sE Electronics sE4400a Condenser Mic Review / Test
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- Today we look at the sE Electronics sE4400a, an AKG C414 competitor that offers 4 polar patterns, 2 pad options, and 2 high pass filter options. This thing has a neutral frequency response on the cardioid polar pattern with a subtle treble and air boost of about 1.5-2dB. I think this microphone is a very versatile microphone that will be an invaluable tool for any microphone locker.
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Global: geni.us/se4400a
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00:00 - Intro / Price
00:35 - Setup
00:51 - What’s in the Box
01:28 - Build Quality / Features
02:43 - Specifications
03:15 - Polar Pattern Sound Test
03:56 - High Pass Filter Switch Test
04:30 - Polar Pattern Rotation Test
05:28 - Background Noise Test
05:47 - Proximity / Distance Test
05:57 - Plosive Rejection Test
06:04 - Music Test
06:44 - Pros & Cons
07:43 - Overall thoughts
09:31 - Conclusion / Recommendation
10:07 - Outro
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That microphone sounds amazing with your voice. It might be the best with your voice I’ve heard from all of your mic reviews.
Seconded
fifthded
2 stickers for $500 with a free microphone? Sweet!
LOL!
Lol! that’s good
Two stickers and a shockmount for $500.... It's nice they throw the microphone in there though
I ended up purchasing the matched pair of SE4400a mics after going through tests with about 40 other mics, including a head to head with the C414's. With the exception of that small bump that you mention mant times, the one major trait that I found is that these mics, more than any ither mic I tested up to the $2500 price point, is that the capture sound and let you hear almost exactly what you hear live. Also, no other mic that I tried was so cleanly receptive to EQ changes and small changes made amazing differences.
These were made to compete with the C414's, and at a bit more than 1/2 their price, they sound better than the newe C414's and sound almost identical to the C414's of the pre-80's. That alone should tell you how good they sound.
I use them for acoustic instrument recordings and love the results.
I really was surprised by this mic. Really loved it. I also picked up the C414XLS which will be reviewed in the coming months, but I think I prefer the SE4400.
Great comments
I think this is my favorite mic for your voice so far.
Dude, you never fail to have the best info on all this gear. Exactly what I needed to know. Thank you! Keep on rocking.
That really means a lot Will. Happy to know it helps!
Love this microphone. I have a pair and use them constantly in a live setting. They're my go-to drum overheads, but sometimes I'll pull them off drum duty to mic up a stringed instrument. It really shines on violins and other high-pitched instruments where you want clarity without harshness.
Just received mine and i'm pretty happy. Thanks for the good review!
Totally agree with your assessment of this mic! It's my main workhorse/swiss army mic in my small home studio. I find this mic to be pretty accurate in what it represents. If my mic placement is off, I know it right away because it doesn't sweeten anything up! However, because of the presence drop before the air (in omni mode), I have found this mic to be really great for capturing room sounds when recording drums. I love the construction and ruggedness of this mic. I also love the multiple options for polar patterns and pads.
Your videos are entertaining and helpful. Thanks!
We have never been disappointed by sE. They make great stuff.
This sounds excellent. Definitely going on my wish list.
Already planning to own a pair, thanks for the thorough review. Helps confirm a few doubts about the flatness and subtle late lift another reviewer didn’t like. Great for music I suppose.
Thanks for the demo. This info. Helped me decide to purchase this mic. I do prefer flatter mics for recording even vocals. I don’t like perceived exaggerated highs that can become annoying and troubling while recording. Great demonstration.
I was tryna buy a new mic for my yt (different account (SooMuchSaby)) and got sucked into your channel so fast. I thought you had like a million subs because of how good your vids are but sadly reality can be disappointing. Stay on the gring ur channel is GOLDEN. I hope ya see this Bandrew. And stay on the grind!
This sounds the best of any of the sub 800 mics I've seen on your channel.
Loved the sound of this through good cans. Sounded very balanced and clean without the edgy hyped-up presence of many mics.
I like SE kit - I recently bought their X1S which sounds quite similar with a single cardioid pattern. The output on these is also pretty hot so potentially less pre amp gain noise which is nice.
Seemed to do a good job on plosives for a large diaphragm mic considering you were speaking pretty close without a pop filter.
....and it looks sweet. What's not to like.
If I decide to swap out the X1S the 4400a will be top of the list, as while I dont have use for omni and fig 8, a choice between super and standard cardioid is useful.
SE Electronics made a great on camera shotgun called a ‘Laser’. Really good mic and can still be had in the UK for £42 if you can still find a shop that stocks it. I don’t get why they stopped making them... unless they just didn’t sell.
