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Post by skav on Feb 18, 2024 1:55:54 GMT -6
I'm thinking of getting one or these as a complimentary for U87. I have experience with the Austrian Audio OC818, but none of the AKG. There now seems to be two modern variants of the AKG C414 being produced, the XLS and XL II.
Which one of these do you prefer and why?
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Feb 18, 2024 3:32:24 GMT -6
Your vintage selection may not be so clear as akg made so many different versions in the past ?
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Post by skav on Feb 18, 2024 5:34:25 GMT -6
Your vintage selection may not be so clear as akg made so many different versions in the past ? That's intentional. I want to focus on those that are being made today. |
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Post by frans on Feb 18, 2024 6:30:23 GMT -6
I had an early 90s 414, modded by Jim Williams for less noisefloor and whatnot. It is an okay mic. With all the mics available today i would not care too much about a current 414 either. I gave mine to a friend that needed exactly that one for a stereo pair and i never regretted giving it away. As somebody else said 20 years ago: "it's a mid-fi mic" After putting it up against a U47, C12 of a friend, a Beyer MC740 and a few others i understood - it just gave 10% less detail than the other mics. It's still perfectly okay for a lot of things.
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Post by drumsound on Feb 18, 2024 9:29:48 GMT -6
Our buddy mics has the C12a FET model for about $750 |
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Post by bgrotto on Feb 18, 2024 10:18:49 GMT -6
Brass eb. Once you hear it, it’s hard to call anything else a 414. 😭
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Post by ragan on Feb 18, 2024 10:36:43 GMT -6
I would take the ADK Cremona T-FET over modern 414s, for the same kinds of duties.
If you’re set on AKG, I’d take the XLS, because it’s less super bright.
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Post by skav on Feb 18, 2024 10:41:15 GMT -6
Thanks for your input everyone.
So far I'm leaning towards the Austrian Audio (which I already like the sound of).
No experience with Beeznees, but it's more of a gamble to me in Northern Europe.
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Post by nicksteinborn on Feb 18, 2024 21:13:53 GMT -6
I got a deal on a pair of SE T2s a bit ago and in my limited usage, they're pretty nice. Need to spend some more time with them though. My band's FOH has been using them for drum overheads and they've been great there. My friend has a pair of XLIIs and XLSs and we both prefer the XLS out of the two.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Feb 18, 2024 21:38:52 GMT -6
If I wanted a modern mic with the tone of a vintage 414 BeesNeez all the way, modern mic that would be the latest greatest branch of 414 tree either Australian Audio or Lewitt.
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Post by smashlord on Feb 18, 2024 22:55:30 GMT -6
If you can get by with cardioid only, I would highly recommend the Soyuz 023 Bomblet. It's capsule descends in a way from a brass C12 capsule and while it has it's own sound, it is reminiscent of a brass EB where it is airy and present without being brash or spitty. I much prefer it to XLS, XL II, B-ULS, black EBs, etc.. It sounds great on just about anything.
If you want to roll with a C414 though, I might recommend hunting down a good B-ULS (barring spending the $$$$ on a brass capsule). They are solid workhorse mics and I've been pleasantly surprised by them on certain vocalists. Both of the current production ones are on the the bright side and have this sort of plasticky quality to them (for lack of a better description), but the XLS is still a solid mic and I would recommend it over the XL II, which is just too bright, IMO.
The Neumann TLM107 is another option if you need the functionality of a modern C414. A little more money, but I've been really impressed by them.
