Akg 414 xls

sarmad_dehnadi · 7th November 2009

Hi

What's your opinion about this mic? Please give me your practical experience not the user manual information.

unfadeable · 7th November 2009

Classic sound. Great multipurpose mic for many things including vocals. Very clear upfront sound that easily cuts through a dense mix. Better then ANY Chinese made condenser at the price point IMO.

DamnYankee · 9th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarmad_dehnadi

Hi

What's your opinion about this mic? Please give me your practical experience not the user manual information.

Great mics which are pretty much ruler flat. Some famous records have been cut with 414's on overheads. A very versatile mic.

DCtoDaylight · 9th November 2009

I'd always wanted a 414 and got an XLS a few years ago when they came out (and they sold a bunch at deep discounts). It's a great mic - useful on guitar, excellent on percussion, and good with my voice, which can use some brightening. Now I want a pair....

desotoslo · 9th November 2009

wow, positive replies about the XLS!

and wow again, I'm going to add another: XLS is a fine mic. In omni mode about three feet back from my piano, it captures a lovely, rich, deep sound.

ohmsweetohm · 9th November 2009

It's a fantastic mic. More for instruments than vocals but also works on vocals. Amazing for overheads, acoustic guitar, piano - any acoustic instrument really.

baslotto · 9th November 2009

I'm surprised to see this question in the Low End Section. I consider it a great all around mic. Maybe more of a cheaper High End?

I used it on vocals with great results (even though it's not really a vocal mic) and on acoustic instruments.

I recently did a mic shootout (on vox) where I put it against a Peluso P12 and amazingly they where getting the exact same sound (same waveform too).
I can post the files if you are interested.
It kinda makes sense since they are both based on the same capsule, but the similarities are impressive, almost like a matched pair.
Cheers

ohmsweetohm · 11th November 2009

I agree, it's a professional tool.

Paired with the right pre as well. I couldn't be happier about the way my acoustic guitar sounds going through the XLS to my Great River. With a little compression from my 1969...I would probably go with that chain no matter what studio I was in.

mikethedrummer · 11th November 2009

yet to find anything this mic doesnt sound good on

sounds great on voice, acoustic guitars, guitar amps, overheads, and even as a kick mic coupled with my sub kick

Rob Ellis · 20th October 2010

classic mic. Just got one for VO. With my voice, this mic imparts the same feel as a U87. It's transformerless, but to my ear has the weighty feel of a transformer mic, but also is whisper quiet.

I like it.

jitterybit · 21st October 2010

I've said this in a few other threads. IMO AKG doesn't make any mic that is crap, in it's price range.
We've a pair of XLIIs, dig em. A little brighter than other 414s.

7th November 2009	#1
sarmad_dehnadi Gear nut Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Iran Posts: 112 Thread Starter	Akg 414 xls Hi What's your opinion about this mic? Please give me your practical experience not the user manual information.

9th November 2009	#5
desotoslo Lives for gear Join Date: May 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 1,140	wow, positive replies about the XLS! and wow again, I'm going to add another: XLS is a fine mic. In omni mode about three feet back from my piano, it captures a lovely, rich, deep sound. __________________ The temple bell stops / but the sound keeps ringing / out from the flowers. - - basho

9th November 2009	#6
ohmsweetohm Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Hope, PA Posts: 429	It's a fantastic mic. More for instruments than vocals but also works on vocals. Amazing for overheads, acoustic guitar, piano - any acoustic instrument really. __________________ Pier Giacalone www.hopetownsound.com New Hope, PA

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7th November 2009	#2
unfadeable Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 141	Classic sound. Great multipurpose mic for many things including vocals. Very clear upfront sound that easily cuts through a dense mix. Better then ANY Chinese made condenser at the price point IMO.

9th November 2009	#4
DCtoDaylight Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 574	I'd always wanted a 414 and got an XLS a few years ago when they came out (and they sold a bunch at deep discounts). It's a great mic - useful on guitar, excellent on percussion, and good with my voice, which can use some brightening. Now I want a pair....

9th November 2009	#7
baslotto Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 453	I'm surprised to see this question in the Low End Section. I consider it a great all around mic. Maybe more of a cheaper High End? I used it on vocals with great results (even though it's not really a vocal mic) and on acoustic instruments. I recently did a mic shootout (on vox) where I put it against a Peluso P12 and amazingly they where getting the exact same sound (same waveform too). I can post the files if you are interested. It kinda makes sense since they are both based on the same capsule, but the similarities are impressive, almost like a matched pair. Cheers

11th November 2009	#8
ohmsweetohm Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Hope, PA Posts: 429	I agree, it's a professional tool. Paired with the right pre as well. I couldn't be happier about the way my acoustic guitar sounds going through the XLS to my Great River. With a little compression from my 1969...I would probably go with that chain no matter what studio I was in.

11th November 2009	#9
mikethedrummer Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,076 1 Review written	yet to find anything this mic doesnt sound good on sounds great on voice, acoustic guitars, guitar amps, overheads, and even as a kick mic coupled with my sub kick

20th October 2010	#10
Rob Ellis Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 329	classic mic. Just got one for VO. With my voice, this mic imparts the same feel as a U87. It's transformerless, but to my ear has the weighty feel of a transformer mic, but also is whisper quiet. I like it.

21st October 2010	#11
jitterybit Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 962 1 Review written	I've said this in a few other threads. IMO AKG doesn't make any mic that is crap, in it's price range. We've a pair of XLIIs, dig em. A little brighter than other 414s.