Sennheiser Launches Paintable MKE 1 Clip-on Microphone

In what the company says is a dream come true for costume designers and sound engineers alike: Sennheiser has introduced a paintable version of its miniature MKE 1. For plays, musicals, shows, and televised events, the clip-on mic can be colored with markers or spray paint, allowing the tiny Lavalier to be concealed underneath the artist's costume and make-up.

"The MKE 1 has already become a firm favorite with theatres, musicals, live events and TV shows," explains Kai Lange, product manager for wired professional microphones at Sennheiser. "The new, paintable MKE 1-M is the icing on the cake, so to speak. Now a show can have both: impeccable audio and perfect looks, even during close-ups."

Like its sister models, the MKE 1-M has a full and natural sound with plenty of lower mid-range and excellent presence. It measures a miniscule 3.3mm across. The cable has a diameter of only 1mm and is specially coated to avoid tangling. The clip-on microphone features a user-friendly omni-directional pattern, and picks up direct sound with relatively little ambient noise.

From within, the capsule of the MKE 1-M is protected against moisture by a thin, acoustically open stainless steel membrane. This membrane has excellent moisture rejection properties -- one could even pop it in a glass of water, the company says. Therefore, the microphone is protected against sweat and is safe to use in situations where the presenter may get wet. For additional protection, the MKE 1-M can be fitted with a multi-purpose cap that prevents large water or sweat droplets from blocking the sound inlet. It also doubles as a windshield with a slight presence boost (1.5dB at 10 kHz). All capsule contacts are sealed inside the casing and the molded coating.

The MKE 1-M is available now and comes complete with the multi-purpose cap and an additional small frequency response cap, which gives a treble boost of 2.5dB (at 10kHz) for applications where the mic is hidden within the costume or when more brilliance is needed to be added to a voice. Also included are three make-up protection caps and several thin clear plastic tubes pre-fitted to the cable for added protected when attached with clips or adhesive tape.

The optional MZ 1 accessory kit contains different clips for securely attaching the microphone, plus various accessories for protection against the wind. It includes a protective cover made of soft plastic, two mini-clips, two "Dracula" mounts, two small magnetic mounts, and two mini-clamps that are rotatable through 360 degrees. All clips and mounts are available in black and white. To reduce wind noise, two windshield baskets in black and beige and foam windshields in black, white, beige and brown are also included.