Sennheiser MKH 50 Boom Microphone for indoor dialogue recording

In this week’s episode, we have a look at and listen to the Sennheiser MKH 50 supercardioid boom microphone. The film and TV industry has generally considered the MKH 50 as a staple boom microphone for many years. This microphone has the unique characteristic that it captures bass frequencies, even when used at at distance of 2 or even 3 meters. This makes it useful for wide shots in addition to more traditional booming distances of less than 50 cm. In my experience, the MKH 50 is a rich sounding mic which is well suited for indoor booming. Its RF bias design and overall build make it incredibly reliable. Its gentle roll-off filter and -10dB pad also make it useful for closer mic (10 - 40 cm) or really loud situations. The MKH 50 also holds up really well when compared to the much newer MKH 8050 and Schoeps CMC641 boom microphones which we compare it to in this episdoe. The $1200 USD price seems very fair for the quality offered by the MKH 50.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX. school.learnlightandsound.com
Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com ko-fi.com/curtisjudd
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Sennheiser MKH 50 boom microphone - B&H, Trew Audio, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/iYb065
- Sennheiser MKH 8050 boom microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/mUcDk
- Schoeps CMC641 boom microphone - B&H, Trew Audio, Sweetwater geni.us/wi8r4
- Sound Devices MixPre audio recorder - B&H, Trew Audio, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/O8e0
- Rycote PCS Microphone Quick-Release System - B&H geni.us/1WBdkmX
- Aputure LS 300X used for background light - Aputure, B&H, Amazon geni.us/LBXWV
- Aputure Spotlight Mount - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store. Amazon geni.us/kfAj
- Rosco Gobo creates the pattern on the back wall - B&H geni.us/Yqzw
- Canon C70 cinema camera - B&H geni.us/ABYB
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L lens - B&H, Amazon geni.us/qwsEs
- Schneider Radiant Soft 1 diffusion filter - B&H geni.us/VFScD
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon geni.us/InspOl
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens - B&H, Amazon geni.us/gr47
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd
#Sennheiser #MKH50 #Microphone
Index
00:00 Start
00:08 Summary
00:17 Intro
00:25 Sound samples
01:22 My immediate thoughts
02:16 Bass response at distance
03:54 Proximity effect sample
04:10 With vs. without roll-off filter
04:47 Off-axis sound coloration
06:03 Included stand clip and shock mount
06:34 A word on sibilance
07:19 Practical noise floor sample
08:23 RF immunity
08:48 About the MKH series: RF bias mics
10:30 Air moving over switches issue
10:55 Which mic should I buy?
11:57 Pricing
12:12 50 and 8050 vs. CMC641
12:48 My take
13:26 Please buy my courses

[@geraldundone]

You know I enjoyed this. That's my fav mic. Great job, Curtis! 👍💜

[@curtisjudd]

You sound great on it, I would add!

[@Cinnovations]

I chose this mic for best all around indoor dialogue capture, and it’s done well.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

As ever, a fantastically helpful video. Thank you.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks, Professor.

[@tombuck]

This is my personal all time favorite. 🙌

[@uncle-english]

I was searching for your comment as soon as I saw Curtis review this mic. I knew you must say something. Your channel has perfectly demonstrated why this mic is valued.

[@curtisjudd]

It is an oldie but goodie!

[@pag5210]

Many thanks for this long awaited video. Exact this comparison to the Schoeps CMC641 I was very interested in.

[@curtisjudd]

You're most welcome and thanks for coming by!

[@CZsWorld]

It's a classic mic for indoor dialogue. I personally use the cousin MKH 8040 as my primary studio mic because I don't need to worry about handling noise.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@AllenCavedo]

I use 8050 and 8040 as interior dialog mics and have no handling noise issues since I got a relatively new mount from Rycote, the INV 6 Soft which was designed specifically for the 8050 8040 etc. I also use a thinner Canare mic cable which allows more mount flex. This cable is a big part of having low handling noise.

[@av3942]

@@AllenCavedo Hello Allen. Is there any difference in the sound quality in any way between the 8040 and 8050 other than the 8040 having a wider pick up ? We want to retain the 8050 sound but ideally with the slightly wider pick up of the 8040. Thank you!

[@AllenCavedo]

@@av3942 No difference that I have noticed. I use the 8040 when on a C stand between two talents. Single talent or cuing between two I use the 8050. Outside I use the 8060.

[@av3942]

@@AllenCavedo thank you so much, Allen. Much appreciated.

[@spectra71filmsinc89]

Testing out my new MKH 50 and I always love referring to your videos on audio gear for your thorough testing techniques and reviews. Thanks Curtis for the being the "workhorse" in everything audio! Happy New Year to you and yours!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks and happy recording with your new mic!

[@CinePals]

I got this and the 8050. Love them.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@Robert.DeCorah]

I bought this mic a while back because you had mentioned it positively in the past. It's been wonderful for corporate work for sure! Thanks for the video!

[@curtisjudd]

Excellent - keep making great sound!

[@jz2450]

Amazingly detailed and insightful. Thank you a ton!

[@mrbrown]

My personal fave. Loved it so much, I bought two.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@corymayomedia]

Love this mic! Sounds super clean!

[@curtisjudd]

It is a great mic. 👍

[@OTsuperduper]

My personal favorite microphone. An actress screamed repeatedly during a pregnancy scene and it handled it like a champ.

