Sennheiser MKE 400 & MKE 200 Microphone Review | TOTALLY Worth Buying IF...
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- Опубликовано: 28 июл 2024
- In this video I review the new Sennheiser MKE 200 and MKE 400 on-camera shotgun microphones to see how they compare to the usual competitors.
Popular on-camera mics are made by Rode, Deity, and other brands, so how does the newest generation of Sennheiser microphones compare? Are these the best budget on-camera microphones available?
The Sennheiser MKE 200 and MKE 400 are extremely compact and lightweight, as well as simple and flexible, but how do they sound?
I cover all the features of both the Sennheiser MKE 200 and MKE 400 in this review, as well as sharing audio samples from multiple distances indoor and out. I also share both raw and edited audio so you can hear how well these microphones hold up in post processing.
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== LINKS ==
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Sennheiser MKE 200 - geni.us/sennheisermke200
Sennheiser MKE 200 Mobile Kit - geni.us/sennheisermke200mobile
Sennheiser MKE 400 - geni.us/sennheisermke400
Sennheiser MKE 400 Mobile Kit - geni.us/sennheisermke400mobile
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== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==
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0:00 - Intro & Disclosure
0:29 - Design & Build Quality
1:42 - Auto-Power Functionality
2:33 - MKE 400 Special Features
3:52 - Raw Audio Comparison
5:38 - Downsides
6:04 - Processed Audio Comparison
6:50 - Which One to Choose
7:13 - Vlogging Audio Comparison
7:57 - Final Thoughts
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== CONNECT ==
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Instagram: / newlayercom
Facebook: / nwlyr
Twitter: / nwlyr 
Хобби
Would you pick one of these mics up over the alternatives we're used to hearing? What do you think about the new-ish form factor?
Not planning to upgrade my audio yet, but glad that these videos are up!! :) Thank you for the video!!
Glad it was useful, at least to give you an idea of what's out there :)
Great breakdown, really appreciate the quality of your work. Thanks.
Thanks I'm glad it was helpful!
I watched several videos for the MKE 200 as I wanted a smaller mic for my vlogging setup. But, was unsure until hearing your processed sound clips. I just ordered the mic Thanks!
Glad I could help! With some basic EQ, compression, and noise gating, you can make any mic sound pretty darn good. I did a video on my basic process here: ruclips.net/video/-EBbhV1YBDg/видео.html
Great review, thanks! It helped me decide to be content with the MKE 200 as a beginner, since I can get one for 60€ new.
Thanks! That's a killer deal for the MKE 200 too!
Good review! I do really want to hear the 400 compared to similar priced ones like the Rode VideoMic NTG or maybe the Deity D3. I was about to order something for my rig and now I feel like I need to research a bit more!
Thanks for letting me know, I have a few competing mics, but not all I would want to include in a side by side video, so I’ll see what I can do 👍
Very helpful review, thanks
Thanks, glad it helped!
That 400 looks great. Thanks for the video.
You bet, glad you liked it!
Awesome vid my man! Thanks
Thanks,. glad it helped!
Well made review. I use the Sennheiser MK4 music recordings and I love it. Sennheiser is amazing. Thank you for this.
Sennheiser is legendary enough that I wasn’t super surprised, but pleasantly so with these new little guys 😄
@@NewLayer I think I will consider one of those as an upgrade from my Rode Macro
Thank you for this. The sound quality of the 400 much better!
It definitely sounds better out of the box. It's truly one of the better legitimate plug-and-play options I've used. The 200 is surprisingly good with very little editing too.
I have been using the mk200 and I adore that thing! I do use it at close range though
It’s a great little mic, and like any shotgun, sounds it’s best in the 12-18” range!
