Sennheiser MKH 8070 Moisture-Resistant Long Shotgun Microphone

Sennheiser MKH 8070 Overview

The Sennheiser MKH 8070 is a premium shotgun microphone designed for professional audio capture in challenging outdoor environments. With its extreme directivity, ultralow self-noise, and high sensitivity, this 18-inch microphone excels in delivering pristine sound quality for applications such as sporting events, broadcast production, and field recording. The MKH 8070 comes as part of a set that includes the MZW 8070 Windscreen and MZQ 8060 Clamp, providing a complete solution for focused and reliable audio capture.

Key Features

• Pronounced Lobar Polar Pattern: Ensures a narrow focus with transparent, undistorted off-axis tone, making it ideal for isolating sound sources in noisy environments.
• Wide Frequency Response (45 Hz to 20 kHz): Captures full dynamics with a gentle rise above 2 kHz for increased intelligibility and a natural bass roll-off to reduce rumble.
• Extreme Directivity: Delivers unparalleled focus on distant sound sources, perfect for capturing action from afar without compromising clarity.
• Low Self-Noise (8 dBA): Provides studio-quality signal purity, eliminating the need for postproduction noise reduction or gain boosting.
• Ultrahigh Sensitivity (-19 dB): Ensures exceptional pickup of even the faintest sounds, making it suitable for critical audio applications.
• Moisture-Resistant Design: The RF circuit design ensures reliable performance in adverse environmental conditions, such as humidity and condensation.
• Transformerless Output: Offers optimal signal integrity with a fully floating balanced output, ensuring clean audio transmission.
• Phantom Powered: Compatible with 44 to 52 VDC phantom power, making it versatile for use with handheld recorders, field recorders, mixer adapters, and camcorders.

Professional Sound Quality

The MKH 8070 is engineered to meet the demands of experienced professionals. Its wide frequency response, transformerless output, and high SPL handling ensure uncompromised clarity and detail in recordings. Whether you're capturing dialogue, sound effects, or ambient audio, the MKH 8070 delivers mix-ready sound quality with minimal postproduction requirements.

Digital Compatibility

When paired with the optional MZD 8000 digital module, the MKH 8070 transforms into a digital microphone capable of outputting AES42 signals at up to 24-bit / 192 kHz resolution. This setup also enables remote control of DSP functions, such as low-cut filtering and attenuation, providing additional flexibility for advanced workflows.

Ideal Use Cases

• Sporting Events: Capture crisp and clear audio from a distance, isolating key sounds like crowd reactions or referee calls.
• Broadcast Production: Reliable performance in outdoor settings, including humid or windy conditions.
• Field Recording: Ideal for capturing wildlife sounds, environmental ambience, or distant audio sources.
• Film and TV: Perfect for boompole operation, ensuring clean and focused audio in dynamic shooting environments.

Why Choose the Sennheiser MKH 8070?

The Sennheiser MKH 8070 is a top-tier shotgun microphone designed for professionals who demand precision and reliability. Its moisture-resistant design, pronounced lobar polar pattern, and ultralow self-noise make it an indispensable tool for capturing high-quality audio in demanding environments. Whether you're recording dialogue on a film set, capturing live sports commentary, or documenting wildlife in the field, the MKH 8070 ensures your audio remains clear, natural, and free from unwanted noise. The included MZW 8070 Windscreen and MZQ 8060 Clamp further enhance its usability, making it a complete package for professional audio capture.

Wind Protection and Mounting Options

The MKH 8070 comes with a foam windscreen to minimize wind noise from breezes, fans, or HVAC systems. For maximum wind protection, consider pairing it with the optional Sennheiser MZW 80-1 blimp-style windshield, which requires the MZS 20-1 pistol grip. The supplied mic clip allows for easy mounting on stands or boompoles, while the optional Sennheiser MZS 20-1 combination shockmount and pistol grip provide added isolation from vibrations.

Conclusion

The Sennheiser MKH 8070 is a powerhouse microphone designed for professionals working in challenging outdoor environments. Its extreme directivity, low self-noise, and robust build make it an ideal choice for capturing pristine audio in situations where clarity and reliability are paramount. By combining cutting-edge technology with practical design, the MKH 8070 ensures you can achieve outstanding audio capture, no matter how demanding the environment. The inclusion of the MZW 8070 Windscreen and MZQ 8060 Clamp makes this set a comprehensive solution for all your audio recording needs.