Sennheiser MD441u Dynamic Mic Review / Test

[@Podcastage]

Here’s the scary pockets song where they use the 441u. Let them know podcastage sent you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4eknohtZ9Brd7c

[@Frostorm777]

First like and comment! =D (I can't believe you don't like your OWN comments!)

[@Podcastage]

You can like your own comments? Why would I do that?

[@robburgess4556]

You can also find videos of Elton John from the 70s using one of these on vocals

[@Frostorm777]

@@Podcastage because it's super fun and easy. I like my own comments all the time and nobody would know. By the way do you ever do voice over work?

[@Podcastage]

I have never done voice over work. Just not something that's ever really appealed to me.

[@shervinsardari]

I absolutely love this microphone! It has a clear, detailed sound (which most handheld-dynamics miss) without sounding thin. It's like the lovechild of a condenser and a dynamic! I actually think it sounds amazing for voiceovers - especially when you have to record in a non-soundproof environment (e.g. video voiceovers on location). It's also great for handheld interviews since the reduction of the handling noise is fantastic (most manufacturers lie when they pride themselves with 'low handling noise' - including Sennheiser -, but in this case it's true). You're right that it didn't excel on the acoustic guitar - although I think it's still usable, e.g. in a live scenario where you wouldn't want to use a cardioid condenser. For stage applications it also works great - however, I wouldn't use it for any 'open stage' situation since not all singers know how to use this mic and I'm constantly in fear of a mic drop ;) About the price point: yes, it's expensive - but why would anyone buy this new?! :D I got mine used for 400 $ - although they are from the 80ies, they still sound and look great.

[@Podcastage]

Great insight here. Thanks for sharing your experience with this mic. =)

[@msikio]

Microphone might have been too close for the acoustic guitar. Remember it's an hypercardio

[@hannesfrischat7138]

@@msikio ^^^ This. And also perhaps a bit too close to the mouth. Hence the nasal outcome.

[@artysanmobile]

The 441 is my ‘desert island’ microphone. If I had only one microphone for every job, recording, live sound, etc; this would be my choice without hesitation. I have three now, all purchased new in 1979, and use them constantly. I’m trying to think of anything I have not used it on but can’t so I’ll list the things it is my absolute favorite on. Vocal, snare, electric guitar, bass, conga, bongos, any drum or percussion instrument, trumpet, trombone, all saxes, flute. I’m not kidding at all. It is just awesome! When I need to pack a kit of mics to supplement a studio or stage setup, the 441 always ends up in that kit. I sold two of mine many years ago and have kicked myself for that. I don’t know what I was thinking.

[@swatigupta622]

I ain't buying a 900$ microphone if they don't give stickers

[@Podcastage]

Fair enough. =) I'd prefer a pizza slice instead of a sticker, but to each their own.

[@swatigupta622]

@@Podcastage well we both have priorities .

[@skakdosmer]

“This Wonderful Microphone comes with a wonderful pizza slice. We guarantee that neither mic nor slice have been stored for more than 3 years.”

[@roman14032]

they better pack in one of those german call girls in a black latex SS uniform for me

[@lazerbrainzz]

I don’t know but it sure does look cool.

[@DovydasMusic]

Please bring pizza pronto.. you're doing gods work my friend. This channel is my main source when it comes to picking a mic

[@Podcastage]

DØVYDAS get outta town man! That means a lot! Now what happens when some requests you please bring pizza pronto? 😉 Love your stuff mate. Keep up the great work man!

[@DovydasMusic]

Basically been binge watching your videos on mics for the past two weeks or so. I trying to find some sort of dynamic mic that sounds like me. I've narrowed down to a few. I got Senheiser e945 because I read somewhere that Taylor Swift uses it allegedly and it has that roll up in highs on the frequency response chart. Then I tried getting the Shure ksm8 but you'd be surprised of how many fake of KSM8 there is on ebay. Had to return all of them. And now I'm eyeballing this one, the Senheiser 441U because of high bost, high pass functionality. That's where I have most trouble with my voice is the highs. Is there anything else you'd recommend to check out? Appreciate all the work youu do!

[@Podcastage]

DØVYDAS so you’re looking for a boosted upper end? If you want that you might want to consider one of the stage condensers. Neumann’s KSM105 is pretty amazing, also Lewitt has some stage condensers but I haven’t reviewed those just yet. Those have a much more “studio” sound because they are condensers and have that high end extension that it sounds like you might be interested in.

