Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun Microphone Review
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- Опубликовано: 28 июн 2024
- In this week’s episode, we have a look at and a listen to the Sennheiser MKE 600 shotgun microphone. This medium sized shotgun mic - in Sennheiser’s words, a ‘microphone for video journalists’ - is highly directional and can be used both as a traditional shotgun mic or as a camera-top vlog microphone. The included XLR to 3.5 mm TRS cable also allows you to record from this mic directly into cameras with a 3.5mm mic input. In this video we walk through the MKE 600’s feature set and test it out in multiple environments and applications. Let’s take a closer look!
Additional microphone reviews:
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- RODE NTG4 • RODE NTG4+ Shotgun Mic...
- RODE NTG2 • Better Sound for Your ...
- RODE VideoMic NTG • RODE VideoMic NTG Review
- Sony ECM 674 • Sony ECM-674 Shotgun M...
- Deity S-Mic 2S • Deity S-Mic 2S Short S...
- Deity S-Mic 2 • Deity S-Mic 2 Shotgun ...
- Deity D3 Pro • Deity D3 Pro Shotgun M...
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. Https://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, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun Microphone - Trew Audio, B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/LQYpZr
- Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun microphone - Trew Audio, B&H, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/AVgsgHZ
- DEITY S-Mic 2 shotgun microphone - Trew Audio, B&H, Amazon geni.us/deitysmic2CH
- Aputure 600D PRO LED Light - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store geni.us/3fj3g0g
- Impact Luxbank softbox - B&H geni.us/pJEgP
- Aputure Amaran 100D - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/A3HByXB
- Aputure Spotlight Mount - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store. Amazon geni.us/kfAj
- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo Cool Lavender creates the color pattern on the back wall - B&H geni.us/GWKt
- Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/uK8UqB
- Canon C70 camera - B&H geni.us/ABYB
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L lens - B&H, Amazon geni.us/qwsEs
- SoundDevices 888 Audio Recorder - Trew Audio, B&H, Sweetwater geni.us/zAryW4J
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 2022, Curtis Judd
#Sennheiser #MKE600 #Microphone
Index
00:00 Start
00:12 Summary
00:22 Introduction
01:21 Raw samples
02:19 Directional polar pattern
04:15 Sibilance
04:45 Self-noise
06:33 On-camera use
06:53 Powering options
07:15 Camera-top sample
08:21 Low cut filter
09:55 Shock mount
10:34 RF interference test
11:13 Build quality
11:29 Price
11:40 Summary - My take
13:30 Audio Technica AT875R
14:12 Cons - Shock mount
14:48 Wrap up
15:34 Please buy my courses
**Remember to trust YOUR ears when it comes to evaluating which microphone YOU prefer. Every voice is different, every microphone is different, every set of playback speakers/headphones are different, and everyone's ears are different. That all adds up to a good bit of subjectivity when it comes to evaluating which microphone you prefer. My advice: Listen on the best possible equipment you can and trust YOUR ears.
I reviewed this mic a couple of months ago. I tested with 3 audio interfaces and also found that turning the low cut filter on my Elgato Wave XLR lowered the noise floor compared to my other that didn't have a low cut. Nice to see the expert in audio confirm what I had noticed and it wasn't just distant construction noise creeping in. Have a great day Curtis.
@@sparkestudio 👍
416 was my favorite.
@@TheRealTommyR 👍
Have you reviewed the ECM-678 from Sony? Im curious how that one sounds. It seems its not that popular. I have Sony Lavs which I have had for years and they just work. I was thinking about just staying with Sony.
Such a thorough, helpful review. Thank you so much!
Thanks, Arianna.
Thanks so much Curtis - your vids are always so helpful!
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I've said this before, but I'd just like to thank you again for the work you put into these videos. They are immensely helpful - I have learned a lot from watching you. Thanks for making my career possible!
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@@curtisjudd
Hey I'm looking into mid range mics and I wanted to get your take on the following:
Currently I have a blackmagic pocket 4k and I'm looking for an XLR mic to upgrade from my crappy takstar and I wanted to get your opinion.
- I have come to the conclusion it would be best to start with a shotgun style mic for both indoor and outdoor audio (mostly dialogue but am looking for something as versatile as possible) and get a cardiod and lav mics later on when I can afford it.
- I have also come to the conclusion that I should get a more expensive ($300-$500) mic and use it with the XLR port (and pre-amps) on the blackmagic 4k until I can afford an external audio recorder.
