AKG C414 XLII Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone Reviews

so glad i got this

Well built piece of gear. Great for many different applications thanks to it's selectable pickup patterns. Nice that it comes ready out of the box vs having to buy any additional mounts.

Had this for 15 years dead quiet background noise. Been plugging it into a Boss VE-2 harmonist incredibly quiet. Compared to a Neuman 103 which has a lot of background hum. Have also so used it for vocal recordings with great results. The switching options give it great versatility. If your going to have 1 big buck mic I would recommend this.

I have been auditioning mics for my vocals in my project studio. I have a deep and booming voice. This mic is now in my top few favorites. Its clean, neutral, clear and pleasant. Interestingly every other mic except this one benefits from a hardware compressor, either my WA2A or my Bluey. This mic is just as good uncompressed, no mojo imparted by external hardware compression. I can see why its such a studio staple. BTW, I also tried the 414 XLS but my deeper voice benefits from the extra top end in this model. Is it $ better than my value favorite - the WA 47jr, not sure but its a really vice microphone.

Not much more I can say about this mic as it's well established, often copied but never duplicated. Just read all the reviews and you'll see why. I've been in the music business in live performance and studio recording and this mic is just so beautiful with Acoustics as well as vocals and drums. There's no limit to how great this mic can sound under the right circumstances. When Sweetwater offered the 36 month free financing and put it on sale and I felt so fortunate to finally be able to add this to my mic collection.

With various settings depending on your goals (convenient hi-pass filters 40, 80, and 160, 6-18db/oct and several polar patterns), this large-diaphragm condenser is absolutely killer. This mic will undoubtedly be a permanent member of your arsenal. If you're concerned as to whether or not it is worth the money, slap yourself in the face and start over...and buy this. Vocals are like butter-you'll barely have to EQ at all in a well-treated space. If you sing tenor, your voice will especially shine. Also excellent as an overhead for drums as for acoustic guitars. Try using it to mic an amp at slight distance for a jazzy guitar solo sound.

Disclaimer: Giving any consideration to purchasing this is futile lest you prioritize awesomeness over frugality...

Free yourself from the shackles of budgetary constraint! Obey the calling for excellence! Compromise not in the name of sonic kickassitude!

Why invest in anything less? You know by now that settling for anything other than the crown jewel of value is an expense ye wish not even on your troubled foe.

So, honor the great Onweh,the Onmipotent Onselour of Onnitude and unleash the magnificence.

This is a mic that I have used for more than 3 decades! I love everything about this mic. The upper sheen and the focused mid is so awesome! Best mic fo the $!

Thanks to Rob Amaral! Best Sweetwater Sales Engineer hands down!! Great advice!

I have been tracking Guitar and vocal for years with a Neumann TLM49 and KM184. I never thought I would say this but this mic absolutely smokes the TLM49. Took it out of the box ran it into my Apollo 8P through a UAD Neve 1073 in unison , sat down with my acoustic and started singing and was blown away. Absolutely worth every nickel and then some.

I have several mics that are in the $300-500 range, including the Aston Origin, the Shure SM7B, Shure SM81, and a Shure SM545. The AKG C414 XLII is my go to mic for vocals and sometimes acoustic guitar. Can't beat the quality and sound.

I've had this microphone for about three years now and after using it on multiple mobile gigs and studio sessions I gotta say, this microphone is a beast. It is consistent with the capture of your source. Very natural sounding, I achieve modern sounding mixes with my clients. Crisp is the common word used by them to describe how good they sound through this, usually after they have a conversation with me about their favorite mics and how this is how professional recordings should sound. Great on male vox amazing on female vox. Great mic for the locker.