[@pwylpollock9117]

Dude it sounds great. Your speaking voice sounds great through this.

[@chuckkirkpatrick6712]

When I worked at Criteria Miami in the late 60's - early 70's, we had a couple of these. Never saw them get used for anything. Stevie Nicks uses one on stage. For my money, the best sounding dynamic mic ever made - and one I would choose as a "desert island" mic - would be the EV RE-20. That mic couldn't sound bad if it tried...on ANYTHING! It's just a monstrous, clunky thing that's impossible to place in tight spots like snare, etc.

[@alandavidson8311]

I have three that I use mostly for stage. I'd been wanting to try one for many years but couldn't bring myself to shell out that kind of dough on an experiment. I finally sprang for a pair from a guy in Switzerland for $800. They are such a joy to use on stage. I've never regretted spending the money. Everything I put them in front of sounds awesome. They are particularly wonderful on violin/fiddle. Mics that sound good on violin are far and few between (other than ribbons, which I don't really want to put on stage). I've always thought that violin and brass share a similar timbre and I assume that's why this mic sounds so good on both. Because the polar pattern is so consistent across frequencies, you don't get much in the way of feedback problems, either. And because the response is so flat, it's easy to EQ. There's a reason they still make this mic after 50 years and can charge $900 for it.

[@kingofheartzkoh]

Prince recorded the whole album “Sign O The Times” with this microphone .🎙 There’s some food for thought 💭

[@honzazouhar4615]

A singer in a band I'm in got this as a Christmas gift from her husband. After the first gig, we were all very impressed. No just by the looks, I mean. We played in our home music bar, so there was no other variable at play than the new mic. The nasal quality @Podcastage mentions was there, but to a good effect: it helped us understand every single word the singer muttered (even the beginnings and endings of the phrases, which normally fade below the band), without the voice being too loud or harsh or anything. It almost sounded a bit compressed. Natural? Surely not. But hey, who cares? Also feedback rejection seemed better than the e945 our male singer has. Two Xmases ago, she got DPA d:facto (same husband, same price range), but that one went back after the first gig, she did not like it at all... To sum up, she loves this new mic. She just wishes she had longer arms (the mic body is very long) and hands that don't sweat (the fake leather gets all slippery when wet, increasing the risk of a 900-dollar drop). :)

[@henriquenicolau]

This mic is absolutely fantastic. It really shines when you're mixing with other stuff and start tweaking it. You then realize that your money was well spent

[@mikeparlett]

This is the definitive mic for horns!! Take it from me, I'm a sax player and I love it. This was Michael Brecker's mic of choice.

[@RJSOW]

This is my favorite dynamic mic of all time. And argentinian tv host(Marcelo Tinelli) used to have it, and Kevin Parker also used it on the Lonerism tour for vocals and still uses it as a overhead mic on the drums for some crazy reason.

[@Podcastage]

After I wrote my review I looked up what other people though. It seems very popular for guitar / bass / drums.

[@arthurgd8758]

Rodrigo Silvera que se cante una yayo, en el microfono

[@ProDoucher]

This is my favourite dynamic mic ever.

[@32herz]

btw., this mic just shines for live brass.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

I like it for snare drum, acoustic guitar and vocals, also.

[@wxfreak]

Really like the sound. No coloration on the flat setting

[@Podcastage]

The marketed response is much flatter than mine. When I say "it comes with documentation" you can see the actual measurement of my mic. It's not as flat as I was hoping for...but still relatively flat compared to many dynamics.

[@videodude5337]

It sounds amazing.

[@ottomanmuzic5744]

Great demonstration, I'm sold

[@aquanties636]

Got a great deal on this one and can't wait to get my hands on it! It has that "Mystique", telling me that it'll just get the job done if you know the spell to go along. It's a little bit expensive but I think it stands out from the RE-20 and SM7B and that's what really matters and why they can justify the price. Add the 441 to those two and you've got the holy triumvirate of godsend Dynamics. Awesome video as always! :)

[@michaelhenshaw258]

It’s a Studio Microphone, I have been using them for 45 years The proof is with better preamps, Like $2000-5000 type They are fantastic in many situations !