Thanks for your video. Can you mention please what exactly effect and settings or presets you were using for editing MKE 200. After your post production the sound becomes significantly better👍
I have a video tutorial on exactly that here! ruclips.net/video/-EBbhV1YBDg/видео.html
The EQ changes you make depend on your voice and the room you record in, but the process should be easy to follow :)
0:41 - Nothing wrong with a bit of girth ;)
The MKE400 sounds really great & the design is pretty good! :)
This is probably the 5th video I’ve used the word “girth” in… need some new synonyms.
Great review. Would love to see how these hold up to the more common alternatives, such as offerings from Rode.
The cheapest Rode mic I currently have is the VideoMic NTG, so I'll have to see if I can get the other on-camera mics for a potential comparison down the road.
@@NewLayer Sounds like Rode needs to support some New Layer ;)
Nice job, I like how you keep it simple, yet thorough. One thing you MIGHT mention...I wrestled with this 400 on a Canon C-70 , a Canon R5 and R. Would not work at all. I FAILED to notice that the two cords included, one bears a label for SMARTPHONE and it looks identical to the one for DSLR's, etc. Duh. The smartphone cord is NO SUBSTITUTE for the right one!!! :). All good now.
Thanks! And good call.
On top of that, if I recall correctly, only 1 cable has a label on it, while the other doesn't? So if you grab the label-less cord, you'd never know. I'm only 50% certain that's the case though and both cords could very easily have tags, haha.
you only need to look at the plugs and how many rings they have. Pretty easy once you know one has an extra ring.
Thanks for the nice review
Thanks for watching and commenting 👌
@@NewLayer No problem my friend!
Awesome review. Did you notice any internal noice while shooting with either of these mics, straight into your camera? I've noticed that Sony's tend to have terrible pre-amps in their cameras, and that noice makes it into my recordings; anytime I record sound into the camera.
I would say they are middle of the pack for noise compared to other mics the same price/style.
I use the a7SIII and a7IV now, which seem to have much better mics than 2-3 year old Sony cameras or older, so I don't think my cameras did much hurt to the sound. I didn't have to turn the preamps up very far to get the proper levels either.
I bought the MKE 200 a while ago simply because so simple and so easy to pack. No external suspension and no batteries means that I can just drop it into the camera bag and forget about it until the next shoot. I didn't plan to use it for more serious projects (was planning to buy an MKE 400 for that), but after hearing your edited sound, I'll certainly give it a go. One advantage with mics with no buttons is that fewer things can go wrong. Yes, I have made a complete shoot with the mic switched off. Yes, I had to go back the next week to do the shoot again.
This is VERY true. Not having to worry about charging your mic, etc. is amazing, especially when you have to manage so much other gear. And we've all filmed before only to realize we have no audio, so I feel your pain LOL.
Curious your thoughts on using the MKE 200 with a wireless transmitter/boom or tabletop setup to send the signal to the camera? Any drawbacks you can see? Also would love to see your settings for the post processing as a starting point. Cheers.
No reason it shouldn't work technically as well as any other mic in a wireless setup.
I did a video on how I process audio here: ruclips.net/video/-EBbhV1YBDg/видео.html
The only difference is in the EQ settings, but that changes based on each persons voice, so you kind of have to go through the process yourself. Luckily, you can save presets once you do it if you film in the same place all the time.
Thank you for the testing. I am the most interested in how on camera mics can be used at 2-3 meters outdoors.
You're welcome, hopefully this video helped :)
@@NewLayer Unfortunately it seems like this is very difficult for on camera mics. Not sure yet.
I wonder how these mics would do at capturing environment sound (ex. at a river or in the woods). Didn't find any video yet covering that. Did you try capturing environment sound with these? Great video for vlog recording though.
In my experience, any microphone that is good for voice is equally as good for environmental sounds as long as you're recording from the same distance (1-3m). You may just need to do some different EQ.
Thanks! Since I plan to connect straight to camera via 3.5mm (not XLR), would you recommend the MKE600 or the Rode VideoMic NTG?