[@curtisjudd]

Wow - definitely able to handle extreme sound pressure levels. 👍

[@charlesisrecording]

The 50 is a beast, I use it a lot in documentaries and interviews.

[@curtisjudd]

Beastly recordings. 🎙 👍

[@Brandon4Weiss]

this is my "someday when I have the money" mic. I've always been a fan of it. Thanks for another great and helpful video!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for watching!

[@jonathanray4987]

I have one on sale on reverb.

[@Brandon4Weiss]

@@jonathanray4987 my budget is $0 right now unfortunately but thanks! haha

[@AllenCavedo]

Nice review. Important points covered succinctly and fairly.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Allen.

[@SkintSNIPER262]

When I was in college for Audio Engineering we used this mic for Foley Recording. Great stuff.

[@curtisjudd]

Classic.

[@nagual2335]

I am internally grateful. Bought the 8050 2 years ago after watching your video - never looked back. It just works, minimum reflections. So small to hold. Full and rich sound🙏🙏🙏

[@curtisjudd]

I'm so happy the 8050 works so well for you. Keep making great sound!

[@nagual2335]

@@curtisjudd Amen, you’re Epic Curtis 🤘

[@TravisSickle]

I just started using the MKH 50 for my youtube channel which took a little getting used to and dialed in for me since I know nothing about audio but I love it.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@flutechannel]

What a great sounding mic! Even with music too! Can't wait to have one myself instead of renting.

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙️

[@dominey]

This is the mic I use. Love it. ❤

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙

[@SudinNair007]

Gave me as clean as a recording as a lav. Worked like a champ❤️

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@iPhonedo]

I love mine so much.

[@curtisjudd]

And you sound great on it!

[@iPhonedo]

@@curtisjudd I've been binging your videos again recently because I didn't feel happy with my outdoors vocal isolation and compression settings, especially when I'm filming by the ocean. I really love your content and your approach of teaching so the viewer understands the tools. It really helps a lot. Instead of thinking some magical settings will solve everything, now I can listen, diagnose, and approach it according to what I want need. So thank you!

[@jakefromstatefarm4131]

Great review! I love how detailed your videos are without wasting our time! Would this mic also be suitable for some serious ASMR?

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks, yes!

[@NoloCuban]

Thank You Curtis!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@av3942]

Thank you for another outstanding video, Curtis. I note that your preference is the 8050, which will influence my purchase decision, as I respect your judgment and our requirements for voice mics are similar. 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@curtisjudd]

Happy recording!

[@av3942]

@@curtisjudd Thank you, Curtis. One quick question - would there be any difference in sound quality between the 8040 and 8050 ? The 8040 has a slightly wider pick up I believe, and that will be useful for two person interviews in the future and also more forgiving for one person. However, if there is any reduction of the quality / characteristics of the 8050, we would stick with the 8050. Thank you!

[@curtisjudd]

@@av3942 I haven't used the MKH 40 but my experience with all of the Sennheiser MKH microphones has been great.

[@av3942]

@@curtisjudd Thank you, Curtis!

[@SoundGrain]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks.

[@iamomid]

I have the MKH 40 (discontinued now) and I love it. It has an almost flat frequency response and sounds really good.

[@curtisjudd]

Nice 👍

[@jeffreythemeditator]

I purchased the very last one I could find in an internet search last year. I think I got the very last one, nothing has come up since then as I search for a second. Amazing microphone. I also have a Schoeps MK41 and I like them equally!

[@ahriik]

The definition of a "workhorse" microphone IMO. I've always described the sound profile as "strong," in that its tuning tends to enhance voices that are on the "thin" or less projected side. Very occasionally, it's a bit too much for voices that are already very rich and projected, but I've never run into a situation that was truly problematic with this mic. I bought the MKH-50 early on on my career and it has been such an invaluable tool. In a pinch it's also been an excellent voice-over studio microphone in situations where such recordings were required but I didn't have access to my normal studios mics. As long as you make sure to have good plosive control and are mindful of distance-from-mouth, it sounds wonderfully rich and quite reminiscent of a good large-diapgragm condenser. The slightly larger than usual diaphragm of the MKH-50, if I'm not mistaken (when compared to other small-diapgragm consenders and pencil mics) is a key factor in it's performance and "rich" sound. As a result it's also not dead-flat accurate, but that's arguably not what you always want anyway.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for sharing your experience, ahriik. 👍

[@curtmega]

Bought this mic as my very first boom mic and I’ve never looked back.

[@curtisjudd]

Good choice. 👍

[@chrisnewton8418]

As usual, an excellent and fair review. I have used both the Schoeps and the MKH 50 in my work (sound for picture, tv, dramas, corporate, documentary). I like both mics very much. I own the Schoeps with MK41 capsule. In 20 years of use I have never encountered the humidity issues mentioned. I work in all kinds of conditions. They do indeed sound different, and as you say, it’s a personal choice. The Schoeps has proven to be a very robust instrument. I also have a Neumann KM150 hypercardiod,and sounds very, very different from the other two. Good to have choices on set. I also have an Oktava MC-012, which I bought as a backup many years ago. It has a very similar sound to the Schoeps (in fact, almost identical in voicing). I don’t have experience with the 8050, but I use the 8060 shotgun version as my main outdoor mic. It is ultra robust and super clean sounding. A fellow mixer swapped out his MKH 50 for a Sanken CS-M1, a very short hyper, and now uses it as his main mic for tv series work. It’s an amazing microphone. Give it a try.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Chris. I've been meaning to try the CS-M1.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

do more people like the sound of the Schoeps cmc 6mk41 over the mkh50? whats better of the 2 without a room thats treated ?

