New Microphone for XL1
 

Ive got my eyes on a nifty looking Sennheiser MKE300 video camera microphone, and as im quite new to the XL1 scene, i was wondering if this kind of mic would be compatible or useable with an XL1.
Thanks
Also it says it has a 'hot shoe' mount and 1/8th inch mini jack connector.

I've used Sennheisers on many occasions, although I don't own one. Very good mics. Do a google search on "shotgun microphones". You should find a comparasin article which includes Sennheiser, Azden, and Audio-Technica shotguns in the under $500 price range.

In any case, realize these mics are mono mics. for those mics that come wired with a 1/8" mini-plug you will need a mono-to-stereo adapter (available at Radio Shack, as well as other suppliers) to insure your audio gets recorded.

Don't get me wrong I love Sennheiser mics, but the MKE300 is not as good as another mic out there for less money. That mic would be the RODE Videomic. I tested it against a mic costing 3 times as much and could not hear even 10% of the difference. Shocking. Yes. If you have QuickTime you can hear it for yourself: http://www.dvcreators.net/products/v...movieframe.htm

If you don't have QuickTime, you can watch another movie at
http://rodemic.com/videomic_desc.asp?menu=videomicMenu

The Sennheiser MKE300 is a high end consumer/prosumer mic for camcorders. It is mono, uses an LR44 watch battery for power, and has low frequency roll-off starting at around 200 Hz. ( I have one.)

It will work with the XL1 with some limitations. If you plug it directly in the 1/8" mic jack, sound will be recorded on the left channel only. (A minor issue that can be easily resolved during editing, or by using a monoo-stereo adapter). Per the spec may go into saturation (high distrotion) if used in loud venues and it prefers a somewhat higher input impedance than the 600 ohms of the XL1 (that is not a major isssue for average sound levels, although it could make the loud venue limitation more of an issue).

IT is an OK mic for the price point and intended market, but definately not in the same class as the professional Sennheiser mics; e.g., MK66, that many professional videographers use. (I suspect the E in the model number stands for Economy.)

You can see the specs on the Sennheiser web site:
http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser...nsf/root/03171

I tried an MKE300. I don't think it offers any real advantage over the mic that ships with the XL1.