New Rycote Invision mounts for LD mics

[studer58]

Apologies if this has been raised before, and it probably has on other GS forums, but a relatively new release is the Rycote Invision series of vibration damping mics for large diaphragm mics. The March online version of Sound On Sound : Rycote InVision USM & TLM has an extensive review of them by Hugh Robjohns, and you can get a pretty good overview of them here: http://www.rycoteinvision.com/files/...ss_release.pdf

and there's a matching list of mics to see if yours is compatible here: http://www.rycoteinvision.com/files/...table_list.pdf

with finally a spec sheet here for US market: http://www.rycoteinvision.com/files/usm_usa_flyer.pdf

they are reasonably priced, and have put a lot of research into damping in all conceivable axial planes of microphone movement.
Ray

[John Willett]

There is a Gearslutz thread in the "New Product Alert" section HERE.

I was one of the Beta testers of this mount and the softer lyres came about partly because of my comments using my MKH 800 microphones.

Please note that the application list linked to in the above post is not complete - there are no Sennheiser microphones mentioned and the USM-L is fine for the: MKH 30, MKH 80, MKH 800 and MKH 800 TWIN.

Although the Rycote InVision and InVision Studio mounts are very inexpensive they are technically the best there is - at any price - only the Osix mount comes close and that is a lot more expensive.

I have now swapped all my mounts over to the InVision series both for my SDCs and now for my side-fire mics as well.

It's a great product and, as Hugh Robjohns said in his SOS review, "highly recommended".

[vtone]

Anyone know where I can purchase the USM-L in the USA?? I looked on the "Where To Buy" section of their website and not a single dealer has it for sale.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by vtone

Anyone know where I can purchase the USM-L in the USA?? I looked on the "Where To Buy" section of their website and not a single dealer has it for sale.

You can get it HERE.

Or

You can go to This Page on the Rycote website and enter your State into the search box.

Entering Texas into the search box brings up 3 dealers:-

• ImageWare Corporation
  P.O. Box 729
  Boerne
  TX
  United States of America
  78006
  sales@imaware.com
  830.249.8997
  830.249.9143
• Kennedy's
  109 West Midway Drive
  Euless
  TX
  United States of America
  76039
  info@kennedyseng.com
  817.283.8321
  817.283.6514
• MicroSearch
  3903 Stony Brook Drive
  Houston
  TX
  United States of America
  77063
  onlinesales@microsearch.com
  713.988.2818
  713.995.4994

[Wayne]

I was looking for a good mount adaptable to a few LDCs, and in particular wanting to also get away from chasing failed rubber bands on some of the cheaper mounts I have.
I notice the application pdf indicates the 'L version for most of the typical mic ranges I'm interested in (4-500 grams, 47-50+ mm), and vertical' does cover most of the uses, but the review seems to say go with the standard weight version, except on much lighter mics.
Would the standard version be the way to go, with perhaps giving up a little on the level of isolation?
Thanks
Wayne

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Wayne

I was looking for a good mount adaptable to a few LDCs, and in particular wanting to also get away from chasing failed rubber bands on some of the cheaper mounts I have.
I notice the application pdf indicates the 'L version for most of the typical mic ranges I'm interested in (4-500 grams, 47-50+ mm), and vertical' does cover most of the uses, but the review seems to say go with the standard weight version, except on much lighter mics.
Would the standard version be the way to go, with perhaps giving up a little on the level of isolation?

It depends on what the mics are being used for.

If the mics are used as vocal mics and mounted vertically, then the L version is probably the best option.

If the mics are to be mounted at an angle then the standard version is better for the heavier mics.

But, it may be possible to get both Lyre sets in a single mount and swap as necessary - just talk to Rycote and ask.

[John Brook]

I received the following from Redding Audio concerning the TLM mount:

John - The In-Vision USMs are available now. We recommend the USM (PN_044901, $119.99) if you are going to use your TLM-193 in a horizontal or angled position. Should you be doing mostly vocals (using the TLM vertically), we recommend using the USM Lite (PN_044903, $119.99). Upon further testing, Rycote opted to drop the TLM from the Studio Mount lineup. Rycote found that how the Neumann TLMs sat in the USM Mount provided better isolation - a more balanced center of gravity within the mount spec'd a slightly better attenuation figure. Should you not have a favorite Rycote Dealer, please let me know. Feel free for any other questions. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Mike DIMatteo
Customer Support

[cubivore]

hey john willet,

it seems like they are recommending the USML for vertical only, but if i just got the USM wouldn't i be covered for any mic in any position? that's what i did for my schoeps 641 and the invision 7, just got the bigger one 'just in case'. is there any foreseeable problem going for the large? thanks in advance.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by cubivore

it seems like they are recommending the USML for vertical only, but if i just got the USM wouldn't i be covered for any mic in any position? that's what i did for my schoeps 641 and the invision 7, just got the bigger one 'just in case'. is there any foreseeable problem going for the large? thanks in advance.

It depends on the mic.

A light mic. like the MKH 800 would use the USM-L all the time.

A heavier mic. like a Neumann TLM 103 would normally use the USM, but if it was being used vertically as a vocal mic. it would be better off I'm a USM- L as the softer lyres give better shock protection. If it was used at an angle the softer lyres would sag too much.

But, the lyres are easy to change - so it is possible to get a USM and a spare set of soft lyres to change over as necessary.

