Sennheiser ME66 vs ME64 (plus Røde VideoMicro) | Sound Check

Is their any sound difference between the ME 66 shotgun mic and ME 64 small condenser mic? I try them in an open family room, recording booth and outside, throwing the Røde VideoMicro into the mix as well.
Gear used in this video:
Sennheiser ME 66 and ME 64 with K6
Røde VideoMicro
Tascam DR60D audio recorder
Canon EOS R with 40mm STM lens
Canon G7X Mark III
GVM and Neewer LED lights

[@moqtev]

Excellent and informative video - thanks Scott.

[@TeddyBones]

This is such a good video! Thank you for making it. Watched the whole thing. :)

[@art.for.thought4987]

great comparison ...simple and spot on...i think ill go for ME66...thanks a lot for the video...great!

[@davidmarell3694]

Love my 66! Nice job comparing.

[@richardsisk1770]

I first bought an ME66 about 1980 or so.

[@mycompasstv]

Nice upload. Thank you for that interesting comparison.

[@cuchicuchifilms5970]

Thank you so much Scot !!

[@scot_smith]

I realized afterward that a test showing the difference in pickup pattern might be helpful, for example a situation recording two people where neither would be directly on axis to the mic. If anyone is interested, I’ll post that test... anyone at all, lol. I know these aren’t the most popular mics.

[@ProfutureMediaSouthSudan]

Yes if you could, I would be interested in that. ME 64 is underated. Also, if you get a hold of the Deity S mic 2 could you do a comparison?

[@scot_smith]

Thanks so much for commenting. I’ll give it a try. I’d also love to try the Deity but don’t yet know how to get a hold of one without buying it.

[@ProfutureMediaSouthSudan]

@@scot_smith I am not sure either, I wish they were available for renting easily. I will be on the lookout for more videos from you.

[@elliotbjorksdottir2878]

Yes, I'm very interested in that since it's the scenario in which I would use them! :)

[@MiguelAngel-oe6rh]

Gracias.

[@MatthiasLenardt]

Good comparison! Enjoy your mics and your voiceover career 😉

[@robwasnj]

The ME64 and ME66 sounded extremely close in your test but the ME64 had a slightly fuller sound. I think the purpose however is to reject extraneous noise with a smaller pickup pattern. The videomicro sounded terrible of course.

[@carlosjavierhernandezlugo6306]

I own both and actually by experience and specs the me64 is brighter than the me66. I use them with a roland edirol r44 digital fiels recorder.

[@lamenamethefirst]

Most headphones do tend to make everything sound a bit similar. And these mics have very similar characteristics anyway. Accurate loudspeakers will help tell them apart a little better.

[@Julian-wx9cn]

I might prefer the ME64. The ME66 sounds a little more piercing around the 4k range I think.

[@Jan-Hynneke]

Very nice test. I would consider buying two of these for podcast interviews. It seems to suit your voice nicely and I will be possible to have decent level of speech even with a distance. And get rid of visible microphones and pop filters 🤗

[@scot_smith]

Thanks. I think they work well for that (especially if mics aren't too far) but I don't have experience with many competing mics; once I found these, didn't feel a need to try others for my amateur use. I do have a few large condensers though that I slightly prefer for strictly voiceover or vocals and in a multiple mic setup, dynamics close to subjects do work well

[@matetsmatets4733]

Good work! Very good sound on me 64. Has the sound been edited? ME66 microphone with powering moduleis K6? Connected directly to the camera? Is it sold together or separately?

[@scot_smith]

Thanks! The sound wasn’t edited other than a little compression on the indoor clips to curb some clipping. No eq or noise reduction. Both mics have the K6 which can be bought separately or together, more often together in the used market. The outdoor test is with mics direct to camera, powered by K6, while indoor comparison they are recorded with Tascam DR 60d ii recorder, phantom powered.

[@matetsmatets4733]

Hi, What cable did you use to connect the me 64 microphone directly to the camera? Can I have a good and clear sound by connecting a microphone ME 64 directly to the camera without using an audio recorder?

[@scot_smith]

I used this XLR to 3.5mm cable: www.amazon.com/Hosa-XVM-115F-XLR3F-Right-Microphone/dp/B000068NZC/ref=sr_1_7?crid=3AXEFEDC27XCI&keywords=xlr%2Bto%2B3.5mm%2Bcable&qid=1577634947&sprefix=Xlr%2Bto%2B3.5mm%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-7&th=1

[@DL-lt5ly]

​@@scot_smith does the use of XLR to 3.5mm cable damages the quality?

[@scot_smith]

D L I think we can get better quality with most recorders as their preamps are probably better than the camera’s, but these mics are sensitive enough not to need too much gain so it still isn’t too bad for me, as a non professional. The cable itself is pretty short and probably doesn’t make much difference to the sound... the preamp would be the weak link I think.

