On a practical note, the LEDs, which are fairly discreet, help in setting up under poor lighting conditions, and also avoid the need for clunky slide switches, but I can't help feeling they could be a disadvantage for TV work, where you need the mic to be as inconspicuous as possible. The main thing here is that you may need a better interface given that this thing is already pretty high up there in price. *Acoustic guitar and acoustic instruments in general*. AKG C414 XLS vs. XL II | SUBTLE DIFFERENCE! One of them is the XLII that we’ve talking about here and the other one is the XLS. C414B XLS, £799.99; C414 XLII, £849.99. Has anybody ever tried to do some stereo micing with one XLS and one XLII? The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers. A great all around workhorse mic with some minor problems. Please leave a comment below or Contact me! Comments? This is where rtfm comes in handy. The C414 has two versions. ET usually ship the same business day. Ha! It has been said that the UR22 has better preamps than the 2i2, so it may actually be a better option for a mic of this caliber. The reverse side of the new mic carries pad and filter switches.Photo: Mike CameronRe-engineered, transformerless electronic circuitry has extended the dynamic range of these microphones to around 134dBA by maximising headroom and minimising self noise, the latter down to an impressive 6dBA. Mastering Essentials Part 4 - Mastering EQ: Balance, Don’t Match. Thank you! 15 comments. Would do well as your primary all-rounder. One of the all-time classic microphones gets a 21st-century makeover. It does well in a variety of applications, and the 158dB sound pressure level makes this perfect for miking extremely loud sources (such as kick drums). Thanks for stopping by!! The C414 XLII version differs from the C414 XLS version in one major respect – the capsule. window.dojoRequire(["mojo/signup-forms/Loader"], function(L) { L.start({"baseUrl":"mc.us19.list-manage.com","uuid":"0573ad2c5093a15ee16bc49c5","lid":"f49b0eb597","uniqueMethods":true}) }). What is a cardioid capsule? akg c414 XLS vs C414 XLII? Call or Chat for expert advice and to hear I've used just about every model of 414's ever made. The capsule hangs in a newly designed four-point suspension, and even the way the various pattern, pad, and filter options are selected is quite unlike anything AKG have done before. In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. Products, practices, and stories about the profession or hobby of recording, editing, and producing audio. ET Normally I review each mic separately, but given that these bad boys are so similar, I will instead outline the C414 XLS and then compare it to the XLII. Interestingly, because the microphone utilises microprocessor-controlled switching, we are told that it will be possible to control the functions remotely via normal mic cables, and AKG are apparently working on a remote control, to be called the R414, for this purpose. the latest deals. A slope of over 12dB/octave is used for the lower two settings, while the 160Hz setting has a more gentle 6dB/octave characteristic. One of each is not a bad idea for variety, but a matched stereo pair of one or the other would seem to be a more sensible choice. The same pattern-selection LED doubles as a clip warning light, and turns red for around one third of a second 2dB prior to clipping. Bright sources don’t become horrible, and dark sources still have life to them. The new C414s are classics brought up to date. Hi Stu, A tiny system of green LEDs below the switch illuminates whichever option has been selected, and the current selection can be temporarily locked by pressing and holding the rocker selector switch for three seconds. There are a couple of noteworthy differences between the 2 older and the 2 newer ones: If you want a complete history, check out this really informative article that covers everything! What is a "hybrid" audio interface anyway? Vic Firth Jojo Mayer Signature drum stick are a 5A style, but with thicker and shorter dimensions. In general, it's safe to say there's very little difference. I'm not sure whether the HF contouring is a function of the capsule design or the electronics, but if the latter then it might have been preferable from the user's point of view to have just one model available with a switchable high-end lift. Either of those 2 would work wonders though. Rather than use slide switches, the mics are now fitted with soft-touch rocker switches that are linked to digital switching circuitry, status LEDs, and a non-volatile memory so that settings are retained when the mic is disconnected from the phantom power source. I own the 2i2 and love it. AKG C414 XLS VS XLII While AKG has retired most of the C414 lines in its cabinet, it currently sells two versions: the XLS and XLII. Rewards members also receive double- and triple-point offers, access to member-only deals, as well as a dedicated phone line to Gear Advisers and a $25 coupon on your birthday, all on us. Someone has offered to sell me one of the older silver "EB" models for $700 usd, but I have no idea how it compares to the newer ones. The appearance of the C414 begins with its compact, somewhat box-shaped design. More of a workhorse mic. The two different models made sense when the B-ULS had a transformer, and the TLII was transformerless. Orders placed before 5 p.m. So if you want a stereo pair I would go for XLS. Both the C414 XLS and C414 XLII offer 9 pickup patterns, which enable you to choose the perfect setting for every application. Maybe the forthcoming new remote control could include a LED kill switch? Every guitar or bass you A slight additional lift above 3kHz gives this model a slightly more airy and open top end that is useful when miking vocals to capture a contemporary 'crisp' sound, or when miking instruments … This seems like a good idea, except in the event of clipping, where it could be argued that only the person or instrument being miked will be able to see the LED turn red! Sign in to see your saved items. No problem Danny! iFi Aurora Review – Love At First Sight?! PreSonus StudioLive 32SC Series III Mixing Console. So i have been using the akg c414 xls for quite some time for vocal recordings. If you want warmer, the XLS. Because very high impedances are involved around the capsule itself, any changes made using these switches will take a few seconds to become active. Vic Firth Jojo Mayer Signature Drum Sticks. They also include some neat sound tests as well! Check out my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Review! The phantom power from your interface actually powers on an off the LED. The C414 XLS is really versatile, given all of those different polar patterns. All contents copyright © SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2020. Great overall website. These C414s are large-diaphragm, multi-pattern capacitor microphones utilising a gold-sputtered diaphragm where only the front side of the diaphragm is coated, the aim being to avoid electrical shorting between the diaphragm and backplate at very high SPLs. Click here to login, The ability to reply to and create new discussions, Access to members-only giveaways & competitions, Interact with VIP industry experts in our guest Q&As, Access to members-only sub forum discussions, Get INSTANT ACCESS to the world's best private pro audio, Promote your eBay auctions and Reverb.com listings for free. 9 polar patterns, which is basically unheard of. Q. Subtle but noticeable. If your budget allows, I would probably go with the C414. Did I miss the mark on something? The push buttons are terrible and every time that you take phantom power off, all of the settings reset. The BULS has an overall warmer sound with less hype on the top but a really REALLY nice sound (not much EQ'ing needed when using that mic properly). Didnt have any real solid weight to it, and i was constantly EQ'ing it. It works for all types of material, and some things really well, but i don't find it does anything another mic can't do as well. I found it very harsh and peaky in its response in the upper mids. Not a lot you can't do with a nice chain though. I would get a matched pair of C414xls's if given no other option. When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. I have an XLII buried in the closet of misfit gear (we all have one!) Find out why in my.. Archived. Our Gear Advisers are available to guide you through your entire shopping experience. I'm leaning towards buying one XLS and one XLII. I know that a purist stereo recording should use identical mics, but I actually achieved excellent results with great stereo separation and minimal spill from the other instruments playing in the room, and there was no obvious tonal disparity. Das AKG C414 XLII orientiert sich im Gegensatz zur günstigeren XLS-Variante am ursprünglichen Design des C414 und bietet einen etwas höhenreicheren Klang mit einem unaufdringlichen Glanz, der unter anderem auf Gesangsstimmen sehr schmeichelnd wirkt.