I think it probably all comes down to preference, Paul.
Both are great mics. I prefer the 414 on my own voice, and I say
that as the owner of both the U87
and the U89i, along with an EV RE20, an AKG SolidTube.....and yet, 9 times out of 10, when I'm tracking my own vox, I reach for the 414....so go figure.
And, as I stated, the 414 has a variety of patterns to choose from, one being a Figure 8, which would allow the user to try creative arrays like M-S miking, which to my ears, sounds very nice on acoustic instruments like guitar, mando and even drums.
And, we're kinda comparing apples to cantaloupes here....The SM81, while a great mic on it's own, is limited to that cardioid pattern.... but, respectfully and to be fair, it's also
less than half the cost of the 414 (retail ).
I'm
not saying I think it's a limited mic. For what it offers, and for the price - last time I checked it was around $300 U.S. - you'd be hard pressed to do much better. I've used them in X/Y coincidental pairs on drum kits, on string sections, and it performed wonderfully. In fact, I recently did a session as a hired gun at a studio where I used a pair of 81's about 6 ft back from a horn section - 2 saxes, 1 bone, 2 trumpets and man, I
loved the "bite" I got using a pair of 81's in a coincidental array... brother, those mics performed
great. I ended up bringing the direct mics for the horns so far down in the mix, that I could have gotten away with using
just the 81's.
If given the choice, I'd prefer the 81 to an AKG C1000 almost anytime in terms of silk and subtle, smooth texture and nuance. I also think it's much more rugged than much of the AKG line. (
leave it to Shure, right? The only mic you can use to pound roofing nails into your house and still go use it for a gig! thumb So, if I was doing field work, I'd probably opt for the 81, if I was doing work that required a uni directional mic.
Back to the 414... with my comments above, I need to be fair and state that my 414 is a
lot older - it's the EB model, made around 1980 (?) or so. (
Lord, I've been at this a long time...
I've used newer 414 models that seem a little less warmer, a bit less silkier than the older 414 models. The newer models seem to be a
bit more "edgier" or "brighter" - at least to my ears - but, as I say that, we all know that there are
so many variables hidden within that ludicrous statement I just made - LOL - ...the type of pre, the singer, the room, ... and let's face it, if it's a bit too bright, well, heck....that's what EQ is for, right?
I believe that there is no such beast as an
"end all - be all" microphone. I've done sessions with vocalists where we've tried the U87's, the 89's, the 414's... and ended up using a 57 or a 58.
All you can do is hedge your bets and get a mic that can come as close as possible to doing all the things you need it to do, without breaking your bank account, and IMHO, the 414 falls into that category, and
without taking out a second mortgage. LOL
IMHO, of course.