By doing this you will be capturing more surrounding noise. However, there is some coloration you need to consider as well. The C414 XLII multi-pattern condenser microphone offers a choice of nine polar patterns for the perfect sonic capture for every application. If you’re a big fan of AKG products and looking for a budget-friendly microphone for home recording I recommend the AKG C414 which I reviewed here. The AKG C414 XLII provides you an ability to conveniently switch between various polar patterns. It will indicate you cannot switch the pattern because your pattern is locked. We noticed that you already have products in your cart. Engineered for highest linearity and neutral sound, it has been the most versatile large-diaphragm microphone for decades. You can now switch the patterns again. The five primary polar patterns of C414 are: This polar pattern is great for moving sounds and from the room. These mics are compact and come with a box-shaped construction. For live sound applications and permanent installations, all controls can easily be disabled for trouble-free use. LEDs are not very useful for stealth use during film and TV applications. You will need to raise your levels to bring out the best loudness while recording. You just have to hold down one of the arrows on the selector for about two seconds and it will lock the pattern. Paired with the clipping indicator on the front you can quickly detect distortion in your signals and pad them which creates even more headroom as required. I have a Bachelor's degree in Sound Engineering and I work on producing content for the Hifi Guide in my spare time. Please check back at a later date. There are three different attenuation levels for better sound control. You can alter that according to your requirements during mixing. The mic also features a bass-cut filter and provide you with any overall warnings even on the slightest of applications. No matter what your requirements are, you will find the C414 a suitable option. Switching between these polar patterns make C414 the best option for recording crisp sounds in a range of different situations. There is an LED light that will turn on for a brief period when you switch between the patterns in this lock mode. Both C414 XLII and XLS maintain their classic shape from their predecessors. Five of them are primary while four of them are hybrid. We are going to focus on the C414 XLII in this review and see how it differs from its other model. The mic also features three different filters for bass cutting to keep the wind noise low. Of course, the XLII is even better sounding than the XLS ad that’s why it is more popular among the vocals. AKG Pro Audio C414 XLS Instrument Condenser Microphone, Multipattern. Five years later and shortly after AKG celebrated their 60th anniversary, AKG dropped the B from the XLII and XLS, releasing their latest models, the C414 XLII and C414 XLS. View our, If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call, com.demandware.beehive.xcs.internal.catalog.CatalogCategoryPO@792732ab(com.demandware.beehive.orm.internal.state2.RelationalObjectInstanceState@29e0816[com.demandware.beehive.core.capi.domain.PersistentObjectPOKey(com.demandware.beehive.xcs.internal.catalog.CatalogCategoryPO) [2a2ed5f7d6cdd495978d5096e6]]), https://www.harmanaudio.com/microphones/3059X00060.html. Win anything from speakers, headphones and soundbars, no catch! For live sound applications and permanent installations, all controls can easily be disabled for trouble-free use. You can say it’s a basic design but the XLII has a gold-colored grille to make it pretty flashy in the studio. My love for audio stemmed from my Dad who was an audio technician, and now I share my knowledge here on this website! But underneath this grille, the mic features a CK12 Generation 2 nylon capsule that is responsible for the quality sound of this mic. The light will switch to red from green even a faint distortion occurs from clipping.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'thehifiguide_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',111,'0','0'])); This feature allows you to quickly adjust your levels accordingly, the feature will come in handy when you are using a very loud source like a blaring guitar or drums. The XLII in particular can work very well for your drums, electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and vocals. You can also read my Shure SM81 review which is another great versatile mic. Despite being a high-quality microphone, the C414’s price is very competitive as compared to other high-end mics from different brands. Return Policy. On the right side, this mic has a low cutting filter. For live sound applications and permanent installations, all controls can … The C414 can maintain the classic sound for which the AKG C12 was famous for. This is the reason dynamic mics are recommended for novices who don’t have sound-treated rooms.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'thehifiguide_com-box-4','ezslot_4',115,'0','0'])); But the C414 is more influenced by it because it is highly sensitive. The base of the mic is heavy and solid but the same can’t be said for the gold grille. A peak hold LED displays even the shortest overload peaks. As it is a highly sensitive microphone, it can also capture any studio noise. This feature allows you to boost the space and clarity perception and bring out a high presence of your vocal.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'thehifiguide_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',114,'0','0'])); The mic also rolls out some frequencies around 6kHz and 7kHz, which can create a positive effect by reducing any sibilance effect. It features a high-quality switching system with LED indicators to alert you which polar pattern is on. All rights reserved. With the newer models, the company has gone for elastic mounting around the capsule to take care of vibration or any impact, the capsule is too precious to be handled carelessly. The mic can also alert you with an overall earning with its LED for audio peak hotel and even detects the shortest of audio peaks. Polar patterns which are also known as pickup patterns can be represented in two-dimensional graphs on a circle plot of 360 degrees. By continuing to checkout you understand and agree to our Terms of Sale, Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. For general email or Want a chance to enter our monthly giveaway? The C414 XLII multi-pattern condenser microphone offers a choice of nine polar patterns for the perfect sonic capture for every application. Therefore, if you don’t have a sound-treated room, this mic is not the right option for you. At this time, this item is excluded from your accommodation program. In simple words, don’t drop your C414. In order to add spare parts we have to empty your current cart. There are nine different polar patterns that you can select according to your recording requirements. The Hifi Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. And it has helped in creating the most iconic sounds for more than 65 years now. You can also use the same switch to choose 4 hybrid patterns from each of these. It might survive a couple of drops but it is not an invincible workhorse. This is the particular reason that C414 has become a must-have piece of equipment for every studio. A wide frequency range ensures you capture all nuances from your source as they were produced. For live-sound applications and fixed installations, all controls can be disabled easily for trouble-free use, and the peak hold LED displays even the shortest overload peaks.