I've used several mics over the years, but have never had one that was "expensive." I use an SMB7 at times, and it's in a category by itself really. It's the right mic for many singers. I recently bought an Audio Technica 2020 condenser mic and have used it for multiple recordings. I think it's the best mic you can get for around $... I run it through high quality pre-amps and it holds its own. But I've been wondering, if I pay a lot more for a microphone, will I notice it in the mix? The vocals are arguably the most important part of a demo, so I thought, with the heck, I'll get the legendary C414 XL2. ...$$ for a microphone seemed crazy, but I've wasted a lot more on guitars I didn't need. When I hooked it up and sang, it was instantaneous. Hard to describe, but it's just better than what I had been using. The sound is fuller, richer and jumps out of the mix in a subtle but noticeable way. There's a reason professional studios use certain gear. There's a reason they produce better sounding tracks. I'm slowly getting close to the point where my demos sound like I paid a Nashville studio $600 to cut one.

Outstanding gear, accurate sound, excellent for home and professional studios, warm and crystal clear voice and instrument recordings, highly recommended!!!

As a sax player, I recorded multiple tracks using this mic and all I can say is WOW! this thing is for real, it is helping me shape my own sound tenfold.
Thank you Sweetwater

This mic can do anything. Every single polar pattern is useful, every single instrument and vocal I've used it on has shone right through, and... well, this one's personal, but it fits my sort of rich tenor voice really well.
It's got the warmth and clarity of its ancestors, and sounds a lot like a C12 on a lead vocal but it's got much more versatility at like 20% of the price.
I haven't EQd or de-essed a single one of my lead vocals in 4 years because of this mic. Not one bit. Get a room that sounds good, a decent pre, and a performer that plays or sings well, and this mic is incapable of letting you down.
I've used the XLS for things like orchestral instruments and drum overheads, and there's almost no mic more faithful to the source than an XLS, but I sometimes find myself adding a little high shelf to those. With the XLII, it's more like a mic that knows how I want my track to sound.

I've been slowly acquiring microphones for my home studio and have been experimenting using different mics in different applications. Time and time again, though, I find myself comparing my C414XLII with the other mics in my collection and choosing it as best. Best for vocals, best as a room mic, best in combination with a SDC for recording acoustic instruments. If it's in your budget, it may wind up being the best mic in your locker as well.

Well, it just sounds amazing! Actually, it's more than that. This mic comes with all the professional appointments and useful features that go beyond its excellent sound.

If you don't already know, there are several flavors of C414 that have been released over the years. They are all a bit different, but also all excellent mics. The XLII is no exception. I'd say the XLII has the perfect amount of brightness to it - great for vocals or any instrument that you want to stand out front a bit. You can always EQ it out if you need the part to sit back, and it's much harder (sometimes impossible) to EQ it in when it's not there. From that point of view, the XLII is a very useful flavor of C414.

Like all the C414s, the XLII has that warm, clean, balanced AKG sound. Maybe those aren't the best adjectives, but it sounds like an AKG in all the best ways. This is a mic that every mic collection should have sooner or later. Being that it's one of the more affordable of the legendary mics, this would be a great entry into the top tier of microphones.

Some wonderful features of this mic besides its excellent sound:
- Nine polar pickup patterns
- Three different pad levels
- Three different low pass frequencies
- Absolutely my favorite shock mount design - quick to lock and release, grips the mic firmly, no scratches, no cross-threading
- Wonderful carrying case with room for everything
- Even an included pop filter!
- Top notch AKG build quality and attention to detail

To quote Ferris Buellar: "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly suggest picking one up."

As most people will say - I don't know why I waited so long to purchase this MIC! Couldn't pass up the good deal - Phil Potts is always looking for me! Thanks Sweetwater!

I’ve been getting decent results using less expensive large diaphragm condensers and decided to ‘up my game’ with a C414xl II. I’m truly amazed at how much of a difference these mics make!!! I didn’t realize how many options switchable patterns offer and am really enjoying experimenting with different set-ups. One thing that I DIDN’T expect was how much easier editing, mixing and mastering has become since using these. The clarity that these mics provide makes any post-recording processing simple and easy to experiment with. If you’re considering buying these, don’t make the same mistake I did by waiting so long.

Best microphone i ever bought

I've been working on vocals in a home studio project and this is my 3rd and final mic I'll use! I started on a Shure KSM44 and it was kind of boxy and got a little buried in the mix, next I tried a Neumann TLM 103, but it had kind of a harsh upper end and added too much color to the vocals. I picked up one of these and instantly found it to have a much more true, natural sound than either of the others. It also is a bit heavy on highs, but after a little EQ and a touch of de-esser, it sounds fantastic, clear, and true to the source without too much coloring.

