AKG C414 The Ultimate Comparison: XLS vs XLII vs B-ULS vs EB
Вставка
- Опубліковано 29 чер 2024
- To celebrate AKG’s 75th birthday, we’re shining a light on perhaps their most iconic mic. The C414 has been in production for more than 50 years, and a lot of Internet mythology has grown up around the different variants. So we got together two of the most famous historic 414 models alongside the current XLS and XLII and headed to Half-Ton Studios in Cambridge to record the same song four times. Our unique video gives you the chance to hear how all four models sound on drum overheads, bass, electric and acoustic guitars, male and female vocals, piano and hand percussion - and in a complete mix.
Sound On Sound have also teamed up with AKG to give away a desirable C414 XLII stereo set. With nine polar patterns, multiple pad and filter settings and a self-noise figure of just 6dBA, today’s 414s have class-leading specifications. The C414 XLS captures exactly what you put in front of it, adding nothing and taking nothing away, while if you prefer something with more character, the XLII model is tuned to recall the sparking high end and rich lows of the classic C414 EB from the late ’70s. The stereo set includes a matched pair of these premium studio mics along with custom shock-mounts and a stereo bar, all housed in a super-sturdy flight case.
To be in with a chance of winning this superb prize, head to sosm.ag/feb23akgcompetition and answer the questions there before the closing date of March 1st 2023. Good luck!
This SOS video is brought to you in association with AKG.
www.akg.com
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:14 - C414 EB & Drum Recording Setup
02:03 - Drum Sound Comparison
02:54 - C414 B-ULS & Guitar Re-amp Setup
04:14 - Guitar Sound Comparison
05:09 - Bass Sound Comparison
05:58 - C414 XLS & Acoustic Guitar Recording Setup
07:15 - Acoustic Guitar Sound Comparison
08:04 - C414 XLII & Vocal Recording
09:04 - Male Voice Sound Comparison
09:43 - Female Voice Sound Comparison
10:20 - Piano Sound Comparison
11:09 - Percussion Sound Comparison
12:25 - Full Mix - C414 EB
13:20 - Full Mix - C414 XLS
14:15 - Full Mix - C414 XLII
15:09 - Full Mix - C414 ULS
16:04 - Enter The Competition!
....................................................................................................
Subscribe to Sound On Sound sosm.ag/subscribe
Get FREE 170-page RECORDING TECHNOLOGY eBook: sosm.ag/recording-ebook
Visit www.soundonsound.com
Like FACEBOOK: / soundonsoundmag
Follow TWITTER: / soundonsoundmag
Follow INSTAGRAM: @soundonsoundmag
#akg #microphone #comparison
EB is magic. Best all round microphone EVER made.
yes it is, advanced audio cm414 sounds just like it
kind of
The Midrange on the B-ULS is just insane. Clear and punchy
I really think the XL II held its own very well here and shined on multiple sources.
I agree... XLS to flat, XLII is the sound of AKG C414
The EB murdered them all. Crushed. Listened on Focal Twins.
Thanks. That was great. Really enjoyed the XLii being so forward and bright. However in isolation the EB sounded the best, full and great top end.
Seriously!
The XL II was my favourite. The EB was wonderful on a few things - but the XL II sounded excellent on everything.
Agree. I always wonder why there is just a few "linear" microphones out there, like you can not add it later if you want, but deduce the spikey frequency curve to make it flat if you need it is simply impossible.
Thank you SO much for all the work you did on this!! It is exactly how I needed to hear these compared, and perfectly timed, since I’m looking to replace the TL versions that I bought in the 80’s, and had to sell several years ago. When I was first learning, the studio I worked in had EB’s and I absolutely loved the natural way they captured everything!! Excellent job!!
I was looking for a comparison and I got it with this video. Excellent shootout that really shows how each mic shines. You can’t go wrong with any of these mics. Thanks to everyone who participated in making this happen.
Thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this video and working with these amazing people with incredible ears! Keep up the good work SOS!
thank you very much for this super deep dive!!!! Love this mic
This is one of the best comparisons I heard in my whole life : )
Bloody brilliant video, guys! So distinctive differences. On the percussion it really shows to a point where it almost sounds like different instruments. 😮. Great work.
Great video! I love the EB and the XLII. Have been using the XLII for a lot of my sessions, glad to know it's one of the best models!
Have 2 of XL II, used them on almost everything. Thanks to SOS for this great detailed comparison.
This demonstrates quite clearly that in spite of all the huge strides in technology, a 50 year old microphone can still hold its own at the top level.
Brilliant! More of these please!
This is a really great shootout. I was expecting something inferior but I am actually very happy with how this was carried about. I believe you had all the proper elements in a shootout and showed their true colors. It is not biased and it was well thought out. You implemented various shootout techniques and I am so glad you did that to make this as clear as possible. There is no perfect shootout but I think you got really really close. Thanks for this shootout!
Fantastic comprehensive comparison. Recently I snagged a good deal on a 414 ULS in near mint condition with original mic mount. I’m VERY satisfied with it. It’s an honest representation of the source.
This was a wonderful shootout. Thank you for all your hard work making this video.
While I agree with a lot of the previous comments, I much preferred the XLS on all sources overall. Especially taking into consideration all of the processing it will likely endure leading to a finished mix. It sounds like it will take eq and additional processing very well.
wow. this is one of those _necessary_ videos, thank you.
For me the EB stands out as the best all around mic, and it is especially evident in the full mix at the end. However, superb mics all of them. Thank you for a great comparison video! Keep them coming! :)
What a lovely comparison! Wow! Thanks!
this deserves a million views. thanks!
Brilliant video, thank you SOS! All the mics sounded great of course, but for me I found the XLII I to be a bit more sparkly in general which I wasn't so keen on (in comparison to the others!). The EB sounded great on just about everything, the XLS was consistently nice, and the B-ULS - whilst losing a bit of ground on some sources - I thought sounded the best on the overall mix, everything just sat there really nicely! But that was a lot of fun watching and listening to that! An absolute belter from the SOS team!
Thanks for making this video! I really love the mid range character of the XL II
Agreed.
Scooped compared to the others.
What an excellent video and comparison!
To the point, factual, no bull & no myth (and yes, I agree, there are FAR too many floating around the www, along with a ton or two of misconceptions & prejudice), well presented and well edited to make things usefully audible.
Kudos, congrats, beer's on me, etc.
👏🍻👍
BTW, always have been fond of my good old black B-ULS as well as of my pair of golden B-TLIIs, quite different, both very usable and useful. These new ones don't sound half bad either, only the C214 I once auditioned was a letdown, sounding surprisingly unrelated to the mighty C414.
Its funny because I only recently was scavenging the internet for comparisons between these mics to work out which to get. Although it might be confirmation bias I am glad with the two I got; the XLII and B-ULS. I also think the decision to expand on the comparison to full mixes was a stroke of genius from SOS. Thanks for making this.
XLII is the sound of 414
Amazing video! 👏🏻
And a super catchy song caught by classic AKG sound catcher :-) 💕
Great video! I own EB's. ULS's and TLII's and in this comparison of the full mix in this video, I like EB's, then XLII's, then ULS's and lastly the XLS. Given the parameters mentioned that there was little processing on the final mix, the EB's had a more satisfying sound...a little less mids and cloudiness and a bit more presence (listen for the snare and clarity in the vocals) and a more extended low end (bass guitar). But in a typical mix session, you would potentially do more processing on the tracks during the mix, which would most likely yield similar results between the different models. The 414 is one of the most versatile mics in my mic locker and I use them all the time. And this video clearly shows the 414 is a great investment for studios large and small!
Thank you so much for this comparison! Now im hunting for a B ULS 🙂
Sam thank you so much for this!
Individually I did not prefer the XLII, but hearing the mix I quite liked it. ULS very polite across the board.
