C414 BULS sounds a little darker both sound fantastic. I have this mic and I feel very lucky Nice video thanks for doing this, I know that was a lot of work. Amen on your closing message, we need a whole lot more of that right now!

Thank you for this. I really liked the ULS - but then I already have a couple of them. What surprised me, though, was how close the sound was - after level matching - between the brass cap 414 and the ULS: something I was not expecting to hear. Thank you again.

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

You are welcome! I'm glad it was informative. They are definitely in the same family tree, just a bit tighter lower mid-range and brighter top end with the brass capsule. Thanks for stopping by and hope you are safe and healthy, have a great holiday!

@mjw0009

3 жыл бұрын

@@tomszymusic I have the ULS as well as the XLS, but the brass cap is beyond me. I do have a pair of ck 4 caps which sound close to your brass cap recordings when paired with the c 480b uls preamps. Warm yet crisp. Thnx again.

Although the CK12 brass is clearer as another person mentioned, I still feel the nylon sounded good as well. Such a shame they don’t make that capsule anymore. Keep up the great work as it was a really good video shootout.

Many people say the oringinal is more clear, but actually it not only lost the low/mid ranges but also the overtones. Buls is more close to what we hear in real world and full of overtones. For the post-production, I prefer the Buls.

@tomszymusic

2 жыл бұрын

Depending on the source you are recording in the room you are and I could see that making a lot of sense. For me, most of the time I have to remove low end mud and add high end, and the brass capsule version has almost a pre equalized sound to it, for something like vocals. I could see you would want the opposite and something like the ULS for taming harsh overheads or guitar cabinet or something like that. But that's certainly the beauty of this whole thing, everybody's everybody's ears and rooms and sources and sound they are going after is different!! Thanks so much for stopping by and watching my friend!

After reading tons of hype on the blogs about the superiority of the brass capsule, I like the newer one better. The extra hi end was essential in the tape days. But we are now in the digital age and a smoother mic works better. We also have much better EQs than they did then. So if the b-uls is a bit dark, just add what you want with EQ. One thing that is always left out of these comparisons/discussions is that every pro project will get mastered in the end. Starting with too much crispy high end can make the mastering a nightmare. Then there is the fact that many 414 users, use them for the backing tracks and then use a Neumann for vocals or featured instrument. The smoother high end of the b-uls keeps the high end of the cymbals, guitars and pianos tucked behind the presence of the vocal. This is extremely important for a balanced mix--especially if you are going to have it mastered in the end.

@kickit301

Жыл бұрын

Ah, nice. I was wondering about that extra crispness myself

@Viking_2016

Жыл бұрын

After years and years of recording I don't find any other microphone to be better than the AKG C414EB with brass capsule. PERIOD ... ! ... A multipurpose work horse you just plugin and you are ready to go .... take any, I repeat ANY sound source and you'll get the best out of it .... PERIOD

@chrishowe8614

Жыл бұрын

@@Viking_2016 I don't doubt what you say! It's just that, every mic on every source needs to serve the final end mix. The world's best mic may not be the best for every source. From what you are saying, I would guess it best to use the brass capsule 414 for vocals and any featured instrument while using something smoother for backing tracks. That way backing tracks don't compete with the vocal and the beauty of your brass capsule will push the vocal out front. Since I don't have one of those, I find using BULS's for backing tracks and a U87 for vox to do the trick.

im loving the c414 Brass Capsule ...

both sound good, I prefer darker mics though but the original one's brightness is a kind of brightness that's very tasteful, bright without being harsh.

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Ben, thanks so much for watching and the comment! I agree with you, I tend to like the dark mics as well. But there is just something about the brightness of the brass capsule that is just so clear and amazing without harshness, it's really unlike anything I've heard. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, hope you stay safe and healthy in this crazy world!

I am lucky enough to own a C414EB. It is amazing for acoustic guitar. I have also had really good results recording female vocals over the years. The only thing I have ever tried and been unhappy with is low male vocals. I am not entirely sure why but for some reason it sounds harsh around 1.7KHz and with no top end to work its magic on I have found the result to be a bit "teeth grinding."

The brass capsule is so pristine, is like you have a holographic image in front of you.

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

It really and truly is. Just not a bad sound out of it. Sounds great on everything. Highlights the right frequencies, attenuates the bad ones. It's like it is pre equalized. Magical sound. It's why these microphones go anywhere from two to four grand on the used market. Thanks so much for watching and the comment my friend, hope you are safe and healthy.

