I would like to have a pair of multi-pattern mics so I can easily configure them for Ab, ortf, m/s recordings.

My first thought was a pair of 414´s but it seems they are not very appropriate for ambient recordings due to their coloration.

I also think it can be harsh to work with them when recording jungle sounds because humidity.

I looked at the rode nt5 which has interchangeable capsules and the rode nt6 which is figure of 8 for ms recordings,

any other ideas?

Pd: I posted this in the post production forum too , sorry

Sennheiser MKH 800 comes to mind. I don't have any idea if you can get them in matched pairs however. I'm guessing it would be nearly impossible to do since every pattern would have to be matched.

Really, this is why we have "system mics" like the Schoeps and Neumans. Get a pair (or more) of the body/amplifier (Schoeps CMC6 for example) and buy whatever capsules you want, factory matched pairs, triplets, quads, quints, etc. Screws the caps in and off you go.

If what you're really after is matched pairs of large diaphragm condensers, I suspect that the size of the diaphragm is more a problem than a help. That is, you can get interesting artifacts when a musical instrument's overtone series has frequency wave lengths that are around the size of the diaphragm. The smaller diaphragms push the problem frequencies sufficiently high that it's not much of a worry. Not so much for LDCs. Also, large diaphragms have more of an issue with off-axis colorations, which do not help at all with stereo configurations like ORTF and NOS that use of the off-axis pickup as their main source. And you'd still have the enormous problem of matching every pattern between two or more multi-pattern mics; probably not economically feasible.

I don't have any problems at all with LDCs, especially for spots on soloists, etc. But for stereo... I'm considerably more interested in SDCs like my Schoeps mics.

Look at Rode mics. Their precision in manufacturing and then their grading scales in QA make it easier to get a pair of mics that are very close. In fact, I think they at one point color coded mics so that if you picked two mics with the same color they were within a dB of each other? I may be remembering that incorrectly.

With good quality SDCs, particularly in omnis, the mics are generally so flat with tolerances so tight that you can essentially "match" any pair as long as nothing is damaged.

If my ears matched that well with one another I'd be very happy indeed !

You don't state your budget, but if you are considering the Rodes you might want to look at the Oktava MK-012 - several capsules available for that at a very reasonable cost, especially in the stereo sets.

Alternatively, the Line Audio CM3 and OM1 are perennial favourites on this Forum (disclaimer: I've not tried them personally) and you could actually buy several pairs of each for the price of some other modular options. The great advantage of this (providing you have 4 preamps) is you can put two pairs up and choose which one you like and/or a mix of both. But I'm sure you've considered all this.

Matching is overrated. A marketing ploy.

If only! The Rode NT6 is not a figure of eight mic - it is a cardioid: Rode's figure of eight mics are variable pattern LDCs (NT2-a, NT2000 etc.).

Cheers,

Roland

A pair of Lewitt LCT 640 would be perfect. They are much more neutral than 414s, but by no means sterile sounding.

Thanks man the Oktavas seem pretty nice, they have 43 positive reviews in the thomann page

https://www.thomann.de/gb/oktava_mk_...tched_pair.htm

I would add a bi directional capsule for m/s recordings in this kit and I think I´m ready to go, this is the best option I´ve seen at the moment

If you have four channels of mike pre available, Sennheiser MKH800 Twins. Good sound, ultimate flexibility. If they're beyond your budget, the Lewitt LCT 640 TS have a similar configuration, albeit with a large capsule. (They lack a bit of "air" on off-axis sounds, but are otherwise quite pleasant.)

FYI the Oktava bi-directional capsule is actually just an adapter that two of their cardioid capsules attach to. You would need the capsules in addition to the adapter, which means to do MS recording you would need three cardioid capsules (or use another pattern for the M mic).

The design of the Oktava adapter isn't great either because it places the capsules so far apart - which will give you a fuzzy and phasey image.