Was going to buy some akg 214s but grabbed a pair of these from Sweetwater for a bit more for the theatre I work at. Can’t wait to try them out.
Very rounded test 10/10 would watch again. Nice
This mic sounded amazing on your voice and acoustic guitar. Really neutral and honest, which is what I prefer.
I remember telling you about a year ago how good this mic is 👍 a great all rounder for a home studio/music guy.
Yeah. I finally got around to getting it and I agree with your assessment. Great multi tool for a studio.
@@Podcastage q2t tr t4rrxw we=r re6
I recently picked up a matched pair of these sE4400a microphones and put them through their paces through recording onto a Sound Devices MixPre 6 II, and I love these mics as much as you seem to. The large diaphragm condenser mics in my stable consist of a couple of Rode NT1's, an NT1a, and an Audio Technica AT2035 that are mine and a Neumann TLM 103 on long-term loan. But ever since getting this sE4400a pair, they have become my go-to mics for voiceover work for all types of voices. I've also found great utility in setting the pair up in omni mode for recording audience response and questions in a mid-sized room (the sound is about as good for any mic as it can get in an untreated room where you want to pick up everyone). Overall, I LOVE these things!
Great. How do you compare it with the Rode NT1? The Fiat response make me curious
@@ToXball Speaking strictly in cardioid pattern as the NT1 isn't switchable... To me, it is more in the high end air frequencies. Both sound pretty flat until the higher frequencies, with their own brand of magic at the high end. To me, the sE4400 is a bit richer in the air frequencies. I have a deeper voice, and having the bit of extra top end really serves to round things out before the EQ. But it's not so much that it gets harsh with voices that aren't so deep. So it's a great go-to mic for anyone I mic up. However, please don't take that as an indictment of the NT1, which is also another great mic!
@@ocediis thanks for your reply, very useful and detailed. Personal experience are more useful than technical specification. Today I have an SE X1 and a pair of RODE NT5 and I’m thinking to add a more flat reaponse mic that don’t hype too much the upper frequences due to the risk of harsh results on some voices. I think there are great choices in this budget ballpark, NT1 is one of my favorite alternative, after all I'm not interested in other pattern possibilities. A very interesting alternative that is tempting me is the Shure KSM32, darker and more balanced but also more expensive. at the moment thanks for sharing your experience, I think this 4400th will be among the candidates ;)
Best song ever. You always get the video just silly enough to be really fun. Also I really like the mic as well.
Thanks so much Jason. Appreciate that. Just trying to have fun and keep the songs and stuff interesting because I know it can get redundant. Haha.
If the opportunity arises I'd love to see a review of the avantone CV-12:)
Just purchased one a few minutes ago..Excited to see how it does with my voice (coming from a procaster) .
You see this shape of mic often on television talk show desks, I think they are mostly just a prop and most guests and hosts wear lapel mics but they do look classy and modern. I liked this review, well done.
Thank you so much Mr Rooster. Appreciate it. Yeah talk shows all seem to have lav mics and just have pretty props.
Hi Bandrew, nice test. Good to hear how the 4400a sounds. This is the brother mic to the Se T2 I lent to Mike Delgaudio.
Yeah. I remember delgaudio doing the T2 (I'm a terminator).
Podcastage I would be happy to lend you the T2 for comparison, but I have long since lost the original outer box and stickers. If you are still willing to try it without throwing the box or trashing the stickers, I would be happy to send it to you.
Oh, and terminators are just SCSI!
Do you need the review of any mic? Here is Bandrew!!! I started watching when i was looking for a mic about a year back. Since then, even after i completed my purchase, still following you. You made me to attracted towards various type of mic and their reviews! Couldn't stop watching your reviews!!!
Wow, even though they both sound different, there definitely is an equal quality level between this and the AKG 414. Both mics are delights, and this mic without a shadow of a doubt rivals it and is equal in quality. 414 caters to the high end more, but in a non-sibilant, perfectly balanced and smooth way, and the 4400 favors the more warmer tone, equally as balanced and none-boomy. What an amazing mic.
Long and mcquade here used to have an earthworks ethos mic on display to test. I fell in love with it, I still think its the best dynamic mic I have tried. Even against a Neuman broadcast mic that went for about $100 canadian dollars more. Then they switched it out with this se4400 and against other mics I kept going back to this one. So did my 1 yo. Trying all the different switches for different applications. LCT had something similar but this mic felt less digital to the switches on the LCT 640. I'll definitely pick it up when I can.
