Specifications
7
Guidelines for Selection
Surround
Stereo Instruments Vocals Speech / Speakers
All of the wide variety of SCHOEPS microphones, without exception, use single-diaphragm electrostatic transducers.
Applications: Recommendations:
On a lectern MK 4 (cardioid) with close-speech guard B 5 D
Conference recording MK 4 (cardioid) with close-speech guard B 5 D
TV speaker’s table MK 4 (cardioid), no popscreen required at distances greater than around one-half meter
Radio announcer MK 4V (cardioid with lateral pickup) with pop filter PR 120 SV
Noisy environments MK 4S or MK 40 speech cardioid; MK 41S speech supercardioid (for ca. 10 - 20 cm miking distance)
TV “round table” discussion MK 4 (cardioid) or boundary-layer capsule BLM 03 Cg (hemisphere)
Church MK 40 (speech cardioid), perhaps as boundary layer microphone with BLC; BLM 03 Cg (hemisphere)
Stage radio microphone type HXiR (Audio Ltd.) with MK 4 (cardioid) and B 5 D popscreen or MK 2S (omni)
News reporting MK 5 (omni / cardioid, switchable) with windscreen B 5 D or W 5 D or W 20 R1;
(the omni setting if there is strong wind; cardioid if other nearby sound needs to be reduced)
Film MK 41 (supercardioid) or CMIT 5 U shotgun microphone
Stage (movable) CMR (microphone amplifier for pocket transmitters) with MK 4 (cardioid) and B 5 D popscreen, or
with MK 2S (omni)
Stage (fixed) MK 4 (cardioid) on RC Active Tube with B 5 D windscreen, CMH 64 handheld microphone (cardioid)
Studio MK 4, MK 4V (cardioids) with pop filter PR 120 S, PR 120 SV
In general MK 4 (cardioid), MK 21 (wide cardioid)
Organ MK 2S (omni) (also useful when trying to obtain more room sound); especially when the room’s
character is less than optimal or if the bass is too strong: MK 21 or even MK 4
Tympani, bass drum, etc. MK 2, MK 2H, MK 2S (for full response to the lowest audible frequencies)
Solo pickup with adapters flute: MK 8 (figure-8); violin, saxophone: MK 4 or MK 4V (cardioids)
Accent (“spot”) miking MK 4 (cardioid), MK 41 (supercardioid), MK 21 (wide cardioid)
Orchestra, chorus ORTF microphone MSTC 64; for best low-frequency reproduction: A/B recording (e.g. with MK 2S)
or with boundary-layer capsules BLM 3g or BLM 03 Cg, Decca Tree with 3 × MK 2S, perhaps using
KA 40 accessory spheres; in particularly good acoustic: sphere microphone KFM 6
Small orchestra / ensemble M/S with RCY stereo Active Extension Tube, modular or compact microphones or boundary-layer
capsules, X/Y; in particularly good acoustic: KFM 6 sphere
Film and video dialog / effects M/S with MK 41 (supercardioid) in the M-channel or X/Y on a boom, boundary layer with BLM 03 Cg
e.g. under a thin tablecloth or in a car under the top
Orchestra OCT surround, KFM 360, Decca Tree with 3 × MK 2S, perhaps using KA 40 accessory spheres
Film and video dialog / effects Double M/S on a boom and possibly a Hamasaki Square for increased envelopment
Pressure transducers
(omnidirectional microphones)
Pressure-gradient transducers
(directional microphones – e.g. cardioid)
Frequency response: Essentially flat, with accurate reproduction of
the lowest frequencies. The on-axis response of
the free-field capsule does not have a high-fre-
quency emphasis but the capsule meant for the
reverberant sound field does.
Reduced sensitivity (rolloff) at low frequencies,
which can be compensated by close placement
to the sound source (proximity effect)
Directional pattern: Omnidirectional pattern in its ideal form only at
low and middle frequencies. At very high fre-
quencies there is an increasing directivity. For
this reason even omnidirectional microphones
are aimed toward the sound source.
Types: wide cardioid, cardioid, supercardioid
(hypercardioid), bidirectional (figure-8), shot gun
microphones. The frequency response of our
figure-8 is nearly the same in all directions; the
wide cardioid capsule has this advantage also.
Near-field behavior: No proximity effect Proximity effect: Elevation of the low frequencies
as working distance decreases in near-field use
(quite noticeable at less than 50 cm)
Sensitivity to vibration,
wind and popping:
Very little; simple foam-type windscreens often
offer good protection.
Considerable; shock mounting and larger, more
elaborately constructed windscreens may be
needed.