Sennheiser has launched a new, compact stereo shotgun microphone, the MKH 8018 for broadcasting and filming applications. The high-class short gun mic completes the company’s MKH 8000 range of RF condenser microphones, which excel in the field due to their climate-proof ruggedness and natural sound capture with virtually no off-axis coloration. Providing flexibility to the audio engineer, the compact and lightweight MKH 8018 features three switchable stereo modes: MS stereo, wide XY stereo and narrow XY stereo. The MS mode allows the engineer to adjust the spatial imaging steplessly on the mixing desk, while the XY modes are premixed in the MKH 8018, with settings fine-tuned in many tests.
“The MKH 8018 stands as a top-tier innovation of our MKH portfolio, offering unparalleled audio quality with its ultra-low self-noise and pristine, crystal-clear sound, driven by exceptional off-axis rejection,” said Mr. Vipin Pungalia, Director- Sales, Pro Audio, Sennheiser India. “With features like moisture resistance, minimal non-linear distortion, and a balanced signal through our transformer less, fully floating output, this high-class shotgun microphone exemplifies over 60 years of Sennheiser’s perfected RF condenser technology, tailored to meet the needs of India’s audio professionals.”
Lightweight, non-modular, and with a tailored frequency response
To make the MKH 8018 as easy to handle as possible, the Sennheiser engineers have given it an aluminium housing to have less weight on a camera or boom pole. Also, the microphone is – unlike most of the other mics in the 8000 series – non-modular with a fixed XLR-5M output and integrated -10 dB pad against overdriving, filters for tailoring the frequency response, and an additional switchable -3 dB low-cut filter at 70 Hz.
As the MKH 8018 has been designed for broadcasting and filming applications, the usual extremely wide frequency response of the MKH mics has been limited to 40 – 20,000 Hz. This avoids any overloading of the mixing console with unhearable distortion below 40 Hz and above 20 kHz, where ultrasonic camera lens measurement systems are active.
Matrix inside
The MKH 8018 impresses with its homogeneous sound image and can output MS stereo for further processing in the studio or on a mixer, or – via an internal matrix – XY stereo in a wide or narrow mode without the need for an external mixer. In XY-w, the mic emphasizes the side signal to a greater extent, thus capturing more ambience. In XY-n, the focus is more on the mid signal, giving the sound engineer more directionality.
The MKH 8018 is delivered complete with an MZQ 100 microphone clip, MZW 8018 foam windshield and a threaded plastic transport tube. The MZR 8000 camera adapter (pictured below on the right) wraps around the microphone body and ensures a secure fit with other mic clips and on cameras.
Optional accessories for the mic are the MZS 20-1 suspension/pistol grip, the MZW 60-1 basket windshield and the MZH 60-1 hairy cover for outdoor use of the MKH 8018.
Technical Data
Microphone type: RF condenser microphone
Pick-up pattern: stereo shotgun
Frequency response: 40 – 20,000 Hz
Low-cut filter (switchable): -3dB at 70 Hz
Attenuation (switchable): -10 dB
Sensitivity:
- M channel: 56 mV/Pa; -25 dB ref (1V/Pa)
- S channel: 25 mV/Pa; -32 dB ref (1V/Pa)
- XY narrow: 50 mV/Pa; -26 dB ref (1V/Pa)
- XY wide: 32 mV/Pa; -30 dB ref (1V/Pa)
Equivalent noise level:
- M channel: 12 dB A-weighted; 24 dB CCIR-weighted
- S channel: 14.5 dB A-weighted; 25 dB CCIR-weighted
- XY narrow: 12 dB A-weighted; 24 dB CCIR-weighted
- XY wide: 13 dB A-weighted; 25 dB CCIR-weighted
Nominal impedance at 1 kHz: 430 ohms
Min. load impedance: 4.7 kilo-ohms
Power supply: P48 phantom powering (IEC 61938)
Current consumption: 2 x 3.4 mA
Max. SPL: > 126 dB
Connector: XLR-5M
Weight: 115 g
Diameter: 22 mm
Length: approx. 230 mm
Operating temperature: -10°C to 60°C (14°F to 140°F)
Storage temperature: -20°C to 70°C (-4°F to 158°F)
Relative humidity: 5 to 95%, non-condensing
Polar Patterns
Covered By: Mobility India / Sennheiser
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