Sennheiser 416 - help needed!

[Jonas Hansen]

Hi,

I know that Sennheiser 416 is a good mic for features. Could you name other high-end mics for use on a boom. Only mics better than Sennheiser 416. If you have time, please state what you like about it.

Thanks for your time

Jonas

[Josh Frye]

Just go Neumann :) Some of their higher priced microphones are up there with stuff used for multi-million dollar Hollywood productions. I think Neumann makes the best microphones in the world.

[Jonas Hansen]

Thanks Josh - could you name some?

[Josh Frye]

Check their site.... http://www.neumann.com/

BH offers a lower cost Neumann shotgun, the KMR81I Super-Cardioid Shotgun Condenser Microphone, for $1,325.00.

I personally like the RSM 191 :).

These are NOT cheap microphones, and you had better have good recording/playback systems to take full advantage of their quality.

[Josh Frye]

Also check out some of Byerdynamic's product lineup. They might also have what you are looking for.

If I may ask, what applications do you have in mind. The Sennheiser you have should be enough for most stuff you will be doing in the DV arena anyway.

[Jacques Mersereau]

List some mics that are better than a Sennheiser 416?

Schoeps
MK41. The MK41 is the high end film industry choice for audio capture.
You can add an MK8 (figure 8) mic underneath.
This combo is for real good MS recordings.
The MK41 is very directional and the
amount of MK8 signal added into the mix opens the
field as wide as you like. This is the mic used (the MK41 I've been told) on
almost every Clint Eastwood movie made.

Both of these mics can fit inside of a blimp about the size of
a softball, so the whole "kit" is small and portable. With the
Schoeps preamp and special Y cable and "furry" about $4300.
http://www.posthorn.com/

Neumann
(lifted from their website)
RSM 191
has a coincident pair of microphones in a single housing to generate a stereo signal with perfect mono compatibility. The middle microphone is a hypercardioid short shotgun, while the side capsule system has a figure-8 pattern. The microphone uses transformerless circuitry for excellent transient response, transparent sound quality, high output level, high SPL tolerance, and wide dynamic range
The complete RSM 191 system includes an integrated amplifier/matrix offering adjustments of XY stereo with varying acceptance angles or MS outputs with multiple ratios. The microphone can be powered by external Phantom power or by a single 9V battery inside the matrix box.

USM 69i
(This is the mic I recently purchased, and we LOVE it!!! It is pretty big
and hefty, especially compared to a Sennheiser 416, but we bought
a full Rycote blimp system and its handleable IMO)
Complete stereo mic with two independent capsules. (Not a shotgun).
The capsules of these mics are mounted in a coincident position and can be rotated through 270 degrees against each other. Thus, stereo signals are produced by differences in intensity only, without variances of arrival time. The output signals are ideal for XY or MS stereo with perfect mono compatibility.
The USM 69 allows pattern switching from the microphone housing. It also has a wide dynamic range and utilizes conventional 48v power supplies.

Sennheiser
MKH-800. Although it may be big for hand held boom pole jobs
and is not a shotgun,
this is a fine microphone that has very low noise and can capture
frequencies up to 50Khz (and if you can hear them, let me know . . . liar)
In any case, it is the best mic Sennheiser makes and is usually used
for high end symphonic and jazz recordings. Make sure you have
a full 48v phantom power supplied to it, because this mic will start
to poop if the voltage drops even to 45v. Variable patterns too, so
once you decide you captured too much extraneous noise from the live
shoot, you can ADR with this mic to your heart's content.

MKH 70-1 (long shotgun)
MKh 60-1 (short shotgun)

[Jonas Hansen]

Thanks both of you! Great info!

[Josh Frye]

Nice post Jacques. Forgot about the Schoeps. Its a really good microphone as well. I like the Neumann RSM 191 a lot. Really great microphone. I do live in Berlin where Neumann is based, and I have had the chance to use many of their great microphones. The quality on them is unparalelled.

[Jacques Mersereau]

>>I do live in Berlin where Neumann is based,
>>and I have had the chance to use many of
>>their great microphones. The quality on them is unparalelled.

True, except when compared to Schoeps :)

BUT, you should know that when things get moist, the first
to have troubles is Schoeps, followed by Neumann and the
Sennheiser 416.

[Josh Frye]

I've never had many environmentally related problems with the Neumanns. Then again, I don't use them in an extremely humid environment. As long as you keep them well protected, you won't have any problems.

[Jacques Mersereau]

If you're outside on a shoot and it starts to rain, even if you keep the
mic from being rained on, it gets moist.

If you are shooting on a hot humid day next to a lake, it gets moist.

Not usually an issue, but when you have a bunch of people on a shoot
and big plans . . .
don't ever forget Murphy's law or Murphy's law will remind you :)

[Josh Frye]

Will keep that in mind. Thanks Jacques!