AKG or A/T Hypercadioids?
 

Looking for comments and feedback pro and con choosing between the AKG Blue Line SE300B power module/ CK93 hypercadioid capsule combo and the Audio-Technica AT4053a hypercardioid mics. Wondering if there's decisive reasons to go one way or the other in choosing a mic that can do double duty for dialog on the end of a boom or on a stand recording music on location? How does either one compare with the Holy Grail of hypers, the Schoeps CMC641 (of course, at 1/3 the price they're not going to be serious competition for the Schoeps but which one comes closer)?

Does the picture change if we add the AKG Ultra Linear Series C480B/CK63 combo into the mix even though it's double the price of the other two? Any compelling reason to spend double the money for it?

I would like to see a comparison of the Neumann KMS-105 versus the Schoeps 641.

I needed to mike an unexpected event, indoors in a very boomy room, hard floors, hard walls, no sound absorbent material anywhere. I do not own the Schoeps 641, but I did have two Neumann KMS-105's available.

I tried the Sennheiser MKH-70 shotgun mike and it was unsuitable in this situation. So I tried the Neumann KMS-105 and it worked great!

I welcome any comments.

Though its not a KMS-105 or Schoeps 641, I think the Senn MKH50 would have been a better choice than the MKH70 - Aren't boomy rooms the exact kind of situation where you don't want a shotgun (especially a long one)?

Yes, I agree completely.

I just mounted the Sennheiser MKH-70 up as a test, expecting to have trouble recording dialog, and I did. I had never tried using the MKH-70 indoors before and I thought it would be worth a test. I had never tried using the KMS-105's in this type of situation for recording dialog either. So I tried the MKH-70 first, and then switched to the KMS-105.

The test proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the MKH-70 should not be used indoors in a boomy room. I do not have a MKH-50, and I did not have time to get my friend's MKH-60.

Please remember that this was a completely unexpected shoot. I was notified at 5 pm and had to show up at 6 pm.

I have been considering the purchase of the Schoeps 641 for just a situation. But since I did not have one available, I thought I would try the Neumann KMS-105. My other choices were Neumann U87 a i's or Sennheiser Evolution wireless.

I did not want to use the U87 a i's, and the wireless would not work in the shoot due to the number of actors involved and the time it would take to setup each individual prior to each take.

I was very pleased with the KMS-105's.

I would love to see a side by side comparison of the KMS-105 and the 641.

Sounds cool. This is the 105, right?
http://www.neumann.com/?lang=en&id=c...5s_description

From the specs (which aren't everything) it looks like it has a pretty hefty boost on the high frequencies. The pattern doesn't look as tight as the schoeps either - looks a lot more cardiod. I bet it's a real nice mic though :)

I've never used a Schoeps 641 (though I did have a pair of 64's), but the senn MKH50 can be gotten used for about half the price. Has a bit of a bump in the upper freqencies, but it's working out pretty good for me. I'd love to do a comparison bewteen it, the 641, some AKG hypers, and whatever else is suitable...

Dear Tim,

I believe your link goes to the KK-105.

I am referring to the KMS-105.

http://www.neumann.com/?lang=en&id=c...05_description

It is interesting to go to "Technical Data" and then click on "Interactive Diagrams", then click on different frequencies to see the pickup pattern for the selected frequency.

Well, I went with the CK93 because it has cool accessories like an active cable and swivel head, but then I never bothered to buy any of them. The active cable is like $300! I do like the mic quite a bit though. Haven't used the AT4053, but it comes highly recommended. I don't think you can go wrong with either mic.

Whoops. You are right. However, despite my ignorance, I think the it shares the same technical data. Quote from the KK-105 page: "The capsule head of the KMS vocal microphone"

Anyway, I looked at the correct link and make the same comments. A bit more cardiod (not necessarily bad) and a bump in the highs compared to the schoeps mk 41 capsule.


About the Blueline mics. I've never heard them, but it looks like a really cool system. If you want to pick up some accessories for them, check out www.taperssection.com in the Yard Sale section. They go through them a fair bit - I've seen the fig 8 head there for not too much money.

The figure-8 is one reason I'm leaning towards the blueline - two power units plus get a couple of cardioid and hypercardioid heads and a figure-8 head and you're all set for your choice of X/Y, ORTF, or MS stereo setups. I haven't found a figure-8 yet in the same line as the AT4053.

I'm curious about the Blueline shotgun. I wonder how it compares to the AT897 or the AT4073? In a run and gun situation it would be cool to be able to rapidly switch caps. The system uses a bayonet mount that works very well. The heads just twist on and off with a snap. It's really neat.