Sennheiser unveils the new MKE 400

To provide creators with a tool to explore their sonic horizons, Sennheiser has launched the new MKE 400 – a highly directional compact shotgun microphone that brings compelling audio to DSLR/Ms and mobile devices alike.

MKE 400

The salient features being :

(1) A highly directional microphone to focus on your subject and eliminate background noise
The MKE 400 achieves its directionality with an acoustic interference tube, providing a super-cardioid polar pattern that ensures pick-up from the direction in which the camera is facing while cancelling out distracting noise from the sides. The result: dialogue recordings with presence and clarity that will help bring your content to life.

(2) Protection from wind and handling noise
The MKE 400’s shock-mounted capsule minimizes handling noise, while the cleverly designed microphone housing doubles as a standard windscreen. For outdoor use, a furry windshield is included: Simply place it over the integrated windscreen for maximum wind protection while recording. The microphone’s low-cut filter also does its part in removing problematic low frequencies like the hum from air-conditioning systems or the rumble from wind.

(3) Flexible adaptation to any sound source
In your creation process, you will come across loud and confident speakers – but you will also want to catch those softer voices. The 3-step sensitivity switch adjusts the audio level to the mic input of the camera, helping you to address all the differences in dynamics that you encounter on a shoot.

(4) Full control over the sound
One of the most important things when recording audio is to check levels and monitor your sound. Therefore, the MKE 400 is not only fitted with a low-cut filter and three-step sensitivity switch to fine-tune your sound but also with a headphone monitoring output and integrated 8-step digital volume control, as not every camera has its own audio output. You can plug any headphone with a 3.5 mm (1/8”) jack directly into the MKE 400 and conveniently check levels and audio performance while rolling.

(5) Versatility
Your video recording is most likely not confined to one device, and your microphone doesn’t have to be either. The MKE 400 includes 3.5 mm TRS and TRRS locking cables to be used with DSLR/M cameras or mobile devices, ensuring that switching from one device to another is accomplished with ease. The mic’s cold-shoe mount with ¼-20 thread allows for universal mounting atop of cameras, gimbals or even at the end of a boom pole.