Sennheiser MKH 416

The Sennheiser MKH 416 is a shot gun tube microphone that can be used for a number of applications. While shot gun microphones are mostly used for recording audio for film, I've got experience using this microphone in a traditional recording studio setting. I'm sure that my positive experience with this microphone in the studio will translate to any application that you decide to use this microphone for. The MKH 416 has a frequency response ranging from 40 Hz to 20 kHz. The pick up pattern is unique because it has a hyper cardioid pick up pattern at low and mid low frequencies and at about 2 kHz it has a lobar pick up pattern, which is directional and is only found in shot gun mics. The mic is designed for use in the field, but can be used in any situation.

OVERALL OPINION

Having used the Sennheiser MKH 416 in the recording studio for recording the voice and room sounds for the most part, it's definitely a microphone that I'd recommend. It's got a very high sensitivity, so while it's best for use to pick up sound for films or room sounds in the recording studio, it also works well for speech as I've found that you can get a very realistic sound when hung over any sort of voice recording. While it's probably not traditionally used in a recording studio, the studio I work at has one on hand for many different purposes, but mostly for use in some degree with post production for film. The mic isn't all that cheap, but also isn't too expensive for a shot gun microphone of this quality. I wouldn't recommend it for musical purposes, but if you are looking for a shot gun mic for audio in film and/or for post production, this is definitely a microphone to keep in mind when shopping around. While I don't know much about audio recording for film, having heard this microphone in the studio it's definitely easy to tell that it sounds great when used right...

This is a very high quality shotgun mic made by Sennheiser. It is a tube mic, and it is very thin, so it is a pretty fragile mic. It has a lot of outdoor applications, so I won't recommend you keep it inside but you'll definitely want to be careful with this one. This mic is manufactured in a specific way to make the pickup pattern extremely directional. This means that whatever this mic is pointed at is going to come through very clear, even at fairly long distances, and not much else is going to get in to the signal. It is a very sensitive mic, so it will pick up very tiny details in your sound field. It does come with a windscreen if you take this outside. Going outside with this mic when there is any wind will be a disaster without the screen. You will get a constant rumbling and whooshing sound that you won't be able to EQ out. This mic is definitely meant for sound for film, and other documentary type uses. It is not a terribly musical mic, but it is very sensitive and therefore useful for sound for film purposes. Your sources will sound very realistic through this mic. The windscreen they provide you is actually not so great, I would recommend picking up a different one. One of the larger, fluffy windscreens will serve you better than the somewhat puny one that is provided.

OVERALL OPINION

I used to use these when I did more sound for film and TV. These are great when you want to mic up something that you can't get very close to due to filming constraints and when a lavalier mic won't cut it or is also impossible. This is definitely one of the best shotgun mics out there in my opinion. Sound through this mic is very clear, and it works very well for speech in open or noisy environments. It is a little expensive, but hopefully your film production company is picking up the tab on this mic. I wouldn't recommend it for music. If I were running a film sound department, I'd definitely stock up one of these.