Sennheiser 441 microphone review

 
microphones

Apologies for the lack of new material but the mobile and the studio are so busy at the moment that weve just not had time to put any new stuff up. We have some great new sessions waiting to go up and a sneak preview of a fantastic new compresser but thats all to come!!!!! In the meantime have a read about the first in our series of great mics under £100

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Sennheiser MD421
Sennheiser MD441
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Sennheiser MD441

The MD441 is acknowledged as one of the most accurate and versatile dynamic microphones available. It has a nearly textbook perfect supercardioid pattern, a five-position low frequency contour switch, a two-position high frequency switch, a critically dampened internal shock suspension, and a hum bucking coil. With its distinctive coffin shape and two tone chrome/vinyl finish the 441 is another really great and distinctive mic from Sennheiser. These mics aren't cheap but they are really a beautifully made and great sounding microphone that can be used on hundreds of different applications from a hand held vocal mic which it was designed for to toms, brass and woodwind. If you ask any engineer with experience of this mic what he uses it for the list will be pretty comprehensive.
 

Recording

I have had an old Sennheiser 441 for years and have used it on just about everything and it always brings a lovely smoothness to the sound. Its not got a great output but you can still use it perfectly well through a standard mic pre and it has a really useful off- axis response. The supercardioid pick up pattern really comes in handy when using it as a stage vocal mic but especially when using it on the snare to block out hi-hat spillage. Whenever I am recording a jazz drummer, especially with brushes I always, always use the 441 as I don't think that there is a better mic for the job. It seems to have a built in compression, squashing the sound really nicely and it's also a really good drum mic for toms (though remember it's a pretty expensive mic to be around a drum kit). I have tried in on the kick with some success but for me it excells on the snare and vocals, particularly female vocalists. The mic comes with a five position bass roll off like the Sennheiser 421 but also a high boost though I tend not to use the high boost but just use a little EQ which the mic takes really well. It comes from a time when Sennheiser seemed to be having a ball turning out beautiful and distinctive mics and even though the clip is always breaking on mine I wouldn't swap it for anything. A great dynamic microphone that's as useful as most condensers. JR

 
Hear the Sennheiser MD 441
Fabulous Ducks session: Snare Drum
 
 
 
 
Microphones and recording 2008. Sennheiser 441 Microphones