Schoeps
Schoeps MK 21
Small-diaphragm wide-cardioid condenser capsule (Colette series), on a CMC 6 amplifier
Power Phantom, 12 V or 48 V (CMC 6, automatic switchover).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Wide cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −37.7 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 15 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 53%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 54%
- Max SPL
- 132 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 26%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 24%
- Rated range
- 30 – 20k Hz
vs 104 end-address condensers
Quieter than 62% of 104 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 110 end-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 17% of 110 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
2 of 5; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the manual, p. 14.
Capsule on a CMC 6 amplifier ("+ CMC 6"), as printed. Free field, distance and smoothing not stated; the sheet draws a tolerance band (dashed) around the curve.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the catalog, p. 5.
Rings every 5 dB, labelled 0 to -30 dB (the centre); 0° at the top. Left half 250 Hz to 2 kHz, right half 4 to 32 kHz; the pattern is taken as symmetric. Amplifier and measuring conditions not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the manual | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | Small-diaphragm, single diaphragm, wide cardioid (Colette MK series)0° axis at the tip of the capsule. | p. 14 |
| Sensitivity | −37.7 dBV/Pa (13 mV/Pa)also −37 dBV/Pa, schoeps.de product page (2026), stated. Not stated by the manufacturer: From 13 mV/Pa: 20·log10(0.013). The product page states "-37 dB (V/Pa), 14 mV/Pa with CMC 6". | p. 20 |
| Self-noise | 15 dB(A)also 13 dB(A), schoeps.de product page (2026). Specifications for the complete microphone: capsule on a CMC 6 amplifier (p. 20). | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 25 dBCCIR; also 23 dB, schoeps.de product page (2026) | |
| Max SPL | 132 dB SPL0.5% THD; also 131 dB SPL, THD < 0.5%, schoeps.de product page (2026) | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 79 dBre 94 dB SPL, A-weighted; also 81 dB, schoeps.de product page (2026) | |
| Output impedance | 35 ohmCMC 6 on 48 V phantom; also 25 ohm, on 12 V phantom | p. 7 |
| Rated load impedance | 600 ohmminimum recommended | |
| Rated frequency range | 30 Hz to 20 kHzalso [30, 29000], with CMC 6 / CMR, schoeps.de product page (2026); also [30, 44000], with CMC 6 xt, schoeps.de product page (2026). Beyond 40 kHz with the CMC 6 xt amplifier (footnote). | p. 20 |
| Powering | phantom, 12 V or 48 V (CMC 6, automatic switchover) | p. 7 |
| Current draw | 4 mA48 V phantom; also 8 mA, 12 V phantom | |
| Connector | XLR-3 maleNot stated by the manufacturer: On the CMC amplifier; the guide shows the XLR output but does not list it as a spec. | p. 2 |
| Weight | 66 g"65 - 68 g, depending on type": the CMC amplifier; the capsule's weight is not stated. | p. 7 |
| Dimensions | 116 × 20 mmCMC amplifier: length 116 mm (incl. 3 mm capsule thread) × diameter 20 mm. The capsule adds to the length (not stated). | |
| Amplifier | CMC 6 (CMC 6U / 6Uxt); low-cut (-3 dB) at 20 Hz | |
| Maximum output voltage | 1 V (at 1 kHz into 1 kOhm) | |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on the 0° axis gives a positive voltage on pin 2 | |
| Character | Wide cardioid: polar pattern very well kept across the frequency range; a compromise between omni (good bass) and cardioid (consistent directivity) | p. 14 |
| Use | Orchestras, spot mic, vocals, speech; also near-coincident and spaced main pairs (e.g. 30 cm, ±45°). Too little level difference for X/Y | |
| From the product page | ||
| Capsule size and weight | 22 mm long, 20 mm diameter, 17 g (capsule alone) | |
| Finish | Matte grey; Chromagreen or Smoked Silver (like the classic nickel) to order | |
| Order number | 131003 | |
Documents
- Colette Modular System user guide: CMC microphone amplifiers and MK capsulesEN
- Colette brochureEN
- MK 21 | Microphone capsule | SCHOEPS Microphonesproduct page, technical specifications
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Schoeps, unchanged, with its original address.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.
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