Sony ECM-44B V.S. ECM77B at DVinfo.net

Bob Schneider · November 24th, 2003, 04:50 PM

I am considering one of these mics for my VX2000. Can anyone tell me the difference between them, or have exprience with them?

Thanx

Marty Wein · November 24th, 2003, 10:43 PM

ECM-77 has a Smaller Capsule, Phantom and Battery power better freq response and more.

Also check out the Audio Technica AT-899

Bryan Beasleigh · November 25th, 2003, 01:02 AM

I have the ecm-44 and the AT 899. For very few $ the 899 is so much richer amd more open. Try this review, the only gripe was the cable flexability http://www.dv.com/reviews/reviews_item.jhtml?category=Hardware&LookupId=/xml/review/garrett0803

Edit
I just realized that I haven't tried these without amplification. There's no test forthcoming tonight.

Dany Nativel · November 25th, 2003, 10:26 AM

What about the ECM-55B ?

It's a great one too with a lot of bass response.

Dany

Bob Schneider · November 25th, 2003, 10:33 PM

I am also considering the EV 100 wireless bundle. is this a good match for the VX2K?

Bryan Beasleigh · November 25th, 2003, 11:18 PM

The EV 100 works great. The receiver has a high enough output, that you can keep the on camera gain down around 40%. I bought the extended kit that includes the plug in mic transmitter. it works great on shotguns and even dynamics.

Dave Largent · November 26th, 2003, 09:42 AM

How does the AT899 compare with the Sennheiser ME2?

Bryan Beasleigh · November 26th, 2003, 11:17 AM

I've never used the two together simply because my me2 is wireless and the 899 is wired. From memory, the ME2 is more open and a litle too warm, i liked the 899 as it seems more accurate.

I'll have to record a series of tests one of these days.

Bob Schneider · November 26th, 2003, 10:34 PM

Any one use the Ecm-77 from Sony?

Michel Brewer · November 26th, 2003, 11:57 PM

Ive got two of those really like them, and my lectrosonics has a ecm-77b on it also. Prior to that I used ecm55b and 44bs, I do like the 77 the best...as to if anyone else is using them they are the industry standard for broadcast. probably 90% of the mics you see on television for news/documentry etc is the 77b. They are pricey but not to bad, I got a good deal when I upgrade for my audio sytems otherwise would have stuck with my previous mics which werent bad....

m

John Hartney · November 30th, 2003, 08:15 PM

Hi Bob,

I use both ecm44 and ecm 77 lavs and for voice/industrial use, there is almost no differance. the 77 is smaller and quieter with a wider frequency response, so you be the judge of your need. There are better mics than 77s too. Tram, countryman, sanken, etc...

Best,

John Hartney
werks.tv
847.608.1357

Dave Largent · November 30th, 2003, 09:07 PM

Just thought I'd pass this along.
I just received a reply back from a company called The Sound Professionals. They are "a supplier of products to the pro and amateur recording industry". They have a number of lav mics on their site. I think they do a lot of business with concert "tapers".
Anyways, the one question I asked was: What is the best-sounding omni lav mic you sell for placing on the lapel of actors and which will be able to be plugged into a minidisc? The reply was "This would be it" and a link to the AT899. That link is below.
There was also the comment "Normally they are sold in stereo pairs but we can also do them as single mics for $159; this mic is
very sensitive, designed for theater use, and is specifically tuned to the human voice."
Would that be your assessment, Bryan?

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cg...-10&type=store

Dave Largent · December 1st, 2003, 07:44 PM

Over at The Sound Professionals site, they advise to compare the
AT899 with the DPA 4060. So I did that. I've never heard either
of those mics, but one thing in the specs that jumped out at me
was the difference in sensitivity. Now, I'm no expert at reading
spec sheets, but I have noticed that the "sensitivity" spec is often listed as mV/Pa. I think the basic notion is expose a mic to
a standardized volume level of sound and see how many millivolts
the mic responds. The higher the mV, the greater the sensitivity.
Feel free to correct if I'm wrong.
Anyways, I went ahead and looked at the specs on a number of
lavs. Here 'tis.

