The Best Shotgun Mic For YouTube & Streaming? Sennheiser MKH 50

[@tombuck]

Thank to Allen from @SoundSpeeds for helping me to learn more about the MKH 50! Check out his channel for a ton of great audio info: kzbin.info

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thanks for the invite Tom. I love this video.

[@tcbeaton1]

Hey Tom, Great video lots of good info. The holes on the side of the shotgun mics are there for a purpose. If a mic has no side (or back) ports, the microphone will be an omnidirectional mic. Adding the ports allows back-pressure to hit the backside of the mic cartridge pushing against the sound coming in the front, this is how you get cardioid, super-cardioid, and hyper-cardioid pick-up patterns.

[@annoholics]

I have the feeling you don't fully understand why there are openings at the sides of those boom mics like the NTG3. These openings should cancel out sounds that come from the sides by phase shifting. So, if a sound is coming from the side then to top of a soundwave is canceled out with the bottom of the soundwave that is coming trough another opening. The reason why this effect is not working well indoors is because indoors sound is bouncing of all kinds of surfaces so sounds are already shifted in all kinds of random ways. This means that you get unwanted effects on your own vocals. That is why the MKH-50 works better indoors in more or less untreated / not perfect treated rooms. So in a filmset where you can't perfectly treat the whole room because a movie has to be recorded or in a home KZbin studio where you have also untreated surfaces, the MKH-50 works best.

[@HeathcliffBlair]

Thanks. FYI, the vents on the sides of shotgun mics are designed to actually HELP the rejection of sounds coming from the sides. It's an "interference tube" design and they're meant more for outdoor use than indoor. Hope that helps. 🙂

[@tombuck]

Thanks for the info!

I was going to comment the same! Thanks

[@PoetWithPace]

Thank you for clarifying…. I did wonder why some mics are so long

[@asianguy6174]

In an enclosed space those slats cause phase cancellation

[@asianguy6174]

Not in a small reverberant space. A tiny space, even treated, will give cause reverberation unless it’s of an insane thickness, as much as 8”. kzbin.infoUgkxDTiFpzPgHWlWSF8aBxJWTy3d7nUiRgfx

[@timrober75]

Might be a bit confused on the slits on a shotgun mike Tom. The "interference tube" (the extension to the mic's housing with the slits in) is actually designed to filter OUT the side pickup. It does not allow more room sound in to the recording, instead it improves the tight directionality of a mic. Inside a shotgun mic is a regular small diaphragm 'pencil' mic (just like a Rode NT5 or AKG 451 or Sennheiser E614...). Adding a well designed 'interference tube' creates a tighter pattern allowing less in from the sides. There is an argument that the interference tube is less effective in a small room, but the principle still stands. Thanks for all you're doing :)

[@sublimedrg]

Just to add some helpful, nerdy information: Shogtun mics were designed to work outdoors. The interference tube has a delay network that phase cancels sounds coming in from the sides at a frequency inversely proportional to the length of the tube, longer tube equals directionality starting at lower frequencies and above. Short line mics like the NTG start focusing at the upper mids and are really only directional in the higher frequencies. In a small, untreated room sound reflecting off the walls can come back in through the interference tube out of phase with the direct signal. This can result in additional room sound and degrade the quality of the direct sound. Often times, it's not an issue and Sound Mixers certainly use MKH 416s indoors but for interior shots you're more likely to see professionals using hypercardioid condensers like the Sennheiser MKH50's, Schoeps CMC6 MK41's, DPA 4017 etc. TLDR: Shotgun mics can sound bad if used in the wrong environment. Hypercardoid mics will more often be the better choice when indoors.

[@afoeder]

isn't the whole magic of a directional microphone that there are two pickup capsules in line and a differential amplifier amplifies only what is not picked up exactly synchroneously due to the delay of sonic picked up by the first, then by the second capsule?

[@Tvj_films8452]

@@sublimedrgwhat’s a good budget friendly hyper cardioid microphone?

[@jimshaw899]

Consider: The dominant 'room effect' in your sitting-at-a-table-talking-head scenes is what acousticians and engineers call 'first reflection.' Beyond distance and aim of the mic, it will dominate the timbre of your environment. For your case, the first reflections come from your tabletop. Change that acoustic surface and you will strongly affect the captured sound of your voice. Without the table, it might be the ceiling, or floor, or back wall. First reflections dominate, maybe even more than your selection of microphones. Witness what Allen said in his video, the acoustic treatment around him allows a $50 mic to be his choice. Positioning a mic? Think first of distance, then of aim, then of first reflections. :)

[@tombuck]

Thanks for this insight! I hadn’t heard the term before 👍

[@ericallnight]

great tip! Thanks!

[@hyunjoonkim]

How should one go about treating the first reflections coming from the tabletop? Apart from draping thick blanket all over it, is there a more practical approach to this problem? Thanks!

[@jimshaw899]

@@hyunjoonkim It's science meets art. Cover it or change the covering. Maybe make the tabletop in front of the talent much smaller and out of frame. A typical hard tabletop is about as bad as it can be, acoustically. Also, consider placing some items on the tabletop to broaden the timing of reflected sounds or if the talent requires a table, use two or three surfaces of different heights. There are creative solutions, not many cookbook solutions. If you use a shotgun or hyper-cardioid, consider aiming it more nearly horizantallly at the talent rather than down toward the tabletop. The intent is to make the sound eminating from the talent's lips much more prominent than any first reflection. (It's maybe one reason why talk show hosts generally wear lavalier mics rather than using boom mics eh?) You cannot eliminate first reflections; you can reduce the bad ones and change their character. Hope that helps.

[@jimshaw899]

@@tombuck I listened closely to you latest video which used an overhead mic pointed downward. Sure enough, the sound off the table added a very prominent effect. Since it seems to enhance a certain range to your voice, it doesn't surprise me that you like the 'baritone-profundo' effect. :)

[@MSladekPhoto]

The Rode NTG is pretty impressive for the price, compared to these 2-4x more expensive options. I really appreciate the suggestion to think about room treatment investment BEFORE mic investment. So easy to get excited about buying a mic or gear and overlook the environment.

