A facilitator of many hit records, a denizen of broadcast studios in past decades, the AKG 414 is a familiar part of the microphone landscape.
AKG this year moved to offer the 414 in a more affordable version. Though looking much the same as the recognizable C 414, the C 214 is a cardioid-only mic with a single diaphragm. A 20 dB pad will keep even the loudest screamers under control. Internal shock mounting should dampen handling noise. It retails for $649.
Thomas Stubics, product manager at AKG, said the evolution of the C 414 has been accepted by recording studios, broadcast stations and live sound engineers. He called the new model a budget-friendly alternative. “Because the C 214 uses the same one-inch diaphragm as the C 414, the essence of that heralded sound has been captured in this newest model.”