IMO, the eb had a much cleaner top end and souned more "airy". solid mid range and moderate bass. the B-uls is a tad bit darker, lacks the top end "air" and the midrange sounded more congested. What are your thoughts?

Do you want red or white wine? Both sound amazing, and would make an excellent centerpiece to any studio.

Hello . The acoustic guitar sounds so good. I think it’s sounds better on the original. I have the b uls and see why the original is so talked about . What acoustic guitar are you using and what strings ? Thank you for the brilliant video. God bless you .

Definitely a bit more clarity in the upper mids on the original. I own a pair of BULS and like their relative darkness for things like overheads and room mic.

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Overheads and room mics I could definitely see the b-uls being the better choice to tame the harsh upper mid-range and high-end. Stay safe and healthy my friend!

I highly recommend putting your microphone behind the piano so it doesn't capture the keyboard action so much! squeaking very audible on jbl lsr28p

Are you even aware how much would it cost to make exactly the same AKG C414EB BRASS CAPSULE microphone today? The mic is built like a tank with high quality components and of course expensive for a reason. Best overall multipurpose microphone ever built in my opinion. Fantastic microphone!

Listening on an iPhone 14 Pro, I hear they both sound great but the original cap is brighter..

Wow, I didn’t think I’d notice that much of a difference! Is the crispness of the original cool, or too much? (So hard to tell on the silly iPhone)

The brass capsule is definitely seems to be more flat in response for the piano and guitar in my opinion and pleasing to my ears. My wife loves the sound of the Mossman guitar and the Martin D-28 guitar and has been playing for years and she is very meticulous in tone and being on time and in tune. She also hears frequencies in range of 18 to 20 KHz that I don't hear. So for an experiment, I've sat her down facing the other way from this youtube video example and put headphones on her for a comparison test. She said the B-ULS was a much warmer sound and wasn't as harsh. What? Now I still have to test her co-partner as a duo team to get her perspective on the comparison being that her husband had a home studio and trained her. Me myself, I hear the low muddiness in the low mids but to my wife she hears it as pleasing. Hmm??? I knew everyone's ears are different and I do understand what's pleasing to one is not pleasing to another. I'll go with the brass ck12 capsule. Still testing other musicians...!!!

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Ronny! Thanks so much for stopping by to take the time to watch and listen. Very interesting thoughts and detailed comment you left here! The brass capsule to me is one of the few bright sounding microphones that doesn't sound harsh, however everybody's ears are definitely different. It's interesting when we use subjective terms like warmer or darker or brighter for microphones. When I think of warm, to me that is synonymous with a dark sounding microphone, like the way Frank Sinatra's vocals sound on vintage recordings. But I definitely think that term is different and perception for everybody. Brighter and darker are a little more straightforward , and the brass capsule definitely falls into the bright camp in my opinion. But the most pleasing bright sound I've heard in a microphone. I could see instances like drum overheads and drum rooms where the Buls model would be better, to tame the upper frequencies and harshness of cymbals and bring out more low-end and low-mids from the dound source. But in general I prefer the brass capsule in the shootout on just about everything. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and leave the great comment, stay safe and healthy!

@michaeltwiz8477

3 жыл бұрын

I hear above 18000hz and your wife is absolutely correct

@rickennis8887

9 ай бұрын

I am in the perception camp, i.e. "Beauty is in the ear of the beholder"? I appreciate that you mentioned the same sound was accepted or rejected according to the perceiver, and using different descriptions ( muddy : warm : : harsh : bright )🙂

Thanks for sharing this. Those samples are pretty consistent with my own experience of those mics, one is deep and open, reacting to very low frequencies, the other is wooly/veiled, with muddiness in the low mid, it has a fatness which I like on OH and toms. I do own a pair of each and they complement each other well. For those curious about the brass EB : very very close to the original C414, similar self noise, better suited in RF heavy environments, sound a little bit colder than previous C414. Those C414 Comb like to be paired to the AKG N46 12v PSU, plus it gives you 2 step of low cut and makes them virtually as versatile as a newer C414 version.

