Description
The MKH 416 is a compact professional shotgun microphone widely used for film, television, broadcast, and voice-over recording.
Key specifications
1. Type: RF condenser shotgun microphone
2. Polar pattern: Super cardioid/lobar
3. Frequency response: 40 Hz–20 kHz
4. Power: 48 V phantom power
5. Connector: 3-pin XLR
6. Weight: 175 g
7. Length: 250 mm
8. Maximum SPL: 130 dB SPL
9. Self-noise: Approximately 13 dBA
What makes it so popular?
1. Excellent off-axis rejection for isolating dialogue.
2. Resistant to humidity and harsh weather thanks to its RF condenser design.
3. High speech intelligibility with a slight presence boost that helps voices cut through a mix.
4. Widely used on boom poles for film and television production.
Best uses
1. Film and TV dialogue
2. Documentary production
3. ENG (electronic news gathering)
4. Voice-over recording
5. Outdoor interviews
Things to consider
It performs best when placed close to the speaker (typically on a boom). Mounting it directly on a camera is less effective for dialogue because distance from the subject matters more than microphone quality.
Legacy
The MKH 416 has been an industry standard for decades and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, reflecting its long-standing use in professional audio production.
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