mkh30 Show me your MS rigs - specifically MKH30+MKH50/40

[Ronen]

Just recently purchased a second hand MKH30 to pair with my existing MKH50 for stereo MS ambiences, and it seems like windshields for this set up are not a common thing for some reason.
I am sure i'm not alone using (or trying to use) this set up for stereo MS in the field, so show me your set ups please
I could set it up on my Rycote Nano Shield but the two mics seem too tall since the nano shield is a flat oval shaped blimp, or could purchase something new or fabricate something maybe.

I also own an INV 7 suspension which could hold the two mics probably but i'd still need to find some windshield that fits two mics like that.
I was hoping to have it in some blimp since they handle weather better than softie type windshields.
I am not planning at the moment to have this on a boom, only on a little portable tripod.
Thanks!
 

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

My setup is MKH30+60, but I think my experience should mostly be relevant to your situation.

My first attempt used a 3D-printed back-to-back clip that I found online inside a Rycote Zeppelin.  It worked ok, but was very prone to handling noise.  The issues is that two mics are heavier than one (especially the chunky MKH series), and suspensions are designed for one mic — half the weight.

I eventually broke down and purchased the Rycote Cyclone that was specifically designed for those two microphones.  That was an improvement, but the whole thing was quite heavy.

That rig got stolen, so I've now ended up with a Cinela Piano (again, set up specifically for these two mics), which is by far the best rig I've had.  Handling noise has been solved, and it's lighter than the Rycote solution.

Long story short:  It's expensive, but get the custom-fitted Zeppelin from Cinela (or Rycote, if you prefer) ... it works much better than a jury-rigged mount in a zeppelin designed for just one mic.

[Ronen]

Ok, thanks for that tip, since i am not planning to handle this on a book and to only rescues ambiances i don't think I'll be too worried with handling noise.

I will need to have a solution for wind though.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

In that case, the Rode zeppelin may be adequate ... it's quite large, and I can confirm that I was able to fit an MKH30+60 in it, mounted back-to-back and installed in the stock suspension.  It's certainly much cheaper than a full Cinela setup.

For mounting the microphones to each other, Rycote back-to-back clips should work, or you could try the 3D printed design that I had originally.  I got that from someone doing business as JM Acoustic:  http://jmacoustic.com/Products/MS/ms.html  The clip I used had model # MZD30, but it no longer seems to be visible on his site, and the storefront that he sells through seems to be down at the moment.  I had a good experience with him, and he'd probably print you a custom part if you told him what you wanted.

 

[Ronen]

That 3D printing website looking very good!

Rode blimp is a huge monster for those two small mics though.

Thank you very much for your help, i really appreciate it

[The Immoral Mr Teas]

15 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

In that case, the Rode zeppelin may be adequate ... it's quite large, 

 

5 hours ago, Ronen said:

Rode blimp is a huge monster for those two small mics though.

 

Do Rode do a larger blimp I haven't seen - I don't see anything but their 'WS4' size on their website, nothing like a Rycote AD-AF size stereo blimp ...

 

The Rode zepp I see seems no larger (perhaps even smaller?) than a WS4 and I would not describe that as either 'quite large' nor 'a huge monster' for two 25mm diameter mics mounted back to back.

 

Shame there doesn't seem to be any 'liquidation sales' for Rycote going on east Atlantic ... I'd recommend picking up a stereo WS size AE (or AD or AF) to tripod mount your 50/30 combo ...

 

J

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

I think the major difference is that the Rode blimp is significantly wider than the classic Rycote line, which is helpful when stacking two chunky MKH mics (and essential when stacking them in a lyre that is intended for a single mic).  It's definitely on the long side for a 30+50 combo, but I don't think the extra length hurts anything.  If you are worried about the blimp being too long, just suck it up and buy a custom-fitted model.  You'll thank yourself for having the better suspension.

Also, on the topic of handling noise, not only did I hear boom noise, but the stereo cable was very sensitive to noise.  For example, could hear a leaf brushing against the cable 10' down from the blimp.  With my Cinela blimp, the cable is still more sensitive than a mono cable, but it's significantly better than my Rode or Rycote setups.

[Dalton Patterson]

I love it how there are NO pictures in this “show me” thread. 

[chrisP]

I use a modified Rode Blimp for my Double-M/S Rig ( MKH30 /MKH8050 /MKH8040) . The whole thing is quite heavy but as I use it only for anmbience recording weight and handling noise do not matter.

