Anyone own both the MKH 8040 and 8050?

[Joshua Milligan]

So I have two MKH 8060s with the MZF modules and just ordered an 8050 for inside interviews. Because some of my projects include two person interviews, I am planning on picking up a second 8050 at some point to boom over both speakers. My question was whether I should get a second 8050 for this purpose, or would anyone ever recommend grabbing an 8040 instead?

Would it cut well with the 8050 for dual interviews, but giving me a more forgiving mic when filming solo interviews with people who move, thus complementing my 8050? Also, would anyone ever run a single 8040 to cover two person interviews if they were sitting relatively close together, and then use the 8050 for single person interviews? I guess I'm just trying to decide if I should grab a second 8050 for dual interviews, or instead grab an 8040 so I have both types of mics. Thanks for the help. This is my first time diving into these types of mics.

 

[Jim Feeley]

Good question. I don't know offhand, but I do know that Glen Trew (big-deal mixer as well as owner of dealer Trew Audio) prefers (or at least preferred when we talked about it a few years ago) the pattern of the 8040 over the 8050. IIRC, he described the 8050 pattern as similar to a MKH50 (duh, you're probably saying) and that the 8040 was wider, more like a Schoeps MK41.

Me, I'm in the Schoeps MK41 camp for hypers and sit-down interviews, so I don't have much experience with the 8000 series (other than trying out friends' mics, etc). I find that in a pinch, I can split a MK41 between two people and get lovely dialog. So --maybe-- you could do the same thing with an 8040. Not real definitive, huh?

Any chance you can demo or rent an 8050 and 8040 locally? A good local dealer can probably help you out. If not, a dealer that specializes with location audio might give better advice (and perhaps provide a loaner or reasonable return policy) compared to a big box store. And for stuff at the level of 8000-series mics, the prices are usally the same. I usually work with Trew Audio (Nashville and elsewhere) and sometimes Gotham Sound (NYC). Have also worked with others.... You know: Location Sound in LA, etc. But the people at those places can be really helpful over the phone...

Hopefully someone else here will answer. Or you could ask over at jwsoundgroup.net; smart people over there, but sometimes a couple are grumpy...just be ready for that.

 

[Joshua Milligan]

Thanks for the reply Jim. I hope to try both out at some point, but just haven't had a chance yet. What you were saying about splitting your MK41 between two people was kind of what I was thinking I could do with the 8040, then boom with both it and the 8050 if they were too far apart. But again, I'm used to shotguns and lavs, so I'm not 100% sure how that would sound. Hopefully someone who owns or who has used both can lend me their opinion.