Rycote Windshield kit for stereo Schoeps CMC series

[John Willett]

Talk to Rycote - they do a special ORTF mount and windshield that first the Sennheiser MKH 8000 series and, I'm sure, also the Schoeps.

[mosrite]

As far as I am aware there is no real solution for this at present. It's active cables and blimp or ball gags I'm afraid. I'd be interested in the ORTF solution that John refers to as the largest blimp Rycote do will house a couple of CMC's but with not enough space between the capsules and the side of the windshield, and certainly not possible with standard XLRs ends

[Rolo 46]

MS is pragmatic for exteriors
Only spaced compact omnis come close for gagging and mounting, imho.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by mosrite

As far as I am aware there is no real solution for this at present. It's active cables and blimp or ball gags I'm afraid. I'd be interested in the ORTF solution that John refers to as the largest blimp Rycote do will house a couple of CMC's but with not enough space between the capsules and the side of the windshield, and certainly not possible with standard XLRs ends

I have seen it and posted a picture in other threads on this forum.

It's a special and uses the heads with remote cables.

The windshield would be a normal basket windshield on its side.

I could post the picture again, but I can't do it from this iPhone.

[mosrite]

It's a special and uses the heads with remote cables.

Exactly, active cables. But I think the OP didn't want the added expense of that. Unfortunately its the only way to properly fit a couple of CMC's inside a blimp

[Matti]

Basket-Type Windscreen with Windjammer WSR*ORTF*LU - Overview - SCHOEPS.de

Matti

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Matti

Basket-Type Windscreen with Windjammer WSR ORTF LU - Overview - SCHOEPS.de

Matti

That looks like an old picture as that shockmount is not used anymore.

[Matti]

Cannot find anything on the Rycote site, so this Schoeps page gives the general idea

Matti

[Jaymz]

The ORTF setup by Rycote that John mentioned isn't an official product yet. They only posted a beta-pic of it on their facebook page, this one;
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...52042505_o.jpg

After Frank Bry, myself and others expressed interest they responded;

Thanks for all the comments - looks like its a new product then :-)

With the remote cables I'd say there's a decent amount of space between the capsule and the side of the basket. For the MKH8000's at least.

I'm perfectly happy with my 8040/30 MS rig for now....as Rolo said, pragmatic. Though I do love ORTF imaging, so this might be tempting down the line.

@ John : Did you previously mention that Sennheiser will match for you by request? (talking about if I pick up another 8040).

[Rolo 46]

Ive been trying to Rycote a Superlux S502 Schoeps clone.
The 5 pin XLR at right angles to the body makes it difficult to exit cables even in a large Basket.
Pity it would make a good exterior mic.

Superlux S502 - Thomann UK Cyberstore

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Jaymz

@ John : Did you previously mention that Sennheiser will match for you by request? (talking about if I pick up another 8040).

What I said was that Sennheiser would specially match the 8050, which are not available as a stereoset, if ordered together and you ask specially for it. It would be a special order from the factory.

If you already have an 8040 and now want a second one matched to it, I'm not sure it's possible.

All I would suggest is to ask Sennheiser directly.

[johnsound]

Pieter,

I've been building up my Schoeps kit over the past couple of years and have sourced four active cables via the classified ads on various lists and by scouring the used gear sections of various retailers, both in the UK and the USA. The last one came from Vintage King at a very reasonable price indeed and I find the active cables are useful in circumstances when I need a discreet set-up, such as in recording concert performances.

Trew Audio have two on sale at the moment, one for $300 and the other for $350 (Used Microphone Accessories | Trew Audio) which might tempt you.

Regards,

John

[Matti]

Originally Posted by Rolo 46

Ive been trying to Rycote a Superlux S502 Schoeps clone.
The 5 pin XLR at right angles to the body makes it difficult to exit cables even in a large Basket.
Pity it would make a good exterior mic.