The Rode Blimp has been shortened to fit in my backpack ( an idea of Watson Wu see: https://www.watsonwu.com/blog/2014/5/2/mini-me-rode-blimp )

The clips to hold the mics together are selfmade out of metal tools-holder.

My regular MS set for outdoor booming on documentaries consists of MKH8060 and a SCHOEPS 8 in a Cinela basket. Works great, very light with minimal handling noises.

Pictures might follow when i'm back from hollydays.

[TVPostSound]

On 9/19/2024 at 4:05 AM, The Immoral Mr Teas said:

 

 

Do Rode do a larger blimp I haven't seen - I don't see anything but their 'WS4' size on their website, nothing like a Rycote AD-AF size stereo blimp ...

 

The Rode zepp I see seems no larger (perhaps even smaller?) than a WS4 and I would not describe that as either 'quite large' nor 'a huge monster' for two 25mm diameter mics mounted back to back.

 

Shame there doesn't seem to be any 'liquidation sales' for Rycote going on east Atlantic ... I'd recommend picking up a stereo WS size AE (or AD or AF) to tripod mount your 50/30 combo ...

 

J

https://www.reddingaudioshop.com/rycote-liquidation

[Ronen]

On 9/20/2024 at 10:34 PM, chrisP said:

I use a modified Rode Blimp for my Double-M/S Rig ( MKH30 /MKH8050 /MKH8040) . The whole thing is quite heavy but as I use it only for anmbience recording weight and handling noise do not matter.

The Rode Blimp has been shortened to fit in my backpack ( an idea of Watson Wu see: https://www.watsonwu.com/blog/2014/5/2/mini-me-rode-blimp )

The clips to hold the mics together are selfmade out of metal tools-holder.

My regular MS set for outdoor booming on documentaries consists of MKH8060 and a SCHOEPS 8 in a Cinela basket. Works great, very light with minimal handling noises.

Pictures might follow when i'm back from hollydays.

Now that seems like a very reasonable solution for me

Thanks!

On 9/21/2024 at 6:53 AM, TVPostSound said:

https://www.reddingaudioshop.com/rycote-liquidation

I could consider that as well, but I'm located in Europe and i think even if they send it to me it'll be too expensive with customs and taxes.

Didn't see any liquidation sales in Spain, where I'm located.

[Richtrohr]

I‘m using a MKH8030/8050 combo inside the fitting Cinela Zephyx and can highly recommend it. It’s like throwing money at a problem to have other people solve it properly without causing you headaches. It fits inside a backpack and is always ready to go.

[Ronen]

19 hours ago, Richtrohr said:

I‘m using a MKH8030/8050 combo inside the fitting Cinela Zephyx and can highly recommend it. It’s like throwing money at a problem to have other people solve it properly without causing you headaches. It fits inside a backpack and is always ready to go.

That's definitely the right way to do it, though I'm not sure I'll go for it, or, not yet.

[chrisP]

Here are the pictures that illustrate my post above.
First , my Double MS Rig in the modified (shortened) Rode Blimp.
Then my MS-Indoor Set (MKH30 / MKH8050 - with Schoeps foam)
Probably i will upgrade this with the new MKH8030 to make it lighter.

[Ronen]

@chrisP
That's great, i think that's what i'll do 
Thanks for sharing!

[Ronen]

Hello again, after consulting and taking ideas from the people in this group i would like to do my service for future generations and show you what i built, inspired by Watsun Wu's minime, i bought a second hand Rode blimp, used heat to remove the locking rings, cleaned them up good, cut the blimp to size with scissors, put locking rings back on now short blimp, cut the metal rail,  replace Rode's suspension with suspension from Rycote INV7. and made cables.
I had some trouble with the cables, for some reason the mogami i got was not working well and i just went and got Canare starquad instead.
I think it looks quite good, never had an intention to boom with it so the weight or how the suspension is handling is not the most important part for me.
I am mostly interested in portability and environment protection.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Nice work!

 

[The Immoral Mr Teas]

Not MKH 30/50 series, but 8030/8050 etc ...

You may want to take a peek at Roland's link in the 'Radius Windshields - mini alto' posted here on Equipment today. Perhaps not the greatest amount of dead air wind protection for the job but he does what we all want to try and crams a DMS rig inside a mini blimp (and of more actual interest perhaps for the mount suspension clip solution therein).

