Do higher quality wind screens aid with p-pops? Im thinking of my AT 4053B?

[Ty Ford]

Hello Noam,

How are you using the mic now? On a boom? For VO?

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

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[Noam Osband]

Sometimes set up on a stand, but often handheld (well, in a mic shock holder attached to a grip).

[Ty Ford]

Noam,

Hold it below your mouth, maybe 4-6 inches away and point it at your mouth and and talk over it, not into it.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog

[Noam Osband]

I did an interview of someone else and had it like that but was still getting some clipping. I’m was aiming for the sound to usually hit between -12 and -10 db but I’m thinking I should make my baseline lower to avoid clipping? Is that a standard amount for headroom? (Obviously, headroom depends on the speaker. I had thought generally to aim for a consistent level between -12 and -6 but I’m thinking that might not leave enough headroom).

Thanks as always. This forum rocks!

[Ty Ford]

About popping: If you were holding that mic as a hand-held news gathering mic, you could definitely get popping. That’s not how it’s expected to be used.

About clipping: Everyone is different. Some people are quiet talkers, some people are even talkers, some people are all over the road.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog

[Noam Osband]

What makes it bad for that kind of recording? Is it because it’s hyperdirectional?

[Ty Ford]

Well, sort of, but not entirely. The more directional a mic is, usually, the more susceptible it is to Proximity Effect. With PE, the closer you get the more low frequencies you hear. P popping has a lot of low frequency energy.

Hand held mics usually have a lot of pop protection built into the headgrille. The 4053b does not because it’s more and instrument or boom mic. I can pop the bejeebers out of my Schoeps CMC641 for the same reason.

Hand held mics for interview are typically the EV 635, RE50ND, MD46, MD42 and Rode Reporter. They are designed to be worked closely. You can still pop them, but it’s difficult to do.

To start cheaply, try the AT8136 foam windshield.
https://bhpho.to/2L4TBQ2

If that’s not enough, try a Rycote Baby Ball Gag will improve your chances of survival. The shaft of the AT4053b is 21mm, so this Baby Ball Gag. https://bhpho.to/2xo1Rc2

Want something less visibly intrusive? Try a Rycote 5cm Super-Softie Windshield with 3D-Tex (19/22)
https://bhpho.to/2kyH7F0

Here’s another solution; get the AT4049b-EL omni capsule, unscrew the 4053 and screw on the 4049b-EL.
https://bhpho.to/2JdJ5IP The 4049b-EL and the Baby Ball Gag together will greatly reduce your popping.

How’s that?

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog

[Bruce Watson]

[Noam Osband] “…but often handheld (well, in a mic shock holder attached to a grip).”

Ah. Your AT 5053b is the wrong tool for the job. What you want for that duty is a reporter’s stick mic. In NA, that’s usually an Electro-Voice RE50N/D-B, which is an omni, not a hypercardioid, and it’s dynamic, not a condenser. It wants to be placed about 10cm away from the mouth, just below the chin, so one talks over the top of it, not at it. Great sounding mic, nearly impervious to plosives, wind noise, and handling noise (has internal shock mount). And really hardy — I’ve seen them get dropped and stepped on and yet they still sound fine.

You can see how they are meant to be used in just about every local newscast in NA these days. In Europe, the equivalent is a Sennheiser MD 42 ENG. Another excellent reporter’s stick mic.

[Noam Osband]

This is such great stuff. I actually have an EV Re50. I just assumed (based on…uh….nothing) that the sound quality of the AT4053b would be better.

So, the gist of it is, for what I’m doing – interviews for audio work where I can get close to the person’s mouth – the EV RE50 will be professional level audio? Would that be as good as Ty’s suggestion of the 4049b-EL attaching to the AT mic?

Big high five’s to both of you. I’ve been wondering why I’m getting a lot of low frequency stuff here.

[Ty Ford]

I’d say go with the RE50.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog