SoundHound Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 1. The Sennheiser MKH 70 and the Neumann KMR 82 (not the Sennheiser 804/805/815/816/415/416) have an essentially figure of 8 (bi-directional) pattern at low frequencies. So when outdoors if you point them straight up or down you can tune out typical exterior noise which comes along ground level (this technique is useless for airplanes and such). The trick then is to get the desired sound (typically dialogue) into the pattern. As a rough rule of thumb a top line will yield a better signal to noise ratio than if the actor is wearing a Lavaliere and facing the noise. A "lowfer" (slang for booming from below) is especially useful when the actor is standing in front of the offending noise and will have lower noise than if the actor is wearing a lavaliere and facing away from the noise. But booming can be a hassle and you need a good boom operator. 2. Because the Sennheiser MKH series of mics uses RF technology the capsule is immune to humidity and, theoretically, could work under water. Other mics, Schoeps for instance, are sensitive to humidity. When the Neumann KMR 82 first was released I made a test in a steam room for humidity. There were no humidity problems with condensed water dripping off the KMR82-after which I stopped the test and went to an old 815 since it was que track and I didn't want to damage my new Neumann shotgun. 3. Large diaphram capsule microphones (non electrets) typically have a polarization voltage on the capsule, When externally polarized this voltage can attract dirt and humidity compromising the life of the capsule. Many famous mics have the polarization potential on the capsule's exterior. Neumann's U87 is one, Under harsh conditions (when I used them for dirty exteriors) a U87 may need its capsule replacement every 5 years. The older U67 uses the same capsule desigh but has the heat of the internal tube to dry out the capsule. AKG's 414 multipattern mic is especially sensitive. when I used to use the AKG 414 (in figure of eight for the null trick described in Tip #1) a capsule would only last me 2 years. Most Neumann LDCs have external polarization. However, Neumann's more modern U89 is internally polarized and doesn't have these problems. All KM series Neumans are internally polarized and almost immortal. So make it your business to know your mics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolo72 Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Thks very interesting points. I very much agree about the lack of control with lav's and have had many occasions when it is more noisy than the boom. I have to say I have had problems with the Kmr81 in very fine mist type rain when filming under a porch. I did get the mic serviced afterwards and there were no major reported problems but it did need some cleaning on the insides so this may have been the cause. The 81 is still my main mic I like the sound a lot, I will probably get an 82 in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonG Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Thanks for taking the time to publish this. I love my mkh70, and probably use it (outdoors) more often than any other mic, especially when I'm OMBing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old school Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I'm more a fan of the 70 than the 82, but really, you need a good boom op to make either work at their optimum. CrewC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundmanjohn Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 Because the Sennheiser MKH series of mics uses RF technology the capsule is immune to humidity and, theoretically, could work under water. Other mics, Schoeps for instance, are sensitive to humidity. I used an MKH40/30 M/S set-up in a Rycote to record on the 'Hurricane Deck' under Niagara Falls a few years ago: I got about thirty minutes of useable sounds, with water streaming out of the bottom of the Rycote before the moisture penetrated an XLR and some severe crackling ensued. I was soaked through, despite the rain poncho I was wearing, as the force of the water throws spray in all directions. The SD recorder was wrapped in plastic and in a back-pack, with a waterproofed iPhone case allowing for remote control. Very impressive all round, although as a colleague pointed out, I just got a recording of one of the world's largest white noise generators... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Hayes Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 MKH70 = One of the greatest exterior Mics available but hugely underrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al mcguire Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 What Simon said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old school Posted April 2, 2015 Report Share Posted April 2, 2015 What Simon said. When the wind is blasting in the Mojave, or off Westward Beach, the MKH 70 has saved the day many times. I don't get why it isn't used more by others. CrewC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VASI Posted April 3, 2015 Report Share Posted April 3, 2015 In my last TV Drama as boom operator; all exteriors was with Sennheiser MKH 70. The next step from MKH 70 is Schoeps SuperCMIT in my opinion. MKH 70 is very popular here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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