The INV-7 is the universal InVision mount and will take any SDC from 19mm up to 25mm, including the square sided Sennheiser MKH 40 series.

I hope this helps.



Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[zoom]

it looks like the universal InVision INV-7 (two of them) doesn't allow to mount a pair of cardioids in an ORTF-setup. I assume this will be not really possible.
Anyone tried this or other stereo configurations using the InVision mounts?

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by zoom

it looks like the universal InVision INV-7 (two of them) doesn't allow to mount a pair of cardioids in an ORTF-setup. I assume this will be not really possible.
Anyone tried this or other stereo configurations using the InVision mounts?

I do ORTF with InVision mounts with no problem at all.

What microphones are you using?

You may find the INV-2 or INV-3 is easier if it's not a large mic.

[cubivore]

thanks john. just got the same reply from the rycote rep. there's nothing really on their site that says the orientation will impact the sag of the lyre. i thought it might be a circumference or length issue like the invision mount, not just weight distribution.

[zoom]

hi John,
Meanwhile I tried to mount my mics on two INV-7 (with a pair of CMC / MK4) on a stereo bar.
Everything seems to be quite big to get this pair in correct ORTF position, even if one mic is mounted with a spacer to have it in a slightly higher position.

I'll show a photo soon. Or do you have a pic of your setup?


-------edit-------
here it is - I'm not really happy because the suspensions are touching each other, maybe I have to try also an other position of the lyres.
Anyway - the INV-7 itself are great! It is just this little problem I have...
Other setups which are similar, having other distances/angles (e.g. NOS or EBS) are no problem -it is just ORTF.

btw - this is definitively a no-go ;-)

Sorry to be off-topic because the thread focusses originally on LD mics with INV mounts...

[studer58]

Originally Posted by zoom

here it is - I'm not really happy because the suspensions are touching each other, maybe I have to try also an other position of the lyres.
Anyway - the INV-7 itself are great! It is just this little problem I have...
Other setups which are similar, having other distances/angles (e.g. NOS or EBS) are no problem -it is just ORTF.
...

Something doesn't look quite right about that ORTF arrangement photo...are you sure the angles and distance are the "standard" ? The mic lengths are typical of most SD's, and most users don't have the trouble you seem to be having...unless the invision holders are much longer than the usual small clip-type of mount ? A cheaper alternative might be to install right angle XLR connectors on the ends of your mic cable, which would give less 'length' to each mic/cable to get in the way of the other. A more expensive, though elegant, solution would be to get the remote cables for your mics, which would put the preamp section of your mics at the other end of the cable...and then you'd also perhaps need a the INV-1 or 2 version of the Invision ?
Ray

[studer58]

Or....an infinitely cheaper method (and I can't quite tell from your 2nd pic whether you have done so there) would be to simply rotate the holders out 180 degrees, so that the supporting base that the lyres are screwed into (with the 2 square holes) face outwards and are just under the capsule, rather than facing inwards as in photo 1 and underneath the mic/cable connection. This might give you the clearance you seek ?
Ray

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by studer58

Or....an infinitely cheaper method (and I can't quite tell from your 2nd pic whether you have done so there) would be to simply rotate the holders out 180 degrees, so that the supporting base that the lyres are screwed into (with the 2 square holes) face outwards and are just under the capsule, rather than facing inwards as in photo 1 and underneath the mic/cable connection. This might give you the clearance you seek ?
Ray

Picture 1 ~is~ with the mounts reversed to give the clearance.

Personally, I use the smaller INV-2 and 3 for my ORTF recording.



Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[zoom]

I don't give up - sure I have to try some more variations - its like a puzzle.
...or at least - setting up ORTF with these suspensions is like swing out a music stand :-)

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by zoom

I don't give up - sure I have to try some more variations - its like a puzzle.
...or at least - setting up ORTF with these suspensions is like swing out a music stand :-)

Now I'm on the computer rather than on the iPhone I can see the pictures better.

I think I would use the INV-3 instead and use the flexible S-series XLR tail to minimise cable-born vibration and to stop the cable pulling on the end of the mic.

Maybe I'll see you next year - the 60th International Recording Contest will be in Switzerland and, I think, in Bern. The first winner was Stefan Kudelski who started Nagra.

[zoom]

All InVision mounts have an amazing price/performance ratio and are relatively inexpensive - so maybe it makes sense to buy beside my INV-7 some other sizes? (anyway - Rycote states the INV-7 only for the use with Schoeps CMC series... and this was the reason for my purchase)

John, if you are in Bern - would be nice to meet you! Just write a PM

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by zoom

All InVision mounts have an amazing price/performance ratio and are relatively inexpensive - so maybe it makes sense to buy beside my INV-7 some other sizes? (anyway - Rycote states the INV-7 only for the use with Schoeps CMC series... and this was the reason for my purchase)

The INV-7 will take any SDC from 19mm to 25mm in diameter.

The INV-3 is designed for 19mm mics and takes my MKH 8000 series and also my Neumann KM-D series.

The lyres are quite close together so you have to get the balance right and I would say that the S-series XLR tail is essential to stop the main cable pulling it too much.

Originally Posted by zoom

John, if you are in Bern - would be nice to meet you! Just write a PM

Will do - the IARC in Switzerland will be October 2011, this year it will be in Slovakia. Details of the contest are HERE.




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