[@hakamsoufan]

Great work .. thank you

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@AlexanderHaibel]

I like the 50 the best. Even if the frequency chart looks similar, something about the low end was just a little warmer, which helps a lot on booming.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, plenty of bass there!

[@franklingenao7418]

I own the 50 and CMC141. Both are excellent microphones, different sound yet none disappoint. There’s a reason they’re used heavily in the film industry for interior dialogue. Get them both of you can 😊.

[@curtisjudd]

I agree - both are great options.

[@franklingenao7418]

@@curtisjudd I really like the "dry" sound (if I could put it that way) of the Schoeps. The 50, while a bit hyped in the low end, is more of a specialized mic, in my opinion. Some say the 50 sounds TV and Broadcast ready while the Schoeps is more of an honest sounding mic to the source. That's the good thing about having different options. I've enjoyed your channel a lot. Keep up the good work.

[@kexollikwauhtlinxan5654]

Super Useful these comparison Mr. Curtis..! Now, I AM EAGERLY WAITING FOR YOU TO GET US TO TASTE THE RYCOTE SC-08 SUPER-CARDIOID PENCIL CONDENSER MICROPHONE and put it against these ones together also with the dpa supercardioid… I’ll give a bow for listening to each mic if you make it possible 🎉🎉🎉

[@curtisjudd]

No budget to buy that at the moment, unfortunately.

[@ElliotSlade]

I just purchased the MKH 50 because of this review. Thanks Curtis. I have been using the MKE 600 which is fantastic but very easy to mess up indoors and has quite a strange sound with large spaces. Hope this will sort things out a little as I do mostly narrative work indoors with rooms not treated so well!

[@curtisjudd]

I hope it works well for you. Happy recording!

[@barrywilliams2881]

Please let me know how it works for you I’m thinking about getting it also cause I do the same thing you do

[@rumial-afghani4589]

@@curtisjudd Wow the sound is sooo good, i really want this but its not on my budget :( , i wonder is there any cheaper alternative that close to this? Great review as always :) Thank you!

[@luist4373]

Great video! I own a 8050 with a custom 70 hz/18db Oct filter that sounds great and 2 Schoeps CMC641 thats sounds great as well. Used the MKH50 since a long time as well. It has a great reach and i like it more for a wireless boom. more sensitive = less noise. But i prefer the schoeps for more natural sound and bad acoustics. Different tools for different jobs/voices.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

8050 you think has less noise than the cmc 641 wireless ? what wireless system are u using ? what does bad acoustics mean?

[@luist4373]

@@creativegreatsvisuals the 50 is more sensitive than the schoeps which results in a lower noisefloor. I use audio ltd A10 (now sound devices). Bad acoustics is when the acoustics sounds bad to my ears ;) like an empty room full of concrete and tilefloor per example.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@luist4373 what’s does sensitive mean in sound ? And what is noise floor in sound ? What do you think of the cmc1 ? Does it sound just as good as the cmc6?

[@66Vogelsang]

I decided for the 8050. More natural in tha 2 kHz area. I like the modern approach. They have a ridicolously low self noise, acts like a microscope in foleywork if needed. Extreme clean signal. In front of an instrument they can sound a bit boring. But since it is so clear you can do ANYTHING with the signal without it suffering. Impressive. And the polar pattern is like carved. Had it on a live stage once without problems (an a brilliant natural sound coming out of the pa). That said, I bought it for filmwork. ... A dream on the far end of the boom. It does make a difference. Much less fatigue after a days work.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@wildwoodscreative]

Have had this mic for a few years now. Absolutely my favorite mic!

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙️

[@RolandDobbins]

I adore my MHK50. It’s overkill for my corporate talking-head applications, but I never have to worry about any deficiencies in the mic itself - because there aren’t any.

[@curtisjudd]

I'm not sure that's overkill if it performs well every time. 👍

[@carlosq00]

OK, I didn't expect to like it more than the Schoeps CMC641 WHAT!

[@curtisjudd]

Sort of depends on the voice as well - really bass heavy voices may start to sound woolly with the 50 and the Schoeps can be a better option in those cases.

[@ntchi]

Been my go to mic for the last 8 years for corporate work. This thing sounds good in 95% of the situations. Once a year It suffers from RFI for some strange reason. But definitely in the TOP 5 of industry standards.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

who do you think is best quality sounding for corporate work ? although its situational .

[@ntchi]

@@creativegreatsvisuals well, it just always sound good. And really gets the chest voice of talent. It picks low frequency eloquently. Bright without being harsh. That's why it's been used in several Hollywood sets. An excellent value for the price and on par with some mics 2 times more expensive 🫰

[@bshupp]

Thanks very much for the video! I have this mic and love it, and it's really helpful to hear the comparisons with the other mics. I'm curious, though... your opinion of the mic seems to have changed since your earlier review of it. Is that the case?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, I have experience with a LOT more microphones since I made that original review of the 50.