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Post by drumsound on Feb 18, 2024 23:14:31 GMT -6
Brass eb. Once you hear it, it’s hard to call anything else a 414. 😭 I cut vocals with one today. I wish it were mine. I got a deal on a pair of SE T2s a bit ago and in my limited usage, they're pretty nice. Need to spend some more time with them though. My band's FOH has been using them for drum overheads and they've been great there. My friend has a pair of XLIIs and XLSs and we both prefer the XLS out of the two. I cut acoustic guitar with my pair this weekend. T2s are wonderful mics. |
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Post by Ward on Feb 19, 2024 7:43:27 GMT -6
A C414 eb p48 is relatively inexpensive and you can replace the capsule with a good replica from Heiserman mics or timcampbell |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Feb 19, 2024 8:43:53 GMT -6
A C414 eb p48 is relatively inexpensive and you can replace the capsule with a good replica from Heiserman mics or timcampbell Absolutely true at an average of about $1700 we are not talking a lot of money compared many others, but if I’m going to upgrade the capsule we are getting close to $2k. Now for $1500 I can have 2 Beesneez fets or a 12a. At that point I’m probably going the Beesneez route, plus you get the service of Ben. |
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Post by Omicron9 on Feb 20, 2024 10:10:00 GMT -6
Have owned stereo pairs of both the modern XLS and XL-II. Eventually sold them because they weren't getting much use. They sounded fine on anything I threw at them, but were never spectacular on anything. The XLS has a flatter response and less detail. The XL-II had more detail, but was at times a bit too bright, depending on the source and desired aesthetics.
I thought of them as the Swiss army knives of mics. With the multi-patterns and very low self-noise, they were good in so many situations.
My personal fave for 414s is the B-ULS. But they've become way overpriced IMO, so I won't be buying them. Sad because I really dig those.
-09
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Post by nick8801 on Feb 20, 2024 10:47:31 GMT -6
I've used the modern xlii in a bunch of different studios. Trumpet, vocals, percussion. I always love the sound I hear on playback. I know it doesn't get a ton of love, but I've never once heard it and gone, man that could be better. Always seems to work in a very flattering way. I also used to have an Se T2 and I thought it was a little thin sounding.
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Post by copperx on Feb 20, 2024 10:55:48 GMT -6
If I wanted a modern mic with the tone of a vintage 414 BeesNeez all the way, modern mic that would be the latest greatest branch of 414 tree either Australian Audio or Lewitt.
Which Lewitt, though?
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Feb 20, 2024 10:58:26 GMT -6
I've used the modern xlii in a bunch of different studios. Trumpet, vocals, percussion. I always love the sound I hear on playback. I know it doesn't get a ton of love, but I've never once heard it and gone, man that could be better. Always seems to work in a very flattering way. I also used to have an Se T2 and I thought it was a little thin sounding. Considering XL and XLII can be had used for under $500 it’s hard to argue against them for the money. |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Feb 20, 2024 11:01:30 GMT -6
If I wanted a modern mic with the tone of a vintage 414 BeesNeez all the way, modern mic that would be the latest greatest branch of 414 tree either Australian Audio or Lewitt.
Which Lewitt, though?
Honestly I wish I had the time access and cash to dig into Lewitt and AA, it’s not like the old days where the rep would just leave a bunch of mics and say “ go play”. |
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Post by robo on Feb 20, 2024 11:45:36 GMT -6
Honestly I wish I had the time access and cash to dig into Lewitt and AA, it’s not like the old days where the rep would just leave a bunch of mics and say “ go play”. There are a couple videos out there comparing AA and Lewitts. Both seem to be barking up the same tree, but Lewitt is more modern and brighter, while the AA seems to have a more balanced/classic (to my ear) tone. |
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Post by svart on Feb 20, 2024 13:14:20 GMT -6
Why not Lewitt?
Nevermind, I see folks have brought them up already.
Honestly any of their mid-level ones will be great. Even the lower-end ones without patterns would be fine for most things.
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Post by skav on Feb 20, 2024 13:21:33 GMT -6
I might have to go ahead and try a Neumann TLM 107
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Post by theshea on Feb 20, 2024 13:40:48 GMT -6
the aa oc818 is a very good mic. don‘t own one but tested it. even in the yt videos it sounds good. all ex ang workers creating the oc818. quality.
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Post by phdamage on Feb 20, 2024 13:44:43 GMT -6
Not to muddy the waters but the Beesneez C12A FET is a great mic and can be had for less than a used 414 XLS. It is only cardioid but it’s a great mic. If you have an older and darker U87, it would compliment it nicely
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Post by ab101 on Feb 20, 2024 13:44:52 GMT -6
I like the Austrian Audio mics a lot. But I have to say that Ben - beesneez - has better build quality in my opinion and Ben's aluminum capsule is delicious for lack of a better word.
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