Sennheiser MKE 600 & MKH 416 🎯 Lav vs Shotgun Mics 🥊 Microphone Shootout

[@MachoMaster]

This was a great comparison video, clearly showcasing different positions mics can be used. I really appreciate the "pointing at chest from above" and "pointing from below" tests! This was a great video and I want to thank you for that! Have a wonderful day.

[@ToddUrban]

Thank you for the feedback. Yes, the from above and from below are industry standard placements, so glad they helped. :)

[@MachoMaster]

@@ToddUrban I have watched a lot of comparison videos and it pains me to see the overall well-made video in which the mics are pointed toward the mouth. This makes the results of the video unusable. I was ready to be sadden by the first minutes of your video as well, but then it was suddenly saved. :-)

[@b3naqua]

600 is the winner 👌🏼 thanks for doing this test!

[@ToddUrban]

Of course! Thanks for watching! 😃

[@austinsapp5867]

I bought the MKE 600 as my first shotgun mic, but then went in for the MKH 416 later. I love both of these mics, but I think it's worth noting how you do notice a difference when you start taking them out in some noisier environments. This comparison shows how the tonal quality can sound very similar in a studio environment (with a little more bass and crisper highs on the MKH 416), but you can still hear more of the room reflections in the MKE 600 even in this otherwise clean recording. When you take them out on a noisy street or in the woods/etc. you can really hear the crisper, cleaner distinction you get from recording with the MKH 416, whereas the MKE 600 will sound more dull and have less separation of the subject and the ambient noise in the recording. Still awesome to hear these mics go head-to-head, the MKE 600 really shows its worth here! Thanks for making!

[@ToddUrban]

Excellent feedback. Thanks for the comments out in the field. Yes, my work is studio based, so this was valuable to have your input posted here.

[@alfredknodler540]

Yeah, this comment helped me a lot - like this video itself! Thank you to both of you

[@diazfilms]

This is the best presentation I've seen for the 600 and 416! Well done sir and thank you for helping me with my mic purchase choice choice. MKE 600 it is!

[@ToddUrban]

Thank you! Yes, I bought the 416 first and don't regret it. But then after comparing these, I went out and bought a 600 as a 2nd mic. I was amazed at how good it is.

[@diazfilms]

@@ToddUrban definitely looking forward to upgrading from my trusty Rode NTG-2. Had a great 7 year run 🙂

[@DomSigalas]

Great video Todd! I think I have to experiment with cardioid lapels now! The way I like to use the MKH416 is in a boom-like fashion like it’s usually been used in film. So I place the mic on top of the talent’s head at an angle just so that it’s not visible in the frame pointing straight to the mouth. This way I can get super close and reject most of the room :) that is if the talent is relatively static and not moving too much .

[@ToddUrban]

Thanks Dom! Yeah, biggest takeaway from me is that I kept everything totally raw. So the lapel was super noisy and not my usual audio quality since there was no processing. Once you do that, you realize how much time the shotguns save you in EQing out resonant frequencies, trying to get more chest voice, etc…..

[@alan.macrae]

Thank you Todd, great information. I have both lavs and a very old (~35 years) shotgun. They're all Sennheiser as I have felt that they produce a quality product that works for me. The shotgun is a K3U with a ME80 head. Still delivers like the day I bought it.

[@ToddUrban]

Yep. And I’ve broken them through mishandling on a live set and their repair costs are always very fair.

[@michaelrmarak5597]

I was planning to go for MKH-416, but his review made me change my mind. I will go rather for MKE-600. Cheaper does not mean bad.

[@ToddUrban]

Exactly! The 416 is more than double the price for about a 5% improvement.

[@pathegartyfilmssongs9487]

I have the Mke600. Super Mike. Not worth the extra cost to upgrade. Little eq and hard to tell the difference. Option of battery is a great option. Great video. Thanks.

[@ToddUrban]

I agree. The 600 is an incredible value. And honestly, the battery and shoe mount option sometimes makes it more appealing on location. Thanks again for watching.

