The new Sennheiser MKE 400 is an airborne gun microphone designed for video bloggers, videographers and mobile journalists.

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Over the years, countless airborne gun microphones have been released, and as the number of content creators continues to increase, this is a big market that companies hope to be a part of.

If you have been in contact for long enough, you may remember the original MKE 400 released in 2008. It was launched to add better audio features to cameras such as Canon 5D Mark II.

The appearance of MKE 400 is very similar to Sennheiser's own MKE200 released in September last year.

The new MKE 400 has headphone monitor output with volume control, internal shock mount, internal windshield and automatic on/off function, and comes with accessories.

MKE 400 adopts acoustic interference tube and super-cardioid directivity mode to ensure pick-up from the direction facing the camera while eliminating side noise.

The shock-proof microphone head of the MKE 400 is said to minimize processing noise, and the microphone housing doubles as a standard windshield. For outdoor use, a furry windshield is included.

The microphone also has a 3-level sensitivity switch, so you can adjust the audio level that enters the camera's microphone input.

In addition to the three-stage sensitivity switch, there is also a low-cut filter and a headphone monitor output. This headphone output has an integrated 8-level digital volume control. You can plug any headphones with a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) jack directly into the MKE 400, and check the level and audio performance while recording.

MKE 400 includes 3.5 mm TRS and TRRS locking cables, which can be used for DSLR and mirrorless cameras or mobile devices. The microphone has a cold shoe mount with a ¼-20 thread, so you can mount it on a camera, gimbal or even a boom.

To power the microphone, you need to use two AAA batteries. Allegedly, this allows the microphone to run for up to 100 hours. The low battery indicator will warn you three hours before the battery runs out.

When connected to a DSLR or mirrorless camera, MKE 400 will automatically power on/off the camera. Power detection is also applicable to many smart phone models. As long as you remove the MKE 400, it will automatically shut down. A manual power button is also provided with a shutdown delay function to avoid any accidental operation.

MKE 400 also provides MKE 400 mobile kit form, which includes Sennheiser smart phone holder and Manfrotto PIXI mini tripod.

The retail price of MKE 400 is US$199.95. The MKE 400 mobile kit is priced at $229.95.

There are many competing airborne shogun microphones in this field. These include:

Matthew Allard is an award-winning, ACS-certified freelance photography director with 30 years of work experience in more than 50 countries around the world. He is the editor of Newsshooter.com and has been writing articles on the site since 2010. Matthew has won 42 ACS awards, including four prestigious golden tripods. In 2016, he won the Best Photography Award at the 21st Asian Television Awards. Matthew can work as a DP in Japan or anywhere else in the world.

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