[@christophersmith2904]

Yes, it really comes to life with various input chains

[@secretelitemusic]

It sounds other worldly on saxophones, with a spritz of Teutonic tube technology in the mic preamp. It also does the business if you have a singer who can actually sing. By the same token, it's brutally revealing if they can't hold a tune. My dynamic mic of choice through the 90s and noughties. We called it "the Honecker", because those Iron Curtain dictators loved to use them for their 7 hour diatribes to the faithful.

[@voiceactorRU]

Purchased it used for 650 - it looked new. Love it to death. Use it for vo. In ussr they used it heavily in the iconic news program “Programma Vremya” 70s and 80s. Always wanted this mic. It does require lots of gain and perhaps that is why it seemed to you not as you expected. Love it :)

[@QuestionMarkComposer]

I agree on that. Being a dynamic microphone which can handle massive sound pressure levels, it's an all-time classic for any kind of horn (saxes and brass…). The way it is built, this construction dating from 1971, made in Germany, surely is more expensive because it preserves everything just like it has been made in the seventies. Thus, you purchase an icon. You don't need icons in order to produce music well. But you can communicate with colleagues and re-construct recording settings using icons, if originality is a criterion. Frank Zappa and Stevie Nicks used it as a vocal mic, the chinese president uses it, it has been standard in Western Germany in politics during the Bonner Republik, the „ZDF Hitparade mit Dieter Thomas Heck“ has been done with it throughout the seventies, it is an icon for us in Deutschland, much like our most iconic cars. And still, it's hard to name a supercardioid dynamic microphone with a range like that. The alternative is an US icon: the Electro-Voice RE20, which sounds different because of its big membrane.

[@EdoDijkgraaf]

I think I never heard a better microphone for voice on your channel. It's on my list now. I don't want one. I want two. Cheers!

[@Podcastage]

Really? That's interesting. I appreciate your input. This just goes to show audio is very subjective. One thing I read in some customer reviews was "this brings out parts of my voice I've never heard before" and that is absolutely true. I just don't think it brings out parts of my voice that are particularly pleasing or flattering.

[@EdoDijkgraaf]

@@Podcastage believe me, it does. Since English is not my first language this must sound funny, but it makes your voice sound more stable. Maybe less thin is a better way to put it, but that can be interpreted as if you... I am sorry I can't explain it. With the MD441 you sound (a bit more) like that trustworthy radio personality from the seventies.

[@FritzGillis]

@@EdoDijkgraaf I agree I’ve watched the video a couple times he sounds great on this mic. It brings out a mid presence in his voice that other mics miss... and I think it’s that presence that’s making him feel more relatable (trustworthy, as you said)

[@insanejughead]

The perfect mic to do karaoke to the Buggles. Video Killed the Radio Star!

[@Podcastage]

Wouldn’t argue with that.

[@pirateradio808]

it sounds great on your spoken voice with no hi pass and the hi boost turned ON... Fantastic on the cab, and very good on acoustic guitar for a dynamic microphone (I would never ever use a dynamic mic on an acoustic guitar but I might use this one after hearing your recording). It had a lot of sparkle on the top which is what is important to me in recording acoustic. If it lacks anything as a VO microphone, it is the combination of intimacy and authority that you get from a U87ai -- which is $3500, which makes $900 for this seems like pocket change.

[@32herz]

I f*ing love thses mics, I have 3x MD541, which is the "BlackFire" version of the MD441, I could totally record a complete album with these things.

[@nikolabankovmusic]

hey man, i am about to buy 541. But can not decide if i should buy 541 or add more money and buy 441. What do you think?

[@malightcommander]

@@nikolabankovmusic Except for the variable high pass filter, the BF541 is completely identical to the MD441 (BF541 = MD441U3). I own a lot of both types and I use them interchangeably. There is no difference in sound and if you want to use the high pass filter, this can normally be done from the mixer or in your DAW as well.

[@SolomonHsu]

this upload made sitting in this tiny airport departure lounge in norway so much better I thank you very much

[@Podcastage]

That's great to hear! Thank you!

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

Gotta say, that is a GORGEOUS dynamic mic.

[@Tmanaz480]

Thanks for demonstrating a key principle so many hobbyists ignore. You have to listen to any piece of gear before you buy it.

[@davidtraylor3062]

I actually love this mic on trumpet. Played a gig where the stage crew was union and I wasn't even allowed to move my stand 1 foot more less use the mic I normally carry. After sound checking on the 441 I didn't have a problem switching. Luckily I play live situations that are very controlled. Otherwise I would agree it would be risky for live applications. (just wish I could afford one)

[@Podcastage]

Ooh I bet it would sound great on horn while it’s in flat mode. Really smooth it out and tame some of the high end and aggressiveness.

[@frankvisconti]

Have you tried the 421 with your horn?

[@davidtraylor3062]

@@frankvisconti Yes. It's been a while but I remember liking it. My primary mic is the Heil PR-31 BW. I've been using it exclusively for about 7 years and love how it sounds.

[@DirectorsGarage]

It's also the mic Stevie Nicks used on Dreams.

[@stevesalazar9658]

I first seen this mic when Stevie Nicks used it live & I had to have one. I'm a high range dynamic singer so it was the perfect mic for my voice range & techniques. It has been my main live mic now for nearly 30yrs. As far as recording vocals on it, many have such as Stevie Nicks, but she was also running it into high grade studio gear & an actual Neve board at the time not an inexpensive interface straight to daw vsts. For this the mic shines more on brass, drums, room. I'll never part with my MD441's.

[@davamig]

This kind of Mike was used by Italian singer Mina Mazzini in her last exhibition in Italy in the seventies before she went away abroad... it seemed to be tailored on her voice, she has a vocal extension of 4 octaves and 3 tones...

[@davamig]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJ7VhYt9prGCftU

[@Kragatar]

I think that mic is meant for big rich recording studios and rockstars who have so much money they don't even look at price tags anymore. I agree with your thoughts at the end... For $900 you could get three or more really nice mics and have a much wider range of recording capability.

[@Podcastage]

There have been a few folks who absolutely love this mic in the comments section. It's interesting hearing their takes. There's one gent who runs a studio and he loves them. Apparently it does really good running through some classy outboard gear.

[@nic0psy]

I noticed many radios in Europe have this mic as an industry standard (Spain, for example). Expensive mics, but worth it.

[@rcajavus8141]

i think its called socialism

[@MrRedinator_]

1:22 "So I would be concerned over dropping this thing." Well, tell that to Linus. LTT viewers will get this one.

[@reiniervanzwieten7092]

Haha

[@jan-paulvanderhoeven1639]

I dropped mine multiple times. Still works like day one...

[@MrLouiegenzano]

I completely agree with your assessment. Great review as always Bandrew.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

I've owned one of these and loved it. Even good on acoustic guitar.

[@cabanu]

This was the standard microphone on our radio station in the 90's. Still have one.

[@caek2]

This mic is no longer expensive it's at the point where it's *MORBIDLY EXPENSIVE*

[@klauth_Yksyn]

It's actually a really great studio mic! I bought 6 for my studio a few years ago and am still glad I did. Pre's definitely make a difference with this model. API and Neve are par for the course here, as well as some nice EQ's. If money is a deal breaker, this mic isn't for you, or was it intended to be. it's only part of an intendedly expensive signal chain. if you ever get a chance to use one in a high end studio with great gear... you'll be impressed.

[@Podcastage]

That's very interesting. I have a never 5017, so not top of the line, but I'll play around with it some more. Thanks for sharing your insight from a professional studio. What use cases have you found it working on the most?

[@klauth_Yksyn]

Tom's, Snare, Vocals, Over Heads. Hi Hat, Ride. Neve 1084 or CAPI Heider 312 is where its at. This mic loves gear with vibe. It's one of the most bashed mics out there because of the price tag, but in my studio, it's actually the cheapest part of the chain.

[@Podcastage]

Got ya. I would love to get some nice neve gear, but being that I'm mainly just a podcaster, I haven't been able to justify dropping the cash for the vintage gear. I did pick up a WA73-EQ on black friday since it was on sale and I'm interested in trying some more interesting outboard gear. I know it's no substitute for the classic neve, but it's a starting point. After I wrote my review, I went and looked to see how my consensus matched up, and on quick glance it looked like almost all positive reviews. I do think it is a bit on the pricey side. I've found it fun to see the different perspectives on pricing. When I started, I thought that a $100 mic was a lot. Now I think a $100 mic is on the cheap side and a $1000 mic is expensive. I don't know if I'll ever get to the point where I'm messing with the multi-thousand dollar gear.

[@reptilespantoso]

Yes, preamps make a big difference! This thing needs a GOOD preamp. Not that Focusrite, it's fine, actually quite good, but the difference is, that Focusrite is made for "easy to drive" modern condenser mics.