[@thestingyham1188]

Wow, the VideoMicro's self noise is so loud, I would consider that useless to me.

[@MAsWorld1]

66 is better far away outside ( because of longer body tighter focus) inside no difference. Rode fully sucks is there something wrong with it??

[@50450720]

Watching this in December 2022 I couldn't tell any difference, but I just picked up a k6/me66 in great condition from ebay for £100, which was a bargain.

[@scot_smith]

That is a great deal! I still use it regularly ... awesome mic

[@vivy2770]

What is the difference between ME66 and MKE 600 in terms of pickup, sensitivity and noise ? I intend to use it for run and gun, sometimes outdoors, some percussion and live theatre dialog. Is the ME66 more delicate than a MKE 600 ? I like the interchangeable capsule. Please help choose.

[@videoninjashu]

I have both. MKE600 less sensitive, slightly less directional but sounds more natural and has almost zero interference for electronic devices.

[@KiaTaatje]

my choice ME64

[@bennettshapiro7711]

The Rode Video Micro is so noisy you’d never want to use it. Both Sennheisers sound great. The 66 does a better job rejecting background noise.

[@gaelblanchard3745]

Can't find the ME64 on the market. It old out in every websites that I've visited. Any of u guys have an idea where I could find that mic capsule?

[@AEBOGDAN]

Sennheiser just stopped making them recently, so you'd now have to buy them used. Bought mine probably 30 years ago and they still work like new.

[@komjos1121]

me66 sounds here like it's more condensed, me64 has more space and mid-tones in your voice. but I guess it can cause problems outdoors

[@komjos1121]

it'd be nice if you'd try to cut out the noise on the rode as well, just to see how it works "clean"

[@komjos1121]

oh, sorry. i wrote it before reaching the end. so as i said, more space in the ME64 ;) all the best!

[@wall.e]

I fully agree. The ME64 clearly makes the voice brighter indoor.

[@castielvargastv7931]

Which one cuts out backround noise better?

[@scot_smith]

They seem very similar. The supercardioid pattern of the ME66 may diminish background noise in a lot of situations except when the noise is directly behind the mic, like the basketball playing at 5:32

[@subbbass]

the Røde VideoMicro is a mic + air condition or wind sound.

[@justmeagain7259]

Sound identical if not indiscernible to me

[@ProfessioneVideomaker]

me64, being cardioid, takes every possible noise (indoor such as air conditioned, fridgers, outdoor such as cars, motorbikes, people walking). So, it's not good for cinema shooting, but for ideal situation, without noise.

cardioid is good for indoor use...

[@ProfessioneVideomaker]

@ not when there is noise. Not if there's rumble. Lobar shotgun gives more safety, even indoor

[@Nacho.100]

​@@ProfessioneVideomaker But you peak the reflection from everything in the room.

[@MylonasFilms]

@@Nacho.100 true

[@taylorgoodin3513]

Can I use the me66 with a fethead. K6 is expensive

[@scot_smith]

IDK but they’ve been making K6 since the bronze age-probably can find a used one pretty cheap

[@Matthew_Raymond]

The ME 66 is a capsule specifically designed for the K6 and K6P power modules, so it’s not possible to use it without a power module. However, the ME 66/K6 is very hot, so you won’t need any inline amplification.

[@BillyfromConsett]

Thanks. I’ve got a ME64 and ME66. So should I sell one of them?

[@mariocomeq1961]

Somebody offers me a ME60 for 100 USD Good Choice?

[@mariocomeq1961]

Both of them ME64 and ME66 sound fast the same, Hard choice.

[@joonajks]

Is the Sennheiser ME 66 phantom power?

[@MylonasFilms]

all the ME range can take battery power or without. So yeah

[@joonajks]

@@MylonasFilms thank you

[@Gearlovers]

A VERY informative test! Great work. I’m quite happy with my at875r for sit down interviews. However I’d like to make it wireless with the rode wireless go II which has no phantom power. Putting an AA battery in this puppy might do the trick, right? Voice over artists between - feel free to watch the Studio bricks one review on my channel. 😃 Cheers!

[@scot_smith]

Thank you. Glad it was helpful. Yes I plug the röde wireless go ii transmitter directly into the mic with an xlr female to 3.5mm male adapter. It works great

[@klatenist]

Rode's quite noisy

[@DL-lt5ly]

I hear no difference between 64 and 66

[@justmeagain7259]

M64 better inside definitely just very marginally though! The average non interested ‘punter’ wouldn’t notice the difference! And oddly would relate more to the encapsulating all ambient sounds more anyway!