Sennheiser Launches MKH 8018 Stereo Shotgun Microphone
The MKH 8018 RF condenser microphone is a compact stereo shotgun mic with three switchable stereo
modes (MS, XY-wide and XY-narrow)
The MKH 8018 has been tailored to broadcasting and filming applications
Sennheiser has launched a new, compact stereo shotgun microphone, the MKH 8018 for
broadcasting and
filming applications. The high-class short gun mic completes the company's MKH 8000 range of RF
condenser microphones, which excel in the field due to their climate-proof ruggedness and natural
sound capture with virtually no off-axis coloration. Providing flexibility to the audio engineer,
the compact and lightweight MKH 8018 features three switchable stereo modes: MS stereo, Wide XY
Stereo, and Narrow XY stereo. The MS mode allows the engineer to adjust the spatial
imaging
steplessly on the mixing desk, while the XY modes are premixed in the MKH 8018, with settings
fine-tuned in many tests.
"The MKH 8018 stands as a top-tier innovation of our MKH portfolio, offering unparalleled audio
quality with its ultra-low self-noise and pristine, crystal-clear sound, driven by exceptional
off-axis rejection," said Mr. Vipin Pungalia, Director- Sales, Pro Audio, Sennheiser India.
"With
features like moisture resistance, minimal non-linear distortion, and a balanced signal through our
transformer less, fully floating output, this high-class shotgun microphone exemplifies over 60
years of Sennheiser's perfected RF condenser technology, tailored to meet the needs of India's audio
professionals."
Lightweight and Non-Modular with A Tailored Frequency Response
To make the MKH 8018 as easy to handle as possible, the Sennheiser engineers have given it an
aluminium housing to have less weight on a camera or boom pole. Also, the microphone is - unlike
most of the other mics in the 8000 series - non-modular with a fixed XLR-5M output and integrated
-10 dB pad against overdriving, filters for tailoring the frequency response, and an additional
switchable -3 dB low-cut filter at 70 Hz.
As the MKH 8018 has been designed for broadcasting and filming applications, the usual extremely
wide frequency response of the MKH mics has been limited to 40 - 20,000 Hz. This avoids any
overloading of the mixing console with unhearable distortion below 40 Hz and above 20 kHz, where
ultrasonic camera lens measurement systems are active.
Matrix Inside
The MKH 8018 impresses with its homogeneous sound image and can output MS stereo for further
processing in the studio or on a mixer, or - via an internal matrix - XY stereo in a wide or narrow
mode without the need for an external mixer. In XY-w, the mic emphasizes the side signal to a
greater extent, thus capturing more ambience. In XY-n, the focus is more on the mid signal, giving
the sound engineer more directionality.
The MKH 8018 is delivered complete with an MZQ 100 microphone clip, MZW 8018 foam windshield and a
threaded plastic transport tube. The MZR 8000 camera adapter wraps around the microphone body and
ensures a secure fit with other mic clips and on cameras.
Optional accessories for the mic are the MZS 20-1 suspension/pistol grip, the MZW 60-1 basket
windshield and the MZH 60-1 hairy cover for outdoor use of the MKH 8018.