The 414 series are great for mid/side recordings too!
EB is magical in every source, but BULS my favourite as overheads. That said, hear how great the snare sounds in the EB full mix.
Very nicely done. Just ordered an C414XLS. LENNY.
Great video!
BRILLIANT
WOW👍🏻 There were definitely some differences between the four, but they were all much closer than I thought they would be. WELL DONE👍🏻
Perhaps you could do the same test with a C12, C12 A, C12 B, and a C414 EB.🤔
Amazing video . priceless informations
The full mix with the AKG C414 XLII sounded complete. The shine was very pleasing though my monitors.
If I learned anything from this video its that even though all of the 414 mics will get you great results, that mixing and matching mics is still really the key to getting the best final results.
I wasn’t really enjoying the ULS on anything - until the female vocals, when it blew away the other 3. Really surprised me.
@@Funkybassuk I feel the other 3 mics add a clarity that is almost analytical which, in this comparison, definitely makes the B-ULS feel somehow extra dark whereas I think the actual results it gets are fairly neutral. That said I feel the body that the B-ULS adds is something that cannot be EQ'd in- you either get that from the mic or not. I also like comparing the performance on plosive and sibilant sounds - I found that the transformer based mics including the B-ULS handled those sounds really well in a way where they were clear but always the most rounded and resonant sounding. What did you think about sibilance performance on each mic?
also of the final mixes which of them did you think sounded the most finished?/ needed the least edits?
I thought the same, goes to show how the mix starts with the various mic choices (and also pre’s for me) on the instruments..
If i was AKG, I wouldn't have let this comparison out. They do not sell a product with the magic of the EB.
This was really good. The EB overall seems to be the most even but has the extended topend, really nice. The XLS is rounder and a bit scooped in the mids, the XL II the mids return still rounder and the B-ULS is darkest of the bunch. Obviously, I'd love to have a vintage EB but I'd take a XL II no problem, and in a lot of ways I liked it over the EB -- the full mix sounded the best to my ears with those two.
Good ears Billy, I was there on the day and have to say really liked the XLII..
Yay SOS! Well done. Just a note re presenting test audio results - I find it easier to assess audio differences between sources with short repeated snippets (2s?) from each category. Our ears IMHO are forgetful so I'd use e.g. downbeat to 2s each mic a couple of times then cross pairings. That said, my current lust for an XLS has shifted towards XLII! Cheers.
Nice comparison. I own a C414 B-ULS and a C414 B-ULS TLII. I've done a similar comparison with earlier C414 versions and they are all wonderful microphones.
Kudos to the authors for a nicely done demo ! Agreed, they're all wonderful, for me, depends on what I'm recording. They all have a unique colors that can augment a players style and tone, tasty on a good acoustic piano in a good space.
I especially appreciate the cumulative comparisons. It would also be great to do an editor's favorite mix; mine would be XLII or EB on vocals, B-ULS on the acoustic, and the XLS on everything else. The latter really has some beef to it that's great on the electrics.
XL2 any day 💛🙂 Great video thanks for this 🙏🏽
I have to say that solo’d, I picked the xls or b-uls every time. But man, once the full mix kicked in I chose the xlii then the eb, and thought the xls and b-uls sounded boring. I just picked up a matched pair of xlii, and before this video was seconded guessing them over the xls(since my primary use will be drum overheads), but now I’m glad I chose them.
Thanks for the video, it really clarified my options.
Thank you for this excellent video. I love the sound of the 414EB - so many classical music radio broadcasts used just a pair of these back in their day. I have a pair of each of the ULS and XLS, however. I am not a fan of the darker ULS until it takes on some EQ - and that it does well. The XLS doesn't get much use, I'm afraid. Its 'premixed' tone doesn't work for me in what I do. Thanks, again - some v interesting comments, too.