- I was looking at the Audio-technica AT875R, MKE600, Rode NTG5, Azden 3500L, and a used NTG3. I know these are in wildly different price ranges but could you rank these and recommend a few? If you have any other recommendations (especially used) please let me know.
- Finally, I was looking at mics like the Octava MK012 since they have multiple capsules and was wondering if that would be a better first buy?
- I really want to get something I can grow with rather than buying something I will likely sell later on (unless the quality would be a lot better).
- Are these conclusions correct? Would you recommend? Is starting with a shotgun the right idea or would I be better off with a cardiod mic (like a used Audio-technica 4053b)?
I have been waiting for this review!!! I had bought 2 of them for our small video production business and have really enjoyed them!
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I am very appreciative of your videos and comparisons. At the same time, 6 months ago I was less picky about audio quality and didn't pay that much attention to the details so I was easier to please. Thank you for the great information. 👍
You're most welcome!
Good to see and hear from you, C! Always love your reviews. I really like this mic. It was my first shotgun. Since then, I’ve purchased the 416 and 50 which, as you know, sound amazing. But I would still recommend the 600 to anyone. Thanks.
Thanks Nathan!
Thanks for yet another valuable input Curtis. I put a lot of trust into your reviews - keep up the nice work. Greetings from Sweden🙏
Thank you, David. Happy recording!
Great video! I’ve been using this microphone for a while now for all of my RUclips videos. It works great and the quality is awesome. Thanks for the review! 😁👍
Thanks Jason.
Curtis, your opinions and advice are always so refreshing. I love that I'm not watching a "you must buy this right now" kind of advertisement.
Thank you for doing what you do!
Thanks, Lance!
Hi Curtis
at 12:13 you said exactly what I was looking for. Thank you always for the hard work and dedication you put into your thorough presentations.
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I really like your pros and cons at the start of each video. I always listen to you all the way through but like being able to come back to that slide rather than search through the whole thing. Thanks.
I'm just doing what I wish all other reviews did. 👍
Very helpful - clear cut and to the point. Many thanks!
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Great review Curtis, thanks for sharing it with us! I'm an audio engineer gone filmmaker and I have this exact mic. It's a great sounding microphone, especially for the price. But yes, I never even bothered with the included shock mount and use a "proper" one on a boom pole instead which works wonderfully. Cheers /Fred
Cheers, Fred! Glad to hear your experience.
After hours and hours of research and review, the MKE 600 was my golden choice. I am so pleased with this mic. It’s very versatile. I was surprised at how well it did going into post. Thanks for video Curtis!!!!
Glad it works well for you! Happy recording! 🎙
did you consider the ntg4? I'm debating between these 2 for interviews
I would NOT recommend the NTG4 in 2022. The MKE 600 is a much better sounding microphone in my experience.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the reply Curt! Really appreciate it.
Have you used it for groups of two-five around a table? Thanks
Thank you Curtis!
I like the battery power option for bringing the mic out on small on location shoots with minimal gear as well as a studio boom mic with a preamp.
Feels like a versatile microphone that can get a lot of use.
I agree.
I've had the 600 for a few months now, and I absolutely adore it. It blows me away with the price to performance.
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This is always the place I visit before making a purchase. And... now I have an MKE 600 in the mail. Thank you for amazing content.
Thanks Jens and happy recording!
Ofc when I was googling the right xlr mic, Mr.Judd with the perfect upload.
Thank you sir
Thanks, Wyant.
Good to see this. Thanks. I went ahead and bought the mic a few months back. I heartily concur with your review. It's a solid performer, certainly for my purposes. With some sensible EQing, it can sound not totally unlike a 416... if you're in a generous mood. :) Thanks again.
Pretty close, yes. Glad it works well for you, Heathcliff.
Thank you a lot. Just ordered one today. Good luck in everything.
Happy recording!
Thank you, this was extremely helpful, and very pleasant to listen to as well.
Thanks, Thomas.
Good review as always. I watch you then I make decisions about what to buy. I'm a fan.
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I browsed through your RUclips looking for this review, and ended up just buying this mic last week. I was scared it wasn't a good decision because you didn't have a video on it lol!
It took me a while to get to this one, but I'm glad I finally did.
my mind is at ease thank you. I recently purchased the 600 and been researching and researching if I did the right purchase
you have great day+++!!!!
Happy recording!
dude. that content is gold. thank you
Thanks!
