ASMR | New Microphone Test ~ Favorite Triggers Ear-to-Ear

Why howdy everyone! I explain everything in the video but it's pretty long so I'll also re-hash it here in the description box if you want to read instead. Open me!

This is not a sponsored vid (I wasn't paid to make it) BUT these mics were gifted to me for free, I did not pay for them! However, my history w mics has gone like this:
(a brief summary)
-Purchased Blue Yeti & really liked it, however they broke a lot (and the cables broke even more) but very affordable all things considered, & great / fairly easy to use (my personal opinion, however I see a lot of people confused w how to use them)
-Purchased Rode NT1s (and really liked them, but they broke a LOT and are also pretty expensive... had to buy several... they would break and I wouldn't know it and it would ruin videos... sad)
-Purchased 3dio & literally hate it so much omg maybe I'm just stupid but I can't use the headphone jack to hear anything and it makes my voice sound like a tin can even tho i got the upgraded one (It's useful for some videos I make that require specific ears but ... not my fave)
-Was contacted by AKG and asked if I wanted to try their C314s. I said ok!
-Did a mic test on the C314s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNqvkucUykI&t=2s
-Ended up fully switching to C314s... and I'm still on my same pair from that video, over a year ago! This is impressive bc I have traveled with them and have not been particularly gentle... So I was like yay!
-Really liked using the C314 as my streaming mic too, but every time I wanted to film w two mics, I would have to go get the other microphone from my stream room, move it to my filming setup, etc... so I was like ok; I think I just want ONE more C314!
-Asked AKG if they would be willing to send me one, they said -- we don't have them in stock atm BUT would you be interested in trying.... the C414s!?!?!
-I said... WELL ALRIGHT, SOUNDS DANDY TO ME!
Here is that test!!! They also sent me their USB mic the ARA, which I test in this video! It runs a little cheaper than the Blue Yeti (ARA ~$99, Blue Yeti ~$130, but I find Blue Yetis for $99 pretty easily) but as you'll see in the test I would still recommend the Blue Yeti specifically for ASMR creators. For streaming/recording/podcasting etc.; it would be a toss up depending on what you're looking for!

I just of course wanted to say that I am very grateful to AKG for sending me these mics; and while they are of phenomenal quality:
1. You do not need to spend thousands of $$ on mics to have a great ASMR channel/content!
2. I am not formally educated in sound capture/design! My editor, Vest, is self-taught as well! If you are looking for a very technical sound-savvy microphone review akin to like, Sweetwater or something; you should def look elsewhere LOL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuIH8cjq_NM)
That being said, I am excited to take the time to learn more and more to get the most out of the sound quality and give you guys some crispy comfy content :')
Vest is planning on visiting me soon and we can do a whole microphone breakdown of my collection!!!

I also just started using a new mixer, the Zoom LiveTrak L-8, which I believe has affected my sound quality as well (positively, I hope!).

ANYHOO I started this channel many years ago knowing that I'm not "the audio expert"/perfectionist type ASMRtist, and I personally enjoy fairly unmodified/not too over-worked audio in my ASMR consumption :') but it's been great trying to figure out a solid setup that I really like the sound of! So let me know what you think, and I hope to always keep improving!

~Gibi

TIMESTAMPS!!!
0:00 - Intro & Discussing Previous Microphones
6:30 - Talking about the new AKG 414
11:07 - AKG 414 Mic Test Begins
14:14 - 414 Brush Test
16:22 - 414 No Foam Cover Whisper & Soft Speaking Test
18:36 - 414 Artificial Grapes Test
19:57 - 414 Toaster Coaster Test
22:12 - 414 Light Book Test
23:44 - 414 Sponge Pad Test
25:11 - 414 Whispering In a Tube Test
27:02 - 414 Crinkles Test
28:08 - 414 Pen & Writing Test
30:16 - 414 Phone Tapping Test
33:00 - ARA Mic Test Begins
38:31 - Yeti Comparison
39:39 - ARA Artificial Grape Test
40:29 - ARA Brush Test
41:21 - ARA Whispering In a Tube Test
42:00 - ARA Toaster Coaster Test
42:41 - ARA Crinkle Test
43:02 - ARA Sponge Pad Test
43:40 - ARA Writing Test
44:30 - ARA Light Book Test
45:05 - Closing Thoughts on ARA, 414s

(oops, description too long, deleting mostly everything below this!)

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This video was edited by Shawn, my full-time editor! Give him some love: https://twitter.com/MrTheVestman