Sennheiser MD 441

You just want to sing into it

I've done a lot of singing since the Sennheiser MD 441 arrived.

If you're a guitarist, you'll be familiar with the guitar dent you get in your chest when you get your hands on an inspiring guitar and just can't put it down. Well, this beautiful microphone beckons you and inspires you to sing.

The Sennheiser MD 441 is an odd nod to nostalgia and showmanship. Visually, There's nothing like it on a stage. Sound-wise, I the recently released Sennheiser MD 445 ($600 USD) is just as good when I need to cut through the mix and get maximum gain before feedback. But there's something special about the Sennheiser MD 441. While I feel okay tossing the Sennheiser MD 445 into a gig bag and taking it into rough 'n tumble situations. I would be more discerning about where I'd use the MD 441.

It has a lift in the upper midrange and details in the highs that comes close to sounding like a good condenser microphone. This also helps me to project, compete, and be heard in a busy stage mix.

As you should expect from a super cardioid microphone, you want to sing directly into it. However, if you read the instruction manual, there's a hint. When using the brilliance switch, sing over the microphone instead of directly into it. You can use it hand-held and not obstruct your face.

Singing with Bose Portable PA

And if you use Bose portable PA gear, you'll be happy to know this microphone works well with every version of the L1^®, and F1 Model 812 Flexible Array Loudspeaker and even the S1 Pro system, because being a dynamic microphone, it doesn't require phantom power.

Specifications

Roll-Off Filter

At the end of the microphone there is a unique roll-off filter controlled by a five position rotary switch marked M ... S. (Music ...Speech)

Sennheiser describes it this way.

When a directional microphone is spoken into from a close distance, the lower frequencies are overemphasized. If this effect is not desired, it may be levelled by aid of a roll-off filter. From the diagram (Figure 5) showing the influence of the roll-off filter, it can be seen that in position M (music) the frequency response curve is not altered in any way. In position S (speech) however, the frequencies below 700 Hz are attenuated by up to 14 dB. Between the positions M and S the low frequency response can be altered in three defined steps.

The five positions of the roll-off filter can be combined with the two positions of the brilliance switch. In this way, it is possible to choose between ten different frequency response settings

Brilliance Switch

The MD 441 allows an accentuation in the upper frequency range. It can be chosen using a switch located on the underside of the microphone. This switch can be easily operated using a pencil or small pin. If the switch is brought into position =+*= the frequencies above 3 kHz are accentuated by about 5 dB. This switch position is recommended when the microphone is being used by a vocal soloist. The microphone can then be held vertical in front of the chest and the singer sings practically "over the top". Even then, the sound remains brilliant.

This article expresses my opinion and experience. Please post comments to Twitter @ST_Muso or LinkedIn @STPro. Thank you — ST.

Sennheiser MD 441-U

Web page	Sennheiser MD 441-U
Type	Dynamic
Polar Pattern	high-rejection Supercardioid
Specifications	Sennheiser MD 441 Specifications
Instruction Manual	Sennheiser MD 441 Manual
Quick Guide	n/a
ToneMatch Preset	Vocal Microphones / Flat, Vocal zEQ OR Vocal Microphones / Sennheiser MD 431-II
Introduced	1966 ($999 USD)
Press Release
Special Features	Roll-Off filter (M...S), Brilliance switch

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