MKE 2ew versus something else at DVinfo.net

Jason McCormy · April 30th, 2009, 05:04 PM

Greetings audio experts and sage advisers.

I have been following the posts, listening to the advice, and the linked articles on audio performance. I am now getting ready to replace two of the mics on my GE2 systems. Right now they have the stock MKE2's.

I have four questions (who am I kidding, I have more, I just feel guilty asking them all at once). I have about 400 dollars to spend on each microphone, so around 800 in total.

1. How much of an improvement over the stock MKE2 is the MKE 2ew?
2. How does the improved Sennheiser MKE 2ew sound in comparison with the stock MKE2?
3. The mics by Countryman et al in this price range that can plug into the GE2 system, how do they compare with the Sennheiser MKE 2ew?
4. And do any mics, in this general price range (I'd pay more though for this feature), have a low frequency roll off switch to remove the sound of AC units etc.?

Thank you again for all your help. I really appreciate the advice and input I receive here to help get the best bang for my buck.

Rick Reineke · April 30th, 2009, 07:29 PM

- I have never seen a (direct connect) mic-to-body pack transmitter with an HP filter. High-end Lectros' have a variable filter on the body pack transmitter itself.

- The MKE-2 would be a major improvement over the "stock" MK-2. As would a Countryman, Sanken or Tram, those being the most popular. All have some pros & cons depending on a particular usage.

Jason McCormy · May 1st, 2009, 08:24 AM

Thank you for the response. I'm leaning towards the MKE-2 as it is a direct plugin. Even using Countryman's site, I can't quite figure out how it connects to the G2 transmitter.

Matthias Krause · May 1st, 2009, 10:34 AM

You can order the Contryman lavs with the fitting connector, no problem. I got my EMW through Gotham Sound but others offer the same service.

Jason McCormy · May 1st, 2009, 12:10 PM

Matthias,

Thank you for the advice. It seems I can. Do you know how the Countryman lavaliers compare to the MKE-2? Also, what Lavalier from them do you recomend in a mildly noisy environment?

Jimmy Tuffrey · May 1st, 2009, 05:19 PM

Do you actually mean to replace an 'ME-2' with an MKE-2 ? EW just means it has a mini jack wired for Evolution series transmitters.
Yes it makes a lot of difference although the mic is only one link in the chain. The radio link also has a lot to do with the sound. The audio chain is only as good as it's weakest link. Upgrading to the MKE 2 does give a far more open sound with less distortion.
MKE 2.4 gold is the one to go for. (with the EW tag to indicate wired to mini jack for Evolution series transmitters.)

Rick Reineke · May 2nd, 2009, 01:02 AM

<Do you know how the Countryman lavaliers compare to the MKE-2?>

Both are quality mics and will take abuse..... Apples and Oranges
For instance, the B6 is more easily hidden in plain sight, but is sensitive to wind noise.

Guy Cochran · May 2nd, 2009, 12:21 PM

The stock ME-2 lav that ships with the Evolution Wireless 100 series is pretty lifeless. "Good enough" for most folks until they hear what they've been missing.
The upgraded MKE-2 EW Gold (often pronounced as "Mickey two"), really, really opens up clarity wise. You'll hear detail that the stock ME-2 simply could not pick up. Especially in the high frequencies. Listen to the caliber of sound in this video at about half way through, Kyle will kick on a MKE-2. http://vimeo.com/1926732

The next mic I like to have in my kit is the B6. Not only is it incredibly small and sound similar to the MKE-2, it also ships with various caps. The standard flat cap is for placing exposed outside of clothing. Should you decide to hide the lav under a layer of clothing/tape, you can go for a "crisp" cap to get back some of the high frequencies.
Here is an audio example of the B6 Countryman B6 lavalier at DVcreators.net
The next mic worth exploring is the most expensive of the bunch. It seems that at the high, high end is the Sanken COS-11d. We just became dealers for the Sanken line and I'm excited about them after reading how well they match with a shotgun. I'll post a test to see how "full" the bottom end is. Usually, on even the most expensive lavs, they tend to lack bottom and sound "thin". It's worth reading about how the COS-11 was used in "Wild Wild West" in Will Smith's hat plus24:Peter Kurland"Walks The Line"withSankenLavalierMics

John Willett · May 3rd, 2009, 09:51 AM

The stock mic. is an ME 2 (*not* MKE 2)

The MKE 2-ew is vastly superior and is a high quality mic. that is often used by major theatres in London's West End.

Jason McCormy · May 4th, 2009, 09:26 AM

Thank you all for your advise. To keep things simple, I believe I am going to buy two of the MKE-2 mics since it sounds like they give a very nice performance bump over the stock mic.

Thank you all again.

