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Definitely, low cut off, IMHO. There is definitely a warmth and fullness with the AKG. It is also a very transparent mic, which I would expect out of the little brother of the classic C414. FYI, I use a C414 as my routine mic for podcasting and meetings. I'm running it cardioid, and in that format the two behave rather similar, though there is a bit better quality with the classic. With proper gain structure, this mic is a very good candidate to take off axis so that it's not stuffed in front of the camera. One thing to be aware of with these mics, which relates to their transparency. They are much more sensitive to the pre-amp than many other microphones. TASCAM and ART pair well with them. It's fantastic with Focusrite. Yamaha pres can be very good, but can sometimes feel a bit bright. That's fine when you want the brightness; you just need to be aware. One thing you absolutely need to try with this mic, just for the fun of it, is to play with the proximity effect. You'll want your compressor tuned and probably some gentle soft-knee limiting, but do it! You got from the room tone that you typically get, to that "on the break" point that we normally go with. Then take it in close in that one-to-two inch range and hear that "Big FM Radio Voice" kick in. It's just fun! 🙂 Going for something lower end to this can be interesting. There really is a "grows on you" aspect to it. It's also part of the difference between a dynamic and condenser. A lot depends on your voice and matching the mic to it. Do you need the smoothness more or the clarity and crisp response?
Excellent thoughts and insight as usual. It really has grown on me. I will try close micing it and get some of that body from the proximity effect. I will also try a bit of processing with it to see where it lands then. I tend to lean more towards smoothness as my voice can get sibilant when it's too crisp (in my opinion). AKG makes exceptional microphones that never disappoint when it comes to build quality. I know you love the big brother to this microphone. At that price it would have to be my daily driver. LOL! Thanks for the great comment Raul!
Personally I liked the "across the table test." Very creative and useful test. I have NOT ever seen that before. I liked the FLAT profile the best. Your voice seemed more "rounded out." I have a the AKG P420 and the P220 and like them quite a bit. Currently my quest leads me to look for my ultimate "forever" mic. At the moment that would be the Lauten Audio LS-208. I have heard it on other peoples voices and DANG... I almost would believe it was forged from enchanted materials and polished with magic pixie dust and brought to life with incantations. LOL. the only thing holding me back is ... the price!!! LOL Go figure. Someday I make that purchase. I hope it sounds as good with my voice as the ones I have heard. Until then the quest continues to see if something else is available that will bring it down a notch. Thanks for a great review.
Thank you for the excellent comment! I like trying different types of tests and not the tried and true tests every channel does. I really want to try the Lauten Audio LS-208 as well. But you're not kidding when you point out the price. Kind of a tough pill to swallow. LOL! In my mind, I think my forever mic would be the Lewitt 540 Sub Zero. But again it comes down to that price point. OUCH! Thanks again for the comment and sharing your opinion on the sound quality.
@@FreePodcastTools That Lewitt 540 Sub Zero is an awesome mic. I would like to have one of those too! Same reason I don't already. I also really like the Lewis Ray. What a great and useful innovation. I just need to find a money tree. LOL BTW Thanks for the kind words and looking forward to whatever is next.
@@knowyourjoe8826 I still have the Lewitt Ray on my wish list. I need to win one of those 500 million dollar lotteries so I can go absolutely insane on audio gear. 🤣 I would probably spend tens of thousands on gear to review. LOL!
Which mic should i get in the $185-275 range AKG P420 ($185) AT2050 ($200), LCT 440 ($250) AT4040 ($275) I'm a standard - low tenor voice. Using ONLY for vocals to make music, not for instruments.
I don't make recommendations outside of what I prefer especially since I've only used two of the four mics you listed. It would be an uneducated selection on my part. Possibly search for reviews to see if anyone has a similar tone of voice to yours and go from there.
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Definitely, low cut off, IMHO. There is definitely a warmth and fullness with the AKG. It is also a very transparent mic, which I would expect out of the little brother of the classic C414. FYI, I use a C414 as my routine mic for podcasting and meetings. I'm running it cardioid, and in that format the two behave rather similar, though there is a bit better quality with the classic. With proper gain structure, this mic is a very good candidate to take off axis so that it's not stuffed in front of the camera.
One thing to be aware of with these mics, which relates to their transparency. They are much more sensitive to the pre-amp than many other microphones. TASCAM and ART pair well with them. It's fantastic with Focusrite. Yamaha pres can be very good, but can sometimes feel a bit bright. That's fine when you want the brightness; you just need to be aware.
One thing you absolutely need to try with this mic, just for the fun of it, is to play with the proximity effect. You'll want your compressor tuned and probably some gentle soft-knee limiting, but do it! You got from the room tone that you typically get, to that "on the break" point that we normally go with. Then take it in close in that one-to-two inch range and hear that "Big FM Radio Voice" kick in. It's just fun! 🙂
Going for something lower end to this can be interesting. There really is a "grows on you" aspect to it. It's also part of the difference between a dynamic and condenser. A lot depends on your voice and matching the mic to it. Do you need the smoothness more or the clarity and crisp response?
Excellent thoughts and insight as usual. It really has grown on me. I will try close micing it and get some of that body from the proximity effect. I will also try a bit of processing with it to see where it lands then.
I tend to lean more towards smoothness as my voice can get sibilant when it's too crisp (in my opinion).
AKG makes exceptional microphones that never disappoint when it comes to build quality.
I know you love the big brother to this microphone. At that price it would have to be my daily driver. LOL!
Thanks for the great comment Raul!
Personally I liked the "across the table test." Very creative and useful test. I have NOT ever seen that before. I liked the FLAT profile the best. Your voice seemed more "rounded out." I have a the AKG P420 and the P220 and like them quite a bit. Currently my quest leads me to look for my ultimate "forever" mic. At the moment that would be the Lauten Audio LS-208. I have heard it on other peoples voices and DANG... I almost would believe it was forged from enchanted materials and polished with magic pixie dust and brought to life with incantations. LOL. the only thing holding me back is ... the price!!! LOL Go figure. Someday I make that purchase. I hope it sounds as good with my voice as the ones I have heard. Until then the quest continues to see if something else is available that will bring it down a notch. Thanks for a great review.
Thank you for the excellent comment! I like trying different types of tests and not the tried and true tests every channel does. I really want to try the Lauten Audio LS-208 as well. But you're not kidding when you point out the price. Kind of a tough pill to swallow. LOL! In my mind, I think my forever mic would be the Lewitt 540 Sub Zero. But again it comes down to that price point. OUCH!
Thanks again for the comment and sharing your opinion on the sound quality.
@@FreePodcastTools That Lewitt 540 Sub Zero is an awesome mic. I would like to have one of those too! Same reason I don't already. I also really like the Lewis Ray. What a great and useful innovation. I just need to find a money tree. LOL BTW Thanks for the kind words and looking forward to whatever is next.
@@knowyourjoe8826 I still have the Lewitt Ray on my wish list. I need to win one of those 500 million dollar lotteries so I can go absolutely insane on audio gear. 🤣 I would probably spend tens of thousands on gear to review. LOL!
Which mic should i get in the $185-275 range
AKG P420 ($185)
AT2050 ($200),
LCT 440 ($250)
AT4040 ($275)
I'm a standard - low tenor voice. Using ONLY for vocals to make music, not for instruments.
I don't make recommendations outside of what I prefer especially since I've only used two of the four mics you listed. It would be an uneducated selection on my part. Possibly search for reviews to see if anyone has a similar tone of voice to yours and go from there.