[@loredanamassini9484]

@@reptilespantoso wheres your studio i wanna rec? Europe?

[@bemnared4245]

We have 5 of them at work.We use them not for recording, not for vocals but for for public speakers and hosts on stage....

[@Podcastage]

Damn! That’s an expensive live mic setup.

[@stargatepioneer]

I loved the off-axis noise rejection. That's some of the best sound I've heard while limiting the ambient. If I needed a mic for something like that use case, this would be it. Otherwise I'll be keeping my re320 and maybe looking into an re20 someday instead of dropping a grand on this baby. Thanks for the test! I did like your voice in the test with with High Pass in position one and the High Boost on or the microphone completely flat. One of the two.

[@Podcastage]

I was using it with the high boost off, and the high pass set to position 2 for the outro and that was one of my favorite sound out of this.

[@thirdroompro]

The way to buy this mic is in excellent condition but used. I picked up 5 of them for 400 per in excellent condition. They were worth it.

[@Podcastage]

For $400, I’d be much more happy with my purchase. Haha.

[@bobdelacruz332]

You are so good at this, man! Great video and amazing mic!! Thank you for doing this! I just subscribed to you ; )

[@bobdelacruz332]

And, by the way, here's the mic being used by *Mina:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6KymXSEetaXers

[@excessorizeme]

That box tapping though.

[@ciekaweurzadzenia]

Czy MD 441 potrzebuje napięcia phantom +48V? Czy włączenie takiego napięcia na interfejsie powoduje coś złego?

[@SuperSaiyanScandinavian]

I've heard so many great things about this mic, but i totally understand your stance on the price. how do you think the re20 and sm7b hold up to it? im looking for a superb mic for vocals. maybe a little acoustic guitar, but it will mainly be a vocal mic.

[@seriosertyp8145]

Your review made me recommend this microphone for the Adam Friedland Show.

[@blormpf1740]

The response curve is flat which means you can use EQ without sounding strange. The "M" setting (no bass roll-off) with the presence switch On (aka "high boost") typically has the best sound for most voices, but you have to adjust because everyone is different. It's ok to use EQ on this microphone - it's purposefully made that way.

[@arande3]

Where this microphone shines in terms of songs that I personally really like that I later learned were recorded with it, it creates a lush quality where the high frequencies blend extremely smoothly with the rest of the mix, creating a very gelled sound A couple of the songs I’m referring to are the less I know the better scary pockets cover, as well as the live version of swimmers by zero 7

[@Podcastage]

The scary pockets covers using this is what sold me on trying it out.

[@gaborb6577]

Sounds for me the most detailed among the stage mics you have tested. Olivia Rodrigo uses this

[@kw9172]

In Europe you can get vintage ones in great shape for reasonable 400 Euros.. What can I say, it is for some reason the best microphone I have used for Mandolin (Bluegrass) live, and it works great for banjo too, takes a bit of the edge off. Works great for recording on mandolin too if you shoot for a more traditional tone ...

[@Old_SnakeTwitch]

With a bass voice its hard to find a dynamic microphone that dosent start rolling off a third of my fundamentals, all I've found so far with a low frequency response is this sennheiser, and the RE20.. Although it seems this Sennheiser would be very easy to custom EQ considering its very flat response. Do you know of other dynamic microphones that dont roll off much before 40? maybe 50 hertz?

[@tonygardner4077]

100 percent worth it. only if use them properly. put simply these mics are rugged as, provide massive gain before feedback, and have a basically flat response

[@ricardoprieto6401]

I wish they made a version of this microphone with just the flat setting and knock it down to $500. Love the way this microphone sounds in the flat position, other settings are useless to me.

[@oinkooink]

Judging by the sound samples I'd agree with that.

[@ARRiiVE]

Your review is coming from a guitar player. This mic is designed for trumpets and saxophones. For the sax, this is one of the best live mics I've ever used in live shows. NO complaints.

[@photorooster8865]

Agreed. This is one expensive mamba jamba microphone. I appreciate you taking the bullet and giving us a great review. Thanks to you and a few other favorite reviewers, I finished out my mic locker. 5 Side Address Condensers, 1 Tube Condenser, 2 Pencil Condensers, 1 Passive Ribbon and 2 Active Ribbons and the SM7B. The Sterling ST169 Tube has been crazy good, at least to my ear. Maybe consider reviewing a Tube Mic in the future?

