AKG 414. WOW!

[kesslari]

I recorded vocals through an AKG 414 last night, WOW.
What a great sounding mic!
I'm a baritone, vocally, and this engineer has worked with me before and likes to try different mics on my voice.
This one's a keeper - very good tone, clear low end with purity on the higher overtones.
It's a keeper... just wanted to pass the info along.

 

[Siggy_Bass]

Hey, thats cool! I am trying to decide what mics to get for my little home studio, and I am currently between the AKG 414 and the Neumann 103. Have you tried both, and what kind of 414 did you use?

 

[kesslari]

I'll find out what kind of 414 when I go back into the studio next week.
I've used a Neuman copy, not sure of the model. It's a wonderful warm mic, perfect for most voices. The AKG 414 was better for my particular (e.g. deep) voice.

 

[hbarcat]

The 414 in its various models is one of the most versatile mics around and it's very often used as a bass cabinet mic.

 

[fenderhutz]

Only 1000.00 bucks.

 

[shifter]

There is two types of 414's an instrument version and a vocal specfic version, chances are if the engineers using it on your voice it's the vocal one.

The vocal 414 has a very different capsule inside and is far more sensitive.

I can't say i've seen 414's on to many bass bass cabs so i'm not sure how they sound in that respect..

 

[monkeyland]

the 414 is considered to be the do it all LD condensor mic. it's almost like the SM57 of the condensor mic world. there may be better choices out there but it will almost always yield a result that is workable pretty quickly.

any time that i've been in a bigger studio the standard mic choice for bass would be a 414, sennheiser 421 or EV RE20 as a starting point and probably a 57 thrown in there too. of course they don't always use all of them but those tend to be the most popular.

 

[lambro]

the TLM 103 is a cold sterile mic, not flattering to many sources

I do not rec getting it, esp for vocals.

the 414 is a classic mic

for vocals, Tube LDCs are my fav, I like the Lawson 251 and the Wunder CM7

ask if there are any tube LDC's in the studio and try them for comparison, maybe a u67 if you are lucky? also try different preamps, they are just as important to the chain

 

[JimmyM]

Howard Stern uses a TLM 103. He sounds pretty warm when he makes dirty jokes and yells at his staff.

 

[51m0n]

the TLM 103 is a cold sterile mic, not flattering to many sources

I do not rec getting it, esp for vocals.

Well I've had the opposite experience to this.

Its definitely not very coloured like a great tube mic. But thats a very double edged sword too. Coloured mics I find have often a smaller set of sounds and mixes they work so well with. Its swings and roundabouts IMO.

I've had fantastic results with a TLM 103, cold and sterile are not how I would describe it personally.

The 414 is a fantastic mic though, used one extensively in a studio over about 5 years of working there. Was the first mic we tried on nearly all voices, and any more unusual instrument (marimba to harp) that came through the doors. It was the reference mic, something else had to sound better than the 414 before it was considered. That was something like 15 years ago though, well before the TLM103!

 

[51m0n]

Only 1000.00 bucks.

You do tend to get what you pay for in classic or rather industry standard mics. The 414 is up there industry standard-wise with the U87 IMO, and considerably cheaper.

 

[fakiekid]

hmm the 414 for me does nothing amazing, but does nothing bad! only ever used the instrument models but would love to try an xlII on drum oh's etc. im glad it worked out good on your voice.

you tried an RE20?

 

[fakiekid]

as for the tlm 103, i find it can be quite bright! nice on pianos but not on everything

 

[JohnDavisNYC]

414 is a good mic... one correction, though... there is no such thing as a 'vocal' mic or an 'instrument' mic... the 414uls is a transformer coupled design, whereas the 414tlII is a transformerless mic... they may even have different capsules, but i can't remember off the top of my head... but anyway, a mic is a mic is a mic.... both types of 414s have their own character, but they can both work on anything.

the 'vocal' mic myth is something i would like to help eliminate from amateur recording hear-say.

anyway, glad you liked the 414 on your voice. they are a bit non-descript sounding, but on the right source they are awesome. don't be afraid to put any mic on any source... 414s are one of my favourite mics for distorted guitar amps, and can be great on acoustic guitar.

john