[@tombuck]

I'm REALLY impressed with how well the NTG holds up. I think it's still the best all around value. Plus you can use it as a USB mic!

[@MSladekPhoto]

@@tombuck Hmmmmm... Well, if/when I switch to shotgun from lav, I think this will be the way to go!

[@MatthiasLenardt]

I completely agree! Lot's of misconception about using mics. Have a fabulous week! Best, Matthias 👋

[@robertharker]

Error Will Robinson. The holes in the side of a shotgun mic are part of the acoustic diffraction tube in front of the mic capsule. The diffraction tube allows sound from off axis in a controlled way so that the off axis sound cancels itself before reaching the mic diaphragm. BTW, the MKH50 has holes in the back of the mic capsule which allows sound in from the rear which then cancels sounds coming off axis. Canceling sound from the sides as well as the rear.

[@smarter_in_5_mins]

I was just going to write the same note. But other than that, this was definitely useful comparison for many people.

[@AudioHotline]

I have been wanting this microphone for quite a while. It sounds so good!

[@karatjuicepodcast]

I appreciate getting into the weeds when it comes to audio and this video did not disappoint! Tom, Your delivery and breakdowns on vids like this is refreshing and entertaining. I am rocking a Shure MV7 with a Zoom Podtrak P8 and I could not be happier with my sound quality with that combo. I think the most important insight from this is making sure that you treat the sound in your room more than the mic. The same is true for lighting your studio properly over the type of camera that you use. Keep up the great work brotha!

[@tombuck]

That's a great combo! I think Allen was on point when he talked about putting most of your budget into sound treatment rather than a mic. I should probably to a bit more of that myself (and having a hollow drum set in the middle of the room doesn't help either 😁 )

[@karatjuicepodcast]

@@tombuck The Drumset is a must... reminds me of Dale Dobak anytime I see it in the background.. "DON'T TOUCH IT!" LOL

[@kipling1957]

I got the mkh-50 several years ago for indoor use. I always thought I would buy a shotgun at some point for outdoor situations. The mkh-50 was so good outdoors that I never did get a shotgun mic. I’m sure there are situations where, say, an mkh-416 would have the edge, just not in my use cases which are fairly well controlled. It’s basically my go-to mic for video work.

[@clintedmonson]

Great discussion Tom! I have the RODE VideoMic NTG as well and noticed the room reverb as well. After seeing the MKH 50's design and you pointing out that the air ports were only near the front, I took some electrical tape and covered up all but the first 3 rows of ports on both sides of the NTG. It moderately reduced the reverb pick up from my voice bouncing off the walls. Hope this helps others while we're all saving up our dollas for the 50. Cheers!

[@xuanaraya]

Great tip! Doing that!

[@DrewProject]

Whenever I worked as a sound mixer: Mkh50 inside, Mkh416 outside (although with the 416 the boom operator has to be way more skilled and if there's more than one talent talking at the same time chances are one of them will be out of focus). But... anyways... these mics are expensive, for youtube videos maybe they're a bit overkill? For the price, the Rode is really impressive, I used high end large diaphragm mics from rode which I like, but I would have never thought that a 200$ mic could sound this good (well maybe it's a bit noisy, but still). I'm new to your channel, great video quality and all, but im sure you already know that! Thanks for the video, I enjoyed it.

[@tombuck]

The NTG is awesome and the 50 inside/416 outside makes total sense given their strengths. But I've got to say, I hear "just for KZbin videos" way too often. In 2022, KZbin channels can drive more viewership and earn more revenue than some network television shows. This channel pays my mortgage, so I'm happy to invest in good gear when needed. Overkill is something that's in the eye of the beholder and definitely based on individual circumstance. On top of that, lots of people who make KZbin videos also do other media work, so a solid investment benefits everything.

[@DrewProject]

@@tombuck oh you totally got a point there man. I for one would not have the gear i do if i wasn’t already involved in the industry. And I understand it totally. Also your channel is medium/big one, and you produce high quality stuff, so I totally get that this is what pays your bills. I’m just thinking of all the youtubers wannabe that want to start a vlog or something very low key and don’t have money. a $1.5k mic might be a bit too much (and especially the expertise to use it properly might be lacking). That being said, I don’t own a mkh50 but i do own a 416. As soon as It’ll make sense for me to buy one i will definitely get it because I’m gear addicted haha (for now I’ll just keep renting it for client jobs where i need it). Although i might go for the newer version (yes i know it’s not exactly the same product but I think it’d be slightly better for my specific case) i think it’s the 8050? Sorry if that’s not the right name i can’t rem right now 😝. Thank you for your reply and your pov on the matter man. I really appreciate it and it think it gave me a different perspective. Always happy to learn something new 😊

[@timmark4190]

I use it for zoom calls. It’s worth if you stream for thousands of viewers

[@DocRock]

Finally someone explains Small D Condenser vs Shotguns indoors. Most people will not spend the loot for a Small Diaphragm Condenser. That was SUM good content there TB. Vents = Interference Tube 😇

[@tombuck]

I was specifically thinking of you while making this, so I’m glad it passed the Doc test.

[@gabiafterhours]

Tom, I wanted to drop in and give you some praise. I love your thumbnails. You manage to capture your personality and your channels vibe/essence and still be unique. Your content is great. I am happy to see your channel growing. Keep up the great work!

[@tombuck]

Thank you! I've really been trying some new stuff with thumbnails and they're definitely taking a lot more time lately. Trying to keep things interesting and clear while also being "on brand" is a tricky line to walk.

[@MatthewWatsonDiscovery]

Well done on the setup and testing. I added an Oktava MK-012 pencil mic (used for $165) to my Rode NTG-2 (used for $135) for the same reasons, ie indoor reverb. Curtis Judd explains this expertly. I have a non-profit/ministry podcast and can not afford a $1200 anything. But nice to see that you moved to Sony.

