AKG C414 XLS Stereo Bundle

Compared to the more expensive XLII, the AKG C414 XLS has a slightly darker timbre, and in general the core sound is rather more relaxed. Both models provide a myriad of options for use in a wide variety of recording situations, however. The C414 XLS has nine polar patterns ranging from omnidirectional to figure-of-eight and everything in between, and users can also activate one of three bass roll-offs (at 40Hz, 80Hz, and 160Hz, respectively) and three attenuation pads (at 6dB, 12dB, and 18dB). It has a lock mode to prevent unintentional changes to the control settings, as well as several status LEDs which display information on current settings and any overload peaks. This stereo bundle comes packed with useful accessories: There's a shock proof elastic mount and windscreen for each mic, as well as a pair of pop filters for vocal recordings – and jetsetting musicians also get a really robust, waterproof polypropylene flight case with a pressure valve and a fixed locking mechanism.

AKG was founded in Vienna, in 1947, by Dr. Rudolf Goerike and Ernst Pless. After only a few months, the first AKG microphones were already being used for the first time in radio stations and theatres. AKG's big breakthrough occurred during the early 1950s, with some very sophisticated innovations that were unique in their field. One example is the D12, the first large-diaphragm condenser microphone with remote-controlled, switchable polar patterns – the first client to acquire them was the BBC in London. AKG is today a world-renowned brand in many different fields. With countless high-class products in its range, such as the well-known C414, the name AKG has always been synonymous with quality and outstanding sound.