[@personperson9591]

Really good video, ironically I own several of both of these mics and I've never done a direct comparison, and am needing to order more for another room so looking up comparisons. The 416 is definitely a superior mic, particularly when distance is introduced, but even without you could tell the overall tone, while subtle, is smooth and both match clarity, but there's a smidge of thinness on the highs up close on the 600 (I regularly record a guy with a gruff voice, so that's top of mind for myself as it make it sound harsh and cheap with the wrong mic). The only part that was weird to me was the angled boom setup, the 600 did actually sound a smidge better at times, wasn't sure if it was the lack of lows making it seem like less room tone being picked up, or even just the word choices involving more bottom end at times.

[@ToddUrban]

Thanks for the feedback. As for the angled boom from above, that is typically how I see this mic being used by most people in film. It’s a great way to keep the mic out of the shot and still get a natural sound.

[@tamasmarkos]

Very good review, thank you, just wish the drumming in the background was quieter or non-existent as it's super hard to focus on the voice - but maybe that's just me...

[@ToddUrban]

Thanks. I’ll consider that for future content. 😃

[@strifey7417]

Okay, I'm super impressed that the difference between MKE 600 and MKH 416 is so minor! I think that I preferred MKE 600 more in this environment. I have heard that MKH 416 requires specific kind of sound treatment in the room to bring out the best of it and I think that it's exactly the thing that is happening here.

[@ToddUrban]

Well, the 416 is a better mic to me. But the real question is it worth 3x the price for a 5-10% improvement? That’s a tough question to answer. Thanks for watching!

[@DocHoliday444]

Great video, thanks a lot for making it:)

[@ToddUrban]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching and supporting the channel! 😃

[@robert_starling]

Nice comparison Todd! For my ears, I'm not sure I can tell much difference if any between the 416 and 600. At least not $600 worth of difference.

[@ToddUrban]

Exactly. The 416 is incredible, but the 600 is a hidden secret in terms of value. They are insanely close!

[@black_flea]

Thank you. Great job 👍

[@ToddUrban]

Glad it helped!

[@Voicesbyshawonbrown]

Great video! What’s the name of your mic stand you used in this video? Thanks

[@ToddUrban]

Hi. They are K&M stands. They are expensive, but last forever and worth the money. It’s basically all I use these days!

[@darekkozdroj1658]

Thanks Todd, yesterday I was convinced i wanted to but 416 but today I got doubts if its worth the money especially if im not a professional that gets paid. So I looked into 600 and at some points I prefered it over the 416. The only thing I am curious is how well they both do with recording foleys :)

[@ToddUrban]

You can’t go wrong with either. But if you aren’t working on a pro budget, the 600 will do just fine. As for Foley, it depends on what you are recording. If you are capturing intimate and quiet sources, you probably want a small diaphragm condenser instead. But that’s just my opinion. It really depends on the source.

[@darekkozdroj1658]

@@ToddUrban Well yes I am looking at all kinds of Foley as well recording some ambience outside and any other environmental sounds. I was looking at KM185, but as well I dont want to spend too much money on Microphone if I am not getting any profit out of it. So I have a question. Would MKE600 be good for recording foley inside as well recording outside ? Im not talking about ambience sound I have Zoom H6 with M/S capsule for that. Or would it be good as well to record ambience with MKE600?

[@ToddUrban]

@@darekkozdroj1658 Recording ambience......not so much, as the entire point is to try and target a source and remove room ambience. However, it is a great sounding mic and you will be able to use it to capture room sounds if you point it toward a source in the room that has a lot of ambience. (a cement wall.....a wood floor, etc) Either way, for the price, I think you will find the 600 to be an amazing value and it has a lot of versatility. I've even started using it as a VoiceOver mic, as it is more natural sounding than an SM7B or RE20. (I have videos on those two mics too.....)

[@Hobby-tripInfo]

Very good fight 😉. I like the 416 better but its price is not to be ignored. I'm going to use it on a Sony a6500 so I'm wondering which one it should be. The mke 600 and even the mke 400 are very camera friendly, but I guess they don't sound like the 416.

[@ToddUrban]

Well the shoe mount on the 600 is great and the price is amazing. So there is your answer. 😉

[@billyhughes9776]

I can barely detect a difference in the sound between the MKE 600 and the MKH 416. The 600 is maybe slightly more detailed? That's about it.

[@ToddUrban]

Exactly. Subtle difference for 1/3 the price. You will notice better room rejection the further away. But they are way closer than I thought. (which is why I made the video) Thanks for the comment.

