Shotgun vs Condenser Mic: My Home Recording Setup with the Sennheiser MKE 600

This is the English edition of a video from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I make gadget videos from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.

Quick take

I use a shotgun mic, the Sennheiser MKE 600, for my videos, and a large condenser mic for narration and vocals. But the item that made the biggest difference for me was a cheap one: a foam isolation shield. In my experience, cutting room reflections helped more than buying a pricier mic.

What I use

Sennheiser MKE 600 shotgun mic for video, about 40,000 yen
Peluso VTB condenser mic for voice, bought about ten years ago and now discontinued
A foam isolation shield, about 4,000 yen
STEDMAN PROSCREEN101 metal pop filter
A desk-mounted mic arm

Shotgun vs condenser

	Shotgun	Condenser
My use	Video	Voice, vocals
Distance	Further away	Very close
Strength	Focused pickup	Clear, close sound

The MKE 600 runs on a single AA battery, and it also takes phantom power. In my studio it stays on phantom power, so I never worry about the battery.
Its narrow pickup is great outdoors, and indoors it means I worry less about sound coming from behind the mic.
For narration and vocals I use a condenser mic up close. Mine is discontinued, so there is no need to copy it. A mic from the Audio-Technica AT20 range, such as the AT2050 or AT2020, will do the job.
Recording with the condenser every time takes longer to set up, so for normal videos the shotgun mic is enough.

The foam shield matters most

With a bare condenser mic at home, sound bouncing around the room gets into the recording. In my room, the foam shield made a clear difference: the recording is drier and much easier to process later. Even in my treated room, the voice sounds thin without it.

I prefer a metal pop filter to the fabric type because I can wash it. I removed its lower part and pushed it into the foam shield. A desk arm keeps the mic in place without a stand taking up space.

Who it is for

If your vocals sound distant in a mix, start with a foam shield. If your content is mainly voice, such as narration, a condenser mic with a shield is worth it. For everyday video, a shotgun mic is plenty.

Watch the video

The video is in Japanese. From around 04:08 I switch to the condenser mic, so you can hear the difference.

Limitations

This is my own setup and my own ears, not a measured test. Prices are rough figures I mentioned in the video, based on Amazon Japan.

Products

Sennheiser MKE 600: on Amazon Japan

Audio-Technica AT2050: on Amazon Japan

Foam isolation shield: on Amazon Japan

STEDMAN PROSCREEN101: on Amazon Japan

Aokeo desk mic arm: on Amazon Japan

The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.

More reviews in English