Need input on the DM-50 Directional Mic

Steve Nunez · February 19th, 2003, 06:03 PM

SGM-X
Frequency Response: 80-18,000Hz
Sensitivity: SUPER CARDIOID -33dB re 1V/Pa
Impedance: 1.5k Ohms @ 1KHz
Max. SPL Input Level: 103dB
Signal to Noise Ratio: 65dB
Dynamic Range: 78dB
Battery Type: LR-44 - USE ALKALINE BATTERY
Battery Current: 0.5 mA
Battery Life: 150 HOURS w/ALKALINE BATTERY
Weight w/o Battery: 3.75oz (106grams)
Dimensions: 8.34" (212mm) length
Dimensions: 0.83" (21mm) diameter
Output Type: 3.5mm mini-jack
Supplied Accessories: Shoe-Mount Microphone Holder
Supplied Accessories: 1 Windscreen
Supplied Accessories: 1 Output Cable (3.5mm mini-plug - 3.5mm mini-plug)
Supplied Accessories: 1 LR-44 Battery

Will Fastie · February 19th, 2003, 06:57 PM

Tom: Thank you very much.

Steve: I already own the SGM-X. I liked the specs when I read about it and also liked the price. However, a noise problem I've discussed elsewhere on these forums has driven me to understand Canon's alternatives so I can decide if I have a mic problem, a camcorder problem, or if it's just the nut behind the wheel. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Will

Will Fastie · February 19th, 2003, 07:16 PM

Tom:

The ultimate question I'm trying to get answered is whether the DM-50 picks up mechanical noise from the zoom.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I bought the Azden SGM-X mic. Immediately I noticed that it was picking up noise from the zoom. Tests demonstrated that this was ambient noise rather than noise being picked up through the mount.

However, the GL2's on-board mic does not pick up this noise. Given your happiness with the DM-50, it must not either. I asked elsewhere whether the GL2 was cancelling its own noise; the opinion offered here is that it does not. I had thought that if the GL2 cancelled, it might cancel from a mic directly connected via the accessory shoe and that therefore the DM-50 might be a better choice than the SGM-X.

Many thanks again for posting the specs.

Will

Don Palomaki · February 19th, 2003, 08:22 PM

The published specs for the DM50 compare with the Senheiser MKE300. What is missing is the S/N ratio and the max SPL for 1% distortion.

The impedance of the SGM-X strikes me as a bit high for best performance with the GL1/2 or XL1/1s. The SPL for 1% distortion is a relatively low sound level as decent mics go.

Chris Hurd · February 19th, 2003, 09:08 PM

Also, the DM-50 does a decent job of killing camera motor noise. The mic is shock-mounted in a suspension cradle which dampens just about everything coming up through the body. Plus it's directional to the point where it does not pick up from the immediate camera area (but from in front of the camera instead). Hope this helps,

Will Fastie · February 20th, 2003, 10:04 AM

I can see that I don't know enough about microphones in general. I would appreciate links to sites with white papers or other collateral material that might help to educate me.

Thanks.

Don Palomaki · February 20th, 2003, 11:50 AM

http://www.shure.com/booklets/techpubs.html

Will Fastie · February 20th, 2003, 12:13 PM

Excellent. Thank you.

Tom Voigt · February 20th, 2003, 08:55 PM

Will,

No, I don't notice any zoom noise. It does a decent job of rejecting creaking chairs, etc. in my immediate vicinity.

One advantage of the mic for me is that it interfaces to my Optura Pi thru the intelligent hotshoe. On the Optura all audio recording levels are automatic, and I don't have any control, so its a good thing that the levels are happy. I've stopped monitoring audio while taping since it seems to be all good (and what could I do anyway?).

Is the Azden SGM-X mic stereo? I am thinking that if the on camera mic is your sole source of sound, you would want it to be stereo.

Will Fastie · February 20th, 2003, 10:37 PM

Tom:

This is going to sound incredibly stupid, but I don't know. The specs at Azden's Web site don't say and the small document that came with the mic doesn't mention stereo, either.

The mini-plug cable that comes with the mike is stereo; on the monoaural mics I own, the cable is mono. Using the audio level displays on the GL2, I appear to get different levels on each channel depending upon the location of the sound. So based on experience, I'd have to say the SGM-X is stereo. I'll ask Azden.