[@beyond8981]

Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

🙏

[@electronicbox6990]

Hello from Bulgaria, Curtis! Great review as always! Just one question. Can you make a comparason between mkh 8050 and 8060? 8060 is often called 416 replacement, but there are many people loving it and the same amount negative comments, that it is extremly sensitive and often that is a negative, they say.

[@curtisjudd]

I don’t have an 8060, unfortunately. But If I get one, I’ll surely make a comparison video.

[@thomhunterpratt]

Curtis, thank you so much for what you do and the wealth of information you share with us. Would using the 50 as an on camera mic with the GH5 and DMW-XLR1 adapter provide sufficient results?

[@davidcmpeterson]

I'd save a little and get the even smaller Sanken CSM1 if you're looking for an on camera mic. But really, on camera is a terrible position! Got to get that mic *off* the camera, and closer to talent.

[@curtisjudd]

It depends on how far from the mic you film. For seated interviews, with the camera 2-3 meters away, it would sound like a beautiful mic that is too far away and picking up too much ambient noise.

[@mattwruff]

I have 2 MHK50 and MHK416 this may sound weird but I do lots of interviews or solo recordings and I have two boom stand with Dual heads and I use both. I generally run both or all four channels into my MixPre 6 ii and it works well for me I listen to both track individually and sometime use a mixture of both tracks.

[@curtisjudd]

Nice setup, Matt! Doesn't sound weird at all.

[@DannyPops]

curtis is the whole reason my YT channel has nice clean audio... been using the AT4051B for years now :) This senny is nice though.

[@curtisjudd]

👍🎙️

[@mattbba8451]

Wow MKH-50 was excellent.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@Dusheyad]

Curtis, thank you so much for what you do and for the information I keep learning from you. After this video I decided and got the Sennheiser MKH-50. What suspension model would you recommend for this microphone for indoor records? So far I have been using Rycote's InVision Softie Lyre Mount with Pistol Grip with the Sennheiser MKH-416 and the Daity S-2 Mic. For now I have chosen the Cinela OSIX 3 Suspension MKH 20, 30, 40 & 50, but I would like to hear your opinion as well.

[@curtisjudd]

I've just been using the included shock mount when static booming the mic. I haven't had any issues with it. If hand booming, I'd think the Cinela is pretty much top of the line.

[@IdShift]

Hi Curtis. Thanks so much for providing such useful content. I've been hearing a lot about this mic lately. Question. I am trying to work on my audio workflow for short doc work. Do you have any videos where you go through a basic audio post processing workflow to get dialogue in a pretty good state to begin cutting? I process a high volume of talking heads interviews and would love a "good enough" work flow. Denoise, normalize, compression, filtering etc. Cheers.

[@IdShift]

never mind. I just bought your Izotope RX course for dialogue audio. cheers!

[@curtisjudd]

Here’s one example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmq5oJx3n5lpY9k

[@arispavlidis2455]

Hi Curtis! Thanks for this review. Always helpful. I own an mkh-50 for the lasta 7 years. I am totally satisfied with this mic, and i can say that it is also good for outdoor work (if you have to use just one mic for indoor and some outdoor), at non very loud enviroments. But, the is some issue that i have the last two years. There are some situations (outdoor only and very few but still there sometimes) that it gives me some little noise , like AC or frequency interference, or like a drunk cricket (lol). I couldn't find the exact reason of that (the same happens also on my MKH-30 once. I wonder if there are some microphones with a different construction than newer ones. With some searching on the web i found that it is a common issue for some of them. Just wondering if you are aware of this.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, have you tried putting gaffers tape over the switches? That often solves that issue.

[@arispavlidis2455]

Well, no. You mean for the wind issue? Looks like another kind of noise but I will try it. Thanks a lot for the answer.

[@AriMannis]

Another great video Curtis! I was thinking of putting two of these overhead at a dining room table to record a video podcast aka long conversation between two people as apposed to used SM7B's. If the room is sound treated do you think this would sounds good enough so that the audio only listeners wouldn't complain? Thanks for your thoughts.

[@patrickchase5614]

I'm not Curtis, but I don't see how anybody but you can possibly answer that question, because it depends on the geometry of the room, its contents, what exactly you mean by "sound treated", and your listeners' standards/expectations. It's really hard for any boom mic, no matter how good, to compete with a quality vocal mic used a few inches from the source. If you can accept having mics right in front of your faces then that's probably going to yield the best recording. Boom mics exist to handle situations where that isn't possible.

[@curtisjudd]

Patrick Chase pretty much summed up my thoughts.

[@AriMannis]

@@patrickchase5614 Sound treated meaning, no outside noises, carpet, ceiling foam, not many hard surfaces. To me when I listen to Curtises videos it sounds great, i'm sure if I compared it side by side to a vocal mic its not as good but its probably better than most people's podcasts with vocal mics that are not as savy.

[@patrickchase5614]

@@AriMannis Sounds like you answered your own question. I understand where you're coming from, as I use a boom mic (a mid-end AT4053b) just out of camera for videoconferencing, and while the results aren't as good as I could get with an "on-camera" mic they're good enough for the application. It would appear that that's the case for you as well.

[@HopeProphecy]

For talking head videos in a treated space, would you lean towards the mkh50 or the NTG5?

