Rugged Softie & ShockMount - SM5 Style?

Chadfish

Chadfish

Veteran
I posted this question in the EX1 forum as it relates to my camera, but have no suggestions of the item I'm looking for, an SM5 type shock mount, only stronger.

I have the Rode SM5 & SM3 shock mounts for my camera. I prefer the SM5 because it goes into the mic holder on the EX1, leaving my hot show free for other things. I am using the NTG-3 shotgun, and it's length causes it to droop in the rode shock mounts. I have doubled the rubber bands, and that helps.

I want to get a softie, probably of the Rycote persuasion as I'm going for quality this time, and I fear that my current shock mount won't be able to hold the front of the mic up with the softie. Does anyone know of a solid "SM5" type shock mount, and a Softie that works with the NTG-3 on the EX1? The NTG-3 slots go pretty far back leaving little room for mounting so I think I need something thicker than rubber bands.

Here's my rig, with a little drooping even without a softie. In this config, and using a deadcat, I get fuzz in the shot, so I need to rotate the mount 90 degrees upward, which is also makes for a crowded shoe mount area.

picture.php
 
Can you double or triple up the bands on the front of the mount to give some extra lift? Or maybe you could go for a rig-height record and slap the mic up on top of the light.
 
Yes I have doubled the bands. And there is the method of twisting the bands, and that works OK. The thing is I have 2 EX1s, and the doubling method is OK with a NTG-2 and the deadcat. But I'm looking for a more sturdy method for my main camera which will hace the longer/heavier NTG-3 that wll have a Rycote softie on it. I have not seen anything other than the Rode SM5 that will fit in the EX1 mic mount. I'd like something like this, only that fits in the mic mount:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...7_OPTION_STER_ADD_2_RYCOTE_INV_7_SHKMNT.html#

I have one shew on the EX1, and there is an extension I have added, and that holds a light and a receiver very snugly. So I don't want to pile up a bunch of weight on my one shoe. Is there ANY SM5 type mount out there that anyone knows of?
 
Ok, I may be completely misunderstanding you, but you're looking for a mount with a cylindrical bit to go in the mic mount, right?

Nothing comes immediately to mind, but it should be relatively easy to put something together with an appropriately sized bit of doweling or machined aluminum or whatever you prefer and then screw a mount onto that cylinder. Or, perhaps better, remove the EX1's mount altogether and put something more useful in place, thought I'm not sure how feasible it is with that camera.

I'm also pretty sure I've seen invision mounts with the cold shoe adapter on them, if that helps at all.
EDIT: I wasn't hallucinating: http://www.trewaudio.ca/store/product.php?productid=1023#detail
 
Personally Ive never used a camera mounted suspension mount. In addition I really dont think its the best way to go. A cam mounted mic rarely is a solution to audio in any situation. But, I often use one on my HPX500 to pick up ambience or a quick one man, man on the street - eg Im at the ocean shooting some waves for B roll, sometimes useful to have an audio track to layer in at post.

In those situations though I have the mic mounted in the mic mount on the cam and use a Rycote softie on it. In the case of an EX though its probably too big and ungainly and will most likely always end up in your shoot.

My point is - Id do away with the suspension system for this purpose. (I have two suspension systems that are used for booming)
 
As it is now Jordan, I have this Hot Shoe Extension:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/407098-REG/Rycote_037303.html

And it may be that your Rycote suggestion could mount on that. I'd just like to make use of the mic holder on the camera. I think there was a guy who had some type of replacement for the EX1 mic holder, but I can't remember what it was exactly.

And yes Noel, I know a mic mounted on a camera isn't what one wants for main audio. I either use wireless or a boom op for that. The camera mounted mic is great for ambiance though, and general sound pickup. The shock mount does remove handling noise. In the situation of a wedding (the reason I decided to upgrade my shock mount setup) the on-cam mic gets the crowd when the bride/groom have mics on them. Also when wandering around the reception the on cam mic gets comments made in front of the camera. So even though I, being an audio snob, go for getting a mic as close to the subjects mouth as possible, I also always have a mic on the camera for random sound grabs that can save the day at times. I was really surprised how well the NTG-3 can pick up someone talking at 10' away!

I just want to get a softie on my mic without it getting into the shot, while leaving room for a light and a receiver. Like the shown photo if possible, only beefier.
 
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Hey soundspartan!

That looks like the ticket! I'll have to research if it will fit the EX1's mic clamp, but that's exactly what I need. Thank you.
 
Hmmm.

Is that MiniScreen any better than the softie? The kit is cheaper than the combined price of the Softy and Medium Hole Softie Mount & Camera Clamp 037306.

So now I'm looking at these 2 things:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207238-REG/Rycote_033052_Standard_Hole_Softie_Windscreen.html#

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...037306_Medium_Hole_Softie_Mount.html#features

Vs this Kit. I think I see one piece of the kit that looks like it's for the mic clamp on the camera too.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/668031-REG/Rycote_116002_InVision_Universal_Camera_Kit.html

If I can verify that the MiniScreen is as good as a softie I think I'm sold. I'm goad B&H was closed when I called them yesterday to verify EX1 compatibility!

Any input on the MiniScreen is welcome!
 
As it turns out the Ricote Softie provides 25db of wind attenuation, while the MiniScreen and WindJammer prvides 30db, and it's cheaper, at least in the kit. The kit is cool because it has lots of little connectors for different uses. I'll be ordering that up soon!
 
Chadfish said:
One other question. Is that Video Lyre made of rubber or is it rigid?
Click to expand...

The "lyre" is not made from rubber - it's made from "Hytrel".

The video "lyre" has an internal rubber grip to grip the mic. securely - it's not part of the suspension and only there to give a good grip to the mic. - the video "lyre" is shaped the way it is to take any mic. from 19mm to 25mm in diameter including the square sided Sennheiser MKH 40 series.
 
I have just ordered the Rycote Universal Camera Kit.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/668031-REG/Rycote_116002_InVision_Universal_Camera_Kit.html

I have not received it yet, but I'll report back. Originally I was just looking for a softie and a stronger shock mount to hold up the front end of my NTG-3 with a softie on it. In my research I found that though the Rycote Softie is sort of a defacto go-to wind protection one step shy of going full blimp, they have this Miniscreen Windshield & Windjammer that together give you 5db more wind attenuation, yet costs less. The Softie mount/Camera Clamp is 120.00 and the softie is 110.00 = 230.00. Yet the full kit, which has the mount, camera clamp, hot shoe extender, boom swivel, and a few other connectors, and of course the Miniscreen Windshield & Windjammer for 179.00!

So that sold me. I am concerned that the lyre system won't be rigid enough to keep the front of my mic up with the Windscreen on. But aside from that, this lyre technology is interesting in that A) it uses this new material (Hytrel) that is operational from -30 to 200 F, Well beyond the operational temp of my camera.
B) The design of the lyre itself in that it's about extending the transmission path of vibrations starting at the base. Here's a sales person talking about the lyre, though she doesn't show the one that comes with the Universal Kit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03eQKtftojE

So I'll probably make a little demo video after I get the kit - mostly because there isn't really anything I can find to research other than a guy who appears to be testing the Windshield against the Rode softie, but he is cheating I think because he doesn't use the Windjammer over the Windshield.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvgtrVoCK1M

That's where I am in my search for awesome wind protection, one notch shy of going FULL BLIMP. I don't work for any companies, and I don't care who makes the best systems. I just want what works best for my particular set-up, which is in this case on the camera, with the ability to switch over to boom pole.
 
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