Neumann KM140 and KM143 differences and uses in location sound recording

Artkoudos

Member
I was offered a couple of Neumann KM140 (cardioid) and KM143 (wide Cardioid) for reasonable prices and was thinking of purchasing.

I have used the KM140 in the past in a conference scenario and was really happy with the result. Very good quality sound, mics did not have to be straight in the face of the speakers (conference was mainly set up for filming reasons), very small and discrete mics. I don't get much work of this kind though and an investment only for the occasional gig here and there would not justify the move since there is always something else that is more needed equipment wise.

I haven't had the chance to use the KM140 on a boom and cannot tell how it behaves (handling noise and range). I guess it can be used as the Mid mic on a MS stereo pair with wonderful results but has anybody else used it as an indoors mic on the boom for dialogue? How would it compare with Hypercardioid mics?
Is there any obvious reason or benefit of using the wide cardioid KM143 for film work? Some people have said to me that the wide cardioid would be useful when two characters are close but not close enough to pick their dialogue well with a shotgun without having to point the mic to each one of them. Is there anybody that has used the KM143 in that way?

For what other applications would you use these mics even if its not for audio for films?

I'm really up for the mics but I'm trying to figure out if it worths investing the money at this point.
 
I always used those Neumanns as studio mics, sitting there locked stationary .. doing their thing.

Indoors in normal use on the average film set, wide cardioid on a boom for speech would be prone to more extraneous pickup, so less useful than a hyper.

Cheers.
 
Indoors in normal use on the average film set, wide cardioid on a boom for speech would be prone to more extraneous pickup, so less useful than a hyper.

I did have the same feeling when somebody mentioned this to me but it always worth to put it out there and get replies. What would you use the wide cardioid for? I guess it would be a good option to share it between two people on a conference setup or between 2-3 people when recording backing vocals for a song (given that you dont want or you dont have the luxury to use stereo techniques)

Really curious to know if the cardioid is prominent to a lot of handling noise when on a boom. I know that these mics are mainly studio mics but they sounded so nice and I'm thinking why shouldnt I give them a go on the set.

Thanks for the answer
 
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