[@curtisjudd]

MKH50.

[@HopeProphecy]

@@curtisjudd thanks!

[@danniv13]

If possible, down the road…would love to see a comparison between the MKH 50 and the Rycote SC-08. There aren't any videos that show how the SC-08 sounds and a comparison with th MKH 50 would be that much more amazing. Thanks.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have the budget to purchase the Rycote at the moment, but perhaps in the future.

[@HopeProphecy]

Would you recommend using the foam microphone cover in an indoor studio on the MKH50? The room is treated.

[@curtisjudd]

Generally yes. If it is sounding too muffled on a particular voice you can always remove it. But having it on can help prevent plosives.

[@HopeProphecy]

@@curtisjudd Ok, thanks!

[@heikkiillikainen3471]

From experience i can say that 8050 in extreme temperature/humidity changes will start to pop and even go silent for a while. For example going from inside a sauna to outside, vise versa or going inside to +21c from -25c. If you keep 8050 in -25c it works great all day long, but when you go inside the mic body is so cold that it forms frost all over itself and also the mic membrane i guess. Otherwise 8050 has been a super good lightweight and great sounding microphone!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

what works best for you in humid conditions ?

[@brandonlazo]

Nice video as always Curtis, if you have to choose 1. Mkh50 or mkh 416?

[@curtisjudd]

50 for me, but I work mostly indoors and with head and shoulder framing.

[@blaine691]

I recently borrowed a friends MKH50 and set it up against my 641 for about 8 interview style setups. Listening to them on my JBL studio monitors, I thought 4 people sounded best on 50, and 4 sounded best on 641. However, I did not feel that way while recording those takes. I listened on a pair of ATH-m50Xs while recording, and thought the MKH50 sounded best for 7/8 subjects. Because my headphones and 641 had a more pronounced frequency response in the mids, it was unpleasant to listen to. Comparatively, the MK50 sounded as though it had a mid freq scoop that took out all the annoying ringing frequencies in peoples voices. I later listened to the my recordings on a pair of 7506s and thought the 641 generally sounded better. 7506 + MKH50 combo brought out the worst of the sibilance in people's voices. Headphone and mic combos are definitely worth considering! I could get both to sound great in post, so there's no wrong choice here!

[@curtisjudd]

I agree - no wrong choice here. 👍

[@marcotronic]

Thank you so much! I would love to hear a comparison with the MKH416, my go to voice over mic.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for the suggestions. We'd probably compare that to other shotgun microphones. But if you want to hear my voice on both, you can cue up this review in one browser tab and the RODE NTG5 review in another tab (where we use the MKH416 as a comparison). That would at least give you a sound comparison data point.

[@Trevellian]

Thanks for another great review. What is the purpose of the orange net on mic's XLR cable?

[@Slipsch]

Prevent from handling noise from rubbing against the cable.

[@curtisjudd]

That is to protect my graphite boom pole when the XLR connector swings away and hits the pole.

[@stuco5516]

Hi Curtis, great video as always. Just a quick question. Is the low cut filter enabled when the little sticky out red bit is on the left or right? I can't tell which is on and which is off. I've been looking for an answer on the internet but can't find anything. Thanks.

[@curtisjudd]

When you move the switch to the right, it is enabled.

[@stuco5516]

@@curtisjudd thank you very much for the clarification. Much appreciated as always.

[@hectorarroyoburgos848]

Thanks Curtis as always very helpful your videos. I have a Sennheiser MKE 600, and was thinking upgrading to Mkh 416 or Mkh 50, do I’m going to have an upgrade in sound? If so which one? It’s mainly for KZbin as boom mic, I also have some noise outside of the room.

[@curtisjudd]

If you'll mostly be indoors, I'd probably opt for the MKH50, but note that it probably won't reject the outdoor noise better than the MKE600.

[@hectorarroyoburgos848]

@@curtisjuddgot it! Yeah you’re right. Thanks for the advance, as always you help me a lot. Love your channel!

[@carlosq00]

grabbing my good headphones...

[@curtisjudd]

🎧

[@thomasw1865]

It’s quite expensive…but truly awesome

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@arlo.guthrie]

Really helpful, thanks Curtis, and I too have just bought an MKH50 on the strength of your review. One question: you say you have courses "including: processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight", but I can only find that course for Audition, not DVR/Fairlight, which is what I use. Am I missing something? Or is the Adobe CC course applicable even for those using DVR?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Arlo, the Fairlight course is at school.learnlightandsound.com/p/fairlight-fundamentals-mixing-dialogue-in-fairlight

[@arlo.guthrie]

​@@curtisjudd Ah - OK, thanks Curtis. I did see that one, but it seemed (from title and contents) less focused on dialogue and less comprehensive than the Adobe one (which from the table of contents seems to cover a whole lot more). But I'll give it a go!

[@curtisjudd]

@@arlo.guthrie it is focused on mixing vs the Audition course which is solely focused on how to process a single dialogue clip.

[@arlo.guthrie]

​@@curtisjudd Oh dear! I'm trying to improve the sound quality on my YT channel, which is mostly dialogue with not much mixing. Until now, just used Rode Wireless Go. Zoom F3 and MKH50 have just arrived. Much richer sound, but still hearing slightly echoey sound in my small but untreated office. So I think what I need is the dialogue course. So if you were me, would you do the Audition dialogue course, and then figure out how to do what you learn from that course in Fairlight (is most of it transferable, although I'll spend some time figuring out where the corresponding button or dial is?)