Hey Bandrew. Love all your reviews. Been toying with getting a U87ai... was listening to the sE4400a in Hyper C mode, next to your review of the U87ai... and they are SUPER close! Closer even to my ear than all 87 clones! I know it's not designed to model an 87, but somehow, to my ear at least, it really does (but only in hypercardioid). There, I've said it! Be interested to hear some time if you have a chance to test that, what you think. Cheers.
I think you should revisit some mics you've reviewed that you still own. Sort of like a "best of $x amount microphones" from companies like sE, CAD, MXL, etc. The mics that are really easily accessible because they're in a ton of stores and have options for most budgets.
Hi, friend. Long time no see. For some reason UA-cam stopped sending me notifications from your uploads. I had to actually search for your channel to watch your last video.
Could you do a review of the CAD E100s? Would be curious to hear your thoughts on it
i really like the sound of this microphone I will go to buy one thank u
Thanks for this review. I think it sounds amazing with your voice, for spoken word which is the only I'd be using it for. I have stuck with Dynamics simply because of my recording environment but you demonstrate incredible side and rear rejection in the hyper / cardioid patterns. Is this mic representative of the majority of condensers in that it will pick up everything? Or do you think it would work relatively well in an untreated room?
I think you could get away with a condenser if you get close to the mic and keep the gain low. It will pick up more ambient noise in the frequencies that extend up through 20kHz, and a bit more ambient noise. If you have the ability to hang up some sound blankets or moving blankets or curtains or anything I think you could get away with something like this. The key is to get the best signal to noise ratio. So the closer you get to the mic, the lower you can set the gain, ultimately decreasing the volume of the ambience it is picking up. I don't know if I explained that well or not.
I know this is late and everyone says it, but this mic also struck me as veeery good for your voice!
When you were doing the polar pattern test, I could hear some resonance in Omnidirectional and Figure-8, less in other modes . Maybe that can be a big con if the mic happens to resonate like that often. Maybe it can be EQ'd out in post.
Really helpful video!
Could you review any budget karaoke microphone or a budget wireless microphone to see if it makes sense for a studio?
Thanks in advanced!
Great mic, by the sound of it. Suddenly I want four...
Reader, I acquired three...
Super sound ! Thanks for sharing.
My absolute pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.
Could you compare the Lewitt lct-440 pure to the rode nt1 as there isn't a good comparison out there for just speech and vocal work and they have a similar price point and audio type. Mainly want to see a proper comparison and I trust you more than anyone to actually give a good test and comparison from both of them!
Interesting! This is the mic used in Linus Tech Tips' "WAN Show" segments, and I always thought it was weird how they have the mic pointed toward the camera, while the hosts sit on each side of it. Now I see that the omnidirectional mode would allow that, and you show that it works very well all around 360 degrees (although I still don't get why they don't just use 2 mics!).
Yeah. I've never understood why they don't each have a mic, but opt to have one in between them. Grrrr.
This mic didn't blow my mind in any way, but the fact that it is performing rather decent in most applications, has a nice case, and features pattern switches is on its own pretty mind blowing. There aren't many mics that are all around good from build quality and from-the-box accessories to features and characteristics. Aaaand it also looks cool but not too swaggy. Aaaaaand it also sounds good with your voice. I like it!
Thank you very much. Yeah. It's hard to find a multi-pattern that is passable on all the patterns, with nice accessories, and build. I think they really took a page out of the AKG c414's book there (although apparently, people don't like the modern C414's, and prefer the vintage ones).
@@Podcastage Hi Bandrew. You really need to look at the CAD M179. It's got all the patterns and everything in between, a high pass filter, a 20dB pad, a great shock mount, and a hard plastic and foam travel case (which, although big, is a great free add in.)
The off-axis rejection is amazing, and it's very clear.
You might find it bright, but at less than half the cost of this mic, it's a bang-on winner.
It sounds great on my voice, and I think it would be a home run for a lot of your subscribers.
Just bought 2200 and it's very good but felt a bit envious that I missed a special that made me look for this video.
I'd love if you review the current version of the SE 2200.
Great review of a nice sounding mic! Although the price is way over my limit for a mic. According to the specs listed on Amazon, it has a "hand-crafted brass capsule". I doubt that that would make any difference in sound quality, or would it?
Every component of a microphone from the material used on the capsule, the shape of the grill, the density of the grill, etc. has an impact on the tone. That kind of language is nothing more than marketing in my opinion. In this case, the marketing matches to a microphone that I think turned out very well. But you can't rely on stuff like that to determine a microphone's quality or performance.
