Vintage AKG C414 EB Condenser Mic
- Thread starter ladytexan
- Start date
Here's a youtube demo, after watching I'm still not sure what I saw??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnzLmIuQV10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnzLmIuQV10
ladytexan
Senior Member
I have no idea what I saw, either. :shock: But a reasonable deduction, there are four settings and four attributes (not sure that's the right term) of sound the mic can 'pick-up'.....now, with that said, it must be one special vintage mic to be worth $900. :::admittingnoknowledgeofsuchthings::: :wink:Jeff said:
Thanks for posting the vid, Jeff.
Sal
Senior Member
Hey Tony, there's a heck of a lot a person can learn about microphones and I'm not an audio engineer but I can tell you a little. Just like guitars there is a mystique and demand for some of the vintage microphones, some more than others. This particular vintage model of the AKG 414 you've found is by no means the most valuable of the 414s. Some older models with "just the right capsule" will sell for many thousands of dollars.
On a multi-pattern microphone like the 414 the switch allows you to utilize different "polar patterns" that change the area of recording sensitivity around the microphone. The little icons above the toggle switch are meant to show that pattern of sensitivity, from all around (omni) to just in front (cardioid) to a more focused (hyper cardioid) then to a Bi-directional (figure eight) pattern.
The 414 is a great mic and a studio standard. If you're just starting out and looking for a good all around mic for home recording it is a good choice and you don't need to jump right in with an expensive vintage one. For an even cheaper alternative similar to the 414, I also like the Audio Technica 4050.
If you'd really like to pursue a 414 you might want to check out this history of the different models telling what they were designed to do:
http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/story of the akg c414.htm
I hope that helps. I'm sure someone else here could add to this or correct me if I've got something wrong.
Cheers!
Sal
On a multi-pattern microphone like the 414 the switch allows you to utilize different "polar patterns" that change the area of recording sensitivity around the microphone. The little icons above the toggle switch are meant to show that pattern of sensitivity, from all around (omni) to just in front (cardioid) to a more focused (hyper cardioid) then to a Bi-directional (figure eight) pattern.
The 414 is a great mic and a studio standard. If you're just starting out and looking for a good all around mic for home recording it is a good choice and you don't need to jump right in with an expensive vintage one. For an even cheaper alternative similar to the 414, I also like the Audio Technica 4050.
If you'd really like to pursue a 414 you might want to check out this history of the different models telling what they were designed to do:
http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/story of the akg c414.htm
I hope that helps. I'm sure someone else here could add to this or correct me if I've got something wrong.
Cheers!
Sal
ladytexan
Senior Member
Thanks, Sal! Great info!Sal said:
edwin
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$900 is cheap for a good vintage mic. The AKG 414 is an excellent all around mic. Nothing really sounds bad through it, although with my pair I have found that they don't sound amazingly stellar with all that many sources. Some of the first versions that had the C12 capsule (which was the basis for some great tube mics before the solid state 414 was released) are said to be magic, but they are difficult to find and very expensive. Usually by now someone has pilfered the C12 or else it's just worn out. But in general, the value of the 414 is their versatility. While I have mics that will sound better on any given source if I spend the time to audition them (and most of them cost more than $900), I know the 414s will sound good, so I can grab them and go, whether for a vocal, a guitar (acoustic or electric), drum overheads, room mics or what have you. I agree with Sal, the AT 4050 is an excellent alternative.
If you want to see high prices on mics, check out the Neumann U47 or U67s. $3000 is a bargain for a functional U47. They were made in the day when a lot of hand work was involved, so while they mostly sound great, some of them are just magically delicious. You can see them above $10k sometimes for a really good one.
The crazy thing is that 35 years ago, when I started getting interested in recording, you could get the old tube mics for a song. U47s were routinely around $100-150. No one wanted the antique tube models. Sort of like when I got my '67 Starfire bass for $275.