This mic is a fantastic condenser with top of the line sound quality and clarity. You could use it live if you wanted, but since it's pricey most people tend to keep it in the studio. It has a standard XLR output. The polar pattern on this mic is switchable - from omni to cardioid to figure 8. Since it's a condenser you will need a preamp with phantom power to use it.

OVERALL OPINION

I have had one of these for about 5 years. These mics have been around for a long time and most legitimate studios will have at least one. They have super clean and clear high frequency response, so they are used frequently for sources that have a lot of highs and detail. I personally like to use mine for hi-hats, I have yet to find a mic that outperforms a 414 on the hat. Many people also swear by a pair of these as drum overheads, and sometimes this mic is a dream on vocals with the right voice matching. The other great thing about this mic is the versatility that is offered by the pattern switching. My second favorite use of a 414 is for a room mic when recording drums. You can set the pattern to omni to pick up the whole room, and set it back from the drums. The mic is very sensitive, so you get a nice detailed room recording that you can then mix in with your close drum mics for a nice full sound. At around $1,000, these are not cheap, but they sound really great. The switchable pattern also makes this mic like 3 for the price of one, which greatly increases its value. If you can afford one you won't regret your purchase. I would get one again.