For my application, stereo isn't essential.

Giampy Car · February 22nd, 2003, 01:27 PM

I've bought couple of weeks ago a Sony ECM-S959C.
The MRSP is about 200$ and here below the specification:

Frequency response: 50-18000Hz
Aperture: Stereo Back electrect Supercardioide (selectable 90° - 120°)
Impedance: 550ohms
Sensitivity: -51.4 +/-3dBm (0dbm=1 mW/Pa)
Max SPL: 114db
Dinamic range: 89db
S/N ratio: 69dB

My impressions are that it probabily need a little bit of equalization on the bass frequency, because the roll off filter you should gain up the frequncy below 150hz and on the middle frequency gain down between 1500-6000Hz.

Will Fastie · February 22nd, 2003, 02:26 PM

Giampy:

Can you point me to a Web site regarding the ECM-S959C?

Thanks.
Will

Giampy Car · February 23rd, 2003, 04:01 AM

Will,

unfortunately there are no so much web site about the ECMs959C.
I remember, some time ago, i've just issued a tread for the ECM, in witch i was asking some impressions about an audio sample.
The audio sample is included in this link:

www.nomasi.com/rmbl/sndtrck001.html

Enjoy the listening and write me back your impressions.
If you need more details, ask me

Bye

Don Palomaki · February 23rd, 2003, 07:53 AM

Is this really the Sony ECM-MS957? Some details at:
http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/office/accessories/microphonesfordigital/ecm-ms957_specs.shtml

Sony also offes a ECM-MS908C which is a lesser mic for camcorder mounting and a ECM-MS907 that is similar without camcorder mount.

There also was a higher end stereo mic in the professional line, the Sony ECM999.

Will Fastie · February 24th, 2003, 08:12 AM

Neither the 957 nor the 999 match the specs Giampy listed, although the 957 is pretty close.

The 907 and 908 are exactly the same mic electrically and physically except for two things. The 907 (which I own) has a long (~6 feet) cord and a mount that can be used on a mic stand or folded to allow use on a flat surface. The 908, the camcorder version (which my brother owns), has a short (~1 foot) cord and an accessory shoe mount.

February 19th, 2003, 06:03 PM	#16
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	SGM-X Specs SGM-X Frequency Response: 80-18,000Hz Sensitivity: SUPER CARDIOID -33dB re 1V/Pa Impedance: 1.5k Ohms @ 1KHz Max. SPL Input Level: 103dB Signal to Noise Ratio: 65dB Dynamic Range: 78dB Battery Type: LR-44 - USE ALKALINE BATTERY Battery Current: 0.5 mA Battery Life: 150 HOURS w/ALKALINE BATTERY Weight w/o Battery: 3.75oz (106grams) Dimensions: 8.34" (212mm) length Dimensions: 0.83" (21mm) diameter Output Type: 3.5mm mini-jack Supplied Accessories: Shoe-Mount Microphone Holder Supplied Accessories: 1 Windscreen Supplied Accessories: 1 Output Cable (3.5mm mini-plug - 3.5mm mini-plug) Supplied Accessories: 1 LR-44 Battery __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

February 19th, 2003, 09:08 PM	#20
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Also, the DM-50 does a decent job of killing camera motor noise. The mic is shock-mounted in a suspension cradle which dampens just about everything coming up through the body. Plus it's directional to the point where it does not pick up from the immediate camera area (but from in front of the camera instead). Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 22nd, 2003, 01:27 PM	#26
Giampy Car New Boot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Italy Posts: 18	I've bought couple of weeks ago a Sony ECM-S959C. The MRSP is about 200$ and here below the specification: Frequency response: 50-18000Hz Aperture: Stereo Back electrect Supercardioide (selectable 90° - 120°) Impedance: 550ohms Sensitivity: -51.4 +/-3dBm (0dbm=1 mW/Pa) Max SPL: 114db Dinamic range: 89db S/N ratio: 69dB My impressions are that it probabily need a little bit of equalization on the bass frequency, because the roll off filter you should gain up the frequncy below 150hz and on the middle frequency gain down between 1500-6000Hz. __________________ Giampy