[@Podcastage]

I should look into some Sterling and MXL stuff in that arena. Tubes / Ribbons. Might be interesting.

[@ishakzakaria3923]

I agree with you. the price and the sounds is not matching with jamming club. thanks for your transparency about each product that you comment in each of your video.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for watching.

[@jincho6034]

I got this mic today because I wanted a good dynamic microphone, I don't have acoustically treated room and storeperson recommended this even for vocal recording. I do have a condenser microphone, and have thought about upgrading to Neuman mics .. but condenser mics will pick up too much noise (eg my pug snoring) and I will find it challenging to capture higher louder notes. 441-U adds character to my bright voice, ability to change setting changes is awesome. I've looked at fair few reviews and it's great for electric guitar, violin, vocals with other musicians, live performance.. So really narrow your choice to why you would choose such a mic.. My initial impression was, it's a dynamic mic that sounds like condenser mic.

[@timuryesa]

Nice !!! Would u suggest this mic for rnb vocals? I would use it just for vocals in my home studio. I have to decide between this and shure sm7b bro

[@Slydertek]

Before buying a 900$ microphone, I would have to be ABSOLUTELY sure that this is THE BEST microphone for what I'm doing with it. Therefore, I've seen studio microphones go up to 15 000$ and more. So compared to those it is quite a deal. Realisticly, I'm sure you can find another mic that would sound equal or better with a way smaller price tag. For some, this is the sound they want and they're willing to pay the price that goes with it. Some others will say it doesn't sound good at all. At that point it is personnal preference, and what size is your wallet!

[@Hobo_X]

Am I crazy or did you have a video showing a new high end audio interface to start using instead of the 2i2? So why do you use that in every video still?

[@Podcastage]

I have many of interfaces that I personally use instead of the focusrite for my recodings. However, the focusrite is a great middle of the road interface that is representative of the majority of consumers who are recording audio at home. A lot of folks will not be spending $500-$1000 on an audio interface, and I think it might give a bit of an edge to the microphones that most people would not be receiving. It's about making the review as universally useful as possible. Will some people be disappointed that I'm not using a $500+ interface, yes. But I think more people will get value out of me using a consumer level interface instead, so they'll have a better understanding of how the mic works on their own setup.

[@bubz75]

Most underrated Mic in my opinion 🔥

[@Studio-C]

The MD 441 Mic is one of the best sounding mics for Brass instruments, Bass and Guitar amps. Back in the day it made its reputation based on it's high spl level capability. as well as it's rich lower mids. Used on Bass amps for recording the MD 441 is still one of the best. I use one on my floor tomto get an unheard of tones from the drum. 441 is the best mic I have ever tried on a floor tom or Bass drum. Compared to its competitors $900 price tag is well worth it. I don't know if I would spend that kind of money on a pod cast mic or improperly recording an acoustic guitar. So get over it..

[@justinroark88]

Can you do a video on the Sennheiser MD431 microphone? I'm thinking about getting it.

[@kenwebster5053]

I totally agree, it's just not worth $900. I don't see a lot of point in to mics having all those high boost or cut options. You can do that in post if you have too. If you have a 1/2 decent mixer, you can use the parametric EQ built into every input channel strip to do that as well. So I think your better off putting your money into post procession of into a mixer. I used to use a Yamaha MR series mixer with parametric EQ on every input, it wasn't an expensive mixer though they are a bit old these days, but very easily repaired and maintained too. In fact I bought one 2nd hand for less that than 1/4 of the the cost of that one mic. Sure the high and low pass filter frequency were fixed, but you adjusted the depth of filtering. I'd rather have that than buy a fleet of $900 mics. You can get better mixers than the MR series too.

[@tiffsaver]

I already own the e495 for my singing. But this sucker costs THREE TIMES as much. Would it be worth it for live vocals??

[@Nich_B23]

Definitely an original experience, I give it that. Never really heard anything like it.. in a weird way.

[@Podcastage]

That’s a great way to put it. Very unique.

[@paulvash]

Thank you for creating these reviews - it is a gorgeous mic, but the reality is it won't work for most everything I'll be recording. Your review of the Beyerdynamic M 160 surprised me!

[@TweezerBleezer123]

Thanks for the videos man, great and informative!

