Sennheiser MKE 400 Mobile Kit Review: Pro grade audio recording for your phone
"With the Sennheiser MKE 400 Mobile Kit, you can exploit the potential of your smartphone as a mobile vlogging tool by adding high-quality audio and a comprehensive set of accessories."
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Excellent audio quality
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Complete set of accessories included
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Compatible with phones and cameras
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Headphone monitoring function
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Requires you to learn new skills to put it to good use
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The volume can be low
Your smartphone almost certainly has a high-performance video camera. Since it's always with you, it's really the perfect tool for vlogging and video creation on the go. Except that it always disappoints with the built-in microphone that has to do too many different tasks and just can't all be great.
Solving the problem has frustrated me for a while as very few of the options available are an idea. Sennheiser has now launched it MKE 400 Mobile Kitwhich allows you to record videos recorded on your phone with first class audio recording. Could this really be what I was looking for? I found out.
Why use your cell phone?
Every iPhone since the iPhone 6S has recorded 4K video, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and the latest Galaxy S21 series phones record 8K video. Hence, recording high quality videos with your phone has not been a problem for a while. If this is a huge priority for you, companies like Moment make impressive lens accessories for phones, and there are plenty of video editing apps out there for iOS and Android. Your phone is really a one stop shop for video creation.
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Almost. Good audio quality is important when you want to publish your videos. Nobody will want to see if they can't hear you or if they can just hear wind noise or distortion. The microphone on your smartphone is a compromise as it has to perform various tasks and it isn't high on the priority list that makes you sound good on videos. It is not suitable for remote shooting or in noisy environments.
There are several ways to cure this. Lavalier microphones are popular, but they get tied down with a cord or you could invest in an expensive wireless microphone system. But there is a fine line between this step and considering taking fully to the next level with a DSLR-based setup, and the money really adds up at this point. It can feel demoralizing looking at the different options and sometimes unnecessary with your phone right there capturing perfectly good videos.
Everything you need
What does that matter MKE 400 Mobile Kit The special thing is that it was mainly developed for use with a smartphone. The packaging includes the Sennheiser MKE 400 shotgun microphone, a sturdy aluminum smartphone clamp to hold both the phone and your phone, and a Manfrotto Pixi mini tripod that doubles as a handle. A 3.5mm TRRS cable to connect the microphone to your smartphone and another 3.5mm TRS cable to use with DSLRs offer a lot of flexibility.
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The MKE 400 is attached to the smartphone clamp with a standard cold shoe holder, as two AAA batteries are used for its own power supply. The mount itself has multiple 1/4 "threaded holes for attaching to a tripod, as well as a single 3/8" threaded hole and rubber lined clamp for your phone. This can be rotated from portrait to landscape and the clip can snap into place so it doesn't move – and your phone won't come loose.
The Manfrotto Pixi tripod is small but very robust. It's made of stainless steel and has a maximum height of 5.3 inches, with each of the feet ending in a rubber grip for added stability. It's fine for use with a phone, but Manfrotto doesn't recommend it to support something heavier than 2.25 pounds, so it might not work well with some DSLRs. Firmly press the button on the side and the head can be repositioned which gives it a lot of versatility.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The Pixi tripod can be used on a surface or a handheld. The clamp is big enough to fit most phones – I've used it with the iPhone 12 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – and the connection system is simple. You'll be done and ready in less than five minutes. It is incredibly portable and very solidly made.
What about the microphone?
The MKE 400 is a Shotgun microphone with a supercardioid pattern, that is, it is designed to pick up audio directly from the front and slightly from the back, but not so much from the sides, to reduce unwanted ambient noise. The MKE 400 name has been used by Sennheiser for years, but the company has updated the design and added functionality to this newly introduced model.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The windshield and shock mount have been placed in the metal microphone housing for a more compact and visually appealing look. A furry cover for "dead cats" is also included to further reduce wind noise. On the side of the microphone there is a volume-controlled 3.5 mm headphone output for monitoring the audio, a three-stage sensitivity gain control and a low-pass filter.
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There are two AAA batteries in the box that can be used to power the microphone. Sennheiser estimates that they last 100 hours before they have to be replaced. It weighs 93 grams, about half of most modern smartphones, but still feels robust. It looks very modern and professional too, and if you only have the Sennheiser name on the side, it's very believable. It may sound strange, but that's a big deal.