My personal preference is #1 XLII, #2 EB, #3 XLS, and #4 B-ULS. I found that the XLII had a little more presence and a good balance. But it is like comparing a top-tier Mercedes, to a top-tier BMW and a top-tier Audi, the difference between the 4 microphones is measured in extremely small differences. To own any variation AKG 414 is still a fantastic addition to any studio's microphone list and to own multiple variations is a true bonus! Great Video!!!
Something else I also took from this comparison was how certain things sound more or less clear in each mic mix. E.G. even in the EB take I felt the piano got lost; the B-ULS snare sounded the best; everything with the XLII seemed to be competing for that bonus air. Ultimately the way I see it is if you can't afford the EB then the XLII gets you the shine of it while the B-ULS gets you the mojo of it.
Now I have the 414 song stuck in my head. I went with the XLS because I wanted a flat response for vocals. If the EB were still available, I would buy one of those too.
I loved the xlii. I own that one as well as the XLS. The EB was a very close second for me.
I have a pair of older TL (not TLII) and love them. Most flexible mics I've used.
Gonna have to go with the EB. The highs sizzle in a pleasing way.
Thanks for this shoot-out. I have a pair of matched XLIIs. Yes, they are a little brighter but I prefer their smoothness in the high bass (120 Hz) compared to the slight exaggeration of the B-ULS in this range. In my studio, I am alway fighting to tame these frequencies.
I noticed that in many of the samples, the EB and the XLII (guitar and drums) were more alike than the others. I didn't expect t his outcome.
The low end on the EB is very nice. Almost has a gentle extra octave.XL II is the only mic I wouldn't use, don't care for the high mids in comparison to the others. Was quite surprised at how dark the B-ULS was. I guess there's a reason it's a popular drum mic!
we can definately hear that little high boost on the XLll compared to all the others. The original c414 is my favourite, though. It is the one that has the most neutral sound to my ears. The B-ULS sounds a little too dark, although it might make for an interesting effect depending on the circumstances. Great video
Fun comparison! In isolation I was favouring the XLS on most sources; but then in the mixes, I was surprised I preferred the EB, followed closely by the XLII...
Like the EB snare and electric guitar sound. The toms on the ULS is so great sounding.
Going from the EB to the XLS almost sounds like a pitch shift.
Final mix, the EB sounds the most exciting. The XLII sounds empty.
Think it is a case of mix and match the right mic on the right place.
There is no mic that is right on every source, and from experience I can say that an ULS can get very close to that EB sound if you place it center speaker.
Great video, thank you for letting us listen in.
the amazing transient response on the eb's is what im noticing more than the slight tonal shift. and thats just on a crappy stereo. the attack on everything is more present. good work on the video. would have been a mission.
Okay. This is remarkable.
EB: Vintage, very vintage - in a good way.
XLS: Modern.
XL II: Modern/current gospel, bright, airy and scooped sound. This track is just lacking that thunderous lowend modern live performance brings as an additional element.
But it's said that your childhood matters the most what kind of music and sound people like. I grew up in the eighties and there is no point denying i like B-ULS the most.
However i would have used all four of these to make an ultimate mix. They all have their place in this world.
Desert island mic C414 XL II. The EB I use is stuck in cardioid, but its great still.
From what I’ve read the XLS is supposed to be the most neutral so that might be the best if you want to start off on a blank canvas before adding in the EQs
Interesting - I love my B-ULS but the XLS is a great update. XLII is too bright for my ears but seems most other people like it best
I love the EB! And then the B-ULS
To my ears the XLS sounded the most natural and true at capturing the various instruments that were recorded. They might not give the sparkle & glitz of the EB & XL II, but I feel they’re more accurate and a neutral starting point to work from. The TL II would’ve been great to include in this shootout.
Ok, that final everything together... really scares me - I really felt, like decades and entire bands changed with every mic.
Thanks for your awesome review and comparison! Which of these mics would you recommend to tame my nasal and bass voice as much as possible?
Great video, thank you very much - i have B-ULS
I much prefer the XL11 on most, but not all sources - which is why I bought one.
For me it doesn't usually work on guitar amps - but then I almost always use a vintage Beyer M160 ribbon for that.
