If you are a fan of the MKH 8000 series RF condenser microphones but feel that something is missing, you are in luck. The brand has just launched the Sennheiser MKH 8018 microphone, a stereo shotgun mic with full flexibility via three switchable stereo modes. It has an identical timbre as other MKH 8000 series microphones for optimum aural compatibility. Together, they form a complete toolkit that satisfies the most demanding audio professionals in terms of sound quality, flexibility, and ease of use. With the promise of authentic, pristine sound capture in any environment, and we mean any environment, take a look at the new Sennheiser microphone’s characteristics that won us over.
Key Features of the Sennheiser MKH 8018 Microphone
- Stereo shotgun capsule configuration
- Three switchable stereo-modes: MS, XY-narrow, and XY-wide
- Switchable low-cut filter (-3 dB at 70 Hz)
- High-quality -10 dB pad
- Low-tension diaphragm and symmetrical, acoustically open push-pull transducer design
- Extended bass response
- Low self-noise and low nonlinear distortion
- Fully floating balanced output
- Moisture-resistant design
- Nextel® non-reflecting paint
What’s New About the Sennheiser MKH 8018?
The MKH 8000 series is well-known for the remarkable design of its RF condenser microphones, which makes them more reliable, durable, and accurate than traditional AF condenser microphones. Sennheiser MKH 8018 is a stereo shotgun RF condenser microphone, which means that in addition to authentic sound capture, the microphone also delivers an exquisite sense of directionality and spatial realism.
This product is highly versatile, designed for capturing a wide range of sounds, from audio footage for film productions to environmental sounds and wildlife. This presents a key advantage for audio professionals who prefer a diverse and adaptable workflow and frequently record both indoors and outdoors, in optimal low-noise studios as well as bustling streets.
Authentic Sound Capture
All microphones in the MKH 8000 series offer a subtle sound warmth and excellent acoustic clarity that benefit various applications. On top of that, the latest addition to the series has a stereo shotgun capsule configuration that delivers sound with notable directionality and spatial accuracy.
The microphone features a low-tension diaphragm and a symmetrical, acoustically open push-pull transducer design that maintains an unrestricted and undistorted sound flow. The optimal polar pattern with minimal off-axis coloration provides a coherent sound image, particularly for larger sound sources. The microphone aims to capture what no other microphone can.
Advanced Recording Flexibility
The microphone offers three selectable modes: MS, XY-narrow, and XY-wide. In M-S mode, it delivers independent mid and side signals, enabling the sound recordist to adjust the stereo image width either in post-production or on-site using a matrix mixer.
The other two internally matrixed modes provide conventional “left-right” stereo without the necessity for external mixers. To suit different acoustic environments, the sound recordist can choose between a “wide” pattern (LR-W), which enhances ambient pickup, and a “narrow” pattern (LR-N), which provides greater rejection and reduced ambiance.
High Efficiency
You’ll appreciate the microphone’s remarkable sensitivity, extended frequency range, and high efficiency, for sure. It features a switchable low-cut filter (-3 dB at 70 Hz) that reduces wind and handling noise, a high-quality -10 dB pad that protects against overdriving, low self-noise for greater detail in audio, low nonlinear distortion to maintain sonic clarity, and extended bass response that enables capturing sound in its full frequency extent and gives more freedom for microphone positioning.
To understand where these benefits come from, you need to know what the low-tension diaphragm does. In short, the diaphragm freely vibrates from the middle between two symmetrical electrodes (unlike the stiffed diaphragm of the conventional condenser mics), which means it can reproduce all frequencies across the full range of its audio response. Hence, the mic is highly efficient.
Durable Design
Due to the permanent RF current flow and the low-impedance capsule design, the Sennheiser MKH 8018 is resistant to moisture and temperature. As a result, it is ideal for use in humid, hot, and cold environments where other mics fail. It is also compact and lightweight, which increases its portability. If you want to use it for live shows and broadcasting, you’ll be glad to know that it is visually unobtrusive thanks to its Nextel® non-reflecting paint, which doesn’t reflect the lights around and keeps the mic hidden.
Furthermore, the microphone has a rugged design with a robust metal housing, making it perfect for travel, outdoor recording, and unrestricted long-term use.
The Sennheiser MKH 8018: A Complete Audio Toolkit in One Go
This product is part of the Sennheiser MKH 8000 series, heart and soul. It has the same timbre as other MKH 8000 series microphones for optimal compatibility and, from a usability point of view, complements the other mics in the series. The series was carefully engineered to produce a harmonious sound, work seamlessly together, and integrate effortlessly into a sound recordist’s workflow.
Who Should Buy This Microphone?
The microphone addresses audio professionals and sound recordists who appreciate sound authenticity the most. They capture audio footage for film and video production, stereo soundscapes, sports events, environmental sounds, wildlife, or any other scenario in which a sense of directionality and spatial accuracy are essential.
However, this product is ready for any adventure and harsh environment. It’s easy to transport and install and able to work in hot, cold, and humid environments. Whether you are on a rough trip to record wildlife or capture piano, strings, and wind instruments in the comfort of a concert hall, this stereo shotgun RF condenser microphone has you covered.
Comparable Sennheiser Microphones
The MKH 8000 series includes microphones for various recording applications, such as the MKH 8020 omnidirectional, the MKH 8030 figure-8, the MKH 8090 wide cardioid, the MKH 8040 cardioid, the MKH 8050 super-cardioid, the MKH 8060 super-cardioid/lobar, and the MKH 8070 lobar.
They share the natural warmth of the sound that fits so well in film and broadcasting productions, but each has its own personality. For instance, the MKH 8020 is ideal for recording sound sources for a “Decca Tree” or used in an OSS “Jecklin Disk” array. The MKH 8030 is ideal when the sound recordist needs to highly attenuate neighboring sound sources, such as when recording a musical instrument in an orchestra without the adjacent instrument being picked up. However, if you want to record not only the soloist but also the orchestra, you are better off with the MKH 8050.
Together, they create a complete toolkit that covers every possible scenario and performs well in any environment.
Final Thoughts
The Sennheiser MKH 8018 is a German-engineered microphone with impressive sound authenticity, efficiency, and usability. It is flexible, rugged, and ready to take on any environment without compromising the sound’s accuracy and clarity. It is designed to be flexible and portable, record what other microphones can’t record, and become a long-term companion. The remarkable spatial realism of the sound and its subtle warmth will impress the audience.
The microphone alone is an exquisite piece of engineering, but it is much more in the context of the MKH 8000 series. Sennheiser offers a complete toolkit for audio professionals, regardless of whether they prefer to record films, TV shows, sports broadcasting, wilderness sounds, or classical music concerts.
