Sanken CS-3E Mono Shotgun Microphone

The CS-3e stands out among shotgun microphones because it maintains directivity over an extremely wide frequency range, especially in the low frequencies. Because of its unique design, the CS-3e is an excellent choice for use in difficult applications, such as close-to-ceiling positions or locations near a noisy camera. Even in such challenging situations, the excellent side and rear rejection of the CS-3e helps to capture only the targeted dialogue without ambient reverberation problems. The CS-3e delivers sharp directional sound even in the lower frequencies. Sanken’s original design results in a low proximity effect which facilitates working in a scene close-up and wide, while producing little change in sound character.

In the CS-3e, three directional capsules are arranged in a front-back array to combine line microphone performance and second-order pressure gradient response in a single system. With this unique design, the CS-3e achieves phenomenal super-cardioid directivity in the lowest frequencies and throughout the full range in a microphone only 27cm (10 inches) in length. It is significant that the CS-3e picks up the targeted frontal sound sources with exceptional clarity over a wide frequency range – even in noisy ambient environments or in long reverberation spaces – by rejecting undesired noise and sounds coming from the rear and sides.

The CS-3e is small and lightweight with a low-cut switch to satisfy the various needs of location and studio recording. The standard 19mm diameter permits use of a wide range of accessories developed for enhanced performance and field mobility. When a conventional shotgun microphone is near the sound source, proximity effect results in a boosting of certain low frequencies and slight masking of others. The CS-3e virtually eliminates the proximity effect and maintains sharp directivity, while the sonic characteristics do not change with varied distances between sources and microphone. This is a significant advantage over all other directional microphones.