[@tombuck]

Curtis is absolutely brilliant! Love him.

[@FastJohnnyNardGard]

The Okatava (with the hyper-cardioid capsule) IMO is absolutely the best choice at that lower price point. It's punching way above its weight class and is definitely my recommendation for anyone who doesn't want to spend a thousand plus on a pencil condenser. There's a decent used market for them and even retail they're well worth the price.

[@jameshooper6165]

Enjoyed the video. You might want to note that the holes on the side of a shotgun mic like the Rode NTG aid in off-axis noise cancellation. They're not the problem. They're the solution in the case of a shotgun mic. It's the reason why a shotgun mic tends to have better directional pick-up than other mics.

[@jayrey7]

That's a dream mic for me along with the 416. For sure I'll be using the 416 for outdoors and that one for in doors.

[@tombuck]

They're both just absolutely phenomenal!

[@jayrey7]

@tombuck Agreed! Thank you for making a video about this. Also the Rode Video NTG sound amazing. I'll be getting that one first before I decide to get the other ones.

[@levelupwithmikenewman]

I love the Rode NTG sound better outside, and if you are moving around in a studio it seems a better option as well. The MKH50 is better if I were to be able to stay in proper zone. I just started a KZbin channel for people trying to start a channel on the cheaper budget, I have a hard time staying in one static spot for a prolonged period of time while doing a video. so the NTG being able to grab hold of my voice when I lean left and right while talking would be the better fit! Thank you for providing a video that sheds light on this trait in shotgun mics that should be considered when trying to find a microphone!

[@tombuck]

The NTG really is a phenomenal mic, especially for the price. I've been super happy with mine and it holds up really well against higher end offerings 👍

[@CreativeVideoTips]

I'd love to hear what you think of the Octava MK-012 since its a more similar design to you new MKH 50 but is in a lot more folks budget. Great video as always

[@tombuck]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@ATTACKofthe6STRINGS]

@Tom Buck, I think there might be a bit of confusion regarding what those holes in the sides of the mic barrel are. The those holes are part of what is called an “interference tube”. It purposefully allows sound to enter the microphone barrel in those places. However, because the actual microphone capsule is at the end, past all those holes, what ends up happening is that all of those little sounds entering those holes essentially end up interfering with each other as they reach the microphone capsule, and canceling out. Think of how you sometimes end up experiencing phase issues if you have 2 copies of the almost the same sound that don’t quite line up. Essentially, an interference tube *causes* phase issues in sound that is coming off axis, which then cancels out and leaves you with sounds that are only on axis. The MKH 50, seems to use a different technology, as it doesn’t look like it has those same interference tube holes. Now, as for whether or not they allow a more reverby sound, I couldn’t really tell you honestly. I think that ultimately depends on how a given microphone rejects off axis frequencies. It sounds like the MKH 50 does a better job of rejecting off axis, high frequency, sounds that would be present in more reverby environments, so it ends up sounding cleaner, but I don’t know much about the MKH 50, and am speculating as a result. I hope that helps!

[@tombuck]

Thanks for this! I appreciate the super easy to understand explanation- definitely makes more sense now. 👍

[@ATTACKofthe6STRINGS]

@@tombuck hey, I figured you could use the information. Like I mentioned, I’m not entirely sure how the interference tube affects the off-axis frequency response. It could be that it allows for more even off-axis rejection, which would mean that the “room tone” would sound more present than in the MKH50, if the Sennheier ends up rejecting high end more. It’s a whole bunch of design specifics to meet whatever need the manufacturer had for it. It could very well be that the MKH50 was designed that way to get a tone that had a darker off-axis response specifically so it blends better with close mics, or it could be that the other mic was simply designed to have a more even and natural sounding off axis response so that you could have as wide a sweet spot as a super-cardioid pattern could possibly allow while still retraining good off-axis rejection.

[@notchilli]

Howdy, I am a location recordist and Boom operator in Australia and I just wanted correct a few things, the vents on the side is what is known as the interference tube, contrary to what you might thing but the longer that tube the more directional the microphone. It a bit of a thing of the past but if you look at the sennhiser 816 is a microphone which is quite long and used for very targeted sound capture. The draw back is how it colours the sound and in some spaces can sound very unnatural. This kink of Mic wouldn't be used a much in narrative work but in docos it can be a helpful tool. And the other thing that I wanted to clarify is the switch on the microphone. It's called a high pass or a low cut filter. It is mostly used to help remove Boom handling noise on set. The proximity effect that you mention has a greater cut of the low end and as far as I understand only appears on the Schoeps CMIT5U and the super version. Also the proximity effect is mostly to help reduce the intense low end that comes from booming underneath the actors. As the low end sound that come from the vocal box is closer to the Mic when booming from underneath. Anyway awesome video lots of great points! Especially about acoustics.

[@tombuck]

Thanks for the info! I remember I once did a studio tour at Universal where we got to act out a scene on a sitcom set. They had incredibly long shotgun mics mounted high overhead on the grid (I swear the mics looked almost a meter long 😁) and they picked up every work perfectly, even when spoken by amateurs at a low level. It was amazing.

[@notchilli]

@@tombuck yep that would have been the choice especially in a studio environment. Not the best sounding mics but it picked up the human voice pretty well at a distance. I have heard of stories of doco soundies getting talent conversation from one boat to another with a mic like that. But the reality of that mic and why it isn't in circulation these days is that where most mics perform best is at a distance that you have in your video. And never at a distance. I teach sound recording from time to time and one of my big lessons is that no matter what mic I use the technique is similar. Get the mic about half an arm's length from the source. And certain mic will perform better and worse in certain environments. And depending on the quality of the mic. With the only exception is music recording where often you get right up to the mic or you would be using a dynamic mic which has very low sensitivity.