Great review! Thanks. I purchased the Sennheiser MKE600 about a year ago and I haven’t been able to use any other of my mics since. I totally love it, and I don’t have or use any external recording devise, I only connect it directly to my bmpcc6k Pro using 48 volts. The sound is fantastic and super clear. Thanks again
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Great review as always. Very informative.
Thanks.
I'm back. I got the MKE600 now and it's been a great alternative to my cardioids. Thanks once again Curtis.
Glad it works well for you! Happy recording!
My experience has been the same as your summery. great review (surprised you hadn't reviewed this already!)
So many mics, so little time. 😉 Glad I finally got a chance to review it.
As usual, a good, thorough and balanced review.
Regarding “internal noise”: I use my most quiet room, usually the bed room (when not used for “home entertainment” or meetings with Morpheus). I start a voice recording (to be normalized, as you do), but then I roll a really thick winter duvet around the microphone; covered by a fleece blanket and/or a thick bed cover. The handling noise has to be cut out, but now you have your reference. The ordinary voice level to be normalized, and the most quiet environment in a typical home. Sometimes 10-20 Hz, steep hi-pass filter will remove a surprising amount of inaudible low frequency rumble (you decide).
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This is a great review! I'm heavily leaning toward getting the AT875R and you have given it another tick towards it maybe being the right one for me!
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Thanks Curtis, I really enjoyed this. Lucky me the mic is on sale at the moment. Happy days.
Thanks, John.
Damn sold out at my local audio store. My Rode ntg2 is falling apart. So my powered beachtek preamp can run this without an internal mic battery?
The beachtek can supply phantom power to the mic, or you can power the mic with a AA battery, yes.
Phenomenal review! Thank you
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Just bought this mic 10 mins before finding this review 🤣 Excited and will report back the findings! Thanks for the review Curtis 🙏🏾
👍 Happy recording!
How has it been? about to purchase it haha
Thanks for the info! Would I see a noticeable decrease in quality if I plugged the MKE 600 directly into my Fuji XT3 using the 3.5mm adaptor (versus XLR a XLR recorder)? I am planning to place it on a boom pole above my head, just out of frame. (I prefer to avoid syncing my video/audio in post). Thank you.
Hi, thank you. I'm not positive as I haven't tested the XT3's audio input. But it should work decently.
@@curtisjudd Thank you
Awesome review, Curtis! I just purchased the MKE 600. I have been using my Rode VideoMic Pro for several years. I actually have two of those Rode Video Mics. Excited to level up my audio haha, with something I was more used to using in my professional studio video production days before I started doing my RUclips videos full-time.
I hope it works well for you. Happy recording! 🎙️
@@curtisjudd Thank you!!!
Great mic. I’ve had one since 2014 and it doesn’t disappoint.
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I use the 600 as my go-to camera-mount ENG mic. Love the pull (sensitivity) and love the crisp Sennheiser sound.
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great Video as always!!! Thank you!
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This microphone is a sleeper microphone, one of my most favourite shotgun microphones of all time, yes even more than the videomic NTG from Rode, this guy is very smooth sounding, not exggerated in the highs, doesn’t have that annoying crispiness that sometimes hurts after post processing, this is surprisingly good for voiceovers too! Its not very costly, yet performs really well, Thanks for this video, now more people would know about this, also worth mentioning this sounds so much fuller & better even when compared to the NTG4 from Rode, that just sounds so lacking in the low end, definitely not something I personally like. Great video as always Curtis! Also, it would be great if you can share some links for shock mounts for shotgun microphones, I live in India and we don’t really get a lot of them easily without spending a lot of money. Cheers!
Thanks Agam. I usually use Rycote shock mounts which are available here.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis, I will look into them, I think I will have to import them😊
superb review, very good!
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I've owned the mke600 for a few years now, and it's a fantastic value mic, in fact it's one of my all time favourites, and unbeatable in it's price range.
Only the ntg3 or mkh416 have bettered it (that I've tried) and both cost significantly more.
If your a content creator on a budget, it's a no brainer.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Excellent review.
Thanks Allen.
I've been using this microphone for about 4 years now, and I love it. Started using it on my camera for all shoots at first, then evolved to using it with a separate recorder when I needed multiple audio sources. I still often use it on camera for better scratch/sync/backup audio as well as on a boom arm with my external recorder or mixing board for live productions, it fits perfectly for commercial/corporate situations where a rode videomic may look slightly "youtuber"-ish. One thing to note, the included XLR to jack cable keeps it as a balanced mono signal, but many cameras will record this as an unbalanced stereo signal meaning the L and R channel will contain the same audio but in opposite polarity.
