How well does the new MKE 600 sound? How does it compare to the NTG-3?

[raphb]

Hi guys,

I'm interested in upgrading my audio chain and in between the MKE 600 and NTG-3. Preferably I'd plug my mic directly into my Panasonic GH3. Since only the MKE 600 is self-powered I'd probably have to either get and record into the Roland 26 or a Beachtek and plug that into my camera. Since my upgrade path for the future is unclear yet I'm not sure what to get. I prefer up-front expenses instead of wasting money upgrading step by step, but the MKE 600 does have some advantages:

+Self powered
+Lighter (128gr vs 163gr for the NTG-3)
+$100 cheaper (450 vs 550 where I live)

So what I'd love to see is have the MKE 600 compared do the NTG-3. In the few comparisons I've heard the MKE 600 a bit too up close and less relaxed than the MKH 416. I'm also not sure how the noise floor would compare between the two, especially if I'd try to collect wildlife sound. (my inability to read the data sheet or find comparable numbers).

I'd mostly want the microphone to be camera mounted. Any input?

Thanks,
Raphael

 

[Lobbamobba]

Hi guys,

I'm interested in upgrading my audio chain and in between the MKE 600 and NTG-3. Preferably I'd plug my mic directly into my Panasonic GH3. Since only the MKE 600 is self-powered I'd probably have to either get and record into the Roland 26 or a Beachtek and plug that into my camera. Since my upgrade path for the future is unclear yet I'm not sure what to get. I prefer up-front expenses instead of wasting money upgrading step by step, but the MKE 600 does have some advantages:

+Self powered
+Lighter (128gr vs 163gr for the NTG-3)
+$100 cheaper (450 vs 550 where I live)

So what I'd love to see is have the MKE 600 compared do the NTG-3. In the few comparisons I've heard the MKE 600 a bit too up close and less relaxed than the MKH 416. I'm also not sure how the noise floor would compare between the two, especially if I'd try to collect wildlife sound. (my inability to read the data sheet or find comparable numbers).

I'd mostly want the microphone to be camera mounted. Any input?

Thanks,
Raphael

I think it sounds great for the money and just as is. Im sorry I cant help you with the wild life part, havent had it for more than a week or two. But I can help you with the GH3 question.

In this video I compare it to a 2000 dollar mic and try it in a dr-100, zoom h1 and straight into my GH3.

And for the h4n users out there I can say that you get verry usable audio from 1-1.5m with levels at 80%.

JUMP TO 4:00 to get to the MIC

 

[Spartacus]

With the GH3 you really want the in-camera amplification as low as possible (at best not at all...).
But even with the battery power of the MKE600 I had to crank it up most of the time for good levels.
I only used it for non critical audio and even if some of the recorded sound made it into the final edit, there was always music put under it, to cover the noise floor.
So for recording beautiful nature sounds, you may want to look into the NTG3 with an external recorder or a Juicelink or Beachtek.

 

[raphb]

But even with the battery power of the MKE600 I had to crank it up most of the time for good levels.

I only used it for non critical audio and even if some of the recorded sound made it into the final edit, there was always music put under it, to cover the noise floor.

Thats what I feared. Too bad.

So for recording beautiful nature sounds, you may want to look into the NTG3 with an external recorder or a Juicelink or Beachtek.

I feared as much. Even for dialogue I'm not interested with having to cover sound with a music floor. The only Juicedlink/Beachtek device I can get where I live (without importing) is the BeachTek DXA-2T which doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy.

 

[raphb]

In this video I compare it to a 2000 dollar mic and try it in a dr-100, zoom h1 and straight into my GH3.

Funny you'd answer Lobbamobba, your video was one of the first I found searching for the MKE 600 :smile: What I would've liked to see is the off-site rejection. Your microphone placement was horizontal to the street noises in the background, if they would've been parallel to the street I think there would've been bigger differences between the microphones. Or maybe point the microphone from the bottom up at your mouth so you bet the sky behind you instead of a noise source. Not sure if I'm properly articulating my point.. And comparing the noise floor consistently.

I think its called "Schöps" by the way (as in knäckebröd)

 

[Lobbamobba]

Funny you'd answer Lobbamobba, your video was one of the first I found searching for the MKE 600 :smile: What I would've liked to see is the off-site rejection. Your microphone placement was horizontal to the street noises in the background, if they would've been parallel to the street I think there would've been bigger differences between the microphones. Or maybe point the microphone from the bottom up at your mouth so you bet the sky behind you instead of a noise source. Not sure if I'm properly articulating my point.. And comparing the noise floor consistently.

I think its called "Schöps" by the way (as in knäckebröd)

Im doing more tests next week, I can upload som samples of something like that then.

Mmmm knäckebröd....

 

[TheDingo]

But even with the battery power of the MKE600 I had to crank it up most of the time for good levels.

Pretty much all professional mics work this way, so it's not a slight against the MKE600.

In my own tests I found the MKE600 had a higher signal output than the Rode NTG-2 mic, and it was noticeable in recordings.

 

[Spartacus]

Pretty much all professional mics work this way, so it's not a slight against the MKE600.

Very few "professional" mics offer build in phantom power. It´s more of a lower end feature, but for what it is, the MKE600 seems to have stepped up the game here.
On my C100 via mini jack, the MKE600 sounds much cleaner than on the GH3. So it´s more a flaw of bad preamps in the GH3 that the audio isn´t that clean.

 

[TheDingo]

Very few "professional" mics offer build in phantom power. It´s more of a lower end feature, but for what it is, the MKE600 seems to have stepped up the game here.

I was referring to the output signal from pro mics being too low for consumer recorders, so it doesn't matter which mic you use the results will be pretty much the same. ( they all require a good pre-amp )

 

[raphb]

I've been reading on the Juicedlink I'd probably need to use either microphone. The battery in that thing doesn't last too long. I tried to see if this is an aspect I should include in my mic comparison. The MKE 600 apparently requires 4,4 mA at P48. Does that go to zero if I enable the included battery power? Does anyone have any experience on the Juicedlink battery power (any model) enabling phantom power? The Juicedlink only says:

~40hr battery life (no phantom, 1 XLR input active, Alkaline battery)

And some guys in a forum wrote that if you require phantom power that might drop to 3 hours or so. Quite the difference..