I'm running it through a Focusrite ISA one, and have found that it mellows the highs a good bit compared to going straight into my Apogee interface.

Definitely would recommend this mic!

We got this mic to replace our Neumann in the studio and could not believe the great results we got. The sounds are much warmer for vocals than any other microphone we've used for recording. And Sweetwater's service is always the best!

I"ve used the C414 series since 1992. If you have an arsenal of microphones, you will always need at least one or two C414s at your disposal. If you only need one microphone for your project studio, then it needs to be the C414. Versatility is what makes this mic special. Great for vocals, great for live instruments, great for us with speaker cabinets. What more do you want or need?

Clear and accurate representation of the sound source, flexibility with the different polar patterns, quality pop filter and shockmount. What more could you ask for in a microphone?

Had my eye on this mic for 2 years and finally bit the bullet. It makes all the difference on my tracks. Vox cut right through and shine like a diamond just like rhianna says. I can now actually hear what those cool ez mix vocal effects do!! Bye bye muffled mixes! Worth every penny eveytime.

I must say that I am truly blown away by the clarity and warmth of this mic! I was debating between the Neumann TLM 103 and this and I am beyond happy that I chose the AKG! If you are looking for a good solid mic, look no further!

Have had it for 48 hours, have only slept for about 10 hours... I just can't stop using it. Every little vocal idea / melody I have is going through this baby. I literally haven't been able to fall asleep yet.

Also, my sales engineer was Mike Harris, just want to leave another huge thank you to you mate!

This mic is a beast and is amazingly versatile.

I have not yet had the opportunity to test out all the polar patterns, but I can attest to its stellar performance on vocals, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Highly recommended.

What a Great Mic. I should have bought this mic a long time ago.

This mic is definitely awesome, i had avantone cv 12 , now i will just sell it, i don't think i would ever use that mic after C414 , i used C414 with my avalon m5 preamp, it is just perfect.perfect results!!thank you again, awesome on female vocal !!!!

I love the AKG 414XLII great on guitar vocals and just about everything else. I true pro mic that has added versatility to my studio. everyone needs at least one. I got two.

Picked up a matched pair as supplemental mics for a 120 voice choir I was recording. I was surprised at how well it handled the dynamics of a huge choir- very smooth from top to bottom, clean and quiet.
My only other experience with a 414 was in the 90's and it was not a favorable one.
I then gave the 414 a tryout on a lead vocal for a punk band I was working with- punk vocals are intense, and not for everyone, but I was really amazed at how smooth the screaming singer came across. My go to vocal mic is a Manely Ref mic and it's incredible no doubt, but a bit too "real" sometimes. Having a 414 in the mic locker is a great investment. There's a reason it's been a studio staple since the beginning of time...

Just got my hands and voice on one of these and it is just what I expected ! I also have a C414 XLS, a Neumann's TLM 103 and a Rode NT-1 because I do a lot of voiceovers. If you want to take it to the next level just add a ART Pro Channel 2 preamp to the equation and Boom !! If you are into serious vocal recording I strongly recommend this mic.

On the recommendation of a producer my band is currently working with, I bought this mic to record female vocals. It is amazing! Very smooth, very accurate and sits in the mix perfectly without any eq.

I have also used it on acoustic guitar and it shines! Again, very accurate and sticks out in the mix. I hear it's great on guitar amps as well but I have not tried that yet.

This is a great mic! I own a pair of these and they sound amazing. Very, very, very low noise and detailed clarity. With up to 9 pick up patterns you can use this mic on almost everything. This mic is my go to mic for drum overheads and sounds great on acoustic guitar. Crystal clear vocals with a nice little boost around the upper mids and highs ( 2khz- 16khz in cardioid) give it great presence and will cut through the most dense mixes. Since it can handle such high SPL sounds really good with close miking electric guitar as well!! My only regret is not getting the matched pair. If you ca afford to get the matched pair don't think twice because if you only get one I guarantee you're going to want another. Learn from my mistakes! :)



My only regret is I didn't get a matched pair.