[@DashWithAshinCanada]

Awesome shotgun mic review, I actually love that you included a interview that you did with someone else who is a expert in audio. Super cool!

[@tombuck]

Sometimes you just have to reach out to people who know more 😁

[@wiezyckifamily]

Not sure if anyone has thrown in the Sennheiser ME64 + K6 power module combo- but the 64 and it’s longer brother the ME66 are excellent mics which can be picked up used for only a couple hundred dollars. The 64 is a bit better for indoors like the MKH50 (and similar size) and the 66 is a little broader pickup pattern so you hear more reverb indoors so it’s better outdoors.

[@tombuck]

This is awesome, thanks for sharing the recommendation!

[@patregan]

Oh my goodness, Tom! You answered a question that I had when I bought my tiny shotgun mic. What in the heck is a pencil mic?! I knew that was what I wanted, but even the inexpensive pencil mics aren't exactly inexpensive. My poor research basically told me pencil is pretty much a really short(?) shotgun mic. The idea that it wouldn't have ports on the side never occurred to me. There's a great video from Diety comparing shotgun mics. I'm not sure I liked their testing methodology, but something they did explain well is that longer shotgun mics need a biggest space. When they put their longest shotgun in the smallest room, it just sounds weird. It is worse than just reverb. It is some sort of out of phase reverse(?) reverb. But now I know what a pencil mic is, and I am excited about this.

[@tombuck]

Deity is really good at providing resources to help understand things. I love their videos. I was in the same boat as you where I thought that a longer mic would be better at isolating sound. I always wondered why I saw this tiny mic on the end of boom poles for movies and tv shows, and now I know.

[@SammySuperStar]

Sennheiser mics are some of the best mics for shotgun mics

[@tombuck]

They're terrific!

[@UltramaticOrange]

I picked up a Rode NT5 a while back and wow, I learned real quick that my room is nowhere near the treatment level I need for that mic.

[@tombuck]

Treatment is definitely important. Probably not as exciting as a shiny new mic, but vital.

[@RafaelLudwig]

Hands down the MKH50, sounds great for your set up, and your stream yesterday with both you and Heather, sounded natural and really good.

[@tombuck]

I'm really loving how easy it's made everything! Not 100% the same as having a nice mic right in front of me, but really close and well worth the convenience.

[@iSpike]

OMG 😳 LOVE IT BUT $ 2,449 AUD 🥺

[@stopthefomo]

Vs MKH416: I’ve been debating whether to replace it with this due To audible indoor reverb when using it for my talking head videos but your video is just a reminder to complete my room treatment before replacing! But I will add the MKH50 to replace my RE20 and take it out of frame for my livestreams

[@tombuck]

Yep, since you've already got the 416, I think better treatment is the way to go. I know Marques Brownlee use the 416 and his audio always sounds perfect. I also know he's invested a lot into sound treatment 😁

[@zedamex]

Agree with Tom, you need to focus on the room itself. In my situation the RE20 will be the go to. You'll hear too many other noises with the MKH 50 p48 just due to proximity change, and nature of condenser mics. I don't have the 416 to do a direct comparison indoors but can surmise that the MKH 50, despite dealing with room reverb better than the 416, will not be your solution to hearing a lot of room reverb in your recordings.

[@GuilDormeus]

Can’t block that money maker. I loved this video, especially including the clip from Sound Speed!

[@tombuck]

Allen is so great. I sent him a quick message and he immediately was like, "Yep, I'll help with whatever you need!"

[@SoundSpeeds]

I love the intro. Get that mic outta the frame but still have great sound. Yes! Yes! Yes!

[@tombuck]

Thanks again for all your help!

[@physicaldigitalnft]

Great vid!! The mkh50 sounds warmer to me and the others more tingy.

[@daprincehwc]

For youtube usage, i will say almost everyone will not see much or any difference in the performance of the NTG and the MKH50, If for extensive use outside or more challenging distance maybe the MKH50 will shine but for youtube where most will be listening using their phone, it will not make much of a difference. For me if capturing the best sound, I don't mind having a mic on the table, everyone knows its require for great audio and I see no reason why we should shy away from showing them, Remember people hid LAV MICS but now people don't care hiding them, you see people show off the Rode Go, and other clip to their top, no complains. I like it when you have the icon pro vs when the space is empty as the mics are hidden. Thank you TOM you just confirm my taught that Environment/Space matters first before choosing your microphone, thank you.

[@tombuck]

The physical space and sound treatment is definitely most important! You cna hear it with how good Allen's $50 mic sounds. One of my favorite channels is Joel Haver. He does a lot of short films and literally sometimes just has lav mics clipped to the middle of someone's shirt with a wire running down. I've never seen anyone complain and the audio is always awesome 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@truce11]

Nice to hear a fresh take on video microphone. Do glad you included @sound speeds !

[@tombuck]

Allen is awesome! Thanks for the kind words 🙏

[@felixreyes252]

I bought a used AKG Blueline with the hypercardioid capsule via Reverb. It’s not as good as the MKH50, but I just wanted something that performs and is durable - this mic does not disappoint.

[@tombuck]

AKG makes some absolutely awesome mics. I've only used a few over the years but I thought they were all great.

[@CinePals]

The MKH 50 is a GREAT mic. I also bought it’s little brother MKH 8050 (the audio quality is identical to my ears). The MKH 50 used to be the main mic on my set. But as a KZbinr with mostly static sets (no crew), when shooting with multiple people, I found myself doing a lot of sound balancing in post and resorted to using my SM7Bs to make it easier isolate our individual tracks and make balancing in post quicker. I think treating your room for sound is the most ideal, but not practical for most of us. Because my set is my home, it made more sense to spend the money on a good mic rather changing the environment. I run all my audio into the MixPre6-II.

[@tombuck]

It's really tough to go wrong with the SM7B. Such a great sounding mic! I've heard great things about the 8000 series mics. Seems like the more futuristic option since there's sop much modularity.

[@zedamex]

I really want the mix pre 6-ii but in Japan it cost like $2000-2500...