AT899 (1.5V battery): 5mV
Countryman B6 (5V from transmitter): 6mV
Sanken COS-11BP (1.5V battery): 6mV
AT899 (phantom): 7mV
Countryman B6 (phantom): 10mV
Sennheiser MKE-2 (phantom): 10mV
Sony ECM-88 (phantom): 13mV
Sanken COS-11 (phantom): 17mV
DPA 4060 (phantom): 20mV

One thing I noticed here is that there's a big difference between
the COS-11 when it's at 1.5V versus 48V.
Not all mic's sensitivities are listed as mV/Pa. Some are just, say,
"-52dB". Anyone understand this "dB" method of rating?

Here are some more, as points of reference.

Beyerdynamic M58 (dynamic): 1.3mV
Electro Voice RE50N/D (dynamic): 2.0mV
AKG D230 (dynamic): 2.5mV
Rode NT4: 12mV
Sennheiser ME64: 31mV
Sanken CS-1: 32mV
Sennheiser ME66: 35mV

Bryan Beasleigh · December 1st, 2003, 10:56 PM

Dave
That's pretty much the way i feel. I've got a pretty good ear, but I think it's a bit of personal taste mixed in there. The crude way of putting it is when the mic jumps out and bites me in the ass, I like it. ( I'm impressed with the overall quality of the voice. When it doesn't sound like a mic, but the real thing)

Am I making sense or just babbling ;)

Dave Largent · December 2nd, 2003, 03:04 AM

So how do you read those mV specs? That the ECM-88 has twice the sensitivity of the AT899-phantom? I tried to get the mV/Pa on the ECM-44, -55, and -77 but they were only listed with the "-dB" method. I have some idea what that method might be about, but not sure. Don't know where I'd learn more about these ratings.
A couple other things that I thought were interesting about the specs were that the B6 was quite down on the COS-11 and DPA. And I had heard the ME64 was not quite as sensitive as the ME66; must be true. Myself, I tend to prefer sesitive mics, other things being equal.

November 24th, 2003, 04:50 PM	#1
Bob Schneider Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Chicago area Posts: 98	Sony ECM-44B V.S. ECM77B I am considering one of these mics for my VX2000. Can anyone tell me the difference between them, or have exprience with them? Thanx

November 25th, 2003, 10:33 PM	#5
Bob Schneider Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Chicago area Posts: 98	How about wireless Sennheiser EV100? I am also considering the EV 100 wireless bundle. is this a good match for the VX2K?

November 26th, 2003, 10:34 PM	#9
Bob Schneider Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Chicago area Posts: 98	ECM-77 Any one use the Ecm-77 from Sony?

November 26th, 2003, 11:57 PM	#10
Michel Brewer Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ventura California Posts: 179	ecm 77b Ive got two of those really like them, and my lectrosonics has a ecm-77b on it also. Prior to that I used ecm55b and 44bs, I do like the 77 the best...as to if anyone else is using them they are the industry standard for broadcast. probably 90% of the mics you see on television for news/documentry etc is the 77b. They are pricey but not to bad, I got a good deal when I upgrade for my audio sytems otherwise would have stuck with my previous mics which werent bad.... m __________________ milking the celebrity criminal trials thank god for the freaks

November 24th, 2003, 10:43 PM	#2
Marty Wein Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 229	ECM-77 has a Smaller Capsule, Phantom and Battery power better freq response and more. Also check out the Audio Technica AT-899

November 25th, 2003, 01:02 AM	#3
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	I have the ecm-44 and the AT 899. For very few $ the 899 is so much richer amd more open. Try this review, the only gripe was the cable flexability http://www.dv.com/reviews/reviews_item.jhtml?category=Hardware&LookupId=/xml/review/garrett0803 Edit I just realized that I haven't tried these without amplification. There's no test forthcoming tonight.

November 25th, 2003, 10:26 AM	#4
Dany Nativel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Odenton, MD Posts: 106	What about the ECM-55B ? It's a great one too with a lot of bass response. Dany

November 25th, 2003, 11:18 PM	#6
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	The EV 100 works great. The receiver has a high enough output, that you can keep the on camera gain down around 40%. I bought the extended kit that includes the plug in mic transmitter. it works great on shotguns and even dynamics.

