Sennheiser ME 4

L

lucipitor

New member
Hello,

I was looking for two lav Sennheiser ME 4 because I need directional mic, I bought them used from a boy who hadn't the original packages so I can't be sure about wich model they are. They work, but I'd like to ask you: what is the difference of appereance between ME 4 and ME 2, to recognize what I bought? I cannot see very well it in the picts on the web, it seems to be that ME 4 has a metallic black mesh on the top and bottom sides of the mic, and ME 2 has only the top with the mesh and the bottom is all made in black plastic.

I also wrote to Sennheiser, but they sent me an e-mail that they're on holidays and they will answer at the end of August...

Here is one of the mic: http://imageshack.us/a/img62/2105/rcx7.jpg Could you help me?


Thank you a lot :) (sorry for my bad english)
 
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I think the ME4 has a clip like that one you have pictured and the ME2 has a metal clip similar to the sony type that fits around the mic head body!

Here is a picture of my ME2:
 
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To post a pic you need to host it elsewhere, I use photobucket which then gives me an IMG code that I can paste on the forum page!
 
lucipitor said:
Hello,

I was looking for two lav Sennheiser ME 4 because I need directional mic, I bought them used from a boy who hadn't the original packages so I can't be sure about wich model they are. They work, but I'd like to ask you: what is the difference of appereance between ME 4 and ME 2, to recognize what I bought? I cannot see very well it in the picts on the web, it seems to be that ME 4 has a metallic black mesh on the top and bottom sides of the mic, and ME 2 has only the top with the mesh and the bottom is all made in black plastic.

I also wrote to Sennheiser, but they sent me an e-mail that they're on holidays and they will answer at the end of August...

Here is one of the mic: http://imageshack.us/a/img62/2105/rcx7.jpg Could you help me?


Thank you a lot :) (sorry for my bad english)
Click to expand...

There are two versions of the ME2 - the one pictured earlier is the US version.

This is the one normally available in the rest of the world:-

preview.jpg

This is the ME4:-

ssenme4_2_new.jpg

Although they look similar, the ME2 is smaller.

As the ME4 is a cardioid mic. it needs to enable sound to get to the rear of the capsule, so it has mesh at the rear - the ME2, being omni, is sealed at the rear.

Though, personally, I would never use a directional tie mic. as an omni is better 99.9% of the time.

The perceived advantages of the cardioid mic. are cancelled out in practice as the body is normally to the rear and you can get improved feedback rejection by moving an omni closer. An omni does not suffer from proximity effect and a dircetional mic. suffers from drop-outs as the wearer moved his/her head.
 
I am surprised you say my ME2 is the US version John as I bought the G2 systems from a UK sennheiser dealer and they certainly have UK frequencies.

Seems that the US version is sold here in the UK as well and I prefer it to the mics with a clip on the cable: http://www.jigsaw24.com/sennheiser me2 omnidirectional lavalier condenser microphone/lavalier-and-tie-clip-mics/-/fcp-product/8503
 
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Hi John and Gary, it's very interesting to me read your thoughts. (Sorry for my bad english, please feel free to mark me, so I can learn.)

I have to record (audio and video) my grandmother 100 years old, for interviews for an eBook. It is not possible to record her using the normal mic with its pole (is it right?), as she thinks it is a gun she slaps it all the time - and this is not well done for a good audio recording.
Also, I thought that a mic in front of the grandmother was not a good idea for a fine video take. So I have had the idea of the lavalier mic (I hope she will forget the mic), and as I will record her in her home, I have to exclude the noise as well as possible. She will be sat in her armchair and she does not move a lot. I will connect the mic directly to an Edirol R-09, that will be placed in her pocket. Same thing for the other person, the one who will make questions to the grandma, another mic and another R-09. In the meanwhile I'll record video with a Panasonic HDC-SD1 and another one that I have still to choose and buy.

At the end I should have two tracks by the mics, one or more from the videocam(s), and the video track(s) to sync all together. I thought that it's very important to have the better audio quality possible, with less noise at the source, so I decided on directional mics.
I use this DAW: Cubase 6.5 (also Live 9 but I think this is not the case), Ozone 5, RME Fireface 800, Genelec 8050A + subwoofer 7070A - and Final Cut 6 (maybe I'll buy X).

What do you think about this set? Do you think I made a mistake buying the ME 4?