[@CinePals]

@@zedamex it’s getting more expensive here too for some reason. Just picked up the f8n pro. See if you like that one!

[@zedamex]

@@CinePals I currently have the original F8 The analog limiters, usb-c power make me interested in the mix-pre

[@EposVox]

Interesting breakdown! The Rode gets kinda boomy and muddy which sounds "louder" and thus might make someone think it sounds better, but for that space I definitely think the MKH-50 sounds better for your voice.

[@tombuck]

I love the MKH50! It was actually a comment on your channel a few months ago that led me to it. Someone recommended it on one video 👍

[@remektekmedia6641]

The RØDE NTG3 (XLR) is very good with strong bottom end. It is generally agreed that shotguns are sub optimal inside, so I would either use the RØDE NT5 or the new RØDE PodMic USB, which has both XLR And USB-C. The latter can also be configured with Noise Gate, Big Bottom and Aural Exciter. Lot cheaper than the MKH 50.

[@joaovitorjoaovitor]

Allen is absolutely great. I came here because of his channel.

[@tombuck]

Such an awesome/knowledgeable buy! I love how willing he is to share his experience.

[@everythinginlifeisrecorded5309]

I have the Sennheiser ME 66. I used it to do an interview once and while I was setting things up and doing a mic check I heard the man’s stomach growl through the headphones. The microphone was about 10 feet away!

[@tombuck]

Haha wow! That's quite the mic test!

[@JoATTech]

I think that the ribs and opening on the side of the shotgun microphones are not to pick up sound, but rather quite the opposite. The slots on the interference tube are to cancel unwanted sound coming from the sides :).

[@tombuck]

I believe it varies from model to model and design by design, but I wanted to share a general POV that explains why not all "long" mics are created equal.

[@JoATTech]

@@tombuck In most real shotgun mics the purpose is the only one. To cancel sound coming from the side. Not sure about small rode you used for comparison here, but it does not seem as real shotgun. Anyway as redemption you should do review of Shure vp89 ;)

[@PatrickRambles]

The bottom on the Sennheiser sounds lovely!

[@tombuck]

It’s such a great mic!

[@MatteoSattinWORK]

the reason there are holes in the side of the microphone is actually why they can erease side sounds and be hipercardioids. they balance the unwanted sound reverb from left and right with those holes (this is the short un-nerdy version of how it works, just so you know. without those holes it wouldn't probably be a shotgun mic... the mkh 50 is an emprovement of that tech, this is why it's unbelievably good. but it's what we could call an anomaly in microphone and audio engineering. sorry for my english, hope i've been clear)

[@mikt]

I was on the search for a shotgun mic, and was pointed towards the Synco Mic-D2 which is a bit cheaper than the Videomic (and has XLR). I bought it and for far i am very pleased with it!

[@tombuck]

That's great to hear! Like Allen said, positioning and sound treatment are almost more important than the mic!

[@AJCoReTV]

I just bought my first shotgun, a Rode VideoMic NTG… meant for a on-camera, but could be boomed. Hoping I get to fiddle with it this weekend… going to check the rest of this vid now, thanks! Update: watched the rest of this vid & glad you made this comparison vid 🎉🙏🏽💯 perfect timing my man. My Sony A7C doesn’t have XLR input, so I’ll stick with that VM NTG, for now.

[@tombuck]

The NTG is fantastic! I do think the MKH50 is better overall, but you also need to make a significantly higher investment and have proper gear to run it through. The NTG is a great middle ground because it's super versatile and also quite affordable. It also does work great as a boom! Just be sure to use a decent quality 3.5mm extension cable that's not subject to interference. 👍

[@bffstudio]

Hey man, how did it go with the NTG?

[@AJCoReTV]

@@bffstudio great…. I’m going to be uploading a few videos shortly that I recorded with it finally… hope you can follow to watch

[@insanejughead]

Tom Buck? More like Tom "Oh Fuck!" You keep spitting straight information with a healthy amount of humor and anecdotal insight. I love it!

[@tombuck]

🤭😂

[@MrJamesMappin]

Maybe it's just me but I didn't notice much of a difference between all three mics. Admittedly I was listening through the MBP built-in speakers and I'm no audiophile but the Rode mic was still very impressive IMHO. None of them were like, "OMG my ears." Great video as always Tom!

[@tombuck]

Headphones will definitely show more of a difference, but they’re all great mics 👍

[@ChibaCityBlues]

I actually prefer the 8050 over the 50. It works better with digital recording over analog…

[@Shipwrckdntweetin]

MKh50 is def warmer when I wear headphones. But when you moved them closer outside.. the Diety got warmer. Weird… but it does sound great. I like the idea of reducing complexity directly into the mic. I just got the Tascam x8 to avoid clipping… but it’s post editing 🤷🏾‍♂️ Tom thx as always for sharing with us! 👊🏽

[@tombuck]

It's always interesting how the sound of a mic can change so much based on the environment.

[@ROBOTRIX_eu]

I would use rode and put tape on the lateral holes..i bet this 1€ hack, would optimize it in 30/40% quality.. If you can try and say results of that..would be awesome!

[@tombuck]

I think it depends on the mic, but it might work. I’d be worried that it would interfere with some of the specific design/dynamics of a mic, but who knows 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@EposVox]

Oh my is that a HDV camera in the background?

[@tombuck]

It’s a Sony ENG cam, but still standard definition. Works perfectly!

[@BensTechLab]

Glad you're enjoying the MKH50 Tom!

[@tombuck]

Thanks for helping to push me towards it!

[@justanothernoobe]

Great vid 👍👍 It's actually really difficult (for me, at least) to hear much of a difference between them (even through headphones, I'm using AKG K7xx). That leads me to the question of "how much do I need to spend" to get "good enough" - in fact, it would be great to see a video on the different $$$ levels for amateur vs prosumer / KZbinr middle-ground vs KZbinr pro. That would help people to get a feel for where the "diminishing returns" kick in and whether to make that investment or not (assuming that content / script / story-line are all on point). Personally I use a Sennheiser MKE 600 and it seems to do the job in my 4 x 7 metre garage home office with plasterboard walls, a steel roller door and minimal glass (1 door and a window). I chose this over the "industry standard" (at the time) MKH 416.But always curious as to just how much difference there is with other offerings...

