NMD: Austrian Audio OC16

[laxu]

I wanted to get a nicer condenser mic and found one of these babies on sale. The OC16 uses afaik the same capsule as the higher end OC18 and OC818 mics, but with a much more bare bones feature set. There's only a off/40 Hz/160 Hz low cut feature on it. I wish they had offered at least the 80 Hz cut option found on the OC18 here as that would be spot on for guitar. Maybe it could be modded for that, dunno.

No recordings worth posting, I'm learning to use it still. So far I like it best when it's used a bit further away from a cab, or as a room mic. It seems to do a good job capturing what you hear like that and doesn't require a lot of post-processing. I probably wouldn't recommend it for high gain tones, I think it sounds best for lower gain stuff. I would call it pretty neutral in a good way.

Comes with a case, a standard mic mount and an isolated mount. The isolated mount is maybe not the highest quality but should not have any issues.

PS. Mic reviews and comparisons on YT really, really suck. So many of them are just podcasting stuff with no other instruments tested.

 

[newholland]

oh man.. i just saw this, being a coupla months old. id heardgood things about this mic- hows it treating you? im always looking for something close to a 414,and know the akg engineers did this one.

 

[laxu]

oh man.. i just saw this, being a coupla months old. id heardgood things about this mic- hows it treating you? im always looking for something close to a 414,and know the akg engineers did this one.

I do like it, but feel like I am still learning it.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

oh man.. i just saw this, being a coupla months old. id heardgood things about this mic- hows it treating you? im always looking for something close to a 414,and know the akg engineers did this one.

I think these are awesome mics but 414's are so available and tried and tested that if you want a 414, I'd just find one of those.

Aside from the really expensive old models, the B-ULS is excellent. Of the newer ones the XLS is pretty great too - sounded just like the B-ULS to me but it needs phantom power to be able to change pickup patterns, and it resets if you turn the power off. I don't think you can go wrong with either but if you're after a 414 I'd just grab the real deal. They're classics for a reason.

 

[newholland]

I think these are awesome mics but 414's are so available and tried and tested that if you want a 414, I'd just find one of those.

Aside from the really expensive old models, the B-ULS is excellent. Of the newer ones the XLS is pretty great too - sounded just like the B-ULS to me but it needs phantom power to be able to change pickup patterns, and it resets if you turn the power off. I don't think you can go wrong with either but if you're after a 414 I'd just grab the real deal. They're classics for a reason.

haha.. oh man, i know. the problem is i want two for drum overheads and stereo arrays, and having like 2 grand lying around is never seemingly happening plus theres nobody to record or a place to do it for me.

but youre right.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

haha.. oh man, i know. the problem is i want two for drum overheads and stereo arrays, and having like 2 grand lying around is never seemingly happening plus theres nobody to record or a place to do it for me.

but youre right.

Can usually find the 414’s for about £500 each/£1k a pair if you’re comfortable going used. OC818’s are awesome too, tbh they look a pretty great deal for a fraction more new. I’d just say it’s best to treat them on their own merit rather than compare to a 414 (despite the clear lineage). I’d take either any day of the week over U87’s (which are going for about £2k used each now….)

 

[newholland]

Can usually find the 414’s for about £500 each/£1k a pair if you’re comfortable going used. OC818’s are awesome too, tbh they look a pretty great deal for a fraction more new. I’d just say it’s best to treat them on their own merit rather than compare to a 414 (despite the clear lineage). I’d take either any day of the week over U87’s (which are going for about £2k used each now….)

im super fortunate in that i can borrow them any time i need them.. so i probably should just get one for home use to be mine. ive been cheating with cad m179s or a single e200 which are neutralish multis, and they do okay, or just using a pair of cascade fatheads blumlein. i dont NEED anything.. i just covet a 414