Schoeps MK 41 Supercardioid Capsule

The MK 41 effectively attenuates diffuse sound energy and produces a clear, "dry" sound pickup.

Its polar pattern is exceptionally frequency-independent: sounds from the side and back are strongly attenuated, but picked up without false coloration. This feature has made the MK 41 an international standard for indoor film sound.

Features

• Supercardioid directional pattern
• High directivity, at low and medium frequencies comparable to that of a shotgun microphone
• Natural sound due to flat frequency response which remains largely the same for all directions of pickup. This is particularly important for indoor recording
• Preferred uses: recording dialogue for film sound; as a spot microphone in the orchestra and on the opera stage

The susceptibility of the MK 41 to acoustic feedback is lower than with any other SCHOEPS capsule type, provided that no loudspeaker radiates directly from the rear. The sensitivity minimum of the supercardioid occurs at approximately a 125° angle of incidence.

The directional effect is independent of frequency, so that off-axis and diffuse sound are picked up free of false coloration, thus sounding natural. That is a real advantage over shotgun microphones, which have appreciably greater directivity only at higher frequencies, and frequency response (and thus sound quality) that depends on the direction of sound incidence.

Thus for many situations the MK 41 offers an interesting alternative to a shotgun microphone, even if its small dimensions do not appear to suggest high directivity. As a capsule without an interference tube in front of it, the MK 41 can also be placed closer to the sound source.