Thanks for that detail. That will certainly trip some people up if they don't handle it correctly in post. 🙏
Sorry if too dumb of a question. But how would you notice that with other cables/cameras? And what would mean in practical terms? Will the audio be almost muted? Thanks!
@@SanczykLucas Well, I just tested it and I didn't experience the inverted phase when recording into my GH5S so I'm not sure this is an issue for all cases. With the version of the cable I received with the mic, the two channels are not out of phase so there's nothing to worry about for hybrid/mirrorless camera operators. Perhaps in some places they ship with a different cable? I'm not sure.
@@curtisjudd Cool, so either the GH5S can detect when a mono signal is preferred (I noticed the effect when using an A7sII, have not tested specifically for this since then) or it is possible that the cable is different, either because of the different regions (I live in Belgium) or they may have changed it in the time between when I bought mine and you got yours. Either way I suppose it is a good thing to be aware of and easy to fix in post
Can you connect it to any audio recorder?
Thank you for this review 🙂
You're welcome!
I'm commenting this before even watching the video. I have 7 of these and they have been my main driver for 8 years!. Love them!
They do NOT come with the xlr to 1/8" adapter anymore. They used to until about 2019.
That's interesting. I got mine this year and it included the adapter cable. Is yours a US version?
@@curtisjudd yes, US from b&h. Two of them. The newest ones are also a nicer flatter grey powder coating. Doesn’t really matter in the long run but maybe you got an old stock or something.
@@curtisjudd oh and the older versions if you leave a battery in while powering via phantom seemed to corrode in a day or 2. Haven’t had any issues with new ones even after months leaving aa battery in.
Thank you Curtos, this video helped a lot - just like your zoom f3 video -, so I own an mke 600 and a zoom f3 now :)
👍 Happy recording!!
Thank you for the review, Curtis. The Global Z Recording Project only has one 'real' shotgun mic, and this is it. As a nonprofit, we tend to go for the more affordable gear, and considering its price, I have to mirror your thoughts on the MKE 600. It does a fine job at a reasonable price. Great review as always - cheers. Bill
Thanks for sharing your experience with the MKE 600, Bill. 🎙
Thanks to you, I've built an inventory of very good affordable mics for a small personal kit. 3 mics under $300 each. 1) Oktava MK-012 cardioid for close up indoor dialogue; 2) Audio Technica AT875R short shotgun; and 3) the MKE 600 for more directional needs and for booming 'untethered' to a Zoom F2. I spent a lot of time with your videos to find and compare these great bang-for-buck mics. I found some deals and got all these, including the F2 - which is of course also a lav (#4!), all for under $1k out of pocket. Thanks.
👍 happy recording!
I’ve bought this mic recently, but now I wonder: is pencil condenser microphones like oktava 012 or rode nt5 are better for indoors? I’ve seen lots of your video on this topic for many years, but it’s interesting what you think about stuff now?) Is it worth to sell a shotgun like mke 600 and buy a pencil condenser?
If you’re getting good results, I certainly wouldn’t sell it. When you get off axis from a shotgun mic, particularly in reverberant indoor spaces, you can get a warbling, comb-filter sound. If you’re not getting that, just keep making great sound with that MKE 600.
Thank you for your excellent work on this video! This was really helpful! I signed in just to give you my "like"
Thanks Mark.
Hi, Curtis. Would this be more suitable for people with deep voices than the Audio Technica AT875R? I struggle to find a mic that doesn't emphasize the deepness in my voice. Thanks for the great review.
I would use a high pass filter to manage an overly bassy sound. The MKE600 is not less bassy.
@@curtisjudd ok, thanks.
I've owned this shotgun mic for 3 years, and only now, because of this video, did I realize there is an 1/8" hole on the bottom of my camera mount. Thank you, Sir Curtis, House of Judd! 😅
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10:48 - my negative thoughts trying to bring me down.
Superb review brother
Thanks.
Super thorough, clear, and helpful, thanks! I even learned that when you stand far away, it sounds far 😂😂
Bought mine a few weeks ago and just shot my first short film with this mic, and I loved it. Great sound quality, and with some work in post, it's the best my shorts have sounded in awhile. Gonna make this baby last a long time cause I can't afford anything else haha
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Did you use it with a audio recorder?
Off axis rejection is awesome ..good work Curtis
Thanks Ahmed.
