The Schoeps CMC141 Listening Experience

Take a sonic journey into the newest of the Schoeps colette series mono set the CMC1 mic preamp, MK41 capsule and CUT60. Featured in this video is cello instrumentalist Okorie Johnson improvising at Down In Deep studios located in Midtown Atlanta. Also featured is ADR re recording mixer Greg Crawford CAS at Smart Post Atlanta. Join us as we listen, test and observe the sonic qualities of the Schoeps Colette CMC141 with a series of dialogue capture tests including microphone reach, proximity effect, off axis performance, and SPL tests. Also included is A/B tests with the popular and familiar Sennheiser MKH50 for reference and an excellent reference of how this microphone will translate on a motion picture film set and interview.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

It was really great to listen to & experience this mic at Smart Post Atlanta and Down in Deep in Midtown. Thank you Martin Kearns, Greg Crawford, and Okorie Johnson for your time and expertise!

[@LloydPuckitt]

So cool. It’s nice to hear the mic without it being an ad, or some quick “dialog” scenario with a hand hold above the head. Having the ability to hear this mic on both voice and on an instrument with room and a few mic pres is sooooo valuable. Thanks for going to the trouble of getting these rooms and talent. 🎙

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Was a ton of fun Lloyd, thanks for the feedback!

[@realmalteherwig]

Charming video. Nice to see a different take on the usually hyperventilating „gear review“ genre

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

😂thanks Malte!

[@realmalteherwig]

@@MichaelWynneCAS sure! btw: still happy with your sonosax m2d2?

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

@@realmalteherwig absolutely, lives on my small cart full time!

[@ToddWhirley]

Okorie may be the real star of this video. Man, he makes that cello sing.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

It was a real pleasure to meet him and hear him play!

[@DaveChorowskiMusic]

That little bit about going in too close on a tight with the 50 is such a great point! I realize I am guilty of this and in the moment will push that frame too hard, possibly in reaction to the to how far out I was for a wide/medium shot. Feels to me like a bad habit, as if I am trying to compensate in the tight.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Totally, it seems subtle but makes a big difference.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

What do you mean by push that frame too hard ?

[@DannyPops]

the audio sounds so prestine in this entire video! I'm blown away but realizing the mic is only a portion of that translating here.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Thanks Danny! Glad you enjoyed.

[@nicolasfieldsoundservices]

Thank you Michael! Looking forward to adding some of these mic’s to my kit

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

You bet!

[@leoquesto9183]

Love the Schoeps! Colette… she is so sweet. That’s cool to see inside Crawford again. I did an online there some years back and it was an excellent experience. Four days. Nice atmosphere. Good people. Always professional, and it didn’t hurt that the menu never disappointed, either.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

He’s an Atlanta staple Leo, we’re lucky to have him!

[@makeperceive]

Great comparison, thank you

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Thanks for watching!

[@TheUnMarketingGroup]

What a great video Michael. Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to help us all understand not only the subtle differences between these two fantastic mics, and also the nuanced use depending on situations. Really, really well done. I wish there multiple thumbs up buttons!

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Very much appreciated! This particular vid and time at Smart Post made an impact on my approach with distances for my booms to!

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

what do u think are the subtle differences in the two mics ?

[@franklingenao7418]

Man that 50 sounds full even from 6’ away with the low cut filter engaged! No wonder it’s a staple! Great video man. Appreciate the work.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Thanks Franklin, it really is a staple. And that amazing room at Smart Post don't hurt either!

[@franklingenao7418]

@@MichaelWynneCAS That is true also. I’m a filmmaker myself and I used the 416 for my first film and then purchased the 50 for indoors and it’s much smoother and really isolates the reverbs and echoes. I’ve been eyeing the Schoeps for awhile to add it to my kit but still haven’t pulled the trigger on it. The benefit I hear most people say aparte from the sound, it’s how good it is even off axis and that is one of the main reasons why most field mixers prefer it. How has your experience been with it?

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

@@franklingenao7418 IMO it has a more balanced sound then the MKH50 which can be a bit dark sounding and somewhat hyped in the low end. But I do still use my 50’s occasionally when it feels right such as car work plants. For interiors It’s just hard not to fall in love with the sound of the Colette, it has been a staple for many years and it’s easy to hear why.

[@franklingenao7418]

@@MichaelWynneCAS That’s interesting to hear. I heard how the sound mixer for Lucy used the 50 on Freeman for a deep voice and the Schoeps on Johansson for it’s nice and sweet sound. He also used the 50 on Taken for Liam Neeson’s threatening voice. Guess I’ll have to get one myself after all. Both of these mics are heavily used along with DPA’s of which I own two 4061’s and they surprised me for lav mics.