The MKE600 is strictly an XLR mic. The VideoMic NTG is designed to be used with 3.5mm in mind, has an internal battery, safety track recording, and can be used as a USB mic directly into a computer, as well. The MKE400 would be more comparable to the VideoMic NTG. The audio quality is comparable, but it lacks some features that the VideoMic NTG has, although it's also much lower profile and lighterweight. Hope that helps.
Have you got a tutorial on your audio processing for the mke 200? Would love to see how you got it sounding like that.
Yes actually! Although I use the Rode PodMic in my example, I use the same process for every microphone. The only difference is the EQ settings, which vary from mic to mic and voice to voice ruclips.net/video/-EBbhV1YBDg/видео.html
I don't use my actual videomic pro because it's too big and because i sometimes forget to turn on the mike. With the MKE 200, I don't have to worry about it and I can use it on my GH6 and my GoPro :). Just EQ the sound and it's great!
I'm all about eliminating steps, which is why I like the MKE 200 also, it's literally just plug and play!
There's definitely more depth to the sound recorded by the MKE400. However, it is quite a bit bigger and requires a separate battery. The MKE200 is nice and compact, but does sound like it's verging on "tinny" at times.
Agree! Pros and cons to both, but overall both can sound very good with basic EQ and compression, so if you can create some presets to re-use, both work great.
Do you think that the Sennheiser MKE 400 could work also as a desktop/studio mic when not on the field? I moved from the RODE VideoMicro to the RODE VideoMic NTG, but feels quite bulky and I never figured out a compact/safe way to carry it in a bag because of the shock mount (any tips?). I think the MKE 400 form factor would make me more likely to bring it more often/fearing less to damage it. On the other hand, I guess the main disadvantage of the MKE 400 on a desktop (connected to an amp) would be having to turn it on/off only when in use not to go over the batteries in no time?
It could definitely work, but like you said, can't be recharged or powered externally, so you'd have to watch the batteries. The VideoMic NTG is usually what I recommend when people want field/computer recording out of a single mic, but I understand the fear of breaking the shock mount. You could always buy a small pick-a-part foam case and form fit it to the mic, but that adds size and cost to your travel kit so... Hopefully that helps :)
thanks for your valuable comparison. I work with a Panasonic GH5 and often outside the studio. Which of these two do you think is better voor me? Many thanks in advance
I would go for the 400 if you can. I think it sounds better with less work, and is a little bit more flexible 👍
@@NewLayer thx a lot! I’m going to follow your advice! 🫶
So does this mic record from both ends, like from front and back? I find it really frustrating to have to each time I change my positioning (like from behind camera to front of camera) I also have to stay removing the mic to turn it around
It does not, although this one is so light and compact that turning it is probably the least hassle out of any "standard" mics. If you want a dual channel mic, I suggest the Deity V-Mic D4 Duo, which points forward and backward: geni.us/deityvmicd4duo or the Comica Traxshot, which has adjustable mics that you can point in a lot of different directions: geni.us/comicatraxshot
Hope that helps!
I believe the MKE 200 is simply a dynamic mic: it does not draw or rely on power from the attached camera or phone. Rather, it uses the preamp of the attached device to boost the signal.
As far as I know it's still a condenser, but instead of the usual 12, 24, or 48V phantom power it uses 2-10V which is provided by mic jacks (which is 3V if I recall correctly).
That's my understanding but if you have a definitive answer otherwise let me know, it would surprise me!
@@NewLayer I checked it out and you are indeed right; it’s a low powered condenser. Good call.
@@LyndonPatrickSmith Good to know I'm not crazy! I've never seen a dynamic mic that can be used and sound good without the sound source just a few inches from it, so that would be cool to see!
Does the Sennheiser head phone jack work with cameras with no headphone jack?
You can use the headphone jack on the MKE 400 without even plugging it in to a camera. It just passes the audio directly from the mic capsule to the headphones.
Why doesn't the auto power work with my Panasonic Lumix S5 but it does work with my Lumix FZ2000?
