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What is the best portable windscreen?
I use an Audio Technica hyper cardioid: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/642499-REG/Audio_Technica_AT4053B_AT4053b_Hypercardioid_Condenser_Microphone.html
I shoot a lot outside and sometimes have problems getting audio with this mic when contending with wind. What is the best kind of portable windscreen? I want to be able to keep all my gear in one large bag and that rules out some fragile zeppelin type product. That said, the soft foam over the tip of the microphone, what B&H sells for this product, isn’t getting it done. Suggestions? I’m aware the best idea is to avoid shooting when windy but forgetting that….
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6 Replies
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What makes wind noise is … well … air in motion hitting the mic element. So in order to kill wind noise, you have to decelerate airflow while not blocking the sound waves.
A true pro rig for this starts with a cage type zepplin – which creates a calm space around the mic element. That cage is often further surrounded by a furry cover, since the many hairs break up direction and speed of any wind before it ever reaches the interior zepplin covers airspace.
Foam – on the other hand, must be porous in order to allow sound in – so by itself it’s never going to totally prevent wind pressure from reaching the mics element and causing noise.
You can say you want a foam cover that cuts all wind noise, but unless that foam cover does BOTH these functions – wind deceleration and calm space around the element without blocking all sound, you’re not going to be happy in severe situations.
Simple as that.
“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Conner
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Are there any collapseable cage-style Zeppelin’s? I figure that’s what i want. Although I worry such a thing does not exist.
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This will do a decent job:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/322369-REG/Rycote_033022_Standard_Hole_Softie_Windscreen.html
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The Rycote Softie works up to a point, past which you really have to want to be OUT IN THAT MUCH WIND!!!!
The Rycote Zep is not fragile, but it isn’t a rugby ball you can just toss in a bag.
Here’s the science. A Zep with a cloth liner will drop most of the wind. Add a lined furry cover and you knock down a few more MPH.
Regards,
Ty Ford
Audio Forum Leader
Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide -
If you don’t want it to take up too much space in your bag, you could go with one of these:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745941-REG/Rycote_011007_Baby_Ball_Gag_Windshield.html
…and if that’s not enough, you can put on a furry.
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A cheaper solution is the Fat-Cat which goes on top of the AT4053b’s windscreen (max. 55x70mm):
https://www.remoteaudio.com/fatcat/
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