@@Podcastage Thanks, I just learned a lot more about microphones!
I've recently bought a stereo pair of sE4400a mics which comes with a larger hard case and a stereo bar, absolutely love them! I bought them in the UK for £650, thats $830 roughly....pretty good deal I think!
That's a steal! Cheapest I've found a matched pair for even now if £725. Hope you're still enjoying them
was wondering why i got a deep space ad before the video. i guess it because you said "greeting earthlings" at the beginning
Could you please review the sE z5600a II? I am really interesting in that.
Se do great mics for extremely good value, I use the vr2 ribbon, se8 sdc and the t2 ldc mics
Man, that mic is pretty badass for the price!
hi, mxl revelation ii or this one? which one do you prefer for vocal records ?
Love the vids
Thanks so much Alfie.
I know this is an old video but I would like to comment. This microphone has a self-noise of 16db, Does this interfere with the spoken word? because I am looking at this or the Rode NT1 for spoken word.
Easy to assemble,fun to use
am buying this microphone next, damn!!!!1
Happy New Year Bandrew! We need a versus between this mic, the AKG C414, and my mic the CAD M179!
Got the c414xls. And need to get around to reviewing it. Then the Cad.
Podcastage Thanks Bandrew. I’m looking forward to it.
Do you think this would be good for recording saxophone or would you recommend something else?
I’m looking for a good mic to pair with a Sennheiser E906 to (1) be able to capture ambient/room sound when recording electric guitar and (2) handle vocals. I typically prefer more vintage tones. Do you think this would be a good choice? Another one I am considering is a Rode NT1.
I think a condenser might be better suited for room mics. The NT1 does have a more neutral tone which will make it a bit less modern as well. The omni polar patterns may be useful for that to really capture the room tone as well.
Can you test and review the Kodak MIC-711 shotgun microphone?
Excellent. All around swiss army tool. Great price/features/performance.
I agree completely Francisco. For a studio that needs a good all around tool, I think this may be a very good option to have in the mic locker.
When do we finally get a review of the new Rode Podmic? You make THE BEST microphone reviews on youtube and I'm dying to hear your thoughts on it.
It's still not available, so I can't review it. As soon as it is available, I'll be ordering it to review.
@@Podcastage Don't they know who you are?!? They should be sending you an early model! Seriously though, I'm really looking forward to your review. Keep up the awesome work!
Is there anyway you know anything about the lg jhc-1 i have that one laying around but i dont know if it is any good
your help is much apriciated
Major respect to SE for revealing the frequency response varies considerably with pattern, and showing each. It’s always helpful to know.
That rubberized paint finish is an absolute dealbreaker for me. It will, that’s right WILL, deteriorate into a sticky mess keeping a user from ever wanting to be anywhere near it and will make it unsellable. That’s a shame, because like many SE mics, it sounds quite good. Let’s hope enough people object that they release an update.
The T2 is almost the same mic without the gross paint finish.
The new sE4400 doesn't have the rubberized finish now. It's a fully matte metal finish on the new model.
I think this might be my fav LDC since the E100S, or maybe even better :o
When you have been studying about this Mic for months and months ...you know that this is your Mic ..!!!
liked the quality of speech of the se 4400a microphonwe
Big fan of pretty much everything sE does. Their V7 is my favorite microphone in the "SM58 class" of handheld dynamics; it's bright without being harsh and it's pleasant to listen to. I do a lot of on-the-road video work and my V7s do a lot of the work.(The only thing in that range that I think really competes is the Beyerdynamic TG V70d, and that's because of the wild proximity effect. More for music than for spoken stuff.)
$500's a little steep for this guy, though, when (to my ears) sE's se2200 and X1S both sound similar unless you need switchable pickup fields (and IMO you probably don't).
Hi Ed. What do you pair the V7 with on the road? I'd like to get one for travel in the future and record to my iPad.
@@MikeBroderick33 My primary road kit is for video, and is a Behringer UMC1820 with a PC running vMix. I also have a 4U roller with a TASCAM US-16x08 to go with a Mac with Core Audio for audio-only recording. Haven't had much luck with iPad recording yet.
@@EdRopple Thanks Ed. I usually record into an iPad Mini through a Focusrite Itrack Solo but will be looking at the Audient ID4. (And for travel will be looking for an even more portable interface.)
I just didn't know how gain-hungry the V7 is and whether I'd also need a Fethead.
From Bandrew's review, though, it sounds great.
Hey man how's it sound compared to the se 2200? Apparently they use the same capsules?
Pleasantly surprised. Definitely better than the CAD E100
sE4400 vs nt2-a which is the best ?
