cheap so I'm thinking more work on my part will see the 414s killing the small diaphragm mics. My thinking (though I've read differently here on GS) is that the new 414 designs should be even better than the older mics, but the new stuff has different construction.

[bwaudio]

It seems like a pretty safe bet to get the AKG's. I don't think either of the other two mics you listed will give you a much better or worse sound...probably only slightly different, but you'd never know anyway.

I plan to get a stereo pair in the near future.

[GrooveMerchant]

Feel free to PM me on a recommendation for a C414 stereo pair. My audio guy got me new 414s in a pair where I had him price-check to make sure he had the right version (as they discounted the older ones). I couldn't believe the cost he got me. If you don't go 414s, man check out the Gefell M296. That looks like a killer mic - and omnis SDCs smolder on overheads. It may be pricier - their MK 221 capsule (also available with a module to power it from Josephson) looks real good - some links:

See Studio Condenser->Small Membrane (menu)->M296

MICROTECH GEFELL GmbH Deutschland - english-

See Series 6 here:

Josephson Engineering Microphones

[dangoudie]

I've recently compared 451s to 414 XLSs for OH mics and the 414 won out easily.

I use them as cymbals mics (cutting below about 1kHz) in cardioid and I think they are great.

I also use them on snare bottom, elec and acoustic guitar, room, have done vox but I have better vox mics. They're a great couple of mics - and no I don't have a matched pair.

I know a guy that uses sE Z5600a MkII's as overheads (single valve condeser in similar price range) and he gets fantastic results (MySpace.com - Pete Miles: Record Producer - Exeter, Devon, UK - Rock / Punk / Metal - www.myspace.com/petermiles) but I haven't had the chance to try them myself.

[soentkensound]

You can't go wrong believe me and you can use them on a lot of other things too.
Up to now I can't remember a studio not having them.

greets

[djanogil]

Ok thanks guys I'm sold now..

[Jack Ruston]

414's are very good mics to own. They're a swiss army knife...good on a really wide variety of things...the trade off is that they have no 'wow' factor. You will never put a (new) 414 up and be absolutely blown away like you might be when you have a really great pair of Neumanns, or AEA's or something. The 414 is the Ford Focus, The VW Golf of mics, rather than the Ferrari or the Lamborghini. This is no bad thing. I bought a pair of BULS years ago and I use them every week on everything from toms to amps to overheads. They're good mics. You won't go to bed with a picture of them under your pillow but you'll be glad you own them.
J