Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Microphone Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Sennheiser MKH 416 is well-known for its use in broadcast, filmmaking, voice-overs, and numerous content. First launched in 1975, the MKH 416 is now celebrating its golden jubilee in the industry.
The MKH 416 would not be here without its predecessor, the MKH 415. When the MKH 415 was first launched in 1970, many radio and TV broadcasters showed interest in it, but also complained that it had to be moved to follow the speaker and pick up sound. Dr. Griese, technical manager at Sennheiser, took note of the feedback and reportedly asked for a hacksaw to shorten the microphone. He then showcased the shortened microphone’s capability, which the customers then found to work perfectly.
When it came to designing a successor to the MKH 415, Sennheiser appointed a newly-hired young engineer, Manfred Hibbing, for the task. Hibbing based the design of the MKH 416 on the MKH 415, keeping note of its short length. In a 2023 interview, Hibbing said that his favorite task when he worked on the MKH 416 was “optimizing the interaction between the electroacoustic transducer and the electronic circuit.”
Hibbing, an expert in both electroacoustic and radio frequency (RF) technology, further added, “During all this time, the design of the MKH 416 was only revised in two instances: one was to make it suitable for SMD mounting, and the other to update it for a more advanced transducer technology.”
A condenser microphone, the RF design of the MKH 416 gives it a huge advantage of being resistant to humidity. Compared to the usual condenser microphones, which can be sensitive to outdoor conditions, RF condenser microphones are capable of withstanding hot and humid conditions or even cold weather.
The MKH 416 is touted as one of the best shotgun microphones around, and its great success has led to its extensive use in various fields. This microphone is known for its excellent directivity thanks to its capsule combined with a short interference tube, allowing it to effectively pick up sound and deliver it in an intelligible and clear manner.
Sennheiser Product Manager Kai Lange stated, “The MKH 416 remains a star of our shotgun microphones, even though we have launched younger models long since. It’s just great to have such a legend in the portfolio, a versatile, long-life, high-performance microphone. The MKH 416 is a mic where everything was perfect from the start.”
To commemorate the MKH 416’s 50 years in the industry, the industry-standard shotgun microphone is currently being offered at an anniversary discount in certain locations.
