MKH 800 TWIN – now AES42 compatible

Sound engineers in broadcasting, studio recording, film scoring and location/mobile recording can now also benefit from the advantages of the MKH 800 TWIN dual-capsule microphone in a fully digital environment. A special adaptor cable is now available to connect the TWIN with the AES42 digital module of the MKH 8000 series.

The MKH 800 TWIN uses a signal principle that is as simple as it is unique: the audio signals from its two capsules are fed separately to the mixing console or portable mixer, enabling the engineer to set an infinite variety of pick-up patterns at the console. This is particularly useful with slung microphones or when the sound engineer wishes to experiment with the pick-up pattern to suit the acoustics of a difficult room. The MKH 800 TWIN even makes it possible to record the two capsules separately and set the ideal directional charac­teristics for the recording at a later time, in the peace and quiet of the post-production studio.

"Especially for large recordings, this takes the pressure off sound engineers at the session and gives them the creative freedom to experiment with small pick-up pattern variations," explains Kai Lange, Sennheiser Product Manager for wired professional microphones. "By changing the fader setting and the signal phase, they can set any pick-up pattern they wish from omni to figure-8, as well as an infinite number of intermediate patterns."

The MZD 8000 AES42 digital module digitises the sound directly behind the microphone, thus ensuring that the natural sound of the MKH 800 TWIN is faithfully retained along the entire signal chain. Due to this immediate digitisation, the signal is not prone to cable losses, nor to signal disruptions caused by interference or cable capacitance. Using an AES42 interface (Mode 2, e.g. one of the DMI units from Neumann), microphone settings, such as the low-cut filter and pre-attenuation, can easily be remote-controlled. The MZD 8000 AES42 digital module is unique in that both capsules are kept totally separate through the module as a digital stereo signal, so only a single MZD 8000 is needed to digitise both capsules of the MKH 800 TWIN.

Kai Lange explains: "With the MKH 800 TWIN, you are now free to choose whether to make a fully digital recording with the MZD 8000 AES42 digital module and new MZLX 8003 adaptor cable, or to connect the microphone on its own via an analogue signal chain. Sound engineers and studios can thus make a decision based on their particular technical environment – and they can feel confident that they are fully prepared, whatever the future may hold."

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