Rycote Invision

[Andi]

Got my subscriber Rycote Invision USM this morning - (thanks Luci) - and I don't know whether to use it to hold a mic or to frame it and hang it on the wall; it's a stunning bit of design and engineering. It actually makes me feel good to know that someone out there can still be bothered to do a job this right.

Gush

[Steve Hill]

Agreed. Much as I love their mics, I really think Neumann, Sennheiser etc might as well cease production of their own shockmounts right now. £250 for a U87 shockmount? £240 for an MKH-series shockmount?

I know there's some engineering in there, but that's true of Rycote's offerings too.

So that's an English defeat for Germany then.

[Andi]

So that's an English defeat for Germany then.

As unlikely as that may seem at the moment.

A.

[John Willett]

Agreed. Much as I love their mics, I really think Neumann, Sennheiser etc might as well cease production of their own shockmounts right now. £250 for a U87 shockmount? £240 for an MKH-series shockmount?

I know there's some engineering in there, but that's true of Rycote's offerings too.

So that's an English defeat for Germany then.

I have actually ditched all my Neumann and Sennheiser mounts and replaced them all with Rycotes.

The Rycotes *are* actually technically better.

[zenguitar]

So that's an English defeat for Germany then.

As unlikely as that may seem at the moment.

A.

Ahhhh... on a day like today I hate to say this, but I must...

If the market is paying a lot more for an inferior German product, they must be making more money. A moral victory for the English, but the Germans are laughing all the way to the bank

Andy

[The Elf]

I've got a couple of lyre mounts for my NT5/55. I always feel as if I'm going to break them trying to get the mic's in there, because it needs some rough treatment, but they're tougher than they look. Clever design indeed.

Does anyone know which mount would take a Senny MD441?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Does anyone know which mount would take a Senny MD441?

Unfortunately, none of the InVision mounts are suitable for the MD441.

It would physically fit in a USM, but the axis of operation is completely wrong (horizontal instead of vertical) and the performance would therefore be rather inferior.

Hugh

[The Elf]

Thanks Hugh. I suspected that might be the case. I’ve just ordered my second 441 clip in 6 months. They break so easily. It’s the worst mic mount in my collection, followed closely by the MD421 – fine when it’s in place but every time you try to move the mic it unclips – worse on the Mk2, ironically.

[Andi]

I just finished a recording session, and whilst the mic was up I did a few tests with the Rycote and the orignal mount for my RED5 RV15 LDC. The tests were not particularly rigorous - I ran a Cubase session with 2 tracks, one for each mount. I recorded the room, me walking around the room, and me tapping the stand. Accepting that this is highly non-rigorous - I did each one 5 times. I then topped and tailed the audio and ran a spectral anayser against sections of it. Again, accepting the lack of scientific rigour - the recordings done with the Rycote mount were between 2 and 5 dB lower in the lower frequencies (I'm seeing peaks at around 20Hz and 70Hz in each case)across the board. If anyone with a matched pair of mics care to do something similar I'd love to know how that works out?

[Hugh Robjohns]

That sounds roughly in the right ball park. It depends on the nature of the mic you're using -- some have a basic form of shock mount internally and those obviously don't benefit quite as much from the USM -- and the stiffness and weight of the mic cable (and the way you have dressed it.

But something between 5 and 10dB reduction in mechanical vibration noise below 100Hz is fairly typical.

Hugh

[Andi]

The RV15 is a tube mic and the cable is a bit on the stiff side. I have it looped with about a 2-3 " radius and then tucked into the clip - no tail. That's probably worth another dB or so in itself. What really pleases me is how easily the mount grips the mic and how easily it stays in place without drooping - someone employed a good materials scientist. The light weight helps with stand stability when the mics out on a boom too.

A.

[Hugh Robjohns]

... someone employed a good materials scientist.

Rycote employs very good engineers who know how to design, test, develop and production-engineer their products.

Unlike the majority of shockmounts on the market, the Rycote InVision stuff is actually designed to work, rather than just be cheap to make, and the designs really are all thoroughly tested and optimised to make sure they do what they're supposed to.

It's quite refreshing isn't it?

hugh

[John Willett]

... someone employed a good materials scientist.

Rycote employs very good engineers who know how to design, test, develop and production-engineer their products.

Unlike the majority of shockmounts on the market, the Rycote InVision stuff is actually designed to work, rather than just be cheap to make, and the designs really are all thoroughly tested and optimised to make sure they do what they're supposed to.

It's quite refreshing isn't it?

hugh

And when they have done all that they throw them at people like Hugh and me to see if we can break them

And to see if we can find anything wrong using them in a real life recording situation.

And any comments we pass back are taken on board for the final design.

They are good people with great engineering that listen to users - and my design for an MS lyre mount (designed by using existing Rycote parts put together in a different way) has now been put into productin by Rycote as a standard product.

[ROLO46]

My STC 4033A weighs 3 lbs
Its been siting in a USM for 6 months now
Held only by those grippy little pads on a tapered mic neck.
Quite amazing.
Will look out for the Willet MSer next time I'm in Slad RD.

[John Willett]

Will look out for the Willett MSer next time I'm in Slad RD.

Didn't you see it the last time you were there on the Open Day - it was on display?

By the way - I am told Rycote will have another Open Day on the 3rd September for those who missed the last one - Hugh or I will post more news when we get it.

[The Elf]

By the way - I am told Rycote will have another Open Day on the 3rd September for those who missed the last one - Hugh or I will post more news when we get it.

That's good news. Hopefully I can make the next one.