Sennheiser MKH-416, (P48) Super-Cardioid Short Shotgun Condenser Interference Tube Microphone.

by Sennheiser

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 14 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00030679K
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The MKH 416 is a short gun interference tube microphone. Its excellent directivity and compact design, high consonant articulation and feedback rejection make the MKH 416 a superb all-round microphone for film, radio and television, especially for outside broadcast applications.

• Increased directivity due to interference tube principle
• Very low inherent self-noise
• High sensitivity
• Transformerless and fully floating balanced output
• Rugged, suitable for adverse climatic conditions
• Matt black all-metal body

Specifications:

• Pick-up pattern: super-cardioid/lobar
• Sensitivity in free field, no load (1kHz): 25 mV/Pa +- 1 dB
• Nominal impedance: 25 Ohm
• Min. terminating impedance: 800 Ohm
• Equivalent noise level: 13 dB
• Equivalent noise level weighted as per CCIR 468-3: 24 dB
• Voltage: Phantom 48 +- 12 V
• Current consumption: 2 mA
• Dimensions: d 19 x 250 mm
• Weight: 165 g

Product Description

The MKH 416 transformerless, RF condenser is designed as a combination of pressure gradient and interference tube microphones. Very good feedback rejection, low proximity effect, 130 dB/SPL. Rugged and resistant to changing climate conditions. Ideal for boom, fishpole, and camera mounting. Key Features Interference Tube Principle Pressure gradient receiver with short interference tube Employs RF-technology to control residual microphone noise. Optimizing the transducer's acoustic impedance results in a further improvement in low noise performance. The RF-design yields exceptionally low noise levels and is virtually immune to humidity and moisture. The comparatively low RF-voltage across the elements of the transducer also eliminates arcing and DC-bias creeping currents. Hypercardioid at low and medium frequency, above 2kHz approaches lobar pattern Very low inherent self-noise High sensitivity Transformerless and fully floating balanced output Rugged, suitable for adverse climatic conditions Matt black all-metal body Increased directivity

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still The Industry Standard After 20 Years, December 8, 2008

By 

Rob W. "Sounddude™" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sennheiser MKH-416, (P48) Super-Cardioid Short Shotgun Condenser Interference Tube Microphone. (Electronics)

I'm a production sound mixer for the film and television industry. What that means is that I'm one of the guys who captures the sound for you to hear while you're watching a movie or viewing your favorite television shows.

The main way of capturing that sound is through what we call a shotgun mic mounted on the end of a boom pole. When I first moved out of recording studios and into the world of location sound recording, Sennheiser had just updated their already industry standard short shotgun microphone the MKH-415. The new model was called the MKH-416, and boasted better signal to noise ratio, lower self noise and a more robust lower end. All of that was true.

In short, the 416 P48 is an interference tube design super cardioid 48 volt phantom powered short shotgun microphone. To achieve it's very thin pickup pattern, it generates very high frequency noise above that which humans can hear on either side on it's tube through it's grills. This noise radiates in a pattern that overlaps itself and since each side is 180 degrees out of phase with the other, that noise cancels itself out along with most other frequencies.

This gives the 416 a nice, slim pickup pattern, great range for a shorter shotgun style mic, and a deep low end directly in front of the forward mic capsule, making it extremely popular with actors and voice over talent.

The mic quality is top notch and the construction is extremely strong, making it a rugged mic to have in the field. Because it is an electret design condenser mic, it can saturate during extreme moist conditions, which has happened to me. When that happens, you just need to quickly unplug the mic, wipe it off, put it in a case with drying crystals and pull your backup out to continue shooting.

The major weaknesses with a twenty year old design are that there are now short shotgun mics out today that have even less self noise, greater frequency response, are lighter, and include different electronic designs with built in boosts and cuts on board. Yet, you'll see the 416 still being used on most sets today.

If you want a good solid proven work horse of a mic that most sound mixers still have in their kits and still use as a primary super-cardioid shotgun mic today, then the Sennheiser MKH-416 is that mic.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The standard of the promo industry, February 1, 2008

By 

Harlan Hogan "hhogan" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sennheiser MKH-416, (P48) Super-Cardioid Short Shotgun Condenser Interference Tube Microphone. (Electronics)

The Voice Actor's Guide to Home Recording

The 416 has been a favorite of voice artists for a decade - it's rugged with an "In your face" sound and rejects a lot of superfluous sound since it is a shotgun mic originally used designed for film work.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the ONE for TV promo work, April 1, 2010

By 

Corrado Arcilesi (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sennheiser MKH-416, (P48) Super-Cardioid Short Shotgun Condenser Interference Tube Microphone. (Electronics)

The 416 is standard in the industry for movie trailer and TV promo work. Incredibly directional recording that WILL pick up any imperfections. Not for use with dry mouth. Make sure to pick up the wind screen as well as a good pop screen.