 

Jez

[chrisP]

On 1/20/2025 at 8:21 AM, Ronen said:

Hello again, after consulting and taking ideas from the people in this group i would like to do my service for future generations and show you what i built, inspired by Watsun Wu's minime, i bought a second hand Rode blimp, used heat to remove the locking rings, cleaned them up good, cut the blimp to size with scissors, put locking rings back on now short blimp, cut the metal rail,  replace Rode's suspension with suspension from Rycote INV7. and made cables.
I had some trouble with the cables, for some reason the mogami i got was not working well and i just went and got Canare starquad instead.
I think it looks quite good, never had an intention to boom with it so the weight or how the suspension is handling is not the most important part for me.
I am mostly interested in portability and environment protection.

Well done. Why didn't you take the grey Lyres ( i think they are the hardest suspensions - for that heavy weight)?

 

[Ronen]

On 1/22/2025 at 2:31 PM, The Immoral Mr Teas said:

Not MKH 30/50 series, but 8030/8050 etc ...

You may want to take a peek at Roland's link in the 'Radius Windshields - mini alto' posted here on Equipment today. Perhaps not the greatest amount of dead air wind protection for the job but he does what we all want to try and crams a DMS rig inside a mini blimp (and of more actual interest perhaps for the mount suspension clip solution therein).

 

Jez

Sorry for the late response,
I did contact Radius before going into this, and i was told they are going to make an M/S setup for to 80xx senn series, but for MKH50/30 it'll take some more time.
Radius lineup looks very cool at the moment, i wish i had 80xx so i could get it, but i worked with them mics i had.

On 1/23/2025 at 9:01 AM, chrisP said:

Well done. Why didn't you take the grey Lyres ( i think they are the hardest suspensions - for that heavy weight)?

 

I just had that INV7 lying around, as it was the shockmount i was using for the MKH50, i was happily surprised to discover it easily bolts on to the Rode so that's what i used.

[Throwback]

On 1/22/2025 at 1:31 PM, The Immoral Mr Teas said:

Not MKH 30/50 series, but 8030/8050 etc ...

You may want to take a peek at Roland's link in the 'Radius Windshields - mini alto' posted here on Equipment today. Perhaps not the greatest amount of dead air wind protection for the job but he does what we all want to try and crams a DMS rig inside a mini blimp (and of more actual interest perhaps for the mount suspension clip solution therein).

 

Jez

 

Yes, Jez, not a lot of room for DMS with MKH8000 mics in a Mini-ALTO, but it was fun putting it together. MS with MKH 8000 mics is much more practical and, yes, Radius's MS clip is getting towards production (I have the latest rapid prototype here). And, of course, not enough room for MKH 30/50 MS in such a small windshield, but plenty in my blimp in the attached photo!

Cheers,

Roland

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Ooh, nice. Have you done any Double-MS with the original MKH series?  I know it's big and heavy, but I'd love to find a way to get DMS with my existing mics.

[Throwback]

15 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

Ooh, nice. Have you done any Double-MS with the original MKH series?  I know it's big and heavy, but I'd love to find a way to get DMS with my existing mics.

 

I'm afraid not. To be honest, I'm more interested in trying DMS with side-address cardioids (far less clunky and cluttered), so am currently hankering after a pair of Schoeps CCM4V mics...Having said that, I'm not certain that this achieves anything better than a native B-format array, which I can do already with 2 x MKH 8030 and 1 x MKH 8020. Not that this helps you!

 

Cheers,

 

Roland

[Derek H]

Has anyone tried pairing the new 8030 with an MKH50? Are there clips available to adapt these two odd sizes?

 

I’m assuming sonically they would be complimentary. 

[Throwback]

2 hours ago, Derek H said:

Has anyone tried pairing the new 8030 with an MKH50? Are there clips available to adapt these two odd sizes?

 

I’m assuming sonically they would be complimentary. 

 

Well, there has plenty of discussion over the years about differences between the MKH 8000 mics and the older MKH series: take your pick whether you believe people who find significant differences or those who don't. I did a comparison of the MKH 30 vs MKH 8030 with sound samples, which might help a little: https://drbadphil.com/sennheiser-mkh-8030-part-4-comparing-it-to-the-mkh-30

 

In terms of clips that would fit both, the Rycote universal back-to-back clips will do the job.

 

Cheers,

 

Roland