That's a good question! I have 0 experience with Panasonic cameras, but I can't imagine the Lumix S5 would disable that functionality for any reason, so you may want to contact Panasonic, or hopefully someone with more experience will chime in on that.
Hi NewLayer , is 200 and 400 can pick up the voicr while speaking at the back? Thanks.
Sorry, no. These only pick up sound from the front.
The Deity V-Mic D4 Duo would be a good choice for you: geni.us/deityvmicd4duo
I went with MKE200, they both sound great. Of course 400 is better as you can adjust the settings on there, but very close if you don't adjust them either. Plus, I hate batteries and hate it when things go wrong electronicly. Keep it simple af, lol. Howver, I wanna get the more expensive SHURE mic one day for vlogging if I become famous.. lol. But for now the MKE200 should be great for in and out doors, and as a professional and experienced video-editor/sound enginerer I can always correct the sound. Still not sure if I made the right desccion though, I got 30 days to return it with Amazon's warranty (at the time of writing: 11-01-2023, January). Plus, I just wanted something I can carry all the time I guess, and not a fan of owning too much equipment and stuff.. I have OCD in a wiered way, lol.
I agree with you! The more simple my gear becomes, the more likely I am to use it. The MKE 200 can definitely take you far, especially if you know how to EQ/process it properly. A few presets and you're good to go!
@@NewLayer So.. should I keep my MKE200? Sorry. I still can't decide, lol. Plus I'm tryna use my money wisely as a Photographer/Student.
@@HeyHammadAusafi You'll have to decide for yourself, haha. It is hard to beat for the price and simplicity. With a bit of EQ, it sounds really great.
@@NewLayer Got you, bro. I'll just stick with MKE200, lol. For now.
@@HeyHammadAusafi I've said "for now" only about 10,000 times 🤣
In the vlogging part of the video I noticed the 200 having a bit of a problem with the "s" letter.
They both sound very good thou.
Probably nothing a little EQ couldn't fix :)
@@NewLayer I think the problem with EQ (both for recordings and in headphones) is that personal bias tends to overshoot or undershoot the EQ settings.
That is why i tend to stay away from EQ personally.
@@lrmcatspaw1 I understand where you're coming from, but at the same time, there isn't a single piece of pro-level content that hasn't had EQ applied in my experience. EQ is definitely half-science/half-art, and it can be tough to get audio to sound as good as possible on as many different devices as possible.
@@NewLayer Agreed. But the less I have to do myself about that, the more I value the equipment. And the more reason to spend my money. Money is time, so it is something I would consider.
What batteries do you recommend for the 400?
Rechargeable or not and what mAh?
Rechargeables for sure, but you have to make sure you don't get NiMH batteries, because those are 1.2V instead of 1.5V like alkaline batteries. Some electronics are OK with 1.2V, but it's safer to get Lithium rechargeables because they are 1.5V. They'll also hold their charge for a lot longer.
These are the best! geni.us/eblaalibatterieskit
I've found it real hard to find videos detailing how these mics might do for 1. loud situations (I want to take my action cam with a mic to the drag strip and not have the audio blown out due to the intense loudness from race cars. And 2. mounted to a vehicle while driving (or my case offroading to kill off wind noise with the stock mic). How do you think the MKE 200 specifically would stand up to these situations? Mostly #1. Thanks!!
I Googled to see how loud drag strips can get if you're close to the action, and it seems like 125dB is pretty common when you're up close.
This mic, and many other on-camera shotgun mics (like the RODE VideoMic NTG), have a sound pressure level around 120dB, so anything over that means they will start to distort. So with that said, I guess it just depends on where you're standing.
I don't know of any particularly high SPL on-camera shotgun mics, so you'll have to do some research. Some kind of dynamic mic (shotguns are condensers) will probably be better, as they typically handle higher SPL.
In regards to wind noise, I don't think I've ever seen a shotgun mic mounted on a car to pick up audio. A dead cat windscreen will usually block 10-20mph wind, but over that and you'll start to hear it, so again, it depends on how fast you're going.