I find that not only does it have more clarity than the XLS and ULS, but the top end is also smoother sounding as well.
It's pretty close to an AKG c12.
" ... vier eins vier oder quatre quatorze" 🤣 such a lovely song! ❤
my favourite is the EB followed by the ULS, no surprise there then.
B-uls sounds the most versatile without being to sharp or to hard...always in the right spot...
All Mics are pretty good. But EB ist magically. But the XLS ist also pretty good... B-ULS is a little bit dark, but has best push of all. And with the Xl2 you also cant go wrong, a little bit more modern sounding than the rest. But also a high end mic....thank you SOS, great comparison❤
XLII was the winner for me! It had a realism that the other mics didn't have. The EB was a CLOSE second for me though. I might be biased though as I own an XLII that will never leave my possession lol Very well done shootout too! I love the last chunk where you compare the entire tracks against each other, super rad
I got one brand new for £400. Wish I never sold it
XL2
I'd love to see a comparison where all other 3 mics are EQ compensated to sound as close to the 4th as possible, could do it for each one! You could even do this with the same mix and audio files :)) My guess is they'd all sound really very close.
To me the EB is the winner. Totally clear representation of the whole frequency spectrum. I own a pair of XLS and they really sound great on anything I throw at them... but they sound the shittiest in this video. And I believe this video is right :D
The EB is just effortlessly even-steven in terms of balance. Everything in its place.
The XLS is just boxy sounding to my ears (good call to use drums to highlight this btw).
The XLII is bright (or airy if you think bright is derogatory) at the expense of lows and low mids (slightly, but noticeably enough).
The last one, B-ULS, is a decent all-rounder, but lacks the character (and flaws) of the others.
I'd take the EB any day, everyday - it only makes sense why the C414s are so widely spread once you get to A/B (or A/B/C/D) it against its siblings.
SOS, thanks for such amount of amazing videos. Guys, you are wonderful.
C414 in a great microphone. that's clear, but my opinion is in conclusion:
AKG spent years trying to match the wonderful color of a microphone that they themselves built in 1976. I must say without success.
A pity!
I own an EKG C414 LTD and it's my best microphone so far yet...
So basically mostly EB, besides bass instruments and female vocals :D. Crazy how much more presence EB has.
Depends on the vocalist, Whitney Houston used the 414EB for much of her earlier work along with an SM7
XLS works best on vocals for me, all the other's have something that bothers me, either tubby low-end, sibilance or a scooped sound that did not work for me. The XLS has a nice even balance.
The XL 2 is the best , it has a great isolation and it just project’s everything out to it better
It would be interesting to hear the EB vs xls with eq to match the EB. I am actually quite liking the XLS but it does require eq to match the EB's brightness.
Great comparision, the current c414 XLS it's too dark and wooly for my taste. I liked it in overheads on drums that I have recorded, but listening to the c414 with the brass capsule (that I never used), I prefer that version. The final song the EB has a finished sound,
Surprised and slightly disappointed at just how beautiful the EB and B-ULS are compared to the newer versions.
should also be compared to the OC818 ;)
XLII Gang :D
I'm struck by how different they sound on individual instruments against collectively in the final mixes. I have a stereo pair of XLS and they serve me well. But would I choose them, or any of the others if I had the choice again? Tough call especially given the the B-ULS sounds much better in the final mix than I ever expected. And I expected so much more from the EB given the CK12 connection! The XL2 gave a more open sound. Fab comparison though guys and I thank you for taking the trouble. Great song too!
The XLS is very impressive. But listening to the mix, presumably just faders, the B-ULS wins hands down for clearing up and creating space in the midrange. If I had to chose one it would be the B-ULS. That being said, I would love to here this same recording mixed with these choices:
XLS on Drums
B-ULS on Electric GTR
XLII on Bass
B-ULS on Acoustic GTR
B-ULS on Robin
XL II on Naomi
XLS on Piano
XLS on Percussion
I really hope I can get some help or insight with this question I have regarding the C414XLII. I've been recording vocals for nearly 20 years.
