Why is the Sony MS957 never mentioned? at DVinfo.net

Richard Iredale · July 5th, 2004, 04:07 PM

Hi, I'm brand new to this forum, but I hang around the Vegas forum a lot.

I've been planning to get the Sony ECM-MS957 stereo microphone for about $200, but have been surprised that there is very little comment on the Internet about this product. I've been very impressed with Sony products in general, and was wondering if they dropped the ball with this product.

Are there better choices out there?

Bryan Beasleigh · July 5th, 2004, 07:12 PM

As bad as it sounds I, as well as others are guilty of bypassing most consumer microphones. Closer examination shows that this is a Mid / Side stereo with a switchable pattern (cardoid to hyper , 90-120 degrees). It's aimed at tapers and to be used in conjunction with mini disk or the Sony DAT walkman.

There's not much detail in the spec, it has an XLR output that is adapted to a 1/8 stereo right angled plug. It's not clear whwther or not it's configured as a standard 5 pin XLR out. I rather doubt it though, not for that money.

I checked at minidisk.org and oades tapers forum as well as 2 other tapers forums with no luck.

It may be ok for your purposes but it's still a consumer grade mic. It depends on your tastes.

Richard Iredale · July 5th, 2004, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the feedback.

What I'm looking for is a very good stereo microphone that is under $500. Any thoughts?

Bryan Beasleigh · July 5th, 2004, 09:28 PM

Why stereo. If it's dialog you really need a high quality mono.

It also depends on which camera you have.

The rode NT4 is a nice stereo mic for the money. It can operate on battery or phantom.

http://www.rodemicrophones.com/specsnt4/nt4specs.htm

Glenn Chan · July 5th, 2004, 10:28 PM

The 907/908 sounds pretty good IMO. If you place it right then you can get very good sound (assuming you want to record foley, ambience, or do simple recording of music). In other scenarios you will want another kind of microphone.

Never heard the 957. Maybe listen to it in a Sony store?

The 930C I tried was crap. Worse than a camera mic.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · July 5th, 2004, 11:24 PM

I'm a big fan of (you guessed it) the AT 825. This is a GREAT low cost stereo mic.
Richard, I've never tried the 957. Other than the Sony lavs and upper end shotguns, I've never been too impressed with their mics in similar price ranges of other mics. But...that is just my impression. Maybe you could let us know what you come up with?

Richard Iredale · July 6th, 2004, 02:25 AM

What I'm doing is shooting 4-channel audio on my VX2000 while walking along with the group (it's a documentary). Right now I have two MS908C's in shock mounts, one facing forward and one aft.

After doing some spectrum analyzer tests I'm not as thrilled with the MS908C microphones as I was, and they do have some hiss. I've run out of time for this trip, but I'd love to try out one of the AT825 units before the next trip.

Thanks to all for your comments. I'm off to Austria in two days.

Jacques Mersereau · July 6th, 2004, 06:53 AM

I agree with Douglas. The AT 825 is a good, affordable stereo mic.

Matt Gettemeier · July 6th, 2004, 07:29 AM

I don't want to offend anybody here, but since I read this post and I'm compelled to keep any of these threads as helpful to readers as possible I have to relay my experience with the ms907/908... I sincerely thought it was NO improvement over the internal mic of my old trv17. I was really upset at how poor the sound quality was... I got one at Guitar Center for $89 (plus tax) and felt excited that I finally had a nice, mini-plug mic for my mzr37... I gave it about 15 minutes once I got home... and I just couldn't believe how inferior it was to any of the cheap condensers I've used. It was very hissy, compressed, undetailed/muddy... If you do an A/B between this and even a $99 Oktava special from Guitar Center then the difference isn't just night and day... the difference is night and Christmas fruit cake.

Oleg Kaizerman · July 6th, 2004, 08:24 AM

its anice mike for urbanic noise , sounds pretty desent if you recording high noice invaerment for fx - very poor for all other things - sony it only a name which rice the price , for better sound look for something different .

Bryan Beasleigh · July 6th, 2004, 08:27 AM

"After doing some spectrum analyzer tests I'm not as thrilled with the MS908C microphones as I was, and they do have some hiss."

Try using your ears.

The hiss isn't the mic necessarily, it could be the VX2k's preamp. If the VX2000's preamps are run any higher than 60% there is an audible hiss.

How are you getting 4 channels into the VX2000?

Richard Iredale · July 6th, 2004, 09:57 PM

I'm just putting the front two channels on the VX2000. The rear two channels are going into a Sharp Minidisc unit mounted on the back of the VX2000 battery.