Superlux S502 - Thomann UK Cyberstore

Fur over the supplied foam is better then nothing...
50-70 ? Reinhardt Microphone Windshields

Matti

[pieter k]

Thanks everyone. As always, great help.

In general, that prototype Rycote rig is what I envisioned, but yes, it requires active cables, which, initially (prior to reconsidering), I wanted to avoid.

What I didn't mention but was hovering in the back of my mind was looking at CCM rather than CMC mics. I would much prefer the CMC, but given that I will be doing a lot of field work, I've given some thought to the CCM route.

And again, I have a line on a very, very well priced new pair of CMC621s, at pre-April-price increase prices, with local post-production 3.5% tax rate to boot (rather than CA's standard 8.75%).

My real debate with myself is whether or not to cough up the money now to save $400+ on a new pair, or wait, pay more, but buy at a time when it might be slightly easier.

The other option for micing of course is to invest in an MK8, record in MS and leave it at that.

Johnsound, thank you in particular for the lead. I never thought to peruse Trew for used gear. As it happens, I'm a customer of theirs already, and both those cables are in the Hollywood location; I was there as recently as this past Tuesday. Maybe I'll reconsider, pick up those cables, and then my problem is solved.

...

As I suggested in an earlier post on another subject, I'm starting this field/mobile recording project from scratch, so I'm hoping to make as few mistakes as possible up front. I could see buying a set of CMCs versus CCMs as a first, expensive mistake, in building my kit, if my needs suggest a CCM as more useful than CMC. But, I definitely prefer the versatility of the CMC series.

Ach...thinking out loud at this point.

Thanks everyone!

[renec]

here's another solution:

Cinela - Catalog - AL-ORTF-8000: ALBERT windshield for 2 x Sennheiser MKH8000 pair (ORTF, XY)

[pieter k]

The Cinela gear is interesting to me too.

I'll repost the link recently posted in this thread:

http://www.ips.org.uk/files/09_Keepi...ones_Quiet.pdf

[Rolo 46]

Thats written by Rycotes Engineering Consultant, Chris Woolf.
Very Knowledgable for all things that bluster and rattle.

[Rolo 46]

Originally Posted by Matti

Fur over the supplied foam is better then nothing...
50-70 ? Reinhardt Microphone Windshields

Matti

Never as good as a basket ,suspension and furry Mati.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by pieter k

Thanks everyone. As always, great help.

In general, that prototype Rycote rig is what I envisioned, but yes, it requires active cables, which, initially (prior to reconsidering), I wanted to avoid.

What I didn't mention but was hovering in the back of my mind was looking at CCM rather than CMC mics. I would much prefer the CMC, but given that I will be doing a lot of field work, I've given some thought to the CCM route.

The CCM should be fine in that Rycote rig - I think they are about the same size as the Sennheiser MKH 8000 heads pictured.

[fifthcircle]

What is the outdoor situation where you are going to be using these mics?

I tend to use a standard stereo bar and mounts and i'll put the Shure WS-81A windscreens on my Schoeps. They are huge foam windscreens that still sound pretty good and can take a pretty massive breeze without issue. They are a whole lot less expensive than anything Rycote makes. if you don't have to stay super low profile (which is tough in the field), than this is an easy way to go.

--Ben

[Matti]

Originally Posted by Rolo 46

Never as good as a basket ,suspension and furry Mati.

Sure, but given the mics price... windshield costs many times more than the mic
( speaking of the Superlux mic mentioned )

Matti

[JonesH]

I use individual ball gags a lot, it works great with longer mics such as DPA or Schoeps. Very tricky to do with the MKHs or compact Schoeps though, but if you use the regular long bodies I'd think you'd be fine.

[Rolo 46]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

What is the outdoor situation where you are going to be using these mics?

