Topic: TLs vs. 414s

[Nick's Picks]

the LSD is very detailed on its own.  All of the tapes i've heard w/them have been through T+mod UA5s and V3s.  no lack of detail at all.
but if you were farther away from the source, say in some OTS, then your 140s would be better.  LD mics just dont work well from a distance...generaly speaking.

so no...I dont think you'd be taking a big step down.  You'd get all the LD love from the LSD.  go for it.

overall, my experience has been that SD mics are superior "all around" for ambient recording.
thats why you dont see the pros taping orchestra's w/LDs.  always 4011's, 4006's and schempzies for the most part.  YMMV, but you'll find out for sure with experience.

[eric.B]

the lsd2 is a very good mic and I dont think you will notice a "lack of detail" with it..  its low end is lean and it is limited to coincident patterns, but all in all, for the money, it is a verrry good mic.

[keepongoin]

overall, my experience has been that SD mics are superior "all around" for ambient recording.
thats why you dont see the pros taping orchestra's w/LDs.  always 4011's, 4006's and schempzies for the most part.  YMMV, but you'll find out for sure with experience.

funny, cuz a have seen more U-89s than anything.

[eric.B]

overall, my experience has been that SD mics are superior "all around" for ambient recording.
thats why you dont see the pros taping orchestra's w/LDs.  always 4011's, 4006's and schempzies for the most part.  YMMV, but you'll find out for sure with experience.

I would agree with this..  for "all around taping" absolutely..   most venues dont sound all that good and the SD's off axis characteristics handle them well(ie: sound reflected off the walls, the back, etc).  This is why most tapers use SD's because they can be used in any/all situations and will still make a decent(sometimes great) tape/recording..     but.. 

nothing beats LD's when the soundsource is optimal and the venue sounds sweet.. 

[carlbeck]

This is real easy to fix, buy LD's but run up front at all times 

[BC]

overall, my experience has been that SD mics are superior "all around" for ambient recording.
thats why you dont see the pros taping orchestra's w/LDs.  always 4011's, 4006's and schempzies for the most part.  YMMV, but you'll find out for sure with experience.

funny, cuz a have seen more U-89s than anything.

at symphonies??     I always see SD's hung at classical events, the only time I see U89's is in front of a fat lady singing.    But of course YMMV.

I'll be the one dissenter and say that I never liked the sound of 414's for taping PA systems. Especially from a distance and at bassy shows, something always sounded funny in the low end to me. Though thinking back most of the 414 tapes I heard that I am referencing were from far back (taper section) in large arenas.

[Nick's Picks]

every technical paper about the production of some classical recording is always done w/SD mics. I've never seen anything else.

[F.O.Bean]

cause SD's are superior

just messin yinz

[Nick's Picks]

no..you're right.  they are.


I love the fat LD soundstage.  but its hard to be FOB w/big mics. 
people yell at you.

[F.O.Bean]

no..you're right.  they are.


I love the fat LD soundstage.  but its hard to be FOB w/big mics. 
people yell at you.

i agree w/ you, and thats the first time i think i was ever right

[Mojowill]

Joe, I talked with Dr. Fob at the state theater a while back and he was running some LD mics (neumann I think) sub cards split on wither side of fthe sdbd.  he said it sounds great running that way.  Since you hit the Stae a lot, thought that might help.  AKG great mics.

[beanstalk]

I used the ADK LD for less than a year and loved them. Great sound, great product. I recently sold them and the next LD will be the AKG 414s but I feel that ADK are the best LDs on the market for $$'s. Really diging the 414 sound these days.

[Bdifr78]

Joe, I talked with Dr. Fob at the state theater a while back and he was running some LD mics (neumann I think) sub cards split on wither side of fthe sdbd.  he said it sounds great running that way.  Since you hit the Stae a lot, thought that might help.  AKG great mics.

Thanks Will, that does help.  I am thinking that there is no reason for me to go cheap here.  And I have been finding some great deals on matched sets of 414s brand new from authorized dealers on ebay so I think I have made my decision.  I might not make the purchase for about a month or so now, but I am almost certain that is the way I am gonna go.  I love bright mics, and from the clips I have listened to of the 414s they are very bright in most situations and still have that LD sound.  The multiple patterns is probably the biggest reason I am looking to add some LDs to my collection and to my knowlege the 414s are the only affordable mic with all 5 patterns, so...

[Nick's Picks]

I wouldnt' call the 414s bright.
but they do have that akg sizzle.

[eric.B]

they do have that akg sizzle

  =  the midrange has a "bite" to it