[@nycvideoauditions]

Wonderful job on this, Michael!!!! FANTASTIC video.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Thank you Paul!

[@mathiasschmidt6206]

What a great video. ❤️

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Thanks Mathias, glad you enjoyed!

[@Cencolor]

And me with my capsule serie mic (AKG blue line SE300B) 🥲 but somehow that’s the mic I keep using the most!

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

That's the things with mics, each have their own beauty!

[@AllenCavedo]

Absolutely excellent video! Loved the cello sound, and the cello artist seemed very cool! But what I learned was that I can get my 8050’s way farther away from talent than I ever imagined. Interesting that the ADR studio always has the mic 4 or 5 feet from talent to better match on set sound. Good to know. The 8050 faired very well against the MK41 to my ears. In fact I liked the 8050 better but likely because that is the interior mic I’ve used for 10 years and I’m familiar with its sound. Also good story telling, good lighting, and nice editing!

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Thanks Allen, it was a lot of fun to make. I always learn a bit when doing these listening experience videos and was quite surprised on how present the mics were even at the 6’ distance, gotta love a great sounding room.

[@ShelbyWatson]

The only reason I don't have any scheps mics is because of the humidity issues they can have. Being from GA and now living in KY, humidity is just always there and I never wanted to risk having my mic start popping on me. I'm sure I'll pick one up sometime in the future though.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

I had heard the same thing which initially kept me away. I use CMIT5U for about five years and only had an issue one time. I started having so many RF issues on my MKH50, that I needed to go a different direction and have another option. Used the CMC641 for two months on set in GA and didn’t have a single issue.

[@ToddWhirley]

@@MichaelWynneCAS Michael, what month was it when you had the issue with the Schoeps in Georgia ;-) ? I live in south Louisiana and am considering buying one but have been spooked a little by others talking about humidity…so I’ve been leaning toward the Sennheiser MKH 8050 instead which seems to be more immune to humidity issues. My use will almost exclusively be indoors in a climate controlled environment so I suppose it’s a moot point.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

why did u have rf issues ? have u had rf issues with the cmc1? how is the Schoeps cmc1 vs the mkh 50 in humidity ? @@MichaelWynneCAS

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

What does the cut 60 do ? When should it be applied between the cmc1 and mk41 ?

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

It’s a 60 Hz high pass filter also sometimes called a low frequency roll off, which reduces the amount of bass coming into the signal that feeds the pre amp.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@MichaelWynneCASwhen is the cut 60 needed? I use this mic with mk41 will this mic sound just as good plugged into a zoom f3 at the end of a boom or better into a mixpre 10ii? I’m looking into both these recorders

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

@@creativegreatsvisuals anytime you record dialogue you should use it to avoid excessive low end, mix pre 3 is a better option then Zoom.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@MichaelWynneCAS mix pre 3 ? Why that over the 10ii?

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Not just mix pre 3, any mix pre II

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

So if it’s one person go with the mk41 capsule and if it’s a few ppl put on the mk4 capsule? What are the benefits and advantages of the cmc1 41k over the sennheiser mk50?

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

The MK41 is a more sonically balanced and natural sounding capsule, the MKh50 is also great, but is a bit more aggressive in its frequency response, both have their merits

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@MichaelWynneCAS but is the mk41 capsule for capturing sound from one subject (one person ) and the mk4 capsule for capturing sound from multiple subjects (a group) ?

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@MichaelWynneCAS what’s an aggressive frequency response mean in the World of sound ?

[@zzlatev]

Interesting, to me mkh50 sound more closer and fuller, even with lowcut engeded Low-Cut Filter 12 dB/Octave @ 30 Hz To me Shoeps sound better when is close to talent, like when you are at your home studio. I'm glad that I have both microphones and DPA 4018 of course.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

It sounds like you got a pretty nice collection Zlatko!

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

What’s did u find the best situations to use the schoeps cmc 1 ?

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

For me, I use it mostly for interiors

[@mirelcristea6626]

Just great! For me, CMC141 sounds nice when is close to the source, MKH 50 sounds nice and present also when the source is far.

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

Agreed Mirel, I did notice how the MKH50 seemed to pop a bit more, however the room was less present on the CMC141 at the far distance which was also interesting.

[@mirelcristea6626]

Perfectly true, Michael!

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@MichaelWynneCASwhat’s do u mean by pop ? What is best situation to use the mk50 over the schoeps cmc1 41k in your opinion?