Review on Sennheiser MKH416-P48U3: Professional Super-Cardioid Shotgun Tube Condenser Microphone by Anthony Mcgarry

I only use this mic for voiceovers. I bought this microphone with little hesitation. What was I afraid of? qualitative? No, I was afraid of getting a fake. When the mic arrived, the serial numbers were inexplicably obscured by small white stickers. I can't imagine the purpose, so I contacted Sennheiser with a serial number. Not only did they confirm the authenticity of the microphone, they also confirmed that Revain is an authorized reseller. I even got the date of manufacture and the original sale! But I was still nervous. I just spent a thousand dollars! I already have a Neumann TLM49 and wasn't sure if this mic would give me any real benefit. In my radio days and beyond I've heard people rave about this mic for voice and sound work, but to be honest I didn't see the point. There are microphones that can get good results well below the $1,000 mark. I have RODE NTK, SURE SM7 and KSM44, Sennheiser 421, ElectroVoice RE20 and some others. Even a little under $200. I used to have a makeshift V/O stand, but when I moved out I tore it down. I didn't have room for him at my new location. I'm so stupid. I forgot the noise in the room, the birds singing, the sirens. Large diaphragm condenser mics seem to attract sounds you probably didn't even know existed. So I started looking for options and the SENNHIESER 416 kept popping up. I wanted a mic that was more forgiving of my workspace at the moment. My first tests surprised me. This mic's excellent, but relatively small, throw allowed it to capture good, clear quality even with minimal audio processing. I paired it with a RODE swing arm and a simple but effective Eggsnow wraparound shock and attached the whole thing to my desk. Despite my raw office, there were few reflections from the raw wall and computer monitor less than 3 feet behind the mic. My test produced a fairly spacious recording with no noise. The noise cancellation is excellent. no birds No chatter from the painting crew who stood outside banging ladders and talking while they painted our townhouse. profit is sufficient. I don't have to drive 416 hard to get a strong signal. The microphone is tiny and light. I don't need a giant three-wheeled mic stand and counterbalance system to hold this pup in place. And that's a double duty! If I decide to do field recording for video, I now have a solid microphone that's up to the task. However, this mic isn't going to solve your problem if you live in a box under the freeway. This is possibly the best investment you can make before diving into an acoustic treatment. Good voice acting can be done on a budget. It may not seem like a budget solution, but I can now get good, reliable, and professional results. So I can save, budget, and plan my next upgrade (a real V/O booth!). But since I spend less time editing and re-recording anyway, I count that money in my pocket.