Topic: New Sennheiser MKH 8030 Figure 8 mic

[goodcooker]

Looks like Gutbucket's prayers have been answered - a small, high quality figure 8 mic from Sennheiser was just released at the trade shows.

$1500 at B and H. Includes the MZX 8000 XLR preamplifier and is compatible with their digital preamplifier as well.

The in the box blurb - "An MZW 8030 foam windshield and MZQ 8000 mic clip are included. There is also a pair of Rycote Back-to-Back microphone clips ideal for adding an MKH 8040/8050 microphone to the MKH 8030 for mid-side or stereo audio capture"

Reasonable when compared to similar brands - a Schoeps CMC6 and MK8 is $1850 and the Sennheiser preamp is tiny more along the lines of the CMC1 but the capsule itself is bigger.
The CMC1 is $858 and MK8 is $1052 = $1910.

[Colin Liston]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1821456-REG/sennheiser_700251_mkh_8000_microphones.html

[rocksuitcase]

verry interesting. The write up and specs look great.

[Gutbucket]

Thanks for posting about this. Good to see Senn has followed through with the long awaited new fig-8 in the 8000 series, and great to have another high quality single diaphragm fig-8 option as there aren't many.  This looks to be positioned as an alternative to Schoeps MK8 and priced similarly.

What I'd really like is a truly miniature fig-8 the size of the DPA miniatures for  , but one slightly larger around miniature AT or Church Audio size might work, preferably low-voltage powered.

For anyone looking for fig-8's of similar diameter to the Senn and Schoeps options but at lower cost, here are a few options:
Rycote BD-10 (Just found out about this new one upon searching MKH 8030 this morning, looks very interesting)
B9 Audio’s CM180
MBHO KA 800 (still available?)
Ambient Emesser ATE 308 (shorter, with permanently attached cable I think)

And for anyone wanting a very inexpensive, low-cost-of-entry fig-8 to try M/S there is the Naiant X8, which is not single-diaphragm but dual back-to-back cardioid electret caps connected in reverse-polarity. The transformer version is capable of low-voltage powering with some DIY effort.  TS member checht currently has an electrically summed X8S version (Phantom power only, switchable patterns) up in the yardsale at a very attractive price: https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=204735.msg2410530#msg2410530 [edit, sold]
^
I've used the X8S for years (replacing ADK TL for me) and was considering switching to CM180 last year before I picked up a stereo AT shotgun that is currently fulfilling my alternate fig-8 Side channel needs.. now adding BD-10 to my short mental list.

[if_then_else]

MBHO KA 800 (still available?)

The MBHO KA800s are still available, but only on special request from the manufacturer. I ordered two of them via Canford, a MBHO reseller in the UK, at the end of last year because they were cheaper there than here in Germany. I was given a delivery time of 2-3 months. In the end it took more than half a year.

[goodcooker]

MBHO KA 800 (still available?)

The MBHO KA800s are still available, but only on special request from the manufacturer. I ordered two of them via Canford, a MBHO reseller in the UK, at the end of last year because they were cheaper there than here in Germany. I was given a delivery time of 2-3 months. In the end it took more than half a year.

The USA retailer I've dealt with for MBHO requests from the manufacturer is Dale Pro Audio.

https://daleproaudio.com/products/mbho-ka-800-a-small-diaphragm-figure-8-microphone-capsule

[Ronmac]

I am a big fan of Sennheiser MKH mics and have a MKH40/30 MS rig in a Rycote Cyclone. Since I don't do any stealth recording I am OK with the size and weight.

"Dr. Badphil" (Roland Harris) has been a beta tester of the new MKH 8030 and has written extensively on his testing. You can find his remarks on his website https://drbadphil.com , as well as on Gear Space and other forums.

The MKH30 will be a big hit, due to its size and excellent spec. The MS rig suspension and wind protection developed by Cinela for the 8030/8040 combo is an incredibly small and light solution.

[tim_k]

My 8030 showed up yesterday, I don't really have plans to tape with it especially (I work as a recordist in film/tv/etc) but I could be convinced otherwise. In my brief testing it sounds like you would expect. Mostly just wanted to mention that it does in fact exist outside of the few testers now, I was very skeptical that I would ever get it to be honest.

[rocksuitcase]

My 8030 showed up yesterday, I don't really have plans to tape with it especially (I work as a recordist in film/tv/etc) but I could be convinced otherwise. In my brief testing it sounds like you would expect. Mostly just wanted to mention that it does in fact exist outside of the few testers now, I was very skeptical that I would ever get it to be honest.

for live music taping:
Try it as the side of a mid-side using the typical cardioid (or supercardioid) for the mid.
If you flank that with a pair of spilt omnis or wide cards, either from an OTS or from stage lip if you have permission.

OR, your clients may be interested that you can do "surround sound" for them using the MS rig and a couple of pair of mics in an array (Faulkner, Decca, OMT etc*)

* Caveat- I'm not being "scientific" as in advising a specific array- I'll leave that to others with more experience. I'm being generic of sorts suggesting basics types of "unconventional" recording methods with this bad boy.   

[Gutbucket]

If you flank that with a pair of spilt omnis or wide cards[..snip]

IME in this type of 4 channel arrangement the side channel of the center M/S pair serves double duty as a sort of magic juju spice.  Great recipe for a delicious dish built upon a bed of lush stereo wideness well anchored by solid correlated-coincident centerness, along with an extra side serving of Side channel applied to taste = plate licking goodness.
^
Technical terms! 

[mepaca]

Now available at B&H
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1821456-REG/sennheiser_700251_mkh_8000_microphones.html
Since I have the 8040s I am sorely tempted. I already have Schoeps, Neumann and Beyer ribbon m/s rigs
so I don't really need it just want it.

[EmRR]

So glad they finally produced this mic for the 8000 series. 

I am partial to the switch options on the older larger MKH series since I do a lot of close work, and frequently use the pad and the frequency tailoring options, but this smaller version w/o is perfect for distant work with lower visual impact and weight.  I suppose the MKH30 will now be discontinued like the 20/40.   They are some of my favorite and most used mics, in many settings. 

MKH for the win in high humidity and big temperature swings.  Very very low noise floor and high output too. 

[notlance]

Sennheiser finally came out with the 8030?  It’s about bloody time.  I’ve been looking for this mic since maybe 2010?  Every year I’d do a search for “MKH 8030” just in case Sennheiser snuck it out when I wasn’t looking.  Gave up searching a few years ago, now here it is.  Back in 2011 I promised I’d buy one when it came out so I guess I’m gonna have to pony up.