I just like the end fire mics. Great sound though...
Can’t decide between this, a warm wa-14 or a nt2a!!!
The low / hi pass cutoff on the mic is cool but 60Hz sounds a bit high. I used ally go with 80 at the interface.
Never mind.
Hi-Z mode instead of Line mode at 0:40 for the mic? Why?
Is it true is has a 17dba self noise figure ?
First!
What have I done?
Podcastage stop!!
What a beautiful song. no pants, no problem.
HAHAHAHA
WOWOW REALLY
Any chance for a Tascam DR-05 V2?
Sm57 doesn't have a mid boost?
I know you are reviewing this mic for Podcasting. Still, it would have been great for you to have a matched set, go into a studio with them, and do AB Omni and Figure-of-8 Blumlein. For a medium priced mic, it certainly gives the AKG C414 XLS a good run for its money, and could hold its own recording just about anything.
I would love to have the time and money to do tests like that. However, this is a side thing for me. Not saying I don't care about this, but saying that I have a full time job that takes up the majority of my time.
Podcastage Just wishful thinking on my part.
This or the Blue Baby Bottle for pop vocals?
I know a guy thats selling a pair, he only wants 300 because he dropped them and he said one is now a little bit quieter than the other, just a little bit, they do look a little beat up, can the quieter be fixed, is it a big issue, and should i avoid, thanks magic mic 🎤 man
Do you have any idea what they changed on the 2nd gen sE4400? It seems like they just changed the name but everything else seems to have remained the same.
Hey Podcastage! So, I’ve purchased the AT2020 xlr Microphone and I want to pinpoint the best possible sound. I’m not good with decibels and all that and I need help. What volume should I have the microphone up to in the windows sound settings for the mic, and where should I have the gain nob on my audio interface? (In clock terms to make it more simple on me). If you do read this, thank you for your aiding content for the newer people to the audiophile community.
I have a video titled "How to Set Your Gain" which should help with that.
Hi! Thinking about getting this or an lct640ts (or maybe the lct 441). Primarily for acoustic guitar, but maybe vocals here and there too. Any thoughts?
The off axis sounds way better than the c414's nasal off axis, important if you don't have the best rooms
These are great OH mics, industry standard.
the tone is so much better than the x1
Can you review the se x1s?
How will this do on a bass male vocal?
If there is one thing I dislike about the mic, if it shares this quirk with the T2, is that it takes a good 15 seconds to be polarized by phantom power.
I can live with that. I often use the Se5600a II and Gemini II. They take about an hour of warming up (both are tube microphones).
I love stickers. Buying one just for the two stickers. 😎💯👍
Thank you Bandrew. For spoken word, do you think there would be too much self noise (with a Zoom H4N Pro)?
I'm pretty sure you would be fine with that. The reason I say that is that the sensitivity of -32dB you're not going to be driving the H4N Pro's preamps near the top. And as long as you set your levels properly and get a good signal to noise ratio you'll likely be good. But, I suppose it would really depend on your client's specifications if it's too noisy.
@@Podcastage Great - thank you again :)
Excellent channel! 👌🏻 Congrats! I really like this mic. Please make a video of the shure ksm32! Regards from Argentina! 👋👍
*I think that mic sounds PERFECT for your voice, compared to all the mics you have reviewed.*
Sound pretty good to me.
Those poor stickers needs a campaign to highlight their case #StickersToo
As for this mic, I like the switches haha..... But it's definitely one of the most universal mics around and it bloody should be for it's price but just could cover a lot of needs.
I'd have one if I had the cash!
Thanks for using metric units (g)
Seems like the mic keeps a consistent tone with each of the polar patterns. Many omni and 8 patterns tone change on the back side of the mic.
Yeah. The off axis coloration on the cardioid and hyper cardioid around to 90-110 degrees was pretty damn good as well. And as you mention the omni and figure8 had consistent tones nearly all the way around.
@@Podcastage which you only get on the pricey mics, such as the c413. I have an AKG C3000b that does not retain consistent tone in omni. Nor does the Sterling ST59 in figure 8. Enjoyed the interaction you had a few weeks ago with Booth Junkie. Sometimes I compare your review of a mic with one he has done. Btw, are all levels of Se mics compete well with others in the price ranges? I was impressed with this mic
I don't know why but I kinda don't like the tone of the microphone, kinda lacks a bit of life to me; but I think that's mostly because of my preference on brighter microphones. Would definitely want to hear how this microphone sounds EQd, since it is a relatively flat microphone.
That's absolutely fair. =)