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

Hey friend! Thanks so much for stopping by to listen and share! That's the great thing, we can all learn from each other's personal stories and experiences. Each mic can certainly have its benefits and specific usages, glad you have a combo that works for you! Take care and have a safe and healthy and happy New Year!

the C 414 is better in presenting the Low End.I also believe the slightly larger Cap doses something. on the C 414. That's a Microphone worth having! No doubt!

got to 23 seconds into the video and stopped, no comparison. had a pair of EB's, just amazing.

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Mark, thanks so much for stopping by to watch and leave a comment. That brass capsule truly is special, everything sounds like it's already been mixed and eq'd, never really encountered that with a microphone before. Take care and stay safe!

@reddymark

3 жыл бұрын

@@tomszymusic Meant no disrespect when i said i stopped the video, i was contemplating buying a pair of ULS and listened to this comparison as i hadnt heard the ULS before, thanks for taking the time to do it, yeah the old EB's just shine :) Stay safe and thanks for the reply.

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

@@reddymark no problem whatsoever, I knew exactly what you meant! The brass capsule is THAT good! Take care!

Would have been nice to compare it with the EB, than it would have been the same Electroics just different capsules. Still thank you for the nice video

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

Hello friend thank you for stopping by. You are welcome for the shootout. I agree it would have been great to compare to some other variations of the 414. This was all I could get my hands on at the time though, I have to do careful buying of things so that I can sell them and at least break even , don't have the money to keep all these wonderful toys! Anyhow, thanks for stopping by, hope to see you in other videos! Stay safe and healthy in this crazy world

Brass capsule sounds brighter!

@tomszymusic

2 жыл бұрын

Good ears, it certainly is! But it's a beautiful bright compared to something like a cheap chinese LDC that are a dime a dozen and a harsh bright tone. Thanks so much for watching and your comment! Hope you are safe and healthy!

Your voice definitely has more warm bottom end on the BULS model. I am a huge fan of the original CK12 Brass capsule but to me the BULS sounds better.

@tomszymusic

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your thoughts and watching! Each could certainly have its applications and benefits depending what you are going for! Hope you are safe and healthy and thank you so much for stopping by to check out the video, take care

I'm not that C414 fan because of the lack of hights and muddiness, but the EB sounds quite good.

@tomszymusic

2 жыл бұрын

I agree, most 414s can have some mud and low mid build-up, the brass capsule version does not. Amazing sounding microphone

Brass is brighter ?

The C414 Orig Brass capsule is just far superior. Much more clarity and more air around the sound. The C414 Bulls dead in comparison. Not the same mic at all. Thank you

@tomszymusic

2 жыл бұрын

Hello my friend and thank you for the kind words and watching. I would agree that the original brass capsule is just incredible. There is a reason they go for so much on the used Market! Thanks again and hope you are safe!

The brass is the real thing

@tomszymusic

2 жыл бұрын

It certainly is incredible! If you are looking for high-end Clarity and Sparkle, this is probably the best microphone I've ever heard. It's like a perfectly already EQd sound with a raw recording. Unfortunately I didn't have the money to keep that microphone, but I can see why they cost what they do! Thanks again so much for stopping by, hope you are having a safe and blessed New Year so far!

There's no "better". I have a B-ULS and it's great for sax and woodwinds. It's got more fullness than the original, but the original is crisper in some of the examples, although I was surprised at the acoustic guitar which sounded better on the B-ULS. IMHO

@tomszymusic

2 жыл бұрын

Hello friend and thank you so much for the comment a few weeks ago. Very good point. There are some sources where you do not want a brighter tone and you need more body, there is certainly no one-size-fits-all when it comes to microphones as the source material can vary greatly depending on what you are recording. Thanks ever so much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment, I appreciate it! Hope you are safe and healthy

The brass ck12 just blows it away, the C414 B-ULS is dark and not nearly as clear,

@tomszymusic

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Pete! Thanks for stopping by and watching and leaving a comment. I agree very much with what you are saying! Amazing Clarity from the brass capsule. I could see some instances where either drum overheads or room mics would benefit from the b u l s, or an extremely harsh instrument in the mid-range like a certain guitar amp, although there's probably better Mice's designed to do that sort of thing...the brass capsule is just a truly special piece of audio engineering for sure and legendary for a reason! Thanks again for stopping by, stay safe and healthy!

Brass capsule is definitely more punchier

C414 B-ULS Sounds more real with more definition.

I hear more mids in 2nd

There is no comparison. Brass one utterly destroys the Teflon. Clarity, fullness, detail versus dead, dull and veiled. It’s obvious in an iPhone recording.