CS3e shotgun mounting question at DVinfo.net

Paul Anderegg · July 2nd, 2015, 12:22 AM

My new CS3e is LONG. Too long in fact to not cast a shadow on everything wide angle when mounted to my PXW-X180. I went and clamped the stock mic holder over the foam windscreen covering the rear slots of the mic. Am not sure how this affects performance, looking for front and center directivity. Reading up on the CS3e, would seem maybe there is some elements I am covering that are needed to cancel out side/rear audio levels?

Shotguns these days confuse me. Always thought there was an element at the back facing forward, and an empty tube. Now I see there are weird things anywhere along the length, facing in any direction they choose!

Paul

Edward Carlson · July 2nd, 2015, 12:44 AM

Wow, you spent $1,500 on a mic and you're mounting it to a camera? Alright...

The Rycote INV-HG Mkiii (catchy name, I know) is my favorite shock mount. Depending on what camera you have, you can probably find a mounting point for it. Someone (maybe Rycote?) makes a cold-shoe offset to get the mount point farther away from the lens.

Paul Anderegg · July 2nd, 2015, 12:51 AM

Where else should I mount it? I shoot overnight ENG. :-)

I have a rear of top handle 1/4"-20 hole, wondering if there is something I can bolt (or shoe) onto that to attach my old Sony CAC-12 holder. All I fond while searching is those obnoxiously large diameter shock mounts. :)

Paul

Edward Carlson · July 2nd, 2015, 12:53 AM

The Rycote mounts have 3/8" receptacles, just get a 3/8" to 1/4"-20 reducer and a 1/4"-20 stud. They may even make a 3/8" to 1/4"-20 stud/reducer.

Edit: Hey, they do: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/841123-REG/impact_ca_112_3_8_and_1_4_20_adapter.html

Paul Anderegg · July 2nd, 2015, 03:07 AM

This looks like a good base to expand things off the handle to the side.

HDV Handle Bracket Support Camera Mount Adapter Sony EX3 MGHVRZ1U Sachtler XDCAM | eBay

Do they make those clip in mic holders for shotguns or just handheld mics? don't need or want a suspension system.

Paul

Bruce Watson · July 2nd, 2015, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Anderegg

My new CS3e is LONG. Too long in fact to not cast a shadow on everything wide angle when mounted to my PXW-X180.

It has to be than long to perform the way it's designed to perform. It's not intended to be mounted on a camera, but you've been told that enough already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Anderegg

I went and clamped the stock mic holder over the foam windscreen covering the rear slots of the mic. Am not sure how this affects performance...

Covering any of the slots does in fact decrease performance. It needs those slots, all of those slots, to properly cancel the reflected sound from the sides to make it fully directional. Those slots, that interference tube, is what makes a shotgun mic a shotgun mic.

Paul Anderegg · July 2nd, 2015, 01:49 PM

Well, ordered that handle clamp thing. Looks like if I can mount the CAC-12 to the holes on the clamp thing, it would be able to position the mic properly to the side without protruding too far forward, and without covering slots.

For anyone that cares, the holes on the stock Sony X180 body that attach the mic holder match up to the holes on the CAC-12.

Paul

Garrett Low · July 2nd, 2015, 05:31 PM

The CS-3e is not a typical shotgun mic. It does not rely on the interference tube design. It uses three pickups aligned within the tube for side rejections. You don't want to cover up all of the side ports but from my experience with mine for over 5 years now, you can cover some of the ports closest to the back without affecting the sound quality.

It is a great mic BTW. It has a narrower pickup pattern than most other mics so in the hands of a novice it can be a little aggravating but after working with it for a while it becomes a great tool. For most dialogue that is my goto mic.

Paul Anderegg · July 2nd, 2015, 08:44 PM

That's exactly the reason I got it, I need to pickup people talking in noisy ENG environments, enough so that I can understand what they are saying while surrounded by generators and idling car engines.

That weird noise cancelling design was the spawn of my initial question. I wasn't sure how those little electrical things I can see through the slots at the back/sides work.

Paul

Paul Anderegg · March 16th, 2016, 07:10 PM

So finally got it mounted..........got to get used to how sensitive it is, I keep nervously pumping up my levels when I don't need to!

I love how I can hear what people are saying when they are talking away from the mic with their back to me.

Jon Fairhurst · March 17th, 2016, 12:45 PM

Sounds great! How far away were you? It's always hard to tell with long lenses.

