The legendary C414 is a tool found in most recording studios and has been used on thousands of hit records; it's been on stage with artists of every musical genre and is also used by leading broadcast facilities the world over. The C414 family has been one of the world's most widely used and respected studio and stage microphones in audio history. Added useful features and even greater ease of use make the XLII a worthy member of the renowned C414 line. The C414 XLII is the successor of the famous C414 B-TL II. It shows the sonic signature of the highly sought-after AKG C12, which enables lead vocals and solo instruments to be placed even in a dense mix. The unrivaled up-front sound is also well known for distant miking applications like classical music recording or drum ambience miking.

The C414 XLII is the multi-instrumentalist in your microphone rig ready to fill in wherever needed. Whether it's omni, wide cardioid, cardioid, hypercardioid, figure-8, or the four intermediate polar patterns, there are plenty of ways to get the most natural sound from any instrument—electric and acoustic guitars, drums, and much more. Employ a hypercardioid pattern to reduce drum spill, then quickly switch to a figure-8 pattern to balance out two vocalists. These easy-to-access options make the AKG C414 XLII suitable to any studio with limited space in its mic locker.

The AKG C414 XLII empowers you to make better recordings. When acting as both artist and engineer, the mic's overload-detection LED makes it easy to see when your input levels are too high. This helps you take full advantage of the mic's dynamic range and only engage the pad when necessary. Its bass-cut filter helps you curb rumbles, vibrations, and loud, boomy sounds and minimizes the proximity effect for balanced recordings. For live sound applications and permanent installations, all controls can easily be disabled for trouble-free use.

The all-metal body ensures efficient rejection of RF interference so you can use the microphone near transmitter stations, along with wireless microphones or other communications equipment.