AT4073a vs MKH-416?

S

ShootEast

New member
I'm choosing between the AT4073a and the MKH-416. I'll be shooting indoor and outdoor dialog usually through a mixer, though, sometimes straight into the DVX.

I've listened to the side by side shootouts and read a lot of posts but I can't find anyone who says straight up they prefer one over the other.

Has anyone used both or own both and prefer one over the other?

There is a $500 difference between them, but does that mean the 416 sounds better?

Or instead of getting one $1100 mic for indoor and outdoor, should I consider a different mic for each (though $1100 or thereabouts is my limit on budget)

thanks.
 
check the forum thread....these comparisons have been done to death....I can understand you want a quick answer, but if you check the forum...you can see different peoples opinion.
 
having used both... and owned both i feel the 4073 is vastly over rated. I know i will be pillared but that is my experience.

The 4073 was issued across the board when our network experimented in using smaller dv cameras. All the people that were issued the equipment that actually use it have ditched the 4073 in favour of a sennheiser. These people aren't sound guys but professional camera people that work on a national television news show. they don't have patience with technical screwups.

It could have been the 4073 needed a pad or some other system to make it sound better but in the end it has been scrapped for the most part as not acceptable (even my me80 sounded better). I'm sure people will tell me why it was my fault it didn't work. But every other camera person in our system that used it regularly has retired it because they lost shoots to it, I can say it is very sensitive, and with a skilled operator it may work. In fact my quest for a better mic landed me on this forum.

I personally went with a 416. But there are numerous other quality mics... kmr's, sanken, etc.
 
the 416 is sound quality winner between the 2 and not by nose :-).
the 416 is the only mike that i don't take back up to the shooting
the 4073 is the best what you can get for half price
the sanken sc-3e is what i prefer
i have them all :-)
 
I agree with everything Oleg just said.

I owned both and I like the 416 the best... by a fair margin.

The 416 works in many interiors and the 4073 seldom does.

Both work really well outdoors but the 416 sounds best... by a fair margin.

If you can afford a 416 without too much problem then I'd get that... it's one of my favorite mics ever... it's probably even the only shotgun that you can use handheld with almost no handling noise.

It's simply a great mic... but to be fair the 4073 is the best mic you can get at half the price (as Oleg said).

I don't want to muddy the waters... but I also really like the AKG 480b ULS system... and I use that with the ck69, ck63, and ck61. The 480b/ck69 is a pretty good competitor with all the other mics listed here... and it's about the same price as a 416. I ended up keeping the AKG system and selling my 416... for a few reasons... but I liked them both equally and ended up keeping the AKG for it's versatility (which is significant over many other mics in this range)... but does it SOUND better then a 416? Tough call... in certain situations it can sound WAY better... in others I still wish I had my 416. I would never push somebody to the AKG over the 416, but in MY case I think it was just as good (and ocassionally better). The ONLY ***** I have about the AKG is that handling noise is a concern... a clumsy operator will get handling noise... whereas with the 416 even a ham-fisted idiot couldn't get handling noise out of it.
 
I gotta join in with the group here. The at4073 is a good mic at the $500 price range and is popular with the low-budget ENG crowd but if you are serious about a good mic the 416 (and 60, the Senn I use) is hands down far better. It has a smoother response, better rejection, and less self-noise. It is also the best mic when it comes to humidity. You can use the 416 almost soaking wet with no issues (obviously avoid moisture as much as possible).

The Sanken cs-3 is great too, better rejection but a tad noisier.

None of the shotguns are really good for indoor live environment. You will need a hyper for that.

Good luck
 
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