I BROKE DOWN and bought a AKG C414 B-ULS Mic...

[wta]

If you've an avid gear shopper like me I LOVE getting a good deal which often means I try stuff that's typically cheaper which often means I get stuff that isn't amazing and have to resell it but got the experience of trying it... I've been watching the AKG C414 B-ULS for several years pineing over wether to spend the dough and wondering IF the mic was really that great. My biggest desire lately has been uping my vocal track quality, I've got a great pre amp (Class A Focusrite Plat Vocalmaster Pro) and my upper low end mic have just been leaving me wanting so I found this AKG for $500 which is well below a typical used price so I took the bate and boy am I glad I did. Within minutes of getting the mic setup I KNEW I had a great mic on my hands. The following tune I had all ready for a vocal take so I banged em out using "working" lyrics...

http://www.soulsolarium.com/I_Need_Love.mp3

If your interested have a listen and feel free to post feedback if you'd like!

[Len911]

What a steal!!! Sounds great!! A classic. I don't think you can ever go wrong buying a great microphone. It's one of the few things in life that you never regret spending the money for, imo.

[feaker66]

Congrats on the mic. I paid a lot more for mine. (C414 B-XL2)

I do not like the freq boost on the female vox though.

Maybe yours doesn't have that.

Paul

[gongchime]

I've got a good mic but still need the preamp.

[wta]

Congrats on the mic. I paid a lot more for mine. (C414 B-XL2)

I do not like the freq boost on the female vox though.

Maybe yours doesn't have that.

Paul

Mine is flatlined and billed for "instruments" which is perfect for me, I just eq to taste...

[jdhogg]

welcome to the 414 club

[wta]

welcome to the 414 club

Wow there's a CLUB!!! It's truly my pleasure jd and as the newest member I pledge alegence to AKG and will love my 414 in sickness and health till death do us part... Mmm, wonder if I can get a heaven's pass for a C414? Ah, I'm sure they're manufactured there...

[Len911]

The uls if I'm not mistaken is the older one with the transformer and warmer sounding. I have a TLII that is transformerless but has an artificial presence boost around 3khz.

[wta]

The uls if I'm not mistaken is the older one with the transformer and warmer sounding. I have a TLII that is transformerless but has an artificial presence boost around 3khz.

Yup thats what my research has come up with... I"m not a fan of "boosts", makes no sense to me, if our preamps did have eqs I'd understand but otherwise its just not needed, imo.

[Len911]

The boost would be fine if it wasn't artificial sounding (at least to my ears), and I can understand where it comes in handy, because I have a Neuman that is flatter than a pancake, actually a decrease in db, and occasionally it is difficult to hear my own singing at certain notes. I have an API eq, but it is difficult to find the exact point where to boost without making nearby frequencies pop out and change the characteristics of the mic. Economics I am sure. I normally use the Telefunken but there are times I would rather have a solid state sound and not the tube sound. You have a great microphone, so wonderfully versatile, and I wouldn't trade it for anything if I were you!!!