On acoustic guitar and on male vocals this mike is heavenly. Having nine polar pattern settings on one mike makes it indispensable. I can't think of any applications this mike wouldn't handle. My recordings have been greatly improved by the use of this mike.

I by no means am the most experienced when it comes to mics but one thing I can tell you, when you hear quality you will know. This bad boy is definitely a step in the right direction if you want professional sounding vocals (sits well in even the most crowded mixes), haven't tried it on any other sound sources though but from what i've heard it impresses on all application its intended for. AKG has not disappointed one bit, money well spent!!

I've been in the recording game since 1969 and have used the best mics in the world over the years, as well as having a very nicely equipped personal mic cabinet in my home. Aside from owning some of the traditional C414-B-ULS, when I first tried out the C414-B-TLII I was floored!!! I bought four of them back in the day - yeah they're stellar!!!
Constantly intrigued by new offerings from "reputable" mic manufacturers this AKG C414 XLII, with an amazing nine polar patterns, instantly caught my attention, as their contemporary offering to replace the discontinued TLII. Finally got one to try out and after a number of hours working with it and doing quite a few A~B tests between this and my TLII's, I have only one thing to say - WOW!!!!!
AKG has done it again, yep, incredible sound quality which exceeds that of the venerable TLII. This XLII features incredibly low noise, very high sensitivity (loud!!!), nice pad and roll-off selection, and the nine polar pattern selection. Also comes nicely nestled in a sturdy case with shockmount, windscreen, and pop-filter.
The XLII sound has all the sweetness of the TLII, but also has improved mid and upper mid detail and clarity over its predecessor.
This truly is an incredible microphone, more of them will find their way into my cabinet very soon, and I strongly suggest you get one or two for yourself!!!

The AKG C414 XLII comes from that lineage of legendary condenser microphones that have set the tone for the industry standards of what most of not all studios have in that recording arsenal. This is my Swiss Army knife of mics along with Rode NT-1. Between the two you can't go wrong. But this AKG C414 XLII has a boost in the upper frequencies for vocals that are nice, airy and still weighty without sounding harsh or squeals. The C414 with its 9 polar patterns is truly an impressive performer. It excels on piano as well. Inside the grand piano and or over the pianist shoulder you will capture amazing nuances of the piano or any instrument. The only caveat is the price tag but you get a sturdy protective case, a velvet mic cover, a good shock mount and a pop filter for your microphone. I love this mic! and plan to purchase two additional AKG C414 for my project studio. They are great room recording mics also!

This mic is worth every penny. I love it for it's versatility.

Love it! Sounds great as expected.

Although I'd been using perfectly adequate condenser mics for years, I decided to see if the AKG C414 XLII was up to the hype. After a few sessions on existing projects, using it for vocals, I was definitely impressed. The low noise and purity of tone was definitely better than I'd been getting from other high-quality mics. So I started a new project and used the C414 for every instrument and voice, including acoustic guitars, mandolin, banjo, harmonica and vocals. It's one of the best recordings I've done. I am really happy with this purchase.

I've only used this mic for a few basic vocal and acoustic guitar recordings so far. The difference in quality compared to a $300 price range AKG I own is huge. Much less will need to be done as far as EQ and effects because even the flat recordings sound very natural yet potent. Very glad I decided on this mic.

I like the look and all the features of this microphone more than the actual sound. Had it for a year befor I sold it.

I found the sound to be a bit boxy, First tought it was my room.
But my other microphones doesn't sound boxy. So I think it is the microphone rather than my room (wich is well reated).

As I have another soundcard and a different preamp now I might
try it again sometime, but it's not first on my list!

I would give it 3 or 4 stars had it not been for the boxy sound.
This unfortunately destroys my experience with it.

The capsule suspension of this mic is attached to the main body with elastic rubber, and like any rubber bands, after some time (especially in CA dry climate) it dries out, cracks, and breaks, letting the capsule loose and breaking wires. After only 5 years this mic is broken and down the drain.