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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: notlance on November 21, 2011, 01:47:43 PM

Title: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: notlance on November 21, 2011, 01:47:43 PM
I'm looking for opinions on the AKG C214 LDC mic, preferably from someone who has actually used them.  I realize they are a completely different mic from the 414.  Thanks.
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: Neilyboy on November 21, 2011, 02:15:50 PM
I run them.. have not run anything lately after selling off my r44. Only ran them twice before selling off the r44. I ran them at farmfest450 last year (outdoors) and ran them once at HOB in chicago for steepwater band. I can pull up some of my discs at home to send you a sample if interested.

I have the un-mixed version at home but as of now the mixed version is online here
http://www.archive.org/details/hwb2010-08-07.akg214at4041

neil
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: Neilyboy on November 21, 2011, 02:19:36 PM
I like Chris' pull from Kimock (after hearing this pull I bought a set)..

http://www.archive.org/details/SKB2009-11-05.AKG-C214

Neil
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: acidjack on November 21, 2011, 02:55:07 PM
also, I believe the C214 *is* the same as the 414 on "cardiod" setting, no? 

If so, then it is a fairly priced piece of very nice sounding gear.
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: Fried Chicken Boy on November 21, 2011, 03:12:53 PM
AKG bills the C214 as the "cardioid only" version of the 414.  However, IIRC, the frequency response curve has a little more of a high-frequency bump than either the XLS or XLII in the 414 series.  Would probably give it a little more "sparkle" up top.  If you don't need the multiple patterns, I'm guessing it's a solid and good sounding mic.
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: vanark on November 21, 2011, 03:29:03 PM
bvaz ran them for a while, I think.  Probably a few tapes up on the LMA to do some comparisons.
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: newplanet7 on November 21, 2011, 05:22:40 PM
bvaz ran them for a while, I think.  Probably a few tapes up on the LMA to do some comparisons.
Yep. Contact him. I think I remember he wasn't overly impressed BUT, i think he did a few far(distance) recordings with them.
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: notlance on November 21, 2011, 10:17:06 PM
also, I believe the C214 *is* the same as the 414 on "cardiod" setting, no? 

If so, then it is a fairly priced piece of very nice sounding gear.

AKG is a bit coy about this.  They lead you to believe the C214 has a card only capsule of the 414, but I think the C214 capsule is a back-plate electret  (not that there is anything wrong with that).  Some of the reviews of the C214 say it's an electret, and the applicable patent describes an electret capsule.  I think the C214 capsule is the same as was used in the C3000 B

Thanks for all your input.
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: Neilyboy on November 22, 2011, 09:12:55 AM
I am grabbing a tinybox here in the next month so I will hopefully be out there running these guys c214>tinybox>m10
I will keep ya posted if you are interested..

neil
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: SmokinJoe on November 22, 2011, 08:09:14 PM
The world is full of fixed card LDs. It's no secret that I'm partial to ADK's.  Some time I should hook up with Bvaz and we can do a 214 vs A51 comp.
Title: Re: AKG C214: Anybody use them?
Post by: GDfan on November 24, 2011, 10:22:17 AM
I like Chris' pull from Kimock (after hearing this pull I bought a set)..

http://www.archive.org/details/SKB2009-11-05.AKG-C214

Neil

Thanks :)
I ran them for a while, but since I do more taping from an OTS at Furthur shows I wanted a SD with hypers.
I think they can sound a little brassy at times if you are not close to your source.
I have a few Furthur shows with them that you can check out:

http://www.archive.org/details/furthur2010-02-14.akg-c214.laporte.106150.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/furthur2010-02-20.akg-c214.laporte.106199.flac16
ymmv