Why did I read Seinheisser God Tier from looking at the thumbnail lol. Awesome video though! You have become my go to for finding good audio recording tips for filmmaking
Not sure, but thanks!
Thank you so much for your review. I didn't know about this microphone. I ordered it from Amazon after watching your review. I also ordered the Rode Video Mic NTG. I sent the Rode back today.
I tested four on camera shotguns: The 600, the Sennheiser MKE 400, the Rode Video Mic NTG and the Mackie EM 98 MS. One thing that it's very important for me is sound isolation. The 600 is clearly the best of the four. You mentioned subjectivity but I don't see much room for it when it comes to sound isolation.
The 600 also sounds more natural, less "echoey", than the other 3.
I believe that members of the public wouldn't be able to tell one mic from the other when listening to recordings from the Rode , Mackie and Sennheiser 400 , although the Rode is better than the other two.
But people would notice that the sound of the 600 is better.
The 600 is also more solid and stronger than the other three. Again, there is no room for subjectivity here. I opened both Sennheiser's and Rode's box (a very complicated box, by the way) in a matter of minutes. The first thing I noticed was the solidity of the 600 when compared with the Rode.
I am very happy with the 600 but the mic does have two things I don't like. One is subjective , the other one is not. I would prefer a built in battery but at least the 600 uses just one AA battery whilst the 400 uses two AAA.
The second thing is not subjective. The 600 doesn't have the option for gain. Both Mackie and Rode can add a lot of gain to the sound. The 400 also has a gain but not so effective as the gain in the other two. The 600 has zero gain and that is really bad when shooting with an iPhone. I know that all reviewers say "don't use the gain in the camera" but they are talking about SLR cameras. You do need to use some of the gain in the cam app in most situations.
I can only use the 600 if I am shooting with the Beachtek interface and/or Rode AI interface. If I need a more discreet and simpler set up, say just phone, handle and shotgun, then I would use the 400 or , more likely, the Mackie because of the internal gain. I could never use the 600.
Glad you like the MKE600. 👍
This was my main mic before upgrading to miniCMIT. Thank you for reviewing it. I used it a lot on camera with mic jack as well as with Zoom F6 and XLR cable.
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You finally made a review on this Mic. I'm not a fan of Rode Mic, to me they don't sound good and I have owned this one for almost 10 years now, and still have zero complaints about it.
Yes, glad I had a chance to work with it.
Good timing! Thanks for all you do!
Thanks Robert.
Great review, thank you! I listened to your sound comparison blindly. I got the 416 right and liked it better than the other two. And I liked the 600 (and guessed it right, as I own this) better than the 3rd mic. I was not sure, what the 3rd was. I was pretty sure, that it wasn't a Rode. But I didn't guess the Deity. Finally, considering just your sound samples, this would be my order:
1. Sennheiser MKE 416
2. Sennheiser MKH 600
3. Deity S-Mic 2
By the way, sometimes I actually use the self power function and connect the MKH 600 directly to my camera.
Good ears!
Great review and I could hear it against my other mic the 416 , HAD MY EYES CLOSED , DOG OUT THE ROOM AND SENNHEISER HD600 ON
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I own MKE 600 and can add, that it is very easy to equalize it in post to get any style of sound.
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I have audio technica AT897. do you think it's an upgrade if I buy this? or just stick with it my problem with at897 is that it needs a lot of gain T_T
I haven’t used the AT897 so I’m not sure whether it would be a step up.
Top tier review
Thank you for this review. I would like to see a review and your take for the Azden 3500L shotgun mic.
Done: ruclips.net/video/nCeoK1DcX1A/видео.html
We've owned one of these mics for over 20 years and it's been on location all around the world with us from the Arctic Circle to the Caribbean to Death Valley filming commercials, docs and location television. Some of our guys pooo pooo it so I sort of expected you'd beat on it too but you were largely okay with it. Listening to your numerous MKH50 samples and demos I really feel like that one is definitely heads and ears above them all... at least to my ears. As a Producer, I learned long ago that our best money spent on audio is hiring an audio professional because they have all the best mics from DPA and Schoeps.
YOU are the only person I've ever heard mention "normalizing" to a LUF standard and as a mostly cinematographer / camera, I don't even know what it is but you've spurred me to find out. I'm sure that can help us when we're working with audio in ProTools as well, if I can find that option in the software or get a plug in for it.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and knowledge here, I wish I'd have found your channel ten years ago. ~Robert
Thanks Robert and all the best to you!