If you need more than that, you'd need an XLR shotgun mic set up with a wind screen AND inside a blimp. I show off the Saramonic blimp in this video: ruclips.net/video/tHvYvn6T-jw/видео.html
@@NewLayer thank you so much for the detailed reply! I was kind of figuring I might be SOL regarding such loud noise levels without getting a totally separate recording device that can hang with such loudness, especially for the main events I'm going to attend with top fuel drag cars or jet cars likely a bit above that 125dB level as I'll be pretty up close. I guess my hope will just be that the noise levels go back to normal pretty quick once they pass by and are further down the track and it doesn't distort the entire audio for the whole run.
In regards to the on car audio that should actually work out pretty perfectly for my situation. While offroading I average less than 5mph but any of the clips I was getting previously were just riddled with wind noise which got annoying as I don't care to make fancy video edits with music or anything over the video for the most part I just like hearing the tire noise and ambient engine noise as I crawl through the trails. So thanks for the info regarding mph wind noise levels! Appreciate you're time and help!
@@highroller4010 Once the sound drops below that ~120dB level, it should instantly stop distorting. The only thing to watch out for is if the device you're using has any kind of AGC (auto gain correction) that tries to automatically increase/decrease the volume of the recording. Pretty much all cameras let you set the audio levels manually, so it shouldn't be a problem.
And for the rock crawling/off-roading, a simple dead cat wind screen should be all you need at those speeds, so you're in luck.
Hope that helps!
The low cut filter button, is pushing it right towards the green light means its on ? Thanks 😊
The opposite! When you push it towards the flat line icon, that means the frequency response will remain "flat" or unchanged. When you push it towards the icon with the angle, that shows it is rolling off the lower frequencies, meaning the low cut is activated.
@@NewLayer Thank you 😊
@NewLayer for extermly loud outdoor music concerts which settings are the best?
I love Sennheiser but I bought the Diety D4 mini. Sounds decent.
Nice! I just got the v-mic D4 but haven't been able to test it quite yet. So many good options out there now.
Curious about that bracket he has on his camera... what is it, and why is it needed? The mic would fit in the regular accessory shoe, right?
I assume you mean my camera cage? I use it to add grip, weight, and other connections to my camera. But yes, these mics fit into a regular old cold shoe mount.
@@NewLayer Thank you for taking the time to reply, much appreciated. Yes, I mean the cage. (Sorry, newbie here.)
@@1b2m No worries! I use a cage or half cage on my video cameras a lot mostly because I'm 6'6" and cameras are a little small for my hands, so it helps with grip. It also makes them heavier, so the handheld footage comes out smoother, especially if I add a side handle or two :)
I have a MKE440. The sound quality is ok but the background noise is high.
Yeah, it’s probably not one I’d recommend if you need to specifically record quiet sounds. I have the gain switch in the middle and my camera gain under 50% and feel like I talk at an average volume, and with that typical setup the noise is not an issue.
im curious about the mke 200 audio editing or presets that you tlak about
I have a tutorial on exactly that! ruclips.net/video/-EBbhV1YBDg/видео.html
The EQ settings will be different for every voice/mic combination, so there's no exact copy/paste for those settings.
@@NewLayer watching the tutorial thanks
Im recordingbpiano courses and im about 1/2 meter away. Would the 400 still work if im that close? Both are in my price range but, and im tempted to go 400, but not sure if that mich power and being that close would be a bad thing. Thoughts?
I wasn't expecting your examples to be at a half meter, that's perfect! Everyone else is doing 1 m to 2 m samples. Half meter with the 400 sounds great. Doesn't even need much processing but I'm sure a little will go a long way. Thanks for doing this video
If you just mean to record voice, then from half a meter either will do verywell. The closer the better (to an extent with a shotgun mic), so even 8-12" away would sound perfect.
Glad the video was helpful!