[@John-e4p1x]

I just got home and can listen to this video, in some ways its troubling how much better the 416 sounds, then sometimes the 600 sounds better... so really I dont know. I know the 416 has too much sizzle and I dont think you can take it out, vs adding it with the 600 in post if needed. the 416 does sound super old, like analogue, ... like I said I used ot use it I used to lvoe it but nowadays i think id splurge for the CMIT5U or get the 600 but this video is tough

[@ToddUrban]

Yep! I can see a reason to have both!

[@Dracomies]

For a video where we need precision to hear what you're hearing the drums really took away from the video. I think it would have done much better without the music and drums where we mainly want to hear your voice and the mic.

[@John-e4p1x]

AT has a massive buzz.

[@asdasd2da]

good compare

[@johnnythunder8382]

Why is it should I use lab or boom. Ummm use both duh

[@ToddUrban]

Well, if you have both, I agree, sometimes being able to switch between them is great. I probably wouldn’t combine them, but having the option is nice.

[@AdrianOleasEmpire]

Great video, well... Ok the thing is 416 is a thousand dollars, and of course, it sounds great, BUT, the 600 is 3 times cheaper and the difference is almost unperceptive, actually, if we are honest, in a movie theater, when you watch a film, the post process of a 416 or a 600 it will be the same, so you will NEVER notice any difference at all, on other hand, if you watch the same movie at home, just with the tv speakers, the rolloff of the low-end on the tv speakers is over the 90hz or even more, so nobody can really tell the difference (same with the room tone on indoors situation or the sound rejection in outdoors), and the most clear example is this video, i saw it in my bedroom tv, and the difference between both is a completely ZERO %... SO, after this short analysis, to buy the 416 is nonsense, you better buy 2 of the 600 and maybe you can buy an extra boom pole and can use both 600 in a scene where you really need 2 shotguns in a shot, my last conclusions, I'm already have a 600, so my next shotgun will be another 600, and the full outdoor system for both... Thanks for this video, it really clear my mind and the final decision, cheers from Colombia!!! 🤘😎🎬

[@ToddUrban]

Agreed! If money doesn’t matter, the 416 is great. But the 600 definitely holds up, especially after making audio adjustments. 😃

[@pathegartyfilmssongs9487]

Hi, no need for background drums!

[@ToddUrban]

I appreciate your feedback on that and will take it into consideration. Thanks for watching.

[@John-e4p1x]

Note one is WATERPROOF the other is not. That is the $700 difference

[@ToddUrban]

Is that true? Obviously there are other differences, but I need to look into whether it is water repellent.

[@John-e4p1x]

@@ToddUrban this is a great video. I used to use the 416 and it was indeed incredible and needed no post. However these days to me it sounds so horrifically "sizzly" where now I owuld want 1.) a CMIT 5U, or 2.) just go for this cheaper option 600 you have here, which I am about to buy this weekend. 416 is way better in rain where the others cannot be... I think the 416 sounds dated.

[@ToddUrban]

Yes, on some sources it is perfect, but others I’ll find myself needing to reach for a different option.

[@NRVE8]

the boom mics sound no difference, the high end on the 416 is better, but very subtle, however Im also an audio engineer and music producer so I listen to tons of mics on the regular. I wouldnt pay for the 416 after hearing the 300... NOW! the lapel mic is trash and 100% not worth $250. thats a joke.

[@ToddUrban]

Yeah, the lapel was something I used for years but always took tons of EQ after the fact to get it sounding clean. (But then never sounded really natural)

[@davidfield8122]

You've got some terribly distracting noise running throughout this video.

[@HGQjazz]

You mean that drum beat?

[@davidfield8122]

@@HGQjazz I think maybe it's the cable or something connected to the AT831b. For instance, see 3:01

[@ToddUrban]

Yes, the noise you are referring to is that of the lapel mic. The one I used (AT) happens to be a little noisier than others such as a Sennheiser. But in general, I have found most Lav mics to be noisy. So no, it isn’t the cable, but rather that they do not reject noise as well as the shotguns do. (Does that make sense?)

[@ToddUrban]

Yes, the noise you are referring to is that of the lapel mic. The one I used (AT) happens to be a little noisier than others such as a Sennheiser. But in general, I have found most Lav mics to be noisy. So no, it isn’t the cable, but rather that they do not reject noise as well as the shotguns do. (Does that make sense?)