I like the sound of this one, Curtis. I also like the fact it can be both battery and phantom powered which gives it a slight edge over the Rode NTG 5. Also the mic noise is fantastically low. Great mic and the fact you can't really find any faults is a winner when you look at the cost of it. I guess adding the rode shock mount would make it closer to the NTG 5 cost wise, but still a better deal.
Hi Alan, Yes, good performer for the price.
@@curtisjudd a side from the self powering feature which would be a better choice this or the NTG5?
@@banderal-ali5066 If you need a mic that can feed into a 3.5mm input, the MKE600 is the clear choice. If working with a recorder or camera with XLR inputs, I'd probably opt for the RODE NTG5.
@@curtisjudd thanks for the feedback. Now only 2 questions since i am cooming from an AT2020 with a focusrite 2i2 3rd gen.
Do need my fethead or no need fot it.
2nd is the focusrite 2i2 a good match with either MKE600 and NTG5?
@@banderal-ali5066 No, you should not need a Fathead for either of the shotgun microphones.
Great timing on this. I am on the fence between this one, the AT875R and the AT897.
Thanks and best wishes on choosing your new mic! 🎙
REQUEST - Can you help me make a decision
1. Rode NTG
2. Sennheiser MKE 600
Which one would you recommend, for inside the studio videos on a boom pole connected to the camera using a extension
I recommend the Sennheiser MKE600 over the VideoMic NTG, if that's what you're asking?
I would love if one day you make a review on the Behringer B5, its a really afforadable condenser mic with a cardioid + omnidirecional capsule for around 60 USD, I think its a really good option if you are in a budget. Amazing review regarding the MKE 600. Cheers.
Me too, time permitting.
Great work .. thank you
Thanks Hakam.
Curtis, your product shots over the orange and magenta background are incredible. I’m curious to know about your background. Is that a multicoloured gobo?
Yes, and an RGB light , the new Aputure LS 600C.
In your samples here once again I found the 416 superior, with the 600 far behind in second place. I found the Deity a bit worse than I remembered.
Back when I wanted to buy my first highly directional microphone ("shotgun" if you like), I did of course listen to online samples of this one, as well as the Røde NTGs and others. To my ears two microphones stood out: the 416 which I couldn't afford at the time, and the now discontinued Sennheiser ME 66. I went with the latter, even though it was more expensive than the MKE 600.
And over time I got that whole system: The ME 62 (omni), ME 64 (cardioid), ME 65 (hyper cardioid), ME 66 ("shotgun", and I own two of them), ME 67 ("longgun") and four of the necessary power supplies: Two K6 and two K6p.
To my ears the ME 66 beats everything else, at least below $1200, except the 416 which I bought recently.
The ME 66 also has the advantage of being lightweight. If I need the battery option and use the K6 with it, it weighs 130g (plus battery) which is about the same as the MKE 600. But if I can use phantom power, I use the K6p which brings the weight down to only 95g.
Alas, as I said, the K6 system has been dropped. I'm glad I bought it in time!
So I guess the MKE 600 is now the best option under $1000, unless you need the ruggedness of an NTG 3 or 5.
Thanks for sharing context on the K6 system. Too bad they discontinued it.
Being able to use this either directly on the camera with 3.5mm or with XLR through a preamp or with an XLR recorder (in my case, a Zoom H4N Pro) is a huge advantage. So versatile!
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Just purchased this mic 🎤 when I heard it on another RUclips video & someone asked what he was using. Love the depth & it’s lively. I found that Rode mics on RUclips sounded flat & muddy. This one blew those away. Hopefully I will be able to work the same magic.
Happy recording!
Great! That’s the mic I’ve been using for years now and I actually thought the quality was unique. For now that’s my go to boom for my first indie movie in the works. I am willing to step up if finance comes in as we hope but I would like to know your thoughts on using this in a feature. Thanks as always for your content and much grace to you.
I think, GO FOR IT! Happy recording!
Thanks a lot.