How does it sound
I recorded audio with the Sennheiser MKE 400 outside when I was walking around and inside when I was sitting, in the car and in other relatively noisy environments. I connected it to an iPhone 12 Pro using the included 3.5mm cable and a Lightning dongle. It performed very well at all times, but most of all, it's a huge improvement over the audio recordings you would get if you just used the built-in mic or other cheaper mics.
The most obvious difference is the drastic reduction in background and ambient noise. The MKE 400 records your voice clearly and still picks up just the right amount of ambient noise. For example, if you are recording while taking an early morning walk, the microphone will still record the sounds of the surrounding forest for a natural, pleasant tone that accurately captures your surroundings without overwhelming your voice.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Plus, my voice sounds less artificial and removes the echo and harshness you get from the iPhone 12 Pro's microphone. I also compared it to a Rode SmartLav + lavalier microphone and again there was much less background noise and echo. Outside, it works well at about a meter to two meters away, provided you are facing the general direction of the microphone. It also records well when you are behind the microphone, as long as you are not too far away. In a moving car there is a little more echo behind the microphone, but since the ambient noise is minimized, the recording is not ruined.
The downsides are learning how to get the most out of the MKE 400. While it's not particularly complicated, there are a ton of trial and error that can't really be found with a simple plug-in lavalier microphone. For example, the volume is pretty low at the normal setting. In order to hear them well during playback on the iPhone, the volume must be around 75%. There is three-stage gain control, but setting this to the high level increases the overall noise, so there is a tradeoff between recording from further away and introducing more ambient noise.
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The headphone jack on the microphone body lets you hear what is being recorded, which helps to a certain extent. This is difficult when you are alone and want to check the distance record, for example. I don't think the MKE 400 requires any experience or knowledge at a professional level, but I think you need patience and a willingness to learn about sound recording in order to get the most out of it.
The use of the Sennheiser MKE 400 has been approved. I'm used to recording with a wired lavalier mic and it's great not to have to worry about the cord. I also hate that I forgot to turn the microphone back on when I have to move away from the camera, which you won't worry about with the MKE 400. The sound quality is great too. It also works with the camera or voice recorder app and, if necessary, with a DSLR. Hence, it is hard to imagine that you would wish for much else.
Price and availability
The Sennheiser MKE 400 Mobile Kit costs $ 230 or £ 200. It is now available from Sennheiser's own online shop or from other Sennheiser dealers.
Our opinion
The Sennheiser MKE 400 Mobile Kit is a comprehensive, high quality and easy to use sound recording system for your phone. While it's made for a smartphone, don't think that it is fundamental as all of the features here will help you capture the best possible audio with your smartphone.
Sennheiser's decision to make it a full kit is inspired because you don't have to buy anything else. Hence, it's ideal for anyone just starting out or looking to upgrade from a more basic setup. Even so, performance is not straightforward, and the audio quality is a huge improvement over your phone's built-in microphone and even over competent lavalier microphones.
The versatility means it is suitable for handheld shooting facing the camera, desktop use, outdoor shooting, and even in noisy environments like the inside of a moving car – all without wires or a wireless bluetooth connection. It's not cheap, but the price reflects the capability, quality, and welcome simplicity of the overall package.
Is there a better alternative?
There are several different shotgun microphones that will work with your smartphone, but very few come with the accessories that the MKE 400 Mobile Kit offers. The prices also vary widely. This comica kit with a wireless microphone system is $ 170 while Rode's VideoMic camera mount kit is $ 147. A good lavalier microphone like the Rode SmartLav + costs around $ 90, and the Audio Technica ATR3350xiS microphone costs around $ 35.
All of them can pick up audio better than the built-in microphone in your phone. However, before you decide on a microphone, consider how and where you want to record. Sennheiser is never the cheapest brand, but quality is almost always guaranteed.
How long it will take?
The components contained in the mobile kit are robust and robust. They are mainly made of different metals, with only the base of the microphone being made of plastic. The universal 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting the microphone to your phone requires a dongle if it does not have the appropriate port. So make sure you have one on hand. No apps need to be installed and no firmware needs to be updated. The MKE 400 will last for years if handled well.
Should you buy it?
Yes. It is all you need to greatly enhance the audio recorded by your smartphone.
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