Which shotgun mic do you recommend for SFX recording

[Dumb-Ask]

If budget wasn't an issue, which mic would you recommend for mono SFX recording?

Both interior and exterior recordings

[John Willett]

For a no-compromise high quality shotgun I would choose between the Sennheiser MKH 60 and the Schoeps SuperCMIT.

If the purchase can wait a month or two I would swap the MKH 60 out for the new MKH 8060 and consider that instead.

All these mics are high quality low noise.

The SuperCMIT is an AES42 mic., the switchable internal processing with rear-facing cardioid capsule can virtually cancel out the rear out-of-phase lobe. If I remember correctly there are three modes:- same as standard CMIT, small processing to make it more directional and full processing.

The new MKH 8060 is the same diameter as the old 416, but is a totally new gun mic. With a symmetrical capsule and the high quality of the MKH 8000 series.

A difficult decision I think - but these are the only two I would look at, really.

Oops - the Neumann KMR81i or the new AES42 version, KMR 81-D, would also be worth considering. I do have a KMR 81i myself (bought in about 1985), but I don't use it very much as I mostly do classical music recording (that's why I almost forgot it), but it's a nice mic.

For outdoors in the wet, MKH are the safest.

I hope this helps.


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[Petrus]

Sanken CS-3e would be also worth a listen. It is a 3 capsule array with better controlled directionality than other short shotguns.

[DannyL]

+1 on what John Willet said.

The Sennheiser 416 is also a decent option.

Regards;

Danny

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by DannyL

+1 on what John Willet said.

The Sennheiser 416 is also a decent option.

Yes, but it's not a patch on the MKH 60 in sound quality. The 60 is quieter (ie: lower self-noise), not so coloured and much less IM distortion.

The 416 is a good video and film workhorse, but "money no object" the 60 is much better.

I would not buy a 416 if I could afford an MKH 60 (or 8060) or a SuperCMIT.

[Remoteness]

I'll tell you something John...

You really got me psyched for those MKH8060s and 8070s!

I cannot wait to try them out, especially attached to my 8000 series stands.
I trust the "TV world" will love their look enough to let them seen in the shot.
That would be sweet on so many levels.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

I'll tell you something John...

You really got me psyched for those MKH8060s and 8070s!

I cannot wait to try them out, especially attached to my 8000 series stands.
I trust the "TV world" will love their look enough to let them seen in the shot.
That would be sweet on so many levels.

You'll see them at NAB.

They are 19mm in diameter and should be Nextel coated like the rest of the 8000 series.

I know Sky TV in the UK had prototypes to use and test and make comments on, so the final voicing is based on user feedback.

Symmetrical capsule like the rest of the 8000 series.

You can always give Sennheiser USA a call and put your name down for one to try and be one of the first.



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