November 26th, 2003, 09:42 AM	#7
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	How does the AT899 compare with the Sennheiser ME2?

November 26th, 2003, 11:17 AM	#8
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	I've never used the two together simply because my me2 is wireless and the 899 is wired. From memory, the ME2 is more open and a litle too warm, i liked the 899 as it seems more accurate. I'll have to record a series of tests one of these days.

November 30th, 2003, 08:15 PM	#11
John Hartney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Elgin, Illinois Posts: 206	Hi Bob, I use both ecm44 and ecm 77 lavs and for voice/industrial use, there is almost no differance. the 77 is smaller and quieter with a wider frequency response, so you be the judge of your need. There are better mics than 77s too. Tram, countryman, sanken, etc... Best, John Hartney werks.tv 847.608.1357

November 30th, 2003, 09:07 PM	#12
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Just thought I'd pass this along. I just received a reply back from a company called The Sound Professionals. They are "a supplier of products to the pro and amateur recording industry". They have a number of lav mics on their site. I think they do a lot of business with concert "tapers". Anyways, the one question I asked was: What is the best-sounding omni lav mic you sell for placing on the lapel of actors and which will be able to be plugged into a minidisc? The reply was "This would be it" and a link to the AT899. That link is below. There was also the comment "Normally they are sold in stereo pairs but we can also do them as single mics for $159; this mic is very sensitive, designed for theater use, and is specifically tuned to the human voice." Would that be your assessment, Bryan? http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cg...-10&type=store

December 1st, 2003, 07:44 PM	#13
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Over at The Sound Professionals site, they advise to compare the AT899 with the DPA 4060. So I did that. I've never heard either of those mics, but one thing in the specs that jumped out at me was the difference in sensitivity. Now, I'm no expert at reading spec sheets, but I have noticed that the "sensitivity" spec is often listed as mV/Pa. I think the basic notion is expose a mic to a standardized volume level of sound and see how many millivolts the mic responds. The higher the mV, the greater the sensitivity. Feel free to correct if I'm wrong. Anyways, I went ahead and looked at the specs on a number of lavs. Here 'tis. AT899 (1.5V battery): 5mV Countryman B6 (5V from transmitter): 6mV Sanken COS-11BP (1.5V battery): 6mV AT899 (phantom): 7mV Countryman B6 (phantom): 10mV Sennheiser MKE-2 (phantom): 10mV Sony ECM-88 (phantom): 13mV Sanken COS-11 (phantom): 17mV DPA 4060 (phantom): 20mV One thing I noticed here is that there's a big difference between the COS-11 when it's at 1.5V versus 48V. Not all mic's sensitivities are listed as mV/Pa. Some are just, say, "-52dB". Anyone understand this "dB" method of rating? Here are some more, as points of reference. Beyerdynamic M58 (dynamic): 1.3mV Electro Voice RE50N/D (dynamic): 2.0mV AKG D230 (dynamic): 2.5mV Rode NT4: 12mV Sennheiser ME64: 31mV Sanken CS-1: 32mV Sennheiser ME66: 35mV

December 1st, 2003, 10:56 PM	#14
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Dave That's pretty much the way i feel. I've got a pretty good ear, but I think it's a bit of personal taste mixed in there. The crude way of putting it is when the mic jumps out and bites me in the ass, I like it. ( I'm impressed with the overall quality of the voice. When it doesn't sound like a mic, but the real thing) Am I making sense or just babbling ;)

December 2nd, 2003, 03:04 AM	#15
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	So how do you read those mV specs? That the ECM-88 has twice the sensitivity of the AT899-phantom? I tried to get the mV/Pa on the ECM-44, -55, and -77 but they were only listed with the "-dB" method. I have some idea what that method might be about, but not sure. Don't know where I'd learn more about these ratings. A couple other things that I thought were interesting about the specs were that the B6 was quite down on the COS-11 and DPA. And I had heard the ME64 was not quite as sensitive as the ME66; must be true. Myself, I tend to prefer sesitive mics, other things being equal.