Spec review– category –

AKG's C214 suits people who want a microphone with a pad and low-cut. We rate it on 5 criteria (quietness, sensitivity, handling of loud sound, features, lightness) and rank it among 32 microphones, using official manufacturer specifications.

AKG's C414 XLII suits people who want a multi-feature microphone for both vocals and instruments. We rate it on 5 criteria (quietness, sensitivity, handling of loud sound, features, lightness) and rank it among 32 microphones, using official manufacturer specifications.

Aston Microphones's Aston Origin suits people who want a high-sensitivity microphone with a pad and low-cut. We rate it on 5 criteria (quietness, sensitivity, handling of loud sound, features, lightness) and rank it among 32 microphones, using official manufacturer specifications.

Audio-Technica's AT4047/SV suits people who want to record loud instruments solidly. We rate it on 5 criteria (quietness, sensitivity, handling of loud sound, features, lightness) and rank it among 32 microphones, using official manufacturer specifications.

Audio-Technica's AT5040 suits people who want to record fine detail with a quiet, high-sensitivity microphone. We rate it on 5 criteria (quietness, sensitivity, handling of loud sound, features, lightness) and rank it among 32 microphones, using official manufacturer specifications.

Waves' Z-Noise suits people who want to reduce the noise of an instrument or a recording, such as guitar or microphone hiss, while keeping the punch of the sound. We rate it on four criteria against 13 noise reduction and audio repair programs, using official manufacturer information.

Waves' WLM Plus suits people who want to measure the loudness of a mix or an export and adjust it to a standard. We rate it on three criteria against 10 loudness meters, using official manufacturer information.

Waves' WNS suits people who want to tidy up a voice with room ring or background noise without making it sound unnatural. We rate it on four criteria against 13 noise reduction and audio repair programs, using official manufacturer information.

Waves' Waves Tune Real-Time suits people who want to correct pitch while singing, when recording or performing live. We rate it on four criteria against 15 pitch-correction plug-ins, using official manufacturer information.

Waves' Waves Tune suits people who want to fix pitch while looking at a graph after recording, and who also want to make hard-tune style effects. We rate it on four criteria against 15 pitch-correction plug-ins, using official manufacturer information.