Topic: ECM-957PRO

[NineEyes]

Anybody tried one of these(?):

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/352308.html

Specification	Detail
Capsule Type	Electret Condenser
Stereo Type	MS (Mid-Side) Stereo
Directivity	Unidirectional x 2 (Directive angle 90 degrees or 120 degrees, switchable)
Frequency Response	50 - 18,000 Hz
Sensitivity (directive angle 120 degrees)	-37 dB  (0 dB = 1 v/Pa, 1,000 Hz (1 Pa = 10 ubar = 94 dB SPL)
Output Impedance	600 Ohm +/-30% unbalanced
Signal to Noise Ratio	More than 69 dB
Dynamic Range	More than 90 dB
Maximum Sound Presure Level	More than 115 dB SPL
Power Requirements	One AA size battery provides approximately 200 hours operation
Operating Temperature Range	32 degrees F to 104 degrees F
Mass	11.7 oz including battery and cable
Dimensions	1 5/8" x 7 1/4" (projecting parts and controls not included)
Supplied Mic Cable	4 mm diameter, two core-shielded OFC (Oxygen-Free-Copper) cord with Canon XLR-5-12C type connector and gold plated L-shaped stereo miniplug; 2 meter length.

Thoughts?

[yug du nord]

I'm familiar with a regular MS957...  wonder what the difference is?  New capsules...  wonder what the difference is?  You could pull some good recordings with this mic I'm sure, but for approx. $400 you could do better I think though...  but I might be wrong...  depends on what other gear you're using.

[boojum]

^^^^ Ditto.  I was just listening to a pull using the ECM-MS957 and it is pretty good.  Not great, but for a mic in that price range it is good.  I have heard from some folks it has no bottom end, but I have recorded bands that had plenty of bass and this puppy picked it up.  I would assume the PRO is better.

[illconditioned]

EMC-957 is going for approx. $175 on Ebay right now.
Not sure how good it is compared to the PRO version, or even the cheaper 907 version.

  Richard

[yug du nord]

EMC-957 is going for approx. $175 on Ebay right now.
Not sure how good it is compared to the PRO version, or even the cheaper 907 version.

  Richard

The MS957 freq. response is a bit better than the MS907.  I think the MS957PRO has the same freq. response as the old MS957.  IMO...  the MS957PRO would need to sound much better than the MS957 for the cost difference.  I've made some pretty good recordings with a MS907...  so, IMO...  don't jump on this too quick...  kinda spendy...  you might be just as happy with the old version MS957.

But if you do go for this new version...  let us all know how it works out.  I know Sony ECM mics have a bad reputation (undeserved IMO), but for the price...  I think they do just fine! 

[jacobmyers]

Anybody tried one of these(?):

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/352308.html

No, but that's about what I paid for my NT4.

[Outrageous]

In terms of the specs given by Sony, the only difference between the ECM-957PRO and ECM-MS957 is that the PRO has greater sensitivity.  So if you want to record quieter sounds, the PRO might be better (higher output).  For loud sounds, this might be a liability.  I would be interested to know if perhaps there are other quality differences that Sony doesn't reveal.  One interesting thing is that the 957 apparently puts out a balanced signal, although the supplied cord converts this to unbalanced.  This is  according to someone who took one apart (see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronazz/539997487/in/photostream/ ).

[NineEyes]

wonder what the difference is?

It's "stealth black."      It's the same shape and most of the specs are the same, but it is 11dB more sensitive and specifies a S/N of 69dB.

So if you want to record quieter sounds, the PRO might be better (higher output).  For loud sounds, this might be a liability.

Yup.  My main purpose is to record two acoustic guitars and a vocalist.  The MS907 we're using currently has us wanting for more mostly because of the noise.

One interesting thing is that the 957 apparently puts out a balanced signal, although the supplied cord converts this to unbalanced.  This is  according to someone who took one apart (see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronazz/539997487/in/photostream/ ).

I plan on (hope to) feed this directly into a PCM-D50 or an R-09HR, but this is good to know.  I wonder if something like this would work too:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/284497-REG/Sennheiser_ACS5_ACS5_5_pin_XLR_Y.html

But if you do go for this new version...  let us all know how it works out.

I'd like to try it before I buy it.  I live 5 miles from Full Compass.  The don't rent the 957PRO.  I wonder if they'd let me bring it back if I wasn't happy.

[jmz93]

I started out taping years ago with a Sharp MD recorder and a Sony 907. Honestly, I get much better frequency response and sensitivity with my AT853's, ST9100 pre, and R9, but I miss the great stereo imaging I got from that cheap Sony mic!  Maybe I'm doing something wrong with the AT cards, but I almost always get a nicer spread, more spacial cues, etc. with the Sony, and it makes me want to invest in a much better mic that has MS capture like the Sony.  I don't want to invest in several mics and do mid-side processing after the fact. I love that these mics are just about foolproof and have all of that internally already.

So, what would you guys recommend, for let's say $350 or less, new or used, in terms of a single point MS mic like the Sony's, just with better/flatter frequency response and more sensitivity?

thanks
Chris

[NineEyes]

This is  according to someone who took one apart (see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronazz/539997487/in/photostream/ ).

Thanks for this link BTW.  It's clear from these pictures why the manual says the mic works best when the mid capsule axis is perpendicular to the body.

[jmz93]

Or to put it another way, if I could get the same imaging and spread of the Sony's but with a pair of cards or omni's clipped to my shoulders, I'd be much happier!

[flipp022]

the sony ecm 957 pro is inside not the same as the sony ecm-ms 957 , I have him ,  and make him open , I have too sony ecm-ms 957

operates at 1.5 battere, but inside an inverter that makes 8 volts of 1.5 volts battere, that is only for  sony ecm 957 pro ,

what good is the spread of the stereo sound,
listen to the people between the songs, you can hear them on others place as the singer,
low end is good, high tone is good, only I find rond 100 khz too loud , but comes good with editing

my first recording is here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pCWSp39iBw

Ane flipp022

[flipp022]

here the last recording with rebuild version on headband of the sony ecm 957 pro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVlJ3VPa9go

distance of the podium is behind the rear wall in the concert room

why I sits there higher , and can look over the people with camera , all the other mics give on this distance , not good sound , only the sony ecm 957 pro. works on this  distance  good,  so as you can  hear here.

it seems there on that I for podium stands, but that is not so , I stands on the rear wall , with me back ,

cheers flipp022
Ane

[flipp022]

how is it rebuild, that see you here