Thank you for reviewing this microphone. I've watched many of your reviews and often wished the MKE600 was included in your comparisons. I've used this mic for around four years, bought by my employer(s) for use as an on-camera natural sound mic for shooting news. I've also used it many times on mic stands or booms for interviews, especially during the pandemic when we were maintaining distance and avoiding contact (no clipping lavs on interviewees). The mic also worked well when I needed to voice quick-turn news stories in settings where it would be too noisy for other mics. It's not a lip mic, but you can get decent isolation. All of that said, I am still interested where you put this mic in your hierarchy of shotgun mics. As I buy more of my own equipment, I have been curious if there's something better for the price. Likewise, I've wondered if I wanted to spend more for a noticeable improvement in overall sound quality, what models do you consider the next tier? How much more would you need to spend for something obviously "better"? I know there are a million caveats and factors, including subjective personal preference. But I'd like to know your opinion. I promise, I will still use MY own ears. :) As always, thanks for sharing your expertise, be it objective comparisons of emperical data or personal opinions. Your videos are in-depth, but concise and clear. Great work. Thanks in advance for any reply.
Hi Jim, as you alluded in your question, the law of diminishing returns is certainly applicable here. My sense is that the next discernible improvement comes at around $700 for something like the RODE NTG3.
@@curtisjudd thanks for the input. Quick boring sidenote about why I first started using the MKE600. The phantom power to my on-camera mic was malfunctioning and causing loud bursts. While the engineers waited to receive parts for repairs, they gave me the MKE600 because it could run on AA battery and I could disable the 48V on the camera. I talked them into letting me keep it as my on-camera mic even after phantom power was repaired. It's been a good versatile mic.
I've had 2 MKE 600's at my previous 2 jobs. Such a trusty mic at the price. I've loved it and thought it always sounded good enough for corporate work. My current job we ended up getting an MKH-416 and obviously it blows the MKE-600 out of the water, but also at double the price. If I had to use an MKE-600 again, I wouldn't mind at all. Though i'd prefer my 416 for obvious reasons haha.
Yes, almost 3x the price.
Is the mke 600 compatible with any audio recorder?
@@multimulti6042 I’ve used it with a ton of cameras and external recorders. Just gotta make sure either the batteries are in the mic itself and the 48V is on or the recorder has phantom power capability.
At the production company I work at we have the original version of this mic and we’ve had it for 14 years. It’s our oldest piece of working gear haha great piece of kit for the price
Wow, good to know!
Thanks Curtis!
You're welcome, Jonathan!
i wanted this mic but caught the sennheiser me66/k6 and sennheiser me64/k6 for the price of the 600 and was brand new on a unbelievable sale.... but from the videos I've seen this mic looks like it picks up quality sound without having to be as close to the mic as those or some other mics.
Nice find. Too bad they stopped making that one.
Great review again Curtis! So for a full feature production with a wide variety of voices is the 416 still heads above the competition and still the best choice regardless of budget?
The 416 is a classic and a great all-rounder. Most production sound mixers use a wider variety of shotgun mics at this point - DPA, Sanken, Schoeps - but very few would say that the 416 is a bad microphone.
Just bought this mic about three weeks ago and had a couple of chances of using it before breaking my leg. Fantastic mic for the money, the only con I can think of is that the shock mount did scratch some of the paint on the body of the mic. So have that in mind folks.
Do not reply to the scammer
Thanks for sharing your experience. 👍
I have this shotgun mic and it has a great sound. It is reliable, battery powered (no phantom power is needed).
The problem with it is the noise floor when you attach it to a DSLR camera. The camera gain has to turned down to minimum (1) to avoid hissing (bad Nikon), but the output of the microphone is too low in this case. There is no level boost function as in case of Rode Video Mic Pro, so you have to use a dedicated microphone amplifier/voice recorder to amplify the signal.
The other problem is the lack of digital output. A USB-C output would be very useful for podcasting/video conferencing. I know that it is not common in shotgun mics, but it is an improvement potenential for such devices. I think that it would be possible to add a cheap ADC with a tiny socket.
I have a Z6 and I think that is mainly a Nikon problem. Even my camera-top mics end up with a super prominent noise floor with the Z6.
Thanks for this video. I used the SKE 600 on a feature film I shot a couple years ago. For some reason, the thread for accessing the battery seems frozen shut. I am unable to unscrew the mic to get to the battery. So, I've used it with phantom power enabled. A few months ago, I picked up the Rode NTG5. I just did a quick test between the two, and I found that the NTG5 has more bass in the sound recording. The MKE 600 sounds less bass-y, maybe more "natural". With this test, I am drawn to the MKE 600 because it has less bass/low end sound in the audio. Which may mean that the NTG5 would be good for people with high pitch voices. I'll have to have a colleague listen to the comparison to get another opinion. That being said, I do really like what I got out of the Sennheiser MKE 600.
Yes, lots of nuance, but pretty good for the price.
