AKG C314

Reviews | AKG C314 Microphone
100
A
multiple-pattern large-
diaphragm condenser mic
is pretty much an essential
item for a busy studio, with
a stereo pair being even better. The
C314 is AKG’s latest such mic and is
available singly or in a stereo pair for
£1,319 – factory-matched from
thousands of individual microphones by
a computer-aided matching method.
In AKG’s roster the C314 falls
between the single capsule C214, the
top-selling recording microphone in the
USA, and the long-established dual
capsule multi-pattern C414 models,
coming in at over £200 less than the
C414 XLS with which it shares the
same gold-plated membrane. Whereas
the 414 models have nine selectable
pickup patterns, the C314 keeps that to
a neat four – Cardioid, Supercardioid,
Omnidirectional and Figure of 8.
The C314 comes in a smart
foam-lined aluminium carrying case
that also includes its accessories – a
standard mic clip, a plastic suspension
cradle and a foam windshield. The
stylish-looking microphone itself seems
constructed to AKG’s usual high
standard with a double-mesh, all-metal
black grille on the back side and a
lighter coloured silver/bronze one at the
front. AKG say that integrated capsule
suspension reduces mechanical noise
and resonances.
The four polar patterns are selected
by an easily-operated switch inset below
the black grille – a lot less fi ddly than
the rotary-style switching on a 414. At
one side of the body you ‘ll fi nd the pad
switch offering 20dB of attenuation,
while the bass-cut fi lter resides on the
other side bringing in a fi lter slope of
12dB/octave at a cut-off frequency of
100Hz. Below the pad switch there’s an
overload LED, normally green when the
mic is powered, but turning an
easily-seen red for one to fi ve seconds
when reaching or exceeding around 2dB
below the admissible headroom. When
the mic is used with a standard mic
clip, the switches are easy to reach, but
getting at them is a little more fi ddly
when it is in its cradle. However, as the
cradle has a one-click quick release
collar, it’s easy enough to quickly lift the
mic up by a couple of inches if you
need to tweak anything.
Plugging in the mic for use, it
became apparent that it was quiet, with
low self-noise. Recording a variety of
sound sources, good results were
obtained across the board. A male voice
recorded with a standard cardioid
pattern came across as crisp and
detailed with no obvious anomalies in
the frequency range. The mic gave the
impression of being pretty neutral
sounding with a slight lift in the top-end
with a peak around the 10kHz mark.
Switching to Figure of 8 mode for a
vocalist each side of the mic also
worked well, with the expected rejection
of sound from the sides. Back in
cardioid mode, the mic was used close
in on steel string acoustic guitar,
capturing the picking and strumming
with clarity, and also yielded accurate
and detailed recordings on hand-held
percussion. With an electric guitar amp,
it performed admirably close in on the
speaker and also captured the ambient
sound in the room with consummate
ease on an omni setting.
While we didn’t get the chance to do
an A/B test so can’t comment on any
differences in the sound, it’s quite
obvious that a C314 is a mic that could
take on the tasks that a C414 has been
traditionally used for. What you are
buying into with a multi-pattern
condenser or, even better, a matched
pair of them, is versatility for your
studio; and, with current UK prices of
£799 for the C414-XLS and £949 for
the C414-XLII, the C314 is a more
affordable alternative for providing
that versatility.
AKG C314 | £579
Always fancied a 414 but couldn’t quite afford it? AKG’s latest multi-
pattern condenser could be what you need says Trevor Curwen
WHAT IS IT?
Dual capsule, large
diaphragm condenser
microphone
CONTACT
Who: Sound Technology
Tel: [phone]
Web: www.soundtech.co.uk,
www.akg.com
HIGHLIGHTS
1 Four selectable
polar patterns
2 Low self-noise and
wide dynamic range
3 Quality construction
SPECS
Polar pattern: Cardioid,
Supercardioid,
Omnidirectional, Figure of 8
Features: 20dB attenuation
pad and bass-cut fi lter
Frequency range:
20Hz-20kHz
Power: 48V phantom power
Connector: XLR
Included accessories: H85
universal shock mount,
SA60 stand adaptor, W214
windscreen, metal carrying
case
Dimensions:
55 x 43 x 160mm
Weight:
0.30kg
VERDICT
BUILD
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VALUE
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EASE OF USE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VERSATILITY
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
RESULTS
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Four polar patterns make it a solid
studio workhorse that will lend
itself to a variety of recording tasks.
FMU296.rev_akg.indd 100 12/08/2015 15:50