Of course, there is still background noise, but the voices are well defined and understandable - especially when facing the mic. It would be interesting to hear what a bit of noise reduction would do. There seems to be a pretty consistent environmental sound that could be pulled down a bit without sounding noticeably processed.

July 2nd, 2015, 12:22 AM	#1
Paul Anderegg Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Diego, Califonia Posts: 1,559	CS3e shotgun mounting question My new CS3e is LONG. Too long in fact to not cast a shadow on everything wide angle when mounted to my PXW-X180. I went and clamped the stock mic holder over the foam windscreen covering the rear slots of the mic. Am not sure how this affects performance, looking for front and center directivity. Reading up on the CS3e, would seem maybe there is some elements I am covering that are needed to cancel out side/rear audio levels? Shotguns these days confuse me. Always thought there was an element at the back facing forward, and an empty tube. Now I see there are weird things anywhere along the length, facing in any direction they choose! Paul

July 2nd, 2015, 12:44 AM	#2
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question Wow, you spent $1,500 on a mic and you're mounting it to a camera? Alright... The Rycote INV-HG Mkiii (catchy name, I know) is my favorite shock mount. Depending on what camera you have, you can probably find a mounting point for it. Someone (maybe Rycote?) makes a cold-shoe offset to get the mount point farther away from the lens.

July 2nd, 2015, 12:51 AM	#3
Paul Anderegg Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Diego, Califonia Posts: 1,559	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question Where else should I mount it? I shoot overnight ENG. :-) I have a rear of top handle 1/4"-20 hole, wondering if there is something I can bolt (or shoe) onto that to attach my old Sony CAC-12 holder. All I fond while searching is those obnoxiously large diameter shock mounts. :) Paul

July 2nd, 2015, 12:53 AM	#4
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question The Rycote mounts have 3/8" receptacles, just get a 3/8" to 1/4"-20 reducer and a 1/4"-20 stud. They may even make a 3/8" to 1/4"-20 stud/reducer. Edit: Hey, they do: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/841123-REG/impact_ca_112_3_8_and_1_4_20_adapter.html

July 2nd, 2015, 03:07 AM	#5
Paul Anderegg Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Diego, Califonia Posts: 1,559	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question This looks like a good base to expand things off the handle to the side. HDV Handle Bracket Support Camera Mount Adapter Sony EX3 MGHVRZ1U Sachtler XDCAM \| eBay Do they make those clip in mic holders for shotguns or just handheld mics? don't need or want a suspension system. Paul

July 2nd, 2015, 01:49 PM	#7
Paul Anderegg Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Diego, Califonia Posts: 1,559	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question Well, ordered that handle clamp thing. Looks like if I can mount the CAC-12 to the holes on the clamp thing, it would be able to position the mic properly to the side without protruding too far forward, and without covering slots. For anyone that cares, the holes on the stock Sony X180 body that attach the mic holder match up to the holes on the CAC-12. Paul

July 2nd, 2015, 05:31 PM	#8
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question The CS-3e is not a typical shotgun mic. It does not rely on the interference tube design. It uses three pickups aligned within the tube for side rejections. You don't want to cover up all of the side ports but from my experience with mine for over 5 years now, you can cover some of the ports closest to the back without affecting the sound quality. It is a great mic BTW. It has a narrower pickup pattern than most other mics so in the hands of a novice it can be a little aggravating but after working with it for a while it becomes a great tool. For most dialogue that is my goto mic. __________________ Garrett Low www.GLowMediaProductions.com

July 2nd, 2015, 08:44 PM	#9
Paul Anderegg Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Diego, Califonia Posts: 1,559	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question That's exactly the reason I got it, I need to pickup people talking in noisy ENG environments, enough so that I can understand what they are saying while surrounded by generators and idling car engines. That weird noise cancelling design was the spawn of my initial question. I wasn't sure how those little electrical things I can see through the slots at the back/sides work. Paul

March 16th, 2016, 07:10 PM	#10
Paul Anderegg Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Diego, Califonia Posts: 1,559	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question So finally got it mounted..........got to get used to how sensitive it is, I keep nervously pumping up my levels when I don't need to! I love how I can hear what people are saying when they are talking away from the mic with their back to me. YouTube (Short URL)

March 17th, 2016, 12:45 PM	#11
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: CS3e shotgun mounting question Sounds great! How far away were you? It's always hard to tell with long lenses. Of course, there is still background noise, but the voices are well defined and understandable - especially when facing the mic. It would be interesting to hear what a bit of noise reduction would do. There seems to be a pretty consistent environmental sound that could be pulled down a bit without sounding noticeably processed. __________________ Jon Fairhurst