KSM44 or 414B/ULS

jmoore · Post by **jmoore** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:38 am

I currently own an AKG C414B/ULS and a Seventh Circle Audio N72 (Neve 1272 clone) preamp. 90% of the recordings I do at home are acoustic guitar and either male or female vocals. The 414 does great on acoustic, but I've never really been able to get a vocal sound that I'm happy with. I've been researching options (in the $600ish price range) to replace my 414 with and have been interested in the Shure KSM44. Any thoughts as to whether or not this mic will be an worthwhile improvement over what I'm currently using? Any other recommendations in that same price range?

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:38 am

Brian McTear, who owns Miner Street in Philadelphia, has been using a KSM44 for years as his flagship vocal mic for a variety of projects, including his own vocals in Bitter Bitter Weeks. Great vocal sounds. However, I'm not sure how it will treat an acoustic guitar. I have four different large diaphragm condenser models (AKG 414B/ULS, AT4047, (2) AT4050, and (2) Red 012 Caps) and at the moment both the 4047 and the Red 012 are my favorite LDCs for acoustic instruments, though I have to admit that this will obviously differ instrument to instrument. When I bought my pair of 4050s back in September, I was going to sell my 414 B/ULS to pay for them. they are different enough from each other that I plan on keeping my 414B/ULS and eventually picking up a second.

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that you should pick up the KSM44 to see if you like it, but don't get rid of the 414 B/ULS just yet. A/B them, spend time with each of them. I would also consider picking up a small diaphragm condenser like the Oktava MK-012, a Shure SM81, etc. Even start with something like the Naiant MSH-1 omnis since they are only $50/pair ( http://www.naiant.com/studiostore/microphones.html ). Variety is the spice of life, and this applies to mics as well.

Also, check out the Red Type B for vocals.

Jeff

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:08 pm

The issue may not exactly be the mic, but the pre. Try the C414 with something like a Universal Audio Solo610 and you'll feel quite different about it. If you're going to use the 7th Circle Audio, a good tube mic would then be what I'd consider. That being the case, I have to give MAJOR recommendations to the Mojave Audio MA200.....wonderful mic.

jmoore · Post by **jmoore** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:49 pm

BradLyons wrote:The issue may not exactly be the mic, but the pre. Try the C414 with something like a Universal Audio Solo610 and you'll feel quite different about it. If you're going to use the 7th Circle Audio, a good tube mic would then be what I'd consider. That being the case, I have to give MAJOR recommendations to the Mojave Audio MA200.....wonderful mic.

I should clarify. I haven't actually used it with the N72 yet. I just ordered the N72 and will be building it within the next couple of weeks. I have however used my 414 with an SCA J99 (John Hardy clone with JH opamps), an SCA A12 (API clone), a Presonus MP20, Presonus Eureka and a friends Manley VoxBox. The 414 doesn't sound terrible, it's just not great. I should add that my room isn't the greatest either, but I've also recorded with an SE Reflexion Filter and I still was somewhat dissatisfied with my results. So...I've got to think that the issue is primarily with the mic although I know that everything else in my chain could be contributing to varied degrees.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:55 pm

Gotcha..... I'm going to go on a limb here and say what I always say.... MOJAVE MA200!

jmoore · Post by **jmoore** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:16 pm

BradLyons wrote:Gotcha..... I'm going to go on a limb here and say what I always say.... MOJAVE MA200!

I will say that mic has interested me ever since I first saw you mention it in a post a year or so ago. Unfortunately, I don't know if I can afford one right now, but I might consider just hanging on to my 414 until I can.

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:53 pm

Look for a Universal Audio Solo610, I think that will make enough of a difference with the C414.

oldguitars · Post by **oldguitars** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:53 am

BradLyons wrote:Look for a Universal Audio Solo610, I think that will make enough of a difference with the C414.

since he has tried it with a variety of good mic pres, including a voxbox, i think he would be better served by getting/trying a different mic. I love my KSM 32's on vocals. I find them to be a alittle too smooth on ac guitar unless it is a really bright one.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:44 am

gearboy wrote:Also, check out the Red Type B for vocals.

Seconded. I went from a 414ULS that was modded by Audio Upgrades to the Red Type B and haven't looked back. It's fantastic.

http://tinyurl.com/3ynkzs

It'll cost you about $700 though, but I haven't used my 414 since.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:51 am

jmoore wrote:I should add that my room isn't the greatest either, but I've also recorded with an SE Reflexion Filter and I still was somewhat dissatisfied with my results. So...I've got to think that the issue is primarily with the mic although I know that everything else in my chain could be contributing to varied degrees.

My feelings on the SE Reflexion Filter are mixed. I picked one up used and I think it really depends on what microphone you plan to use it with. Sometimes I like it... sometimes I don't. With my Red Type B, I never use it any more. It gave a sort of "closed off" feeling that I wasn't crazy about, but then it may be that I wasn't used to it. It did make for a much more "immediate sound" with less sense of space. The room where I record vocals is fairly quiet already so I didn't really *need* it. Especially when you can edit out the gaps anyway.

As for the 414, even after the mod I had done I haven't liked it much. I'm thinking even something is wrong with mine and I may take it back to Jim at Audio Upgrades to see if he can check it out for me again. One thing that did get a better vocal sound for me with my 414 was to avoid the hyper cardioid pattern. Regular cardioid sounded better.