[@curtisjudd]

@@arlo.guthrie No, I don't think that'd be a good idea. The translation would be much more difficult because in the Audition course, we spend all of our time in the waveform editor, a feature which Resolve does not have. Sorry about that. 😔

[@roland.boyden]

8050 is a newer more updated design right? I could honestly hear very little difference between the 50 and 8050. Love the shock mount design for the 50 though.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, the 8050 is the newer modular design. It is about 1/2 the size of the 50.

[@kengoodwin459]

Any chance you could add another test with your mics in an untreated kitchen or garage type of acoustic space?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, when I get the time. 👍

[@northislandnow8858]

Hi Curtis, lots of people notice you never compare certain mics with the Sennheiser ME66 with the K6 capsule. Any reasons?

[@curtisjudd]

I believe it is no longer available. They discontinued it before I got to it. 🤓

[@northislandnow8858]

I see it on the B&H website. What I don't see is the K6 Power module. Maybe Sennheiser is doing away with all the mics that need the module?

[@MaineMountainMedia]

Is there a benefit to using the low cut switch as opposed to rolling off lower frequencies in eq in post? (let's assume I plan to process and eq my audio in post either way)

[@palmierigonzalo]

Sí, hay. Las frecuencias más graves que lleguen al micrófono (ruido ambiente, handling noise, etc.) no llegarán al preamplificador. Por ende, el rango dinámico de tu preamplificador se amplía al no tener que manejar esas frecuencias generalmente indeseadas. Es un beneficio o no dependiendo de qué estés grabando pero básicamente esa es la diferencia entre usar el low cut del micrófono vs. ecualizar en post. Saludos!

[@MaineMountainMedia]

@@palmierigonzalo Thank you this is very helpful! Cheers

[@curtisjudd]

It depends. If low frequencies are too prominent and your recorder applies the low cut AFTER converting from analogue to digital, then it can be better to use the low cut on the mic.

[@MaineMountainMedia]

@@curtisjudd Good to know thank you!

[@classicboy97]

Any chance you might be able to take a look at the Sennheiser MD-441U?

[@curtisjudd]

I'd sure like to. Not sure when funds will allow.

[@guymicciche144]

Hi Curtis, what is a good carbon fiber boom pole you would recommend for this mic. I'm looking for good price, carbon fiber, but also to support this mic since it's expensive. The pole would be mounted on a c-stand. Thanks for your videos!!

[@curtisjudd]

I use K-Tek Avalon graphite poles.

[@IsaacFromHK]

Is it worth the upgrade from MKE600 for indoor interview? Is the difference in sound quality so much better? Thanks.

[@curtisjudd]

That's a tough one. If you're recording for pay, yes, I'd make the investment. If you're making KZbin videos for yourself...Maybe not.

[@hoodaffairstv]

Can you use the MKH50 outside as well or is it best used inside

[@curtisjudd]

You can, yes, with solid wind protection and note that it is not as directional as some shotgun design microphones.

[@benjhaisch]

Random question, but what is the netting around the XLR connection?

[@curtisjudd]

Just a bit of nylon webbing to cushion when the metal XLR connector swings and hits the graphite boom pole.

[@benjhaisch]

Thanks! I’ve seen it pop up in a few of your videos and always been curious.

[@doylelacrua]

Just so happens I came upon one of these just last week. Was a bit easier to get through eBay than was the 416. Couldn't manage to get that one.

[@curtisjudd]

For indoor dialogue, I'd prefer the 50 anyway.

[@SohNatan]

how would you compare the mkh to mkh 70 for indoor streaming setup? On paper I thought the shotgun would have more off-axes rejection for both room/ambient noise and also mouse clicks and keyboard sounds. Added to the super low 5dBA self noise it seemed like a good idea. But I see everybody online saying they wouldnt use it indoors. Any thoughts on that comparison? Thank you very much,

[@curtisjudd]

Here are my thoughts on using a shotgun microphone indoors: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYfEfKaql5hogrM

[@florinG]

Great video like always. In the UK they are priced differently, the 8050 is about £937 or $1155 and the 50 is £1249 or 1,545. A big difference in price, I don't know why.

[@curtisjudd]

Me neither.

[@JohnDrewVoice]

Curiously, the Sennheiser MKH-416 is well-regarded by many voice artists for that "voice of god" characteristic when worked closely. I have one, but it isn't mounted in my voice booth. Instead, I use it simply for Skype, Zoom, and Messenger sessions.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, you can get that with the 50 as well - plenty of proximity effect.

[@JohnKuehne_SF]

Interesting, I use my 416 exclusively in my booth for all of my voiceover work. I was curious about the 50 as an alternative. Picking up more bass in my voice is really not necessary since I start rolling off after around 400Hz anyhow.

[@ajianggoro_]

Great video. For ASMR activity like grinding coffee, packing & unboxing tools, any suggest great mic for me? Any price doesn’t matter. Thanks man

[@curtisjudd]

Schoeps CMC641

[@ajianggoro_]

@@curtisjudd pick schoeps cmc641 rather than MKH 8050?

[@curtisjudd]

@@ajianggoro_ tough call. If you want more bass, then 8050.

