Zoom MSH-6
Zoom MSH-6 Mid-Side Stereo Microphone Capsule
Adjustable Stereo Width – Mid-side design lets you set the stereo image on set or change it in post
Guaranteed Mono Compatibility – Folds down cleanly for broadcast delivery with no phase problems
Fits Zoom H5, H6, and F-Series – Swaps onto the recorder capsule mount in seconds
About the Zoom MSH-6:
Rent the Zoom MSH-6 mid-side capsule in Los Angeles from F22 Studios. The MSH-6 mounts on a Zoom H5, H6, or compatible recorder and captures adjustable-width stereo, designed for ambience and room tone, live music and performance recording, documentary environmental sound, and any project where the right stereo width is not obvious until the edit.
Mid-side works by recording two elements: a forward-facing cardioid mid element that carries the center of the image, and a bidirectional side element that captures what is happening left and right. Those are recorded as separate channels, and the balance between them determines how wide the final stereo image is. Push the side channel and the recording opens up; pull it back and it tightens toward mono.
The practical consequence is that stereo width stops being a decision you have to get right on location. Record a room, a crowd, or a performance once, then decide later whether it should sit wide under a montage or narrow under dialog — all from the same take, with no re-recording.
Mid-side also has a technical advantage that matters for broadcast: it collapses to mono perfectly. Spaced-pair stereo recordings can develop phase cancellation when summed to mono, thinning out or hollowing the sound. Mid-side does not, which is why it remains a standard technique for television and film delivery.
Practical use cases include room tone and ambience for narrative projects, live music and performance capture, documentary environmental audio, sound-effects gathering, and interviews where you want the space around the subject preserved. Requires one of our Zoom H5, H6, or F-series recorders. For directional stereo with more reach, see our Zoom SSH-6 stereo shotgun capsule. Available now for rental at F22 Studios in Burbank, serving productions across greater Los Angeles.
INCLUDES
1 – Zoom MSH-6 Mid-Side Capsule
1 – Foam Windscreen
1 – Storage Case