@@NewLayer I wasn't a fan of the tinniness of the 200, the 400 had better low end. This video was super helpful, thanks for the quick reply
@@cook-music Agreed! The 400 sounds really good straight out of the box, and the 200 can sound really, really good as well, just with a little more EQ work.
I like the size but with fuji to get an XLR module I don't see a reason to pick up any 3.5mm mic nicer than my old video micros
It’s always hard to justify a new gear purchase when you’re happy with and used to what you’ve got.
@@NewLayer that and XLR mics even cheap ones are often way better than 3.5mm ones
@@gdrriley420 True, although I think there's more and more good 3.5mm options now. Cameras and gear with XLR inputs have always been traditionally relatively expensive, so it didn't really make sense to create budget XLR mics for those, while 3.5mm gear ranged from super budget to midrange, so the mics were definitely cheaper. I think with how good some of the new compact cameras are, 3.5mm mics are forced to get better and better to fit that niche.
@@NewLayer there are for sure better 3.5mm but they don’t compete with the same priced XLR units.
My feeling is always at the low end to go used. And by the time you hit 50$looking for a mic the XLR options especially used can easily sound better than 3.5mm gear
@GDR Riley Hi brother, what's your camera and sound setup btw? Saw that you noticed Fuji with an XLR module so now I'm curious 👀
The 200 sounds like a internal camera mic
It's definitely not as noticeable an upgrade straight out of the camera. But it's lower noise than an internal mic and can be processed via EQ much better than a built-in mic signal in my opinion.
How well would the 200 one work for recording a guitar?
Probably not the best since it doesn't have the most well suited pickup for sound outside the range for human dialogue. I like large diaphragm condenser mics for acoustic guitar like the Rode NT1-A geni.us/rodent1amic or what I have is the Rode NT1000 geni.us/rodent1000
With that said, the MKE200 will work, but you may lose out on some nuance, and will likely have to do a lot of EQ in post for the best sound.
@@NewLayer what's the best audio/video recorder for me recording guitar then? I figure there has to be a more simple way than going through the whole usb interface, then computer recording software and all that. There has to be a more simple way for me to prop up a video recorder in front of me playing my guitar, while also having great sound quality.
@@MrWillyWonka There's easier ways yes, but the preamps and mics in recorders are not as good, so it just depends on how good of quality you're after.
You could get something like the Zoom H4n Pro geni.us/zoomh4nprorecorder and try the built in mics. If they work, great, if not, you can get a much better one and plug it into the XLR inputs of the recorder.
High quality sound is indeed a bit of a hassle because you need a good mic, good preamp, good digital to analog convertors, etc. That's why a USB interface is so good, because for $150-250 you can get the latter two, but it's much more expensive to get as good of ones in a standalone recorder.
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo is only $119, which is an insanely good value for the quality geni.us/focusritescarletts
@@NewLayer if I bought that focusrite scarlett solo, what computer recording software should I use to go with it? And if I get that usb interface, how do I go about recording the actual video of me playing also? As opposed to just a recording of the audio.
The way I do things is audio from a Samson Q2U connected to a Behringer UMC202HD over XLR with a MKE200/400 on camera to help synchronise the tracks.
I synchronise video and audio in VSDC with help of the on camera audio then correct the audio in Reaper (noise, compression, EQ etc.).
Was there a different MKE 400? Like, a completely different Sennheiser mic using the same model number?
Yes! I had it many years ago and HATED it. This one is 1000% different and I really like it. It is kind of weird how they didn't differentiate the model names better though.
This vs. The ntg video mic
For me, it depends on your needs. The Videomic NTG works plugged directly into a computer via USB-C which is a big bonus I think for quality audio on zoom calls, streaming, or recording podcasts, etc. It's also a lot hotter and not as much self noise. The Sennheiser mics are SUPER lightweight and small, and I like how the shock mount is built in, so there's not an extra piece. The locking cables is great too.
Overall audio quality is comparable on the MKE 400 and Videomic NTG I think. Slightly different sounds, but could be EQed to match relatively easily.