February 23rd, 2003, 04:01 AM	#28
Giampy Car New Boot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Italy Posts: 18	Will, unfortunately there are no so much web site about the ECMs959C. I remember, some time ago, i've just issued a tread for the ECM, in witch i was asking some impressions about an audio sample. The audio sample is included in this link: www.nomasi.com/rmbl/sndtrck001.html Enjoy the listening and write me back your impressions. If you need more details, ask me Bye __________________ Giampy

February 19th, 2003, 06:57 PM	#17
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Tom: Thank you very much. Steve: I already own the SGM-X. I liked the specs when I read about it and also liked the price. However, a noise problem I've discussed elsewhere on these forums has driven me to understand Canon's alternatives so I can decide if I have a mic problem, a camcorder problem, or if it's just the nut behind the wheel. Thanks for the suggestion, though. Will

February 19th, 2003, 07:16 PM	#18
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Tom: The ultimate question I'm trying to get answered is whether the DM-50 picks up mechanical noise from the zoom. As I mentioned in the previous post, I bought the Azden SGM-X mic. Immediately I noticed that it was picking up noise from the zoom. Tests demonstrated that this was ambient noise rather than noise being picked up through the mount. However, the GL2's on-board mic does not pick up this noise. Given your happiness with the DM-50, it must not either. I asked elsewhere whether the GL2 was cancelling its own noise; the opinion offered here is that it does not. I had thought that if the GL2 cancelled, it might cancel from a mic directly connected via the accessory shoe and that therefore the DM-50 might be a better choice than the SGM-X. Many thanks again for posting the specs. Will

February 19th, 2003, 08:22 PM	#19
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	The published specs for the DM50 compare with the Senheiser MKE300. What is missing is the S/N ratio and the max SPL for 1% distortion. The impedance of the SGM-X strikes me as a bit high for best performance with the GL1/2 or XL1/1s. The SPL for 1% distortion is a relatively low sound level as decent mics go.

February 20th, 2003, 10:04 AM	#21
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	I can see that I don't know enough about microphones in general. I would appreciate links to sites with white papers or other collateral material that might help to educate me. Thanks.

February 20th, 2003, 11:50 AM	#22
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	http://www.shure.com/booklets/techpubs.html

February 20th, 2003, 12:13 PM	#23
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Excellent. Thank you.

February 20th, 2003, 08:55 PM	#24
Tom Voigt Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 92	Will, No, I don't notice any zoom noise. It does a decent job of rejecting creaking chairs, etc. in my immediate vicinity. One advantage of the mic for me is that it interfaces to my Optura Pi thru the intelligent hotshoe. On the Optura all audio recording levels are automatic, and I don't have any control, so its a good thing that the levels are happy. I've stopped monitoring audio while taping since it seems to be all good (and what could I do anyway?). Is the Azden SGM-X mic stereo? I am thinking that if the on camera mic is your sole source of sound, you would want it to be stereo.

February 20th, 2003, 10:37 PM	#25
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Tom: This is going to sound incredibly stupid, but I don't know. The specs at Azden's Web site don't say and the small document that came with the mic doesn't mention stereo, either. The mini-plug cable that comes with the mike is stereo; on the monoaural mics I own, the cable is mono. Using the audio level displays on the GL2, I appear to get different levels on each channel depending upon the location of the sound. So based on experience, I'd have to say the SGM-X is stereo. I'll ask Azden. For my application, stereo isn't essential.

February 22nd, 2003, 02:26 PM	#27
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Giampy: Can you point me to a Web site regarding the ECM-S959C? Thanks. Will

February 23rd, 2003, 07:53 AM	#29
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Is this really the Sony ECM-MS957? Some details at: http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/office/accessories/microphonesfordigital/ecm-ms957_specs.shtml Sony also offes a ECM-MS908C which is a lesser mic for camcorder mounting and a ECM-MS907 that is similar without camcorder mount. There also was a higher end stereo mic in the professional line, the Sony ECM999.

February 24th, 2003, 08:12 AM	#30
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Neither the 957 nor the 999 match the specs Giampy listed, although the 957 is pretty close. The 907 and 908 are exactly the same mic electrically and physically except for two things. The 907 (which I own) has a long (~6 feet) cord and a mount that can be used on a mic stand or folded to allow use on a flat surface. The 908, the camcorder version (which my brother owns), has a short (~1 foot) cord and an accessory shoe mount.