Check out the MBHO line of mics. NoHype Audio is the US dealer. They are a bit more proxy but get great reviews and they have an actual bidirectional capsule in their lineup.

-Mike

I didn´t know about the MHBOs, I will check them out, the Lewitt seems pretty nice but is it suitable for extreme weather conditions with high humidity?

Well, no mic is really suitable for those kind of conditions. You will have to make sure that you store them in the airtight box they come in after each session rather than leaving them on their stands. Putting plastic bags over them if there are long gaps between takes is also a good idea.
I vouch for the LCT 640 because it's really accurate and "big" sounding without imparting a particular flavour. It makes a great ambient mic. The TS double capsule version is more expensive but it allows you to change the polar response when mixing using a bespoke plugin - it works really well.

For high humidity you'll get better performance from RF condensers. Which limits you to Sennheisers and some Rodes, maybe a few others, IDK.

If you want exterior stereo, it's hard to beat an MKH 40 paired with a MKH 30 (in M/S) in a Rycote wind basket. And yes, you'll need the wind protection, so don't leave that out of your budget.

You should find that the MKH 800 are manufactured to a tight spec. and two at random should be a matched pair - never had any problems with my two.

Modern Neumann mics are also pretty close at random.

Microtech Gefell will pair-match (if stated with order) at no extra cost.

These two statements can't both be true.

If matching is 'a marketing ploy' it means Gefell aren't doing it 'at no extra cost'!

I'd be really interested to hear how you rig these for outside conditions. Like many, I've tried LDCs (attracted by their low self-noise) for outside ambient recordings, but have had to use fairly clunky DIY wind protection, as have others. The SDC options - especially the RF condensers - seem a much better bet for the OP.

Cheers,

Roland

In the old days when specs were a bit looser, matching was needed to get two mics the same. I think this was done by holding frequency responses against each other up tothe light and when the responses were on top of each other that was a pair.

With modern, more automated, manufacture mics can come off the production line pretty well identical - ie: modern Neumann and Sennheiser MKH 20/30/40 series.

WIth the MKH 8000 series which have glued capsules - these *do* need matching, hence the stereo sets (I did once see a stereo set that had been shipped with two mics with consecutive numbers by mistake and the frequency response curves were such that they were definitely *not* a pair).

So - MKH 20/30/40 series are fine taken at random, but 8000 series need to be paired.

Gefell mics are all pretty close, but they *do* pair-match at no extra cost. The price is the same as for two individual mics and they make sure that the frequency responses are matched closely. I guess they take a matched pair and pack them in two boxes instead of a pair box, and you don't get the extras that come with a matched pair.

For inexpensive Far East mics where tolerances can be quite loose - matching would be important if you wanted a pair.

What do you make of the Neumann KM86 with a similar design? I have a pair and I am always hesitant to use them in anything but cardioid, which seems a waste (though they sound soooo good).

I could be more persistent and use the other patterns, but I have enough mics that I can just grab a true fig 8 or omni etc. Like I said though, seems like a waste.

Sometimes I wonder if I could find someone to take the 4 km84 capsules from my pair of 86's and build a soundfield-type mic with them. I'll bet that would be sweet.

Small diameter condenser RF mics for high humidity is page one
Classic MKH territory in a Rycote

I doubt it wold be possible as the four capsules would have to be very closely matched.

When the Soundfield patent expired 10 or 15 years ago, I suggested to Sennheiser that it would be a great idea to make a soundfield mic. from four MKH capsules. Especially as the RF principle would make it great for outdoor use.

They never did it

Their new Ambisonic mic. is a soundfield made from inexpensive capsules.

I agree with you, but because the op mentioned 414s as his initial option I assumed that the conditions he intends to work in are acceptable for LDCs.

Statistically possibly tue, I was perhaps lucky buying two pairs of MKH8040 a year or so between and the match was just as good between the pairs. I think I even got the best pair (according to the graphs) with one mic from each of the matched pairs.