[@ajianggoro_]

@@curtisjudd for better result, any recommendation audio recorder to pair match with?

[@curtisjudd]

@@ajianggoro_ Sound Devices MixPre would be my first choice. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp21h6GDhJZnoZo

[@digitten]

In your corporate work, do you double-mic the talent (boom and lav) or is that just overkill for short talking head interviews?

[@curtisjudd]

When on location I do, yes. When in studio, which is most of my work these days, no, we have permanently boomed mics and control over everything.

[@skakdosmer]

Well, I once went crazy and bought the Sennheiser MKH 416, in spite of the fact that it's really too expensive. But there's something very special about the quality of the sound it produces that I haven't heard in any other microphone. The microphones in this video are even more expensive, and while sounding good, I don't find them to have that special 416 magic ingredient. I know KZbin may not be the right place to listen to microphones, as KZbin do their utmost to make everything sound about the same. So from my listening point these microphones are not at all sufficiently better sounding, if at all, than some much more budget friendly alternatives, to warrant the higher price.

[@curtisjudd]

Which microphones would you opt for instead (excluding the 416 which is a shotgun mic)?

[@skakdosmer]

@@curtisjudd oh, I don't know. The NT5 isn't too bad, I think. For something slightly more directional I have the Sennheiser ME64 which has a very neutral sound. But actually I don't own any super or hyper cardioids. (Except dynamics, or the ME65 which IS a hyper cardioid condenser, but not very sensitive being designed for close proximity). You've often talked about the Audio-Technica AT4053B which I don't own, and which isn't terribly inexpensive, but still much cheaper that the ones in this video. Maybe I'll get one some day. By the way, today I received another Audio-Technica, the AT8024. A camera mic, switchable between mono and mid-side stereo. Part of my never ending search for the impossible: A mic to put on top of a camera, giving me great audio.

[@Phil-gz5bf]

What do you think compared to the dpa 4017b as a indoor mic? I feel like its between the Schoeps and the mkh 50 but more versatile as for outdoor booming?

[@curtisjudd]

Have the option of all of these and when indoors, I usually choose the MKH 8050 or MKH 50.

[@Phil-gz5bf]

Thank you for responding :)

[@ColinZiemer1]

Current MKH416 owner looking at adding to to 50

[@curtisjudd]

That'd be a nice kit.

[@Nickporter17]

What are your thoughts on handling noise on the 50 vs 8050? It's one dramatically more challenging to boom?

[@curtisjudd]

The 50 seems considerably easier to boom in terms of handling noise.

[@makemoneyrelax]

crazy distance you get get with this mic....is it good for sony cameras? Can you plug it directly into 3.5 camera plug?

[@curtisjudd]

No, needs phantom power (+48V).

[@RetoBuri]

thank you very much!! what about outdoor dialogue recording? what would you suggest?

[@curtisjudd]

MKH416 or MKH8060.

[@newfoundmass]

This is probably a dumb question, but what's the net on the mic for?

[@curtisjudd]

That is to prevent damage to the graphite boom pole when the XLR connector swings free and hits the boom pole.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

My voice tends toward deep and muddy. How does the MKH 50 do with sibilance then? Thx Curtis.

[@curtisjudd]

Sibilance is generally independent of bass energy. So if your voice is very bassy and sibilant, it’ll sound that way through the MKH50, but you’ve got the roll off switch to manage the bass and de-ess plugins in post if the recordings need that.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

@@curtisjudd Thanks hugely much!

[@AXYZE]

Hey, I'm searching for boom microphone that will be used indoors. MKH50 sounds completly perfect, but its way too expensive for me. Is there any mic in $100-$250 range that resembles its characteristics? I absolutely love how deep voice sounds when you are at 1-2meter distance, cant get this effect with other mics I tested. Mic will be plugged in into Tascam DR05X If $100-$250 range is too low, which would be the cheapest one that resembles MKH50?

[@curtisjudd]

I don’t know of any the sound like the MKH 50 that work with the DR-05.

[@AXYZE]

@@curtisjudd Then maybe another recorder? I didnt bought it yet and I need $500 max solution for recording audio in various untreated spaces. I've found t.bone SC140 microphone and it sounded good on KZbin videos. Have you heard about this one? Sadly its cardioid and I think I should get super or hypercardioid as rooms are untreated.

[@curtisjudd]

@@AXYZE Maybe a ZOOM F3 and the t.bone? I haven't used the t.bone, but if you like what you heard, it may be a fine option.

[@AXYZE]

@@curtisjudd so what you saying is that recorder is way more important than microphone itself? On forums I saw that people say this tbone is very similar to NT-5 and Oktava MK012 in terms of performance, in terms of sound similar to Oktava with same warmth/lowend boost.

[@curtisjudd]

@@AXYZE no, they’re both important. But I wouldn’t recommend trying to achieve an MKH50 sound with a Tascam DR-05 or any other recorder which doesn’t have an XLR input

[@anthonyrubio1194]

which camera did you use to record this video thanks

[@curtisjudd]

Canon C70 for the talking head shots, Panasonic GH5 for b-roll.

