The MK 4V and CCM 4V were created in answer to requests for a cardioid microphone whose main axis is along the side of the capsule. In addition to its usefulness in the concert hall, this microphone type is of particular value in speech recording, since its slight emphasis around 10 kHz helps to improve intelligibility.

The directional response is especially well maintained even at higher frequencies, due to the acoustically transparent housing. High-frequency emphasis of off-axis sound - typical of most small axial-response cardioids - occurs less with the MK 4V/ CCM 4V, but because of its inherent frequency response, it still sounds somewhat brighter overall than the MK 4 or CCM 4.