[@tombuck]

I think you've hit the nail on the head- so much is about what works for you specifically and the "standards" are sometimes just general guides. The MKE 600 is terrific, and I also recently did a video on the Audio Technica AT897, which is a great performing budget friendly option. I think a nuance can be not only the quality of the end result, but how easy it is to get there. For me, even though I can get great sound from the other mics, the MKH50 takes hardly any work, which speeds up the entire workflow. The time saving/peace of mind makes it worth the cost in my mind.

[@JakeSloan]

Fantastic video and great info comparing microphones

[@tombuck]

Thanks Jake!

[@chrisweber7460]

Andrew from Deity says, indoor are shorter tubes better than longer, because they have less interferences. So a Deity s2-s is indoor the better option. I think the same applies for Sennheiser and Rode! But it is a microphone of interest!

[@tombuck]

That makes sense, and he is a pro audio guy, so I'd trust him 😁

[@chrisweber7460]

@@tombuck Yes, he is. 👍

[@skymakai]

I love my Rode mics. Had one of the Videomic NTG battery die on me in the middle of a gig. Couldn’t revive it. Rode replaced it happily. But I bought the Rose NTG3 so I’d never have to deal with an internal battery bricking my microphone.

[@the.i.p.address]

On studio speakers the difference is more noticable. However, on my laptop, the MKH 50 is very similar to the S-Mic 2. The Rode was having a hard time keeping up overall. Great video!

[@tombuck]

It definitely depends on how you listen. When I'm editing in my headphones EVERYTHING stand out, but when I show a clip to my wife on our living room TV it all sounds exactly the same and I have to try and prove I'm not crazy 😁

[@MikeMena]

Holy crap, I didn’t even get that BOOM joke 😂🤣😂🤣 that was awesomely terrible

[@tombuck]

I'm glad yo uñere able to keep watching the video, despite that joke.

[@elmisamx]

Loved this video! Love there is light everywhere!! Very pleasant to watch. I’m going for the MKH 50 now 😎 thank you.

[@tombuck]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind words!

[@andrewp1513]

Thanks for the comparison. The mkh 50 sounds great into the camera, and on your voice. It’s amazing how well the videomic holds up too. Cheers, Andrew

[@VasiliyKiryanov]

It would be great to compare Sennheiser MKH50 vs Shure SM81. SM81 can sound even better on the frame with correct direction as it has cardioid pattern vs MKH50 has a super-cardioid. Shure SM81 can be the best for video podcasters who want to keep mic off frame and do not have soundproofed room for a shotgun.

[@danielschaller-digitalcrealab]

For a mic fan like you, maybe once you want to look into the Oktava MK-012. A set of two mics is about USD 380 and one about USD 225. However, it's a Russian brand and those are converted prices from levels you would find in Europe. I hear that they can be a bit difficult to get in the US (so you need to order in Europe and add shipping cost). But I find them pretty good for out of frame setup and at reasonable price tag (more or less like the Rode NTG but with XLR entry which might be a plus... or not...)

[@tombuck]

I've heard great things about Oktava mics! Definitely would like to check them out some day.

[@MF.Productions]

The sound from that Mic is very sweet indeed and thanks for doing this demo. Great that Sennheiser let you keep it as it has a 'Pro level' price indeed. I think that everyone has different needs and studios have different sound environments which makes it tricky to recommend one Mic over the other. I am using the relatively inexpensive RØDE NT5 (after having used the NT1, NTG etc) which solved the echo problem for me, cheers.

[@tombuck]

There's definitely not a universal "best" mic and a lot really does depend on individual situations. The NT5 is awesome!

[@Mattin_Satteo]

I don't want to be the "uhm, actually ☝️" guy, but... Actually, the vents on the sides of shotgun mics are not the reason sounds from the side gets in the way of what you want to record, but the exact opposite... Those vents are calibrated to delete the sounds that come from the sides. It's a complicate shinanigans shit to explain, but they create a contrast channel of the noise, to make it really simple. It's like putting a negative image upon the converted one, you'll get a grey image, because you delete all the colors, mixing them with a complementary version of themselves (at least i think, I'm a sound engineer, not a photographer). The reason why sometimes the sound comes out "dirty" is because of sound reflection getting to the front mic. (Obviously better mics get better sound cleaning)

[@tombuck]

In this case, please be that guy! I appreciate the extra info.

[@Mattin_Satteo]

@@tombuck 💛

[@Chips-Lab]

Interesting setup. Your boom is fixed on the tripod. This is a great solution for quick interview setup 🙏🏼

[@tombuck]

It's relatively new, but I'm liking the setup so far. The cool part is that once the mic is positioned out of frame, I can move the camera without getting the mic in the shot (since it's attached to the tripod head).

[@GmailNexus]

Amazing how well the Rode is doing

[@tombuck]

Yeah! I was pleasantly surprised!

[@SimplyAubs]

GREAT video - as so many have already said! Thanks for showing us your mic set up and even taking it outside. Fantastic!

[@tombuck]

Very scientific testing. 🤓

[@markpullar8159]

When down a large rabbit hole after this….. they make some nice mics. I know they are all great quality but I never really looked into them. Definitely going to dive in and see the more things I can find.

[@tombuck]

They’re great! Super high quality, made in Germany, been around for ages.

[@clurkroberts2650]

Yes. Yes yes. I am so tired of people eating microphones in their videos. It’s so amateurish and stupid, because it is unnecessary. Thank you for finally showing people how to properly record. One thought, try using a lav and shotgun together… it’s a beautiful mix of two microphones.. so please, I hope people will quit hiding behind microphones as a video crutch.