I bought one last year after putting it up next to a few different mics. It performed better than mics costing double the amount I paid.
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Great Review again !!! good Job Curtis ! I've been using this microphone for about 3 years and it's worth the money I paid I think . I used this mic for booming mainly and I also used battery powered to make the battery in Plug-On Transmitter last longer sometime for long and rush shooting , but I found battery powered made the sound of the mic a little different , is it normal ?
Let me ask: Does the camera-top sample in this video (where it is powered via battery) sound different than the rest of the video? I didn't notice a huge difference but if there is one, it could be that the character of the mic changes when battery powering or it could also be the camera's input vs. the audio recorder I used the rest of the time. Or it could be a combination of both. I'm not sure.
Love your videos. I was curious as to what boon stand did you use. I didn't see it mentioned in the description.
Thanks in advance
In the studio I use a a Latch Lake Mic King, but that’s overkill for most people.
@@curtisjudd thanks for replying
01:40 S-MIC 2 had some nasty hollow sounding phase/reverb issue (esp. on Curtis's voice). 416 had more sibilance, but also more presence and was more open. But for the price this seems like super value. Also the high pass filter could come in handy if using the mic for things like Skype/Teams etc. The audio formats used by those apps seem to turn any low frequency warmth into noxious cruddy congestion.
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There is no way on earth you don't do any voice acting! You have a great voice for audio books
Haha! Thanks! I have done a little bit of VO work. 🙏
@@curtisjudd Read the bible! All of it!
This was my first shotgun and I am very happy with it. The battery inside makes it very versatile as not all my recording devices have XLR , plus XLR cables are a bit too bulky sometimes :) What is strange, and it might be a result of me living in the EU, is that the Rode Videomic NTG and the Sennheiser MKE600 cost exactly the same. I have both now and I am happy with both. On camera top I prefer the VMNTG, the MKE600 is a bit too long and the XLR connector makes it even longer, plus you have a lot more features on the VMNTG. On a boom however, I use the MKE. I bought a small and cheap ballhead and that helps set the angle of this tiny Sennheiser shockmount, only issue is that you cannot mount it sideways, only vertically.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Krisztián.
@@curtisjudd Is it possible that in the USA the MKE600 comes with the XLR-jack adapter as a default accessory in the box whereas here in the EU it comes without that adapter? That might explain part of the price difference you mention.
@@ww1www That could be, yes.
@@ww1www The EU version has the XLR jack included in the standard box. At least the one I bought around 2021/2022 (can’t remember exact date, too lazy to look for the invoice ;-)
I also use a cheap UURig 015 (or something like that) from Amazon. I have three of the critters, making it possible to create a combination of ORTF and shotgun setup. I use several Sennheiser mount for my Rode pencil condensers. - replacing the extremely fiddly SM4-R mounts (try creating an “orthodox” ORTF setup with those - instead all my pencil microphones have the Sennheiser mounts permanently fixed (more or less ;-). I use a preset mounting bracket (with correctly angled cold shoes), and setup is completed within a few seconds.
@@winnegehetoch Interesting. I got mine at the end of 2020 in Hungary and it came without the XLR jack. I had to buy it separately.
Regarding the shockmount, I use the shockmount that came with my akg c414, you can get that shockmount on its own for pretty cheap.
Love this mic, and love your videos!
Thanks for sharing that tip, James 👍
Loving your insightful videos. Thank you :) Would I be able to use an XLR to USB-C cable to essentially use it as a USB mic with my laptop and/or phone?
Technically, yes, but those adapters are often poor quality so choose carefully.
Great review! Bought two of these a few years back for use on a mirrorless rig because it didn't need phantom power for audio. Great mic and I still use it to this day for certain occasions. For sit-down interviews I've been running the MKH 8050 which I love, but I have noticed (in your samples here too) that mouth noise is much more prevalent in MKH series and is very well handled with the MKE600. I wonder if you've noticed this too when recording with the 416 or 8000 series? Do you fix this with any mic positioning techniques, handle this in post, or simply accept it?
I handle it in post. And make sure that the talent is hydrated.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the response! Good reminder that I should be bringing water for my talent.
Excellent review! I've been using this mic for years and I think the only downside against others shotguns in that price range is imho you have to position it an inch or two closer to your subject than other shotguns within that segment. But once it is right, it SOUNDS!
Can you share the input level you used on your recorder before normalizing?
50dB of gain on the Sound Devices 888.
@@curtisjudd Thank you! Love the videos!