PRODUCT
TESTS
Sennheiser MK4 Digital Cardioid Condenser Mic
By Adam Gallant
T
he Sennheiser MK4 Digital is a
traditional MK4 large diaphragm
condenser with a built-in
preamp and A/D conversion
designed by the trusted folks at
Apogee. Featuring a 1-in. gold-
plated diaphragm, it is very well suited for
speech/voice, acoustic guitar, strings, pia-
nos, and any instrument that covers a broad
frequency range and calls for a detailed
reproduction. The microphone’s character is
neutral with a slight bump in the high end
from 4 kHz to 10 kHz.
Connectivity
This microphone (alongside a handful of
other Sennheiser models) has been digitally
adapted in partnership with Apogee to
meet the demands of mobile recording
for music production, podcast recording,
video blogging, and other digital content
recorded in the field. The MK4 connects to
your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, PC, or Mac
via an included cable – Apple Lightning
or full-size type A USB to a gold-plated,
latch-locking Hirose ST series connector on
the microphone end of the connection. The
cables provided in the kit are a little over
40-in. long.
Software
Apogee has developed an incredibly useful
application that pairs brilliantly with the
MK4 Digital. The recording software, called
Apogee MetaRecorder, handles microphone
gain control, file storage, and file manage-
ment. This little application is for iOS devices
and delivers a host of functions for easily
naming takes, scenes, and tagging con-
tent. The display is clutter-free and cycling
through takes a simple swipe up or down.
The software was designed to be very easy
to operate but also contains a handful of
advanced file management features that
high-end field recorders rely on for data
management in post production (such as
fast searchability and sync-ability from your
video editing software).
Further information on the Apogee
software can be found via the Apogee
22 PROFESSIONAL SOUND
Knowledgebase at apogeedigital.com/
knowledgebase.
Apogee also has the Maestro software,
used specifically to configure the micro-
phone’s gain for use in other iOS DAWs.
The mic can be monitored via Maestro, but
recording and data storage is handled else-
where. For Logic, Pro Tools, and GarageBand
users, the microphone will be recognized
by your Mac, PC, and iOS DAWs as any other
audio interface would be. The latency is
system dependant and the gain controls
are handled via System Properties or the
Maestro app.
Mobility
Bringing only this microphone and your iOS
device to a location recording session will
yield the same sound quality as larger, more
cumbersome set-ups (which would gener-
ally include a preamp, interface, laptop, and
all the cabling and power requirements that
go along with that). For the traveling music,
podcast, or video content producer, the
MK4 Digital is a one-stop solution that will
lighten your equipment load dramatically
with no loss in quality.
Simplicity
Adapted for extremely fast, plug-and-play
use, the MK4 Digital is a no-hassle way to
immediately get recording in the field or at
home. Without the need for a standalone
preamp and/or interface, the MK4 Digital
also represents a great cost value when
compared to a full interface-based set-up.
Specs
The MK4 Digital is a rugged, internally
shock-mounted condenser microphone
built in Germany. Its frequency response
ranges from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. With the
Apogee digitally-controlled preamp at
minimum gain, the max SPL is a very useful
141dB, making it a good choice for a mono
drum room mic. At max gain setting, the
noise level is a very quiet -79dBFS(A). The
pickup pattern is cardioid and the micro-
phone is a well-built 485 g in weight. The
digital conversion extends from 16-bit, 44.1
kHz to 24-bit, 96 kHz and, to my ears, stacks
up to my RME converters when it comes to
voiceover and acoustic guitar tests.
In Use
I am a big advocate of the analog MK4 and
MK8 microphones and have plenty of ex-
perience with both via XLR to my RME and
Antelope interfaces. After voiceover and
acoustic guitar tests, I can safely say the MK4
Digital recorded via the MetaRecorder on an
iPhone stacks up when A/B’ed with my full,
PC-based Pro Tools recordings at matched
24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. For podcasting,
interviews, Skype conferencing, and mobile
music production, the MK4 Digital is a super
simple and fast way to get really great-
sounding results.
Adam Gallant has worked in all facets of digi-
tal audio production, from music composition
to location and post audio for television and
film. He currently owns and operates The Hill
Sound Studio in Charlottetown, PE.