Thank you for your answers. :)
 
"I would never use a directional tie mic. as an omni is better 99.9% of the time"
- Same here
The problem with putting a recorder in the mic wearers pocket is, you can't monitor the sound, if there is a problem, one would not know.
I did use an ME4 at one live event and did not like the clip.. at all. All of my G2/3 systems came with the 'oil can' shaped ME2. It ain't a great mic, but certainly usable in some instances or as a spare. The tie-bar clip is adequate as well.
If John hadn't pointed the two different ME2 designs out, they could be easily misidentified.
Thanks John
 
Rick R said:
(...)
The problem with putting a recorder in the mic wearers pocket is, you can't monitor the sound, if there is a problem, one would not know.
I did use an ME4 at one live event and did not like the clip.. at all. (...)
Click to expand...

You're right. I think I will test the level in in the recorder, usually putting it at the half or less of the scale the sound is good and doesn' t distort (how do you say?). If the level then results low I can adjust it in the DAW - not the same if the sound is distorted.

Unfortunately I can't use a computer and the Fireface 800 (or a mixer) to record the grandma, most complicated and I should buy also the base for wireless... I can't spend more money and having yet two R-09 I thought to use them in that way.

Why didn' t you like the clip of ME 4? Does the mic moves?
 
For what its worth I have two Sennheiser G3 kits purchased in the UK - one from Creative Video - and they both came with the ME2 as pictured by Gary above.

I too would have reservations about using the ME4 as I consider it too directional for a lav in normal use.

You won't be able to monitor the audio - unless you use a long enough lead, maybe an extension lead, from the lav, and add a splitter or have an out from the recorder. But you will be able to test it in situ first.

Do you really need the quality / price point of the Sennheisers lavs? You could pick up a far cheaper omni lav on Ebay or whatever and use that instead thereby sidestepping the possible directionality issues with the ME4 on your talent.

Pete
 
GaryNattrass said:
I am surprised you say my ME2 is the US version John as I bought the G2 systems from a UK sennheiser dealer and they certainly have UK frequencies.

Seems that the US version is sold here in the UK as well and I prefer it to the mics with a clip on the cable: http://www.jigsaw24.com/sennheiser me2 omnidirectional lavalier condenser microphone/lavalier-and-tie-clip-mics/-/fcp-product/8503
Click to expand...

Yes, the ME2 you pictures *is* the US version.

It was the original version of the ME2, but the system got so popular they could not make enough so they also did the second (round) version.

Sennheiser UK prefered the original (US) version and did try to get that one wherever possible, but not all kits come with that mic., you were lucky.
 
lucipitor said:
Hi John and Gary, it's very interesting to me read your thoughts. (Sorry for my bad english, please feel free to mark me, so I can learn.)

I have to record (audio and video) my grandmother 100 years old, for interviews for an eBook. It is not possible to record her using the normal mic with its pole (is it right?), as she thinks it is a gun she slaps it all the time - and this is not well done for a good audio recording.
Also, I thought that a mic in front of the grandmother was not a good idea for a fine video take. So I have had the idea of the lavalier mic (I hope she will forget the mic), and as I will record her in her home, I have to exclude the noise as well as possible. She will be sat in her armchair and she does not move a lot. I will connect the mic directly to an Edirol R-09, that will be placed in her pocket. Same thing for the other person, the one who will make questions to the grandma, another mic and another R-09. In the meanwhile I'll record video with a Panasonic HDC-SD1 and another one that I have still to choose and buy.

At the end I should have two tracks by the mics, one or more from the videocam(s), and the video track(s) to sync all together. I thought that it's very important to have the better audio quality possible, with less noise at the source, so I decided on directional mics.
I use this DAW: Cubase 6.5 (also Live 9 but I think this is not the case), Ozone 5, RME Fireface 800, Genelec 8050A + subwoofer 7070A - and Final Cut 6 (maybe I'll buy X).

What do you think about this set? Do you think I made a mistake buying the ME 4?

Thank you for your answers. :)
Click to expand...

In this case I would definitely use an ME 2 omni mic. and *not* the ME 4 directional one.

Personally I would not have the recorder in the pocket - noice can be recorded if the mic. plug moves in the socket - I uoud have the recorder somewhere else (preferably where you can monitor levels and sound).
 
Thank you all for your suggestions - it seems I didn't have a good idea buying the two ME 4.
 
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