Mic Suspension Mount - What Are You Using?

Paul Kellett · May 17th, 2008, 09:51 AM

I had a bit of rubber sleeve,i can't remember if it came with the mic or the softie kit.

It's like the peices of rubber that you get with cycle lights so that when you put the light round different size seat posts you can get the clamp to fit.
Do you know what i mean ?

Paul

Jonathan Bland · May 17th, 2008, 09:58 AM

I know exactly what you mean.
Thanks again Paul :)

Sean Seah · May 18th, 2008, 08:13 AM

thks 4 the headsup Paul. Looks like its quite impt to get the shockmnt!

Bob Grant · May 18th, 2008, 08:42 AM

We've been using the Rode SM5 with our Z1s. Because of the weight we've had two mic holders break. The situation with the EX1 is much worse, so far one of our two EX1s mic holders have broken. All it took was the slightest brush of the mic and snap. Unlike the mic holder on the Z1 which cracks through the clamp with the EX1 the holder will break away from the camera's audio pod. There's the potential for the mic getting damaged in the process.

I've just bought an unneeded Sanken CS-1 and will mount that in a K-Tek shock mount. I'll remove the Sony supplied mic mount and replace it with a simple aluminium plate with a cold shoe fitted to that. This will make it very easy to fit and remove the mic and mount when the camera goes into its case.

If you have the Rode SM5 you can remove the shock mount from the aluminium tube and again make a simple aluminium plate with 4 holes to replace the existing mic holder and then mount the mic and shock mount into the same screw holes as the original mic holder. I did post a photo of this setup here some time ago:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...8&d=1199343627

Benjamin Eckstein · May 18th, 2008, 08:57 AM

I just ordered the SM5 and will follow Bob's design for my Sanken CS-3e. That should work great and make for a much stronger system. While my cam was at Sony getting firmware updated and backfocus repaired they said they could replace my broken mic mount for 80 bucks. That seemed silly since I figured it'd break again, so I spent less on the Rode mount which will be much stronger.

B

Paul Kellett · May 18th, 2008, 08:59 AM

Thanks Bob,i'll look into that.

Paul.

Jonathan Bland · May 18th, 2008, 10:10 AM

Very nice work Bob!

So my question is:

Where can I get the aluminum plate that you use?

Brian Rigler · May 18th, 2008, 10:47 AM

we use this lightwave cradle on our camera

Jonathan Bland · May 18th, 2008, 11:11 AM

The mic mount from my old battle scared Sony PD150 fits perfectly with even the srew holes in the same place.

The PD150's mount is a much better/ stronger design.

Just need to pick up some longer screws as the 150's are too wide and the EX1's are too short.

Bang!

Gints Klimanis · May 18th, 2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan Bland

The mic mount from my old battle scared PD150 fits perfectly with even the srew holes in the same place.

The PD150's mount is a much better/ stronger design.

Looks great. Is that a custom plate? If not, where did you get it?

Bob Grant · May 18th, 2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan Bland

Very nice work Bob!

So my question is:

Where can I get the aluminum plate that you use?

I just cutoff a short length of 40mm x 3mm aluminium bar I had on hand, drilled 4 holes, rounded off the corners with a file and painted it with matte black engine enamel. I could have had it black anodised but my anodiser has a minimum $50 charge.
You don't have to use aluminium. You could probably use a small piece of many different materials such as 2mm perspex or fibreglass that'd do just as well. Actually something slightly flexible could be better so if the thing does get a belt it'd protect the audio pod to some extent.
The hardest thing is getting the shock mount off the aluminium tube of the SM5. Rode have glued the screws so a good Philips head screwdrive is in order or else drill the heads off the screws and then use bull nose pliers to unscrew the long screws out the shock mount. It's all easier than it sounds once you get started.

If anyone needs any help feel free to PM me.

Gints Klimanis · May 18th, 2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Grant

I just cutoff a short length of 40mm x 3mm aluminium bar I had on hand, drilled 4 holes, rounded off the corners with a file and painted it with matte black engine enamel.

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I have some work to do. I was hoping to buy the part form somewhere as such pieces are evidently the product of the inventive.

Akira Hakuta · May 19th, 2008, 08:28 AM

For people who want to put their Lightwave onto their EX1, this is what I did:

-Unscrewed the stock EX1 mic mount and took a thin nail, hammered out the two pins that hold together the mount (the two metal pins that the mount pivots on). Had to hammer one out so that it was sticking out a bit on the other side, then pulled it out with pliers, then stuck the nail through the newly opened end and did the same to the other pin. This will separate the stock mic mount into two halves, a lower and upper one.

-Take the lower half of the stock mic mount and screw it back onto the EX1 where it belongs. I found a thumbscrew from an old flash bracket that fits perfectly into the screwhole in the EX1 stock mic mount, so I just put that through one of the holes in the Lightwave mount and screwed it down, and it holds securely.

The size and thread of the screw that fits the mic mount is pretty standard for camera related gear in my experience so shouldn't be that hard to find, but a worst case scenario is you need a trip to the hardware store to buy one screw of appropriate length. Below are photos of my mount so that people can see what I'm talking about.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...7/ex1mount.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../ex1mount4.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../ex1mount2.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../ex1mount3.jpg

Jeff Rhode · May 21st, 2008, 04:18 AM

Jonathan,

I am jumping on this a little late.

I have a product that will solve your mounting issue and will also give you a second mount for your radio receiver. I think that you will see that you can also move the microphone back 4 inches, so even a long mic like an ME66 will not be in the shot with a wide lens attached. You can also use the shock mount of your choice--I like the Azden which is available on the site too. Please take a look at www.thej-rod.com

Good solutions from Bob and Akira !

Jonathan Bland · May 21st, 2008, 06:52 AM

Hi Jeff,

Very nice! Perfect in fact...... But how is the camera handling noise?