[@JehuMcSpooran]

I checked the price for them here in Australia. It's $1,949 AUD from Sennheiser but can be had for about $1,700. As a few have already said, Stevie Nicks uses one on stage and it probably suites her voice better. It's interesting to see in older videos of The Chain she sings across the front of the mic while staring at Lindsay Buckingham and it still picks up her voice fine. I also noticed that this mic is used in the JJJ Like A Version studio sessions, mostly for backup singers.

[@Podcastage]

The reason I really wanted to try it was because I saw it on a bunch of Pomplamoose and Scary Pockets videos and their stuff always sounds insanely good. This mic undeniably has worked wonderfully on many people. At the current price it's just nuts. I think I hear people talk about used it's much more affordable though.

[@JehuMcSpooran]

@@Podcastage It certainly has a distinctive look about it that grabs your attention. It would be fascinating to have a look at how it is made to see why they command the price they do. It looks like it probably would handle loud environments but preserve clear high and mid tones that you get from female singers. It would also be interesting to see how it fairs as an ASMR mic.

[@TazzSmk]

Hi, I wonder what mic would you recommend for recording snare in studio, especially in terms of polar pattern rejection? so far I'm leaning towards this 441 or Beyerdynamic M201 (I watched your videos covering both), price isn't really a concern..

[@RolandDobbins]

EV RE20 beats all.

[@chicoribeiro9558]

I have one... It was used in the 90' for vocal recordings inside my father's film production company!!! I'm currently recording a lot of you tubers and I'm not happy with my Guerrilla Set up. A Cannon - P2 cable. Can you give me some advice??? Should I purchase an interface between mic and Mac... A batter cable??? Or perhaps its a matter of a good software for mixing??? The problem is I do not get enough Gain... And have to boost the gain bringing all that undesirable noise along... Sorry about the bad English.... Currently Drunk and quarantined here in Sao Paulo Brazil!!! Muito grato pelo seu video!!! AKA Thanks for your video!!!

[@shippers47]

First, the video is interesting and thanks for the effort.. One note. Yuo plugged it into Scarlet. Buget interface with a totally unworthy preamp for such a microphone. I mean Scarlett is a solid home studio interface, but you can't expect high end sound from it, especially from such a microphone that requires a preamp with a little more db. I often use it with Isa One or Avalon U5 and the sound is amazing on almost everything. If only one microphone, then that one.. Almost as close as a dynamic microphone can get to a condenser microphone while retaining the benefits of a dynamic one... Does that justify the price? No, I completely agree with you here. I bought a used one for €450 and I think that would be the optimal price for a new one.

[@RandolphandCo]

Thank you. These videos are incredibly helpful.

[@Podcastage]

You're very welcome. Glad you're finding use in the videos. Have a great day.

[@freeuyghurspalestinekashmir]

Beloved Podcastage, i have a question, how do manage to get all the mics and stuffs for your review, did you buy them all?

[@General_Puffball]

The AKG D224e is a better value proposition in the cool-looking vintage dynamic category.

[@Podcastage]

Hmmmmmmmmm. That certainly does look interesting. I saw mention that the dual diaphragm design made them very fragile and hard to repair.

[@General_Puffball]

@@Podcastage Ay, there's the rub! You'd want to make sure you were dealing with a trustworthy seller, if you ever decided to pick one up. There's also a late-Soviet era clone, (the Oktava MD-186) which sounds identical, and has great novelty value.

[@thirdroompro]

224 E is nice , closest to a condenser ever made in a dynamic. Downside? No repair facilities on earth. It has a 2 element system joined by a wire smaller than a human hair. If you lose one of the elements you get no highs or the other element No Lows. No one works on these. I have several.

[@asrar_al3a9l]

whatt is best for voice over sennhizeser md441 or akg c3000b thnks

[@jonaheyden1255]

I don't know why, but at my school the vocal mics are the e835. And we have this mic as a solomic (we have a bigband). Who budgeted this?

[@germanpaez2117]

Este microfono se transformo en un icono estetico, mas que en un microfno justificable desde su punto de vista tecnico, de todas formas la estetica es muy fundamental en el arte, por tanto creo que le voy a entrar de una manera muy potente.

[@UnderhouseMusicNZ]

It's a SPECTACULAR mic for live brass!

[@garygustin1717]

Would be sort of cool if you were to revisit this microphone after having gone through many more microphones already. Even though it is a dynamic, I think it would be useful and helpful to include it with your comparisons with the condenser mics.