April 30th, 2009, 05:04 PM	#1
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	MKE 2ew versus something else Greetings audio experts and sage advisers. I have been following the posts, listening to the advice, and the linked articles on audio performance. I am now getting ready to replace two of the mics on my GE2 systems. Right now they have the stock MKE2's. I have four questions (who am I kidding, I have more, I just feel guilty asking them all at once). I have about 400 dollars to spend on each microphone, so around 800 in total. 1. How much of an improvement over the stock MKE2 is the MKE 2ew? 2. How does the improved Sennheiser MKE 2ew sound in comparison with the stock MKE2? 3. The mics by Countryman et al in this price range that can plug into the GE2 system, how do they compare with the Sennheiser MKE 2ew? 4. And do any mics, in this general price range (I'd pay more though for this feature), have a low frequency roll off switch to remove the sound of AC units etc.? Thank you again for all your help. I really appreciate the advice and input I receive here to help get the best bang for my buck.

May 2nd, 2009, 12:21 PM	#8
Guy Cochran DVCreators.Net Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 892	The stock ME-2 lav that ships with the Evolution Wireless 100 series is pretty lifeless. "Good enough" for most folks until they hear what they've been missing. The upgraded MKE-2 EW Gold (often pronounced as "Mickey two"), really, really opens up clarity wise. You'll hear detail that the stock ME-2 simply could not pick up. Especially in the high frequencies. Listen to the caliber of sound in this video at about half way through, Kyle will kick on a MKE-2. http://vimeo.com/1926732 The next mic I like to have in my kit is the B6. Not only is it incredibly small and sound similar to the MKE-2, it also ships with various caps. The standard flat cap is for placing exposed outside of clothing. Should you decide to hide the lav under a layer of clothing/tape, you can go for a "crisp" cap to get back some of the high frequencies. Here is an audio example of the B6 Countryman B6 lavalier at DVcreators.net The next mic worth exploring is the most expensive of the bunch. It seems that at the high, high end is the Sanken COS-11d. We just became dealers for the Sanken line and I'm excited about them after reading how well they match with a shotgun. I'll post a test to see how "full" the bottom end is. Usually, on even the most expensive lavs, they tend to lack bottom and sound "thin". It's worth reading about how the COS-11 was used in "Wild Wild West" in Will Smith's hat plus24:Peter Kurland"Walks The Line"withSankenLavalierMics __________________ Guy Cochran DVinfo Sponsor, Cool Gear - DVeStore!

May 3rd, 2009, 09:51 AM	#9
John Willett Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 976	The stock mic. is an ME 2 (not MKE 2) The MKE 2-ew is vastly superior and is a high quality mic. that is often used by major theatres in London's West End. __________________ John Willett - Sound-Link ProAudio and Circle Sound Services President: Fédération Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

April 30th, 2009, 07:29 PM	#2
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	- I have never seen a (direct connect) mic-to-body pack transmitter with an HP filter. High-end Lectros' have a variable filter on the body pack transmitter itself. - The MKE-2 would be a major improvement over the "stock" MK-2. As would a Countryman, Sanken or Tram, those being the most popular. All have some pros & cons depending on a particular usage.

May 1st, 2009, 08:24 AM	#3
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Thank you for the response. I'm leaning towards the MKE-2 as it is a direct plugin. Even using Countryman's site, I can't quite figure out how it connects to the G2 transmitter.

May 1st, 2009, 10:34 AM	#4
Matthias Krause Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 203	You can order the Contryman lavs with the fitting connector, no problem. I got my EMW through Gotham Sound but others offer the same service.

May 1st, 2009, 12:10 PM	#5
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Matthias, Thank you for the advice. It seems I can. Do you know how the Countryman lavaliers compare to the MKE-2? Also, what Lavalier from them do you recomend in a mildly noisy environment?

May 1st, 2009, 05:19 PM	#6
Jimmy Tuffrey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bristol U.K. Posts: 244	Do you actually mean to replace an 'ME-2' with an MKE-2 ? EW just means it has a mini jack wired for Evolution series transmitters. Yes it makes a lot of difference although the mic is only one link in the chain. The radio link also has a lot to do with the sound. The audio chain is only as good as it's weakest link. Upgrading to the MKE 2 does give a far more open sound with less distortion. MKE 2.4 gold is the one to go for. (with the EW tag to indicate wired to mini jack for Evolution series transmitters.)

May 2nd, 2009, 01:02 AM	#7
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	<Do you know how the Countryman lavaliers compare to the MKE-2?> Both are quality mics and will take abuse..... Apples and Oranges For instance, the B6 is more easily hidden in plain sight, but is sensitive to wind noise.

May 4th, 2009, 09:26 AM	#10
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Thank you all for your advise. To keep things simple, I believe I am going to buy two of the MKE-2 mics since it sounds like they give a very nice performance bump over the stock mic. Thank you all again.