I found that using a Sennheiser MKH 416 in the camera's mic mount the handling noise was terrible!

The J-Rod mount doesn't look like it "suspends" the mic very well compaired to something like the Rode SM5
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...icrophone.html

or the

Audio Thechnica AT8415
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...rToReadReviews

where the mics are actually suspended using rubber.

Please comment on the handling noise using the J-Rod. It looks like you've found the best design so far!

After going over the site a bit more I now see that one can choose the mic suspension one wants.

May 17th, 2008, 09:51 AM	#16
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	I had a bit of rubber sleeve,i can't remember if it came with the mic or the softie kit. It's like the peices of rubber that you get with cycle lights so that when you put the light round different size seat posts you can get the clamp to fit. Do you know what i mean ? Paul __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

May 18th, 2008, 08:59 AM	#21
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	Thanks Bob,i'll look into that. Paul. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

May 18th, 2008, 10:47 AM	#23
Brian Rigler New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Poole Dorset England Posts: 22	mkh60 we use this lightwave cradle on our camera Attached Thumbnails

May 18th, 2008, 11:11 AM	#24
Jonathan Bland Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Far Away Posts: 230	PD150 to the rescue! The mic mount from my old battle scared Sony PD150 fits perfectly with even the srew holes in the same place. The PD150's mount is a much better/ stronger design. Just need to pick up some longer screws as the 150's are too wide and the EX1's are too short. Bang! Last edited by Jonathan Bland; May 18th, 2008 at 01:04 PM.

May 21st, 2008, 06:52 AM	#30
Jonathan Bland Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Far Away Posts: 230	Hi Jeff, Very nice! Perfect in fact...... But how is the camera handling noise? I found that using a Sennheiser MKH 416 in the camera's mic mount the handling noise was terrible! The J-Rod mount doesn't look like it "suspends" the mic very well compaired to something like the Rode SM5 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...icrophone.html or the Audio Thechnica AT8415 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...rToReadReviews where the mics are actually suspended using rubber. Please comment on the handling noise using the J-Rod. It looks like you've found the best design so far! After going over the site a bit more I now see that one can choose the mic suspension one wants. Last edited by Jonathan Bland; May 21st, 2008 at 07:30 AM.

May 17th, 2008, 09:58 AM	#17
Jonathan Bland Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Far Away Posts: 230	I know exactly what you mean. Thanks again Paul :)

May 18th, 2008, 08:13 AM	#18
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	thks 4 the headsup Paul. Looks like its quite impt to get the shockmnt!

May 18th, 2008, 08:42 AM	#19
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,570	We've been using the Rode SM5 with our Z1s. Because of the weight we've had two mic holders break. The situation with the EX1 is much worse, so far one of our two EX1s mic holders have broken. All it took was the slightest brush of the mic and snap. Unlike the mic holder on the Z1 which cracks through the clamp with the EX1 the holder will break away from the camera's audio pod. There's the potential for the mic getting damaged in the process. I've just bought an unneeded Sanken CS-1 and will mount that in a K-Tek shock mount. I'll remove the Sony supplied mic mount and replace it with a simple aluminium plate with a cold shoe fitted to that. This will make it very easy to fit and remove the mic and mount when the camera goes into its case. If you have the Rode SM5 you can remove the shock mount from the aluminium tube and again make a simple aluminium plate with 4 holes to replace the existing mic holder and then mount the mic and shock mount into the same screw holes as the original mic holder. I did post a photo of this setup here some time ago: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...8&d=1199343627

May 18th, 2008, 08:57 AM	#20
Benjamin Eckstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 380 Images: 1	I just ordered the SM5 and will follow Bob's design for my Sanken CS-3e. That should work great and make for a much stronger system. While my cam was at Sony getting firmware updated and backfocus repaired they said they could replace my broken mic mount for 80 bucks. That seemed silly since I figured it'd break again, so I spent less on the Rode mount which will be much stronger. B

May 18th, 2008, 10:10 AM	#22
Jonathan Bland Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Far Away Posts: 230	Very nice work Bob! So my question is: Where can I get the aluminum plate that you use?

May 19th, 2008, 08:28 AM	#28
Akira Hakuta Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 44	For people who want to put their Lightwave onto their EX1, this is what I did: -Unscrewed the stock EX1 mic mount and took a thin nail, hammered out the two pins that hold together the mount (the two metal pins that the mount pivots on). Had to hammer one out so that it was sticking out a bit on the other side, then pulled it out with pliers, then stuck the nail through the newly opened end and did the same to the other pin. This will separate the stock mic mount into two halves, a lower and upper one. -Take the lower half of the stock mic mount and screw it back onto the EX1 where it belongs. I found a thumbscrew from an old flash bracket that fits perfectly into the screwhole in the EX1 stock mic mount, so I just put that through one of the holes in the Lightwave mount and screwed it down, and it holds securely. The size and thread of the screw that fits the mic mount is pretty standard for camera related gear in my experience so shouldn't be that hard to find, but a worst case scenario is you need a trip to the hardware store to buy one screw of appropriate length. Below are photos of my mount so that people can see what I'm talking about. http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...7/ex1mount.jpg http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../ex1mount4.jpg http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../ex1mount2.jpg http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../ex1mount3.jpg

May 21st, 2008, 04:18 AM	#29
Jeff Rhode Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 169	Jonathan, I am jumping on this a little late. I have a product that will solve your mounting issue and will also give you a second mount for your radio receiver. I think that you will see that you can also move the microphone back 4 inches, so even a long mic like an ME66 will not be in the shot with a wide lens attached. You can also use the shock mount of your choice--I like the Azden which is available on the site too. Please take a look at www.thej-rod.com Good solutions from Bob and Akira !