MK 8

The MK 8 is often used for M/S and double M/S stereo sound in film sound and music recording, in combination with Colette or CCM microphones and/or a CMIT shotgun microphone.

This type of capsule is a pure dipole. The figure-eight pattern of the MK 8 remains constant from low to high frequencies, which is particularly important when used in an M/S setup. Its sensitivity rolls off more at low frequencies than other capsules, but proximity effect (which can compensate, given relatively close placement) is also more pronounced.

Production of the MK 8 is a special technical accomplishment, because in terms of physics, the available force due to the pressure gradient is minimal. Despite this, the MK 8 has excellent frequency and polar response, near-perfect front/back symmetry, and low inherent noise.

The microphone is comparatively sensitive to solid-borne sound as well as wind and breath noise. Good protection should be considered, e.g. suitable wind screening and/or shock mounting.

The pickup direction is lateral, i.e. perpendicular to the microphone housing, and the 0° and 180° axes are indicated respectively by red and black dots on the capsule housing. When recording with M/S, the 0° axis (as viewed from a position behind the microphone) should point to the left, and the "8" engraved on top of the capsule should be precisely horizontal.

Alignment of vertical capsules with the CMC 1/6:

The CMC 1 U can be used in many suspensions (e.g. OSIX) that have a rigid orientation of the XLR connector and thus the amplifier. Also in the compatible MS and dual MS setups (for example, Cyclone), the alignment is fixed. As a result, the microphone cannot be rotated arbitrarily in such a suspension. For axially aligned capsules like the MK 4 this is not important, but a vertical capsule like the MK 8 has to be aligned radially.

In such cases, this accessory helps:

No. 800540: O-ring for radial alignment of a MK capsule. This O-ring is placed on the thread of the amplifier and makes the MK capsule permanently stable in any orientation. The O-ring is included with the MK 8 and all other vertical capsules (MK 4V, 41V) and can also be ordered separately.