C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? at DVinfo.net

Mark Dobson · January 17th, 2013, 10:06 AM

Just wondering if any one has tried the Sony ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone together with the C300.

My current shotgun mike is a Beyer Dynamic 86N which is a great microphone for picking up ambience for ENG type filming. The problem with it is that although it is designated as a 'Short' Shotgun microphone, at 310 mm, it juts out in front of the lens and I have to remove the Rycote when using my 10-20mm wide angle lens.

The Sony ECM-MS2 however is only 137 mm long and comes with it's own windshield.

And it would be quite nice to pick up stereo ambience when not using a radio / interview mic.

But maybe there are some other stubby shotgun mics?

Andy Wilkinson · January 17th, 2013, 10:09 AM

Maybe try a Nikon ME - 1 (cheapish) or Rode Stereo VideoMic Pro (expensive...)

I don't have either (or the mic you reference - which I gather is an XLR one) but I do have the original Rode SVM and that has good sound - for what it is, a non XLR mic.

Mark Dobson · January 17th, 2013, 10:54 AM

Thanks Andy,

Neither of the 2 mics you mention are what I would classify as being Pro mics and they both require a hotshoe mount, whereas I'm looking for a something that's going to fit in the Mic holder on the C300 and be phantom powered.

However either of them could be very useful for when one is operating the camera in its most stripped down form.

Paul R Johnson · January 17th, 2013, 01:49 PM

The Sony is a nice, pleasant M/S mic with on board decoder to L/R. It's cardioid, of course, so won't have the reach to replace a short shotgun, but will capture nice ambience, without the dreaded hole in the middle.

Mark Dobson · January 17th, 2013, 02:18 PM

Thanks for that info Paul.

I might well try this one out as it is definitely the right size.

Yes , the fact it is cardioid would mean that there is no way I could use it as a back up in an interview situation.

And I'm delighted to report that this reply takes me up to 100 posts !

Owen Kilgour · January 18th, 2013, 09:08 AM

Have you considered the Audio-Technica AT875? It's pretty short at 175mm and performs remarkably well for the price and size. I recorded the interview (not ambiance) for this piece with it.

I guess the major factor would be if you need the stereo ability of the Sony or if one side will be left unplugged most of the time so that you can run another mic into the XLR.

Brett Sherman · January 18th, 2013, 09:16 AM

I second the AT875. Remarkable microphone for the price. My only complaint about this mic is the handling noise is a little on the high side.

Owen Kilgour · January 18th, 2013, 09:59 AM

Interesting, I've found it great in this respect.

Mark Dobson · January 19th, 2013, 03:02 AM

Hi Owen,

Thanks for that info about the Audio-Technica AT875.

It sounds fine and I really enjoyed your blacksmith clip. What did you shoot that on?

At the moment I'm using an old AKG C41 with a homemade wind baffler made from a damaged Rycote softie.

Owen Kilgour · January 19th, 2013, 01:01 PM

Thanks Mark, was shot on a 5DII. Probably its last piece as an A cam now I have the C100.

I'm using a Rycote Softie on the AT875.

Lee Mullen · January 19th, 2013, 11:39 PM

Other than B&H anymore suppliers for ECM-MS2 that has it in stock?

January 17th, 2013, 10:06 AM	#1
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Just wondering if any one has tried the Sony ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone together with the C300. My current shotgun mike is a Beyer Dynamic 86N which is a great microphone for picking up ambience for ENG type filming. The problem with it is that although it is designated as a 'Short' Shotgun microphone, at 310 mm, it juts out in front of the lens and I have to remove the Rycote when using my 10-20mm wide angle lens. The Sony ECM-MS2 however is only 137 mm long and comes with it's own windshield. And it would be quite nice to pick up stereo ambience when not using a radio / interview mic. But maybe there are some other stubby shotgun mics?

January 17th, 2013, 10:09 AM	#2
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Maybe try a Nikon ME - 1 (cheapish) or Rode Stereo VideoMic Pro (expensive...) I don't have either (or the mic you reference - which I gather is an XLR one) but I do have the original Rode SVM and that has good sound - for what it is, a non XLR mic. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

January 17th, 2013, 10:54 AM	#3
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Thanks Andy, Neither of the 2 mics you mention are what I would classify as being Pro mics and they both require a hotshoe mount, whereas I'm looking for a something that's going to fit in the Mic holder on the C300 and be phantom powered. However either of them could be very useful for when one is operating the camera in its most stripped down form.

January 17th, 2013, 01:49 PM	#4
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? The Sony is a nice, pleasant M/S mic with on board decoder to L/R. It's cardioid, of course, so won't have the reach to replace a short shotgun, but will capture nice ambience, without the dreaded hole in the middle.

January 17th, 2013, 02:18 PM	#5
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Thanks for that info Paul. I might well try this one out as it is definitely the right size. Yes , the fact it is cardioid would mean that there is no way I could use it as a back up in an interview situation. And I'm delighted to report that this reply takes me up to 100 posts !

January 18th, 2013, 09:08 AM	#6
Owen Kilgour Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 30	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Have you considered the Audio-Technica AT875? It's pretty short at 175mm and performs remarkably well for the price and size. I recorded the interview (not ambiance) for this piece with it. Freeform Iron - Blacksmith Jim Rohrbach on Vimeo I guess the major factor would be if you need the stereo ability of the Sony or if one side will be left unplugged most of the time so that you can run another mic into the XLR.

January 18th, 2013, 09:16 AM	#7
Brett Sherman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount Rainier, MD Posts: 428	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? I second the AT875. Remarkable microphone for the price. My only complaint about this mic is the handling noise is a little on the high side.

January 18th, 2013, 09:59 AM	#8
Owen Kilgour Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 30	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Interesting, I've found it great in this respect.

January 19th, 2013, 03:02 AM	#9
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Hi Owen, Thanks for that info about the Audio-Technica AT875. It sounds fine and I really enjoyed your blacksmith clip. What did you shoot that on? At the moment I'm using an old AKG C41 with a homemade wind baffler made from a damaged Rycote softie.

January 19th, 2013, 01:01 PM	#10
Owen Kilgour Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 30	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Thanks Mark, was shot on a 5DII. Probably its last piece as an A cam now I have the C100. I'm using a Rycote Softie on the AT875.

January 19th, 2013, 11:39 PM	#11
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Re: C300 ECM-MS2 short stereo microphone ? Other than B&H anymore suppliers for ECM-MS2 that has it in stock?