I tend to use a standard stereo bar and mounts and i'll put the Shure WS-81A windscreens on my Schoeps. They are huge foam windscreens that still sound pretty good and can take a pretty massive breeze without issue. They are a whole lot less expensive than anything Rycote makes. if you don't have to stay super low profile (which is tough in the field), than this is an easy way to go.

--Ben

Foams never as good as a basket and furry.
Might be ok for loud or close music but not for ambience and natural history behaviours.
The Superlux S502 array is good,if a little noisy
So it still needs proper gagage.

[apple-q]

Originally Posted by pieter k

I searched, and couldn't find much specifically addressing this.

As I'm buying my first pair of Schoeps CMC6/MK? soon, I've been thinking about how I'd use them in the field, in possibly windy conditions.

Rycote makes stereo windshield kits, but with the CMC series, those will only work in MS mode. If I have a pair of CMCs mounted in AB or XY or ORTF on a 30cm bar, but need windshield protection, is my best bet two independent Baby Ball Gags, one on each mic, with possible Windjammer if necessary? Or is there some other way to introduce reliable wind protection to a spaced pair of CMC mics, or for that matter, any non-miniature SDC?

One workaround would be to purchase the Schoeps powered cables and buy the stereo kit that works with the CMC in MS or with the MSTC, but I don't really want to have to purchase that kind of accessory just for field recording.

In trying to visualize my setup, it seems the Baby Ball Gags (what an awful name) would make XY unworkable, unless I can get a tall enough riser for one of the mic mounts.

Thoughts?

Cinela - Catalogue - AL-ORTF-CCM : Bonnette anti-vent ALBERT pour couple Schoeps CCM (ORTF, XY)

Cinela are quite pricey but well worth it. They are not a one-size-fits-all kind of system. They are optimized for the weight and size of each mic to get optimum resonance in the suspension. Unlike Rycote the Basket is also suspended and not rigidly connected to the boom which makes them even more quiet regarding handling noise.
I have a couple of them for single mic booming and they are by far the most quiet ones I've used so far. Downside is that each mount only works best with the mic it's made for so it's not a universal mount at all.
Especially stereo rings are very sensitive to handling noise so it's worth investing in a very good suspension.

[fifthcircle]

Originally Posted by Rolo 46

Foams never as good as a basket and furry.
Might be ok for loud or close music but not for ambience and natural history behaviours.
The Superlux S502 array is good,if a little noisy
So it still needs proper gagage.

Have you used the WS81? I use them for distant micing of classical music in outdoor performances. If it didn't work, I would not recommend it. I've had them outside in breezes that are over 15 MPH and they have been fine. Any more wind than that and performance start getting delayed so I can't comment beyond that.

There is plenty of foam out there that I wouldn't recommend, but I would recommend the big Shure foam screens.

--Ben

[aracu]

Originally Posted by apple-q

[url=http://www.cinela.fr/catalog.php?pid=64] Unlike Rycote the Basket is also suspended and not rigidly connected to the boom which makes them even more quiet regarding handling noise.
I have a couple of them for single mic booming and they are by far the most quiet ones I've used so far.

Good point about the Rycote, the weakness in the design is how it
rigidly connects to the boompole. How does the Cinela connect to the
boompole, what material is used?

[Matti]

Look at the picture above little closer, you`ll see its separated from the mic assembly with shock mounts also

Matti

[apple-q]

Originally Posted by aracu

Good point about the Rycote, the weakness in the design is how it
rigidly connects to the boompole. How does the Cinela connect to the
boompole, what material is used?

Cinela - ZEPHYX Windshield

[Rolo 46]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

Have you used the WS81? I use them for distant micing of classical music in outdoor performances. If it didn't work, I would not recommend it. I've had them outside in breezes that are over 15 MPH and they have been fine. Any more wind than that and performance start getting delayed so I can't comment beyond that.

There is plenty of foam out there that I wouldn't recommend, but I would recommend the big Shure foam screens.

--Ben

Gusting is the problem
More than 15mph
Britain is a windy Isle.