Sennheiser MKE 400: a microphone to raise the level of teleworking

Video calls, video calls and more video calls. Surely you know what I mean if you spend a good part of the day in telematic meetings – with your boss, your colleagues, your clients or even with your friends and family. These can be really exhausting, especially when the audio isn’t accompanying and you have to put in the extra effort to keep on top of what’s being said. What to say when it comes to congresses or interviews with hundreds of participants, where some are heard as if speaking from the pulpit of a church, with as much resonance and echo as the gospel of Sunday. But the problem is worse when the one who doesn’t understand a drop of what he’s saying is you.

Let’s backtrack a bit: you don’t have to look at studies to realize that one of the many consequences of the pandemic has been digital acceleration. Until 2020, some structures have resisted taking the step towards this technology and at the individual level there are also those who have held out as long as possible before immersing themselves in a world that is not entirely comfortable for them. them. You might have thrown yourself onto the train tracks before you found yourself in front of a camera, but now you have to put your best foot forward to speak on screen.

In short, it was not only necessary to digitize but also to become communicative. Fortunately, social networks offered a kind of transition and scope for exploring communication skills. And here we get to the heart of the matter: knowing that this study and this telematic work will only be refined, why not worry about it now and start equipping yourself to deliver infallible audio quality.

That’s probably what Sennheiser thought when they launched the MKE 400, a supercardioid shotgun-style microphone, designed for content generation and working from home. We analyze it below.

• Earnings adjustment: Yes
• sound field: Bow
• Capsule: electret condenser
• Connectivity: 1x 1/8″/3.5mm TRS female (locking, on mic), 1x 1/8″/3.5mm TRS male (on detachable cable), 1x 1/8″/3 TRRS male .5 mm (on detachable cable)
• High pass filter: Yes
• Windshield: Yes
• polar pattern: supercardioid
• Frequency range: 50Hz to 20kHz
• Mass: 93.5g
• Food: 2x AAA not included
• Dimensions: 126 x 67 x 37mm

The first thing that jumps out when you open the box is the microphone: with a sleek design shotgun or shotgun – i.e. elongated, cylinder-shaped and forward-facing, where the subject or objective whose audio is sought to be captured or hunt.

Its size is compact compared to other microphones of this type, the cylinder is narrower, and its length is less than the height of any smartphone. Likewise, its base or support is strategically located, saving space and responding exactly to what Sennheiser is looking for with a design like this: comfort of use, transfer and view. The latter is also made with an elegant black color, from which only the brand logo and the symbology of each item stand out, in a semi-gloss silver.

On the stand are the power buttons, volume buttons and activation buttons for the low cut filter or noise reduction filter, and Gain (to which we will return later). The sound output of the microphone is located on the front part of the base, a detail that reaffirms the concern of the brand to offer comfort and space saving. Being there, from the front, the connector cable is covered by part of the cylinder and will not visually disturb, in addition to reducing the chances that it will catch on something and end up disconnecting. As if that weren’t enough, both cable options jack that are connected to this output have a security piece that is screwed to the base, so that it blocks its removal.

At the rear of the base is the battery chamber. It is still curious that the MKE 400 needs a recessed product like AAA batteries (two in this case) for its operation. This can be a kind of inconvenience, since the batteries are expensive and environmentally unfriendly. However, Sennheiser guarantees 300 hours of use for each pair of batteries, because whenever the camera is turned off, the microphone will also be turned off. Plus, the microphone notifies with a red light when the batteries are low, at which point you’ll have an additional 3 hours of use, enough time to get another pair more.

Finally, at the base is also the 3.5mm input. for headphones, so you can monitor in real time how the MKE 400 captures sound and passes it to your camera or smartphone. Undoubtedly, this represents a highlight of the model, since it is common to know after recording how the audio recording turned out.

At the base of the stand is the platform that allows the microphone to be assembled to the camera. And on this one, a rotating part to adjust it, so that the two elements are firm enough. Those with big fingers may have some difficulty handling this “nut”, but it’s one of the sacrifices of having a compact microphone, even if it’s still a minor detail.

