VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Rob Ellis]

I do appreciate everyone's input. This post has helped in several ways:

1. Shown me that I am not the only one who has had doubts about the 416.

2.Provided some good tips for getting a better sound out of the 416.

3.Created more respect (from me anyway) for those who really know how to work this mic!

[Bruce]

The secret to making a 416 work, from my experience, is not to get close to it, but to have it find the sweet spot of your voice. Imagine this grapefruit sized space in front of your mouth. This is where your voice is strongest, richest. Make sure the 416 is pointing at that space, not necessarily at your mouth. 6" to 8" distance works great for me, it's about 30º to one side so I can read off the monitor, and it points down at about 30º from above. I never use a pop filter because I'm reading "off" mic, but it's picking up my voice loud and clear.

I use it almost exclusively now for everything: soft reads, realistic characters, plus all that announcery stuff it's famous for. I just play with its positioning a bit to get the right feel.

And I'm using the preamp in a Mackie board. I'm sure I'm missing something by using what works out to be a $50 preamp instead of a $1,500 one, but I'm waiting a little while longer before I find out for sure.

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. .

[Rob Ellis]

Thanks also for your input, Bruce..just goes to show that each person (like Ben pointed out) has their own unique approach to the Senn that works for them.....may I ask, on your Mackie Board, do you run your 416 straight through with no processing, or do you add some EQ, compression, etc. to get the best sound?

[Yoda117]

[bobsouer]

[todd ellis]

different mic - but almost the same technique - same pre too ... i have always been happy with mackie's xdr preamps ... quiet, plenty of gain ... what's not to like.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Bruce]

[Rob Ellis]

Well, I just want to say that you folks have been great teachers for me on the 416 and again, I thank you.

But the greatest teacher of all may actually turn out to be the 416 itself.

It has actually shown me in the last couple of days, that I don't have to rely on my "radio pipes" to be heard. It seems to be saying, "quit trying to do all of the work. Let me do my part as well!"

I'm finding that with this mic I can actually whisper with intensity, and still be heard loud and clear, even over a music bed. I had been told this, but seemingly never really believed it...

Maybe this is a glimpse of why so many people swear by this mic.....

.....for me, less is more seems to apply with this mic. Probably true with many other good VO mics as well.

[Jowillie]

Very well said, Rollis.
The veil has been lifted.

If you don't mind, I will borrow your excellent explanation of the proper attitude toward using this outstanding (and versatile) tool to share with others that ask.

The 416's detractors for its use with voiceover just don't "get it." And they will do just fine without it.
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Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

[Rob Ellis]

Another way of putting it is that this is the first mic to actually give me "permission" to not rely on my "resonance" and yet still be heard.

Maybe I will now find that to also be true with the 103 as well, although in a different way perhaps.

Nancy Wolfson continually worked on my tendency to default to the "resonance read". I believed her in my head, but it has taken actual experimentation with the 416 to experience what she was talking about.

[Lance Blair]

Preliminary findings:

The TLM 103 has a very hot output. Very hot. People complain (rightly) that it can sound distorted or brittle on their setup.

I just experimented with having a -20 pad in the chain which is something I've done with the Violet Design Dolly (same circuit etc. as the Blue Baby Bottle) which is another mic with extremely low noise and extremely hot output.

So far, running at +55 dB with a -20 pad sounds much smoother than running the 103 at +35 dB. Samples are forthcoming.
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[tackerman]

Soooo, you're not selling it?

[jessespringer]

I'd say it depends on your environment. If you're closed up in a pretty dead room, the 103 will almost always be better. The 416's primarily well-reputed for its promo use. If you work with a lot of those, and have a lot of sessions where clarity is needed more than a large "presence", I'd say keep the 416.

Best,

[Philip Banks]

I've done TV, film and radio promo work for use in the USA, UK, Australia, South East Asia and South Africa. I can't remember when I did my first session but my most recent was yesterday and I have never used or been asked to use an MKH416.

Although I tease people about the MKH416, it is only that, teasing. If you have a good mic it'll pick up what is required, you and your performance the rest they can fix in post.

[Yoda117]