Schoeps Colette Series Microphone Set - Includes: CMC6 Microphone Amplifier, MK41 Super-Cardioid Capsule, SG20 Microphone Mount, B5 Pop-Filter and Case

Comments about Schoeps Colette Series Microphone Set:

I am not a professional. However, I do enjoy professional equipment. This mic with the MK41 capsule is stunning. Blow your mind stunning. I am coming from an AKG se300b with CK93 hyper capsule, and it was a great mic, but NOTHING compared to this mic.

First off, it is TINY, like a dry-erase marker TINY. IT fits in my camera bag perfectly, and who doesn't like smaller better gear?

(and yes, the price would suggest this)

I am a little worried about the handling noise, and the humidity issue, but running it into my Sound Devices 702 is a pleasure. Incredibly transparent. Highly directional (but a bit forgiving if you aren't pointing the mic EXACTLY where someone's mouth is)

The handling noise is a little rough, but as long as you have your cable tied down, and stuff doesn't move, you get super rich sound.

If you have the cash, I don't know if there is a better all-around professional mic.

Comments about Schoeps Colette Series Microphone Set:

I got four of these with interest in buying 2 more for hookup to my recent purchase of the Sound Devices 788T. Woth every penny for the prestine none colored sound they produce.

Comments about Schoeps Colette Series Microphone Set:

excellent mic,great sound,i like it

Comments about Schoeps Colette Series Microphone Set:

The MK41 capsule has an extremely flat response from 200 Hz to 15k Hz with a slight roll off outside those frequencies. There is almost no coloration added to the sound. Combine this with a super-cardioid pattern and you have a near perfect microphone for recording dialog indoors (which is why the CMC641 is found on so many film sets). But the CMC641 is also an excellent microphone for recording musical instruments, ambience, foley, and so forth and for the same reasons: flat response and no coloration.

Having said all this, the microphone is sensitive to handling noise and that includes vibrations transmitted up the cable to the body. Because of this, you will want to hold the microphone in a good shock mount that isolates the cable from the body.

The microphone is also sensitive to wind noise -- even the slight wind current from a door being opened or just moving the mic itself will cause flutter. So in most cases you will want to use at least a pop filter. For something more like a breeze, you will want to use a blimp (probably with a dead cat for added protection).

A few people have reported "humidity issues" with Schoepps microphones. In particular, a motorboating noise effect can occur under certain high humidity conditions (either from swamp-like conditions or by moving from dry-cold to warm-humid). The "humidity issue" seems to be so infrequent and random that it is very hard to pin down. There seems to be no consistency among the microphone models, environmental conditions, causes, or cures. In my case, I have not experienced the "humidity issues" -- but then I have not subjected the CMC641 to environmental abuse either.

In order to get the most out of the CMC641, the rest of your signal chain will have to be high quality as well: this is a professional microphone and demands professional quality mixers/recorders/cables. (I use Sound Devices mixers/recorders and the results have been outstanding.)

The "Colette Series Microphone Set" being reviewed here has the body, capsule, pop filter, mic stand mount, and foam-lined wooden case for a price less than the individual pieces bought separately. That's good news. The wooden case is nicely made but is more of a display case and has a latch guaranteed to pop open just when you least expect it to happen. So for bashing around recording location sound, you will probably want to swap the case out for something a little more sturdy.

Keep in mind that the CMC641 is just an audio tool. And like any other tool, you need to select the proper tool to use for the job to be done.

Comments about Schoeps Colette Series Microphone Set:

The sound is crystal clear, no coloring at all but of course you have to get it close to the source. I think this is the best mic you can buy for interiors and unlike a new camera, it will last me forever. Expensive, yes, but I think it will hold its value and is a good investment for my audio bag.

Comments about Schoeps Colette Series Microphone Set:

This is the most pleasing sounding mic I have ever used! This mic is not best used in every situation but when called for it is the best sounding mic on the market. I do a lot of interior interviewing where I can not prep my surroundings with carpets or drop clothes, so occasionally you get a lot of reverb. This mic is the only mic that I have used that cuts down on a lot of that reverb while maintaining a very natural sound to the persons voice. It's pricy but well worth the extra cash.