Up until purchasing the C414XLII I've been using the SHURE KSM27. I've easily recorded hundreds of different songs over the last 15+ years
with the SHURE KSM27. I'm been using a Focusrite 2i2 audio interface for the majority of my career. I first started with an MBOX 2 but have
been using the Focusrite for the last 8 years or so. With that said.. FOR SOME REASON when I record vocals with my AKG C414XLII, there is
a very noticeable unwanted effect when I'm recording with the microphone while I'm actively recording. The microphone will sound almost
like I'm recording on more than one vocal track at the same time, even when I'm only recording on ONE vocal track. Even weirder is, it ONLY
has this weird sound when I'm actively recording.. meaning.. as soon as I STOP recording and playback that vocal, it sounds perfectly FINE!
It's only when I'm recording that it has this weird (almost doubling kind of effect) and it's driving me absolutely MAD! In fact, I sent the first
C414XLII back to sweetwater (where I purchased it..) thinking there was something wrong with the first C414XLII that I purchased. But I'm
having the exact same issue with the other C414XLII that was shipped, which proves it's not a microphone that was perhaps broken upon
shipment etc. I do not have this issue at all with my older SHURE KSM27. Any clue what the hell is going on? It also does this regardless
of which setting I use on the microphone. I can go through all of it's different built in settings and it STILL has this problem! It's incredibly
distracting and has prevented me from getting any new projects done! I'm almost at the point where I'm thinking maybe the C414XLII just
doesn't get along with my Focusrite 2i2? I'm thinking about purchasing an upgraded audio interface but I don't want to waste the money on
a new audio interface just to find out the same issue is still present! Again.. after I stop recording and I playback the vocal track, it sounds
perfectly fine! This issue only presents itself as the track is armed for recording! I've been desperately trying to find an answer ever since!
And sadly.. I've now owned the C414XLII for too long to send it back in for a full refund. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
I use a Windows PC and Pro Tools to record my vocals. Not that those details should matter, because again.. this only happens with the
C414XLII and NOT with my SHURE KSM27!
Have used many different 414s in my career and enjoyed them all. Oddly, I've never actually owned one
Is the TLII version of the B-ULS the same as the mic used here (XL II). I have two of them from early 90's. Always loved the smoother sound vs. the EB.
percussion example did it for me. the eb and the b-uls were way more dynamic than the xl models. on the xl you can no longer really hear the accent in the groove. all-round i think the xl II won for me, likely because that more compressed sound benefited the mix. I heard the biggest difference in the guitar and percussion examples. definitely would like the have the EB for anything pokey.
First of all, I enjoyed the very fun and silly song that you wrote! I own a matched pair of XLS that I think sound very nice, but grew up recording with the B-ULS in during the 80s... but I have to say the EBs are really special. There is this sparkle in the top end, especially on cymbals and piano that is very much not there on the other three versions. Considering what you mentioned about the XL II, I was surprised how much more different from the EB they sound compared with the XLS, especially in the midrange. I think AKG missed the target on that one.
I;m pretty happy with my XLS... but I might try to find ab EB or two. They really have a vibe!
Quite a noticable difference. I am definetly not a big fan of these mics, especialy the current versions... EB version sounds the best. in my opinion
The EB is the most even and smoothest. I own a B-ULS and it has a more pronounced bass and woodiness to its tone.
Judging the full mixes: XLS will need the least amount of EQ to sit right. The EB sounded incredible and I'd select if for the vocals if all were available, but using it on everything yielded a mix that was overly-excited in the HF zone....a little too much hair and would be grating over time. The TL-II was too hyped the BULS sounded great but would need the most EQ to yield a finished sounding master. XLS for the win. Nice shootout too.
I watched this video to further validate my purchase of the XL II matched set, To me it sounds more.....real. not like a ribbon though. I also have a 414 LTD (B-XLS),I like the XL II better for acoustic strings.