[@donwarren3253]

Are these microphones better than the podcast SM7B style mics for podcasts? I watch this video and there is less static noise in the samples, but when I watched your SHURE SM57 vs SM58 vs SM7B video, I hear static noises in the background and during the voices. I see 99% of streamers and podcasters using the SM7B style, but I hardly see them using shotgun or pencil cardioids when personally imo the latter seem better

[@zedamex]

Because of how easily these pick up other sounds, SM7B (dynamic) require more eating thus even less background noise. Eg you'll hear a lot more typing, pc fans, air con or whatnot easier on a condensor mic.

[@donwarren3253]

@@zedamex Whats eating? So the mkh 50 will have louder typing sounds than the shure sm7b?

[@zedamex]

@@donwarren3253 By eating I mean being very close to the mic, which in turn means further things sound even more distant. I can hear more background noise like kids playing outside, trains or cars going past etc in simple room. If you have a dedicated studio maybe its ok. I don't have that experience but have seen making of scenes of batman using two mkh 50s for the two actors sitting at a table and that worked. But I wonder how hard it is to control feedback in a live setting.

[@donwarren3253]

@@zedamex Batman scenes? Do you work in the industry? If so wow thats cool! Is the mkh 50 tier (and equivalent at shoeps or sanken) the best of the best? Or is there another tier above $1000-2000 mics?

[@zedamex]

@@donwarren3253 No I don't, I saw from behind the scenes interviews. The gold standard mic is probably the U87, but there are even more expensive than that.

[@Mixedtinkerings]

I found that the MKH50 is pretty immune to handling noises and rumbles that come from handling a boom pole.

[@curtisjudd]

Me too.

[@CreepypastaChronicals]

In germany the mkh 8050 are 1280€ and the mkh50 over 1600€ what make more sence to buy ?

[@curtisjudd]

If booming by hand, I’d still go for the MKH50.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

why a medal boom over graphite ? I thought graphite is less noise ? whats the best boom pole with internal xlr ? I don't want a pole where the internal cable picks up unwanted sounds

[@curtisjudd]

This is statically boomed, not moving. So metal is fine in this case.

[@Direct19681]

I thought the Schoeps CMC641 had a louder noise floor than both the Sennheisers.

[@curtisjudd]

Depending on how the noise is measured, the specs are actually quite similar between all three. Nevertheless, I like practical samples.

[@ZoranvonderHeide]

Hi Curtis, which microphone is better for indoor video / voice over recording (KZbin)? MKH 50 or MKH 8050 (online it is more recommended for instruments)? If you combine the MKH 8050 with the MZF 8000 II low cut filter, is it like the MKH 50? In the USA, the MKH 50 costs 1,200 USD at B&H and the MKH 8050 1,399 USD. In Germany it's exactly the opposite - the MKH 50 costs 1,550 EUR and the MKH 8050 only 1,125 EUR. The additional Sennheiser MZF 8000 II low cut filter costs 389 EUR. In Germany, the MKH 8050 would be cheaper and with the additional low cut filter it would be priced close to the MKH 50. What would be the advantage or disadvantage of the MKH 8050 + MZF 8000 II combination? I have already bought your Zoom F6 course. Do you also have courses for RodeCaster Pro or DBX 286S in combination with different microphones Shure SM7B / Rode NTG3 / Sennheiser MKH 416 P48 / Sennheiser MKH 50 / Sennheiser MKH 8050?

[@curtisjudd]

The big differentiator between the 50 and 8050 for me is that the 50 is less prone to pick up handling noise. If I could only choose 1, I’d opt for the 50. I don’t have a RODECaster or dbx286 course yet, but perhaps in the future.

[@ZoranvonderHeide]

@@curtisjudd would the MKH 8050 with the MZF 8000 II low cut filter (switchable low-cut filter -3 dB at 70 Hz, high-quality -10 dB pad protects against overdriving) sounds equal to MKH 50? I already have the MKH 416 P48. I have ordered the MKH 8050. My room is not yet acoustically treated. 1550 EUR is a lot for the MKH 50, but if i have to add the low cut filter to the MKH 8050 it's the same.

[@curtisjudd]

@@ZoranvonderHeide They sound roughly the same without the filter.

[@thedarksidemic]

Ha! 50 v 8050 was exactly what I was wanting to hear so thank you! Encouraging to hear the 8050 has very similar bass response, that might actually swing it for me since its about £400-500 cheaper than the 50 here in the 'rip-off UK' :D

[@curtisjudd]

Glad it was helpful and thanks for coming by!

[@w.g.5225]

I used the 8050 for over 5years now and Problem with was. It has to much bass especially deep male voices. Got the cmc1 mk41 now, I found it fits more voices. The 8050 still a good mic I keep it,but the mk41 it’s just lovely love all about it.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

whats the difference in the cmc1 and the cmc6?

[@w.g.5225]

It’s smaller with new components better RF shield. Never had a cmc 6 can’t say about sound differences.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@w.g.5225 what do u mean newer components? Newer components than the cmc6u like what ?

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@w.g.5225 does better Rf shield mean better in humid conditions?

[@_innerscape_]

I was looking at the MKH 8000 series. Nice, nice, nice... Nextel antireflective coating. Ah! That thing turns into sticky tape with time. Nope!

[@curtisjudd]

Hmm, I have been working with my 8050 for over 5 years and it isn't sticky yet.

[@_innerscape_]

@@curtisjudd Interesting. Maybe there'e a difference from original Nextel paint and rubberized look alike imitations.