Versatile mic for lots of applications!!! 
by Brian Fanjul from Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, New York., August 2008
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, Mixer, Sound Editor, Post Production ( foley ),Live Sound Engineer.

This is the real deal.I used this Mic for years. Exellent for tracking some male vocals.It you use it like a stereo pair for O/H (over heads) or distance room mic's on drums or Mid Side Technique with Acoustic Guitars and is amazing. Also great for lots of Acoustic Instruments. Also I used this for some foley work on Post.

  Amazing Mic! 
by Will Thompson from Lincoln, NE USA, June 2008
Music Background:  Pro Musician

Remember in "The Blues Brothers..."

Jake: You traded the Bluesmobile for this?
Elwood: No, for a microphone.
Jake: A microphone?
[pause]
Jake: Okay I can see that.

This is that microphone. I upgraded from an AKG C 2000 B, and I was skeptical about the price difference equaling the quality difference. The quality exceeds the price by far. There's no need to hesitate on this investment.

  No brainer... GREAT MIC!!! 
by benjamoon from portland, Oregon, May 2008
Music Background:  pro producer/ composer

Simply wonderful mic! A dream on acoustic guitars. I have got much results from this mic on vocals than with the Blue kiwi which costs more than twice the amount. Durable and well made. LOVE IT!

  414 B-XL II - Superior for my purposes 
by Jim Covington from Big Bear Lake, Ca. USA, February 2008
Music Background:  45 years in the recording industry as studio owner, engineer, and musician

Ok... after 45 yrs of studio ownership and engineering, I have recorded with the worst and some of the best, but AKG's new reworked 414 B-XLII is a new step above.... a hgh mark for other manufacturers to attain to. I use mine exclusively for vocals and accoustical instruments.... solo, group, choirs, and more. The gain is smooth, there are no spikes, no brittleness that some digital condensers present when used. The ease of buttons to push for pattern changes, filters,.... well, I can make changes even in a darkened studio room.
If you need an overall great mic for vocals and instruments, save your pennies and get this mic. It will become your mic for all occasions for the next 25 years !

  Stellar Quality and Features 
by Tone Bone from Los Angeles, CA USA, August 2007
Music Background:  Composer, Producer, Engineer

I primarily use the C414xl ll for vocals going through a GRACE Model 101 and into a Fireface 400. This mic requires little to no eq depending on the proximity effect. Very detailed top end without harsh sibilance and over exaggerated warmth. This mic is the TRUTH

  Nice mic for a thousand bucks 
by Mister Clean from Century City, July 2007
Music Background:  Totally Pro Recorder

Sure, no, not Shure. These are dandy mics. Real pro stuff. Thats's the ticket. If you are a pro recording dude or dudette (recording engineer) and you can spend a chunk o change on one of these, by all means do it! No need to look any further. But, most folks out here do not have a grand to drop for a real live pro mic, so they end up getting stuff in the 100 to 400 buck range. Am I right here? Tell me I'm not. Anyway, yes, I have actually recorded vocals with this mic and it is truly, truly clean. I don't say that about too many others either. Bottom line here, is, why don't these cost, like 3000 bucks? Why stop at a grand? And the shockmount is a bargain at four times the price. I have seen one of these mics go down-baby on account of some nit-wit toady-roady-foo and the shock mount saved the mic. I kid you not, here. Man that was some real scary stuff, I can tell you.

  Amazing! 
by Dave from Orem, May 2007
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, Musician, Composer

I still haven't been able to grasp the amazing value of this microphone. I have owned this mic for almost a year and it continues to amaze me. This mic is balanced so perfectly for vocals. It really doesn't need much EQ at all. When I use this mic, I generally don't have to do much besides just roll off the very bottom and the vocals sound great. The clarity is also amazing.

  Awesome Mic! 
by Dave from Orem, March 2007
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, Musician, Composer

I love this mic! It is exactly what I expected in a vocal mic/solo instrument mic. The clarity is amazing and I usually end up doing minor EQ if any with it. Plus it looks very impressive to clients.

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