Simple is also to adjust the microphone to the smart phonesalthough less economical because it requires external elements that must be purchased separately, such as a to squeeze —a clamp-type support— and a lectern or mini lectern to keep everything upright or to use it handycam style (camera in hand). However, Sennheiser offers its own add-ons and they can even be purchased together with the microphone in a single kit.

You will also need to purchase an adapter separately in case you want to use the MKE 400 with your smartphone, since it is not included in the box. What you will find there, in terms of accessories, are the two output cables mentioned above. One TRS, for use with DSLR cameras, and another TRRS, for connecting to mobile devices. Both 3.5mm. Therefore you will need an adapter flash in case you have an iPhone or a USB type C if you are an Android team without audio input.

The box also includes a small fabric bag to carry the microphone and all its equipment, and a windbreaker, popularly known in the United States as dead cat (dead cat) for its furry and tangled appearance. In this case, the cat seems more alive than deceased: well cared for and so gentle that we see ourselves petting it in an act as unconscious as it is disturbing.

Usually the dead cat It is used in open environments where the wind blows with intensity, a real problem when recording audio as the breeze collides with the microphone and generates unwanted noise. However, the MKE 400 has a windscreen as well as an integrated anti-shock or anti-vibration mount, which itself helps to reduce noise pickup. Something it does quite effectively, so the dead cat it will end up being used more for fun or in extreme situations.

And I say for fun because, unlike other fur covers, the one that comes with this model adapts very well to the microphone housing and does not alter its compact design in any way. His presence even gives him a glamorous touch that can serve as support for that extra quota of personality that standing in front of a camera requires.

In this case, to achieve a good sound recording, the target to be captured should not be more than two meters away. Further on you will start to experience the loss of recording, although it depends on the environment you are working in. It will be more noticeable if you are in the middle of the street and less in an enclosed place with controlled noise.

It has already been said that the MKE 400 is a directional microphone and supercardioid. This means that it will particularly capture audio coming from the direction it is pointing (hence “shotgun”). Its capture radius or polar diagram – as it is specifically said – resembles the shape of a heart, so if you want to give a presentation for a class, give a lecture or hold a meeting, you just have to care that the shotgun is aimed at your face (did we say black humor?), ideally at your mouth, where the target sound will come from.

One cool thing about the MKE 400 is that it gives you the ability to configure how you want it to pick up audio depending on the environment you’re in. That’s why you have the buttons. Gain or profit, and that of low cut filter or a filter for noise reduction. The latter allows you to control unwanted low frequencies such as the wind or the noise of a heavy vehicle passing right by your corner. The gain, on the other hand, will optimize the audio input according to the environment: for example, a section of wooden wall will have a greater resonance than a section of concrete wall. The three-step option (less Gainmore Gain and neutral) will help you find the sound you want, or at least get closer to it. It will also take distance into account: the further away the sound source, the more Gain you will need, always remembering that above two meters the audio quality will drop.

At this point you will wonder what is the result of what is achieved. After various tests, such as real-time video calls and recordings, we can say that it is very positive, especially in terms of voice clarity, the most important thing in this type of use. Yes, some aspects must be highlighted that, without being satisfactory, I would not consider them as radically negative either: the microphone itself emits a slight type of noise hissing —like the one you used to hear on cassette tapes—which, although it is present all the time, does not spoil the result. Another detail, the MKE 400 does not offer a very deep sound and tends to accentuate the high frequencies. These points might be problematic for an audio professional but not for a common user.

With the MKE 400, Sennheiser offers a microphone that is aesthetically attractive, even elegant, but above all intelligent in terms of spatiality and ergonomics. Although it is not within the reach of all budgets, its performance is worth it, especially when compared to the competition. Compact, light, simple and with a high sense in the distribution of its output connections, it anticipates common problems such as transport, appearances and accidents in the middle of its use.

In an increasingly digitized world, where telematics is a fundamental part of daily life, tools like this microphone will be well considered to achieve a better, even professional experience in meetings, discussions and other activities involving video calls. Youtubers or streamers, who themselves have to resort to devices that improve the quality of their audio, also have an ally in the MKE 400 which above all ensures clarity and great versatility in its use.

Note: ⭐⭐⭐⭐★

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of May 6, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.