VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:12 am Post subject: Sennheiser 416 users

Have you ever encountered a client, producer, etc. who has commented negatively about the sound of the 416?

Have you ever received any positive comments?
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

BruceG · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 10:22 am Post subject:

I have a 416 and, while I haven't used it a lot, I've received only positive feedback on the end product. I tend to trust my ear on this - as George Whittam says: "If it sounds good, it is good!"
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Frank F · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 11:55 am Post subject:

"416's tend to be too pristine": comment from a millennial ad agency person.

That person was quickly chastised for the comment when it pointed out the commercial (which won several Addy awards) was created using a 416 by a Senior Producer.

The (now former) ad agency person was quickly terminated.

Highest and best use for a 416: ENG/EFP. For VO, meh, IMO. 416's are a choice, not an industry solution.

I still enjoy my Classic U87 Purple Badge and so do my clients/customers.

A couple of microphones which are showing some real promise and which are inexpensive are the Lewitt Audio LCT - 240 or 440.

F2
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 12:18 pm Post subject:

I have used my 416 about 99% of the time over the past 3 years. I've used it for audiobooks, animation, soft sell ads, hard sell ads, medical and technical narration, poetry, Democrat ads, Republican ads, even a couple of Independent candidate ads, and no one has ever said anything. No one has ever asked what mic I'm using.

ONE TIME, Sam Mowry was here in my studio a few years ago to do an ISDN session and the engineer asked what mic we were using. Now Sam has a very rich register so the question might be a reasonable one. The engineer didn't seem to care one way or the other and we moved on with the recording.

I swear, 99+% of producers, writers, and even engineers don't care what mic you use, ever. So long as you sound "five by five", all that matters is your performance.

B
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todd ellis · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 1:46 pm Post subject:

BruceG · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 2:38 pm Post subject:

Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 3:57 pm Post subject:

Interesting comments... and, actually, about what I expected.

If anyone is wondering, the reason I asked is because, in a VO forum, someone once asked whether the 416 was considered suitable for a particular genré (either eLearning or audiobooks). Certainly a legitimate question from someone who may be a newcomer to VO and/or just unfamiliar with the 416. One of the first responses was a rather emphatic recommendation NOT to use the 416, whether for that genré or generally, because of its sound.

A person's decision not to use a given mic is their choice. If asked, they are certainly entitled to offer their opinion, but should not lead others to take that opinion as a rule or even common knowledge.

Because I'd worked with a 416 (and a Focusrite Platinum VoiceMaster Pro preamp) for a number of years at an outside studio, I decided to buy the same mic and preamp when I put my studio together in 2002. Since then, I've never received any negative feedback either and, as a matter of fact, a couple of studios (of the ISDN persuasion) have asked which mic I was using and commented positively when told.

So, I just wanted to confirm what I'd thought all along.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Frank F · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 3:59 pm Post subject:

Way to go BruceG!

I am proud to see someone else looks for fun things too.

Me, I am a collector of microphones.

I painted mine, with a gold mesh... gotta' have the bling!

Mic Reports are mandatory.

F2
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

dwpthe3rd · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 5:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Mike,

I used my 416 for one audiobook and would not use it again... (or do another audio book heh heh)

Too much time spend correcting for sibilance and overall just a "bright" sound, which to me came across as a little too aggressive sounding for a relaxed listen. (After all the time spent on that book I swore I'd never do another). If I ever want to subject myself to that type of work ethic again I'd go first for a TLM102 or Sony C48. Both offering a warmer, mellower presentation.

That said, I really really like my 416. Your results may vary.
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todd ellis · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 5:45 pm Post subject:

Jason Huggins · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:26 am Post subject:

Same boat here. I have used the 416 for 99% of my work for the past 7 years or so and I have never had anyone EVER complain about my sound. I had one engineer (who was a self-proclaimed gear junky) who asked and then commented that there are better mics for voice, but he didn't actually complain and the client never knew about the conversation.

I use it for commercial, web stuff, eLearning, audiobooks and everything in between. It really comes down to learning the placement of the mic. I CAN sound really bright...if you shoot the thing straight down your throat. I would say that it doesn't sound as "intimate" as a good LDC, but placed well and mixed well it definitely works just fine for anything I've ever done.

The reason it is in every VO studio in LA (and other places) isn't because it is the perfect mic for every voice, but rather it is a known commodity, sounds good on most voices, rejects outside noise and room noise well and it doesn't crap out on you. For me, it is a consistent sound that any engineer can work with.

If you have a bad sounding room though...then someone might complain...but that is a totally different conversation xD

Nik S · Joined: 11 Apr 2017 Posts: 11

Other than taste and the other myriad of affecting factors I think a fairly significant point with a 416 is that you have to stay on mic pretty closely as it (by design) drops off veeeery quickly if you don't. So for big dramatic arm-waving stuff, anime etc you might want to find something with a wider field of vision.

Bruce · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 8:42 am Post subject:

Or wave your arms but not your head. A lot of us former dj’s learned how to move everything else while keeping the mouth at the mic sweet spot.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

MBVOXX · Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2021 10:06 am Post subject:

andrewpeters · Joined: 05 Oct 2021 Posts: 4

The 416 is a mic that sounds EQ'd, and really need little post as it just cuts. Sibilance can be an issue for some. I use mine for clients who do little if any audio post, but for studios who will treat the audio I'll use a LDC.
Having said that, if you just had one mic the 416 would definitely do a great job.