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AKG C214

B

BobSacamano

Guest
Was just reading about AKG's newest mic, which claims to be a more "budget-friendly" ($599 )version of the 414, my experience with AKG's is that they're well made but kinda "dark" sounding..has anyone heard this mic yet??
 
Yeeesh..since Harmon-Kardon got AKG..it's been a story of trying to market the AKG name with mics that just aren't as good as they used to be. I like the 414 a lot..but there are so many variations of the same model that I forget which one is the "good one" and which ones are dicey. The C12VR is pretty darn good..but it's like 4000.00 !!!

The Peluso P12 would be a far better buy IMHO

As far as the 214..I have not heard it. Might be a surprise.

Closed Circuit to Steve Mitchell: Buy one and let us know. I am out of mic money.
 
Jeff Laurence said:
Yeeesh..since Harmon-Kardon got AKG..it's been a story of trying to market the AKG name with mics that just aren't as good as they used to be. I like the 414 a lot..but there are so many variations of the same model that I forget which one is the "good one" and which ones are dicey. The C12VR is pretty darn good..but it's like 4000.00 !!!

The Peluso P12 would be a far better buy IMHO

As far as the 214..I have not heard it. Might be a surprise.

Closed Circuit to Steve Mitchell: Buy one and let us know. I am out of mic money.
Click to expand...

Jeff: I'M the one who's unemployed remember?

I will say my best investment in recent days was the SSL 4000 plugin.
 
Mitchell said:
Jeff Laurence said:
Yeeesh..since Harmon-Kardon got AKG..it's been a story of trying to market the AKG name with mics that just aren't as good as they used to be. I like the 414 a lot..but there are so many variations of the same model that I forget which one is the "good one" and which ones are dicey. The C12VR is pretty darn good..but it's like 4000.00 !!!

The Peluso P12 would be a far better buy IMHO

As far as the 214..I have not heard it. Might be a surprise.

Closed Circuit to Steve Mitchell: Buy one and let us know. I am out of mic money.
Click to expand...

Jeff: I'M the one who's unemployed remember?

I will say my best investment in recent days was the SSL 4000 plugin.
Click to expand...

HI Steve

Do you have any recommended settings for the SSL4000? Maybe a screen shot you could share? I have the SSL series (Direct X/VST)....but can't seem to get it dialed in.
 
Mitchell said:
I use this as a finishing tool. Just a tad of compression when recording and the plugin to sweeten.

http://www.stevemitchellvoiceworks.com/steve
Click to expand...

Thank you for the peek. I grew up learning on the old tube equipment and had to find a mentor to bring me up to speed on solid state as the transistors grew like mushrooms. On the old hardware I have this mental vision of what is happening in the resistors and capacitors as I experiment with settings.

Learning to "tune in" today's digital effects has left me "without that vision". There are days when I feel like the old proverbial "blind dog in a meat house" when it comes to tweaking digital effects. I don't have the SSL-4000.... but I appreciate the look at your settings.
 
Still using the 416. I have tried them all but that's the only one the really works for my voice. As for a pre.... a friend of mine was selling some of his studio gear and I picked up the Grace Design Lunatec V3. It's a really nice clear sounding pre with no coloration, with digital outs up to 192 khz but i use 96khz into Pro Tools. Plus the unit can run on battery power in case I need to go mobile, and my friend sold me his battery too. It all begins with the pre, so I would recommend you sink your bucks into a great mic and a solid pre. I once had a Great River pre which was superb.

By the way I just heard about a new plugin that sounds mighty interesting. http://www.ursplugins.com/ The URS Classic Console Strip, with lots of different combinations. I'm done with trying to find the right box with the perfect sound. It does not exist.
 
Mitchell said:
Still using the 416. I have tried them all but that's the only one the really works for my voice. As for a pre.... a friend of mine was selling some of his studio gear and I picked up the Grace Design Lunatec V3. It's a really nice clear sounding pre with no coloration, with digital outs up to 192 khz but i use 96khz into Pro Tools. Plus the unit can run on battery power in case I need to go mobile, and my friend sold me his battery too. It all begins with the pre, so I would recommend you sink your bucks into a great mic and a solid pre. I once had a Great River pre which was superb.

By the way I just heard about a new plugin that sounds mighty interesting. http://www.ursplugins.com/ The URS Classic Console Strip, with lots of different combinations. I'm done with trying to find the right box with the perfect sound. It does not exist.
Click to expand...


I run the 416 to an ISA 220 then line in to an older Symetrix 528 for the gate (line out to a mixer, then to the soundcard). I also have an Avalon M5...but not currently using it. I may try the 416/M5/528 combo and see if the 416 gets 'warmed' by the M5.

Check out these plugs...
http://www.abbeyroadplugins.com/cat_products.aspx

Eric Chase (Chase Cuts) has raved about the TG 12413 Limiter plug
 
"I run the 416 to an ISA 220 then line in to an older Symetrix 528 for the gate (line out to a mixer, then to the soundcard)."


Try this. Bypass the 528 and use a plugin to gate. It's just one less piece in the chain and might make a difference, especially if the 528 is "old".
 
Bringing back this old discussion...

I have a C214 in front of me right now that I brought home to test...I really like it a lot. It's a real AKG alright. Sounds like a 414, if not a little prettier. I'd say the transient respone is a smidge better on this than the 414. Looks nice and feels solid. In the price range, I can safely and enthusiastically recommend it...As far as I'm concerned, the only two real players in this price range are this and the AT4047.

Emmett
 
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