Description
The CSS-50 clearly captures stereo centre-targeted sound with moderate ambient noise. To achieve this, Sanken developed the three-capsule CSS-50 to capture the centre sound like a normal shotgun with the addition of 2 mic capsules for variable stereo imaging.
The CSS-50 is small and lightweight with three switchable modes (mono, normal (stereo) and wide (stereo) to satisfy the various needs of location and studio recording. The standard diameter permits use of a wide range of accessories developed for enhanced performance and field mobility
Mono-Stereo Compatibility
In stereo recordings, the frequency response of the MONO summed output often exhibits interference, or "comb filtering." This phenomenon is caused by phase differences between the Left and Right signals. This does not occur in single point recording, either X-Y or M-S, but does happen with spaced - AB - microphone stereo recording because of the time intervals between the two capsules. In the CSS-50, the three-capsule line array is for frontal pickup, with its elements arranged vertically along the same axis, so Mono / Stereo compatibility is superb.
Non-Proximity Effect
When a directional microphone is near the sound source, the proximity effect results in a boosting of certain low frequencies and slight masking of others. Some designs utilize this effect to reduce surrounding noise, but microphone response greatly varies with the changing distance between the source and the microphone. This effect becomes more pronounced when the directionality becomes greater. By contrast, the CSS-50 virtually eliminates the proximity effect in spite of sharp directivity, while the sonic characteristics do not change with varied distances between source and microphone.
Mono Mode
In the MONO mode, sharp directivity is maintained over a wide frequency range for the aimed frontal sound sources, using the combination of a second gradient microphone and a line microphone. It is significant that the CSS-50 picks up the chosen sound source very clearly even in a noisy ambient situation or in a long reverberation space.
Normal Mode
In the NORMAL mode, the CSS-50 clearly picks up the targeted sound as well as extremely accurate stereo localization. The Stereo angle is approximately 115 degrees.
Wide Mode
The WIDE mode is designed for stereo recording of sound effects. This mode allows a wider 140 degree pickup, whereas conventional M-S microphones have a maximum of 127 degrees.
