Upgrade a Rode NTG4 to a Senn. 8060?

[Joshua Milligan]

Hey guys (or gals). I have been working with a Rode NTG4 for the past year or so (stepped up to that from an NTG1) and like the mic for what it is. I have used it primarily as an on-camera mic for my FS7 to record non-vocal sounds during doc shoots (gun shots, wind blowing, busy streets or towns in foreign countries, etc.). My main source for vocals has been Sony UWP-D11 wireless mics.

I am starting to book more commercial work and am wanting to step up my audio kit so that my commercials sound great. I have some upcoming shoots that will involve testimonials and am wanting to boom these shoots so that my audio is crisp and feels "filled". Most of the testimonials will be outside, so a shotgun mic should work well. I will also be running a wireless mic simultaneously so that I can have a solid backup file. As for what shotgun mic to use, I've been thinking of stepping up from the NTG4 and into a Sennheiser MKH 8060. I like that the 8060 is supposed to be an upgrade to the legendary 416, so I feel that it would be a solid investment to make. I also like that it's incredibly small and lightweight. I feel that it would be not only good for booming, but also as an on-camera mic for my doc shoots when I'm recording the types of audio I described above.

I was considering a Sanken CS-3e because of its ability to sound halfway decent indoors, but its size and weight is not attractive as an on-camera mic. Same goes for the Rode NTG3. So, I wanted to hear some opinions on the Sennheiser as a dual purpose mic for outside booming as well as an on-camera mic for doc shoots when needed. Will I see a significant improvement using this over my current Rode NTG4, or will the difference be marginal? Also, how do you think the 8060 would sound when paired with Sanken COS-11D lavs? I'm wanting to pick some of those up for my wireless kit.

Thanks!

 

[Rick R]

Neither will sound very good in a camera mount config for interviews. The 8060 is a real nice mic though. NTG4 and 8060 has about the same sensitivity (24-25mV). The 8060 weighs about 1/3 less. The sound quality will not be a night-and-day difference if that's your expectation, especially for material destined for TV. I'd spend the money for better wind suppression, a shock mount and an additional dynamic mics for high SPL environments (gun shots), and pro quality preamps.

 

[Joshua Milligan]

Neither will sound very good in a camera mount config for interviews. The 8060 is a real nice mic though. NTG4 and 8060 has about the same sensitivity (24-25mV). The 8060 weighs about 1/3 less. The sound quality will not be a night-and-day difference if that's your expectation, especially for material destined for TV. I'd spend the money for better wind suppression, a shock mount and an additional dynamic mics for high SPL environments (gun shots), and pro quality preamps.

Yeah, I don't do on-camea interviews. Interviews are always boomed and/or on wireless mics. The on-camera mic setup is strictly for grabbing various sounds "in-the-trenches", if you will, when gunning for doc shoots. I built a nice shock mount on my FS7 that works very well (much better than the one that comes with it!) and got a Rycote system for booming. I also often record to a Zoom H5, so that should help me with preamps. What types of wind suppression do you recommend? I was intending on getting a Rycote Classic Softie for the 8060 for on-camera work and a Rode blimp system for booming. I also had my sights on a Rode Boompole Pro carbon fiber boom. Would you recommend something different for around that price?

 

[Bruce Watson]

...I wanted to hear some opinions on the Sennheiser as a dual purpose mic for outside booming as well as an on-camera mic for doc shoots when needed. Will I see a significant improvement using this over my current Rode NTG4, or will the difference be marginal?

The MKH 8060 will be a reasonable improvement, IMHO, for booming. It is a heck of a boom mic, that's for sure. For on-camera it'll likely be a marginal improvement -- not because it's not a better mic, but because it'll be so far out of position. No mic can sound good if it's out of position, and mics stuck on a camera are nearly always out of position. Just the way the laws of physics play out.

As to the MKH 8060 being a successor to the MKH 416, it is not. It's a different mic, it sounds different. Flatter, less colored, especially what's out-of-pattern, less noise, etc. IMHO it's considerably better than the 416 in just about all respects. I even like the pattern better (416 is actually a little narrower IIRC). I'm just saying the 8060 is not a 416+, it's an 8060.

 

[puredrifting]

IMHO, remove any consideration of any on camera mic usage from the decision. On camera mic should just be ambient stuff, never dialog. If on camera matters to you, buy an Audio Technica AT875r, $169.00 and it was made for on camera usage. Short and very isolated from handling noise with amazingly good sound.

As far as the main mic choice, Sennheiser 8060 or DPA4017 are both excellent. Trying to fulfill multiple roles with one mic is pointless too, pros usually have a whole bag of tricks because different mics do different things better.

 

[Kevin Kelly]

Instead of a Sanken CS-3e, have you considered the Sanken CS-1e as an on camera microphone? The CS-1e is smaller, lighter and less expensive than your other choices. The CS-1e also has a wider pick-up pattern than the CS-3e. Whether it would be better than an NTG4 for your use - I don't know.