July 5th, 2004, 04:07 PM	#1
Richard Iredale Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 67	Why is the Sony MS957 never mentioned? Hi, I'm brand new to this forum, but I hang around the Vegas forum a lot. I've been planning to get the Sony ECM-MS957 stereo microphone for about $200, but have been surprised that there is very little comment on the Internet about this product. I've been very impressed with Sony products in general, and was wondering if they dropped the ball with this product. Are there better choices out there?

July 5th, 2004, 07:12 PM	#2
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	As bad as it sounds I, as well as others are guilty of bypassing most consumer microphones. Closer examination shows that this is a Mid / Side stereo with a switchable pattern (cardoid to hyper , 90-120 degrees). It's aimed at tapers and to be used in conjunction with mini disk or the Sony DAT walkman. There's not much detail in the spec, it has an XLR output that is adapted to a 1/8 stereo right angled plug. It's not clear whwther or not it's configured as a standard 5 pin XLR out. I rather doubt it though, not for that money. I checked at minidisk.org and oades tapers forum as well as 2 other tapers forums with no luck. It may be ok for your purposes but it's still a consumer grade mic. It depends on your tastes. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ".......holy smokin rubber lips...what a ride!"

July 5th, 2004, 09:28 PM	#4
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Why stereo. If it's dialog you really need a high quality mono. It also depends on which camera you have. The rode NT4 is a nice stereo mic for the money. It can operate on battery or phantom. http://www.rodemicrophones.com/specsnt4/nt4specs.htm __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ".......holy smokin rubber lips...what a ride!"

July 5th, 2004, 11:24 PM	#6
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	I'm a big fan of (you guessed it) the AT 825. This is a GREAT low cost stereo mic. Richard, I've never tried the 957. Other than the Sony lavs and upper end shotguns, I've never been too impressed with their mics in similar price ranges of other mics. But...that is just my impression. Maybe you could let us know what you come up with? __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

July 6th, 2004, 06:53 AM	#8
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	I agree with Douglas. The AT 825 is a good, affordable stereo mic. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

July 5th, 2004, 07:57 PM	#3
Richard Iredale Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 67	Thanks for the feedback. What I'm looking for is a very good stereo microphone that is under $500. Any thoughts?

July 5th, 2004, 10:28 PM	#5
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	The 907/908 sounds pretty good IMO. If you place it right then you can get very good sound (assuming you want to record foley, ambience, or do simple recording of music). In other scenarios you will want another kind of microphone. Never heard the 957. Maybe listen to it in a Sony store? The 930C I tried was crap. Worse than a camera mic.

July 6th, 2004, 02:25 AM	#7
Richard Iredale Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 67	What I'm doing is shooting 4-channel audio on my VX2000 while walking along with the group (it's a documentary). Right now I have two MS908C's in shock mounts, one facing forward and one aft. After doing some spectrum analyzer tests I'm not as thrilled with the MS908C microphones as I was, and they do have some hiss. I've run out of time for this trip, but I'd love to try out one of the AT825 units before the next trip. Thanks to all for your comments. I'm off to Austria in two days.

July 6th, 2004, 07:29 AM	#9
Matt Gettemeier Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 936	I don't want to offend anybody here, but since I read this post and I'm compelled to keep any of these threads as helpful to readers as possible I have to relay my experience with the ms907/908... I sincerely thought it was NO improvement over the internal mic of my old trv17. I was really upset at how poor the sound quality was... I got one at Guitar Center for $89 (plus tax) and felt excited that I finally had a nice, mini-plug mic for my mzr37... I gave it about 15 minutes once I got home... and I just couldn't believe how inferior it was to any of the cheap condensers I've used. It was very hissy, compressed, undetailed/muddy... If you do an A/B between this and even a $99 Oktava special from Guitar Center then the difference isn't just night and day... the difference is night and Christmas fruit cake.

July 6th, 2004, 08:24 AM	#10
Oleg Kaizerman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: israel Posts: 296	its anice mike for urbanic noise , sounds pretty desent if you recording high noice invaerment for fx - very poor for all other things - sony it only a name which rice the price , for better sound look for something different .

July 6th, 2004, 08:27 AM	#11
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	"After doing some spectrum analyzer tests I'm not as thrilled with the MS908C microphones as I was, and they do have some hiss." Try using your ears. The hiss isn't the mic necessarily, it could be the VX2k's preamp. If the VX2000's preamps are run any higher than 60% there is an audible hiss. How are you getting 4 channels into the VX2000? __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ".......holy smokin rubber lips...what a ride!"

July 6th, 2004, 09:57 PM	#12
Richard Iredale Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 67	I'm just putting the front two channels on the VX2000. The rear two channels are going into a Sharp Minidisc unit mounted on the back of the VX2000 battery.