[@Finsterwald_]

Tom please please please make a video how to setup the Sennheiser MKH50 with Rodecaster pro. Which settings to do in the Rodecaster, including Noise Gate and all the other settings. PLS PLS PLS PLS!!

[@tombuck]

I really don't do anything special at all, just a little of the Master Compressor and that's it. For my videos though, it runs directly into my camera, but that also has no processing or anything.

[@KryptonicHD]

1. The boom intro was hilarious 2. Your videos are so high resolution that 1080p looks pixel like until i go to 2k or 4k omg xD

[@tombuck]

Haha thank you! I've been trying to level up the quality bit by bit over time.

[@AtomicYin]

I'm really considering about buying a shot gun microphone for my setup! This video has just come out at the perfect time thank you! 😊

[@tombuck]

It can definitely be worth the investment, and I love it. But like Allen said, sound treatment is equally, if not more important 👍

[@AnthonyHadleyJr]

You probably cut about three months worth of headaches out of my life with this video lol. Thanks!

[@tombuck]

I'm really happy to hear that!

[@FharishAhmedPortfolio]

0:19 Ugggghhhh!! Even this guy has dad jokes! 😆

[@TheSunnySuttons]

In studio, your voice sounds better with the mkh50 but my camera doesn't have xls so I would go with the rode.

[@tombuck]

I'm glad that I already had the Sony FX3 before getting the mic, since it makes it easy to run audio directly. You can always record to a separate device, but the convenience of running directly to the camera is tough to beat.

[@efi_m]

Great review & insights Tom. For me, the biggest takeaway was the positioning of the mic and the need to focus on treating the environment. Question: I am setting up our home office which will be used for meetings, live online training, and indoor video recording. We have settled on the following -Audient EVO 4 USB Audio Interface -Samson C02 microphones (or Behringer C-2) -Sony ZV-E10 camera We already had Samson Q2U microphones and Behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD for podcasting and video recording. We do live near an airport and have a dog and kids who love playing outside. Would you have any concerns/advice on how to improve on this?

[@tombuck]

Mic position and sound treatment really are the most important things. Not always the most exciting, but absolutely critical (I say this knowing that I need to work on it too). As far as your home setup goes, I think it's definitely a good idea to treat the room as best as possible and then just do the best you can. Obviously you can't control plane traffic, and I don't think anyone would be upset if they heard a happy kid playing with a dog in the background once in a while. Our washing machine plays a 30 second jingle whenever its done, and I swear it makes a cameo in half of my videos/podcasts and no one has ever complained 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@JensLarsen]

This video is tempting or enabling me. I have been thinking about getting another mic for so long. Thank you (I think....) :D

[@tombuck]

For anyone thinking of investing in a higher end mic, I can’t recommend this enough.

[@JensLarsen]

@@tombuck I was really curious since I saw that you had the FX3. My plan was indeed better mic + K3M and not have extra sync work.which is essentially the same setup but with an A7SIII

[@RyanWebber]

This is the mic I have for anything indoors. It’s paid for itself so many times over.

[@tombuck]

I believe it! It's made my life much easier.

[@freddyalways1991]

I’ve have been thinking about getting a new out of frame mic… so I can make videos separate from the podcast too..thanks for the video

[@tombuck]

It really makes a difference. I still prefer closer mics for podcasts and audio-first projects, but this has been such a game changer for videos and streams. 👍

[@basarat]

Interesting artifact in "How they position it" 🌹

[@oneeyedking3]

I really want to start my own podcast so iv been binging all your video's. Much appreciated all the info is super helpful.

[@tombuck]

Happy to hear that! Gear is fun and absolutely makes a difference, but don't be afraid to get started with whatever you currently have. 👍

[@oneeyedking3]

@@tombuckI've got an old Zoom h4n with a Podmic. Then a old Lumix fz200 with a rode shotgun mic for backup. Finding the audio from the Podmic super quiet though going to have to figure that out.

[@arfmf]

Great production value and information. That's really a great position to be in, such a "first world problem". I as a viewer with better than average knowledge about sound am pretty happy with any of those mics.

[@tombuck]

It's definitely splitting hairs at a certain point. But for me, after hundreds of videos (on top of projects and things beyond KZbin) I've started to hear every little thing I don't like about a mic, and the Sennheiser makes my workflow so much easier.

[@PatrickBoberg]

Very cool review and your example is sneakily one of the best features of the Sony Fx3. Used a shotgun mic on a boom/c-stand into the fx3 for two dozen interviews this fall. I love that camera, love the setup.

[@tombuck]

I’m really liking this camera even more than I expected. It’s super rad!

[@PatrickBoberg]

@@tombuck well with Sony you Just Can't Lose!

[@masteringpostproductionsound]

Woah! That Rode definitely holds up. As a first time viewer, and swithcing over to my over the ear headphones, the Rode has a bit more sparkle, boosting the higher frequencies is what it sounds like. But for the price differnce, shoot that Rode is not bad at all. May just nee to boost a tiny bit of that low end to match the MKH. I can still hear a bit of the room still, but overall not teriible. If I was using it, besides adding a bit of low end, I would hit my audio with some Izotope DeVerb or DeNoise. Good stuff brother!

[@BrandonTalbot]

Love that 50mm Sirui doin the B-Roll!

[@tombuck]

Good eye!

[@BrandonTalbot]

@@tombuck I use it nearly everyday so I’m keen to it:) love it. Also you have a huge back yard!

[@NinoAmerica]

Which is better ? This one or the mkh 416? That was considered one of the bests too. Thanks for this video. Been thinking of even doing podcasts without a mic in frame.

[@tombuck]

I think they're both terrific, but just have different strengths. Don't quote me on this, but I think the MKH50 is really outstanding for indoor work, while the 416 is maybe a but more suited for indoor/outdoor use.