[@briancushing1767]

Stick it over a snare drum. It's renowned for its brightness when used to mic a snare.

[@reptilespantoso]

I have 2 and I'll never sell them. You need a better preamp !!!!! I'm using Telefunken V676a. And yes, those aren't cheap either. The real character of this mic will come out. Other preamps that worked: DAV BG-1, Neumann V476, EAB E601. 900$ is a lot but it's engineered amazingly (my mics are 40 years old and will go another 40 easily).

[@AySeres]

811 EUR, bought one yesterday. It is a real thing :) Money become cheaper every day. And I am not sure same about the Sennheiser MD441u.

[@alanjameshorner]

I love these mics. you can pick one up second hand for around £400 in the UK. where is really shines is on drums, especially snare drum, its not really a VO mic. it does work well with live sessions vocals. i would never buy a new one, but a second hand one is well worth it.

[@liams741]

Another great vid. Question, do you have a room full of microphones that have appeared in reviews? Or do you move them on eventually to recoup some of the cost?

[@Podcastage]

I do not sell the because I compare a lot of them and don't want to have to repurchase them for that.

[@liams741]

@@Podcastage makes sense, noticed that you swap them out on your podcast. Thanks for replying! Unusual that I get a response from creators :)

[@chuckmatthews9608]

Robert Plant used this mic on last two albums for vocals. Excellent VO and broadcast mic. Pro VO talent would use it flat, then tweak in the box. $900 compared to the Sony C800 - $8000! I've used the Sony for VO at a studio. Sounded terrible. Of course, could've been the engineer.

[@scottbecker3485]

I wonder how its sound compares to that of the original MD 441? In comparisons of the MD 421 vs. old (cream, MD 421-N), the differences in sound are huge. I own and love both models, both in their original versions. Testing the new 441, only, might be doing a disservice to the reputation of the originals.

[@jkf9167]

I thought that it sounded amazing on the acoustic guitar. That's a real classic sound. But generally, I tend to enjoy mics on an acoustic that get bad reviews for that here.

[@MichaelCobbs]

@podcastage What's your favorite microphones? What's your top 5 budget microphones?

[@exhaust4246]

I think its worth it. The sound is nice & warm 🔥 ⭐ At the same time not extremely dark like sm7b Will buy it someday:)

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

Would this mic be good for character voice overs in games and animation?

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

How often does a dynamic mic even have a super cardioid polar pattern?

[@saxofonistacr]

with saxophones this mic is incredible. Many dynamic mics will make a sax sound nasal, weird. Even some condensers have the same effect. This mic makes it sound like a real sax. I hate so badly what the sm 57 does to my own sound. Im looking for some other dynamic that can bring a more natural sound. But yes 900 it is a lot. I couldn't find anybody showing the Beyerdynamic m 201 TG on tenor. I like it isn't as heavy and intrusive as the EV re20 wich is another option I'm considering.

Please, make SM7B vs MD441 video…Thanx in advance! ❤️

[@louderthangod]

My vintage 441 was less than half of that about 3 years ago and it was in perfect condition. I wonder why they made it so expensive?

[@beav15]

LOVE your reviews. I recently purchased the Mikme microphone. I’m interested in your opinion on it if you’ve ever had the chance to test it out. It was originally $500, but it has come down to under $300

[@Podcastage]

I haven't gone into those portable mics because they didn't seem too interesting to me. How are you liking it?

[@beav15]

Podcastage thanks for the response! I like it a lot for it’s portability, but I feel like I could potentially get the same portability from a cheaper usb mic plugged into my iPhone. But the onboard storage is a cool feature, as well as the video/audio syncing between my phone camera and the recorded audio on the mic. In one sense, it’s a niche product but it also has broad use case scenarios. Another mic I’ve considered is the Instamic Pro. I’ll keep watching your reviews of course, but if you ever decide to review one of these products, I’d be thrilled! (BTW, my KZbin channel account is Techy Agent, so I thought you’d find it interesting that you likely have quite the KZbinr following on your channel.)

[@zrellll]

Can you review some of those weird cheap XLR mics thats on Tesco? I wonder what they sound like but the design they have like SM58 but of course its generic but can you review it?

[@Podcastage]

I've done one that is an SM58 rip off, the Pyle PD58 i think it was.