Shockmount Bands Losing Elasticity

Knoxworth

Knoxworth

Well-known member
I have a Gitzo G11510N

86370.jpg


I use a Sennheiser ME67 lobar so the microphone puts alot of weight on the bands. After several years the bands have lost elasticity and I was going to get some new ones. At first I thought they were some specialized rubber band... then on second look they appear to be chopped off pieces of a bicycle inner tube!

Is that the best way to go? I have a few spare bike wheels that I found in the trash. But I guess I could buy one innertube and that would set me up forever. Anyone happen to know the exact inner tube for max elasticity?

Thanks DVX.

[edit] There's a slice on one of the bands too. I suppose it's more pressing than I first thought.
 
Cedric Akins said:
Try regular rubber bands first. You won't regret it.
Click to expand...

Don't do it - it won't support the mic. properly, nor isolate it properly.

Best solution:
Get a Rycote INV-7 (may need the HG version, Rycote will confirm) or Video Mount

2nd best:
Go back to the mount manufacturer and get the proper rubber

3rd option:
Buy a bicycle inner tube and cut two rings

But the K6+ME67 is a decent mic. and you don't want to spoil the results by scrimping too much.

The mount you have looks lake its mounting points are far too close together for a long mic. like the 67 - it would therefore droop and bounce far too much.
 
John Willett said:
Don't do it - it won't support the mic. properly, nor isolate it properly.

Best solution:
Get a Rycote INV-7 (may need the HG version, Rycote will confirm) or Video Mount

2nd best:
Go back to the mount manufacturer and get the proper rubber

3rd option:
Buy a bicycle inner tube and cut two rings

But the K6+ME67 is a decent mic. and you don't want to spoil the results by scrimping too much.

The mount you have looks lake its mounting points are far too close together for a long mic. like the 67 - it would therefore droop and bounce far too much.
Click to expand...
Not to doubt your experience, but I have used those rubber bands and got descent results with them. So trying it is not a bad idea. Just get new ones and make sure the are stiff and you should be okay. Just mho.
 
John Willett said:
Don't do it - it won't support the mic. properly, nor isolate it properly.

Best solution:
Get a Rycote INV-7 (may need the HG version, Rycote will confirm) or Video Mount
Click to expand...

SO the INV-7 is a cheaper sub for the Blimp system? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/478490-REG/Sennheiser_BS3_Blimp_System_f_ME.html

I guess at the moment I'm stuck with the shockmount I got. And you're right it tends to bounce if there's a windscreen present. But thank you so much for the tips. I think inner tubes are the most available to me right now. I'm not even sure what kind of rubber bands I would buy, most places don't have a wide selection to begin with.

Will keep these proper shockmounts bookmarked.
 
Knoxworth said:
SO the INV-7 is a cheaper sub for the Blimp system? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/478490-REG/Sennheiser_BS3_Blimp_System_f_ME.html

I guess at the moment I'm stuck with the shockmount I got. And you're right it tends to bounce if there's a windscreen present. But thank you so much for the tips. I think inner tubes are the most available to me right now. I'm not even sure what kind of rubber bands I would buy, most places don't have a wide selection to begin with.

Will keep these proper shockmounts bookmarked.
Click to expand...

I would certainly not use the Sennheiser blimp system - O-rings are really not very good compared to the Rycote "lyre".

For the K6+ME67 I think I would use the S-series blimp which is one third the price of the Sennheiser system (and better, I would say).

Or - cheaper - use the video mount kit - or a Softie mount and Miniscreen and Windjammer.
 
Thanks Sam! These are the kinds of specifics I was looking for. Provided those bands aren't bicycle inner tubes I'd say that's a great deal.

What about the Pearstone Suspenders? Have you tried them on the Gitzo? If anyone could confirm that they aren't too loose, or that they won't be sliced by the Gitzo edge, I'd be comfortable about putting down $20 for them.
 
Last edited:
BRH said:
Not everyone needs to use Rycote all the time....
In fact, the rubber o-rings on this shockmount are excellent, have been around longer than the Invision, and are cheaper:

http://www.professionalsound.com/specs/shock_mnts.htm
Click to expand...


No, but the Rycote "lyre" shockmounts *are* the best on the market - at any price.

Well researched and fully patented they are far more advanced than elastic suspension mounts.

What you say is like saying - "why should I buy a car, a horse has been around for a lot longer and is cheaper". :grin:
 
John Willett said:
No, but the Rycote "lyre" shockmounts *are* the best on the market - at any price.
Click to expand...

Isn't this more of an opinion than fact?
I see you write this quite often but always present it as a fact.


Of course there are certain things in our line of work that are black and white/ right and wrong but a piece of gear like this is much more subjective.

Im not saying the lyre invision stuff isn't great but this sounds like someone saying
" the xxx is the best video camera out there", not "in my opinion this is the best video camera out there for my needs"

Obviously MY opinion.
 
John Willett said:
Don't do it - it won't support the mic. properly, nor isolate it properly.

Best solution:
Get a Rycote INV-7 (may need the HG version, Rycote will confirm) or Video Mount

2nd best:
Go back to the mount manufacturer and get the proper rubber

3rd option:
Buy a bicycle inner tube and cut two rings

But the K6+ME67 is a decent mic. and you don't want to spoil the results by scrimping too much.

The mount you have looks lake its mounting points are far too close together for a long mic. like the 67 - it would therefore droop and bounce far too much.
Click to expand...

When a poster always recommends the same brand over and over... he is getting support from the manufacture.....this is called....

SPAM
 
The Rycote Lyre stuff looks nice, and I'll probably end up getting it, but if you watch that video I posted a few messages back, near the end the old guy doing a fan test with the lyre on a camera with a mic and the MiniScreen in place, and at 4:50 and 5:00 I see the mic is dipping down in front, and wobbling a lot when the wind hits the camera. That concerns me somewhat. Part of the reason I am upgrading is to prevent mic dip, if that's even a term! Perhaps the looseness adds to the rumble protection? I can't tell, but it looked a little like an ME66, which is a long mic, but a lite mic. I'll be using my NTG-3 with the MiniScreen, or possibly a fuzzy.

Can anyone who's used the unit speak to this mic dip and wobble?
 
Last edited:
Can't say. I think there are thicker invision lyres for longer mic... but Rycote website not user friendly for parts. It'll probably be fine.

The K-Tek KSM is sturdy and doesn't dip with a Senn. 416 and fuzzy, but some other mics exhibit handling noise with it. But you would have to rig up something to stick in your camera mount.

http://www.ktekbooms.com/products.php?id=47
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top