[@SullySadface]

Allen is definitely a sound guy, look at that camera focus lmao Cool video, liking the channel btw

[@tombuck]

Thanks Sully! I feel bad because Allen offered to send me his local video files and I was like "don't worry, the interview recording will be fine"...and it really didn't help his video quality. IF you check out his channel, everything looks a lot better 😁

[@ericallnight]

So glad to see you make this video!! This so much misinfo in the youtube filmmaking world about mics. Everyone immediately uses shotguns for indoor talking heads/dialogue when these pencil type mics can be better suited. I own the MKH 50 and use it for professional indoor interviews and it's pretty amazing, tho it can sometimes be a little harsh on certain voices that have a lot of sibilance in their 's' sounds. Anyways great info!

[@tombuck]

Thank you Eric! There's definitely no such thing as the absolutely perfect mic for everyone in every situation, but this one has really been a huge help for me.

[@eraserheadbaby7471]

Yep, that MKH 50 sounds incredible

[@tombuck]

I love it more every time I use it. 🙌

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

Yet another helpful video, thanks! The advice about room treatments was especially helpful

[@tombuck]

Treatment really is important, and probably something I should focus on more myself. Glad you liked the video!

[@timcity]

Yowza! The MKH50 sounds pristine. Great alternatives though. There is definitely a mic for every use case. I would go with the Senny though because it is hysterically well made.

[@lecommis6842]

Always a pleasure to watch your content Tom. Thanks for the review. The thing is that you can buy the most expensive shotgun mic in the world, you'll still have to deal with ambiant noise, reverb, etc. I got the Rode NTG3 for one of my cameras and I'm waiting for a Sennheiser MKH416 for indoor interviews, still I know it will sound crappy if I don't "treat" the accoustics around my talent. At that point I think I also need to invest in sound blankets and more C-stands 😂😂

[@tombuck]

Sound treatment is definitely a hugely important factor, if not quite as exciting as a shiny new mic.

[@lecommis6842]

@@tombuck 🤣 that’s for sure

[@ollikirsi9561]

Oh my! I have been pondering what microphone I should get to replace the current one. I was super excited about MKH 50 until I checked the price. It's 1500 € !

[@tombuck]

It is, but it'll last a lifetime. The Rode Videmic NTG is a great more budget friendly alternative, as is the Audio Technica AT897 if you want another XLR choice.

[@ollikirsi9561]

@@tombuck I appreciate the alternatives you brought. Audio Technica seems definately more budget friendly :) I'm currently using Audio Technica AT2020 which is even cheaper. But the problem I have with that one is that it needs to be in front of the face. I got very interested in your channel. I quickly checked that you don't have a video of best microphone for gaming. I believe this MKH50 would be the best gaming microphone ever - if it weren't the price. It has: Good sound and you can keep it out of your face. I'm an odd fellow who uses XLR-mic for gaming. Even when AT2020 is super-cheap it's still dozen times better than any "gaming microphone". I want to believe that more of odd fellows like me exist and video could turn out to be popular :D It's very high quality video that this is. You have dont great effort to deliver this good video.

[@jordanwoodstock902]

Done it again buck. All of the mics where really impressive. Unless you are using these mics in a professional setting for monetary gain, I think even the cheapest option is extremely viable. What is the best way to sound proof your room?? My room is small, so I was just thinking to get some acoustic panels/soundproofing foam for a few of the bare walls... what would you recommend?

[@tombuck]

Sound treatment is definitely the place to start! If you've got bare floors, adding a rug can really help. Beyond that, a lot of people have great luck with sound blankets. They're super affordable and really versatile. I don't use them though because my space is small and they get in the way/block light. I have a few acoustic panels that I got from acoustimac.com and I really like them. They're fairly affordable and yo ucan get custom sizes/colors which is awesome.

[@michaelfarrow4648]

I have used the MKH 20 and 40 a lot. They are really great mics.

[@H76Pro]

You got me excited about the MKH 50 but then I saw the price 😱

[@tombuck]

It's not cheap. I'm SUPER grateful that Sennheiser sent me this one, but after they initially just let me borrow it and I expected to return it, I did plan on buying one for myself (I just say that because even though I didn't have to pay for this one, I absolutely would have). If you'll use it a lot, I think it's definitely worth it. I love microphones in general, but since I've had this one, I've had zero interest in any other shotgun mic. It solves so many problems and sounds so good that I just have no need for anything else. With this one, anytime something doesn't sound good I know it's my fault and not the mic. 😁

[@saskelee]

That boom arm that seems to connect to your tripod....... Please Explain

[@tombuck]

Yes! It's one of the iFootage arms. I love it. They have all these quick release connectors that work super well, so I stuck one to the side of my tripod head since it has a 3/8 mounting point there. They've also got locating pins, which keeps the arm from falling forward because of the weight. It's been an awesome change!

[@leokeller]

What a great video! Love the b-roll shots with the anamorphic lens :D

[@tombuck]

Great eye! I love that lens so much.

[@Slipsch]

The MKH 50 is designed for analogue which has a high presence boost, the more modern version that is designed for digital is Sennheiser 8050.

[@LaHoraMaker]

One of the issues non mentioned about the Rode Videomic NTG is battery. It needs to be charged whenever you want to record, plus it overheats a lot while charging. I have found my mic without power countless times! Regarding the video/audio sync, I wonder why don't you pass the output of the rodecaster to the ATEM and record it there. I have that kind of setup with the ATEM Extreme ISO and it is so pleasant to record all sources at the same time in sync. (Maybe the ATEM is another model). As per the MKH 50, it looks so nice but the price is too much for me at this moment. I will keep using the NTG's plus the Sennheiser MD-441 for vocals.

[@tombuck]

I don't use the ATEM for recording my videos since it's limited to 1080, unfortunately. The NTG is awesome, and I haven't had it overheat or anything, but I do wish it had a replaceable battery. I talk bout that a bit in my full review of that mic, but I think it's definitely a weakness (mine is two years old and the battery life is still like new, but I know it won't last forever).